Where did it go? 2006 that is!
The year started pretty cold with plenty of visits to Cannock Chase with the bike. Started on No1 the Haro, and ended on
No2 the Giant, the Giant came along the end of May before my birthday. After its arrival cycling took off big time, July did a sponsored ride around Staffordshire for the Diabetes foundation; later in the year did the Wolverhampton Marathon and the Three hills killer on the Isle of Wight. Countless visits to Baggeridge and Himley when I was practicing for the events. Through out the year have been to Cannock Chase, Wyre Forest, Clent Hills, local and loads of other places. Me and me mate Terry have clocked up a ruck of miles when maybe we could have been doing other really important things. This summer I visited my sister on the Island and guess what… cycled some more. Visited the cool café at the top of Culver Cliff, bacon sarnie and a cup of tea with a fast downhill to finish… Happy days.
The Three Hills Killer in September was Ace, travelled to the Island with Terry and stayed at my sisters place, before the event had a few beers and a look around Sandown, visited the Culver Café, need I say more it was a cool weekend. The event was quite good, there were a few killer hills to climb though :-). If all works out I will definitely be going back next year, it was good. Wolverhampton marathon I did on my own on No2, at the start of it I manged to keep up with the front runners for about 300m then realised the pace will kill me so had to slow down. Was good though, I enjoyed it, was good being cheered on by strangers around the course…. Looking back at the cycling this year I have been to so many places and seen so many things, I have had some laughs and good times; a little pain too, you know I do fall off quite regular. I think that’s enough about the cycling now, will be continued I'm sure.
Work this year has been quite strange the year started with all sorts of speculation about the future. Will we have a job or won’t we? Will the company merge or won’t it? Ade left to join the Cops, he’s now a Police Constable for the local force, well done dude. That left me, Mark and Terry at Wolverhampton, we carried on as normal until the merger when we were put at risk of redundancy. Mark as the senior kept his position and gained some more sites, Terry and I were made safe and kept our jobs but I left anyway. Took the job as senior in the Thames Valley and will be moving there early next year. This year work has changed quite a lot and will be changing more, our lot are going through a second round of redundancy right now, when I go back after my leave maybe I’ll be back at risk. Never mind change is good I suppose.
I have sold my house first to see will buy. Wehey, I had spent a few quid recently to finish off things around here and I made some of it back with the sale, at least that’s what I tell myself. We have found a house to move to in Thatcham, Berkshire; it needs a lot of work and some cleaning doing so that'll keep me busy for a while. When it’s finished it will be good, it has a garage for a motorbike..... Michelle! ;-)
Christmas this year was different with family staying here. My sister and her boys stayed over for a few days, we visited family and did the usual Christmas thing, eating too much and talking shite. Santa bought me new cycling gloves and trousers and a new Polar Buff, I like presents. Oh well that’s it for Christmas in the Midlands, next year we’ll be living in the South in our new home. Hopefully by then the house will be finished so I don’t spend Christmas painting. I think that’s it, new job, new house, new bike, cool.... 2006 has been great the weather has been brilliant and I have spent my time doing what I like with folks I like.
Dominik started secondary school and immediately pissed off his new year head, Ben moved up a year and had to get used to having his little brother running around school. Joshua finished nursery and moved into infants. They are all doing really well at school with grades and tests etc, hope it stays that way after the move. There is lots more it was a good a year and I had a good time but I'm stopping there. Hope 2007 is even betterer and things turn out ok.
Happy New Year, I'm off to the pub...
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