I was having filter anxiety.

I was up early-ish today so I could nip out on a practice commute to the new job near Kings Cross, suss out motorbike parking availability and head back to the old job before my boss sent out a search party.

It started well enough, barely 5 minutes in and I had already successfully swerved out of the path of a car who thought he was a bus, then I was picked up by an outrider who held my hand (figuratively speaking) and showed me the ropes as he weaved in and out of cars, first the inside then the outside, all the way to Clapham. I was beginning to relax and then I lost him. I didn’t quite position myself well enough for this erratic side to side motion and thought I had plenty of time and could just wait for the bus to move, but it didn’t. Bikes were roaring past me 2 lanes to my right and I vowed not to get stuck on the inside again.

I eventually pushed and wobbled my way in between the stationary cars and enjoyed an extremely short clear run until a central reservation appeared and I had to make my choices. It was time to rejoin the chaos and get myself wedged into the Vauxhall Bridge roundabout and just pray for Bonnie sized gaps or give up and head back on roads that you could actually ride on. My petrol light came on at the pivotal moment, only 60 miles out of this tank full, and not wanting to add to the congestion by spluttering to a deathly stop I opted to pull an about turn and head back to Tooting.

So much for reconnaissance, I didn’t even make it across the river. At this rate I’ll have to set off at 6am or pull the push bike out of the shed.

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“but it’s not just the bike Angela, it’s all the bike related stuff!”

I feel somewhat victimised in the house, they just haven’t let me forget my last purchase of the “special sponge”.

“Is it a ’special’ sponge Angela?”

“Yes, it’s a bloody special sponge, it’s got space for your fingers!”

And it is a special sponge, not only does it have finger spaces for cleaning spokey bits in your wheels and protecting your knuckles from graze injuries but it also has a special top for driving all the suds down and onto your bike. I don’t know how I was supposed to resist and it only cost 3 times as much as the standard variety.

I blame the scheming, thieving, marketing types, they shouldn’t be able to prey on people like me. It’s too easy, they just have to mention words like micro, multi, special and I’m reaching for my credit card.

Here’s my latest must have purchase. Apparently they are perfect for building a show quality shine on your chrome work. You can use them new or used and you get 40 sheets in a pack.
40!
That’s got to be 3 years worth and they only cost £1.25.

I’m thinking I might keep the purchase a secret from the family until they’ve forgotten the sponge.

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I arranged to meet Lynn after work yesterday for tea at our favourite vegetarian caff. I set off for the 2 mile trek with heated grips on full blast and pulled up outside the eatery leaving the parking light on to save my lovely Triumph from any unintended crumple incidents.

A couple of hours later we clambered into and onto our respective modes of transport with me quipping that the only thing that could prevent me arriving home first would be a flat battery from my silly parking light.

Cars….Pah!

By the time I’d removed my disk lock, fiddled with my helmet and managed to get my gloves to sit neatly under my cuffs, Lynn was long gone. By the time I’d gone through the start up process a few times, listening to the usual whir and the most unusual click and die, she must have been at least half way home.

Harumph!

Good job I had my phone and breakdown cover and a girlfriend with a car.
10 minutes later, Lynn was back to rescue me and provide shelter from the rain.
3.5 hours later the breakdown recovery vehicle arrived.

He may have taken quite a long time to arrive but I think he was very good value when he finally got there. As a keen biker himself he had to get in a few digs about my “not a proper” Bonneville, which of course is true but I didn’t want a proper 1960’s bike, just imagine how unreliable that would be.

We all mucked in trying to fathom out where the battery would be hidden, we had both side panels off and it took 3 fine minds to work out the intricacies of saddle removal. I feel like I’ve served a mechanics apprenticeship now.

The battery was flat but he had it turning over in seconds. By the time we had reassembled the pieces he was confident that the machine would start up unaided and he was desperate to switch it off again so he could jump on my bike and show me how to bump start it. For someone full of disparaging remarks he was mighty keen to try the Triumph out for size.

Luckily the starter motor worked fine because he wasn’t going to get it bump started anytime soon. Seems the trick with bump starts is to get the ignition on, put the bike in 2^nd gear, roll with it down a hill with the clutch engaged and then just pop the clutch. We didn’t get further than turning on the ignition as it seems the modern Bonneville prevents you moving beyond 1st gear unless the engine is started.

Basically if you can’t get the engine to start via the electric ignition switch you are stuffed. Bet you didn’t get that with those “proper” Bonnies that came stocked with kick starts and centre stands.

Progress…..Pah!

