Tired? Stressed? Miserable? Under achieving?

Then read this. More importantly, do the 'experiment'. If things don't start seeming 'nicer' somehow, after doing it properly every day - you'll get back double the money this tip cost you. Promise.

http://haveanaverageday.org/

The article was written by one of the wisest people I know, who in some ways I like to consider a friend in that he emails me on a regular basis, with practical powerful long lasting suggestions that take seed in the form of a usually funny or heartwarming story.

Thank you Michael.

No bike, deep pockets, want to join in and feel good?

• We're going to have a couple of spare bikes, which you can hire to do as much or as little as you like. Someone will drive you back to your start point.



• This will cost a discretionary donation of £2 per mile, or £100 for the full stage. Bear in mind that our poor driver may have to put in an additional best part of 150 miles for the longest stage getting you back to your start point. This uses lots of expensive fuel, and someone has to maintain the bikes.



• If it all gets to much regarding aching limbs etc, we'll drop you back to your start point.



• We have trained first aiders and kit, and we are all sensible and fair. However, we will not accept any liability for injury or loss sustained during your involvement.



• As with our stages, giving should hurt as much or as little as you desire. We would suggest that it should be a little bit difficult on your purse, but not overwhelmingly so.

Thought for the day

One of our crew had a bit of a blow today. Something they had lined up turned out in a different way to that which they thought they wanted. They were very brave, and after a few minutes of feeling a bit rough, picked themselves up, and got back on with the job. Marks and Spencer's hot chocolate seemed to help as well.

I jumped through a load of hoops once when I applied for a job. I got to the last possible part, then inexplicably got told "We'll let you know". They didn't. I wouldn't work with people like that anyway.

I am now very glad I didn't get the position, as it would have meant I would not have the privilege of doing the work I do now, including our cycle tour.

Paris has the Eiffel Tower

Italy has The Colosseum

Spain has The Alhambra.

There is a place that is perhaps most famous for sprouts. Continuing that theme, they built a little statue doing does just that, which perhaps reflects their attitude toward everyone else. Notice how smug he looks?

What happens when the wind blows towards him?

Form. Who cares about function?

Jess, our team's guardian angel of fashion, Queen of the aesthetic, is still trying to persuade me that we need something that looks good as a support vehicle for the tour. She said that this one is nice and reliable as it is German, and should be fuel efficient as it is aerodynamic. Hmm.

We met up with the lovely people at Cardiff University's

Bipolar Education Programme Cymru yesterday. There will be much more to come about the fine work these folks do for the greater good when I post some more information.

For the time being, please check out their site, and have a look at the short video introduction from one of the team, Dr Daniel Smith. http://www.bep-c.org/

Y'all come back now. Y' hear?

We're having a baby!

It certainly looks that way anyway. You'll note I've adopted the 'helped by gravity' tribal style position, using Jess' bike as a straining post. She is turning out to be a very relaxed birthing partner. Very encouraging and soothing indeed.

I'm not actually sure if she was wearing her proper specs today, as she spotted what she thought was a small child, and drew my attention to it. It was most certainly a goose.

I guess when my baby comes out, she'll want to christen it Jemima Puddleduck or something!

Loads more happened today, but I can't do any more now. My son's headteacher is coming round to show me his new bike. I still feel like I'm going to be in trouble, so I've popped the old Beano Annual down the back of my (extra large) shorts, in case it is deemed I should receive some timely corpulent punishment for allowing my physique to resemble an apprentice Sumo.

Jess, you were right. Eating a whole pack of Kit Kat Chunky's was a mistake. I was slim before, like you.

My other car is also a Porsche

Apologies to Douglas Adams' fans.
I went to London yesterday, the reasons for which will be explained presently.
I was sat on the train on the way home from Paddington Bear station in what seemed to be a child seat (I'm a larger chap), trying to amuse myself doing emails on my fangled go faster phone. because of the jiggy jiggy motion of the carriage, half of them ended up saying hhmmmff***, or something, as I kept hitting the wrong buttons. Having turned it off, I had no choice but to listen to the ebullient conversation between two city chaps behind me.

