Christian Ainley my day to day

  A new cinema release brings together Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn .  DiCaprio plays a revolutionary who’s only too willing to fight for a cause with his future wife. When his wife is cornered by Penn she has no option but to use her body to escape and soon falls pregnant.  Unwilling to be a stay at home parent while on a bank robbery she is captured again and forced into hiding. 16 years later all the events come back into play as truths come back to haunt some and put other at risk. A ln action packed chase ensues and the audience is taken for a ride.  Obviously Hollywood elite in the leading line up, Sean Penn’s character is disturbing and puts you ill at ease when he’s on screen it’s a well thought out performance and a lot of work has gone into it. DiCaprio plays a farther struggling to coupe but dotting nonetheless, when the case starts he’s electric and you can sympathise with his quest. It’s long film, over two hours and if you intend to watch you shou...

  It was a ln early walk today because I wanted to watch the football in the afternoon. Started with a wonder around the estate to collect the WeWards before walking up Rowley path to look for golf balls.  The weather turned and there was light rain mixed with the low cloud base it was here to stay. It was  nice walk though and it was 7 golf balls.  I’ve listed a lot of golf balls on ebay in a bit of a fire sale as it’s getting to the end of the season for golf.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Starting my customer service course yesterday has presented a new challenge and requires the development of a new skill set.  Reading through a presentation and then processing that information to answer a group of questions. It’s taken 24 hours but I think I’ve developed a workable process that will help me get through the course.  After a morning of being indoors mid afternoon presented an opportunity to get out and get some fresh air ( sandwiched between the M40,M4 and M25 motorways is that possible ?) it was a walk around the estate to collect some WeWards and then up Rowley path and back. It was 10 golf balls today and after a brief spell of course work I sorted them and listed some on EBay . I’m trying to sell more before the weather changes for the worse.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼 Oh the fire engine, yeah that was putting out a fire on the local allotments . I think it was kids messing around and as I walked past I saw the opportunity for a thumbnail ....

In June 1865 Charles Dickens was returning from Paris in the Boat train , on the way to London the train he was riding in experienced a terrible train crash.  The foreman of an engineering gang had miss read the time table and had ordered sections of track removed before the last train (The boat train) had traveled through. The works were just before a viaduct and the first seven carriages plunged into a valley.  Dickens who was riding at the back of the train with his mistress was unscathed and gave first aid where he could to some of the victims. 10 people died and the effects of the crash stayed with Dickens for the rest of his life, he would suffer panic and severe anxiety when travelling in wheeled transport even horse drawn .  A few years after the crash Dickens sat down and penned this play “ The Signalman ” he draws in his experience and tries to portray some of the horror and shock he experienced in the aftermath of the crash. It’s a good play and should be...

  As part of my ongoing commitment to my New Year’s resolution I’ve started a new course, this would make my fifth course of the year and should take me until January.  There’s an organisation in England that provides free courses to up skill people it doesn’t matter on your reasons the only stipulation is that you must not be in any other form of education. I signed up last Friday and I’ve just received my course from Cambridge regional college and I’m making good progress.  The course provides all the learning tools online and even provides a calendar of when your modules must be completed by, it’s about two weeks per module and a level 2 course lasts for around 12 weeks.  Wish me luck !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼 Ps, does this make me light blue now 😂

  It was a slow morning catching up with Tv and chilling out. After a nice lunch I went out for a hike. I wanted some different scenery so I went through Langley park and then cut near Rowley path but came out near the hospital.  I picked up some beers before heading home. Tomorrow we have the theatre booked so stay tuned.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Before 1945 the city of Wroclaw was part of Germany indeed it was a strong hold and held out amidst the Soviet advance, the rivers and canals making it a hard city to penetrate.  Disney has just released a new mini series based on the city. Breslau focuses on a detective as he investigates some unusual murders, his personal life is in taters ( A true detective has no meaningful personal life according to media) and he uses the skills of undesirable people to make headway in his case.  I have to be honest here it’s a bit slower paced as a detective series but a lot of effort has been made to keep this in its 30’s setting. If you have an interest in the city then it’s worth a look. If you’re a student of history I’d give it a miss as it’s the Disney vision of the war which is highly sanitised.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s nice to go travelling, visiting new places and creating new adventures but the reality hits once you come back home.  Coming home means a pile of washing an empty fridge and putting away the suitcase until next time. It was a morning of supermarket shopping to stock up for the week ahead as well as the other travel chores.  In the afternoon I went out for a walk to the top of Rowley footpath it was 21 golf balls today and as I’d been lazy the last couple of times I came home and sorted them out.  I’ve listed some books on eBay as the app for buying used books offered me pennys for them. Let’s see how they get on otherwise I’ll drop them off a the charity shop !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Another restaurant/bar series that was my first thought, I’m a fan of the bear and thought that Netflix were trying to pin a new show on its coat tails, I was wrong. This is different and focuses on two brothers, one who’s working hard trying to make a restaurant/bar a success and the other a serial gambler who goes from one disaster to another. When they are put together loyalties are tested and relationships strained and a siblings love is tested. I went into this thinking, I’ll give it a go and the initial build up is a bit slow, so it’s only half way through the second episode that things really kick off and you have some strong plot points to follow. Jude Law is a great actor and he’s good as the brother who tries to hold everything together while it’s all falling apart. Jason Bateman is brilliant as the brother who doesn’t give a darn and only wants to fuel his addiction.  I’m a couple of episodes in and it’s we’ll worth a look, the direction is good and the fast d...

