Cornwall trip 2008

I used to live down there in Cornwall, I used to surf the breaks of Perranporth and Newquay as well as many others, and I thought as I approach me 40th I would get me old surf board out and Id try to reclaim some of that surfing and cornish majic of old, with stephanie in tow. We were also going because we had Jack Johnson tickets he was playing at Watergate Bay on the cliff there.....nicely exposed.....NOT GOOD eh Jack..



I remember from back in the day as do most of us, such rare things as long days of sunny weather, sunset surfs and sweet bright blue dawn patrols....ahh awesome, with that in mind surely a bit of camping in the middle of summer would be a delight, surely....what fun, lets get packed and dont forget the frisby - er cos well be using that on the beach wont we. NOT.

We decided to stay in a campsite i knew from the old days, as i used to work there and knew it would be quiet, we got there we set up camp (in the dry) and then we got in brewed a cup of tea and BA BOOM !!!!!!! crash thunder .....wind... etc etc,....the rain started and with some force as well, i looked at the camp site and with its exposed area and open fields and with the wind and rain having a 20 mile run up before slamming into the side of me tent we were in for a hiding and we got one, for 9 days solid.....9 fucking days.....!!!!!!!!!!!



Not looking to happy eh after another night in the car!!!

yes yes i know it rains, but as it turned out it rained for 9 days solid, with howling winds slamming at us all day and all night....we had to sleep in the car as the tent was not standing up to this incessant rain and we could not sleep in there, even a few hours to dry would have done but no it kept going. The Jack Concert up there on the hill was destroyed and cancelled and im sure from looking at it nearly blown away into the sea....what a fucking joke..

with the concert canceled we were struggling to put a good face on it all....we did surf, Stephanie did enjoy it, we did go to the Eden Centre which i can highly recommend as awesome site if anything, we did make it to Perran sands infamous waterhole on the beach and watched a rowdy grung band do there stuff, and we saw as many sites aswe could from within our now stinking car...looking out as the rain dribbled down the windows, after a while it gets to ya let me tell ya.



We also went to the Minnack Theatre which again is so impressive, and to be fair to the weather we got a slight restbite allowing us to chill on the beach for a while, but come show time we go nailed, we lasted to the end of the show but many did not they could not see the point, the theatre which is outdoors of a cliff edge is famous for not stopping a show regardless of the weather, but even these hardy actors were suffering a tad, there was ven one bit where a guy had to strip off to his underpants for a bit....he must have been frozen...a crazy night...but we got lashed on there as well for the whole show....!!!! bloody weather....



what a performance..!!

yeh yeh we could of gone into a pub and got wasted but hey were not big drinkers and i wasnt with the lads.

suffice to say that when it rains down in Cornwall its a shite hole to be avoided at all costs.....do not do it....i have spend nearly £1500 on British holidays this year and got pissed on everyone...i am sick and tired of this piss poor grey rainy dam Island.....ahh fell better now....

next year im off to Europe or the states.....

Eden Centre



To be fair though id thought the Eden Centre was superb, there is so much you can learna bout the plants oround the world and what they produce, it is very interesting, they have two main areas one really humid and tropical and one cooler witha more European tempreture, inside when the rain fell on the bubbles the noise was incredible, it really is an architecs wet dream, and a great succes story in my veiw.



Highly educational and very entertaining.



some pics, sorry theres alot....



Stephanie with the ''Seed''



The show must go on.....really?!!



Hoping next summer will be better....

Greenman Festival 2008

I have always wanted to go to this festival after having heard such wonderful things about it, i first heard about it in 2005 and it has taken me this long to get organised. I took my now special freind Stephanie expecting warm days lazing in the sun tanning ourselves to the tunes of some cool folky dolky band.....and generally chillin. the event this year was in the Brecon Beacons at Glanusk park Wales, an aweosme natural ampitheatre.



with tickets bought well in advance we were so excited cometh the day, we packed whilst eagerly watching the weather and although there could be rain and we packed for that it looked like a reasonable clear weekend.



for this festival we set off on the Thursday night, tight as we are to get the most out of the weekend tickets, and we arrived as the sun was setting, it was along walk from the carpark but it was dry and grassy, i point that out for a reason as it was nearly the last time we see green grass again.



we camped bought program and went for a stroll around the quietish areas, no-one on stage but the lighting rig was being tested, the trees were all lit up and the smell of different food was all around. we ate we romanced at it all and slept.



