From the virtual to the real

Strava is a great site for tracking my cycling and running exploits (if that is not too grand a term) and I was delighted to have a group of new virtual friends, even if they all seemed to ride quicker than I did. However to have found some of my real life friends (with whom I have broken bread and drunk Guinness in various European capital cities) on Garmin Connect has made me even happier (check out ajdobrien at http://connect.garmin.com/). After the last ride of 2012 today up the Col de St. Ignace, I start 2013 with some real life sporting friends even if many thousands of kilometers separates us and our training rides. Now to get my cousin and brothers all Garmin'd up! 

New Year's Resolution #1

...Remove all bits of titanium from my body in 2013...lucky then that earlier today I planned the operation to remove the plate from my left forearm for Friday 18th January. I had the plate put in a couple of years ago after a fall with Quolchique Saint Aubin which resulted in a triple fracture. The operation to remove it will require an overnight stay, although it will be performed using only a local anesthetic. I actually had a similar fall and break about 6 years ago. At that time the operation required a general anesthetic and the recovery was much more difficult. Two years ago I remember being struck by how medicine had moved on in only 4 years as I watched the anesthetist put my arm to sleep one nerve at a time over a period of 30 minutes or so. In a weird sort of way, I'm intrigued to see what happens in a couple of weeks.

Management guff but they found my Achilles heel

I received this motivational link from a colleague...I was naturally going to ask for the sick bowl, until I found out that over-achievers like lists....ah, lists, my precious lists...http://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2012/12/28/13-things-overachievers-do/ and http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2012/12/25/15-things-overachievers-do/

Toto the click

I’ve been riding the same horse Pich de Toulven for the last couple of years. Despite his undoubted qualities he’s a complex beast, and he himself has also evolved and matured quite significantly since we first struck up our partnership. As with many things in life one can always justify the mediocre results one might achieve; in the case of Pich things such as the double change of jobs, the arrival of twins, and the lack of sleep are all too easy to call out. However about a month ago, shortly after my last inauspicious show, it seemed like something clicked, I had what I like to call an epiphany moment (my coach Michel prefers to say, “oih, l’irlandais, have you finally understood what I’ve been telling you for two years, or was that just a stroke of luck?”). 

As much as every horse has a different morphology, there seem to be a set of basic principles that have to be applied (in different doses) to all horses; rebound in the canter, a horse balanced on both shoulders coming out of the corner, a little check as you start the final run into the jump, lifting up the horse’s head to lower his hindquarters, the application of a bit of leg pressure in the last few slides, soft hands over the jump, and for me, making sure my legs stay in place as I come down on the other side.  The last month has seen me manage to put all these different elements together on Pich with some pleasing results. However it was only when I rode Toto the trotter earlier today did things really start to sink in. From an equine morphology point of view, Toto is the polar opposite of Pich. However Michel insisted that the same principles applied to both horses, all I had to do was to find the different mix of doses for this new mount. It took me a few minutes but afterwards the lesson was learnt, and indeed this afternoon’s session will undoubtedly help me cement the progress of the last month. Is 2013 the finally going to be the year of Pich de Toulven and Aidan d’Aquitaine? 

Mid life retirement

I remember a few years ago asking a recently retired mother in law what the week ahead held in store for her. She started her response by pausing, and then saying, “well Monday, I need to go to the Post Office, Tuesday...” I’ve made fun of her ever since suggesting that when going to the Post Office becomes the main activity of your day, then you really know you’re on the downward slide. However when I look at my activity report for this morning it runs something like, “got up, dressed three small children and had a shave”. And the worst thing is that I was actually quite proud of myself to have been able to get everyone in a state of dress with freshly cleaned teeth! Maybe I should put those stones back in a box now that I’ve discovered that the house I live in is made of glass (http://www.goenglish.com/PeopleWhoLiveInGlassHousesShouldNotThrowStones.asp). On the bright side, at least Frodo managed to save the world last night so it's not all bad...

Spanish Sharks and the Return of Kings

Today was meant to be an afternoon of physical exertion up the col d’Ibardin. Instead it turned into a day out in San Sebastian with Sandie, Maxime and Gaston. Eating a chocolate brownie and drinking a vanilla milkshake after a visit of the aquarium took a lot less effort than slogging up a Basque mountain on a bike. The day was made even easier by the fact that Capucine spent the day with her paternal grandparents in Biarritz. San Sebastian is a wonderful place. We saw the old town, the aquarium complete with seahorses, star fish and sharks, and some parts of the modern town. I was really taken by it. It’s only 50km from Biarritz so definitely within striking distance on a bike, although I suspect I’d need some tapas and pincho (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pincho) style re-fuelling on arrival before contemplating a round trip. After getting back to Biarritz the evening was dominated by the third part of the Lord of the Rings triology. I have amazed myself as much as anyone by being able to watch all three films this week. I decided I wanted to see it after the last au pair, Jessica, waxed lyrical about it. I really didn’t think it would be my type of thing, but I have to admit I’ve really been quite taken by it. I have definitely preferred some of the other films I’ve seen recently e.g. Argo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/) or the intouchables (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675434/?ref_=sr_1), but I’m very happy to have invested the time watching the Tolkien classics over the Christmas period. Right back to the end of Sam saving Mr. Frodo…hopefully!

Christmas Precision

I took Maxime to mass on Christmas Day. He still struggles to sit quietly for an hour (or any period of time longer than about 90 seconds). I was however very appreciative of his precision when he told me he had decided to go for a wee..."outside" (the church). Both Father Christmas and Baby Jesus heaved a bit sigh of relief.