Quest Glendalough Challenge - 2023

 The bulk of my time since December has been taken up training for the Quest Glendalough Challenge. And yesterday was D-Day.

So off I went. The weather was not on our side with quite a bit of rain during the week preceding the race. Even on the morning, it was a little moist. 

Nothing for it. 

No such thing as bad weather, just in appropriate clothing!!

I have to admit that I did fancy my chances of, at least, finishing. My big worry, really, was the first stage of the race which climbed up a mountain. Relentlessly. On a bicycle. And I will concede that the first three of four kilometers had me worried. But then the second wind came and I got into the groove. I actually passed some people!!

The second stage of the race turned out to be the deal breaker. The trail run down and up a mountain in soaking conditions was not what I was expecting. The route was so wet that it was changed to miss a higher peak, a fact that probably saved me. Getting back to the bike, the finish line seemed very far away.

The next stage was a rather longish bicycle journey thorough the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. The first couple of kilometers being a rather sporty dash down the mountain we just climbed. The brakes did well, I have to say.

Stage three saw us running up a mountain again, and down to a lake. By this time, I had nothing left in the tank, and the 1km kayak that followed was a welcome respite, just being able to sit down.

The last five kilometers back to the start was the longest five kilometers of my life. Literally. 

I put on a brave face...

I really enjoyed the race. My knee is not happy with me, but it will come around. I might just be back next year to give it a better go.

Christmas Time !!

When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall. Now I am not so small anymore.

When I grew up, Christmas was always a big thing. It felt like that to me, anyway. And I always try to keep it a big thing. I always did anyway, until the kids grew up and stopped believing that I was Father Christmas. 

So my daughter came to me and said we should have a competition to see who can draw the best snowman. This was my attempt. I think it is not half bad.

So a merry Christmas to all, and a prosperous new year. May the best of this year pale in comparison with what is to come.

 

Just a doodle

 I have to admit that the deer look a little "Oh Dear"!

Quarry Drive Park

 

Working from home has it's perks. One of those are that I can walk over to Nariko's school and fetch her. It allows me to get some exercise, and for some reason she is not too keen on walking home on her own.

Next to her school is a green area. I will not call it a park, per se. The school uses it for some PE, but it is also not a curated field, as such.

It sits next to the school, in Quarry Drive, so I will call it Quarry Drive Park, for lack of a better description. Now, while I am waiting for Nariko's school to come out, I usually stand around in this park, because the sun shines down on it nicely, and heats up the old bones.

Spring has sprung (or that is the rumour anyway) and the trees around the park are just starting to leaf up. I was looking at this, and the myriad of dandelions in the grass, and thought it would be fun to try and sketch it. So here, for your viewing displeasure, my pencil sketch of the Quarry Drive Park.

Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin

 

I have loved this building since I first saw it. In my mind, the most beautiful building in Dublin.

The sheer size of it is enough to take your breath away and the way it is lit up at night is spectacular.

The cathedral was build in the early 1000’s and is an absolutely beautiful example of Gothic architecture. I love the intricate towers and spires.

When I worked in Dublin in 2002, we had a function at Dublinia which is housed in a section of the cathedral known as the Synod Hall. That was an experience I will never forget, and I hope to visit the museum one of these days.

I have never been inside the cathedral itself. That is something I hope to change as well shortly.

I am a sucker for Wikipedia when it comes to looking for things… go ahead, give it a try – Christ Church Cathedral

The cathedral’s website is here and you can find Dublinia’s website here