Archive - Donald King

thank you again

by donking @ Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 – 03:05:12 pm

Cycled this morning - the sun was out, some wind especially on the last part of the cycle. I covered 5.18 miles at an average speed of 8.8mph which is not great but is getting better. I guess it is only time and more miles that will help to improve, certainly no chance of me getting any younger!!

I went to Bristol during the week to see John Brooks of Smiths Metal Centres who were going to supply me with some aluminium tubing to extend my racing bike - unfortunately my bike is steel and it would be very difficult to weld aluminium and steel and still keep the integrity of the frame. Thanks to all at Smith as they were extremely helpful and went of of their way to try and resolve my problem. It is good to see that companies will try and help where they can for charity, but John and his staff went the extra mile. They can be contacted on 0117 971 2800.

I am now looking for someone who can supply steel tubing and then find someone with the time and skill to weld together for me - I am sure I will get the help I need as the cycle from London to Paris is raising money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance - a very worthwhile cause.

My stepson Richard he is not the one who had the accident) has sold a recipe book to his friend Hendrys mother - many thanks your contribution is very welcome. I have left a number of recipe books at places I visit and as they sell them I will acknowledge here.

To date £33.50 has been raised and we only need to raise a further £1066.50 It is good to see it increasing.

Hope to arrange a suitable date for a darts competition at our local this weekend and will give you the details as soon as I can.

Take care and stay safe.

THANK YOU

by donking @ Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 – 04:42:17 pm

Thank you to my local newspaper - the Gloucestershire Gazette - covering Cam, Dursley and Woton-under-Edge for doing a great story about my cycle from London to Paris. If I can find some way of puting it on my blog I will do. When I have tried on the past to copy information it does not allow me to do it. It is a great spread and well written with a very good photo of the bike (my face and body is a different story)

The Wiltshire Air Ambulance administrator Lesley Duncan has said when the cycle is comleted and Vanessa has done her half-marathon we will have an opportunity to visit the Devizes Police centre where the helicopter is based really looking forward to that.

Still looking to find out about building a new bike but no more progress to report on.

Cycled today for 20 minutes - the weather was nice but I was still struggling, mind you I think it is getting easier!!

Take care and stay safe

NEWS, FLOODS

by donking @ Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 – 03:32:24 pm

Comment from last blog said that he was bugged by having two presenters (sometimes more) on the news programme was another waste of money. I agree, same with sports programmes, 3 sometimes 4 in the studio, 2 commentators seems to be way over the top. I guess the TV companies think more means better to help us understand!!!

It also annoys me that we have a political expert in talking about something to do with the Government and then we have a correspondent outside NO 10. WHY???

Drove round Gloucester today and it still looks like a place under siege - water everywhere. I am still baffled why local councils are wishing to build housing on flood plains - even to half a brain like I have it does not make any sense. Have they not got any eyes, are they getting some form of payment or are they just trying to meet some Government target or other?

Received £10 for 2 recipe books sold to Stan and Andy at Glevum Conservatories - great company, quality products and the best fitters in the UK. Stan and Andy are a bit of a double act, remind you of Laurel and Hardy but as well as funny they are very generous. Thanks guys.

Total raised for my London to Paris cycle for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance is now a RUNNING TOTAL OF £29.00 AND ONLY A FURTHER £1071 REQUIRED!!

No cycling today - windy and wet, must pluck up courage to go out very soon. Have almost finalised my idea for building a lightweight recumbent so will keep you informed of progress - still looking for a few more donor bikes.

Take care and stay safe.

King Kev - J Ross

by donking @ Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 – 04:42:31 pm

Wet and very windy today so I chickened out of going for my cycle - yes I know I am a wimp. Vanessa on the other hand went out running - it made me feel very guilty for at least 1 second!! Hope tomorrow is better. Still looking for a nother light weight bicycle so I can make a lighter recumbent for the London to Paris cycle.

