Hair can help

Note from me: This post was meant to go up in November but after broadband fights and stuff it failed to upload. So now, at last, I'm posting it.

I need to confess what has happened to me over the past few weeks.

I'm quite a conservative fellow. I rarely swear, eat my greens and only touch whisk(ey)/cider/ale for medicinal reasons.

That and the love of getting giddy and giggly.

Just so you can get an idea, this is me:

See? Shirt. Tie. Face.

But recently I've stepped out of my comfort zone.

People no longer make eye contact with me. Their eyes wander from my usual gaze to just below my nose. They stumble over words. Their concentration wavers and they seem lost in the wonder over my style statement.

Since the start of the month I've itched, twitched and scratched my upper lip all in the name of charity and awareness.

What can I say? Movember has brought out the rascal in me. I've inspired people to compare me to a member of the Village People or a Western bandit.

Don't believe me?

Mo. Jumper. Face that means business.

But now it's drawing to an end.

Farewell to the fuzz. Move over Mo. Tell the tache to toddle off.  My face is about to be reclaimed by skin.

So look. If you know someone who's joined this crusade over the past month, do give them your support. 

Sure, laugh with them. Give yourself an excuse to giggle at their style. If we can inspire laughter, brilliant. 

But also show them some love, as Americans from the 1990s used to say. Yeah, OK, this information is from episodes of Ricki Lake, but that's the best I can do.

We men, as a whole, don't tend to put ourselves forward if there's a medical issue. We're great at ignoring things. We can pretend we've got blinkers on if there's an issue. We look straight ahead.

If a group of blokes growing facial fluff can help others face up to what's going on around them, then brilliant. It may be silly but Movember can make a difference.

Cool and the gang

According to the BBC I'm about to become cool.

I say about to become cool. I know it'll take a while to get in with the in-crowd, but cycling does seem to be hitting the headlines. It could be that I'm more aware of cycling stories but, dammit, this is my blog and I'm sticking by it.

I've never been cool. I've had some cool hobbies like lomography and liked some cool music but when you love choral music and drink whisk(e)y, cool isn't the word that springs to mind.

Middle class? Maybe.

Middle aged? Before my time but oh yes.

Cool? Nah.

I feel safe in the knowledge that I'll be among that group of cyclists that just kind of plods along and does his thing.

Hopefully it'll give me a bit of longevity. It dawned on me today I never wanted to learn this skill more than I do at the moment. I just want to get the learning over and get out there.

I know it's little and often but I think frustration is hitting again.

Bike bits

Despite me not yet mastering the bike, I already seem to be collecting and desiring gadgets and gizmos.

I have started eyeing up things I don't have but have now realised I 'need'.

When I say 'need' I really mean bits I will use once and then put away or stash for a rainy day.

I better go over what I have.

To add to my nifty helmet, I already have some bike lights, which were a gift from my eldest brother Rich, and some gloves to protect my hands. My middle brother would be calling me an idiot for those but Ed, if you're reading this, people will be staring at the ridiculous man on the bike and ignoring he's wearing gloves.
I will be mocked as an ensemble.

I will be adding the aforementioned padded boxers/shorts,  a bike rack - for the car - and , not doubt, some  geeky/quirky cycling top.

The question is, what don't I need?

I'm new at this whole thing and so everything for sale seems cool and essential.

Cycling clogs? I want them for future trips to Holland.
Safety bananas? You can never have enough.
Biking whiskey? Surely, it's an essential.

I've taking photos for years so I know which kit I need. I have a gut instinct about what new pieces I should avoid. But bikes? Whole new playground.

It's quite fun really. It's a world of learning and new skills to acquire.

I've gotta get that balancing, pedalling thing sorted.

Whiskey business

When I started this blog, I soon realised that my foibles, hates and passions would soon be on show to all.

People would soon know that I can't stand sprouts, cotton wool (yet to be discussed) and the desert known as junket (and what should be known as just plain wrong).
People would know I'm planning for my wedding, that dieting and exercise were a huge part of my world at this time and the WTB is always right.

I knew, therefore, that I'd soon get round to my love of whiskey and whisky.

Since I've been drinking within the law and, if I'm totally honest, a bit outside of the law, I've always loved a dram of Scotch or Irish. I've no idea why but it works for me.
Perhaps I'm just an old hack at heart. Whiskey does go hand in hand with with the 1950s view of my profession.
Perhaps I'm just a young fogey at heart.
Perhaps, and this is most likely, I'm just odd.

Whatever the reason, I love whiskey. It's complex. It provides a range of smells and colours for you to enjoy. It also looks pretty cool when you know what you're talking about.

And then there's the taste. From a smokey beast to a sweet drop it can inspire and entrance, while giving you the mother of all hangovers. I'm not just talking about the shakes. You get the wibbles and wobbles too.

So why mention it now? As I mentioned we've had family staying at our home this weekend. And each night I've enjoyed a drop of Scotch and, one night, a drop of Canadian.

The thing is, can it go hand in hand with the next nine months? Can I justify keeping up this love affair with the water of life?

I don't drink it every night but it is a treat. I think I can keep it like that but, and this is a biggie, should I replace it with an alternative? Decaf coffee? Hot choc. Iced water?

Of course it wouldn't be permanent but maybe, if I'm serious about the weight loss, I should make it a once a week or month deal.

It's something to think on. For now, the Bruicladdich 'The Laddie Ten' is tasting wonderful.

Whiskey. Is there a better drink to help you answer the great questions of the world?

Nice and spicy

I've come to realisation there's one simple way of making food better; spice.

That's it. It's so simple, it's amazing it has taken me this long to crack the code.

While this may sound like a sweeping statement, stick with me and for a second think about all that bland food you've ever eaten.
Remember how boring a cottage pie can taste? Think about that watery cooked veg that you've had to endure. Think about all those tasteless piles of food 'things' you had to eat. Think about how much better they would have tasted with something spicy added.


Everything, I now believe, can be made better with spice. It can bring your bog standard dish into something amazing. It can transform boring veg into something with zing and zazzle.

I've just spent the evening with the future in-laws at a restaurant chain owned by a celeb chef (he's pukka). Each dish, bar the puddings, must have had some sort of chilli in.
Battered squid? Chilli.
Chicken? Chilli.
Even the greens were laced with chilli.

What backs this theory up? Three words. Cabbage. Soup. Diet.
There's no way I could have managed that week if the soup didn't have some sort of kick in that potentially bland meal. Cayenne pepper was made for this plan.
So there we have it. How to transform your meal. Spice.



Or booze. Booze can work too. Beer and wine with stews. Champagne with oysters. Whisky or whiskey with cream.

So booze and spice. Two ways of making food better.

Or chocolate. OK, three ways.


As you may have guessed, the diet has taken a back seat today. Enjoying life surely has to mean having a rest, now and again, from our everyday routine. We've had family with us this weekend. The WTB has had 'wedding' appointments. We've enjoyed time with those close to us and made the most of the time.
Healthy eating will be back, but all work and no play makes me a very bored eater. It would make me more likely to cheat and so I'm glad we've done it.
The weight has stayed off (I've only gained 1lb) so I know I can push on from here.

I know, come Monday morning, we'll be back on our rations. But today, we've drunk a lot of tea, eaten some cake and had some wine.

And I've loved it.