Considering that yesterday, there was no ice at all (thanks to the wind); and that the ice was pretty thick (about 1cm), it must have got pretty cold last night!

Usually, it’s people out for an early morning walk with the dogs, or out on horse, or out on their early morning run.

I dread to the think of the number of times that I’ve been watched.

On crisp, clear mornings, when it’s a bit foggy, and it makes a good photo, people take pictures. That happened this morning.

I was thinking this morning that it would it would have made quite a good picture; and that I wouldn’t mind a copy of them.

Except, I have no idea who it was who the pictures. I’m going to be a part of someone’s photo album, for ever, and I don’t know who.

It’s tough being a photo star.

It’s mostly down to the fact that I have been so bloody busy recently that I haven’t had time to even think about anything other that work!

To cut a long story short, my company are sending me to Australia. I have a lot of work to do in the time between now and when they were going to send me. So far, as well as two 37 and a half weeks, I’ve clocked up another 23 hours of overtime.

I’ve just found out that the date I leave on could be up to two weeks later than we originally expected. That’s good, as it gives me more time to prepare, and means that I can take some time off on flexi-time so that I can catch up on some sleep! It is bad though because they could have told me sooner, and it means that I could have raced at the Kingston Regatta next weekend! Damn them!

Never mind, I still get a trip to Australia out of it!

I guess the reason is that I have been quite busy recently. Not one thing in particular, but lots of little things here and there! So in no particular order:

• I’ve hurt my shoulder rowing
• Saw “The Darkness” the other day in Brighton – Amazing
• A particularly fabulous person bought me “Alice Cooper – Classicks” – he still rocks.
• At work, I’ve been pimped-out to the Web Development department – expect a rewrite of this site soon!
• Volunteered to do the London to Brighton Bike Ride this year – should be fun!
• It’s my birthday this Friday – Rich, doesn’t seem like a year ago you came down for my last birthday! Feel like doing it this year?
• Broken my second iPod in one year
• Bought iPod shuffle (see above! Can’t break the HDD in that little bugger!)
• Plus many more things I have forgotten about!

Didn’t do too well. Less said, the better.

Actually, it wasn’t a very good piece of rowing at all, so no wonder. Still, I got to spend Saturday sitting down enjoying the sun (and going bright pink!)

The chances of us winning this week are a lot less than last week (officially we had a 1 in 4 chance, but this week, it’s more like 1 in 12), and there are a lot more heats involved, so by the time the finalists get to race, they are probably going to be knackered. Apparently, the guys we are in our first heat with are good, but not unbeatable, so hopefully we won’t do too bad (they got into the final of the Novice Double Sculls and the Senior 4 Double Sculls last week at Bedford, so they aren’t going to be crap!)

Oh well, we’ll just have to wait and see how John and I do!

Actually, we raced well, but rowed badly which kind of upset us both. It was a close run thing though between us and another crew from our club.

On the down side (although I’m not entirely sure that it is), as there were only 3 crews in the whole race, it didn’t become qualifying, so we keep our novice status.

Next week, John and I will be racing at Molesey.

I’ve been training and using ergo’s, but I havent’ been out on the water since I entered my first race about 3 weeks ago. It isn’t because I’ve given up, it’s just that I’ve been soooo bloody busy lately, I haven’t actually had time to get out on the water.

I’m hoping that I will have remembered what I need to know, and that I can remember how to move on of those boaty-thingys.