Although a supporter of Man United I think it is good for football in genera that Keegan has returned as a football manager. Looking at the news and listening to radio and TV he has certainly generated a lot of interest. This can only be good for the game in its widest sense as all good news benefits the clubs. I think he has a hard job ahead of him but if he has Alan Shearer as his number two then the fans will see this as the "dream team". After a few years Shearer can the be considered for the England managers role - watch this space. No word on salary and no one saying that whatever he is paid is too much.

How unlike the ongoing fury over the salary of Jonathan Ross. This arrogant individual has said he is worth the salary of many other people at the BBC at a time when redundancies were being announced. Someone in his fortunate position should know when he should talk and especially when he should shut up. It doesnt even matter if it was a joke - it was in bad taste and most license payers would not support his views.

Maybe the BBC should consider some sort of game where we, the paying public, decide on the salary of the BBS staff - that would make interesting viewing, especially if a team of Joe public's got to interview the presenters live. I would watch in and gladly be a member of the panel.

Take care and stay safe

weight loss

by donking @ Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 – 03:12:58 pm

Some good and bad news today - started off this morning after my cycle and a very hot bath I put on my shorts. Surprise, surprise they we very lose - in fact nearly falling down. Guess if I was a lady I woud have lost one or two dress sizes.

My cycle was not great 2.6 miles at an average of 7.16 miles - tomorrow is a much longer cycle so I guess the average will be lower, I am thinking the 12mph average I will need for the London to Paris cycle is a long way from being achievable.

Not sure if I have said but I am looking to build a lighter recumbent for the cycle. My road bike I will cut up and then I am looking for 2 other lightweight road bikes so I can extend my bike into a recumbent. If anyone knows of any lightweight bikes please let me know.

Weather was damp with a slight wind for my cycle- but compared to other areas we are lucky.

Not much else to say - but hope to be able to take out my camera tomorrow to get some pics for my site.

take care and stay safe

press interview/fundraising

by donking @ Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 – 04:38:50 pm

This is my 4th attempt as every time I press the send button it goes somewhere else and not on to the blog site. I am totally confused - if it does not work this time I will try again tomorrow.

Strange day today as I was interviewed by Claire Marshall from our local paper teh Gloucestershire gazette, covering Berkeley, Cam, Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge. Claire has written an article about the cycle ride from London to Paris, why I am sponsoring the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the recipe book. Claire was very pleasant and is doing a parachute jump in March with the money raised going to a cancer charity. A very brave lady jumping out of an aeroplane - not for me. I hate heights and firmly believe that if we were meant to be more than three feet off the ground we would have been born with wings.

Mark Watkins a freelance photographer took about three million pictures and when they are available I will post them for you to see. Hope he got my best side - mind you I am not sure I have one!!!

As from today you can obtain copies of my resipe book from: Cam Family Butchers, Dursley Diner and the Gazette office in Long Street.

I have been sitting beside the telephone all day waiting for the TV companies to all as they will want wall to wall coverage. Then it is only a matter of time before Michael Winner contacts me about the film rights to a blockbuster movie. Next CLiff, Robbie, Paul or the Artic Monkees will want to do an album and probably it will be produced by Simon Cowell. Finally a mini series for TV covering the preparation, the ride and the aftermath. The Hoff, Johnny Depp or someone similar will probably play me - I guess at the moment I could be a body double for them?!!??? must stop drinking.

Must start to tidy up as Vanessa will be home soon and I don't want her to think I have not been working every available second of the day.

Take care and stay safe

Running shoes, Ron Hill, Cycle raining

by donking @ Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008 – 03:48:04 pm

Where do I begin - Vanessa went to Bristol on Saturday to buy a pair of new running shoes (can you buy second hand running shoes?) and went to the opening day of Up and Running (http://www.upandrunning.co.uk/shops/bristol.php) It was such a pleasure to go into a shop and find helpful, friendly staff unlike many of the big sports stores where they struggle to speak never mind give you any assistance. Vanessa also was given a Gait analysis and it turns she runs OK with no need to change her running style. Bonus goody bag as it was opening day - much appreciated.

