It had to happen at some point and personally I’m surprised it took as long as nineteen working days into my job. On Thursday morning, as I drove up the A404 (when it magically transforms from being just a normal A-road into a dual carriage motorway), the A404(M), I saw the following message displayed on the Matrix sign (M4 West Slip Closed). Oh no, not good, so I had to make a decision and I made it quite quickly, I opted to get off at the next exit, Cox Green and turn around, head back up the A404(M) to the next exit (junction 9b) for Reading. Drive towards Reading and catch the A329(M) and join the M4 at junction 10. That was the plan but the reality was to be very different. I put the TA function on the stereo and listened out for any updates. Sure enough, while on the A4 Bath Road heading into Reading I got an traffic alert from BBC Three Counties Radio. There had been two accidents on the M4 (one West bound at junction 10, the other east bound just before 8/9). To make matters worse a lorry had blocked the slip road onto the M4 West bound at 8/9 (where I usually join the motorway). I was going to listen out for further information but my stereo switched back to the CD while the announcer was in midflow. Never mind, another bulletin would appear shortly. From what I had gathered from the radio, it was pointless trying the A329(M) as that was backed up with traffic as well, so my decision at first was to use junction 11 of the M4. However, just before I got to the main Oracle Roundabout I decided to follow the signposts for M4 West – Newbury & Oxford. This worked out to be a better plan as it would take me all the way on the outskirts of Reading to junction 12 (Theale) and onto a clear Motorway so I got get to work. Normally I stroll into the car park just before 8am, on this occassion, I got there about twenty minutes to 9am. Not bad considering those stuck on the motorway, role up into the office an hour later than me. They explained that a transit van had hit the central reservation and over turned. Well as of next week, the motorway? Marty, where we going, we don’t need roads! While we are on the subject of travel and motorways, I must complain about the journey between junction twelve and thirteen of the M4. It is one of those journeys that seems to last forever. On motorway journeys, particularly long ones you get used to seeing a junction (or at least services) every so often but the break between Theale and Newbury is strange feels at times like an abandoned no man’s land. You get to the top of a hill and think you are nearly there but you are still several miles away from the exit slip road. In anycase, I just thought I would share that with you, although I will only have this frustration when I come home every so often. Had my review at the gym yesterday evening at 7pm. Matt had to change shifts, was supposed to call me on Tuesday to inform me but did not. Never mind, I did not have the luxury to reschedule, so I just went ahead and had a review with Lee. A good check was my weight and body mass index. I had lost almost a pound (which I am sure most people would be happy with but I’m trying to gain weight). Plus I had lost three percent body fat, going from 14% to 11% which apparently is a better indication that you have lost excess body fat and converted it to muscle. We then reviewed my programme and tweaked it for my new gym, which I actually went on a tour of this evening. I know many of you will be disappointed in me for not actually carrying out my full CV programme last night but, it was getting late, so for old times sake, I opted for a ten minute run on the rowing machine. I managed 2146m which is a good score for me and I sustained an average rpm of around 38. Six months ago, on my first attempt, I was lucky to get up to 25, so a big improvement. As I drove to work this morning, I had a good feeling inside. Do not ask me why but I just felt today was my day. Perhaps it was the sun shining as I got onto the M4 Westbound. A great feeling, having your sunglasses on and driving relatively free flowing traffic to work. Perhaps it was that Friday feeling, perhaps it was a little of lady luck shining down on me once again! In any case, I was looking forward to my flat viewing in the afternoon. It was three minutes past eight in the morning, and I pulled up to the barrier, my phone rang. It was a mobile number. I answered the phone (I had not had my handsfree kit on and it would have taken too long to switch it all on). It was my new landlady, just confirming the viewing for this afternoon at 5.15pm. She had called me and left a message Thursday afternoon and 3pm to confirm it all before hand. In any case, I answered the phone, explained I was all set for the viewing and looked forward to meeting her then. I hate to think what my colleagues in the car behind thought of this nutter answering his phone while trying to drive into the car park and find a spot. In any case, the conversation was a mere thirty seconds (if that) and the phone was off and I found a spot on the second floor, parked up and headed into the office. I wasn’t really looking forward to being the only person in my department but had plenty to keep me busy (well at least until lunch time). At 5pm sharp, I left the building and headed straight to my car and the flat. It was about two minutes drive from my workplace. Result. I got