Last week’s press-ups, sit ups and cycling up steep hills combo with Barry, Andy and Iona resulted in what I can only describe as the most painful elbows I’ve had in my life (and that’s including some particularly sore arms when I was playing amateur rugby league) Thanks go to my son Tom who helped me dry my back and button my shirts for work for a couple of days. He wasn’t happy about the back drying bit but I explained it was good practise for when he’s looking after me full time in a few years.
In terms of this weeks pain update I appear to have a hamstring pull which is causing a little bit of difficulty as I sit at a desk for most of the day. I’ve cycled home to Workington from Westlakes a few times this week which was very pleasant due to the weather. Last night I had a quarter mile race-off with a Jack Russell at Distington which I won but only just. Charlie-eeeeeeeeeeee! (his owner had a great set of lungs) was a hell of a sprinter but I think he was only playing with me as he stopped for a wee half way through and still caught me up.
I know that my current protein intake is more than sufficient as I’m swallowing a couple of hundred flies per night. In terms of size the flies appear to be bigger the closer you get to Workington. I wonder why that is? This weeks business idea – fly paper strips dangling from the front of your cycle helmet may stop the Workington midges knocking your teeth out? Maybe not. I’ll keep trying….
Gary McKeating
Monday, 1 August 2011
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Barry Turns the Heat Up or 'Don't worry it's only your ligaments'
As the weeks tick down towards the 18th September and the 3 passes on the 85 miles Rivers Route fail to shrink things are getting more serious.
The scene – the school hall at Paddle, just outside Cockermouth
The participants – nervous and more nervous
The Boss – Barry Johnson, elite athlete and trainer
We may not have been wearing old fashioned gym shorts and white t shirts – but it felt like we were properly back in school. That sense of nervous expectation when you’re not quite sure what the teacher’s going to ask you to do. I won’t distress readers with the details but when I said to our trainer ‘this exercise really makes my elbows hurt he replied with a slight smile ‘yes it will do, don’t worry, it’s only your ligaments’.
In truth Barry was a gentleman and never asked us to do more than we could manage, but I’m still not sure why we need to have arms like Popeye for riding a bike!
We’ve had a great deal of interest in the Jennings Rivers Ride – entirely down to the wonderful efforts of Matt Whitehurst and his stunt riding on the waters of Buttermere – photo attached which has gone ‘viral’ on the internet. (Warm thanks to the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue team and the expert photography of Charlie Hedley).
Monday, 20 June 2011
The loneliness of the long distance chubster
The loneliness of the long distance chubster.
You know the problem with cycling in West Cumbria? The lack of a roof and windscreen wipers. My training this week has gone OK but the weather has been against me. Wearing glasses in the rain and the state of the roads combines to make cycling here in West Cumbria a perilous activity. If you can’t see the craters until you hit them…….
I’ve got a good few miles in cycling to my parents in Workington, complaining about my backside then setting off back to High Harrington again. The hill from Low Harrington to High Harrington is a good one for getting the heart rate up. However, I’ve found that since I last cycled in anger my lungs must have shrunk considerably and are no longer fit for purpose for a man of my comfortable build. Currently I think that a pigeon would be disappointed with their capacity. Hopefully that will improve over the next few weeks.
My new found regime has me generating questions that my personal trainer can hopefully help with: rather than an energy bar and a litre of water which can be a bit tasteless, can I replace it with a kebab and Vimto?
The exercise regime that Barry Johnson has given us is going well. As I lie in the sitting room doing planks and static press ups it also has the added benefit of cheering the wife and kids up. Who needs the Sky Comedy Channel?
The Rivers Ride - Training Diary - Chapter 1
Barry ‘the coach’ meets the three intrepid Rivers Riders
This is the story of two middle aged men preparing to take part in Cumbria’s newest cycle challenge – the Cumbria Rivers Ride. Both of us are the wrong side of 40, both enjoy good food and neither could be described as athletes!
