My Return To Scarborough
By · CommentsEarlier this month I returned to my home town of Scarborough, for the first time in several years. My only connection to the town now is my loved ones and friends.
The visit went really well. I got to meet up with the lads and the reception they gave me was out of this world. I was really looked after. They’re good people.
What concerned me about the trip was just how run down Scarborough has become. It had been in decline for years. I guess the biggest hit to towns like Scarborough were the introduction of cheap package holidays. All the main attractions are gone, building demolished and visitors replaced with more low-life Chav scumbags than ever before.
While in Scarborough, for the first time ever, I actually felt intimidated at times. In areas that were previously quite nice, it felt like walking through a mobile episode of the Jeremy Kyle show. I’ve been more relaxed in major cities.
“She told me she’d got rid of it,” muttered one hoody as he referred to his future son or daughter.
Every young woman I saw was dragging kids around. Nowt wrong with that but sadly the generation today know that if they have a kid, they’ll be looked after well by the state.
Seeing my old local boarded up was sad. I’ve had many a good day and night in there I can tell ya. It was such a strong ‘locals’ pub that it makes you wonder where they’ve all gone.
I always joke about how miserable people look back home and how stressed out they are but having freezed my nuts off for a week straight in the place, I can see why. How I used to live there I’ll never know.
I feel for the people back home. They deserve so much more. Scarborough could be a little gold mine but sadly, none of the suits share the same opinion as me.
Good people, nice scenery, shit decisions by those in power.
A New Year, A New Start!
By · CommentsSo 2010 is finally upon us. My New Year’s resolution is to finally get myself fit again. For 11-years I’ve been sat on my arse working morning, noon and night, 7-days-a-week and as a result I’ve piled the weight on.
I used to do the gym 5-days-a-week and who’d have thought that I was once in the army, albeit briefly as I was medically discharged due to a problem with my hip. My plan was to do several years in the army and then come out and follow my dream of becoming a police officer. The hip problem changed everything. My career, where I lived and so on. However I really do believe that things happen in life for a reason and there’s no way I’d change any of it. I love where I live, I love the work I choose to do and I’m happy. But the weight is an issue.
People tell you to exercise but when your work is news-based you can’t afford to spend long away from the internet and the iphone incase something breaks. To make it even more difficult, when you work 12 to 18 hours every day, you’re too tired at the end of the day to even consider anything other than bed.
I have seen a gradual decline in my health over the years. I have developed sleep apnea, I have to control my blood pressure via medication and within the last few months I am now testing my sugar levels to try and prevent diabetes. This is all caused as a result of finding little time to take care of yourself. Throw in a divorce and the normal pressures of life that everyone has to endure and it leaves you with little motivation… until now!
Just because you’re overweight doesn’t mean you eat like a pig. My downfall has been Pepsi, eating irregular and at my desk but more significantly, no exercise. The gym has gone and I no longer play football. I like a pint like any other bloke but I don’t drink that often so I can knock the cider on the head with ease. But I don’t think I need to.
I’m not going on a diet, I’m changing my lifestyle. And it’s not the only aspect of my life I am changing in this new year. I’m dumping all negativity that is around me and surrounding myself only by people who make me happy. I have made 2010 the year of no moaning bastards, so if you have nothing good to say, do us both a favour and f*ck off. I’m not interested in anyone’s gossip or drama and I’m certainly not interested in anyone who feels sorry for themselves when I have a cousin parlaysed from the chest down.
To help get myself in shape I’ve purchased a Nike+ sensor that works with the iPhone. Basically this little sensor fits in your trainer and records your walking/running activity. The iPhone records the data and then transmits it to Nike when you sync with iTunes. I suppose it’s aimed at runners but the reality is you’ve got to start somewhere and Nike know this so they have walk to run programmes that you can participate in and it’s all free.
Now I could run if I had to but it wouldn’t be for long and it would be dangerous. Gone of the days are running the 3000 and 1500 metres when I was a teenager! These days I only run when I see an ice cream van!
At the moment I’m just going on short walks around the block with the dog. Nothing spectacular to someone who is fit but when you’ve sat on your arse for 11 years and get bored at walking across the living room, this is quite a big step for me.
I decided to make my efforts public knowing that people who don’t like me will poke fun at me and be nasty etc. Now I can handle those muppets so that doesn’t concern me. What I thought is it would make me more determined to show an increase (hopefully) over the year.
Anyway, friend or foe, you can monitor my progress here:
http://my.nike.com/DuncanOldham
I really have a good year about 2010 and not just because I hope to get msyelf back in shape. I dread every year as it’s usually the same shit with just different digits in the date but this year I firmly believe it’s gonna be the best year ever for me. Having said that I will probably keel over dead tomorrow!
2010 for me is about going back to my roots and re-discovering the real Duncan. I’m very, very happy right now, the happiest I’ve been for a long time. That’s because I’m focused on something that I want very much and if you know me, you’ll know that I always get what I want.
