Christian Ainley my day to day

  I’ve been having a bit of knee trouble all day so I’m not going to push it today. Just a quick walk to get done we wards and then see where I am tomorrow. Hopefully I can go for a golf ball hunt although looking at the skies I don’t think there will be many people playing golf ⛳️  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s a return to the gym today and cross trainer to start with intervals on level 13. My knee was a little swollen on the left bu I pushed through. Not the best pace today 1.48km in 30 mins.  It was on to Tri’s and the tri press machine to start, starting high at 50kg going up to 55kg. A bit over confident early.  On to the cable station and my usual cable was fixed today so it was pull downs with a bar first. A low weight but slow pace starting with 16.5kg working up to 23kg.  Over head pulls next with a rope starting a bit higher at 20kg going up to 28kg.  Rope pull downs next and starting with 16.5kg nice and slow going on to 20kg  It was French press next and starting with 17.5kg nice slow presses and dropping down to 15kg and failure.  It was a good work out, I’ve got a long way to go to get back to where I was but I must stay focused and make the gym a habit.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  I got home from work had a quick snooze and then got changed and headed out. It was a quick tour of the estate before heading up Gallions path. I wore my long rain coat and was glad of it when a heavy spring shower hit.  It was a nice walk I found 8 golf balls to add to my stock, I’ll sort them out tomorrow and hopefully I can list some.  It’s been a nice day all in all, have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Firstly it has to be noted that this book was published after the 2004 season, and it's interesting to look back at that time. Arsenal had just won the league and everyone looked at Chelsea and the Russian money and how it was going to change football and the model of how a club can become successful.  It's always good to look at the history of something you're passionate about and the history of Arsenal football club was an interesting read. The early years as Dial square in the royal armouries and the move to North London and the politics that saw a neighbour (Spurs) relegated while Arsensl remained in the football league. It looks at that dominant 1930s team all the way through to that famous 0-0 at Old Trafford where six Arsenal players were charged with misconduct.  It's a well written book and if you're an Arsenal fan or you like sports in general you should add this to your collection. It would be interesting for the author to revisit a look how football de...

The weather has declined so rather than walking in the sunshine it's back to the gym. It was rowing to start with a good place 3888 meters over 30 minutes.  It was on to biceps to start with preacher and an ez bar, I started off with 10kg a side going up to 12.5kg a side. It was ok.  On to preacher with plates and kicking that off with 15kg going up to 20kg.  Cable curls next and my usual machine was broken so it was onto the one next door. Starting with a slow 15kg curl and dropping down to 12.5kg again slow.  Machine curls next and starting with 27.5kg and then dropping down to 20kg.  Bar curls to finish and 20kg down to 17.5Kg to finish off.  Not the best session but it was good to be back, I'm going to try and find a balance now I'm free of course work. Hopefully not many resubmits to work on so I can concentrate on walking and gym.  Have fun stay safe 👍

  The state of Israel was born with blood in 1948. With little resources using equipment that was surplus from World War Two it managed to survive against all odds. All of Israel’s neighbours plotted to destroy the new state and constantly harassed the plucky neighbour. War came again in 1954 and Isreal made gains and grew in size but the shift came in 1967 that was the year that defined Isreal as a Middle East power and from which all modern Middle Eastern politics can be traced.  Egypt, Jordan and Syria sponsored by rich Arab countries where planning the ultimate downfall of Isreal, with modern weapons supplied by the USSR there were various plans being made on how to accomplish the destruction of Isreal. It started off with small cross border raids and harassing Israeli settlements. Mossad Israel’s security service was being overwhelmed with information of a planned attack. Israel decided to be bold and take the front foot, in probably the most audacious piece of military o...