  The last day of any trip away is always a relaxed one, this morning it was breakfast and a walk around the village to collect some of the WeWards for the day. It was like a good bye circuit.  My brother in law had foundations poured for his new house this morning so we were driven over for a look. I vandalised them by leaving a big foot print in one corner. Then it was back to the house to chill.  The dive to the airport was quieter than expected as it was at rush hour so we were early. A look around duty free and some bottles of lemon vodka to bring how and we were soon boarding. I’m writing this in London so we made it I’m going to make my way home and catch up with you lot tomorrow.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  In October 1962 a high flying U2 spy plane discovered medium range ballistic missiles on the island of Cuba. With an estimated range of a thousand miles these missiles placed most of the large city’s on the east coast under threat not least Washington D.C the capital.  The world held its breath knowing it was on the brink of nuclear war and realising that the steps taken to remove the missiles could bring humanity to its knees.  Thirteen days explores the crisis from behind the walls of the White House as the options are explored and the potential repercussions of each are played out. The tension is built up as the crisis deepens and it’s easy to be absorbed in the narrative as you watch. If you’re a student of 20th century politics or the world since 1945 this film has to be high on your watch list. Costner is good as the president’s senior adviser and pulls you through the crisis and you see the decisions made and played out.  A good film, well directed and acted...

Sunday in Poland is relaxed all the shops are closed with the exception of maybe Zabka for essentials and petrol stations if you’re near the town. So with that in mind it was a walk around the village this morning to collect my WeWards for the day and take some pictures.    The weather is really good for late September and starting at 19°C expected to rise to 29°C in the afternoon. I’ve forgotten to bring a hat so I’m staying out of the sun to protect my bald head for being burned.  It was bbq for lunch with a nice cold beer and then an afternoon nap. It been a nice chilled day so far.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It was a slow start to the day and there is one major project for the day, the arrival of a 3 piece suit for the front room .  Noticeably the men of the house had left to work on another project so I was left with the task of putting it together. Now if I was at home it would be a really simple task, impact driver and some bits and it would be together in minutes, sadly I’m not at home and I’m overly reliant on someone else’s tool kit. So with just an Allen key and a Aldi electric screwdriver I was left to put it all together. Just put an Allen key bit in the electric screwdriver you all shout, yes this would be true bit all the popular bit sizes weren’t available for the darn thing.  It wasn’t to much trouble and I’m lucky I had a full size Allen key otherwise I’d be stuck with the mini one that comes with the sofa. It’s all together now and it’s time to unwind for the evening. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Denzel Washington reunites with Spike Lee to bring you a gripping thriller . Mr king is on top of the world he’s about to take back control of his record label and take it back to the big time. Things start to spiral down and the once confident alpha male struggles to keep up with the changing circumstances.  Denzel Washington is with out doubt one of the finest actors in a generation, when teamed with legendary director Spike Lee it makes for a force in cinematography. A reinterpretation of an earlier film “ High and Low ” there have been several versions of the script floating around Hollywood, one even written by Chris Rock ! Spike lee’s direction is just brilliant the angles and vision should be just admired, using New York as his canvas blending in the culture and passions of the city that just sets every scene and pulls you into the film. Denzel Washington I wish I had half of his talent ! Considering he appears to be such a humble person, when he’s called upon...

