Taking it easy today.
Trip to pick Dan up from Darley and take him to Ible in the evening.

Woken by wedding coverage on the radio so escaped to Robin Hood's Stride, followed by a trip to Serenity cafe.

Here is the result of my attempt to video the Lincoln Green Circuit on my phone. The odd dog shot, camera falling over or pointing in slightly the wrong direction I think adds to the character!

Lincoln Green Circuit from Tim on Vimeo.

A day taking it easy with a little DIY in the kitchen putting up a shelf or two.

PJ Harvey with a crow on her head . . .  wonderful

Weather looking a little iffy first thing so packed warm clothes and waterproofs and started off with a walk on Stanton Moor.  Weather then improved so headed to Robin Hoods Stride for a picnic, followed by a full weaselling circuit.  I then bumped into a few of the Wirksworth wall folk that I'd not seen in a long while and got involved in a short section of the Lincoln Green Circuit.  Will have to come back and try the whole circuit at some point.  Finished off the day with a pint at the Miners then home for a curry.  A fab day which when it started I thought was going to be a struggle as I was feeling wiped out.

Trip to Wildcat today with Dave.  A couple of routes off the 'pink pages' Great Cleft and Sunset Creek.  Some giant bracket fungi, bluebells and a dead badger.  It's a longtime since I've climbed on Wildcat and a lot of the less popular routes and in fact whole buttresses are overgrown.

Not surprisingly feeling very tired in the evening.  Letter received from GP today with a prescription and copy of a note from the Gastroenterologist suggesting I start my medication again.  So I'll start the aspirin and make an appointment for a chat as I've not had the results of the blood tests yet.

 A quick trip to Ogmore as the tide was coming in, before returning back home to Derby. 

Ferns delivered this morning to Dyffryn Gardens where they'll end up in the new glasshouse.

Trip to Newton Beach today Peggy had lots of exercise swimming.

Sand construction inspired by Andy Goldsworthy  holes although everyone else thought it was a man trap.

A hot and sunny day spent at Rest Bay.  A picnic, short walk with Peggy, lots of lying in the sun and a brief body boarding session.  Major sand and water engineering by Dan and Dave.

Trip down to Cardiff today with a jungle of ferns in the back of the car.  Lottie and Dan kindly ferried down by Dave and Kerry.  Left Derby in bright sunshine to be greeted by rain in Cardiff.

Doesn't look like I've any ill effects from yesterdays trip out bar a few grazes.  Long day in the office then breaking up for Easter.  The hop has grown over 70cm since Sunday, and only seems to want to twist in a clockwise direction.

Morning in the office, then a little work at home before heading out to Gardoms North for a boulder with Dave and Simon.  Fabulous evening, probably not the best conditions for Gardom slopers but we had the place to ourselves.  Started with a snooze in the sun while I waited for them to arrive, then we managed about eight problems, before calling it a day.  Pleased to manage the left hand version of Marks Roof,  and a number of things I hadn't done previously.

No breakfast today and only water to drink as after a morning in the office it was time for another trip to the Royal, this time for a Gastroscopy. Stomach discomfort seems to have returned this morning which I suppose is a good thing.  Still undecided if I should opt for the sedation, I ended up chatting to the doctor who was going to preform the procedure about my swallowing issues and in the end decided to try with just the Lidocaine Spray to the back of the throat.  I must say the staff were brilliant and very reassuring, although I'm not sure the comment about how tall I was helped much.  I didn't keep my eyes open and gagged a few times and although its not a procedure I'd rush to do again, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  The good news was they didn't find any problems, except for a small sliding hiatus hernia.   The gap in my diaphragm is a little wider than normal so it allows a little of my stomach into the lower chest, which in turn allows acid upwards.  Not sure that this is responsible for my stomach discomfort but a little Gaviscon should sort it out if needed.  Half an hour after the procedure I was allowed tea and biscuits before seeing the discharge nurse. She supplied me with a leaflet on helpful advice to reduce symptoms of a hiatus hernia, such as avoiding excess tea, coffee, alcohol, currys and tight fitting clothes!   Just have to wait a couple of weeks now for the consultant to send the GP the results of the blood test.

Feeling good this morning.  1276m on the rowing machine, bettering February's high score and a steady pace on the treadmill with little stomach discomfort.

