Adrian Phelan

Post 12

Rocking the cheese and wine| Brighter days| Film review| Christmas| Trussell Trust | Thanks

Welcome to this week’s blog. 

We’re late for a very important date – Rocking the bingo  

Apologies two people 😊 for being late this week. The rhythm of my seven days changed from a march to a waltz, so things are a bit out of time. The main distraction was a night of Christmas Musical Bingo with friends which was great fun. I got the first line and ended up in a sing off with someone from another table. I won, but that was mainly because I said I’d share out the prize, which was a case of Brixton Brewery Beer. It was very nice, and I don’t mind the cheeky plug because they laid on a great evening of live entertainment. The song was Last Christmas by Wham. I’ve never heard of it, but I improvised well.  

Then on Friday we went to a cheese and wine party. I’m not known for my love of either, but our hosts do an amazing job every year and they have lovely friends. Five hours passed by like one and I was in a fit enough state in the morning to run back up for the car. So it was a win win, as I couldn’t make this week’s Parkrun.  

Sticking with running, I found my son’s old head torch he was using for scouts, which has allowed me to go running the country spots in the dark. It’s a bit of a lifesaver because I’ve been tied to a desk for the last six weeks with runs going from routine to occasional. With a few days off coming up I’m hoping I get out a couple of times. One bit of feedback I’ll give you if you’re thinking about running is that some of the more enjoyable ones come when you think you don’t have the energy or will to do it. It really is worth getting out there, even if the conditions aren’t great.  

He said there’d be light 

We’re getting very close to the shortest day of the year which means we’ll soon be heading back in the right direction in terms of daylight thank goodness. Life has been a bit of a twilight zone these last six months so I’m hoping for a bit more light and shade in 2026. I can type 2026 but can’t say it out loud. Me and a load of my mates turn 50 during the year. I just know they’re coming for my prostate. I can sense it.  

Talking about fingers, there was a great joke in our panto at the weekend. What do you call a judge with no thumbs? ‘Justice fingers’. I think I might have ruined that one by pre-empting it, but I’ve been laughing at it all week. The panto in general was great. It was Cinderella and both sisters shared the dame role which really worked. We laughed all the way through it. I don’t think you’re ever too young or old for a good panto.  

The film bit 

I saw Eternity last Friday which was good. I didn’t research it before I went so took a chance which paid off. It’s about a woman who has both of her husbands waiting for her when she dies and then has to decide between them. It’s an ideal date movie, if you’re looking for something to do with your other half. I had to make do with getting cosy with my salted popcorn and Pepsi Max but we had a lovely time. It has an Irish director in David Freyne and an Irish Cinematographer in Ruairi O’Brien for those who are interested. I’m going to try and see Avatar over the next few days. Let me know if you’ve seen either and what you thought.  

Oh Carol  

We went to see carols this week and although I don’t buy into the words, I don’t deny myself the melodies, the musical arrangements and the community spirit. Christian songs have some of the best tunes. They did a particularly good Hark the Herald Angels Sing to finish off. A great crescendo. One thing I’ve learned from being at English weddings is you love singing along to hymns regardless of your beliefs or lifestyles. You’d swear butter wouldn’t melt sometimes but you’re not fooling me.  

Do Good Well – Trussell Trust 

If you saw the blog Facebook post last week, you’ll have seen a request to feature the Trussell Trust in this week’s post. To quote their website, “We exist so everyone can be free from hunger. We’re an anti-poverty charity and community of food banks. We work together to ensure no one in the UK needs a food bank to survive, while providing food and practical support to people left without enough money to live on. Check out their website and do consider donating to them this Christmas. You can choose an amount you can afford.  

 Thank you  

As ever, thank you for reading. I really do appreciate it. And do continue to keep me in mind if you think I could offer capacity to your company or organisation. Here is my CV.  

Adrian   

07974669338  

adrianphelan@hotmail.co.uk  

LinkedIn.com/adrianphelan 

Adrian Phelan

Post 11

Weight on me | The job bit | Secret Santa | Park running | Dorset Day | The 1% Club | Christmas jumpers | Thanks

Welcome to this week’s blog. 

