Start of summer?

Summer in the UK - mostly rain and drizzle and you will be lucky to get above 20 if not in London. But I have been well and truly 'told' by the weather: you are totally wrong. Today = sun, lovely breezes wafting through green leafy foliage and a cold glass of cider. 24 degrees C - and while that may not feel particularly hot elsewhere for some strange reason in the UK I'd say it equates to about 28ish in hotter climes.

Today I visited Jodrell Bank ahead of my punishing schedule to get back to running and get my arse into shape ahead of my (can't believe it) 37th birthday. J has been pushing me to go to Jodrell for ages. For those not in the know it's a radio telescope and my thoughts were originally 'ho hum major boredom ahead'. However it was actually pretty good. We had this goofy astrology dude tells us all about the telescope and then answer questions from his attentive audience. Loved the moment when a little girl asked 'Do you think God exists?'. Pause. Everyone stares. What will the astrologer say?? Will he kill the little girl's faith? Is he a closet Christian? No he was actually a very sensitive guy who said that while he didn't believe in God he didn't say anyone else shouldn't and the work they were doing there was not about proving of disproving God merely about better understanding the world we live in. Nice.

Of course all went a little pear-shaped if you added that to his explanation on how the universe was created but no one connected the dots and the little girl left faith intact and smiling. Good day had by all.

Rather than doing the colouring in of astrological shapes we decided a lunch on the cafe terrace in the sun was a better option although I admit to fears of usual overpriced underflavoured and basically rip off food was to be had.

But no! Que Surprise!! Or however you say that... Amazing amazing grub. I had a salad (part of the new diet) and it was incredible. J had a burger (bastard) and I nabbed a taste and wished I had gone the burger. Lamb burger but with incredible flavour. Very Med.

So good start to day.

Then cider on the terrace outside Lime Bar in Salford Quays. Now everyone outside Salford Quays has nasty things to say about it. Yes Media City now exists but it will never be Canary Wharf. Well Canary Wharf was crap for a long time and Salford Quays is actually starting off better and on a day like today with a cider in hand and looking over at the Lowry Theatre, I have to say to the doubters: get a life. London is not all that. You may even enjoy the Beeb being being in the bright hub of Manchester.

Lets hope tomorrow is just as good as tomorrow is my first day (gulp) of trying to get much healthier and aim to run that 1/5 marathon end of the year.

I'll tell you the countdown tomorrow. It fills me with the fear!