 Golf balls sold 420 It’s my first rest day, I know I haven’t posted for a while but I did knuckle down and I’ve submitted my last unit for the lean management course, I’m waiting for it to be marked and any resubmits.  Today it was a long walk up Gallions and around Black park. Not very successful at the ball hunting with only 7 today but I did manage to get through my book.  When I get some feedback from my course I’ll keep you updated I think I’ve made a couple of mistakes but let’s see.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Of the three checkpoints between West Berlin and East Germany check point Charlie is probably the most famous and notorious. Being in the center of Berlin it’s the focus point of two army’s that are on the brink of war. It’s also the staging point for all the ‘diplomatic crossings’ to east Berlin and where tourists rom the west can enter East Berlin for sightseeing trips or to take advantage of cheaper goods that can only be bought in the east such as Dresden and Mason tableware.  The author delves deep into the politics of post World War Two Germany and the reasons behind the creation of the Berlin Wall before taking you through the history of the only checkpoint to link East and West in the city. He’ll guide you through what it was like to use the checkpoint as a tourist or journalist knowing the the East German secret police Stasi are watching you’re every move with suspicion. The ‘diplomatic’ missions sent into the east to gather information and the hair raising chases a...

  I got home from work and immediately started the last unit of lean organisational management techniques. The last unit is about teams and team leading which is ironic as I’ve just finished a course on that. I wrote an essay on what makes an effective team and then headed out.  It’s a bank holiday weekend and the weather is great which means golf for lots of people ! This in turn means many of them will be buying expensive golf balls and systematically distributing them in to the local flora and fauna around the golf course. Being an enterprising golf ball reseller I had to go and take advantage. It was a good haul today of 34 which makes 72 for the weekend and nearly a 20% replacement of my sold stock. Not bad ! I’ll sort them out, clean them and start listing them on eBay.  A good day all in all !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  No when I was 11-12 Sunday afternoons were about getting out for a cycle with my dad. We would cycle up to Burnham Beeches and have a soft drink from the Spa shop in Farnham Common. I would have a Coke-Cola but he would have an Old Jamaica Ginger beer.  So when I saw it in the local shop I thought I’d give it a go. I wasn’t a fan back then it was not appealing to my sweet tooth. Now it doesn’t seem as strong and I think it might grow on me. I’m not running out to buy another one but I might try a different brand to see how they go. Give it a try it's a unique soft drink!  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍

  I came home from work and knuckled down to finish off my second unit in my lean organisation management techniques course. The last few questions were about standard working documents and their use in the work place, I’d already drafted my own standard document based on a restaurant opening process so it was a case of answering the other questions.   Once all was submitted I had a little snack and headed out up Gsllions path. With a long bank holiday weekend I was hoping that plenty of players were out. I headed up and it was a good haul 26 balls today when added to the 11 from yesterday that’s 10% of my total sales replaced.  I’ve started a new book on Audible so look out for that blog otherwise it’s been a nice day, the only downside was ripping I T-shirt hunt for balls but hey.  Hopefully there aren’t that many revisits on my course work, let’s wait and see.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Today we woke up and decided to have a day out, now the question was where to go ! We considered a few options Oxford, Portsmouth or just staying local but eventually we decided on Brighton. It was a nice drive down with little traffic and just over an hour latter we were parking, I think I found one of the most expensive car parks near the lanes. The seafront might have been a bit cheaper if you’re deciding to go.  We explored some of the lanes first, it’s mostly jewellery stores and a few boutique stores but worth a look. It was then looking at the pavilion for the pictures. There were some morris dancers as it’s May Day today. We had a look at some of the shops. We headed down to the sea front and the weather was gloriously sunny. A walk up the pier which cost £1 we weren’t tempted by the arcade and fair ground.  We had a walk down the beachfront for a bit and even looked for some sea glass on the beach but they were only small pieces and the tide was high. While we ...

 Golf balls sold 376  It was an early start today, after a healthy breakfast of granola and yogurt it was straight into the course work. I was tasked with laying out the evaluation tools to improve a business and explain the measures I would put in place to change its working practices so a full on essay. It was fun to lay it out and write it though and to break down the task into its different elements.  For lunch it was a nice walk to Windsor and Eaton for lunch in Côte Brasserie. It was confit of pork belly with gratin potatoes. Now the pork was very fatty but I guess that’s because it’s belly. But I loved it and the service was good. With a crème brûlée for dessert all was right with the world, a pink lemonade and bottle of tap water was perfect. It was a nice walk home with a new book to listen too.  I came home did some more course work about signs and information management techniques before heading up Gallions path. I’d sold 16 Callaway Speedsoft so needed to...

