Christmas Events In Skegness This Year

An awful lot of hardwork has gone into this year's Christmas events in Skegness, in which I include the Victorian?Hungarian market. Things appear to have been a lot busier as a result of the extra effort. Have you been to any of the events? What did you think?

The Switch On And The Carnival - Skegness

Unfortunately, this year I was not able to attend either of these iconic events in the Skegness calendar. From what I have been told they were both excellently well organised, enjoyable and successful. For that I think we need to say a big thank you and well done to those people who volunteered to do all of the work necessary to ensure that was the case. So well done to all of those who put their own time in either front-of- house or in the background. Special big thanks to those people associated with SECHWA, for all their work regarding the switch-on and for the Skegness Carnival Committee for all their work relating to not only the Carnival Parade but also the Carnival week that is still ongoing.

These events are very big commitments indeed and take a lot of work. I am sure those involved could always do with some helping hands. Maybe you could give some help next year? Well worth it and very rewarding.

In Limbo At The Moment!!

What a strange feeling. After the euphoria of being involved in the Olympics, I am now at home waiting to go back to the Paralympics. So now in a hollow between to periods of huge excitement. If the Paralympics turns out to be half as good as the Olympics, something that I personally feel will be an understatement, then it is going to be fantastic. Only slight downside to it all is that my shifts are all for the run up to the Paras and I actually finish the day before the Paras begin. Think I will have to ensure that I hang around for a couple of days after my shifts finish and see what I can get to watch with my "access all venues" accreditation pass. Keeping my fingers crossed.

NO TESCO EXTENSION FOR SKEGNESS!

I was informed by a local resident, James Hardaker, that he had been told by Tesco that there were no longer any plans for an extension to their store here in Skegness.

I contacted Tesco personally and have also been told that there are no plans to extend the store "for the foreseeable future".

I was somewhat surprised by this as I was twice part of the Planning Committee at East Lindsey District Council that considered this application.

So there you are folks. Whether you viewed the proposed extension as a good thing or a bad thing, it is not now going to happen.

Save The Green Man!!! Save My Sanity!!!

Now listen it has gone too far okay? All the Politically Correct nonsense. What am I talking about, I will tell you.

New road crossing signs, provided by the County Council, have appeared in several parts of the county telling people to "Only Cross The Road With The Green Figure". What? Why?

It is a Green Man for heaven's sake, always has been and always will be.

A Green Man not a Green Figure!! Got that? Good!!

Thank You All

Well that is almost it. Another year gone. What a year it has been for many reasons. All in all I have enjoyed 2011 on a personal basis and I am looking forward to 2012.

I have enjoyed putting together this blog although I have not posted as many articles as I would have liked to have done. Some may say that is a good thing!! I do intend to be more productive in the coming year, so be warned!

I would like to say thank you to those of you that have taken the time to read my scribblings and I hope that you have gained some enjoyment and some interest from them. I would be posting my thoughts etc. whether or not anybody was reading them but the thousands of hits that this has produced is very, very gratifying indeed.

I wish all of you, whether a regular reader or not, the very best for 2012 and I will, hopefully, see you in the New Year.

Done With Running - Well Running Has Done With Me!

After 8 months or so of trying to get back to running I reckon that it is a no-go! Right knee just does not seem to want to know anymore. Doesn't appear to be too much wrong with it, well not more than normal anyway, no swelling, just had enough I guess. Very painful if I try to run on it for any length of time. Looks like the end of an era. Not going down the surgery route as I have had enough of that for sure!

In the past I have run as much as 90 miles a week when in full flight and now I can't run 2 miles at a time. Running has always been my preferred fitness regime, as I find nearly all other exercise very boring. So what now? I can't go on as I am as my weight has reached over 15 and a half stone. Hate the thought of actually going on a diet as I have never had to do that before, other than a see-food diet, being able to see food and eat it!

Got to so something; but what?

Looks like it is going to be a whole load of gym work. Don't like the thought but that looks like the only option to me. Don't mind swimming but that doesn't appear to do my knee a whole lot of good either. That may be down to swimming when I have already tried the running, so I will give that another go as well.

What about the cricket? Will I manage that next season? Reckon the batting will be okay but as for the bowling, who knows? Is that enough to allow me to be selected? Only time will tell I guess.

As I say, I have to do something to get some fitness back if only for the good of my health. Not looking forward to the options left to me though!!! Cest La Vie.