New York day 3

Today we visited the 9/11 memorial. Then MoMa before having a big pre race pasta meal in Hells Kitchen. Early morning tomorrow for the race.

New York day 2

Today we got up early so that I could collect my number from the running show before the race Jacob K Javitis Convention Centre - 11th Avenue at 35th Street.

We both bought ourselves a marathon toddy and I got a Garmin forerunner 220 to record the race on after my disappointment at my Apple Watch not lasting the whole race in Berlin.

Afterward we headed to a food tour. First we tried to get the subway but got hopelessly lost, so ended up getting a cab. Fortunately when we got there the food spots were amazing.

In the evening we headed out for a cruise and took some awesome night pictures of New York.

New York day 1

After a long Virgin Atlantic flight we arrived in New York. I had a big queue for immigration with my ESTA. Kath had already done her queuing at the US Embassy so her full visa was enough. It was quite bewildering seeing all the Americana a coach took us to our hotel in time square. It was small but we weren't planning on spending much time in there so it suited us.

Kath had booked us a table as Bar 54 Hyatt which gave us amazing views over the city and time square. 

The weather was still very warm it changed a little cooler over night,

Time Square Pano

Enjoying the sun in Wales

Six years since we were married in Poland. A lot has changed since then, Kath finished her training in Poland and moved to the UK. We  moved house to Wilmslow, I’ve move jobs twice and here we are in Wales to celebrate.

It was a bit of a last minute decision, to go back to one of the first place we ever visited as a couple.

Nutshell

Lineone internet

Way back when I was first using the internet you had to pay for an internet provider, as well as the cost of the dail up. Circa 1997 I signed up for a service called Lineone, and got my first email address. In return for my £9.99 a month I got a local rate phone line to dial and a paper manual. At the time email hadn't become the swamp of spam it is now, and mostly contain things I signed up for like a forum on my then car the Vauxhall nova!

I used my Lineone address for a while before moving onto the pre Microsoft Hotmail.com! I kept a few subscriptions on Lineone and used it as a backup. Lineone then got taken over by Tiscali, then Tiscali by Talk Talk. Its seems they have finally decided to dump freeloaders, today I received this.

Your TalkTalk mailbox has recently been upgraded to the new TalkTalk Mail. It’s now easier to use and full of handy new features.

Designed for an easier life

A sleek new design, more logical menus and a choice of layouts make TalkTalk Mail much easier to use on your desktop.

Designed for an easier life

Adapts perfectly to every device TalkTalk Mail automatically adapts to every screen size. So whether you’re using your smartphone, computer or tablet, all your messages and appointments always look and feel great. Adapts perfectly to every device
Great new message features
TalkTalk Mail drafts now auto-save so you’ll never lose a message you’re writing. And to attach a file or photo you simply drag-and-drop. Great new message features

TalkTalk Mail is still free for our broadband customers
Unfortunately, if you choose not to sign up for TalkTalk Mail Plus, from 20/09/2019 you’ll lose the vast majority of TalkTalk Mail features. For example, you’ll only be able to sign in at www.talktalk.co.uk/mail to check your emails.
A few months after 20/09/2019, we will start closing down mailboxes that aren’t registered to a TalkTalk Broadband account or signed up for TalkTalk Mail Plus.

I'll be slightly sad for my original email address die but, I don't use it and no point to pay when google give me the much superior gmail supported by ads.

Not the news

Kath and I have spent the last few days down in London. The main purpose of the trip was to visit the US embassy so that Kath could obtain a visa in order to travel to New York with me in November.

We travelled to London Sunday morning leaving behind torrential rain in Manchester. Arriving around midday into Euston then a quick hop to Victoria finally on to the Pestana London Bridge. We had stayed here previously and found it to be a rather fantastic hotel. Nice and quite and also well placed for the US embassy in Nine Elms. After checking in we went for a little walk to the Dutches Belle for Sunday lunch. I had to complete a 10km treadmill run so Kath had a little snooze.

Sunday evening we headed to the Criterion theatre in the West end to watch a “a play about a bank robbery”. Kath really enjoyed it and while I had a few laughs it was a little slapstick for my tastes. Running late before the theatre we ended up grabbing dinner at 5 Guys. The burger was great but top tip don’t order more than one fries because we did it was death by chips!

