Lights On The Bike

I got a chance to use the lights on my bike today. Very flash (haha), neat LED lights with several options from steady beam to a variety of flashing modes, economical too. I don't think they'll be very effective for off-road, night-time cycling. The beams not particularly strong but OK for roads with street lights. Not that I'm in the habit of going out in the dark but at least I'm now able to cycle back from town in relative safety as the nights draw in. As long as it's not chucking it down with rain it will allow me to continue cycling through the winter.

I'd rather cycle into town when the opportunity arises and the weather's not too bad, after my parking rant a few days ago and assuming I don't need to be in formal business attire at the other end.

Yet again, today was pretty windy and it's hard work cycling against the wind which invariably is what seems to happen along the coast. At least it was slightly easier being wind assisted on the back home, avoiding the puddles. One solitary surfer out waiting for the waves which didn't look very good but any port in a storm or rather any wave in a rough sea.

Training Starts

Well, I've started training properly for the Brighton half-marathon which I'm planning to complete in February. I've got the training schedule pinned up and three runs a week scheduled in. I'll need to be determined to get out there in the wind, rain and cold, so any encouragement and tips gratefully received.

It's cold, wet and muddy but I got out there for my first proper run in a couple of weeks having had no energy, motivation and having been poorly for a few days, so it's a bit like hard work at the moment getting back into the routine.

I've got a sponsorship page together, so if you'd like to sponsor me - please do. I'll be raising money for Cancer Research in memory of my Aunt who died of cancer last year.

http://www.justgiving.com/clarehalfmarathon

Save On Your Insurance

Hurrah!! Yet again some savvy savings.

Every year your insurance company sends you a renewal notice. How often do you actually take the time to check whether they're giving you the best deal?

For the price of a few minutes online, I've just reduced that renewal quote by £40.

It's actually with the same insurer and the same thing has happened for a couple of years! As a new or online customer you are automatically entitled to discounts. For whatever reason the insurance companies don't pass on these discounts to existing customers but there's actually nothing wrong in cancelling the renewal quote and taking out the cheaper online quote.

Do this and you can save yourself up to 20%.

If you want more money saving tips - I offer a Money saving e-book to help you keep even more of your money.

Rant: Parking in Brighton

I don't know what Brighton Council is up to but they obviously don't want anyone to visit let alone work in Brighton. The traffic wardens have always had the habit of circling around town in groups like vultures, pouncing on unwary car users who accidentally park in the wrong place, go over their ticket time by a couple of minutes. OK, they're only doing their job but watch out. Any time of day or night, come wind or shine, they'll be there patrolling the streets so it's ALWAYS worth buying a ticket.

As soon as NCP took over the parking the prices jumped from 10p for 30 minutes to 50p and in most places you can only park for 2hrs max. Oh and while they were at it, they increased the hours from 9am - 6pm to 8pm - making it even more inconvenient for visitors and residents. Parking vouchers where introduced into the centre of town several years ago. Starting off at 50p per hour, they also took a big jump and in the centre of town the charge is now £1.50 for 30 minutes, discouraging anyone from parking. Now the vouchers are being replaced by Pay and Display.

The insidious parking meters and resident only parking areas are now spreading steadily across the rest of Brighton and Hove. Kemptown has just come under the curse of the green machines and the final bastion of free parking along the seafront has also recently changed into pay and display, so the spaces are practically empty. There's even a charge for parking in Asda's carpark. Where the office workers are meant to park I don't know. Even residents can't park in the evening as there just isn't enough parking for the amount of cars in the town ... sorry, city.

Well, this would be all very well if there was an alternative available ... OK, so there's always public transport, reduce the traffic coming into town, avoid the hassle of parking but just to help the motorist switch to an easier, greener way of transport, Brighton & Hove have also seen fit to increase their prices on the buses. Not too long ago you used to be able to get a return ticket for £2.50, then it crept up to £2.80 and now, today, I find it's jumped up to £3.00 - a 20% increase in less than a year.

A Stormy Day At Sea

I walked back from Rottingdean today having met a friend for coffee. That was an invent in itself - the level of service (or lack of) had to be experienced to be believed. We were both laughing after one thing happened after another but she was at least trying. I just don't think she'd done it before, so the training was obviously non-existent. It took several attempts to get the order right - what was the purpose of the pen and pad I'm not sure. It obviously wasn't used to take down our order as she came back twice to check. When the order did turn up another couple of requests - including asking for saucers for the cups, then teaspoons to stir the coffee with, toast (white not brown) before we were finally able to relax, stop sniggering and enjoy our coffee.

Anyway, despite the fact it was very stormy - I thought the fresh air would do me good and walked back home along the undercliff with the waves crashing up against the sea wall and rebounding back onto the incoming waves. It's amazing watching nature in action, it's no wonder that water can cause so much damage when you see the power of the waves. It's very therapeutic watching the waves - puts things in perspective when you realise how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things.

