Sunday, September 28, 2008

Hurting But Persevering!

Getting back into shape is much harder than staying in shape. Most people are not aware of this fact, but believe me, it is true.

I am not exactly out- of shape, but at the same moment, not completely in- shape either. I am hurting each and every day trying to get into the best shape possible. The eating is going fairly well and the exercising, too. However, it is hard work and don't let anyone out there ever tell you otherwise. NO PAIN, NO GAIN........how true!


The weather here has turned into true autumn weather and it is very welcome as far as I am concerned. It is much more comfortable to sleep and I don't have to have that damn air-conditioning on anymore. I was feeling very machine orientated when that thing was on 24/7.


Still haven't drank this week and I won't. Watched the Everton vs Liverpool derby at Hollywoods and it was absolutely brilliant. We won 2-0 and it was great fun watching Liverpool absolutely dominate Everton in all areas of the match. Sang my brains out and shouted so much during the match. Always a good bunch of LFC supporters in the place to egg on the team.


Didn't do anything today. Karina and I were supposed to go to the zoo, but we ended up staying up late and watching a movie, "Flight of the Living Dead." It was quite funny, it is like blood and guts mixed with comedy and really lame lines.........had a good time watching it........I know, me watching movies, what's up with that, eh?


Went for a run about an hour ago. Killed me once again, but I am up to 30 mins outside now without stopping. Ran up to Seoul Station and then around by Yongsan High School, around the War Memorial and Samgakji and then back home.


Meeting Gareth tonight after he completes his training seminar. They have put a 12pm curfew on him......haha! It is the training for his new public school position. Everyone has to go through it, including all the extra-curricular activities......poor sod. Should get to see him for a couple of hours tonight, anyway. Should be fun. I will be drinking mineral water or juice again......lol.


Sam left today to start university in England. A good night for him to leave with LFC winning! He has given my old phone to his girlfriend and I have to get it back. I paid about 100 dollars for the thing, so I can re-sell it back to the shop for at least some money or give it to my girlfriend and she can use it as a pay-as-u-go phone. I changed it 'cos I got a contract phone here, which is much, much cheaper. I will meet up with Yaejin soon to get it off of her.


Another weekend is almost in the books and I must say, not drinking alcohol has not been hard at all. I am bound and determined to do the month and then after just drink moderately after that.


Looking forward to Tuesday, September 30th as it will be my first pay since I got back from my trip plus Mum and Dad's 47th wedding anniversary. 3 more to go until their Golden......should be awesome, and gonna have a party for that one, for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, September 26, 2008

22 Days Gone By Already!

I can't believe that 3 weeks have passed since I arrived back from England. As you can see from the number of blogs that I have posted.........well, haven't really, have I!


It has been quite easy to get into the grind again, just like I never left really. I was quite surprised with my kids at school that they didn't forget too much of what they were taught while I was gone. I thought for sure that I would come back and they would have forgotten almost everything.......shame on me for doubting my teaching ability.....lol.....when I teach them something, it sticks.......lol.



I have been going to the gym regularly and also eating much better, but still need to fine tune my eating regimen. I have some bad habits that I must get rid of.....I am not going to elaborate too much, just those of you that have the same, know exactly what I mean.



I also have decided to get off the booze for at least a month. I am going to look at it the same way that I looked at smoking........too much and a filthy habit....well, not that bad, but fairly close. That is my decision and those of you that don't have any faith in me.....watch this space!!!!!!!!


I have been seeing a girl for about a month now. Her name is Karina and she is from Uzbekistan. I met her about a year ago. We dated briefly and kind of fell out with each other due to somethings lost in translation. Anyway, we have taken it one step further now and are living together. We have been living together since I got back from England and she actually moved in the day before I went on holiday. I am not analyzing the situation too much, I am just enjoying being with a woman and having someone to talk to when I come home and blah blah blah......... Don't read too much into it.....just accept it, okay..........lol.



She is very pretty and very funny as well. She is a great cook as well. What is it that men say? The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach....or is that his wallet....... We do get along well, even if we don't always understand each other so well.....lol. Here is the biggest news; she is 25 and I am 44.....I know what you are all thinking.....well, some of you anyway........ Don't read too much into it, just accept it, okay......lol.





I am going to get myself in the best shape of my life in the next few months, both physically and mentally, being away from the booze. I want to be as healthy as I can and have decided to take on some morning work, also. That means being in class for about 7am each morning or a little after.....only a one hour class, though. I want to do it 5 days a week, so I can save as much money as possible to take to England when I get accepted into Teacher's College. I will be going there in May, if everything goes as planned.



I am going to do my degree in French and Spanish, hopefully. I am almost done the application and will send it off the beginning of October. I also am going to renew my passport. I made sure I had all the documents that I needed when I went to Liverpool. That will be done in the middle of next month, also.

I am going to Rob's tomorrow night to let him have some of my music off my hard-drive. He is going to cook some food up that he got at the Costco here in Korea, so I am looking forward to that. He is also not drinking for a while, as he had some problems with his stomach last month and the doctor gave him some antacid tablets and suggested that he didn't drink for the next little while. So, we will be partners in crime, not drinking.

I met Sam at the Seoul Pub tonight and Rob showed up a little later. I drank two cokes and Rob didn't drink anything. Called it an early night as Karina was cooking some great dish from Uzbekistan with green peppers, rice, potatoes, onions and some kind of broth. As I am typing this, it is cooking and I can't wait to eat it......it smells so good!!!!!!!! She really is a good cook and always looks after me in that department.....can't complain now, can I!!!!!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

A Nice 5 Day Holiday!

After my first full week of work, I found out that this weekend is the Korean version of Thanksgiving. It is called Chusok.......5 days holiday, thank you.

As I don't work on Fridays, I began my holiday tonight after work. We get an extra day off on the Tuesday due to the holiday falling on the weekend. Isn't that a nice break after coming back from my trip!


Not much else has been going on really other than the usual going to work and back at the gym religiously. Trying to get stronger and slimmer at the same time. The eating is the hardest part of all; old habits die hard.......haha.


Watched the England game last night online at 4am. They played great and did the whole nation proud. It was the first time that Croatia had been beaten at that stadium, to add to the achievement that England have done. 4-1 is a great score and puts us in a good spot at the start of the 2010 World Cup qualifying group that we are in.


I have posted some of the pics from my trip to England on Facebook for those that are in my friend's list. I will post a few here for those of you that are not. I wish everyone a good weekend and hope that Liverpool can beat Manchester in the league game on Saturday. Come on The Reds!!!!!!!!