Monday we headed to Nine Elms for the Embassy. It s a super smart new building surrounded by a raft of new buildings and the grandly title embassy square. Kath had to go in alone is I waited in a local coffee shop. When she didn’t emerge after an hour I headed back to the hotel and went for a swim.

She finally found her way back around 12:30 and we jumped straight onto the tube out to Putney Bridge to meet Paul and Saskia. They arranged a picnic in the local park. It was rather lovely sat in the Sunshine with Prosecco and some nibbles. After the Prosecco ran out we moved the party to a local of theirs. I even managed to help fill out a form first real use of my professional membership in a while must get to those CPD courses soon.

You and me (but mostly me)

I’m currently sat on a train heading to London so that Kath can get a US visa so that we are able to travel to New York later this year. Managed to get cheap Virgin First Class tickets cheaply so enjoying a larger seat and a free coffee.

We had an excellent day out yesterday starting out with drinks in the lovely Winter Garden at the Refuge. We sat and enjoyed an old fashioned pre show.

The main event of the day was a trip to see the Book of Mormon at the Manchester Palace Theatre. It was the most funny show I’ve ever seen and I would highly recommend it!

Ivy gin and tonic

Post show Kath had made a dinner reservation at the Ivy in Spinningfields. Neither of us had been before and you have to book weeks if not months in advance. I wasn’t sure if the food would live up to the hype, fortunately it did. I had a tuna carpaccio starter. Followed by blackened cod served on a banana leaf. We started with a Ivy special gin and tonic at the bar, then had a bottle of Cava with the meal. The food was exquisite so many flavours, and the service was pretty special too. I mentioned to the waitress that it is Kath’s birthday next week and she brought out a little cake

Happy birthday Kath

Hardwired

Kath and I got tickets to go and see Metallica at the Ethihad stadium in Manchester. I had been trying to see them a few years ago at the arena

The playlist was awesome a mixture of their latest album hardwired to self destruct along with some of their greatest hits. Finishing with an encore of Nothing else matters and enter sandman.

They even played a version of the Stone Roses I want to be adored which was awesome as we had seen the Stone Roses at this stadium a few years ago.

It was typical Manchester weather with the rain coming down but the band played on Lars hammering the drum knocking water into the air from the cymbals.

Our seats were the cheapest so we were right at the back of the stadium it felt at moments as if we were watching people watching a gig, but with he visual effect and the huge screens not to mention the excellent sound set up we mostly rocked out to the music.

Penny Lane

Friday was the wedding of Dan and Kate. The ceremony took place at Our Lady of Compassion Church in Formby near to Kates family home. It was a picturesque setting. Ian gave Dan a lift in his newly refurbished RS Turbo. He looked very dapper with the groomsmen.

The reception was at the Titanic hotel in Liverpool, there was a bus taking us back for to the church from there. The Titanic used to be a warehouse and has been rather tastefully converted to a spa hotel. Next door is a massive building which used to be a tobacco warehouse, its int he process of being converted into accommodation. I imagine they will be very smart apartments when completed.

Inside the Titanic

Tobacco warehouse

The rooms in the titanic are huge. We took a standard room and it was huge, a large bed sofa and char. In fact the bathroom (which actually had a bath) was bigger than some hotels rooms I have stayed in!

The reception itself was held in a room off the hotel lobby and bar area. Dinner was lovely, was had salmon pate to start then chicken with a rather generous helping pudding, lovely!It was really nicely decked out with themed tables. Kath and I were sat with Nina, and some of Dan's family. Bruce unfortunately could not make it thanks to tonsillitis. We had a great evening catching up with various people. Paul and Saskia were there with Phoebe in toe. Joe came along as did Ian, Helen and Nick and Charlotte. Everyone seem to be on top form.

After some dancing, chatting eating and enjoyment, including a guy drawing caricatures. We enjoyed many drinks at the rum bar. They make a mean old fashioned. We had a nice sleep the bed was comfortable and the room was dark.

Saturday Kath and I had planned to go to parkrun but the cocktails put paid to that idea so instead after a relaxed breakfast (they had an omelette chef!) we headed to Liverpool to see some of the sites, then for a walk around Speke hall. Overall a lovely weekend catching up with friends and celebrating Dan and Kate.

