Sweeties, Pies and Ginger

I went swimming this morning as I though I'd better try and get back into a routine as quickly as possible. I know I ate far too many potato croquettes while up in Scotland, so this was the prefect opportunity to start burning them off. I thought the pool would be quiet and in a way it was, however the fast lane was mobbed.

As it turned out there were three members of Cambridge Triathlon Club doing a spot of training in the fast lane and only a few other people in the other two lanes. Knowing that the pool can get busy very quickly I decided to go in the fast lane just in case.

I managed to only be overtaken three times during my 1000m warm up, which was odd as it's normally, me doing the overtaking. After doing a further 500m of just front crawl pull, I decided to cut my losses and head for the medium lane.

I managed to do a further 300m front crawl kick followed by 200m of front crawl catch up before the other occupant of the lane got out. Meanwhile the three triathletes were hammering up and down their lane like swimming was going out of fashion.

I managed to sneak in a 400m swim down before the session ended, so I wasn't too disappointed in what I'd managed to do considering I hadn't been swimming for over a week. However, I really need to get a program together now that the New Year is upon us; I've probably got enough base fitness to start pushing things out a bit.

I had a quick chat with one of the triathletes and he mentioned that the other chap was one of the best in the Cambridge Club and that swimming was his worst discipline. If that's his worst, then I hate to think what his best is, he was seriously rapid...

Gone to Scotland for Christmas, back in a few days...

Karen and I have been to the cinema quite a lot recently, first there was Finding Nemo and then Love Actually. However, all the films that we've seen recently have been eclipsed by The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We missed the first two films at the cinema due to unemployment and stuff, but the local Warner Brothers cinema decided to show the first two movies in the run up to the final instalment.

So nearly two weeks ago, Karen and I set off to see The Fellowship of the Ring: Special Edition at the local cinema. Karen was a bit apprehensive about going, I couldn't wait; The Lord of the Rings is my favourite book, I couldn't wait to see how Peter Jackson brought it on life on the big screen.

I left the cinema in two minds, I couldn't figure out if what I had just seen was the beginning of something great or just another run of the mill adaptation. I though some of the effects were on the ropey side, especially after hearing such good things about the effects throughout the series.

I knew I was going to book tickets to see The Two Towers, so I decided to reserve judgement until after watching the second instalment. It took Karen a couple of days to succumb to LotR fever and all I've heard since is Legolas this and Legolas that. The computer at home has even had the Hubble Heritage wallpaper replaced with Legolas, I think she's getting obsessed!

A week past Sunday we turned up at the cinema to see the second instalment, The Two Towers: Special Edition. I think I sat through the majority of the movie with my jaw on the floor, the sheer scope and ambition of the movie was dazzling and the effects were amazing.

The battle sequence at Helm's Deep was phenomenal and I finally understood why friends have been raving about this movie. The effects were so much better than the first movie and Gollum was amazing to watch.

I booked tickets for The Return of the King the very next day; it was going to be a long week as we waited for Monday night to come round. I was like a small child when finally Monday evening arrived and off to the cinema we sped. I think quite a few people were excited as the queue to get into the cinema was out into the shopping mall over an hour before the film actually started (after the adverts etc).

So what was the final film like...? Absolutely jaw dropping. I don't want to spoil it if you haven't read the book or seen it yet, but he battle it bigger, more ferocious and a visual spectacle like you've never seen.

If Peter Jackson doesn't get the best director Oscar then it's a travesty. This trilogy is without doubt he finest ever made on celluloid. It's so good it thrashes the life out of the original Star Wars trilogy and leaves it looking like a mere school room spat.

When they release a special edition box set, I'll be first in the queue to purchase it.

Yes, it really is nearly half past four in the morning, so you might be asking why the hell I'm posting to my blog at such an ungodly hour. Well, it's due to the small matter of a big demo tomorrow morning and an even bigger one on Thursday. I hate nigh on impossible deadlines...

Off to Bergen for three days on works Christmas jolly. Back on Monday.