 Golf balls sold 360  It was a walk up Gallions path today, but I was to late as another golf ball picker had beaten me to it. It was a nice walk up to the top of the path and back. I did find 2 balls on the way back but they were only fit for a value bundle.  Tomorrow I’m going to get some rest after work and let my body recover as I’ve been pushing hard.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

 It’s back to the gym today, despite being tired I pushed through. It was cross trainer to kick off and intervals on level 13. 1.49km and 379 calories it was good.  The gym was busy today so it required a bit of skill to navigate and get an effective workout in.  Starting with machine chest press, 20kg building up to 33kg nice and slow to getting things going.  On to incline press and only adding 10kg but good form and descending sets with 12 reps down to 8 and failure. Mainly because I was too lazy to hunt for different plates 😉.  Flys next on the machine and starting light at 35kg and building up to 50kg.  Wide machine press next and starting with 26kg going up to 35kg  Cable flys to finish and nice and light starting with 14kg a side going up to 18kg a side.  It was a nice work out and something to build on.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Great news about my current course, lean organisation management techniques ! I’ve passed the first unit so I’m a third of the way through the course ! Only two more to go, I have to say it’s a tough course with lots of essays and writing so be sure you have the time to dedicate to it if you’re taking it on ! If you are thinking about a course try the customer service level 2 first to get a taste of online course first !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s out for a walk this afternoon, I wanted to make the most of the sunshine and try to gather more stock for the golf ball business. It was good going today finding 16 balls and I was able to find my twelfth Taylormade tour response so I can finally list a dozen.  I’ve also received my first negative feedback on eBay turns out I posted 24 hiviz ballls via Royal Mail and they only delivered 10. The customer only payed £1.50 for them so I’m not too broken up. It’s been a good day and my burnt arms are settling down with some after sun applied. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Arguably since the Second World War the Middle East has been a constant flash point from the birth of Isreal in 1948  right up to today there’s been constant conflict and political instability.  Jeremy Bowen was the chief Middle East correspondent for the BBC from the late 80’s. Living in Israel when getting a bus could mean losing your life. The end of the Iran Iraq war, the first Gulf war and through the start and ultimately aborted peace process between Palestine and Israel. Of course Jeremy has covered the Arab spring and the decline of Syria. That seems like a lot! I’ve missed more out I’m sure ! Jeremy takes you back to all those moments that shook the world and tells you what it was like to be there. When the Israeli leader is assassinated and he breaks the death to the world or what it was like to be a young reporter and reporting that NATO had made a mistake and killed hundreds of civilians in an Iraqi bomb shelter and receiving the backlash from it. It’s a fas...

  The weather being so nice and having a free afternoon I thought I should take a walk up Gallions path and see if I could find some more stock for my eBay business. I’ve started listening to a new book which I will report on soon.  Some poor soul had broken down in his car on Wexham park lane right on the narrowest point near the point where I cross over. He’d placed the No fly tipping sign a few meters behind his car and this was incurring lots of abuse from traffic that had to avoid it last minute. I should have come home that way to check on the situation but I wanted to pop into the local shop for some supplies.  It was a good hunt today with 11 balls and only one for the junk box ! With 9 hours of exercise over the last two days I’m going to unwind this evening before going back to work tomorrow.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

 It’s Slough Town’s final match of the season against the newly minted Dagenham and Redbridge FC and the weather was glorious with even a little bit of sunburn from the late April sun.  Walking to the match as it s only 15 minutes away from my home you get a sense that it’s close by when the smell of burgers and fried onions carry on the wind. I treated my self to a cider expensive at £5.40 but I guess thst how a small club makes its money. There was a small wait to be served but it moved quickly. A novelty for football fans is the ability to take the drink outside within sight of the pitch !  Being a lunch time kick off I also treated myself to a cheese burger and chips. The price £11.40 for a cheese burger with a small portion of chips the picture is what you get.  Now on to the football it’s self, for the first half I stood behind the away goal and that’s where most of the Slough fans gathered. It was a good vibe with drums and wheels bins being drummed and chants...