Fuzz and Face

Glad to say my Granda isn’t doing too bad in hospital.  My week and a half off work is nearly over, but then only a week and a half then to go and il be off again for two weeks!!   Had really good weekend, Friday I cycled to just past Cushendall on my bike.  Was about 43 miles and was such a nice day.  Face picked me up then we headed up to our favourite hostel Sheep Island View in Ballintoy for the night.  Face headed in for a surf after we left our stuff off then we headed to the Ramore for dinner.  I was totally  starving by that time, went for duck for a change, was good!  

Saturday we headed to Whiterocks for a surf then spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out and taking video footage.  We headed home that night and Sunday Face headed out on his bike for his first try at downhill since his broken egg and I headed to the Valley Leisure Centre for a swim.  After a family dinner at mine we headed up the coast.  We stopped off at Carnlough and took a walk up to Cranny Falls which are pretty amazing, really nice piece of landscape, really wish we had taken our camera.  We headed on up the coast taking some footage along the way, Face has put together another short video, its on his vimeo site, the sunset was amazing, video looks really good.  

Yesterday I plucked up the courage to do a bit of off-roading by myself and cycled from mine up the Cavehill and then down over the top.  Was pretty sketchy at times but I had such good fun, and I didn’t die as I thought I would.  Came down by the castle then cycled home again, definitely looking forward to doing it again soon.  Face and I headed to Portballintrae for a surf last night after he finished work.  There was quite a few people in who all seemed to enjoy themselves except me, the waves were a bit too big for my liking!  

Finally today..  I got up this am and headed to Valley for a swim.  Swam a mile front crawl in about 1/2 hour.  Not swam properly for a long time and just took a notion for it again.  Not to sure what I doing the rest of day.  Face was at physio this am and he working rest of day.  Maybe il head out on my bike later if the rain stays off..

My granda took really ill and has been in hospital since last Thursday.  He is doing ok at the moment, have been heading up to see him as much as possible.  Really hope he is ok.  

Went to Shaggy and Grace’s for an indian (The Kyber) and dvds on Friday night, we watched Vantage Point and some funny random snowboarding movie that I think they have watched too many times!  We were slightly disappointed that our Indian dish was not spicy, again.. even though it had 3 stars this time!  Next time I think we’ll order the Vindaloo!!

Face did the Lap of the Lough on Sunday.  I went up to see him and Shaggy finish with Grace after i visited my Granda, they did 87 miles in around 5-5 1/2 hours, and were pretty wrecked after, I think I would have still been going after 10 hours giving my level of fitness compared to theirs!

Am off work now until next Thurs.  We headed up to Whiterocks on Monday for a surf, was ok but I really do have an irrational fear of the waves that stops me enjoying myself.  Spend most of my time paddling just to try stay in one spot as the winds were so strong and kept dragging me across the beach, least I got some exercise.  

Talking of exercise, I have been getting out on my bike a good bit and keeping to my routine of press-ups, tricep dips, sit-ups and back raises every morning, just have to keep it up this time!

I now know where I recognize fuzzs’ squished from.

I just had physiotherapy on my ankle this monring.  This was my second session and it seems to be helping out.  I still have problems walking down stairs and I can not put any heavy pressure on it, so I can’t really run or go downhill biking yet.  

The physio has given me load of exercises to do to strenghthen and stretch my ankle.  At the gym in the hospital they have lados of cool things to help with the recovery.  The is one machine that you have to stand on with one leg and it changes the angle of the surface you stand on.  It seems to really help loosen things up.  

I also got a copy of my xrays for the first time today.  You can see the plates and screws that are holding me together.  I have since had one of the screws removed from my ankle.

Fuzz and I both went to see hellboy last night.  We were both totally wrecked and i think we were both sleeping at some point during the film.  Because of this Its hard to tell whether the film was good or not, but i do remember some random parts where thay have to go to “Antrim, Northern Ireland” to save the world or something.  I just remember the whole cinema laughing out at that point.

The film is a 12a and it shows.  The direction of the film seems to be aimed towards that audiance.  They also try to inject some humor in the story with mixxed success.  The whole vibe is quite star warsy which I’m not really into myself.  Loads of random creatures, troll markets, and sidekicks with english accents etc.  Even though i was half asleep i don’t think I would rate it highly.

It has rained so much the last few weeks and Saturday saw some pretty huge floods in Belfast.  The new underpass near the Royal hospital filled up with 20 feet of water, was crazy!!  We caught up with Shaggy and Grace Fri night, went round to theirs for an Indian and dvd.  Watched the Kite Runner.  Was so good, apparently the book is even better, can’t wait to read it now!  

