I get up early—frequently so. Even on holiday, I take my bands and my ab wheel with me to do my push-ups, skipping, and burpees.
Morning Workouts.
My take on it: there are no distractions. The first few minutes you can dawdle, but then the process takes over and helps me get through.
I set a timer on my phone.
I write down several groups of numbers and exercise names in my notes app and mark each exercise off.
I make a habit of breathing through to complete my sets. It feels like i am getting in touch with myself. I do sprints and really push myself. Sometimes, I put affirmations on.
When I am done, I am doused in sweat. Apparently for every hour you train, you buy yourself three hours of additional life (depending on which report you read, some indicate it could be seven). Whatever the case, all I know is when I crawl back into bed with my lady, I feel so incredibly ecstatic—both from the unwinding after exertion and the chemicals the body produces after exercise and the proximity of being with my soul partner. I feel like I’m hovering above the bed in another world.
Nothing ever came close to this high. I’m as addicted at 58 as I was as a 23-year-old. What do I believe? Well, I believe that as a man who has trained for 35 years, completed 18 half marathons, and finished three marathons, when I hit those 21 steps to heaven in my final moments, I will have gained all the delight afforded by the simple, worthwhile pursuit of exercise. Our bodies are a gift from the universe, and what we decide to do with them is our gift back. Choose wisely—you only get one life, but if you live it right, that’s all you need.
Pic: Milking this shot. When I did it under the bridge weeks earlier I was a uncoordinated mess.
What consistent training taught me What can you look forward to when you train regularly? I speak as someone who, on 26 July 2026, put on a weighted vest and started believing that my body was a gift from the universe—and that training was my gift back. It wasn’t for the faint-hearted. Not everyone would have run alongside me through what I was about to do. Many would have found reasons not to continue. For 56 days, I trained every day. On two of those days, I covered 13 miles wearing a 10 lb weighted vest. I sprinted headfirst into pelting rain, wrestled with an ankle injury and tackled Hill Cliffe—a hill higher than a 26-storey skyscraper. Admittedly, my pace on that climb was slower: an ambling jog at best. I also tried unfamiliar equipment at a local gym. Even on holiday, my partner and I trained on 13 of our 14 days away, despite her dealing with some frustrating ailments of her own. What did it teach me? It taught me that discipline was more dependable than motivation. It brought me back into contact with myself and quietened the outside chatter—the voices telling me that my testosterone levels must be declining and that medical intervention was the obvious answer. I became so focused on doing rather than talking that I sometimes overlooked my injuries while trying to work around them. Eventually, when my partner suggested taking a day off on holiday, I realised that rest was something I had overlooked, too. Now, when I take my foot off the gas, I still know exactly where I am. I feel connected to myself, and I know that easing off doesn’t mean giving up. What else changed? I realised that the consistency I had built through exercise could carry over into another part of my life: my diet. For a long time, I had neglected what I ate. Training gave me a sense of resolve that I could apply beyond running, beyond the gym and beyond the weighted vest. The lesson was simple: if I could build consistency in one area, I could bring that same commitment to another. The journey, in brief • The beginning of 2026 brought a testing set of circumstances through no fault of our own. • On 26 July, I put on a weighted vest and started running. • I built a highly consistent routine. • I discovered the value of discipline—and recognised that rest needed a place in that routine. • I began applying that same consistency to my diet.
The Silence of the Lambs at The Lowry had plenty going for it: impressive scenery, two very good lead performances and lots of promise. But while there was much to appreciate, something was missing for us, and the show didn’t quite deliver the gripping experience we’d hoped for.
The story
Based on Thomas Harris’s novel, The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks the help of imprisoned psychiatrist and murderer Hannibal Lecter to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill. As the investigation unfolds, Lecter draws Clarice into a psychological game of his own, with time running out to save the killer’s next victim.
Strong leads and impressive scenery John Partridge as Hannibal Lecter and Mollie Gallagher as Clarice Starling were both very good. Their performances were a real highlight, bringing a strong presence to the stage and giving us plenty to enjoy.
Partridge was a pleasant surprise and put his own twist on the role while I felt that Gallagher was more playing Jodie Foster playing Clarice rather than putting her own character to the role Oliver Farnworth also features as FBI agent Jack Crawford, with Sam Jackson playing Buffalo Bill. The scenery was another standout.
It gave the production a striking backdrop, and we really appreciated the work that had gone into bringing this story to the stage.
Something was missing Our biggest reservation was Buffalo Bill. For us, the character wasn’t quite engaging or menacing enough, and we never felt fully convinced by him. We wanted a stronger sense of unease, but something in the portrayal didn’t quite connect.
