One in ten

It's an accepted fact that 9 out 10 bodybuilders will never compete simply because they can't do the diet, cardio and other show prep. So anyone that can make it to a British final in their first year deserves a lot of respect.  Danny has acheived that, and when you consider that he is only 20 and I did my first show and first British final at 50 you again have to realise just what he has accomplished. Yes he has struggled to make it for this Sunday but as you can see from the photo he will make it, just. British finals are a huge step up in class, when I won my first regional title I used a song called "Stop And Stare" for my free posing, but when I got to the finals that's exactly what I did, stopped and stared!  Martin, Danny & I are all almost ready, and looking forward to our respective British finals this weekend.

No complaints

Yesterdays NABBA Mr. England was an excellent show, the quality of the competitors in all classes was astonishing and I was priveleged to be a part of it. I placed 4th and although I have today found out that some of the judges placed me 3rd I have no complaints. The winner was Dave Steele, who has won several Mr.Britain titles, in fact the top 3 had 9 British titles between them so I was pleased to push them as hard as I did.  As you can see from the picture, taken cold on Sunday morning, my condition was spot on and it will be even better for this weekends UKBFF Mr. Britain. Tomorrow will be my penultimate look at Danny so I'm hoping that I will have good things to report as his show is also this weekend.

Ready early!

Preparation for Nottingham has been going very well over the last few weeks, so much so that I am ready a week early and, as this is the case, I will now do an extra show and tomorrow try to win the NABBA Mr. England title at Brierly Hill in the West Midlands. It's incredible to think that exactly 2 months ago I was in a hospital bed after the return of my tummy problems, wondering whether or not I would ever compete again. When I came out of hospital I knew that I would need a whole new level of determination, combine that with the fact that this is my last year of competition and you can imagine just how much dedication I have had, let's hope it's reflected in tomorrows result! Danny is still touch and go for the NPA Britain, I'll get an up to date pic of him on here if I can so that you can decide if he's going to make it. Meanwhile, here's Caden on our shopping trip, the other one isn't me!

That's entertainment?

This close to a show I tend to be quite tired from dieting so that results in me relaxing in front of the TV quite a bit. "Spooks" is as good as ever and "Strike back project dawn" is excellent. "TOWIE" is hilarious but "New two and a half men" is absolute rubbish, they are using recycled actors & actresses who have previously played other characters, the same old scenes and story lines and even recycled jokes, "add to cart" has been used several times and isn't even funny. This was once the best thing on TV, now it needs to be shot and put out of it's misery. Tomorrow is shopping day with Natalie & the boys for Colby's birthday which will be great, Caden is more fun than ever lately, this is from our trip to Willen Lake the other day

La la la la life goes on

So the rugby world cup for England is over, and if I'm honest, all the support in the world wouldn't have got us past France yesterday. Time to re build for the next one now, that means pensioning off those that won't be about in 4 years and also getting a new coach.  I like Jonno but we need a Southern Hemisphere coach to fulfil our potential, just like Wales have. Paul Mcartney 69, has married a 51 year old, how ridiculous, he should have gone for someone much younger, for me there has to be a minimum age gap of 20 years. Finally, Caden came to stay on Friday and promptly disappeared, here's how I found him, in my bed, with my iphone, playing "Angry Birds"!

Making the most of it

Woke up to hear the sad news this morning that Steve Jobs had died.  Here is a man who had everything that he could possibly want and more money than he could ever spend, now he's just the richest guy in the cemetery. It won't happen to me I assure you, in just one month's time 6 days a week in the gym will turn into 3 days a week, thus giving me time to enjoy life at last. I'm making the most of the prep for these last shows and my legs are coming through so well that even Eddie Abbew, who taught me that "legs win shows" would be pleased (probably).  Danny is also back on track but will need to stay on a very strict diet right up until the show.  Martin is of course ready as usual, I'll see if I can get a pic of all three of us posing together on here sometime.

Why love a loser?

It's been a great weekend for sport, the highlight of course being Tottenham's win over Arsenal this afternoon. Even the most stubborn of Arsenal supporters would now admit that the balance of power has shifted in North London, it's about time too! Yesterdays Rugby result was also excellent, although it seems that every England win has to be soured by the media.  I don't mind the "has beens" like Dalaglio and Fitzpatrick having an opinion, I belive that they have earned the right to give their views publicly, but an idiot like Steve Rider, who has never even played the game should just shut up and go back to appearing in knitting patterns, or whatever he does for a full time job.  Sadly, as Clint Eastwood said, opinions are like assholes, everbody's got one. Apparently yesterday England were crap and Scotland were brilliant and heroic, so why did England win then?  Just for once can people please get behind the national team!