Doesn’t time fly when you are having fun. Now, fun can be described in many different ways depending on your own personal predilections, outlook on life and general demeanour.

Fun to some can be hardship to others.

What fun have I been having since my last long winded and waffling blog I hear you all pleading? Well then, as you have asked (at least I hope you all did!), get yourself a brew, put your feet up, relax and read on.

As you know August was a month of golf, that was fun! I won’t go into the gory details (as I have been known to do, as some of my longstanding acquaintances know only too well, particularly the Darling Wife, who has spent many an evening glassy eyed as I have regaled her with a hole by hole, shot by shot account of my many successful rounds) suffice to say that the handicap remains intact at a suitably low level.

What else fun and exciting has been completed? Well if your idea of fun is five and a half hours plumbed into a toxic chemical plant at the Rosemere Centre then I’ve had it by the bucket load. They did say the second intake would be shorter than the first, but I was expecting more than half an hour reduction. But if that is what it takes then so be it. To be honest, my treatment and subsequent side effects are a lot easier to handle than some of the other patients that frequent the centre. I am obviously one of the “luckier” ones. Anyway, batch two complete and batch three is booked for 3rd September.

So as the golf month of August gently passes into history, Cycling September is eager to burst forth. In preparation of what is planned to be an intense month of training and also to overcome my lethargy demon, I slapped a bit of WD40 onto my neglected cogs and did a swift 14 miles that included the famed Anglezarke “rise”.

This bike riding lark is like riding a bike, you never forget how!!

The other Psyclopaths? Well some are maintaining the rigorous training regimes in-between bouts of “over indulgence” (Happy recent Birthday to Psyclo Lozza – I’m sure the hangover won’t last, but the additional year could have serious effects on her stamina!). We have also welcomed back Psyclo Rust Bucket Rudd, unfortunately he’s got the same bike despite the high standards set by yours truly!!

Rumours abound of a new influx of Psyclos but at the time of writing they remain rumours and empty words. As we all know actions speak louder than words, so come on, stop dithering and commit! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!

What of that other minor team I introduced in my last blog? I’m sure you would all like to know more about them and so would I dear reader, so would I! The silence from the LLWR camp has been deafening!!

A word on the sponsorship, with recent cash donations that have yet to be put on my JustGiving page, the total to date has topped the £1,500 target. What can I say that I’ve not said already, Thank you, Merci, Danke, Tack, Gracias, Grazie, Dankjewel and finally, Arigato (languages on a postcard please).

For those of you still inclined – https://www.justgiving.com/Nig-Lowe/

My wise mate has gone on holiday so I’ll leave you with this little sexist cycling funny,

A tandem rider is stopped by a police car.
“What’ve I done, officer?” asks the rider.
“Perhaps you didn’t notice sir, but your wife fell off your bike half a mile back . . .”
“Oh, thank God for that,” says the rider – “I thought I’d gone deaf!”

Let your fun commence………

Hello again my velominati chums!

It’s now two weeks since the first intake of toxic chemicals and I can report that so far everything is going great. From the highs of the steroid week to some tiredness and lethargy, I can honestly say that this chemo lark is a piece of cake. That said, I’ve only had one batch and who knows what is in store after the future doses.

The feeling of tiredness and general lethargy meant that yours truly has neglected the strict training regime that was initiated by Psyclo Lozza. I swapped the razor like saddle for the loving arms of my leather clad sofa, but who needs exercise when you are on the Chemo Diet (thanks Dave!) – the weight is dropping off!! A 34″ waist is on the horizon and that has not been seen since I passed it first time around 1979!!! Still waiting for the hairless legs to appear though!!

What of the legends that are the Psyclopaths I hear you all cry? Progress on the training front is good judging by various reports and “mapmyride” updates. The Budding Musician Psyclo continues to inspire us with his wet weather training. Not sure why he is training in wet weather, it never rains in Cumbria!!!!! Newbie Psyclo Tony has made significant progress, he now owns a bike!!

We have also welcomed back Psyclo Su, from our sister company, Hold Engineering. I’d like to think she will accompany me across the finish line just like last year.

So the Psyclos currently number nine magnificent athletes – plus one steroid fuelled lay-about!

News has filtered down from the LLWR site in Drigg that a rival team has been formed made up of NSG and LLWR site personnel. They obviously felt that their current fitness levels meant that they wouldn’t be able to meet the strict criteria for the membership of the elite Psyclos. So as opposed to rising to the challenge they have taken the soft option and formed their own team so please look out for Team PCM and give them some encouragement and support. They will definitely need it!!

More training is planned for early September only because there is golf to be played during the rest of August. “Priorities” I hear you all cry – exactly!!

Anyway, enough waffle for now, I must prepare for the next visit to the toxic chemical plant (Thursday 13th) and to stock up on more steroids!

My wise old mate has been waxing lyrical again – “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the things which you think you cannot do”

He also threw in a funny, “What do you get when you cross an insomniac, an agnostic and a dyslexic? Someone who stays up all night wondering if there is a Dog!”

Till next time……………