It is quarter past five as I begin writing this post. I am in Newbury, sitting on my cousin’s leather sofa, online via his Vodafone 3G usb dongle (7.2Mbps, but not carried out a proper speed test yet) watching Wigan Athletic play Manchester City on Sky Sports (current score 2-1, 57 minutes on the clock). Had quite a busy weekend and a very busy Sunday before I left Wycombe just after 3pm to head over here. I suppose I should start with a round up on what I got up to yesterday.

Got up around 7.30am, there was no bread or milk (for tea) so I drove over to ASDA in the thick fog to get these items. When I got back my Mum made some toast and tea before I got changed and headed into town around 9.15am. I got into town in fifteen minutes or so and went straight to Jerry’s. However it was busy and they had a screaming toddler in there having (I suspect) his first haircut, so I opted to turn around and head back down the road to Chaps. I had been to this hairdresser last time around (three weeks ago, on Saturday 6th) and I was happy to go back. I could not wait around for a long for Jerry or Eddie, as much as I had wanted to use them for my last haircut before leaving Wycombe.

After my haircut I headed home and decided to get a few things sorted. I did some shredding and then went out and hoovered the car. I was going to wash it but could not get the new plastic connector attached to the lance. Well that is technically not true, I could not get the metal (iron?) original connector off. Pav had suggested fixing it into a vice to them remove it but we have no vice in our garage. I tried a few spanners from my Dad’s tool kit but could not get anywhere, so decided to stop. I went in, got some food and put on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, episodes two and three via my XBMC. It was great to watch, even though I only watched one episode on the television and episode three on my PC later in the afternoon. Summer Glau is just perfectly cast as reprogrammed Terminator Cameron. Some of her lines just have me in stitches, “This is the exact centre of the house and it is moving 0.195mm every year! We will need to repaint!”. While I am here talking about television shows I need to mention Heroes. I watched both opening epidoes on Friday night and it was great fun to be back watching the show. Particularly as the last series ended on such a whimper due to the screenwriters strike. However, I think it would have been too much for a newbie to take in. It just seems as if they were eager to fill in as much as they could and jump around each story strand that it never truly got going. I hope the show settles in the next few episodes. It is tempting to reveal more but I must respect that many UK fans will not see the show until Wednesday this week when it is screened on BBC2. All I can say is expect some surprises from start to finish but also try to stay awake, it does at times drop to a painfully slow pace.

I had a power nap, while listening to FiveLive commentary on Arsenal versus Hull. The less said on that the better but I am hoping this is the final wake up call (after Fulham) that we need to start closing men down and defending set pieces better. When I got up, I decided to jump on the computer for a bit before watching Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor. I watched Rachel Steven’s performance and then retired to the lounge to watch the flagship reality music show on ITV1 with my sisters. Boot camp was interesting, although I have one thing to say. I find the Snow Patrol song, “Chasing Cars” very depressing. I just hate it. It was sung several times by contestants and also played a few times during the show. Do not get me wrong they are a very talent band and I think one of my sisters (most likely Natalie) have seen them in concert. It is just not my type of music, I do not like sad, melancholy music. I generally like music that gets me into a good mood. In any case, I am looking forward to a better girlband to get through this year (after Hope’s rather poor show last year). Plus there is the boy group, JSL. As for the other categories, we shall see. I will be in the gym when the second part of bootcamp is screened at 7pm this evening and doubt I will get a chance to watch (I am going through my induction and new programme).

Saturday night was completely different from last Saturday. My computer was working, so I could actually get online, talk to my friends and do things. I wanted to watch Greek. However there was a problem, Episode Two of Series Three was only 14 minutes long, although according to Windows Explorer, the file size was still the 350mb you would expect. Not good, I then checked the file for Episode Three. Worse. Here the file played for just a second before cutting out. It too was 350mb in size. So I went ahead and obtained them myself, and in the meanwhile spoke to my friends and caught up on the news on BBC News channel. Pav sent me a text message exactly 11pm, with one of his cryptic web addresses, http://hasterrycompletedthebacklog.net. The reply was no because GREEK files had been incomplete. Now there is an SLA on delivery but there is never an SLA on quality, it is just one of those things. In the end I watched both episodes, they were good but I must admit I’m just trying to relive my lost youth via the show, nothing more, nothing less.