  It’s another trip into the city today for shopping and zapiekanki. I bought a sleeveless jacket in Reserve as well as a clip on reading light so I don’t have to have a big overhead light on.  It was a nice trip out we went around two shopping centres, I must be getting wiser in my old age as I didn’t just blow all my money. I got to try the new iPhone pro max and it’s very nice. I’m going to try and get one next week when back in the U.K.  on Friday I signed up to do a customer service course as part of the free courses in England scheme and I got my confirmation today that I have been excepted by Cambridge regional college so I’m waiting for the next step in that and hoping it goes well when it starts in a few days time !  That pretty much it for today, have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  David Marquet was on the command path in the US navy and early in that career path he was a watch supervisor on the USS Sunfish . The captain of that ship had an easy leadership style he trusted his subordinates to be competent at their roles and to give status reports and go up the chain when they felt they needed to. It created a nice and harmonious atmosphere conducive of working together as a team each is supporting the other.  For his next posting he was placed on the USS Will Roger’s with a leadership that was at the complete other end of the spectrum the captain would micro manage everyone and the atmosphere was harsh and made people feel they had to protect themselves. This also created stress within the team which impacted other areas on the ship.  When he was given his own command the author wanted to take his lesson from the USS Sunfish and expand on them to go from the traditional naval leadership pattern of leader - follower to a leader - leader p...

  It’s a bit more relaxed today spending most of the morning indoors. I caught up with all You Tube favourites and made some more progress reading my current book. Then it was a walk around the forest there were lots of fungi but all the edible ones had been taken already. I went on a side quest to collect a WeWard not being familiar with the forest I went trampling through the brambles and scub only to discover it was very close to a farm track, ah well it was fun. Being in the middle of a forest it didn’t register so it was a pointless exercise. We extended the walk around the village so I could collect the rest of today’s WeWards now it home to rest ! Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s been a long day all in all. I woke up early and chilled in the lounge making some headway into my current book, “ Turn the ship around ” more to come on that soon. Then it was breakfast and a brief spell before going foraging for mushrooms .  Now it turns out the most Polish people have been doing this since they were small children. All of my mushrooms came from Tesco’s so I struggled to find any. If you need help then I would recommend under damp low laying tree branches .  After lunch it was a trip into the city there is an area with a lot of street art and we thought we’d visit and take some pictures. There was quite a lot and some very striking pieces. I liked the homage to Mondrian as well as the clones of are famous art works. I will ad some pictures below once I get to some good internet. We went on to roam around the city a couple of drinks here and there and a bit of shopping. It’s a late night bus ride home to cash !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  The new series of “Road to a million” has quietly dropped on Prime video. The second series follows in much the same vain as the first. Eight pairs must complete a series of tasks in a James Bond style challenge, the challenges require both physical and mental sharpness for them to be completed. The pairings are of mixed ability and backgrounds but all have something that we can identify with.  If you have Amazon Prime video and you’re at a loose end this will be a good way to fill it. Amazon have spent lots to capture the essence of Bond and traveled the world. Let’s see how else they’ll capitalise the Bond franchise.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Poland crest with Wroclaw crest  It’s the first full day in Wroclaw and after a late start it was popping to the out of town shopping centre. Grocery’s for the coming week and looking at the other shops. I went Ito Decathlon and bought some cheap black cargo pants for when I’m out walking at £10 a pair it doesn’t matter that much when they’re ripped or faded. Unlike jogging bottoms which are £40-50 a pair.  It was lunch time so I’ve treated myself to a a Pasi Bus beef burger and a coke. Pasi Bus make great burgers this one was covered in BBQ sauce which is a risky proposition while wearing a white tee shirt. Lucky I’ve managed to keep it clean via the use of lots of napkins to keep my fingers smd hands sauce free. Surprised, I was !!!  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  If you’re of a certain age then you’ll remember Sunday afternoons/evenings there would be a war film on either BBC 2 or Channel 4. You know the films “The Guns Of Navarone”, “Escape to Athena” or “The Heroes of Telemark” spring to mind.  All great tales of heroic deals the latter being a true story. Guy Richie must have been a fan too as this follows in those action war movie footsteps.  Anders Lassen is a legend in the S.B.S and if you’re a fan of British special forces actions during the Second World War then you need to read his exploits as they are incredible the man was a true warrior in every sense of the word.  This film concentrates on one of his early actions in the Gulf of Guinea, Africa . German U-Boats pose a threat to merchant ships travelling across the Atlantic and are being supplied with fuel and parts from a base in the Fernando Po. Using their sailing boat the group of commandos travel to the base in order to destroy the supply ship as with all th...