A second on the lips…

Having spent most of 2025 losing weight, I’ve now put on quite a bit since I’ve been sitting down seven hours a day. It’s bad timing in terms of work and exercise because of the long evenings and inclement weather. The ever-present box of Family Circle biscuits in my eyeline isn’t helping either.  The fact that they’ve mainly gone soft isn’t putting me off. And I’m still going straight for the Jammy Dodgers and Bourbon Creams even though I can have them any time. God help me if someone brings in Pringles.  

If it’s not eating food, it’s talking about food, and we had the Gregg’s conversation this week. When Irish people are asked what they did in London at the weekend the first thing they’ll say is ‘went to Greggs’ before telling you about Tower Bridge or Buckingham Palace. It’s a long way to come for a sausage roll but many would say worth it.  I’m a fan of Gregg’s chicken and steak bakes myself [that’s two separate products not a mixture] which are both tasty and cheap as chips. And there’s a Gregg’s on every corner now. It’s an economical solution on a day out in Central London when there’s a few mouths to feed. I’m now thinking about their peperoni pizza slices, so I need to move on. 

Work away  

Work has been quite quiet this week, which is both nice and concerning as I’m hoping for an extension in January, so it keeps me going until I work substantially again. Former colleagues have learned this week if they are at risk of redundancy, so I am thinking of them as well. There’s many of us in the same boat and I sincerely hope we all find land soon. As ever, find me on LinkedIn and continue to keep me in mind.  

Chris Cringle  

I’m in the secret Santa at work. We filled in a questionnaire to help us choose our gifts, but my recipient gave very little away. My answers filled up three pages. I’ll have to default to the usual Bluetooth speaker (I’m rumbled if you read this) and perhaps some chocolate to make up the money. I almost always get beer as a gift. Even when I’ve gone on for weeks about being off the booze, they’ll get me beer. I’d be happy enough with beer this year mind so if you have me and you’re reading this, buy away.  

It’s our work Christmas lunch today as well. We’re leaving the office early which would usually be the first ingredient in a recipe for disaster, but I think most people are driving home. They’ll just have to watch my solo slow decline. Imagine this blog after five pints. You wouldn’t read it.  

Stoney miles 

How I didn’t fall over at last Saturday’s Parkrun I’ll never know. The course was treacherous. But I’ve now done 30, all in 2025. I’m proud of that milestone, in the same week I got to ten of these blogs. I’m regularly guilty of not persevering with things I start; even those that bring me pleasure, so it’s great that both of these are still ongoing.  I’ll need to seek out concrete Parkrun courses for the rest of the winter. Falling over [which I did spectacularly a few months ago] will be more amusing if I do that as well.     

I do like to be beside the seaside  

We made it to Dorset for the father-in-law’s 80^th and it was a lovely afternoon. Not in the sense that I brought my Speedos for a dip but there were relatives my wife hadn’t seen for years and others who got to meet cousins for the first time. The venue was The Cliff House which was in an idyllic location (if it were the summer and not blowing a gale). They’d erected a massive temporary alpine lodge for Christmas and it was brilliant. There was a festive party in full swing when we were leaving and it looked like everyone was having a great time. You could see the Isle of Wight from the front of the venue where we’ve holidayed three times. It was a bit surreal that in a couple of hours we’d be back in the bosom of our Hertfordshire home. It really is a small world.  

Let’s see what’s in the prize pot 

We’ve been following the 1% Club rollover programmes this week and I think they’ve been great fun. It totally baffles me when people get through questions of complex maths, English and logic and then go out because they don’t spot that the first letters in a sequence of words spell out ‘DOG’.  You can totally cheat at the 1% Club when you’re at home as well. I’ve used my pass about 8 times  already.  

Do Good Well – Save the Christmas Jumper 

As it was Christmas Jumper Day this week, let’s give a signpost to Save The Children. And a cheeky extra plug to a charity I support, Children With Cancer. These charities tackle heart-breaking situations for children so please support how you can, including raising awareness like I’ve done here.  

If there is a charity you would like featured in a future post, let me know.  

Thanks again 

Thanks for getting this far. Carry on enjoying the run up to Christmas and I’ll be back with you again next Friday.  

Adrian  

07974669338 

adrianphelan@hotmail.co.uk 

LinkedIn.com/adrianphelan