The show also felt a little bitty at times. Individual moments showed promise, but they didn’t always flow together in a way that kept us fully absorbed. We wanted the tension to build and draw us in, but it never quite reached that point for us.
Our verdict
There was plenty to admire in The Silence of the Lambs, particularly the scenery and the two lead performances. However, the slightly disjointed feel and lack of menace from Buffalo Bill meant it fell short of being truly gripping. A promising production with some strong elements, but ultimately one that left us wanting a little more.
I’ve walked on this great revolving globe for several decades, always with a deep attraction to physical activity. As a child, I played football religiously, and at 23—35 years ago—I walked into a gym for the first time.
For years, I followed the traditional philosophy of regular small meals, but there was a recurring problem: no matter how hard I trained, it didn’t reflect in looking physically healthy, and in my mind’s eye, I was far from lean. As the years added up, the facts became simple. I learned long ago that being straight with yourself is vital to accomplishing what you want—or, to put it simply: KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid).
How are you ever going to get lean if you consume more calories than you burn?
For a long time, I increased my exercise all the while refusing to change the calorie intake that was roadblocking my progress. I kept turning up the exercise dial while keeping the exact nutritional roadblocks firmly in place.
I am now on my 7 th day of OMAD. Watch this space for how it pans out.
The Potato Heist (Weighted Vest Run): Who knew you could carry what felt like 4 bags of 2.5 kg potatoes (actually a 10 lb weighted vest) from the supermarket, run 8.5 miles with it, and follow it up the very next day with another 7.5 miles?
The Consistency Streak: I have now completed 56 consecutive days of workouts. Having started running with the 10 lb weighted vest back on July 26 (8.5 weeks ago), I am now approaching 82 days of total consistent training.
Cross-Training: Sunday involved a spin session, and today pushed through 1 hour on the stairmaster.
The OMAD Journey
The Fasting Milestone: Transitioning from a background of 4 meals a day to migrating through 4 meals in 4 days and a 24-hour fast, I’ve fully embraced the OMAD (One Meal A Day) diet. On Thursday, I was so hesitant I didn’t even write it down—and tomorrow I approach my 6th day, marking another major personal best.
Sacred Meals: Meal times are now genuinely looked forward to and treated as sacred.
The “Mental High”: On two occasions, breaking my fast with cranberry cheese, full-cream milk, nuts, and raisins has provided nothing short of a mental high. The downside? It induces sleep almost as quickly as an anesthetic injection in an operating theatre.
What I Learned From OMAD
Mental Clarity: Brain fog has completely vanished. I’ve been stringent and adapted to it, though the first couple of days were definitely the hardest. Now, I simply look forward to my single morning drink of mushroom coffee, ghee, and coconut oil.
Body Cues: Out of the 5 days so far, today was the first time I experienced mild stomach rumbles, purely due to waking up early at 5:00 AM.
Normalization: I’ve looked into the reasons behind the physiological responses, and should you be on OMAD yourself, these experiences are entirely normal.
What Tipped the Scale
Without a doubt, a video I watched played a massive part in my decision. It featured a creator we follow who underwent surgery for excess skin removal after successfully losing weight.
As someone who endured repeated surgeries on a leg injury when I was younger, my immediate reaction wasn’t just a collective sense of achievement—it was an empathetic remembrance of the physical pain. But I could also see that after falling from over 30 stone, many people face a long road of ongoing challenges. Years down the line, others may face frustration over rapid weight loss, the inability to afford corrective surgery, or continued physical discomfort.
From that video, two realizations hit me:
The Food Industry: The food industry has a lot to answer for. I recently downloaded the Yuka app (it’s free—give it a try), and it highlights foods that are carcinogenic. Seeing the low scores on everyday foods I’ve been buying under the assumption that they were “all right” is frankly surreal. (If you’re on your own journey, comment “Change” for a list of 5 things that I consider great.)
Caloric Reality: I realized that training is fundamentally illogical without aligning caloric intake with energy expenditure. If I wanted to look healthier, it didn’t require inventing some brand-new effort I hadn’t used in 35 years; it simply required a far more stringent, disciplined approach to consumption.
The Exercise-As-A-Chore Paradigm: For the vast majority of the population, movement is not viewed as a joyful, autonomous habit or a lifestyle baseline. It is perceived as an intimidating, exhausting chore reserved for a tiny sub-culture of gym enthusiasts.
The Excess Weight Baseline: Public health tracking—such as data from the Health Survey for England—shows that roughly 66% of adults are living with excess weight, with around 30% clinically classified as obese. What looks striking or concentrated on a sunbed-lined pool deck is actually the standard baseline of the modern adult demographic.
