Mid Ulster – gizzajobblog

A Million-Step Challenge

Posted on May 24, 2020 by gizzajob

Today is the start of a challenge, until 10 September, to raise money for a suicide prevention charity. The goal is to walk one-million steps in between then; on average, slightly less than ten-thousand steps per day. I have a built-in pedometer on my phone and can upload pictures with the help of Dropbox. Body-Magic on Steroids. 🙂

I have decided to form a one-man team since I’m not associated with any Primary School or Gaelic Football Club. I called myself ‘Des the Proclaimer.’ 500 miles in roughly one-million steps; oddly enough. 😀

I had my daily ten-thousand steps for record achieved by 1:15 pm today; to free up the rest of the day. I was up pretty early and had to walk to the shop and back for items.

Tomorrow, I plan to visit Belfast for the first Post-Lockdown trip. I want to get my steps-worth done there with a friend from Stranmillis who began Lecturing Nursing Students last Autumn. Thrown straight into the Bearpit.

Memorial day tomorrow in America. If only the Indy 500 was still on. 😦

Also, I am catching snippets of the Streamed Manchester Jazz Festival.

Tunes:

The connectivity of the world

Posted on December 3, 2017December 3, 2017 by gizzajob

Last night I attended a Christmas Dinner run by a Social Meetup in Belfast at Crumlin Road Gaol – a former Prison turned tourist attraction run by two guys I know from my home village. They’re even married to two sisters from a nearby town; I know their mother-in-law.

I was glad to have attended the dinner especially as I was talking to a woman I sat beside on the bus over to Belfast who I found out, from speaking to her, is a relative of mine. And also, at the dinner, a woman sitting beside me was from a village in my neck of the woods; Bellaghy, the location of the Seamus Heaney Homeplace. (he was actually from Newbridge/Castledawson, to be pedantic) She became interested in me as I used the Mid Ulster idioms she never heard since she moved to Newtonabbey.

In the end, I had to leave early as the demon energy drink took over.

But, as you can see, I’m king of my castle.

Also, I have an Adobe Spark journal of creative ideas throughout this month;

https://spark.adobe.com/page/yYX2sdIjLjoMp/

Tunes:

My new broadband – plus natural remedies

Posted on September 19, 2017September 19, 2017 by gizzajob

Today I was a lazybones and didn’t wake up until almost 1 pm UK time. I was worn out after the night before. However after running a cyber errand between 1:30 and 2:30 I ten called the doctor to make a triage appointment over my pink eye – due to too long on the computer. They said they only do emergencies in the afternoon. That prompted me to look up natural remedies and drove to Holland and Barrett in Magherafelt to buy Apple Cider Vinegar.

When at Holland and Barrett I was delayed by a woman looking to exchange hair colouring for another without a receipt. Her grandson was getting anxious about that too; I would have been the same at that age. Eventually, I got seen to and then had a cappuccino at the Costa at Meadow Lane opposite Holland and Barrett.

It’s this constant need to better myself which is motivating me. A few times when driving back I had to brake suddenly. However, I am willing to try out new things.

Tomorrow morning my cleaner comes to sort out my home prior to the anniversary mass for gran on Sunday morning. No man is an island. Except for the Isle of Man. 🙂

Tunes:

Haiku about my day last Monday (01 May 2017)

Posted on May 9, 2017 by gizzajob

Talked to Brocagh man!

A cousin of Brocagh John!

At the Old Thatch Inn!

Up at eleven!

Clapped out after yesterday!

Long distance driving!

Having a Red Bull!

At the Cove, Ballyronan!

I shouldn’t drink that!

Saw an old School friend!

Married to an IT guy!

Childer there also!

Home via bypass!

Heading from Castledawson!

Then relative’s house!

Had a well-done steak!

Not the type to eat it rare!

Not a beef person!

WiFi doesn’t work!

At the Old Thatch Restaurant!

Same for Brocagh man!

The same Brocagh man!

No BT Infinity!

Not even Bluebox!

Gorgeous day outside!

Spent most of it inside, though!

Following snooker!

A bit scatterbrained!

Forgot about appointment!

Was for last Wednesday!

Talked to relative!

Said his uncle drove buses!

Coventry City!

Doing to-do list!

Planning for tomorrow’s chores!

Need to plan bettter!

The runs this morning!

Mad rush to get to toilet!

Held on for too long!

World snooker final!

The missed black didn’t matter!

Selby was too good!

May Bank Holiday!

Another one in four weeks!

A four day weekend!

Merging PDFs!

Needed to pay for service!

At forty-two quid!

Highs and Lows

Posted on January 10, 2017 by gizzajob

Today I ordered 2 kilograms – 4.4 pounds – of organic carrots from a homegrown garden website based in Newtonards and that I had to pay via PayPal for the carrots and postage separately.They were bought with view of beginning fermenting carrots to boost my immune system. Their website has a glitch; my background in Software Testing. “Fine, fine, fine, mouse, fine, mouse, fine, rat, fine, syringe, fine, nose!” 🙂 (still can’t resist quoting ‘The Simpsons’ even twenty years on)

Then I went for a massage, only to find out that the guy who I thought had cancelled our appointment at 2 pm today hadn’t. And then I wanted to go with him to Davagh Forest. So, I followed his car across a Godforsaking hilly road which I had never been on before and dissected a quarry. From now on, I’ll get a lift off him.

Also, today I was on the edge because the past few days have wrecked my body and mind. Back to drinking caffeine after 7 pm; was too much cold turkey for me.