This life

Post parkrun

Friday Kath had a training day in York, so we took the opportunity and booked an AirBnB for a weekend trip there. I met her in York catching the train after finishing work. I managed to get an advanced ticket in first class for only £18. I met Kath at the station and we headed to a Napalese resturant for some MoMos, yum! Our B&B was a converted garage, it had a comfortable bed and a good shower.

Saturday morning we woke up refreshed and made a short drive to York racecourse for York parkrun. The course made 1.75 laps of the racecourse and was very well attended.

After ward we headed into York to the Jorvik Viking centre. I hadn't been since I was a teenager and had forgotton how good and pungent it is. Afterwards we found the excellent Polish restaurant Barbakan for what turned out to be the best peirogi I have eaten in the UK. 

Moody sky from the Clifton tower

Practising swordplay at Clifton tower

After lunch we took a walk round the walls of the city, then popped up the Clifton tower then on to York minster. After which we had a sit on a boat taking a trip up and down the river Ouse. In the evening taking a walking Ghost tour of the city with a rather humorous actor.

Overall a lovely trip, we stopped in again at Barbakan for breakfast before heading off back home.

I Don't Know

Kath and I just made it home from a short trip to the Lake District. We managed to find an excellent airbnb a short stroll from the centre of Bowness-on-Windermere. It was a very picturesque setting from where we were able to have several adventures.

We arrived on Thursday, Kath having worked the night before, the cottage was lovely and only a short walk into Bowness village. We spent the afternoon wandering round and sampling a few of the local bars. Ended up eating at one of the Indian restaurants in the village, I didn't find the food very enjoyable. We made up for it with a couple of cocktails afterwards. Thank heavens for happy hour!

On Friday we set out on a short boat trip across the bay from Bowness to Ferry House. From there there is a lovely walk along the lakeside Wray Castle stopping off to take the view from Claife viewing station on the route.

Viewing station

View from Wray Castle

Enjoying a cocktail at the Arts bar

 Our local bar was called the Arts bar and grill, they did an excellent happy hour (actually happy 3 hours) 4-7 on weeknights with cheap cocktails, the staff were friendly and the atmosphere good.

For dinner we found excellent Italian restaurant Villa Positano. It felt like an actual Italian restaurant and they did a super cantuccini, belissimo!

On Saturday we made it to Fell Foot park to take part in the parkrun there. It is a spectacular park with views across the lake and was a really friendly parkrun.

After a shower and change we took a boat trip to Lakeside at the bottom of Windermere. At Lakeside we had a wonder around the small but expertly crafted aquarium. There is also a small steam railway there where you can take a trip to Haverthwaite Station and back.

For dinner we headed to Hyltons for a steak, the service was outstanding and our steaks were cooked to perfection, would highly recommend.

We will definitely be getting back, as there are so many things left to see and experience there!

Cantuccini at Villa Positano

Pure comedy

Pure comedy opened the evening for Father John Misty at the O2 Apollo on Sunday. I had gone with Kath after discovering Father John Misty thanks to Jo Whiley.  She was interviewing him one night after I had dropped Kath off in Chester before she had her car.

Father John really knows how to keep the crowd entertained with his music. I was impressed as a solo artist that he shared the stage with so many other musicians, there a was a string quartet, a couple of brass players as well as the usual keyboard and drums.

The setlist was impressive covering all his albums. There were some frightening visuals to accompany the songs from Pure Comedy. I really enjoyed the show. The crowd was full of die hard fans singing along, which was nice, not just an event to be there as some concerts have become.

Something about Father John reminds me of Radiohead. I'm not sure if its the electronic sounds or the choice of images, or a combination but I could hear something of the Hail to the Thief era sound in there.

In a way he also reminded my of my friend Paul back in his Australian days playing songs like mean to be mean. They have similar mannerisms and something androgynous in their nature.

Fat lad at the back

Kath enjoying the Carrs park home of Wilmslow parkrun

Fat lad at the back is a brand which set out to normalise the increasing trend for middle age men to start out cycling, the most rotund mamil at the back to the peloton. Cycling isn't my passion, I only have the odd jaunt out and sometimes venture to work. For the last couple of years my passion has been running.

