gavinf1980

I'm expecting to meet the Climate Champions over lunch; it will be good for a chat, maybe share my work goals with them, have a bit of a catch up.

I've got to join the GIS drop-in session later, and hopefully be able to explain to my colleagues what I need help with. Hopefully I'll learn a few things.

Just sitting at home right now, and feeling that I should have breakfast soon; I'm going to go into work a bit later than usual.



On Strava, I have completed the October Walk 50K Challenge. I have also logged 1 hour and 9 minutes for the Le Col Cold Paradise Challenge and climbed 426m for the October Elevation Challenge.

I'm meant to be leading a walk with work's walking and wheeling club later this month that looks at filming locations; I started off thinking of stuff that's been filmed near work (one of the gardens appeared in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and I always point it out). I started coming up with a plan, and then changed my mind, and wondered if, since the walk will be on Hallowe'en week, if I could give it a spooky/horror theme. I know Patrick Troughton and Peter Capaldi were both in Doctor Who episodes (both Cyberman ones) filmed near St. Paul's Cathedral, and I think Doctor Who is often scary enough for Hallowe'en fare, so I can find anything else horror or horror-like near there, I could add those.

Work was okay; I like those moments when I just stop for a chat with two of the other guys, just about stuff really, and how we're feeling (always a good thing that men need to talk about more).

I think there must have been a wedding going on at St. Paul's Cathedral, as I could hear the bells going off from some way off on the evening commute.

On Strava, I have:
* Logged 17 minutes of 3 hours and 20 minutes of a new challenge: The Le Col Cold Paradise Challenge;
* Walked 45km for the October Walk 50K Challenge;
* Climbed 398m for the October Elevation Challenge; and
* Logged 7 of 10 days for the October Ten Days Active Challenge.

Who else know that September is Suicide Prevention Month? There are lots of resources available, and the NHS Mind Plan seems invaluable. #EveryMindMatters

Let's not forget about Andy's Man Club either. #ItsOkayToTalk

I love some of the initiatives people are coming out with - like these hoodies.



Also, a favourite quote that I hear regularly on the Daily Calm app that I should use to others:

“be softer with you.
you are a breathing thing.
a memory to someone.
a home to a life.”

(Nayyirah Waheed)

I know two people who have been affected by suicides of family members this year, so this is feeling more important to be than ever, but the other thing I really want to get across is that it's okay to not be okay. It's a message that Action for Happiness and #30Days30Ways are both getting across today.

I've also recently found out all the emergency numbers here in the UK, and there are lots more than I remember. These are useful to think about in Preparedness Month:

999 is the one everyone knows, but there's also 112
111 for non-emergency medical incidents
102 is the non-emergency police number
61016 is for British Transport Police
105 reports a power cut and
0800 111999 is for a gas emergency

Yesterday, I made it into work but trains not doing what they should (the one I wanted was fine when I left home, and delayed when I reached the station) meant I didn't really want to wait 10 minutes in the busy coffee shop where I'd been looking forward to treating myself and making my lunch break even longer, so I went to the office, and got a coffee in the work's canteen instead. I had a quick stop in the pub afterwards.

#30Days30Ways also suggested that I make sure I do something that makes me happy today, so I made a point of having a lunchtime walk around town, just to clear my head. After lunch, I joined a "focus group" about Neurodiversity. I forgot quite how mute I tend to go in sessions like that, worried that my contributions sound ridiculous (might be the imposter syndrome instead). If the speaker asks who wants to talk first, I wait; I just imagine that I'll talk over someone, and there's nothing that makes me back down faster over Teams/Zoom than someone starting to speak at the same time as me; even if I'm sure I was a good five seconds quicker. So, yeah, I just listened really, and it was all talking about how we could improve neurodiversity awareness. I'm sure if I'd been able to attend in person I'd have been able to talk more about my aspergers, I think I just get Zoom anxiety when I'm stuck on a screen.

On Strava, I have completed the Le Col Turning Point Challenge, September Ten Days Active Challenge and September Walk 50K Challenge. I have climbed 593m for the September Elevation Challenge.

There are now two outstanding photo_scavenger prompts:
* Month
* Nine.

This morning, I did a course on creativity put on by work, and it was a good way to ask for help from others, as well as share thoughts and feelings. The course was very practical, and started with sketching, even a bit of craft/origami to make animals while working in small groups.

I really liked how the course got me thinking about how I could look for opportunities in unlikely places, even think outside of the box to get solutions to problems. A negative mind map for example is all about writing down problems, and then adding solutions and how to get to them.

There was also the SCAMPER model, which I'd never heard of before.



Today's #30Days30Ways challenge got me thinking about how prepared I am for if the lights fail, and got me looking for where I have a working torch. I know I have a head torch somewhere, but I'm slowly realising that I have at least temporarily misplaced it. Otherwise, I'll be depending on my phone late; oh dear.

On Strava, I have completed The Solgar Half Marathon Mission and the September Walk 50K Challenge, and:
* Logged 1 hour and 24 minutes of 3 hours and 20 minutes for a new challenge: Le Col Turning Point Challenge;
* Climbed 542m for the September Elevation Challenge; and
* Logged 8 of 10 days for the September Ten Days Active Challenge.

