@RangerRickL - The pictures taken are from Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire and the other from Newstead Abbey in Ravenshead.

Newstead Abbey is lovely, beautiful gardens which I will visit again in the summer when all the flowers are in full bloom. I didn't get the opportunity to go inside the abbey either, so my next visit there I will explore the inside too.

The tomb of Boatswain was sad. Boatswain was Lord Byron's beloved dog who died of rabies in 1808.
Lord Byron requested to be buried with him in his Will, but it was denied by the Deans of the abbey and he was buried in the family vault instead.

In Lord Byron's time it was custom to give a lock of hair to the person you loved and it is said that he gave locks of hair to his mistresses which are believed to be locks of fur from Boatswain.




His epitaph reads:-

Near this Spot
are deposited the Remains of one
who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.

This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
if inscribed over human Ashes,
is but a just tribute to the Memory of
Boatswain, a Dog
who was born in Newfoundland May 1803
and died at Newstead Nov. 18th, 1808


When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth,
Unknown to Glory, but upheld by Birth,
The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who rests below.
When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonoured falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth –
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit!
By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye, who behold perchance this simple urn,
Pass on – it honours none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one -- and here he lies.

I was crying after I read it, especially those last two lines, lol.

October 31
Exercised?: Yes. Walked 4 Km in 32 mins (hills).
Calories?: Yes.
Tracked?: Yes.

The 4km walk again. Felt slightly easier today than yesterday.

Had a lunch meeting to go to. Met many that had not seen me in over a year. A number of complimentary comments on how much weight I had lost.

Catered with sandwiches and various treats on offer. Was able to eat as normally as everyone else. 6 ham, cheese and tomato sandwich quarters was enough (note: some protein with carbohydrate ) and a couple small pieces of cake. Nice, but not very filling. I chose the water over soda.

Nice to get back to full strength training. Will take a week or so to feel back to full strength.

Happy Halloween to all my northern hemisphere counterparts.

Congratulations to all that made it to the end of the month and still posting (whether Winners Circle or not).


@trixsey1. Wonderful photos. UK has some great places to visit.

@trixsey1 love your post today and always enjoy your photos. Your walks/runs are in amazing settings.

I live in the desert so I enjoy seeing lush, green scenery. Also, I miss England so your pictures make me feel happy.

Thanks everyone, glad you enjoy the photos. There is some beautiful scenery to be found just around my area of the UK, but I live in a small town outside Nottingham and surrounded by countryside - some too far to get too by bike, but there's more than enough to be found within a 80 mile radius of my town.

I've drawn an 80 mile radius on a map and finding all the places within that radius that I can get to by bike - now we have national cycle routes here it makes some of the places more accessible too, so plenty of exploring left to do!

I want to ride the Archaeological Way, it's one long trail starting from Pleasley (where I ride every other evening to feed the swans and ducks), all the way up to Creswell Crags.

11 miles of it has been resurfaced from the disused railway lines, Shirebrook up to Creswell, the rest is yet to be done, but the raw terrain is accessible from Pleasley end, until you reach the new road surface up in Shirebrook - which is around 10 miles from me.

Over 20 miles of trail, but I have to reach the trail first, so it'll be a good 50 mile round trip.

Not sure I'll get there until next Spring now though, but by then I'll be (hopefully) riding my new bike, lol.

Soooo - today, 31st Oct

Exercised?: Yes
Calories?: Yes.
Tracked?: Yes.

Had my run this morning on the treadmill (7kph, 3% incline)
Walked into town and back then a walk with the woofies (10 miles of walking). A bike ride planned for later this evening to my usual spot (8 miles).

Have a great evening everyone. If your out celebrating Halloween, enjoy and be safe.....xx

Yes x3 it snowed today time to pull out a warmer coat.

craigo3154 wrote: »

...
Goals for October:

1. Be in winners circle (track everything, keep under budget, 20+ mins exercise per day, no more than 3 pass days)
2. Stay between 65kg and 75kg (full maintenance maintenance trying not to go too low but allow it to bounce up a bit too. Feeling fine under 70kg, but not sure if it is healthy sustainable. Trying to keep 75kg as my upper limit but still just in normal BMI range for me.)
3. Stay honest (even if it puts me out of the circle for the month) and continue past failings (forgive mistakes and keep moving forward)
4. Encourage others where possible

...

Forgot to do a review of my months goals in my daily post.

1. Be in winners circle (track everything, keep under budget, 20+ mins exercise per day, no more than 3 pass days) (Success)
2. Stay between 65kg and 75kg (full maintenance maintenance trying not to go too low but allow it to bounce up a bit too. Feeling fine under 70kg, but not sure if it is healthy sustainable. Trying to keep 75kg as my upper limit but still just in normal BMI range for me.)
   (Success - Dropped as low as 65.1, but was 66.3 as of this morning.)
3. Stay honest (even if it puts me out of the circle for the month) and continue past failings (forgive mistakes and keep moving forward) (Success - Couple of rough patches this month, but pulled through with UAC to help - Sometimes want to "colour" the truth, but in the end it does no one any favours.)
4. Encourage others where possible (For others to decide - I cannot think of when I have failed this, but ultimately it's an external assessment, not a self assessment.)

My goal is to be in the Winners Circle for November. I CAN DO THIS! So far today has been a GREAT day Happy Halloween everyone! It is a great night for trick or treating here, Bud & I actually had an early supper on the deck I'll be back with my positive results later tonight.
@RangerRick thanks for the PM and the kind words on here. I am glad to be back.

Great job everyone.
@trixsey1 sounds like you have some awesome places to cycle! I'm envious.
@cardio_enthusiast you are more dedicated to your bike than I am. 5 c is a bit too chilly for me. I have no excuse either. I own all warm clothes for skiing.

We saw our first snow of the season today. Just flurries. Our trick and treaters didn't seem to mind.
Three yesses for today. Over the weekend I made something new -- batch of butternut squash soup. I want to add some variety . Sometimes I get in a rut with the same old foods.

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yep, 30 minute H.A.B.IT class, followed by a 30 minute Stability Ball Sculpt class.
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yep
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yep

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes. Dog walk and walked home from work. Beautiful day in the valley

Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes, even with some cake and brownies

Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes

Roll on November!

Good evening everyone! Had a very good day today.

exercise yes, pool exercises 1 hour
calories yes, under
tracking yes, everything, even the little Aero bar I had while giving out treats..lol

Tomorrow starts a new month! Goodnight!

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Y (walked doggie briskly for 45min)
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Y (1200-1500, ate 1,301 calories)
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Y (drank 10-8oz glasses of water)