The Duke of Yuke.....

we awoke to new neighbours? hi there....a bit close (as in using each others pegs) but even so its a festival, it was still dry and we headed out to lay on the grass at the main stage. To be fair the music was okish, in the early part of the day we thought some of it was filler, not that good at all, the cider was good and going down well and then crash BA BOOM....!!!! the rain came and it came down hard real hard.....a quick dash back to get water proofs on and out weekend was already getting a dampner....



within 6 hours the site was looking worse for wear, and within 12 it was muddy chocolate soup about 6 inches deep with lakes of crappy stew to contend with, the look on peoples faces said it all, check the video to see...the organisers did nothing and even though some of the music was alright and i did get to see my fav - Iron and Wine plus others no-one wants to watch there fav band in a pool of shitte....



ha ha we survived the weekend, gettinga s much out of it as possible but in the end the weather destroyed it completely, i posted a thread on the Greenman Forum called - ''brownman not greenman'' it got alot of hits form people expressing there thoughts and concerns a funny read and can be seen here.

''Brownman not Greenman''



Anyway the food was good-ish evn though we both got a dodgy tummy, the film tent was awesome with some weird porn late at night and science rock classes in the day ha ha but no generally the weekend was destroyed by the weather.



will I go again, not without getting a weather degree first.....and then watching it like a hawk.



Mini video below.

Interior Design - Jukson badboy style....

My other half Stephanie Jukes, is in need of a house makeover, and well being complete amatuers i am proud to say we have together done something very special with a room that was once - er well a shithole really....she was living in the 50's with borrowed this and that furniture, and all and sundry of mixed bits and bobs given away free by all and sundry... we looked at her budget and decided it was time to bring her back up to date....to be honest we knicked a few ideas from a few others but hey dont we all.



You would not believe how different this is....



This is only one room done so far, the office is next then hall then the kitchen.....(a big job)...then upstairs.

The room used to be white or lemon as she puts it, and considering Steph didnt even know how to use a roller before this is what weve done...we like it, and she loves it...

And here she is the lady lounging herself....get up and finish the dishes !!!

Sorry Karen we copied your lampshades....?







And here is the office completed....nice huh, magnum badboy style..

GR20 Trek Corsica Completed (Jarvain)

I have just returned from one of the hardest and most famous of treks across the mountain ranges of Corsica, it is a 200 mile (approx) hike across extreme raw mountainous terrain (un-pathed) and in no way should it's difficulty be underestimated. It travels from Calenzana in the north to Conca in the south, it normlly takes 15 days, we took 13 by doubling up on the stages twice in a row.....not to be recommended.



Accomidation is in mountain refuges or camping. I started on the 31st of May....The gaurdians vary in there characters but at the end of the day they are French and with that said they seem moody and rude but in general they are good hardworking people....respect them and learn a tad of french....!!!

http://corsica.forhikers.com/gr20 - for more information

We experienced severe weather of all kinds, extreme cold, deep snow, white outs, sleet, howling winds, slashing rain as well as stunning sunshine all at altitude. I say we, although I travelled alone I met up with some fantastic people all mentioned in the video at the bottom.



I could go on and on about this trek, but you can do your own research online, and there is no real need for me to repeat the information already available online but.....heres my imput....fresh from my return.



The guide books say its easy - bollocks, none of this is easy, every sodding day its hell, and I was carrying a light sack too 18Kg with 3 litres of water, and I am fit, if your not fit, forget it, this route will chew you up and spit you out big style, it will play with your head and will exhaust you on a daily basis....never believe anyone that tells you its easy....this route will stay in your mind for a long time....the pain will not be forgotten....but then neither will the rewards and the stunning beauty and sights you will see.



To be fair you dont even need a guide book and you dont need maps and this is from someone who took both and hardly used them, anyway someone else will have one so you could ask to look at theirs....



One a lighter note, the refuges turn into the worst male slumber party you can imagine with the snoring and farting champions from all of the countries present.



I would recomend a tent I took one and the nights I slept in it were way better than nights in the refuges.....and when its been raining you can imagine the carnage with all ensundry trying to vi for drying space for there gear....its comedy alright but when you need to sleep not so funny....



I am English and in the UK I would eat a substantial breakfast before taking on a days hiking the French, eat a peice of bread and jam, with coffee.....what madness!!!....theres is no porridge anywhere and I asked everywhere...bring your own. So within days of this you are starving, dont buy western foods at the refuges the prices have been tripled...do as the french do, buy the pork sausages and the bread and local cheese, buy nougat and choc for energy....copy the french diet albiet a tad different it will get you through the worst days and when your starving youll be amazed at what you'll eat......



Do bring chlorine tablets for the water just to be on the safe side the day after I did not use them, I sprayed all over some tree, I do not want the same to happen to you.....you have been warned. !!!!



