Archive - Donald King

REALITY CHECK

by donking @ Friday, Dec. 28, 2007 – 03:07:59 pm

Belated Merry Christmas to one and all and hope thal all you wished for came true. Now that all the festivities are over it is time to look back over this year and to look forward to the New Year.

First thing we all need to do is a reality check over our finances - why did we spend so much, can our credit cards hold out and how are we going to pay back all our debts? Guess this is something that faces the majority of us at this time of the year. My advice, enjoy the New Year celebrations and then set out some sort of repayment plan with a view to being clear of most debt as quiclky as possible - it will not be easy but spending needs to be curtailled, and only spend on essentials not all the things we would like to have.

Always leave some cash, does not have to be a lot, to have special meqals/treats/presents for each other as this will help you through the dark times ahead. It does not cost much to be nice to each other and it is not the cost of the gift that is imprtant it is the thought.

New Year resolutions need som ethinking about, very easy to be glib and say you will stop smoking/drinking/over eating/swearing etc etc. Give some thought to them and spread them for starting at different times of the year. Make them all achievable and remember each marathon starts with a footstep at the beginning. Do not be too ambitious, you can only eat an elephant one slice at a time!!!

Will be in touch soon.

Take care and stay safe.

p.s Photographs are at www.donaldking.spaces.live.com and not as I gave on last blog

SHOPING/PRESENTS/FAKE SNOW

by donking @ Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 – 06:09:04 pm

Like nearly everyone else in the UK most of the last few days have been taking up with shopping. Like most men in the UK I only really buy presents for Vanessa and she is left to buy all the other presents - not very fair, but that is how it seems to work out. I do my fair share of buying all the food and this year we are having a Boxing Day Bonanza for family and friends. Spent some of today shopping for foodstuff and I certainly do not see any reductions in the shops - clothes mat be down but food is still very expensive. The slight difference for Boxing Day is that we are having nearly 30 people out in the garden - our table is about 16foot long and 4 foot wide and we have a Marquee. So hoping for no wind!!!

If you have not been to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol then you are missing a treat. I have put some photographs on my site www.donking.spaces.live.com of the lovelly skating area they have at the mall - if you are in the area it is worth a look. I like when shops and malls make the effort to have something special for CHristmas - the rest of the year is dull enough and this goves us all a boost for a few weeks. It is time for familys to be together and to remember those that are no longer with us - as you get older you have so many more to remember.

Hope you all have a merry christmas and will write again soon.

Take care and stay safe

CHRISTMAS TREE

by donking @ Monday, Dec. 17, 2007 – 04:44:31 pm

Remember my last blog where I said we were going to look for a Christmas tree - well we did find one We travelled over 147 miles and two days of looking, I am sure we visited 5,00 shops and looked at 3 million trees but that of course may be a slight exageration!!! It does look nice and the smell when you walk into the room is gorgeous.

I was very surprised at the huge variance on the price of Christmas trees and the best looking trees were not always the most expensive. Not sure why prics are so different but the average in some places was twice others.

All the shops are nice at this time of year and I really love looking at mens faces when they are out shopping with their wife - it is a great way to pass the time seeing if you can spot the man who is bored more than anyone else. Not sure why some wives drag their husband along on this annual shopping frenzy - most men do not do shopping at the best of time, but at this time of year it is madness to have them with you. If the shopping centres had any sense they would build a husband area: it would have TV, pool tables, dart boards, car magazines, bar and a HUUUUUUUUUGE sign stating "NO WIVES BEYOND THIS POINT AND NO DISCUSSION ON PRESENTS ALLOWED" One additional point I would ban the use of as wives would not be able to phone to nag, sorry to ask hubby for ideas. I am sure it would be the busiest area in every shopping centre and would make loads of money - profits could be given to charity.

All of the shops are very quiet this year and I guess it is because so many people are shopping on the internet or waiting for prices to come down further and be able to grab a bargain. The problem with waiting is that you have a limited choice - still if you look after the pennies the pounds will look after themselves.

Take care and stay safe

Santa, innocence, cycle

by donking @ Friday, Dec. 14, 2007 – 02:04:05 pm

Spent some of this morning looking for a Christmas tree - without any luck. They were either too small or too tall, too bushy or too thin real and or artificial. For our Boxing Day Bonanza we will be having a real tree in the Marquee but have not found or decied what we are having in the front room. This is a nice time of the year and it is such a joy to see youg children in the shops - all wide eyed and excited when they see Santa or his grotto. Oh to be young again and innocent - to be still beleiving in Santa is a magical time and we can never get that innocence back again - when we stop beleiving in Santa and tooth fairies it is the start of a downward spiral.

I am provisionally looking at the London to Paris cycle for next year, the daily mileage looks quite high but I hope with good training and a sensible diet it may be achievable even for me. Training will start early in the year and will be much more dedicated than the training I did this year for the Bakery Bicycle Burst. May still find some other event for the cycle - probably in the UK less daily mileage and possible only two to three days. WIll keep you informed.

Must go as I think we are going shopping again - oh joy.