The shoes were fitted properly and I was surprised that they were not expensive (it is the Scottish in me - hate spending money) I think they looked good but what do I know!!! Highly recommend you visit the shop or go on line.

The running legend Ron Hill was in the shop, and although I was not speaking to him he was telling a man standing beside where I was sitting, that since he was 17 he has ran 150,000 miles - no wonder he was known as the tough of the track. He is still looking well and running - what an inspiration to others.

I cycled on Saturday and did 7.33 miles in a time of 54.56 seconds making an average of 8.00mph. Not great and still a long way to go. I am planning to build a lighter recumbent as the current bike is very heavy - so watch this space for news and reports if I build one. The reason for building is that I do not have the £600 needed to buy one - this is the cheaper end of the market as they are advertised on line for ove3r £2300. I am still hopefull that I will soon reach the ave of 11mph I will need for the London to Paris cycle in June.

Sensible eating is going reasonably well but I have to grow another 2 foot taller to be a good size for my weight. I wonder if i was tied between two cars and they drove in opposite directions would it stretch me 2 feet????

I have put on the web the pictures of the snow on Friday at out house - so now you can see why I did not cycle.

Trying to organise a darts competition at our local to raise money for my sponsored cycle in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance and if anyone wishes a copy of my recipe book for £4.50 please get in touch with me.

The photographs are at: http://donaldking.spaces.live.com/

As it is very windy today I chickened out of cycling - I am a wooos but will try better in the future.

Take care and stay safe

http://donaldking.spaces.live.com

offer to bank - snow

by donking @ Friday, Jan. 11, 2008 – 08:22:47 pm

I wish to make an offer to all the Banks in the UK - I am sure it will only be a matter of time before they are ringing me. As Tony Blair is now working for an AMerican bank, getting paid £500,000 for 2 days work per month it means that he will not take up any employment with a Bank in the UK.

I have deliberated on this for many hours and feel that it is my duty to offer my services - like Tony I have a wide circle of friends - we are both married and have some knowledge of spending money. My offer is that for approximately £300,000 and for 3 days per week I am willing to be a financial advisor to any UK bank. I have many skills and talents and being Scottish I am extremely careful whenever it is necessary to spend money. Reaching the ripe old age of 61 I have many years experience and will be able to talk to influential people of my memories of world wide events - Nixon, Kennedy, The Beatles, Busby Babes, Twiggy and thousand of other stories on many subjects.

Banks will no doubt feel that they were lucky not to get Tony as I will be able to do more days per month and for less money. I will keep you informed.

Today was one of my training days but this was impossible due to a few minor problems - it rained cats and dogs and it snowed. I will try tomorrow but I am certainly a fair weather cyclist.

Tomorrow I will be adding some photos to my picture site so will tell you when this has been done.

Must stop as I am going to play some darts - what a life.

Take care and stay safe

good news - TEST YOURSELF

by donking @ Wednesday, Jan. 09, 2008 – 02:00:10 pm

Some good news today -went out for my cycle did my 20 minute according to my training plan. Cycled 3.8miles with a few hills and averaged 9.76MPH - a lot better than Sunday. My friend Noel fixed my seat and made a great job so it really is very good. The down side is that it is in a slightly different position therefore my pains are greater, in more places, and slower to go away.

I struggled with pain in my thighs (the things above my knees!!!) and pains in my chest - if I had the energy I would probably have managed a heart attack. Never felt my breath spo short and I actually got a stitch in my side - never had a stitch cycling, guess I am really unfit and much worse than I thought. At the moment London to Paris on a bike seems like an impossible dream.