But hey lets be honest here, I have seen some of the most stunning sights and my memories are strong colourful and vivid the people I have met were fantastic and legendry there were tears and there was fear amoungst all at certain points, but by pulling together we all made it through the tougher northern sections together considering there was alot of snow at key points.



There were - 2 Belgians (Jan & Rea), 2 Kiwis (Stuart & Juanita), 2 French (Francios & Harvey) and me the Scotsman....but alas after Vizzavona I was alone for a while until me and Eric the Flying Dutchman completed the trek in true style with the Mexican and sons close behind......the GR20 route it seems had taken some early scalps already....as others were never seen again....



The hardest thing for me on the trek was the incessant and unrelenting slog that seem to start most days it is steeper and harder than any photo shows, you must spend at least 30% of your day looking at your feet ha ha - try not of course, and then when you think relief will be offered in the form of some downhill - forget it thats even worse....all you want after 3 days is a flat world....but you dont get what you want......I have no regrets and I have had some awesome experiences but I will never allow the term 'easy' to be used in this treks description....its a killer.



Let the pictures do the talking and please watch the video to get a better feel for what the GR20 can do to you....and for you....



Thanks to all the fantastic people I met on the tour you know who you are and you will always be in my thoughts -I am truly grateful for all of your help and kindness.....





The final summit before dropping down to Bavella, no we didnt push over the cross..



By the way this is what it did to me....it will be no different for you..heh heh..



This is the North section video - south will follow...south will be funnier !!!!

White Peaks Swift half Mararthon (new record)

On the 17th of May 2008 i was to attempt this half marathon PB which i had had hanging over me for about 2 years, i knew i could beat it and what a race to choose to do it on.

This race is held on the Tissington Path (the old railway) and started high up at the highest point and made its way down to the canal, the last 4 miles had 3 very steep downhill sections, for anyone that knows the trail, imagine pelting down it at breakneck speed after 9 miles.....wooohoooooo..awesome...

It was a cool drizzly day which is perfect for running in, they gave us a lift to the start in coaches on the coach a guy named James started chatting to me, he was the eventual winner in a time of 1:15, I'm sure some of his speed rubbed off on me. heh heh.




I considered hopping all the way at first....

The coaches drop you off 3/4 of a mile from the start and we walked back along the trail to the start, on my walk i got talking to 'Onion' he was about 65, and had run umpteen marathons and half's and was legend in these parts i reckon, he was a lovely character and i was glad to of chatted for the 20 minutes we had before the start.

At the start we were all huddled on the single track and on the grass edging, you had to haggle for a good starting spot as i didn't want to get blocked in again like my last race, it was freezing but i had me black bin liner on until the last second, then the horn went and we were off.

The Garmin 305 was on and ready and within 30 sec i knew it was fast for me as i was running 7:30 min mile pace, in training i run 8:20 min mile pace, i knew if carried this on i would suffer big style later on....

But hey its a race, the day you throw it all in with the kitchen sink, the group spread out quickly and i was at the back of the leading group, normal for me and slowly slipping back ha ha....but i was holding the pace well and keeping within a good distance of a sweet youthful female arse, another one i could not quite catch....



Girl on left is the arse I could not catch, man on the right I also could not catch....

At 6, 7 and 8 miles and after a toilet break, i was still running at 7:32 min mile pace, and the pain was coming my legs were tiring the reality of that pace was kicking in and it hurt like hell. But this is the crux of the race the part that if you fight through the finish will be within site....i fought and gritted me teeth, it stung i could feel the cramps building, it was pain...it was PB time...

But then a break, the steepest of hills, one of 3 and i am good on the downhills, i pegged it slamming my feet as i went, passing so many.....flying i was, mind you when i hit the flat i nearly seized with pain and the people that id overtaken crawled back to get me, but then another hill, and i sped down that too, talking more scalps on the way, and the same thing happened a third time....the last mile was along a canal it was flat and my legs did not want to know...that last mile felt like 5 from hell itself.....the finish did not want to show itself.....

It was at this point that i knew i had smashed my PB which before was 1:51:00 (Nottingham) I was about to enter the exceptional group of people at my age who go sub 1:40...i could not believe it....

......round the last gate over a muddy field into the finish line and through the finish tunnel.....i was dead....that really really hurt...but wow..........

I finished in 1:37:33 (Official time) - 62th Place (out of 263)

I was so tired i just collapsed and fell into the arms of me girlie...who is also the cruel person who took the awful shots of me....heh heh...

An awesome day and i would recommend this race to any one.

Well maybe I shouldnt recommend it to anyone.........thats a PB for ya...pain..

Thorney 10K record attempt...