Well I say running, despite taking part in numerous events from 5km to 42.2km I'm only a middling runner, almost the equivalent of the fat lad at the parkrun. For me its all about the freedom to clear my mind and enjoy myself. The last month has been tough I got a virus after Berlin and to be honest it made me lose my love running. In the lsat few weeks its been more of a chore. This morning is Saturday, parkrun day. I woke up early morning with Kasia, she had to get to work for a long shift. It was raining and I felt tired. Somehow in between 6am and 8.30am the rain left and I decided to get myself out of bed. I haven't made it to parkrun for a while due to illness and other things (like lazyness!). Until the run actually started I regretted the decision then suddenly trudging along, I realised I was enjoying it. The path was damp and muddy but the winter sun illuminated the park bringing out the colours of the fallen leaves.

I made it round in about the parkrun average time of 27 minutes give or take, slow for me quick for some. I enjoyed myself though, I wasn't pushing for a pb so I was able to relax and enjoy myself. I hope I can scrap myself out of bed more often.

Ich bin ein Berliner

Race number at the ready

This weekend Kath and I headed to Berlin Germany so that I could take part in the 44th Berlin marathon.

We flew out on Thursday night after I finished work, taking an EasyJet flight to Berlin Schönefeld airport. From there we bought a train ticket and took the S-bahn then U-bahn trains to our hotel the Berlin Mitte located two U-Bahn stops from Potsdamer Platz.

The Marathon Expo was being held just opposite the hotel at Station Berlin so it made picking up my number really easy. The Expo was full of clothing, displays of different marathons all over the world and some assorted oddities. Main sponsor BMW had plenty of cars to show off, they were big on electric and hybrid vehicles, including a rather tasty i8 safety car for the marathon.

While in Berlin we had the opportunity to meet up with Anya and Sylvio again. They took us on a walking and even a boat tour so that we could experience all the aspects of Berlin. Berlin is a pretty marvellous city with plenty of fantastic buildings and hip and trendy eateries. Its also very easy to navigate with a comprehensive tube and rail network criss crossing the city

Post marathon

The Marathon was on Sunday, I was pretty apprehensive about it as with the house move and general life which seemed extremely on the go over last 6 months, meant that I trained less than for the previous marathon in Manchester. So much so that I was worried that I would have to walk for significant portions. Fortunately with the crowd and some help from the multipower and sugar high drinks handed out every few miles I managed a reasonable 4:42:34. It is 12 minutes slower than Manchester but still I think respectable. The last 10km were at times the toughest I have done with my whole body feeling tired, I just about managed to keep going by doing a fartlek. The last 500 meters took me under the Brandeburg Tor to the finish line was simply a blur! At the end I got my medal and downed a Erdhinger alcohol free beer (erm I mean isotonic drink). There had been a place about 1km from the end of the race handing out shots of Jagermeister but I didn't partake, not sure that I would have made it to the end.

Post marathon celebration

Kath, Anya and Sylvio were waiting for me at the end, it was great to see them but I was s exhausted I could hardly speak. Anya provided delicious high protein sandwiches which definitely made the recovery easier. After a quick trip back to the hotel for a shower we headed out for dinner. They took us to a traditional beer halle where the staff wore Bavarian outfits. It is just before Oktoberfest so we celebrated with 1 litre steins of beer and I had some currywurst.

The day after the marathon I was feeling very delicate, my legs turned to jelly, descending stairs proving especially difficult! Kath and I headed into city centre a final time to get a band engraved with my time at the Adidas store then a final meal before heading back home to Manchester.

Seller of flowers

Kath and I managed to spend a weekend together. We decided to put the house on hold for a while and enjoy ourselves.

Friday night we had a few beers and watched Arrival on Amazon prime. I enjoyed it though I found it hard to believe Jeremy Renner as a scientist.

Saturday Kath and I went for a walk around the Carrs park, mostly avoiding the rain. Then off to the Trafford Centre for a meal at Tampopo. I had Laksa which was very nice spicy Asian noodle soup with prawns muscles and chicken. After the food we headed to the Odeon to watch Baby Driver. It was a great film about a young driver sucked into a world of crime, and ultimately his redemption after finding the women of his dreams. The sound track was excellent and it starred, Kevin Spacey as a kingpin and John Hamm as a down and dirty criminal.