I run the Cumbria Community Foundation, Cumbria’s special grant making charity and Gary McKeating is Head of socio-economics with NMP. Gary and I will report regularly on our efforts to prepare for the Ride which will take place on 18th September starting and finishing in Fitz Park, Keswick. We’ll be joined by our colleague Iona Frost Pennington, owner of Muncaster Castle and current High Sheriff of Cumbria.
We’re very fortunate to have secured the help of Barry Johnson who is a highly skilled fitness coach. We met Barry at Dovenby Hall one morning for a ‘fitness assessment’. There was a real sense of apprehension and nervous energy in the air. Barry trains champions and is an elite athlete himself. Nervous energy is only a few steps away from total fear. But very quickly Barry put us at our ease. After a few questions about our medical histories, a blood pressure check and a gentle warm up we began our exercises.
There’s already a great sense of camaraderie between us, but boys will be boys and neither me nor Gary wanted to fail or be beaten. Gary excelled in the static press up, his Popeye arms holding his magnificent frame aloft for the required 60 seconds. Me and Iona quickly fell to the floor …… We went onto to do ‘the plank’ and the static sit up as well as ‘the sit’. All these exercises are aimed at developing our ‘core strength’.
We were all delighted to learn that our core strength exercises will only take ten minutes a day five times a week. On top of that we have to try and cycle 20 miles in total a week. It all sounds too good to be true ……… so watch this space.
The Rivers Ride gives us three choices, an 8 mile ride, a 40 mile ride and ‘the big day out’ – 85 miles and three mountain passes. So with Barry’s help which one will we choose?
To find out more about the Rivers Ride and to book visit www.cumbriafoundation.org
This is the story of two middle aged men preparing to take part in Cumbria’s newest cycle challenge – the Cumbria Rivers Ride. Both of us are the wrong side of 40, both enjoy good food and neither could be described as athletes!
I run the Cumbria Community Foundation, Cumbria’s special grant making charity and Gary McKeating is Head of socio-economics with NMP. Gary and I will report regularly on our efforts to prepare for the Ride which will take place on 18th September starting and finishing in Fitz Park, Keswick. We’ll be joined by our colleague Iona Frost Pennington, owner of Muncaster Castle and current High Sheriff of Cumbria.
We’re very fortunate to have secured the help of Barry Johnson who is a highly skilled fitness coach. We met Barry at Dovenby Hall one morning for a ‘fitness assessment’. There was a real sense of apprehension and nervous energy in the air. Barry trains champions and is an elite athlete himself. Nervous energy is only a few steps away from total fear. But very quickly Barry put us at our ease. After a few questions about our medical histories, a blood pressure check and a gentle warm up we began our exercises.
There’s already a great sense of camaraderie between us, but boys will be boys and neither me nor Gary wanted to fail or be beaten. Gary excelled in the static press up, his Popeye arms holding his magnificent frame aloft for the required 60 seconds. Me and Iona quickly fell to the floor …… We went onto to do ‘the plank’ and the static sit up as well as ‘the sit’. All these exercises are aimed at developing our ‘core strength’.
We were all delighted to learn that our core strength exercises will only take ten minutes a day five times a week. On top of that we have to try and cycle 20 miles in total a week. It all sounds too good to be true ……… so watch this space.
The Rivers Ride gives us three choices, an 8 mile ride, a 40 mile ride and ‘the big day out’ – 85 miles and three mountain passes. So with Barry’s help which one will we choose?
To find out more about the Rivers Ride and to book visit www.cumbriafoundation.org
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Big Society and Big Local
David Cameron has now officially launched the ‘Big Society’ initiative with parts of Eden identified as a ‘vanguard’ area.
Generally speaking the Government wants to see more services delivered by local charities and for local people to have more control, with a range of barriers removed to help charities get on with looking after people. This change runs alongside the knowledge that we will see massive cuts in public sector funding.
I’d like to shine a light on some projects that hopefully exemplify how a small amount of money can help a lot of people and save money at the same time.
