To boldly cycle where many have cycled before - Lands End to John O'Groats

Right.  Its official.  Having received my first donation from the wonderfully lovely Charlotte Evans yesterday there's no turning back; this August (date to be confirmed), alongside cricketing pals Ben and Jeff, I'm cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats for Breast Cancer charity Cancer Research UK!

Firstly, I'm looking forward to being able to raise some money for a charity that's trying to cure a disease that has heavily affected both my family, a close friend's family, and so many others.  Approximately 46,000 people a year being diagnosed with the illness, breast cancer is currently the most common form of cancer in the UK, and one that I certainly see as a worthwhile cause to support.
Furthermore, I'm really excited to undertake such a challenge, as I've been looking to do something like this for a while, though knowing that I'll get pushed to my physical and mental limits, have been looking for some friends to do it with.  With the trio of Ben, Jeff and myself all deciding to undertake the 1000+ mile journey, I can see it being tough, but also a lot of fun, and there aren't many people I can imagine I'd rather be by my side (or in front/behind me in this case) for such a trip.

After that, it must be admitted that a fair part of me is taken up by nerves, as considering I've never cycled for more than half an hour before, to choose such a big task to undertake as my first one is quite scary.  I've definitely got the motivation to do it, and believe I'll put in the hours of training, but I'm more than a bit worried about whether my body can take it.
Currently on my second bout of physio, just heading past the year mark, whilst my shoulders have shown some reasonable improvement, my knees aren't in much of a better position than they were when we started, giving me constant hassle and pain.  Having said that, super-physio Jo told me that, so long as I get some ridiculously expensive orthotics made, I should hopefully maybe possibly sort of be ok.  The thing that worries me is that at some point on the road from now to the finish line my knees are going to properly give out, and I'm going to have let Cancer Research UK, everyone who's sponsored me, and most of all myself down.  I guess all I can do is 100% guarantee that I'm going to give it my best shot, and hopefully, with some good pals by my side by hook or by crook I'll make it through.

So what's the next step?  We'll so far I've got the approval of Cancer Research UK from the lovely representative Benita Wright, who's going to help me with organising my fund-raising etc, and I've also taken the massive step of acquiring a cycle helmet, so that's a start I guess.  Next up is getting a bike and starting training.  Currently scouting the world wide web for transportation, I need to wait a wee bit before funds will allow a purchase of that magnitude, though I'll continue with the gym in the meantime, and have started researching how best to go about training.

So that's it for an intro really; I'll keep updating with any developments that come my way.  Fingers crossed by the next post I'll have made some in-roads (no pun intended) into sorting out these orthotics, have amassed a couple of pounds of sponsorship (hint hint lol), and lost those inevitable, cake inflicted Christmas pounds.  Until next time...

Happy Christmas everybody!!

Owen : )

Sussex Uni Mens Cricket WinTour '10 - We Sixteen of Orient Are....Off on holiday!

Term over, and it was here, finally the moment that all had been so eagerly awaiting for had arrived, yes it was indeed time for the 2nd annual Sussex University Cricket Club WinTour!

Setting off, Ben, MBK, Bobby Mac and I crammed ourselves like circus clowns into Budgie's car and arrived in Canninington, Somerset a respectable three and a half hours later at 9:30 pm.  Rolling up, true to form we were once again impressed by our Tour Secretary's Jeffrey's ability to find us a lavish abode to reside in for the weekend.

After quickly shot- gunning a spot upstairs in the regal house to ensure night-time banter with the  Strouds and the Trotts, we all went for an explore around our new surroundings.  The house itself was large and old fashioned, just waiting for split drinks and trodden mud, whilst sitting diametrically opposite to was it's smaller neighbour,  newly furnished and cozy (though with Ferg in there it also smelled worse too). 

After stumbling towards cries of anguish and elation in the dark garden, we came across some fellow excited folk in the games room enjoying the undersized pool and table tennis tables and a defenderless table football table.  Having won an epic game of table football with Neil  and established my dominance on the table tennis table whilst Now 61 provided some enjoyable background nostalgia, we all headed in and before long ended up in the Blazin' Squad's  cosy home.

After some initial topical "chat" about the current tuition fee debacle, the tone of the conversation suitably declined more to our usual level as Ming and Fungus introduced us to the world of Ogg. 

Whilst this may sound like a doobie induced hallucination, it was in fact a word game, and one which tormented a select few for much longer than their intellect levels would suggest (or possibly not).  Once most had achieved enlightenment and Stoddy had finished off a funnel and become the first ever cricketeer to become officially "initiated" into the club (due to general disagreement with the practice), to ensure sleep precluded daylight we all headed off up to our comfy beds, leaving Linguist graduate Stroud to ponder the quizzicality of Ogg .

   

Up earlyish the next day, most of posh house headed over to sample the delights of the pool house, leaving Don Dom and co. to snooze.

Entering what was a pleasingly warm greenhouse, we were greeted by a large, toasty pool, with adjacent hot tub and sauna tucked away in the corners.

In that description we have pretty much the list of activities undertaken during daylight hours, childishness easily displacing the planned cider tour.  After clambering up and sliding down the slide in various ways (many receiving lacerations in the process ), vaguely teaching Kendall to dive  and Mikey to swim, and extensively enjoying the hot tub and sauna (where Stroud finally worked out Ogg, who then elatedly bewildered us by taking us up Sunshine Mountain), it was time for handball.  A closely fought match in which Stoddy, Ben and myself managed to pip Stroud, Kendall and Jippy by 10-9 (Creepy officiating), though apparently this was largely due to some under the water aggression by Stoddy - sore losers I say.