There were a few other brave souls out along the seafront including one runner in his shorts. That's a bit extreme, it's Winter or at least Autumn - invigorating it might have been but not THAT invigorating! But then I'm the sort of person that goes out running totally wrapped up against the cold. Someone else was sitting on the seawall also watching the waves and indanger of getting soaked.

What Are Your Goals for 2007?

So how has this year been going for you?

There are only six more weeks until the end of the year (where has it gone?). Now is a good time to take a step back and look at what you’ve achieved this year and think about what you’d like to achieve next year.

I’ll have more for you on this later but to get you thinking – why not get a head start by creating your own Goals Report, which you can pick up from my website or by clicking this link.

Free Goals Report

You'll get a customised report for your top three goals. Your current Wheel of Life and top tips to help you achieve your goal. You'll also have an opportunity for some free email feedback on your goals.

Don't delay - set your goals for 2007 now.

Day Trip To The Seat Of Power

A day trip with a difference and a visit to the Palace of Westminster, better know as the Houses of Parliament for a guided tour and lunch with Margaret Hodge. All those years living in London and I never actually made it inside. The trip was a arranged by a local business association.

Starting off at 7.30am in Crawley to catch the bus up to London which unfortunately had to take a long detour round the M25 due to an accident and general traffic on the more direct route in. Needless to say this meant we arrived late to meet up with our tour guides at the Sovereign Gate and the rest of the group. First stop was through security and a most thorough body frisk. Far more extensive than the casual search you get at the airport.

Once inside, we were divided into two groups and our wonderful guide Stella (one of 25 door-keepers who work with Black Rod) gave us a whistle stop tour of the inside - past numerous paintings, stained glass windows and statues that lined the hallways, which we hardly had time to glance at as we progressed, first through St Stephen's Hall, the Central Lobby (frequently seen on TV) and then, in one direction the ornate grandeur of the House of Lords and in the other the simpler panelling and green seats of the House of Commons. Finishing in Westminster Hall with it's hammerbeam oak roof. This wasn't quite the end of our tour as we were then shown into the ornate, gilded chapel crypt with it's broom cupboard where Emily Wilding Davison shut herself on the night of the 1911 census and then up to one of the committee rooms where much of the work is actually done. If the Commons is looking a little empty then your MP is likely to be in one of these rooms.

Lunch took place over in one of the other parliamentary buildings - where Margaret Hodge made a brief appearance - did her talk for small business and answered a few questions before disappearing off again. Canapes were provided - appetising little nibbles dipped in batter, wrapped in pastry with a slightly healthier sushi version.

Fortunately the return trip on the coach was quicker, although we took the same route out of London. Definitely worth a visit and you could even get to see one of the Houses in action or sit in on a committee.

A Day Out - Coppicing

This is the second week in a row that I've been out volunteering on a Thursday. Much colder today than last week but still sunny. We were working in the same area in a small wood at the base of Ditchling Beacon - coppicing.

It's an area that has been left for a long time as can be seen from the four or five large trunks that have grown up from a single stock. The trees are mainly ash and hazel with a few younger hawthorn trees growing up. Anything that could be cut down with a bow saw or loppers was cleared with the large trees being left for the chainsaw later or just left as they were - especially the larger oaks.

Despite being in a wooded area - we still got a good bonfire going to clear all the unusable wood. Anything usable was turned into stakes or binders for hedging and the large logs cut up for firewood. Even if you're only chopping down a tree that's 4-5 inches across there's a lot of height and branches above you that need to be cut up and cleared. The crashing of trees as they were felled - not many yells of 'Timber!' as we were mainly working several metres away from each other. There were seven of us in total and it's very satisfying at the end of the day to look at the area that's been cleared and see what a difference has been made.

Areas like this were coppiced regularly and harvested every few years or sometimes decades later. We tend to think on a much shorter time scales these days. No instant results when you’re planting for planks of wood. Nature won't be hurried - at least not when it comes to growing trees. Knowing that the tree you plant one year wouldn't be harvested until twenty-five or thirty years later.

Chill in the air.

1st of November and there's a definite change in the season. It's certainly a lot colder today and for the first time the heating has gone on. Not bad for November which shows how mild it's been up until now.

Cycled into town this afternoon - wrapped up against the cold and still spotted the odd nutters walking around in T-shirts! Some people must have a higher tolerance for the cold. Anyway, although it was fine and windy (as usual) the difference in time has certainly had an effect on the night's drawing in. It won't be too long now until either I'll need to get the lights on the bike or I won't be cycling in quite so regularly - back to the car or public transport to get around.

The cafe is shut down for the winter - at least today they were, so I didn't have to slow down and avoid small dogs, small people and tables and chairs. It was open last week - making the most of half-term with families on the beach - not exactly sun-bathing weather but it was still busy along the seafront - people out walking, cycling and children fishing in the rock pools.

Let's hope it's not a cold, grey, damp winter - lots of days like today.