Hi all, I'm still running and last week I went down to Thorney near Peterborough t attempt to beat my 10K record of 45:43....a tough challenge for a 39 year old...going sub 45.

Me and Stephanie got there in good time and it was a lush morning the best conditions for a PB, we could not have asked for better conditions, this course was flat a great PB route but that would mean it would be exposed to the elements especially wind which can destroy a PB attempt in a flash or gust...

we eyed up the competition and the Field looked fast very fast actually so we hid away heh heh...i chose to run in me tights which was a mistake and I wish i had haggled and pushed for a better start position as i got blocked in for at least 30 sec at the start.

Anyway when going for PB at any distance its never fun as your taking the very best last attempt of you at the distance and you know that last attempt was a bitch, so to beat it your gonna pay.

BANG!!!! the gun went and I got stuck behind the starting bunch which really pissed me off, I was wearing me garmin set on the virtual runner setting for 44mins, within 3K I was way ahead of me garmin, which only meant trouble ahead, I had gone out way too fast, I was just off the leading bunch but falling away rapidly if honest.....I needed to settle into a good pace and by 5K I was panting like a rapist, I was dying on my arse no doubt but hey that's what PB's feel like I said to me self trying to console....

someone once said that pain is for leaving the body....really well I had plenty to get rid of, at 7K i was in a race with two other guys they would lead I would get it back they would re take it etc etc, it was good it helped me keep my pace up, the only depressing thing was that the guy in front of me was in his 60's....sod..

8K we were in open farmers Fields on a track and I was in pain, but i knew it was now or never i had to push regardless and I put all i had into it....it was not pretty and it was painful, this was close to my maxVO2 and I was feeling it....9K and I could see the final corner....the 60 year old was pulling away and I tried a mini sprint as we came back into the finishing straight but it was hard....he had me beat....how humbling..

Finished...that line never looked so good....really i hadn't even stopped me watch as i was blinded by the final effort to cross the line, but a PB it was -

New record - 44:41

I dont think i could beat that i think that was the on the edge of all i had on the day...very proud though, the drive home from Thorney to Notts via the sat navs option on bike was stunning the country side around there is stunning...

Cheers all.

Edinburgh Marathon (Part 1)

Hi all, over the last two years I have started running, I have completed a Half Marathon in each of those years and its those events that have given me the running bug. My times were mediocre but I achieved what I had set out to do, in the early days even stepping out of the door was hard enough let alone running 13 Miles.. I had to learn to run in the first few months....but that seems a long time ago now...

So we are now in 2008 and I felt like another stupid challenge and let me assure you I have picked one hell of a bloody stupid one, this year which I have my 39th and 40th Birthdays, I have decided to do two Marathons - Why, I don't bloody know do I why does anyone? a challenge I guess? to say I can or have, to say I know what the experience involves from start to finish, not just ponder about it....which is what too many do nowadays..

I have entered the Edinburgh Marathon first and the second is also in Scotland in October at Loch Ness..anyway back to Edin... I have taken on an 18 week training schedule which I have ignored to the letter as you cant do this shcedule and have a normal job and a normal life, but I have acheived the mileage and increased my pace...to assist me in this I have bought a Garmin Forerunner 305 which I can highly recommend. This device has assited me in knowing my exact pace and also has the invaluable HR monitor.

I am at present half way through the training and have done a little video as expressing how bloody hard this is with some pictures and views of the routes i run.

The thing I would really like to express here is that a Marathon is like no other competitve race, in fact for mere mortals its not even a race, just an event a indurance event and the only person most of us will be competing against (me included) is our selves and our stupidly set over optimistic time we wish to complete it in....mine is 3:45:00 - you may ask where did i get this well stupid optimisim and arrogance came into it but also the simple calculation of adding my two best HM times together, seemed fair enough to me.

The training has brought its own great results though, for example I have beaten my HM time in training and got a 1:47:00 I have also just beaten my 10K time in a run on sunday at Thorney near Peterborough and gor a time of 44:41 and a sub 45 min 10K for an old boy appraoching his Vet Catergory real soon is very good indeed. So the benefits are beginning to show and i am sure over the next year or so things will only get better.

One of the main downsides to high mileage training constantly is that injuries are going to hapen, it is nearly impossible to avoid, and as Marathon training forces high mileage training on you it will happen to you...its happened to me and i had an ankle injury linked to the inside of my calf....the funny thing is you know your hooked on running and your not just the casual jogger when an injury causes you to rest and you get irratable as you want to get out there again.....anyway watch the video and i will be back in next month just before the race itself .....

PS Marathon runners are crazy, thats for sure......

Well peeps, heres the result this Video says it all, did very well I think for my first attempt...but its a strange distance and it really does test you listen on...