Today I did my training run 26km, then after a shower we had a nice bbq. It was great to be able to spend some quality time together.

Eastern revive

It is funny how life can be circular, sometimes people that you loose touch with come back into your life later down the line. On Monday evening we went out for dinner with Laura, Colin, Ian, Helen, Bruce and Nina. Laura was someone I used to see so often when I was in my late teens, but then we lost touch for many years. It has been nice to catch up and meet her new partner Colin.

The venue was Eastern Revive in Wilmslow. This is an Indian that Kath and I had never tried. Previously the Ayo Gurkhali was our favourite Indian (well, Nepalese) of choice but unfortunately it closed a few months ago.

In spite of the drizzle Kath and I made the 15 minute walk to the restaurant. It is finally starting to pay off living so close to the centre of Wilmslow.

I ordered the Eastern Revive Jalfrezi which was spicy and tasty. Kath ordered Dal Gosht Karahi, which she enjoyed. Colin also had the Jalfrezi which I think proved a little more spicy than he would have liked. Conversation was easy, Ian and Helen had just returned from a short trip to the south coast, where of all things Ian found a Newfoundland dog show.

We chatted so long that we ended up being the last people in the shop. The waiter was good fun and had a good banter.

Automobiles to the Grand Hotel

Thursday was Kaths birthday, she had been working all day doing the inductions for her new job in Leeds so rather than go out I picked up a sushi platter from Zumu Sushi in Wilmslow and a bottle of Champagne. it made for a great evening together.

Friday Kath was working but I had the day off to go to a track day near York. Phil had bought them for Bruce and myself for our birthdays but it had taken a while to organise the date.

We all had a drive in two supercars, mine was a Ferrari F430 and a Porshe 911. We also got a high speed lap round the track driven by a racing driver.

The Car driving was fun, but with only a couple of laps it was hard to find a groove. I enjoyed the Ferrari more to drive but the Porshe I can imagine as more a practical car to own. Getting in and out of the Ferrari was a chore.

After the driving day we headed off to Wagamama at the designer outlet for lunch. I really enjoyed a Pad Thai and some gyoza.

Saturday Kath and I headed to Birmingham. I got us tickets to see Regina Spektor at the Birmingham Symphony hall. It was the 4th time I had seen her. The first time in many years, and her style has changed somewhat. She has did a very professional set with backup musicians, a far cry to the night Phil and I saw her at the academy 3 in Manchester where she boasted about buying a chair for a pound on which tap out the beat to "poor little rich boy".

There was a very diverse group of people for the gig, very different to the recent performances we had attended. It was a great atmosphere though. Regina played a really nice mix of material from across her albums, even doing an encore of Sampson.

Kath and I really enjoyed the performance, we made a night of it dining at Carluccio's in the nearby canal side development. Packet with bars and restaurants it made for a very pleasant evening.

Foo fighters

Thursday in Gdynia, we awoke late head still buzzing from the Radiohead set, setting out to grab breakfast from Trafik we ate lazily and anticipated seeing the Foo Fighters later today.

Feeling quite tired we had a lazy afternoon, taking the funicular to Kamienna Góra. There is a great view out of the city and out to the sea.

We headed out to the festival in time to watch the start of Jimmy eat world at the tent stage, before heading to the main stage to catch the Kills, then back to the tent stage to catch a bit of MIA. I can't say I enjoyed MIA it seemed to me she turned up the base to cover the fact she couldn't sing. We left before she made her announcement that she had deleted her twitter account. All before Foo Fighters.

Foo fighters were incredible, this is the forth time I have seen them and they never disappoint. We managed to get a lot further forward than at Radiohead. Their set was really nice with fan favorites including the Pretender and Monkey wrench. Dave Grohl even did a solo from their new album with the Kills front women Alison Mossheart. Titled 'La Dee Da' Grol and Mossheart shared the mike to sing the chorus.

 Grohl gave it everything but by the last couple of songs his voice was going, he joked that Radiohead had played a 6 hour set but he didn't have time for that!