             

The rest of the afternoon consisted of a bout of FT which put the boundary rope at the MCG to shame, some spiffing games of Chess, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit, and a lovely Spag-bol in front of the TV .  Noting at this point what "lads" we were, it seemed appropriate to share our pleasant banter with the world, and so we sleepily acquiesced to the obligatory night out. 

Once the troops were roused from their chlorine induced sloth-like state, before long we were all Jonny (Buzzing) for it, and headed out into the night (though not before I smashed the self proclaimed table tennis king Stoddfart at table tennis)

Arriving at the place which Ming was to later tell me had been recently busted for drugs and had stabbings there, most of us (appart from Dom who felt at home) were mildly uncomfortable.  The amount of chavs that appeared constantly angry at the world was staggering, and woe betide any boogier that should accidentally nudge one of these creatures without apologising profusely.  Having said that, it was a fair bit of fun with a number of highlights, primarily MBK getting a great vid of the team performance of Swanny's Ashes Sprinkler.   Charlie also impressed with his inner stud coming out and wooing girls both single and attached (even persuading me to slow dance with him), whilst Calypso put MJ to shame with his silky moves.  I enjoyed a little dance with Dominic on the balcony before recklessly and dangerously doing a handstand on the railings, though the flight long fall serving me right for my recklessness as we descended the stairs.

Not long after later witnessing a scuffle and for no apparent reason nearly having one of our own, we decided a prudent move would be to head back home whilst the night was still enjoyable, only Mikey managing to get left behind.

Back at chez WinTour we had some enjoyable conversations before hitting the hay, whilst unbeknownst to us Stoddy's initiation was apparently continuing in the form of the remainder of the bottle of vodka, and receiving a double helping of the "Sweeting Spear" from Ferg - though karma had Stoddy's back in crippling Ferg's arm in the process.

Waking up a wee bit later than the previous day, bleary eyed we all stumbled downstairs and back out to the welcoming warmth of the pool.  After a brief stint of handball, we subsequently all became expert gymnasts, performing a myriad of jumps/belly flops (Jippy/Kendall/Neil) and dives (Stoddy/me/MBK), catching balls (all), breaking frisbees (MBK), and coming inches away from face planting a back flip (though as it was it turned out perfect.....just).

After the mandatory naked hot-tubbing, we decided to leave Dom, Ferg and Wane to plough through the remainder of their crate and headed back inside to chill, factions of the house enjoying the contrasting films of Zombieland or American Beauty whilst observing with wonder the house Peacock outside.

Post film and quick tidy up, it was time to head off into town for our Xmas meal.  A lovely little pub with friendly bar staff, we were served up a truly hearty Xmas dinner with all the trimmings - and a delicious Cheesy Leek sauce, that, alongside the fudge/cheese cake adequately sated us all prior to watching Matt Cardle's deservedly win Xfactor (controversial!).  Unfortunately however, the amount of brussels sprouts that were consumed by a one Mr Ben Denton caused flatulence and smells on levels previously unknown to man. 

 After waddling back home as fast as we could to get away from Ben, it was time for the super-fun game of, you guessed it, hide and seek!  Unfortunately the house didn't offer as many places to hide as the labyrinthine EasTour house did, but nonetheless it was  a good performance all-round from Jippy, Neil, Stoddy, Bobble-head-Kendall and myself.  Notable places were Jippy's filthy escapade into the attic, and my spot underneath MBK and Budgie on the sofa.

                         

After this an epic game of Pictionary was undertaken, Jeff and Neil just pipping myself and Dom to the winners post, with Wane doing very well to get even one of Kendall's drawings correct, and Stroud and Charlie making a superb last-ditch sprint to the finish line after an initial late-joining handicap. 

Not wanting the fun to end, we then continued to an enjoyable game of Articulate whilst I exercised, which involved much genius, creativity and stupidity in equal measures.

Conscious of the early start, the games eventually petered out, the rabble gradually filtering off to bed, leaving only Mikey to enjoy Babestation, which entailed [no description needed here].

The following day saw the end of WinTour '10, all sullenly leaving our little break from reality to head back home where coursework, lab reports and dissertations sat smugly on our desks, awaiting our return- apart from our sole first year Stoddy, bloody Fresher!

As a final point, all joking aside a big thank-you must be said to all involved in the creation of WinTour as without them this wouldn't have gotten off the ground: Jeff, Stroud, Ben..Wane?.....You know who you are. 

Also a big thanks to all who drove, Charlie, Budgie, Nodding Dog Kendall etc. As without you we'd have had to hire a minibus which would've rocket up the costs no end.

Penultimately a big thanks to everyone who came, I certainly had a top time and I think everyone else did too.  It's a great way to get to know new faces and have a top time with the ones you're already familiar with.  If you're reading this and didn't come, shame on you, but you have the chance to make up for it with EasTour in April so it's ok.

Finally, a big thanks to Bobby Mac, just for being him.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everybody

Owen : )

P.S. I don't know when this happened, but this must be Wane's planned rape of Budgie......