  Airbus A321 neo Cockpit   Today it’s a flight to Wroclaw, Poland with Wizz air . I have to report that check in with Wizz air has improved significantly since the last time I traveled. It used to be a long wait to check in bags the check in clerks being, well methodical in their work. But now the have a bag drop system like the major airlines. You wait for a bit, weigh your bag, stick the label on and drop it off at he the desk. I think it was a wait of 10-15 minutes which is a massive improvement on the old system.   It was into the terminal building for breakfast and coffee and of course a look at the overpriced duty free items. I didn’t get anything. Early to the gate and near the head of the non-priority queue and as there were only 5 people who had priority we were near the doors waiting to board.  Good news on being seated a tail wind across Germany means an early arrival in Wroclaw, I’m going to settle down to my movie. The ministry of ungentlemanly warf...

  Arguably the apex for music sales on home format ie LP’s Cassette’s and CD’s was between 1960 and 2000. If a band could get their record played on radio then the big time could be just round the corner.  John Peel was a legendary radio DJ first on the pirate ships off the coast and then on the BBC’s prime radio station Radio One . John Peel had a late night radio show and with it he had free rein to play whatever he wanted. A great deal of preparation went into his shows and for many years he was voted the best DJ in the country by his listeners.  Peel was humble and relaxed which made him easy to listening. His radio show was so popular he had the power to make bands and was often listened to by his peers to get in on the latest trends. He didn’t have a bias to a genre he just wanted to make a good show.  This biography is written in two parts the first by his own hand and the second by his wife and children after his passing. I have to say the early part writt...

 At the beginning in August 1990 Iraq was building up forces on its boarder with Kuwait and peace talks between the two nations were at loggerheads, to every intelligence agency it was a matter of when and how far and not if there would be an invasion.  Knowing all this there remains a key questions why does the United Kingdom government let a flight from its flag carrier British Airways land at Kuwait airport ? Why were 250 passengers handed straight to the Iraqi regime to be used as human shields in the up coming conflict? Finally what was life like for the passengers and other expatriates in Kuwait in the days following the invasion ?  Stephen Davis explores all of this in his book, interviews with over 300 people unveiling the reason why so many were put at risk. This book is a brilliant investigation into that incident and it puts you the reader in forefront as events unfold. The tensions are real as the invaders pillage Kuwait of all its riches.  I’...

This book was on a free trial with Audible so I gave it a go and I was a nice surprise.  Humanity is colonising the universe and corporate soldiers are the main force. All indebted to their corporate overlords and forced to carry out the extermination of life forms to prepare a planet for colonialism. When a Recon unit deemed surplus to requirements they are place in a position where they have to help the native “Tyr” population and this places the whole colony project in jeopardy.  It’s a great book with lots of layers to keep you interested. The introduction is a little slow but once it’s up to speed you be captivated. If you have an Audible account or a Kindle account for that matter it’s worth looking at for free to get a taste of the wider series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Yesterday was another walk up to Rowley footpath and 13 balls, I didn’t write a post because it was a bit repetitive for the day before. Today it’s an afternoon of rest and recovery, it’s been six days of exercise so I need to take stock and let my muscles recover.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Straight after work I went to the gym it was rowing to start, I didn’t hit the pace from the other day I was on 3800 meters in 30 mins.  It was on to the curl machine gentle to start 20kg working up to 35kg.  Fixed bars next and I started with 15kg very slow to get the burn then upping it to 20kg.  Cable curls next and staying with 16.5kg working up to 27kg.  I managed to get on the preacher with two 10kg plates I started to struggle on the fourth set so dropped it down to 7.5kg a side to finish off.  Rows to finish 20kg working up to 33kg I was running out of time so I had to wrap it up.  I got home had a snack and a little rest then changed into my hiking gear and headed out. It was up past Rowley farm and a better day with 13 golf balls. My total hike was 5.65 miles and that was 4 hours of training today.  It was nice to get out in the warmth remembering those summer days just a few weeks ago.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Yes the kids have just gone back to school and the last bit of summer warmth still hangs in the air.  Your local supermarkets are bringing Christmas to you already. There are mince pies, Christmas puddings Yule logs all the sugar treats of Christmas and it’s only the 5th September! 