The first project is the Village Agents project run by Age UK South Lakeland (Age Concern to you and me). The scheme placed 9 coordinators in communities throughout the District with the aim of making sure older people had access to information and services to create village action groups and recruit new volunteers.
Working ten hours a week the agents plus the volunteers that have become involved have already helped nearly 850 people. By speaking with local people new activity clubs have been set up, people put in touch with local arthritis support groups, helped people claim over £60K in additional benefits, got involved in keep fit activities and accessed free loft insulation. One grateful lady sent her Village Agent a note saying ‘It made the long, hard winter more bearable knowing you were there’.
The Northern Fells Group which operates in and around Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket set up a handy man and good neighbours scheme a few years ago to make sure that anyone who needed help with small tasks could get it. The scheme now has 18 volunteers operating over 200 square miles and serving 3,600 residents. Simple things like changing a light bulb can be hazardous if you’re unsteady on your feet and have to climb up onto a chair.
What schemes like this do is enable people to stay in their own homes, seek support when they need them and stay fitter, longer, reducing the risk of accidents and long stays in hospital. Funded by the Lottery the project is now looking for longer term funding. I hope that local GP’s, who will soon be involved in commissioning the health services we access look at schemes like this and take the wise decision to fund them.
Two areas of the county have been identified by the Big Lottery to receive £1m each in new funding over a 10 year period. Big Local is a new lottery funded scheme which has identified 50 communities including Barrow Island and Ewanrigg. Long term funding into two of the counties most disadvantaged communities is most welcome.
Generally speaking the Government wants to see more services delivered by local charities and for local people to have more control, with a range of barriers removed to help charities get on with looking after people. This change runs alongside the knowledge that we will see massive cuts in public sector funding.
I’d like to shine a light on some projects that hopefully exemplify how a small amount of money can help a lot of people and save money at the same time.
The first project is the Village Agents project run by Age UK South Lakeland (Age Concern to you and me). The scheme placed 9 coordinators in communities throughout the District with the aim of making sure older people had access to information and services to create village action groups and recruit new volunteers.
Working ten hours a week the agents plus the volunteers that have become involved have already helped nearly 850 people. By speaking with local people new activity clubs have been set up, people put in touch with local arthritis support groups, helped people claim over £60K in additional benefits, got involved in keep fit activities and accessed free loft insulation. One grateful lady sent her Village Agent a note saying ‘It made the long, hard winter more bearable knowing you were there’.
The Northern Fells Group which operates in and around Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket set up a handy man and good neighbours scheme a few years ago to make sure that anyone who needed help with small tasks could get it. The scheme now has 18 volunteers operating over 200 square miles and serving 3,600 residents. Simple things like changing a light bulb can be hazardous if you’re unsteady on your feet and have to climb up onto a chair.
What schemes like this do is enable people to stay in their own homes, seek support when they need them and stay fitter, longer, reducing the risk of accidents and long stays in hospital. Funded by the Lottery the project is now looking for longer term funding. I hope that local GP’s, who will soon be involved in commissioning the health services we access look at schemes like this and take the wise decision to fund them.
Two areas of the county have been identified by the Big Lottery to receive £1m each in new funding over a 10 year period. Big Local is a new lottery funded scheme which has identified 50 communities including Barrow Island and Ewanrigg. Long term funding into two of the counties most disadvantaged communities is most welcome.
New Government New Honours
Cumbria Life
I’d like to open this blog with some good news and congratulations. Cumbria benefitted from a host of awards in the Queens Birthday Honours and three of them were to people for their contribution to the local community and charities.
One was Captain John Green. I’ve had the pleasure of working with John for many years. John to me epitomises a good citizen, he has a wide range of skills and contacts which he uses to good effect, however he is always modest, humorous and generous in his approach. The second was Norman Stoller for his philanthropic work through the Norman Stoller Charitable Trust. The third person is Juliet Westoll who has been a central figure in the Cumbria Woman of the Year Award for many years. The new Government has great expectations for charities in fixing our problems. One of the things they identify is the role of ‘community organisers’. Well the Cumbria Woman of the Year award has been shining a light on and celebrating the myriad work of wonderful women ‘community organisers’.
