Fireworks, fifteen weeks school holidays and fiestas!

It is finally here.......summer. Let the madness commence! The 15+ weeks of School holidays (yes 15 PLUS weeks)
The past few weeks here have been building up to the big summer break. Schools have been operating half days since the start of June and my English students have started to fall by the way(beach)side.

The big fiesta in Catalunya, that kicks of the months of sun,sea and sangria, is called Sant Juan. I would describe this like Guy Fawkes night but without the sparklers being held in a glove clad hand at an over stretched arms length. Firework code has not made it to Barcelona's shores. For the weeks leading up to the explosive event, wee kiddies (and oversized adult ones) can be seen tossing fireworks and bangers willy nilly, but 99.9% of the time safely. I of course cannot resits the chance to play with fire! Off I go! With my rockets, fountains, sparklers a bag of coals and a few fire lighters, to the beach I go! As we party into the small hours and the fires are just smouldering puddles of ash thoughts turn to the llllllooooonnnnnnnggggggg  football-less summer.

Well I say it will be a football free summer, looking at the up and coming fixtures, I won't even have broken up for my holidays. Perfect if you ask me! I will be topping up my tan whilst Rovers are topping the table (I hope!) I can read about the on going tax debarcle involving Messi and some intresting accounting on the front and back pages here whilst I wait for the second half to kick off. Maybe it is just living here for more than a few years that I find it hard to comprehend football stopping for the summer, La Liga has only just wrapped itself up and the confederation's cup has been getting a wee bit of coverage here in Catalaunya and pre-season is already well and truly planned. 


As of next Monday I am in full Garmin Triathlon mode. I am planning to increase my distance and if I am honest I have not been "ticking" over as much as I should have so this is gonna hurt (me more than you).

As I did last year I am TRI-ING 4 the Rovers and I will be posting regular updates and  your support will be greatly received.

Here is my plan for training! Gulp!

Week:	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total
1	Swim-15	Off	Bike-35	Run-20	Swim-30	Off	Bike-40	160
	Run-20
2	Swim-20	Off	Bike-35	Run-20	Swim-30	Off	Bike-45	175
	Run-25
3	Swim-20	Off	Bike-30	Run-25	Swim-35	Off	Bike-45	180
	Run-25
4	Swim-20	Off	Run-25	Swim-25	Bike-45	Off	Run-30	175
	Bike-30
5	Swim-25	Off	Run-25	Run-30	Swim-30	Off	Bike-45	185
	Bike-30
6	Run-15	Off	Bike-25	Run-15	Bike-25	Off	Swim-20	100
REST Wk.
7	Run-15	Off	Bike-30	Bike-25	Run-20	Off	Swim-25	115
							Open Water
8	Swim-25	Off	Run-35	Bike-50	Swim-30	Off	Run-35	210
	Bike-35
9	Swim-25	Off	Run-25	Swim-30	Bike-35	Off	Run-35	205
	Bike-35				Run-20
10	Swim-30	Off	Bike-45	Run-45	Swim-35	Off	Bike-60	245
	Run-30
11	Swim-20	Off	Run-25	Bike-35	Swim-20	Off	Bike-55	215
	Bike-30						Run-30
12	Swim-20	Off	Off	Run-30	Bike-45	Off	Swim-20	115
							Open Water
13	Off	Bike-15	Off	Swim-15	Run-15	Off	Race!!!	45