For Pete’s Sake

So I was looking at courses today like an Microsoft Cert or other such useful ones like Cisco or HP. The annoying thing is they cost so damn much! I mean £700 is one of the cheaper ones I’ve seen and others cost in excess of £1K. The other problem is that because I’m currently contracting I’d have to shell out the cash and the claim back against tax; no being paid for here. I really want to do these as they’ll improve my job prospects here and abroad and with hopes of emmigration still intact I can’t help but think I should try and do one at the very least as I can’t solely rely on my degree.

Anyone got thoughts on where I should go first? Down the desktop support route with Microsoft or networking with Cisco & HP? I’m inclined to go Microsoft first as employers in desktop support, which is most likely the jobs I’d go for, would favour that over heavy network stuff like Cisco. I mean they would still be impressed but they’re not related and would probably question why I’d be going for a desktop support role.

Maybe with a bit of luck I’ll get some cash together and get one sorted.

So if you read my last post you’ll know that I was struggling with distance. However my last two runs have put paid to that really. On Thursday I manager was a shocking 5.7mi and to prove getting over that 3mi barrier wasn’t a fluke I ran 3.9mi today. It feels good right now and I could’ve gone further today. I didn’t because right now my body in some areas is still playing catchup. I hope to, on Tuesday, to maybe run 6mi or so, possibly more. I’ve gotta get close to that 13.1mi distance. I don’t feel I’ll have to run that distance before hand. I think if I can manage a couple 10mi runs before Freckleton I think I’ll be ok.

In other news, United won the Premiership which is very cool, nice to get back-to-back Championships. Whether we’ll win the Champions League this coming Wednesday is another thing. We’ve struggled against Chelsea in the league and I don’t think much will change in Europe. It’ll be close and we can nick it, it’ll be nail baiting for sure. I’m currently watching game 5 of the NHL Championship game between my Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. We’re 5-0 currently so I think we should win which will seal our place in the Stanley Cup Finals.

So there we go a sort of quick update, nothing special but some interesting things of note.

Well after last update things training wise has stifled a little. I’m struggling to get up to 3mi and I’m not 100% sure why. I seem to be having issue with cramp which could be mostly down to fluid intake so I’m trying to sort that out but the weirder of the two is my left quad just doesn’t seem up to the task at all. I’m hoping some slight changes I’ve made since my last run will help me crack and surpass the 3mi mark and get me back on track in time for Freckleton.

In other amazingness news, not only have I received my special edition of GTA IV but I’m now also on the FM Live beta which is bloody fantastic! I’m really enjoying checking this game out and what I’ve seen so far is persuading me to purchase/subscribe to this game upon release. So much fun that after this post I’ll be loading it up for some games :)

As some of you may know I will be running a half-marathon in June this year. My training so far has been sporadic to say the least. I was doing fine before Christmas but injury forced me to take it easy over the festive period; convenient I know! After Christmas my time was spent playing 5-a-side Mondays, getting injured, being good again for 5-a-side then getting injured again, a vicious cycle. However 5-a-side has stopped now so training is going to be starting in earnest.

I’ve started to play squash to help with fitness and stamina as well as going to the gym and as a milestone I nearly completed a 5K distance today which is the furthest I’ve ran since Christmas. I would’ve ran further but I got a stitch after 2 miles or so and thought better of it. It’s a personal milestone for me and hopefully I’ll be able to match it and raise it when I got out running this weekend.

Squash has been quite fun. I’d never played it before however have always been tempted it, especially at college as I knew someone who played it semi-professionally. I’ve really enjoyed every game I’ve played so far as it’s a competitive yet fun way to get fit. I mean I’ll miss footie till it starts again but I’m happy that I’ve found a good alternative.

Moving on to other things though and just life in general work is going well if a little tiring of late. Hopefully the weekend will allow me to recharge and get back into the groove for next Monday. I also think that my new meds for my poor hand is contributing. The doctor has prescribed me dihydrocodine which, I am reliably informed, is used to get heroin addicts addicts off heroin; yep it’s used as an addictive substitute. It’s also drowsy inducing so it probably doesn’t help matters. Still they do seem to null the pain somewhat so I’m happy about that if nothing else.

Well had to make the title at least vaguely interesting as right now I don’t think I could come up with one that’s relevant. Currently I’m quite tired as I’m on earlies at work 8-4pm though I’m up at 6am and not home till around 5pm. This doesn’t bother me at all, just makes me tired and means my brain turns off slightly sooner.

Anyway, since my last post I’d say I’ve been fairly busy. Monday night 5-a-side has been fun even if we’ve lost, quite heavily, the last two games. I enjoy it and the main thing is the run out for me, the exercise and that. I’m also in the last two weeks of my small sided referee course. This will mean I’ll be qualified by the FA to referee 5,6 & 7-a-side matches which is cool. Aside from that I’ve obviously been busy at work and, this past Saturday went to see Terry Pratchett talk and discuss in Bath which was fantastic. He was very informative, genuinely funny and hell just good fun, he even managed to sell 3 pages (signed & dedicated) of his next book for £425 with proceeds going to Alzheimer’s which is also fantastic. Then just recently, I upgraded both my Macs to Leopard (oooh shiny!) as well as iLife and Office ‘08 respectively. Been meaning to do that for a while and it’s nice to finally get it done.

This weekend however I feel I’ll be doing naff all other than sleep and relax which it seems I’m better at now. Even Cat has noticed that I’m more relaxed and that, in my book, is a good sign.