With a new government comes some new language. The ‘Big Society’ is one term. In many of Cumbria’s communities I think we already have a ‘big society’ with over 3,500 charities. Another new phrase to become accustomed to is ‘civil society organisation’. I think that’s charities and community and voluntary groups to you and me.
I’ve mentioned ‘community organisers’ and I think this means those fabulous people that have an idea, get off their behinds and make things happen. The Government wants to train a ‘whole new generation’ of ‘community organiser’s’. I’m not sure people can be trained to have the essential fizz that makes them want to do things, but we can encourage those people who stand up and have a go.
People are now beginning to consider the likely effect of major cuts in welfare spending. There’s a strong link between poverty and health, educational attainment and other issues. Cumbria is very diverse and many of our most disadvantaged residents are not readily seen because they either exist in small numbers in rural locations or are found in peripheral communities in Barrow, West Cumbria and Carlisle. Sadly these communities rank alongside the most deprived in the country. How our charities are able to respond to these challenges will be fundamental in the lives of the unemployed, young people, the elderly and disabled.
I’d like to make a plug for a new initiative. The Cumbria Advice Network is a new collaboration with the Citizens Advice Bureau, Carlisle Law Centre and Shelter Cumbria at its heart. The aim of the network is simple, to improve access to information for people in need. In an internet age it’s easy to assume all you need to do is log on and read whatever you need, however complex problems require the ability to sit down with someone and be taken step by step through their issues. It has taken a lot of energy, time and commitment on the part of many people to get this far. To find out more visit www.cumbriaadvicenetwork.org.uk/can/.
I’d like to open this blog with some good news and congratulations. Cumbria benefitted from a host of awards in the Queens Birthday Honours and three of them were to people for their contribution to the local community and charities.
One was Captain John Green. I’ve had the pleasure of working with John for many years. John to me epitomises a good citizen, he has a wide range of skills and contacts which he uses to good effect, however he is always modest, humorous and generous in his approach. The second was Norman Stoller for his philanthropic work through the Norman Stoller Charitable Trust. The third person is Juliet Westoll who has been a central figure in the Cumbria Woman of the Year Award for many years. The new Government has great expectations for charities in fixing our problems. One of the things they identify is the role of ‘community organisers’. Well the Cumbria Woman of the Year award has been shining a light on and celebrating the myriad work of wonderful women ‘community organisers’.
With a new government comes some new language. The ‘Big Society’ is one term. In many of Cumbria’s communities I think we already have a ‘big society’ with over 3,500 charities. Another new phrase to become accustomed to is ‘civil society organisation’. I think that’s charities and community and voluntary groups to you and me.
I’ve mentioned ‘community organisers’ and I think this means those fabulous people that have an idea, get off their behinds and make things happen. The Government wants to train a ‘whole new generation’ of ‘community organiser’s’. I’m not sure people can be trained to have the essential fizz that makes them want to do things, but we can encourage those people who stand up and have a go.
People are now beginning to consider the likely effect of major cuts in welfare spending. There’s a strong link between poverty and health, educational attainment and other issues. Cumbria is very diverse and many of our most disadvantaged residents are not readily seen because they either exist in small numbers in rural locations or are found in peripheral communities in Barrow, West Cumbria and Carlisle. Sadly these communities rank alongside the most deprived in the country. How our charities are able to respond to these challenges will be fundamental in the lives of the unemployed, young people, the elderly and disabled.
I’d like to make a plug for a new initiative. The Cumbria Advice Network is a new collaboration with the Citizens Advice Bureau, Carlisle Law Centre and Shelter Cumbria at its heart. The aim of the network is simple, to improve access to information for people in need. In an internet age it’s easy to assume all you need to do is log on and read whatever you need, however complex problems require the ability to sit down with someone and be taken step by step through their issues. It has taken a lot of energy, time and commitment on the part of many people to get this far. To find out more visit www.cumbriaadvicenetwork.org.uk/can/.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
May's musings - how involved should charities be in political life?