Video: Crouched down alone under a beautiful thatched outbuilding in Mexico I saw the sky turn from dark to light and two lads with an obvious interest in weights walked by one remarked “Well done mate!” this is what I replied.
“I can walk by the side of a pool and spot one person after the other on the sunbeds who are obiously struggling with weight issues, ranging from being mildly obese to totally stuggiling to move comfortably.
And in that hotel complex I can go to a well orchestrated fully equipped gym and see two to three people. This is in a hotel with 955 rooms.
Zooming out from the microcosm of a resort pool deck to the macrocosm of the sedentary general population reveals a deeply entrenched societal blueprint. That hotel scene is effectively a magnified mirror of everyday modern life
The Gym Attendance: Observing 2 to 3 people working out in a fully equipped facility out of nearly 2,000 guests represents a gym utilization rate of roughly 0.15% to 0.2% at any given moment.
Gym Intimidation: Hotel gyms are notoriously underutilized by the average traveler. Many guests feel self-conscious working out in unfamiliar hotel fitness spaces, especially if they are already feeling insecure about their physical fitness or weight.
You know what to do, you know exactly what to do, go and do it.
Do it with a run, a band, a mat. Do it alone if need be.
A well man (or woman) wants for a thousand things whilst a I’ll man ) or woman wants for only one.
After returning from holiday with jet lag, High Society at The Lowry was exactly the kind of show I needed: light, frothy, glamorous and wonderfully easy to lose yourself in for an evening.
This is pure Golden Age musical escapism, with a simple but charming plot, fabulous costumes, beautiful scenery and a brilliant cast. It has the feel of an old Hollywood film brought to life on stage, complete with romance, humour, misunderstandings and plenty of sparkle.
What is High Society about?
Set in the wealthy world of Oyster Bay, High Society follows Tracy Lord as she prepares to marry the dependable, if slightly dull, George Kittredge. However, her wedding plans are soon thrown into chaos when her charismatic ex-husband Dexter Haven returns to the family home.
Things become even more complicated when journalist Mike Connor and photographer Liz Imbrie arrive to cover the society wedding for a magazine. They are hoping to uncover a family secret, but Mike soon finds himself drawn into the glamorous, chaotic world of the Lords — and perhaps a little too interested in the bride-to-be. It is not an overly complicated story, but that is part of the appeal. There is romance, family drama, sharp humour, jealousy and plenty of confusion as Tracy begins to question whether she is marrying the right man — or whether she should be getting married at all.
The cast
Helen George is wonderful as Tracy Lord. She is elegant, poised and perfectly suited to the glamour of the role, but she also brings warmth and vulnerability to Tracy as the wedding weekend begins to unravel. Julian Ovenden is effortlessly charming as Dexter Haven, Tracy’s ex-husband. He has a real old-school leading-man quality and a fantastic voice, making it easy to see why Dexter remains such an important figure in Tracy’s life. Freddie Fox brings lots of energy and humour as journalist Mike Connor. His character is initially unimpressed by the privileged world of the Lords, but his growing connection with Tracy adds another layer to the story. Carly Mercedes Dyer is also great as Liz, Mike’s quick-witted photographer colleague, while Nigel Lindsay gets plenty of laughs as the larger-than-life Uncle Willie. The supporting cast all help create a lively, polished production that feels full of personality from beginning to end. Beautiful scenery and fabulous costumes Visually, the production is gorgeous. The scenery creates the perfect setting for the Lord family’s glamorous waterside home, while the costumes are absolutely fabulous. There are elegant gowns, smart tailoring and all the glamour you would expect from a story set among high society. Everything feels polished and stylish without being overdone. It is exactly the kind of show where you can sit back and enjoy the spectacle as much as the story itself.
Familiar songs and old Hollywood charm
One of the nicest surprises was how many of the songs I recognised. I loved classic Hollywood films as a child, including The Philadelphia Story, the film on which High Society is based, so there was something particularly nostalgic about seeing this story on stage. The Cole Porter score is full of familiar, sophisticated songs and gives the whole production that unmistakable old-Hollywood charm. It is romantic, witty and glamorous, with plenty of toe-tapping moments along the way. Final thoughts High Society is not trying to be a deep or complicated musical, and that is exactly why it works so well. It is light, funny, romantic and easy to enjoy — the perfect choice if you want a feel-good evening at the theatre. With a strong cast, beautiful scenery, fabulous costumes and a soundtrack full of classic songs, this production at The Lowry is a lovely bit of escapism. It was the ideal antidote to post-holiday jet lag and a reminder of just how enjoyable a simple, stylish old Hollywood story can be. Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Okay, let’s be real for a second. We’ve all had those evenings where you’re staring into the fridge, exhausted, and the idea of cooking feels like a marathon you definitely didn’t sign up for. You want something delicious, maybe a little fancy, but you also want to be on the sofa in half an hour.
