I answered the phone on Saturday and it was the ICM polling people. Seeing as I had time I answered the questions. It was illuminating. I've never been particularly trusting of polls but after this I'll be even less so.

ICM: Would you say that this country is generally going in the right direction or the wrong direction?

My Head: Well, that's an interesting question. I've got some opinions about some policies I think are misguided and some I think are pretty good. I'd like to discuss some more what you consider a direction and let's talk about the state of the nation...

My Mouth: uhhh... pretty much the right direction I guess.

ICM: Society is broken, we need to tackle immigration, anti-social behavior (typically David Cameron comment)... would that make you more or less likely to vote for David Cameron.

My Head: Oh. That's interesting. I wasn't aware we had a presidential position that we could vote for. I thought we voted for our local MPs. I wouldn't vote for David Cameron unless he had a complete personality and policy transplant... and even then I probably wouldn't vote for the Eton goon.

My Mouth: No more Likely.

ICM: On a scale of one to one hundred how do you rate Gordon Brown

My Head: Hmmm, I think he's a very serious considered politician but in the end he's still a politician and his raison d'etre seems to be to get re-elected. So much of the Labour position seems to be spin and re-election, I get very tired of all this on-message and new media savvy approach...

My Mouth: 60

ICM: Ming Campbell

My Head: Sigh... I get so disappointed with the Lib Dems. So much of what they say seems sensible but they have no chance of getting in so what value is their blather? I do, however agree with them on electoral reform and the tax policies...

My Mouth: 45

ICM: David Cameron

My Head: He makes me want to punch the television every time he's on it, he seems capable of saying or pretending to believe anything as long as it will get him elected. I trust him about as much as I trust a two year old to juggle.

My Mouth: 5


At least my head and my mouth agreed on the last one.  ¶ 1:58 PM 0 comments

 
Three weeks ago a certain surgeon called Mr Bollen, he of the gnarl stripe, did his business with my snapped anterior cruciate ligament. This was my first overnight in a hospital and my first general anaesthetic. They're fun aren't they?

Fortunately it all went well and I haven't had any pain from the op, the physios say it's one of the neatest scars they've seen.

I've been to the ACL club at Calderdale Royal Infirmary three times now and I'm up to the intermediate recovery plan, which largely involves knee bends (although not deep ones) and proprioception work. My current regime is:

• 10 minutes on the exercise bike
• 20 shallow knee bends (on the bad leg)
• 20 wall squats
• 20 flicks
• wobbles (lie on your front, wobble your foot in a small range of motion at each of three positions for 45 secondes... surprisingly hard)
• 20 unsupported step ups
• 5 minutes walking backwards on an inclined treadmill
• 20 calf raises
• proprioception exercises, touch toes to targets on steps.
• hamstring stretches x 3
• Ice

Add to that a mile a day (as long as the knee doesn't swell or become painful) and I should be back to bouldering by Christmas... yay!  ¶ 3:46 PM 1 comments