I went swimming with Mum this afternoon; I did lengths of the pool, and managed 24. It's probably the longest swim I've had in a while, without too many problems with getting stuck behind people as the pool wasn't too dominated with lane swimming, just a few issues with having to manoeuvre around people who were there for a more casual swim. I didn't quite manage to do my 24 lengths in half an hour, which is a good goal to aim for, particularly when I do my morning visits.

It's not a case of that I can't do it, but that - I can't do it yet, I just need to work on my fitness. I am going to insist on doing breaststroke, just because I am convinced I look like I'm about to drown when I do front crawl. I'll choose looking like a competent swimmer over speed.

I got chatting to a young lifeguard who seems to recognise me, about how nice the weather is, and about plans for my week off work; a friendly lad who knows how to give proper, firm handshakes.

Mum got a good picture of me.



I used my reusable Darth Vader cup when I walked to a local coffee shop/deli this morning, which saved having to get a cup with a plastic lid that would need to be recycled.

On Strava, I have:
* Logged 2 hours and 33 minutes for the Le Col Level Up Challenge and the July 400-Minute Challenge;
* Climbed 80m for the July Elevation Challenge;
* Walked 10km for the July Walk 50K Challenge; and
* Logged 2 days for the July Ten Days Active Challenge.

I have two outstanding photo_scavenger prompts:
* Coins, and
* A new one, Fractions.

I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter (Walt Disney).



Here is the Jump Back Up July calendar for 2025, and I'm going to try and sort out a few little worries today. Mum is coming round later, and I'll help her book up a swim in our local lido.

Also, I'm hoping to do a walk at Farthing Downs later this week; I've signed up, but not heard more about timings. I'll check my e-mail later, and chase the guy up if needed.

Plastic Free July is also starting; I wonder what "small step" I can take to help reduce plastic waste.



I have started several new Strava challenges, and made progress by doing a short morning walk, and some home fitness, today, so I have:
* Logged 31 minutes of 4 hours for the Le Col Level Up Challenge;
* Logged 1 of 4 weeks for the Strava Streaks Challenge; this just requires one ten-minute activity per week, so is quite straightforward;
* Started, but not made progress on, the July 5K x Brooks Challenge;
* Climbed 19m of 2,000m for the July Elevation Challenge;
* Walked 1km for the July Walk 50K Challenge;
* Logged 31 minutes of 6 hours and 40 minutes for the July 400-Minute Challenge; and
* Logged 1 of 10 days for the July Ten Days Active Challenge.

Nothing special happened yesterday; I went to church, chatted about the sermon with one of the other guys after during the men's discussion group that we're starting, and then I joined some of the others in the pub.

I've been wondering what has made others happy lately, and I chatted with the barber this morning and the man who made my coffee. I'm not sure if there's been much to make anyone happy lately; I remembered that the guy in the coffee shop supports Spurs, and I asked him what he thought about Ange Postecoglu getting sacked (he wasn't that pleased about what happened).

I went for a walk in my break and walked past two sinister looking gates that make me curious as to what's behind them. It just looks like overgrown, unused land; sadly, no trespassing allowed.



I took both pictures for the photo_scavenger "gate" prompt (outstanding: sleep).

On Strava, I have completed the June Walk 50K Challenge, and:
* Logged 1 hour and 9 minutes for the Le Col Million Strong Challenge;
* Logged 9 days for the Sweat with Pride Challenge, Do the Work with Betterhelp and the June Ten Days Active Challenge;
* Walked 36km for the pliability Run to Hawaii Challenge;
* Climbed 471m for the June Elevation Challenge; and
* Logged 97 days for You Got This 100 Days powered by adidas.

So - what has made you happy recently?

Stag Walkers have a new theme for the month: Spring Photos. Here's one from last night's walk.



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On Strava, the collective effort for Team End Polio: Rise Together is almost 420K hours, and I have:
* Started a new challenge: Set the Tone with Bandit Running, and I have managed to walk 24 of 25 miles;
* Logged just over 2 hours and 33 minutes for the Le Col Giro Challenge, HelloFresh Get Active, Get Rewarded and May 400-Minute Challenge;
* Climbed 91m for the May Elevation Challenge;
* Walked 13km for the May Walk 50K Challenge;
* Logged 1 day for the May Ten Days Active Challenge; and
* Logged 58 days for You Got This: 100 Days powered by adidas.

It's Meaningful May again, and I'm going to start today by going out to vote in the local election. I have opportunities to help out others by promoting work's walking and wheeling club to new starters, and maybe helping with the register at this evening's Stags walk.

On Strava, I start several new challenges:
* Le Col Giro Challenge and HelloFresh Get Active, Get Rewarded (both 3 hours, 20 minutes);
* May 5K x Brooks Challenge;
* May Elevation Challenge (climb 2,000m);
* May Walk 50K Challenge;
* May 400-Minute Challenge; and
* May Ten Days Active Challenge.

I know I try to rush a lot of things at times; just tasks at work, or I try to rush to get to places, so today I'll make an effort to slow myself down.

Tonight is going to be the second "Coaster Off" so I'll have that to look forward to.

Update on Strava; I have finished the March 400-Minute Challenge, and:
* Climbed 116m for 1 Million Vertical Meters with Suunto & POW;
* Climbed 258m for the March Elevation Challenge;
* Walked 36km for the March Walk 50K Challenge;
* Logged 5 days for the March Ten Days Active Challenge;
* Logged 3 days for You Got This: 100 Days powered by adidas.

Today, I start a new challenge: Le Col Classics Challenge (requires 3 hours and 20 minutes).