The last few weeks have seen me making random outbursts at the television and radio. The reason why? Well I’m afraid the run up to the General Election has seen me get more and more annoyed with politicians of all persuasions who have dodged questions or made grand proclamations.
I do enjoy a good bit of political knock about and was fortunate enough to attend the live broadcast of Any Questions organised by Eden Valley Hospice and hosted by the Rheged Centre. Eric Pickles, Chairman of the Conservative party gave a master class in old style political verbal sparring leaving the Health Secretary Andy Burnham reeling on the ropes.
But despite my anger and frustration I know the value of our democracy and opportunities afforded by the political process. My role allows me some insight into the complexities of the political world and I realise that we need politicians skilled in the art of the game.
Young people’s engagement and commentary in the run up to this election has impressed me. If our communities and our democracy are going to thrive we need people with skills and knowledge and passion and a wish to be leaders. We also need people who are able to question and challenge our politicians and local institutions if they are not doing the best they can for us.
Facing a world with less money after this election means we will need creativity, leadership, and vitality. I’m delighted to say that local and national charities provide young people with many opportunities to develop their confidence and skills. I’ve enjoyed judging the Young Farmers public speaking competition in the past and charities like Raleigh International and the Project Trust give young people real life challenges as well as adventures. The Scouting movement has never been more popular and with the support of volunteers through the Girl Guide movement the Community Foundation runs two ‘Youth Banks’. These are groups of young people promoting and managing their own local grant making programme. They learn to make decisions about spending money, manage meetings and consider competing interests and needs.
Some people are uncomfortable with charities becoming involved in the world of politics. Many national charities have produced their own manifestos in an attempt to promote the interests they represent. Although I have some reservations about the power some charities wield because of their wealth I strongly believe that charities should speak out. All charities were created to meet a need and it is entirely legitimate for them to spend their time and resources promoting that need.
What do you think charities role should be in the world of politics?
To engage in debate visit www.cumbriafoundation.org and log into the Director Blog
I do enjoy a good bit of political knock about and was fortunate enough to attend the live broadcast of Any Questions organised by Eden Valley Hospice and hosted by the Rheged Centre. Eric Pickles, Chairman of the Conservative party gave a master class in old style political verbal sparring leaving the Health Secretary Andy Burnham reeling on the ropes.
But despite my anger and frustration I know the value of our democracy and opportunities afforded by the political process. My role allows me some insight into the complexities of the political world and I realise that we need politicians skilled in the art of the game.
Young people’s engagement and commentary in the run up to this election has impressed me. If our communities and our democracy are going to thrive we need people with skills and knowledge and passion and a wish to be leaders. We also need people who are able to question and challenge our politicians and local institutions if they are not doing the best they can for us.
Facing a world with less money after this election means we will need creativity, leadership, and vitality. I’m delighted to say that local and national charities provide young people with many opportunities to develop their confidence and skills. I’ve enjoyed judging the Young Farmers public speaking competition in the past and charities like Raleigh International and the Project Trust give young people real life challenges as well as adventures. The Scouting movement has never been more popular and with the support of volunteers through the Girl Guide movement the Community Foundation runs two ‘Youth Banks’. These are groups of young people promoting and managing their own local grant making programme. They learn to make decisions about spending money, manage meetings and consider competing interests and needs.
Some people are uncomfortable with charities becoming involved in the world of politics. Many national charities have produced their own manifestos in an attempt to promote the interests they represent. Although I have some reservations about the power some charities wield because of their wealth I strongly believe that charities should speak out. All charities were created to meet a need and it is entirely legitimate for them to spend their time and resources promoting that need.
What do you think charities role should be in the world of politics?
To engage in debate visit www.cumbriafoundation.org and log into the Director Blog
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