Chap 1 "I going to get another car"

Chap 2 "What happened to the Merc. ?

Chap 1 "I gave it to my brother"

Chap 2 "Do you men the Porsche?"

Chap 1 " Yes. The Cayenne (superfast Luxury 4x4 Porsche) is OK, but I'm bored of the 911

Me "Got any jobs going?"

Actually the last line was internal, as I smiled about how the other half lives, and how selflessly they were doing their bit to keep our economy moving.
I was in London, working with the most excellent British Psychological Society, in my role of making a noise about improving the lost of Mental Health service users, something they take very seriously. http://www.bps.org.uk/dcp/suclc/suclc_home.cfm

Getting into the office was a very hot business, and I had quite a glow on me when I finally got there. I decided to use the unisex 'facilities' to fill the basis with cold water, and stick my head in it for a few minutes and cool off. Part way through my strange looking exercise, in walked supergirl, a vision of glowing health in her cycling outfit who informed me she wanted to use the room to get changed. I told her she was welcome to go ahead.

I left her to it of course.

10 minutes later, I was sat with some of my colleagues around a very large conference table when we did our introductions. Supergirl turned out to be the Chair of the Clinical Psychology Division, so naturally I when introducing myself , I declared that I already knew some of the people in the room, as poker faced, I said 'we met in the toilets'. Keep 'em guessing!

Preparation and planning.

We've been car shopping. We've worked out roughly what we need to carry two weeks worth of Ginsters pies for Simon, and whatever it is that Jess outs in her Luis Vuitton cases. The fine people atBentley Cardiff were most indulgent, allowing us to check out the the key features of their splendid vehicles, as in the picture.

We walked away in the end though. We pointed out that there was no roof on the car, they explained that they had some fine Bentley Brollies, but we're still not sure.

http://dws.autotorq.com/Bentley_Cardiff/

Who ate all the pies?

I'll give you a clue. It's not Jess!

One of the easiest parts of our mission is the cycling part. Far more difficult is the phone calls etc required to make it all come together in a cohesive fashion.
We travelled all of half a mile before we got to the rather splendid Cardiff Bay, and found a nice little place to sit down. This is becoming an increasing problem for us. There are just so many pretty places we are discovering that we end up sitting down a just taking it all in, instead of grinding out the miles.

A very nice lady took this picture of us as one of our 'before pictures'. You'll see Penarth Head in the background, a very useful navigation feature when out at sea. Hopefully not somewhere we'll find ourselves on pushbikes!

Where are we at?

View Larger Map

GREETINGS to all our new followers. We're going to be using the splendid Google map system which most people know how to use, and one which allows you to zoom in to find finer details of locations we describe. This will also be useful when used in conjunction with the daily start/end points.

I've been told to keep this blog sensible and above board. Sadly, I fear that like our cycle training sessions, the longer we go on, the more I will revert to my natural character, something less than staid. You have been warned!

1000 Miles of Smiles?

1000 Miles of Smiles

1 in 4 of us will have mental health problems during our lives.
*The effects can be devastating on
relationships, family, careers.

*Around 1in 100 have Bipolar Disorder,
a severe and enduring condition

*Depression related illness has an impact
almost equal to heart disease

*But we don’t talk about it!

Help is available. In Wales, we have world leading free services, advice and research that can help people and their families live useful and productive lives. The effects of this illness can be reduced or even removed.

In September, volunteers will be cycling the length of the UK to raise awareness by positive example, educate where possible, and raise funds for mental health charities.

Known collectively as MindWorks Education, and overseen by a recognised voluntary body, they are devoting a huge amount of time and energy for our collective welfare.
Your support of our campaign will help put the smile back on a face, and hope in a heart. There’s a good chance it will be someone you know.

For more information, and signposting to other agencies for help such as the charities below, please contact mindworkseducation@gmail.com
This work is not paid for by, or administered in any way by these excellent charities. We are doing it for them out of recognition for the work they do.

A site with even more information is under construction at mindworkseducation.co.uk