there a few minutes early and waited for the landlady to arrive, she did and showed me in. It does not take long for you to get a feel for a place and it was pretty much a done deal the moment I walked in. Sure, it might not be the perfect flat but the location, the quiet tranquil setting over looking a park with complete privacy in a town centre location. The main priority had always been to find a place within walking distance of the office, that had been achieved and although it will take a while to settle in, I feel I have made the right decision. Afterwards, I did not head back home as you might expect, I drove over to the gym. The Cannon’s Health Club is based on the grounds of the Racecourse, although I had to get some bearings. I drove up to the entrance for the race ground but had expected a sign or seperate entrance, so I drove back out and asked two teenage girls who were walking by where the gym was, they told me it was just over there, through the Racecourse. So that is what I did and sure enough there were some signs at the main roundabout I came to, but as my colleague had told me it was quite a walk up to the gym. It had a large carpark, so no problems finding a space, I parked up and checked my watch, it was dead on 6pm. Perfect timing. I had originally arranged to meet up with Richard but spoke to Roger. He filled in my details and showed me around. It will be a pain to go back to prehistoric pen and paper after having a Technogym key system at Castle Royle, but I must remain dedicated. The main gym floor is quite big with a block of four television screen up ahead. The big main window over looks the racecourse, which is a great setting and a notch up from the golf course. I was shown the resistance machines and the new free weights area with double full length mirror wall. I was then shown the changing rooms downstairs, the pool (slightly smaller than Castle Royle) and the sauna and spa room. There is also a mixed use gym room downstairs with a karate session taking place. It is used for squash and badminton, which I am also keen to look at. The alternative option is to go to join LA Fitness which is around the corner from my flat but there is no pool and limited facilities (it is a converted cinema after all) so I opted for the Cannon’s option. I want to learn to swim next year and it will be good to have a journey to to gym (no matter how small) to give me that time to switch from work mode to fitness mode. I join up fully on Sunday evening with my induction and programme building at 7pm. Well there is no point letting it drift and putting it onto the list of “things” to do, knowing me I would never get around to it. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I am going to have a final session at my current gym on Sunday morning, a final sign off if you will. Will also try and get some tea and toast in after my workout. Thursday turned out to be a very good day based on Royal Mail, I received several very important packages. Perhaps the most important one actually arrived today. In any case, for some people the journey to South Africa 2010 started in Barcelona back on Saturday 6th September. For others, it truly began four days later in Zagreb. For me, it will start in a few weeks time on Saturday 11th October. (In a twist of fate now the day before I move to my own flat in Newbury). All journeys begin with small steps and it just so happens these first steps are against the weakest team in the group. Bring it on!

Has Pav ever let me down? The answer is no! Sure he has been late (very late) for nights out and arranged meets ups but generally the boy always delivers the goods. In this case literally. I now have a bumper pack of US television shows to watch this evening. As it is alreaday near 11pm, it will be a while before I upload this post and get around to putting on the DVD. My plan of action is to warm up with Sarah Connor Chronicles episode two of series two, although just browsing the DVD, I discover that Pav has given me episode three but not two. Oh no. I will have to make a change to my plan, obtain episode two and in the meanwhile watch Heroes double bill (which the rest of you might catch on BBC2 on Wednesday, if you haven’t seen them already). Then I might save Greek and Fringe (both double bills) until tomorrow sometime. Although my weekend is already quite packed. Going into town tomorrow, then back home, wash car (with new heavy duty foam lance) and then start the packing process. Sunday will be a crazy day and I doubt I will have the time to blog again until sometime next week. I will have internet access during the evenings, thanks to a Vodafone 3G dongle, but might not get onto MSN. This was the wonderful package that was sitting on my desk when I got home. As much as I hate the name Terry, the thought did put a smile on my face. The reward after a long week and a difficult few days.

My final thought before I go and catch Heroes, is as follows. It is the little things that happen that make you realise you are becoming like your Dad. For me it was Thursday morning, in the extended drive to the office across Reading, I switched between my CD, Radio One and believe it or not Radio 2. Terry Wogan was on and he played Walking on Broken Glass by Annie Lennox just after 8am. It was nice to hear a classic for a change. I am getting that feeling that I am starting to get old.