Weather here is dry, some wind and some glimpses of sun. Gale force winds in Scotland and elsewhere reminds us that at this time of the year we can expect this type of weather. Not great weather for cycling especially if it is windy.

take care and stay safe

housework,cats,cycle

by donking @ Tuesday, Jan. 08, 2008 – 11:49:38 am

Well no pain following my cycle on Sunday I am due to cycle for 20 minutes today, but unfortunately I have not got my seat repaired so far. Sun is out today so it is possible I will do my training on the road bike rather than recumbent - has anyone got any idea what to call my recumbent.

Working from home today so that is keeping me busy - all you guys know what I mean, dishwasher to be filled and switched on, tumble dryer is going at 100 mph then when that load is finished have to empty washing machine and put washed clothes into tumble dryer. Nearly forgot have to check labels as some of Vanessa's running clothes can not be tumble dried!! What a hard life we men have, so much to understand and do!!! Have tidied kitchen up as well, dogs walked, cats fed and have been in and out about 1000 times in the last hour. Still to do - make bed, have a shower, do paperwork, write reports, plan and cook dinner, go shopping and 10 million other things - good job we men can multi-task.

Just getting organised to see if I can get my bike seat fixed.

Almost forgot spend almost 1 million hours a day answering texts from Vanessa - usually to give me more jobs to add to my list!!! sometimes she sends me a text saying she loves me, but I am sure she has added my name by mistake - probably not wearing her glasses.

Vanessa was out running again this morning at some stupid time like 0700 - it was cold and dark then - I know cause I opened my eyes when I heard the door close.

Take care and stay safe

PAIN,UNFIT,OLD

by donking @ Sunday, Jan. 06, 2008 – 01:58:38 pm

At last the day dawned frost during the night and cold in the morning, what some people would call fresh - I call freeeeeeezing! and this is the first day of my training for my sponsored cycle from London to Paris.

Transferred horn, speedo, flag, lights, from my road bike to the bike for my cycle - must thing of a name for the bike, at the moment my thoughts are unprintable. Left the house in good spirit and decided I would cycle for an hour without any idea of a route. Barely cycled 2 miles and the body started to tell me it did not like this. It is 6 months since I last cycled any distance so all the overeating and drinking has not helped me one bit. It started with pains in my thighs, then my calf muscles (what muscle you may ask), then tingling in my toes and cold stiff (steady dont let your mind wander) hands. The good part at the end of the cycle I had no shoulder or back pains - so at least something positive to comment on.

Part of the way round my route I met two gentlemen who were intrigued with the bike and asked loads of questions which resulted in one of them having a go - and he managed very well. I left them and climbed the hill up to Stinchcombe. Stopped once which was slightly better than the last time I rode this bike on that route - so the Granny gear is a big help.

The sad news is that I only cycled 7.4 miles at an average speed of 7.52mph. Not very good and loads of room for improvement. I am hoping to be able to maintain an average speed of 10mph for at least a 4 hour cycle - keep watching back for up to date info.

I have another £10 sponsorship which I received from the dreaded Mother-in-law and her husband. Methinks she has given this to encourage me to keep going and she can sit back sound in the knowledge that I am suffering loads of pain and will be for many more months!! Pauline is a great MIL and could not have asked for better - very funny, witty, good sense of humour and keeps up to date with all the latest trends and technology. I said something nice just in case she is back on the Internet and reading this!! Thank you Pauline and Brian it really is appreciated.

My seat is still broken, sorry forgot to take pictures but I am taking it with me to Dorset tomorrow as I think I know a boatbuilder who may be able to fix it or at least give some advice.

Running total is now £19.00 and only have to raise a further £1081 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Take care and stay safe

BIKE FIXED, RECIPES

by donking @ Saturday, Jan. 05, 2008 – 01:17:25 pm

Just had a phone call to sy that the bike has been fixed - but like always it is never simple and straightforward. As well as new brakes, granny gear the shifter for the gears needed replacing as well as it kept missing gears when changing. Total result of all this is more cost - so much for the new year resolution to save money!!!!

Tomorrow the serious training begins - I am down to cycle for 1 hour, what a shock that is going to be to my system - I am praying for sunshine but do not think it is likely to happen.