Off to the allotment today after breakfast in the garden.  A little more work on the pond then a break while I collect Lottie from her 'sleep over' no sleep involved apparently!  Then back home, where I started constructing a rough trellis for the hop which has just started to appear again.  I swear it grows every time you turn your back on it, must have grown over 4 inches today.
Interesting evening with a fire in next doors kitchen resulting in a street full of fire engines and firemen.

Day at Starkholmes finding all sorts of nuggets of childhood.

Back to pick a very tired Dan up.  He's been lugging a heavy weight school tent around the Derbyshire countryside in true DofE style, will have to try and get them to take something a little more lightweight next time.

Lottie baking in anticipation of a 'sleep over' no sleep guaranteed with this quantity of chocolat.

Dan off on an early start for his DofE training expedition this morning and Lottie in for a GCSE Art exam.  Easy morning at Heavy workshop followed by an hour of relaxing Shiatsu for me.  Home for some work in the afternoon.

Struggling this morning.  A few hours in the office and a trip to the employee conference at the Assembly Rooms, before heading home for a sleep, before a little light reading of reports.

 Time for this months tunes

aprilselect

 Lee Perry – Used To Drive A Tractor In Negrille (Remix)
Simon & Garfunkel – Keep The Customer Satisfied
Cornershop – Topknot
Found – Anti Climb Paint
Primal Scream – Movin' On Up
Discodeine – Synchronize - Radio Edit [Digital Exclusive]
Michael Franti – The Sound Of Sunshine (Album Version)
Ghostpoet – Liiines
Ghostpoet – Cash and Carry Me Home - Original
The Gentle Good – Aubade
Ladytron – Destroy Everything You Touch
Anna Calvi – Rider To The Sea
Altrice – Siphon Away
Connan Mockasin – Forever Dolphin Love
Wailing Souls – Things And Time
Blind Lemon Jefferson – Broke and Hungry
Debruit – Lil Zurna
Jimmy Cliff – Peace Officer
Charles Aznavour – She
Derrick – Sesame Street
Scotty – Draw Your Brakes
Beardyman – And He Saw That It Was Good
Beardyman – Twist Your Ankal (Al Jolson's Pondering Minstrel Edit)
Beardyman – If Only

Morning in the office then a few sites on the way home, plus an evening site visit. Not feeling too bad today.

Heavy workshop better than Friday but still feeling knackered.  Dan spent the evening on the river having more Slalom training.

Karin is working at the allotment shop this morning, so after a bit of a lie in bed we headed out to meet her and release the tadpoles into Dan's wildlife pond.

Most of the day spent up at Starkholmes.  Feeling pretty wiped out so mainly sitting around in the sun for me.  Dan discovered a newt and frog in the pond and tried out the old hire skis from Edale YH.

A struggle at Heavy workshop this morning then back home to do a little work.  Evening trip out to Alport heights with fish and chips, to make the most of the sun.  Field of daffodils discovered on way home so we had to stop for a picture.

Morning in the office then home in the afternoon.  Call from Karin results in a quick trip round the new road to view the sunset. The new view from the top of Mercian Way seems to be a hit. Spotted someone preforming their Tai Chi here on the grass the other morning.

Morning in the office.  Home via a visit to see Karin at the allotment.  Daffodils looking very fine.

 one of the many advantages of Karin being at home :-)

Heavy workshop hard going today no rowing machine, and only a brisk walk on the treadmill.  Home for a nap than working from home.  More Slalom training on the river for Dan even though it was  a bit cold and miserable tonight.

Mothers day spent tree felling. No injuries and little collateral damage so reckon it was a success.  News on the fox cub here plus more pictures guaranteed to make you go arrh.

 Up to Starkholmes today to sort a few things out.  Peggy was barking at something in the old cellar under the garage and after crawling in we found this small bundle of fur.  Unsure as to exactly what is was puppy, baby badger, but a call to the Vets confirmed it was a baby fox, only a couple of weeks old.  Returned to the cellar with the hope that its mother would return to collect it.

Although still feeling tired Heavy Workshop went OK with 1239m on the rowing machine, then home for a nap.  Plans to go into the office this afternoon are shelved and work from home instead.