Sorry. I've been busy

I've been meaning to get back to the blog for quite a while (the best laid plans etc...)

Whoever thought that being unemployed would take up so much of my time? I've been actively job searching  with very little success at the moment. I have discovered that there are several resources to help me with CV's and covering letters, which I am making full use of.

My Nordic Waling Instructor training is going well, having recently completed my practical phase. I've been given the option of becoming a Delivery Partner, but with my limited business acumen, I'm going to check every single detail before I make a decision.

Health wise I'm doing well. I am now able to comfortably get into a 36" waist. So I can rightly feel a bit smug.

I've even had a chance to get a bit creative and faddle about with my phone

Spring will soon be sprung

Ponton Valley, A nicely hidden valley within walking distance of Grantham.

Little Ponton church 

I actually took this by accident but I quite like it

Not quite sure what the flowers are. I think they're celandine.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong

The end.(Or is it the beginning)

I've been finished for almost a week and already it's driving me mad. The paperwork is a nightmare! I never realised that you have to do so many interviews and fill out so many forms for a pittance.
Time to get busy again. The "Old Boy Net" should prove more effective than the internet

The Weekend looms...

Only a couple of days left before I'm finished at work. Ten years is a long time and despite all the aggravation I'm going to miss it. I've lost count of the job applications I've already sent.

This weekend I'm off for a walk. If nothing else the break will do me good.
Then maybe I should sort out some sort of routine for next week. I get the feeling I'm going to be busy filling in forms.
Enough of that for now. Let's see if I can get some nice pictures over the weekend

A little reminder

Just to remind myself why I must bounce back

Still confused

It is pretty much taken as read that as of 20th Feb I will be officially redundant. I'm spending most of my spare time trying to sort the paperwork, and that is a full time job in itself!
The online job sites seem to be for £60,000 executive jobs that have already been filled.

I have to pick myself up and get back into things, but right now if I were honest I'd prefer just to curl up in a ball and hum gently.

Time for a break and a cup of tea. Maybe I'll find something tomorrow.

AWFUL week

 This week has been a pretty bad week generally. I got my redundancy notice from work- what's that all about? Then to crown it all I hurt my back on Thursday.
After nearly three days of constant pain I went for a short walk round the block. (about two miles)
It seemed to do the trick and freed the muscles a little. Still a bit tender but no way as bad as it was.

I've got my appointment booked with Citizens advice- not that I don't trust them, more to get my house in order.
Now back to the task of job hunting...

Busy Busy Busy

Well it's been such a hectic week I won't have time to do it all in one sitting. I've been out and about and I've started me home study for my NWUK instructor certificate. It's going to be quite a busy year for me.

Getting some miles in along the canal

I really liked the ice pattern here

A pair of poles, a flask of tea, the great outdoors. It just doesn't get any better than this

Winter Walk. New boots

After trailing all the way to Loughborough to buy some new boots I simply had to try them out. I was out by 7am, it was still quite dark but the snow made visibility very good.

Ready to go. Still dark

My first attempt at artistic stuff

Only one set of prints and they're mine.

Three views of Denton Wharf, showing the frozen canal

AYUP Me Duck!

This week has certainly been eventful. The Cardiologist has told me that I'm well on the way to recovery so that's always a good start.

Out of the blue I got a call from the local council saying that they'd be willing to fund my Nordic Walking Instructor training as a community health project. I don't want to count my chickens but things are certainly on the up for me. I do, however get the impression that this is just the beginning.

Good news

Had some good news this week. I'm less than a pound away from losing 15% of my original body weight, another couple of pounds after that and I will no longer be classed as overweight.
Tomorrow I'm off to the Cardiologist for a check up. This time I'm feeling quite optimistic and it's only a couple of weeks in.

If I'm sounding a bit pleased with myself it's because I think I've earned it.

Winter Walk

Nice Crisp,day with a dusting of snow. Almost the same route as last week but see how the snow has made a difference

Ice Cracking. The winter version of puddle splashing

Next week's walk is still in the planning stage. I'll see what the weather reports say.

A Huge Thank You

I Would like to pass on a HUGE thank you to my friends at www.nordicwalking.co.uk For providing me with these poles.
My son, Jamie (8) has already booked his place as my first student and is really keen to get started.
It's such a compliment that he wants to be like Daddy.

I can now concentrate on my instructor's course and hopefully help those who need it...
Let's see where it goes

First good walk of the year

The Drift Looking towards Grantham

The Drift Looking towards Denton (A much more interesting path to the left)

A tree stump (DUH!)

Nothing to say here. Just a Nice place to be

First Good walk of the year. Plenty to see and do. Lots of activity on the reservoir. Grebes, Cormorants Coots, Other things I didn't know. 

I must remember to take my binoculars with me next time

Well then, I've been a bit tied up with Christmas and New Year. It's actually quite refreshing to be heading towards some form of normality again.
I daresay I've put on a couple of pounds but all the naughty chocolate is gone so I can eat properly again.

I've set myself a challenge. That is to walk 1000 miles in a year. Let's see how it goes.

Keep watching for reports.