Went surfing yesterday at West Strand Portrush after work and got chewed up and spit out by quite a few waves!  Have to admit, when they are as big as they were yesterday (which I know wasn’t really that big) I just don’t enjoy myself that much as I am so scared of them, I kept looking behind me and seeing them coming then chickening out and paddling towards them instead!  Face hit his arm off his board pretty hard apart from that (and nearly spewing up) he really enjoyed it.  Headed out on my bike for a while today after work.  We are going to take part in the Lap of the Lough (Neagh) cycle on Sunday for charity.  Its 87 miles, never attempted even half that before but am going to give it my best shot.  Off work tomorrow so going to head out and do a few miles to see how it feels!

Face has another vid up on vimeo that we shot on Sunday.  Found a new restaurant we both really like up in Portrush, its a Chinese, thinks its called the Mayflower?!  Really good, and it does banana fritter and ice-cream.. delish!

Its been a while again.. Face has just got a new 35mm adapter for his camcorder and we headed up to Ballycastle Forest yesterday to check it out.  He asked me to dander about while he filmed me, me not realising he would make a video of it and now its made and online, quite embarrassing!  He will prob have a link here to it soon.  Hoping to get a few photos posted of his set up too.  Looks pretty mental!

Headed up to Portrush West Strand for a surf today, didnt look like we were going to get much but when we were in it was really good.  Got so many waves, still haven’t mastered standing up properly yet but getting there.  Face is doing well with his short board but I think he is dying to check it out on some big waves.  Im just happy with the little ones!  Seems like I have got stung on my finger by something in the water, thinking maybe Im better not knowing what it was.

Hoping to get out on the bikes tomorrow, its been a while.  Face is going to the hospital for some physio this week at last.  Hopefully he will start to see a big improvement soon.  Its not been an easy year for him so far, things can only get better!

How amazing is the weather at the mo?  I am totally loving it.  We headed up to Newcastle for a BBQ with my parents and some of their friends on fri night and after too many sausages Face and I headed out on our bikes in Tollymore Forest Park. Apart from me being a freak (as usual) I totally loved it once I got going on the trails.  The hills weren’t to easy to climb though but I managed and felt great after!

Saturday we moved Face back into his orifice and I managed to break a window while I was trying to clean it it just fell out and over my head.. not good!  Went to Nandos for some food (i’m totally addicted, and they have got the best hand-dryers ever, weird I know but you’ll understand if you check them out) then hit the Ormeau bmx track where Face was trying to teach me how to pump around the track.  We were there for 3 hours, and I still hadn’t mastered it, hoping to hit it again soon to get it right!

Went to see Batman on Sat night, was so good. I didn’t realise at first it was Heath Ledger that was playing the Joker, his acting is amazing.  Managed to see Wall-E earlier this week too.  I loved it, a lot of the film was told without words, but just kept you glued to the screen the whole time.  Can’t imagine seeing another two better films in the same week.  Everyone is talking about Mama Mia, just not sure its my thing, and am sure it wouldn’t be Face’s!!

Headed up coast on Sun, Face has the details below, was another cool day chilling out in the sun, the coast was packed.  

We were out on the bikes tonight with Grace and Shaggy.  Went along the tow path from Shaws bridge to Lisburn and back.  It seems so much quicker than I thought to get to Lisburn.  Was nice wee ride. Im sleepy now, gonna hit bed.  Nights.

We headed up to Portballintrae on Sunday and hooked up with grace and Shaggy for a BBQ.  Turns out Cathern Knox and her friend Gail were up there as well and joined in.  

Shaggy found a sweet fishing spot just round the corner from Graces apartment and he caught a massive eel.  It was really heavy and took a while to get it back in the water.  

Later on we went for a chilled out walk on the beach and took some shots.  I kinda wish i had brought my surfing stuff as the surf was not as bad as it was in the surf report.  

I can’t sleep so thought I just talk some crap here instead.  I asked Face to train me on the bike, I love watching everyone else doing it and its something I would love to be good at but I need to find some confidence.  He took me out last night for a bit of xc and a little dh and I ended up straight over the handle bars, pretty nasty, and that wasn’t it, I tried to ride along a plank, lets just say I havn’t mastered the don’t look where you don’t want to go skill yet!  My body is black black and blue but it hasn’t put me off, I am up for more tomorrow if Face is feeling ok. Hope you are Face!  Nights.

Congrats to Rosco who is the 2008 elite downhill mtb Irish Champ with the fastest time of the day!  Was such a good weekend in Cahir, the atmosphere at the race was I think the best I have witnessed yet.  Face and I were busy most of the time getting shots on cam and vid.  There are loads of photos available to buy on honchomedia.com and a video which will be available within the week, Face is working hard to get it edited.