  I wanted to make some progress towards my Apple challenge and I’d only Wales for 4 miles to miles during the day so I needed a hike.  I got home had a snack got changed and headed out. I put on my winter boots as the needed to be broken in again as they were a bit stiff.  It was a 5.5 mile walk and only 5 golf balls, I was a tad unlucky as there was a fellow hunter out who seemed to have pockets full. My toes are a bit battered but my boots should settle before the weather really turns.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s back to the gym today and it was a catch up day some exercises that I’ve left off other routines.  It was cross training to start on level 15 intervals. I managed to get through 400 calories which was good going.  Forearm so tart and behind the back starting with 20kg and then upping it to 30kg  Some wide cable rows starting with 42.5kg going up to 50kg  Abs crunches on the machine starting at 50kg working up to 72.5kg it was ok, I’ll start higher next time.  Some more forearm in front this time starting with a 15kg bar then upping it to to 20kg  It was bent over T bar rows to finish starting at 15kg dropping to 10kg. I’ll have to work on this.  Wexham church slough  It was a nice gym session, I came home had a snack then went out for a quick walk. I needed to get 2.25 miles to add a day to my apple challenge so I put my headphones on a got on with it.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Based on a New York Times best seller “The war of the Roses” this is the second film iteration. No it’s not a remake as although the premise is the same the actual events in the two films are different as is the dynamic between the two actors. The two main actors are at the top of there game Olivia Coleman the Oscar winner needs no introduction from me as does he counter part Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock). Playing a married couple the pair are simply brilliant it’s easy to see the two together. It’s the best comedy I’ve ever seen at the cinema the interplay between these two is well worth a look. When they attend marriage guidance smd destroy the poor councillor with their insane humour it’s brilliant.  If you have 90 minutes and want laugh out loud fun with brilliant actors in a story that made the New York best sellers list. I’d say you couldn’t go wrong with this it’s well worth a look.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  The end of the  Rainbow  The fable tells us that at the end of the rainbow there’s a pot of gold ! Well I can happily tell you that and the end of this rainbow there’s probably a pile of cow shit !  After a lunch time vist to the cinema I wanted to get out and go for a walk it was also an opportunity to collect today’s WeWards . I went around the estate first to collect most of the WeWards then headed up to Rowley footpath. When I was on the Uxbridge road there was an intense rain shower and my jacket, combats and boots got soaked, I carried on as I couldn’t get any wetter. Lucky it eased off and with my body heat I dried out a bit.  It was 3 golf balls again today one on the way up and two on the way back, I guess the poor weather is putting a lot of players off. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Greylag goose in The rain   After a nice lunch I wanted to get out for a walk, it’s early autumn smd the weather has turned with frequent showers so a big hat and waterproof jacket were the order of the day!  My apple challenge this month is to walk over 7.05 miles a day so I thought I’d add a bit extra on to see if I can make a good start.  It was up Rowley path and then following it round to Black Park, one lap of the lake latter and I was on my way home again. The rain was really belting down when I was near the lake so I managed to grab a picture of a goose standing guard as the rain drops pool on its back the oiled feathers working well.  It was only 3 golf balls today 1 on the way up and two on the way back as the weather is bad I didn’t expect too many.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s a return to the gym today, I skipped a day because I had a slight pulled muscle in my back and wanted to err on the side of caution.  It was rowing to kick off today’s session I wanted to push and managed to he just over 4 km in 30 minutes which is near my high end and I stayed consistent for the whole 30 minutes.  The machines were full so it was a bar to start with and a gentle 20kg working up to 30kg on a shoulder press.  Upright rows to follow and again 20kg but I wasn’t so confident so only raised to 25kg.  The machines were empty so it was a machine press again 20kg and going up to 35kg.  Machine lateral raise starting on 20kg and just going up to 25kg I think I need to work on this !  Front plate raises to finish and starting with a 10kg plate going up to 15kg looking at form as I went.  A nice work out today I pushed in some areas and struggled in others.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s been a year since I gave up nicotine, I was using the pouches before but exactly a year today I gave up.  Now for the first month or so I got through a lot of polo mints as an alternative but turns out lots of mint gives you heart burn so by the October I wasn’t doing anything.  There are of course pro’s and cons to giving up ! Pro’s  If you smoke you know what’s it’s like when you get fly or a heavy cold, you’re struggling tho breathing there’s constant mucus and coughing and it nearly always leads to a chest infection after. We when you’ve been smoke free you actually have a cold and not realise it’ll be so mild compared to a smokers cold you won’t be sure.  Money, nicotine in its various forms costs money and you’ll be surprised by the savings you make over a month and a year.  Social impact, you’re out with friends and you have to disappear for a smoke or vape or you’re looking for a shop that sells pouches in the middle of the night. Well you do...