Have sent out to some local businesses and friends a request for sponsorship so I will keep you up to date to see how it is going. In addition I am selling a recipe book of meals we have made over the years and for 23 special recipes I am looking for only £4.50. Please contact me if you are interested.

We went for a drink at the pub and charged friends and have received £9.00 so running total now is £9.00 so now I only have to raise a further £1091

Take care and stay safe

CYCLE LONDON TO PARIS

by donking @ Thursday, Jan. 03, 2008 – 03:57:51 pm

Looking at the heading of this Blog I am convinced I have taken leave of my senses - well what little sense I had. Last year when I did my Bakery Bicycle Burst I said at the end if I ever cycled again it would be somewhere more local and possibly only a couple of days - now I am cycling to a foreign country, cycling around 60-80 miles a day and having to raise £1100 sponsorship.

I guess I must be some kind of ageing fool who as he gets older, stiffer, fatter, etc beleives in his mind that he is a teenager again!! Unfortunately I am sure the body will remind me during my training that I am not a teenager but an old fogey, well past his sell by date, pains in every muscle(not sure what they are but some people have them) and every part of my body - even my eyelids ache when I blink!!.

Granny gear for my bike should be in tomorrow, new brakes being fitted so hopefully training will begin very soon. Had a minor scare today when there was some doubt as to whether I could ride the recumbent but fortunately Sally at the ride organisation centre has been a big help and it looks certain I will be able to use the recumbent.

The weather is extremely cold, so I have been sensible and bought new pair of cycling short trousers - is this further evidence I am mad or starting to go senile? I think when the training begins this weekend I will need to look at bodywarmers, gloves, trousers etc similar to needed in the Artic.

Vanessa has been going out running - she was out at 0600 this morning (mad,mad,mad) in the bitter cold preparing for her Bath half-marathon. I am so impressed and proud of her - at least I am sitting down. Vanessa is looking for an improvement on her time compared to the Bristol half-marathon last year and I am confident she will be able to do it.

When I get the bike back I will put pictures on to my site and provide you with a link to get to it - will try and do blog at least three times per week but hopefully will manage every day. On the cycle not sure how I will manage but will try to keep you up to date with progress on a daily basis as well including photographs.

Must get back and do some more work.

Take care and stay safe

HAPPY NEW YEAR - NEXT CHALLENGE

by donking @ Tuesday, Jan. 01, 2008 – 11:34:20 am

Happy New Year to one and all. This is the time to refelct on last year, think about families and friends who are no longer with us and to work out what we hope for from the coming year.

We all hope for good health and happiness and while we all need money to live - it is how we earn it that is important cash is not the most imprtant thing in our life. Friends and family are important and how we interact with them determines the quality of life we have.

Health is vital and even although we may not be feeling well we always know of someone else who is worse off than us. We need to think how we can help others - sometimes with money, offer of our time or just doing what we can to make a better life for others.

Like millions of others I am thinking about new year resolutions and so far they are quite simple - I need to loose some weight (over 1 stone), take more exercise and spend less money. All are possible as long as the motivation and body is willing. Had thought I should make some resolutions for Vanessa - bring me breakfast in bed every morning, feed me grapes every half hour and ensure my wine glass is never empty - don't suppose it will work.

In June of this year I am doing a sponsored cycle from London to Paris and like Vanessa's half marathon the money will be going towards the upkeep of Wiltshire Air Ambulance. I am needing to raise £1100 sponsorship so we are busy trying to work out how we can achieve this - will keep you informed. I have written a recipe book and will be selling this to interested people for £4.50 it contains around 30 recipes we have repared and eaten over the last few years.

As I did last year with my cycle I will keep you informed of my training, ups and downs and other similar info - hoping to use my recumbent, long bike (currently being repaired) for this cycle as I will be cycling around 60-80 miles per day!!!

Take care and stay safe