Take care and stay safe

wiltshire air ambulance

by donking @ Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 – 06:32:20 pm

As I said previously Vanessa has started training for the Bath half marathon in March 2008. As in the past Vanessa is going to be raising money for another wortwhile cause - Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The air ambulance service was launched 17 years ago and has attended thousands of incidents.

The air ambulance is entirely dependent on oublic support and needs to raise over £350,000 each year\which is a quarter of the cost of running costs of the helicopter. It receives no government funding and it does not qualify for lottery funding. The remaining three quarters of the funding is met by the Police who use the helicopter as well.

We chose this charity as Danny came off on his Motor bike during the August bank holiday. As with all bike accidents the air ambulance was called and in only a few minutes Danny was transferred to Frenchay hospital, Bristol. Thankfully Danny was released the following day only suffering from a sore back, and a small burn to the back of his neck - he will never be so lucky again. Much to the delight of his Mum, Grandmother and girlfriend he has stopped motor biking and now gets around on 4 wheels.

The accident was caused by excessive speed, lack of control of the motor bike and not reading the road ahead - we were all young and foolish but hopefully we all learn from our mistakes.

Supporting this appeal will help to ensure that other unfortunate people will be helped whether caused by road traffic accidents, equestrian falls, cardiac arrests and other similar situations.

Vanessa will be opening a Just Giving page and hopefully people will contribute when they can. Will keep you informed.

Take care and stay safe

BAD DAY NO 2 - SOLD JAG - COLLIE NOT WELL

by donking @ Wednesday, Dec. 05, 2007 – 08:44:47 pm

Bad day No 2 yesterday - funny that they are like buses - none for ages then two at the same time.

Had to sell my beloved Jag and bought a Volvo estate. reason for sale is the Fly (my collie) is not as well as he used to be - don't ask - oh well anal glands (too much information) and other minor problems. He is on antibiotics so I hope that he will improve - vet said although it does not look like it at the moment he could have prostate problems. This now means I do not want to leave him at home when we are out working. Solution change my car for one in which the dogs can travel with me with plenty of room for them.

Fly used to travel with me a lot and as he loves the car selling the Jag was the obvious solution. Irrespective of how much you love your car it does not compare with the love you have for your dog. Mans best friend needs looking after when he is not well and selling the Jag is a small price to pay if his standard of life improves.

Atthe moment the Volvo seems OK but as I have had it less that 24 hours then it is early days. I expect it will be more economical than the Jag although the Jag was averaging 28 mpg - which is pretty good.

I am working in Wales tomorrow so that will be the first time we have been out together in the new car - well used car - new to me.

Must stop now as I have to leave the house around 0600 - keep checking back for info on how Fly is getting on.

Take care and stay safe

title-3389335

by donking @ Monday, Dec. 03, 2007 – 05:17:21 pm

Not been one of my better days. Had a disc with a clients information on, all risk assessments, training modules, safety policy, visit information and other similar such info. Tried to open the disc and found it has no information on it!! and as I was backing up info on computer and had removed the info on my hard drive so I am now in the mucky stuff.

Tumble drier in the shed keeps cutting out for some reason and I am sure this means I will be in trouble when Vanessa comes home.

Have had a lot of trouble with my accountant in the past and have recently changed to a new company that will hopefully be better and quicker to deal with my books. Was in to see them today and it reminded me of an old joke:

Q - what is the definition of waste?
A - a coach full of accountants driving over a cliff with two empty seats!!

I like that especially when I remember an accountant in a company I used to work for - this was when I had a proper job and not a consultant. Joke about consultants.

Q - what is the definition of a consultant?
A - someone, who when you ask them the time, looks at your watch and then charges you £600!!

Fortunately we are not a business consultant like that.

Need to stop as I have some dishes to wash, and tidy the kitchen before Vanessa comes home - just realised I make her sound like some type of dragon. Not true, she is very easy going and understanding hence the reason I love her.

Take care and stay safe

http://kingconsultancy.com for all your business needs and requirements. We are not the Elf n Safety Gestapo.

Saint Andrew pictures of pigs aaaaaaaaah

by donking @ Sunday, Dec. 02, 2007 – 04:05:12 pm

As I am sure the whole of the world knew that Friday the 30th of November was Saint Andrews day (Patron Saint of Scotland). We had organised for family and frineds to come round to have a meal with us, outside in the garden under a marquee - seemed like a good idea at the time, but the windy weather prevented puting the marquee up.

Most people were able to attend and they ate in the house and sat and stood to a completely home cooked meal of: Cock a leekie soup; Venison Country Stew; Cranachan and to finish Single Malt Whisky and shortbread. Everyone seemed to enjoy it!!

I had tried both my kilts on but I am sorry to say that during the last few months in the wardrobe they have shrunk several inches, or of course I could have put on some weight!! As the latter is probably the case I am going to look at losing weight after the New Year and get back on to my bike.

As I write this Vanessa is out running and I will give you details during the week of her plans and worthwhile charity.

I have put the photographs of the pigs on http://donaldking.spaces.live.com and all future photographs of pigs, training etc will appear on this site. I have not said where the pigs are based for security reasons but certainly in Gloucestershire. Since the photographs were taken 1 pig has died but all the rest are healthy and well. Will keep you posted.

Take care and stay safe.

http://kingconsultancy.com for your safety and business requirements.