Well, friends, I have found the holy grail of weeknight dinners.
Meet the Burrata and Chicken Spaghetti. It’s creamy, it’s vibrant, it has that luxurious “I totally spent all day in the kitchen” vibe, but it honestly takes about 20 minutes to pull together. It’s my go-to for date nights, dinner parties, or just when I need a little bit of comfort on a Tuesday.
Why You’ll Fall in Love With It
The magic here is in the contrast. You’ve got the smoky, spiced chicken, the jammy, concentrated flavour of roasted tomatoes, and then—the star of the show—that cold, creamy burrata that melts into the hot pasta as you toss it. It’s a total game-changer. Plus, the pine nuts add just the right amount of crunch.
What You’ll Need
The Tomatoes: 300g of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved.
The Chicken: 650g of skinless, boneless chicken breast (tip: slice these thin so they cook fast and stay tender!).
The Spices: 2 tsp of smoked paprika and 1 tsp of Italian seasoning.
The Aromatics: A solid amount of garlic (4 cloves for the pasta, 3 for the tomatoes—measure with your heart, honestly).
The Base: 225g of spaghetti.
The Indulgence: 2 balls of fresh burrata cheese (don’t skip this!).
The Finishing Touches: 50g of butter, a handful of fresh basil, and about 40g of pine nuts (toasted!).
Let’s Get Cooking!
1 Roast those beauties: Get your oven to 200°C. Toss your tomatoes with a splash of olive oil, the minced garlic, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Spread them out on a tray and roast for 20 minutes. They’ll get all sweet and blistered—it’s amazing.
2 Sizzle the chicken: While the tomatoes are doing their thing, season your chicken with that smoky paprika and Italian seasoning. Get a skillet nice and hot with some olive oil and fry them for about 5 minutes a side. Once they’re cooked through and have a nice golden crust, take them out and slice them up.
3 The buttery finish: You know that pan you just cooked the chicken in? Do not wash it! Toss in your butter and the rest of the garlic. Let it melt and get fragrant—this is where all that flavour lives.
4 Toss it all together: Boil your pasta until it’s perfectly al dente. Drain it, then throw it into the pan with the buttery garlic goodness.
5 The Grand Finale: Plate up the pasta, tuck in your chicken and those gorgeous roasted tomatoes, and plonk a whole ball of burrata right on top. Sprinkle over your fresh basil and toasted pine nuts. Break into that burrata, give it a good mix, and prepare to be obsessed
Seriously, you have to try this. If you make it, tag me in your photos—I want to see your creations!
The Marriage Act by John Marrs — ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 I always get excited to pick up a new John Marrs book because I love how original his ideas are, and The Marriage Act definitely had a really interesting premise.
It is set in a near-future world where married couples can sign up to a government-backed scheme designed to make marriages happier, stronger and more successful. In return, they receive lots of benefits — but the rules are strict, the monitoring is intense, and leaving the programme is not as simple as it sounds. As with all of John Marrs’ books, the concept is clever and slightly unsettling. I loved the idea behind it and could really imagine parts of it becoming possible in the future, which made it feel quite thought-provoking. The book follows several different characters and relationships, showing how the scheme affects people in very different ways. The problem being I didn’t find any of the characters engaging enough to want to be rooting for- and this is where it fell down for
me However, although I enjoyed it overall, this one did not quite hit the mark for me in the same way that The One did. There were definitely plenty of twists, drama and moments that kept me reading, but I found some parts a little harder to connect with and it did not have me as completely hooked as I was hoping. John Marrs is still one of my favourite authors for a clever, fast-paced and slightly dark thriller, and I will absolutely keep reading everything he brings out. I loved the Passengers and also The One and this is in opinion not as good as either The Marriage Act is a good read with a brilliant concept, but for me it was a solid 3-star book rather than one of his stand-out favourites.
What are your best healthy eating habits? working out on empty and eating at 1.00
You can orchestrate food to sit in a 14-16 hour fast window. And establish a habit that empowers your energy and pulls back the tiredness naturally.
We learned we can be empowered on empty and still kick ass in the gym we attended each morning. It helps if you have a beautiful protein shake and avocado on sour dough, complete with an açai bowl of yogurt with neatly laid out chia seeds, peanut butter and raspberries complete with chopped bananas.
