On a Two Bacon Roll Day at the Gym

Today has definately been a two bacon roll day at the gym.

(For the record, a standard day at the gym is a no bacon roll day).

Bit of a puzzler as I was feeling quite energetic when I got up and excited about doing some lifting. However, by the time I got to the gym my legs had decided that they had basically peaked getting out of my pyjamas. We did some warm ups at 60 kgs but even then it was apparant that my legs (if not my heart) just weren't in it today. It's always either a bad sign or a good sign when my PT asks me about my energy levels. Kept at it, did some assymetric lifts at 60 kgs before moving up to my working range of 100 kgs. Which was just hard. So we stopped early and shifted to some overhead presses. That was fine. Moved quickly up the weight range, helped I think by my experience lifting the Captain over my head.

Tried some elementary body weight work but by then my legs had given up so we did some upper body stuff on the TRX. Which was fine. A curious day when my legs weren't up for it but most of the rest of me was.

PT recommended a hearty breakfast so I stopped of at Gregs for a brace of bacon sandwiches.

I'm pleased to be working my arms. I feel they are the least developed part of me (including my tummy, which, if it is anything, is certainly well developed). They don't get a huge amount of exercise from the deadlifting as the weight is more or less suspended statically from the arms. Pressed 30 kgs. I could easily do 40 kgs right now, perhaps 50 kgs. So I think my short term plan for the gym is to properly lock in 140 kgs as my top weight and solidify my working weight at 110-120 kgs and then work on my arms.

The incredibly impressive pull up lady was doing clean and jerk overhead presses. These involve dropping the weighted bar on the ground after the lift. Which is loud. I mean, LOUD! and a bit distracting when it is happening just outside one's peripheral vision.

On Birthdays and Sports

It was my birthday at the weekend. It was a fairly quiet affair as it mostly coincided with the return of the Captain's football and rugby and also quite a lot of rain. Lots of rain. Endless rain.

MLW and the Captain made me a lovely chocolate birthday cake. My dad pitched up with the now traditional bottles of Scotch.

I spent most of the weekend building some Ikea furniture for the Captain's bedroom. I quite like building Ikea furniture.

The Captain's football started up again. His team won their 4-a-side 11-1 which was a bit disheartening for the opposition. One of whom is the son of a fellow Breakfast Clubber who had to go and have a word about sulking. All fathers have their cross children to bear.

Also a return to rugby. Decent numbers for the first weekend back and given the weather. We started on tackling and learnt our tackling mantra. Say it with me.

Eye to Thigh

Foot in the Hoop

Cheek to Cheek

Should Boulder

Bands of Steel

(Position, Possession, *Pace*, Penetration.)

The kids were really, really good at the tackling drills. I also applaud our head coaches attack strategy.

Finished watching Unforgotten. I fear that Nicola Walker might be taking a break from the series. Looking forward to the return of Ozarks in a few weeks. Listened to the first part of Simon Armitage's dramatisation of the Odyysey.

Pottered about. Keep up to date on my pal's Ultramarathon from Stranraer to Dunbar. Pottered about a bit more.

On Strictly 2018 - Initial Thoughts on the Contestants

It's August and like the slowly spinning wheels of time, the wheels of time have spun slowly to the phased release of the Strictly Come Dancing contestants for 2018. Her follows my by now habitual first look at the runners (if not the riders) and some early thoughts on which one of Kate Silverton is going to win.

This year features a veritable and verifiable number of celebrities, with several whom I recognised. In fact, I'd go further, there is a good chance that I could have told you something about a majority of this year's contestants before I looked them up on Wikipedia.


Katie Piper

We're not messing about, we're straight in with a genuinely inspiring hero, Katie Piper. Piper was the victim of several assualts by a boyfriend stalker, including an attack with acid. Since then she's had facial reconstruction surgery and gone on to a career in television, radio and print. I'm not familiar with her work but it sounds like she has grit. Best odds to win are 16/1.

Danny John-Jules

I saw someone on Princes Street wearing a London Jets t-shirt. That's an omen I thought to myself.


At 57 Danny John-Jules will be amongst the older contestant in Strictly history. Known for his role as Duane Dibley in the popular and long running British science-fiction comedy series, Red Dwarf he has recently expanded his role by playing Dwayne Myers in Death in Paradise. A crucial fact about Danny John-Jules is that before he became a British science fiction icon he was a dancer in musical theatre including being in the original cast of Starlight Express. Dwany John-Jules is a professional dancer, in his late 50's. Just saying. Not saying there is *anything* wrong with that. Merely pointing out that the last older contestant with iconic family favourite status and a deep history of professional dance was the Lovely Debbie McGee, who finished third and started out the betting last year at 25/1.

The Lovely Danny John-Jules is 10/1 to win.

Faye Tozer

Faye (from Steps) Tozer is from Steps, the 90's pop sensation. Unlike the Lovely Danny John-Jules, Faye from Steps, managed to break out of the Top 20 and reach Number One in the singles chart, twice. She was a frequent guest on Never Mind the Buzzcocks where her interactions with Mark Lamarr became a thing of legend.