Sunday morning brought with it an early start, I was in the gym around 8.30am, and after a light breakfast of tea and toast, I handed in my card and TechnoGym key and headed off into the distance. I got home and then at 11am, went into town to fax some important documents and get some photocopies. I then came home, picked up my sister’s 308 and drove to Kwikk Fit to get a nail removed from the back tyre. This was free, because there was no puncture and no repair required. Afterwards, I headed home, on the drive I must say that Edith Boyman played some cracking songs today. First there was the late 1980s classic by Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now (yes I know it is a cover!), then as I got back into the car after being in Staples it was Birdhouse In Your Soul by They Might Be Giants. Then as that ended a caller on the Shuffle chose Snap! The Power, I put the volume up on the stereo and was even tempted to crank up the subwoofer (but decided against it!). Now that is a tune that just has to be listened to at an insane volume to be enjoyed. The great thing is, the radio reception was crystal clear and you would have thought I was listening to the CD. There was another great song that was played but I have forgotten it now. I suppose I could go to BBC iPlayer and listen again. Actually I remember now, Edith finished with Wake Up Boo! by the Boo Radleys, a fantastic feel good song! The ideal song for me to drive home to before I pack up and begin a new chapter in my life in West Berkshire.

I got home around quarter past one and I had loads to do before I was heading off. I had originally planned to leave at 2pm but that time slot had gone. I got my holdall, packed my clothes and then got all the other bits sorted out. I then went on the computer to sort out a few things before finally getting out the door after 3pm. I think I have still left a few things (clothes, nothing major) at home. I got to my cousin’s house around 4pm and unpacked. Then I had a just over ninety minutes to kill before I had to go to my gym induction.

It is 20:48 as I pick up this blog post. A successful induction at the Cannon’s Gym. I got their at 6pm, but my induction was not until 7pm, apparently it was going to take an hour to sort out the paperwork? It actually took less than ten minutes, as I just had to sign a few forms. I then had my mug shot taken, with a Creative WebCam of some kind before being allowed upstairs. I Waited for the gym staff to appear, he was downstairs covering the pool, a sign informed me. Adam, appeared a few minutes later and I asked if I could start my induction early and gave him a print out of my existing programme. He had a look and we almost started a detail conversation on what I wanted to achieve but I asked if I could go downstairs, get changed and then set up my programme. I did just that and we started off. Sure, this is a step back to the prehistoric era with pen and paper for keeping track of my programme, but I am committed to trying to make it work. Overall the programme is now weighted (no pun intended) towards my weights, with three sessions on the machines and just one cardio session. Even the cardio session itself is quite simple (in comparions to my last programme). Out goes the rowing machine, and in come just the cross-trainer, treadmill and bike. My weights programme has become more intense, although the number of machines has dropped. I now have to do three sets of twelve repetitions. I was dying after just one set of twelve this evening. Adam was a very nice guy and very helpful. His final words to me, as I left was that I would find the programme far too easy and that I would be coming back to him for an “upgrade” within the month. I am not too sure, I feel I will struggle with the programme, particularly with the new environment. We shall see, I will of course keep you posted.

Observations so far are few and far between. I noticed a bright blue Ford Fiesta drive past me with a blue neon night on underneath. At the BP Connect garage down the road, (I had to pick up some milk, bread, bananas and juice!) there was a group of lads, one had Fast Car magazine in his hand. Suppose it has to be better than Wycombe. A girl spat on me (but missed) as I walked past her on Thursday evening in Eden as I headed towards the library. All I could say to myself was I was glad I was leaving Wycombe. So, we are at the start of a new era in my life. Tomorrow is the first day in the rest of your life as someone would say to me. Right, I’m watching Hitch on five (to kill some time) and waiting for MOTD2 on BBC2 in fifteen minutes or so. Better get on with some washing up.