A little know fact about me is that I have appeared on stage as Faye from Steps. Of the two of us I had more musical credibility and better legs.

If you feel the need to bet on Faye from Steps then you can at 8/1.

Joe Suggs

For a fleeting yet joyous moment I thought this might be Graeme MacPherson from Madness and that we might be treated to some rock steady beats. But alas, no. Joe Suggs makes his living falling over on YouTube. There is no shame in that, if Charlie Chaplin were alive today he'd be 129 and probably as baffled by people making their living on YouTube as I am. I know nothing about Joe Suggs. Less than nothing. My bafflement at his existance is clouding my ability to take in any actual facts about him.

Best odds to win are 12/1.

Vick Hope

Not being a great listener to commercial radio in London I had no idea who Vick Hope is. I still don't. My initial reaction was that Phil Vickery was a brave choice for Strictly. Bets can be placed on Vick Hope at 8/1.

Dr Ranj Singh

Doctor Ranj. I mean your actual Doctor Ranj. Long before Doctors Xand Chris were out of med school Doctor Ranj was reassuring muppets that their unsightly acne was just a phase and producing life saving videos. Childrens television legend. Most fancied children's television presenter according to MumsNet. The mums of MumsNet are out of luck as Dr Ranj is gay. He won't be allowed (or perhaps "allowed") to dance with a man but he is, I think, still the first openly gay male contestant on Strictly.

Odds are 18/1.

Stacey Dooley

Investigates. Apparantly. I could have told you this but I think I mistook her for my least favourite television presenter at first pass. It was a blessed relief to discover it wasn't her. Or rather that it was her and not someone else. Anyhow, I'm not sure how well making undercover documentaries about child labour and women in developing countries will translate to Strictly. There seems no obvious reason to think she'll do well and I worry that she might be at risk in the first week.

16/1 is the best odds on her to win at the moment.

Graham Swann

Aka Doctor Comfort of Doctor Comfort and the Lurid Revalations. However, I do not believe he is a doctor of medicine, or even philosophy.

England Cricketers have a good record on Strictly having won Series 2 and 3, although Phil Tufnell and Michael Vaughan did less well. Currently not well fancied at 25/1.


Ashley Roberts

A theme is emerging this year. Ashley Roberts is none of the people I first thought she might. Nor, when I looked her up, was she in Pussy Riot. Former Pussycat Doll (and not Russian feminist activist) Ashely Roberts left the Pussycat Dolls when everyone else did but shortly before Nicole Sherzinger. Before she was a pop icon with the singing sensations the Pussycat Dolls, Roberts was in the Pussycat Dolls, a modern burlesque dance troupe. That's right folks, this years other former professional dancer is former professional dancer Ashley (Dolls, not Riot) Roberts. She's the current favourite at 5/1 - at least she is until she gets paired up with Anton.

Kate Silverton

Utility news reader Kate Silverton fills the customery BBC News Reader Slot at Strictly this year. Along with Natasha Kaplinsky, Susanah Reid and Sophie Raworth she has regularly fonted BBC Children in Need News Readers Dance Routine. This does not make her a professional dancer. She's rumoured to be ambitious. This also does not make her a professional dancer. The thinking man's Natasha Kaplinsky she is priced at 20/1



Sean Walsh

Queens Park Rangers fan Sean Walsh is also a comedian. Which is all wikipedia has to say about him. I've not been able to cross reference QPR fans and Strictly performances but no football player has ever been any good at Strictly. Sean can be backed at 20/1.

Lauren Steadman

Lauren Steadman is an athelete and para-Olympian. This is usually a plus point. However, she's a cyclist, like Victoria Pendleton. This omens less well than a London Jets t-shirt. Ladbrooks have her at 14/1.

Lee Ryan

From Blue. 8/1.

Charles Venn

Charles Venn has passed me by. He may as well have lived and worked in vain. I am told he has plowed a rich furrow as an actor in Eastenders and Casualty, the only two programmes I am less likely to watch than Doctor Who. If there were a way of representing diagromatically my experience of Charles Venn it would show no overlap between us. Given his background and voting base I'm expecting great things from him. The bookies agree and price him at 8/1.

Susannah Constantine

One half, but both breasts, of Trinny and Susannah Make You Wear Clothes that Fit You, Constatine is posh. Properly posh. Posher than the Pussycat Dolls. So posh, in fact, that she nearly appeared on bank notes. Rarely straying far from long time collaborator Tinny Woodhall I'll be fascinated to see how Constantine copes with being paired up with Anton Du Beke. The bookies have her recorded at 33/1. I disagree, I think Du Beke has a big following all of his own.

I think the value betting lies with the Lovely Danny John-Jules. Lee Ryan, Dr Ranj, Kate Silverton and Ashely Roberts to make the final four.