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The non-runner has been known to run on occasion but the occasions are brief and of the sprint and die variety. She was a bit reluctant to try the proper thing especially when I mentioned treadmills and 30 minutes but you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

I didn’t quite grasp the degree of reluctance but there was a heavy thread of edginess present as we gathered our gear and prepared for the gym. I thought I was being rather helpful but I got my head bitten off when I asked if she’d ever been on a treadmill before.

Stroppy with a capital S doesn’t even come close.

We arrived at the gym and I could sense we only had one breathing person left in the car. Recognizing a severe case of gym related anxiety I offered up a reassuring slap on the back and got myself growled at again. We almost cleared the car when we spotted our neighbour entering the parking area. You don’t want to bump into your neighbour on your first day at the gym, wearing spanking brand new, bright pink trainers, so we made a dash for it and arrived at our treadmills sweating but safe.

It’s quite difficult explaining the use of a treadmill to someone who clearly wants to get the whole thing over and done with. In the end we switched it on and decided to learn on the fly, with the suggestion that she followed my pace until she got the hang of things and wanted to up the pace. A few minutes in I noticed a funny side to side action from the treadmill beside me so thought it prudent to point out the emergency red button which she immediately pounded and we got to start all over again.

I few more minutes later, amongst much huffing and puffing I suggested she take on some water but the bottle was sitting just out of reach on the floor. Apparently my non-runner had been expecting a non-running break for refreshments. I passed my bottle over and watched the next incident unfold. Lynn dropped the bottle top and started to bend down to pick it up before sensing the relentless drag of the track beneath her. She managed to right herself and pick up the pace barely millimeters before tippling over the edge.

I have to say it was one of my more enjoyable running experiences, positively entertaining. Of course this wasn’t just about the conversion of a non-runner, it was also about the shoes. I shouted above her grumbles about stitches and being tired and wanting to stop and asked her about the shoes – “How are the Mizuno Wave shoes?”

It was quite amazing, her face brightened, the beetroot tinge seemed to leave her face and she actually smiled. “They’re very comfortable….no they really are”.

I wasn’t doubting her, they did look comfortable. They are very light and still seem to have a heavily cushioned sole. Even the pink bits weren’t so noticeable when they were worn with jogging trousers. I’ll go for a pair of these when my Asics have worn out, they are cheaper than the Kayanos I wear but seem to offer a similar fit.

The satisfaction must have lingered because she’s already suggested she join me for my training run tomorrow.

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I went over to see Sam to hand in my notice and nearly came away blubbing. It felt very hard handing over my lovely little corner plot that turned from a bindweed monstrosity into a moderately productive little haven in the space of a season. We emptied the shed and carted the trammel and another blackberry bush over to the new plot and rapidly felt at ease again.

We are lucky to be able to start over again, making plans and building stuff, and this new plot is sooo tidy!

It’s rapidly approaching the end of February and yet this was our first visit of the year to the Norbury plot. It’s been so wet and claggy and the snow still hasn’t declared for the season so we haven’t been able to dig or sow. My allotment task list is covered in red overdue stars though so we decided time had come to brave inclement conditions, ignore gardening sense and plant the cabbages anyway.

We knocked up this cold frame top for the seed bed in a downpour and I planted greyhound cabbage, cauliflower, onions and lettuce while Lynn started on the compost bin construction. I don’t hold out much hope for the seeds but that compost heap is a thing of beauty.

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The beauty of the categorise and Search Folder functionality is that I can apply multiple categories to a single email and I no longer have to decide whether to file my email in the “Wandsworth” folder or the “SLA” folder. If I assign it both categories, it will appear in my search folder under both categories.

I wanted to set up a few search folders that would enable me to view emails that were categorised in more than one specific folder using the logical “AND” rather than “OR” that the system defaults to. For example, it is the commissioning period at the moment and it would be handy for me to have a few search folders set up for the next month or so that group together emails categorised as 2010 SLA and a specific borough.

My initial attempts at using the custom search folder dialog box and entering the instruction “1a. Wandsworth AND 3a. SLA 1011” in the “More Choices” tab did not work as it was presumably looking for a single category. I did a bit of a google search and didn’t find anything very promising so having found a solution I thought it might be useful to write it up.

1. Create a new Search Folder by right clicking on Search Folder and selecting New.
2. Scroll down to the bottom and select Create a Custom Search Folder and then hit Choose
3. Give it a name and then hit Criteria
4. Within the Advanced tab set the field to equal Categories (it’s in the frequently used drop down)
5. Leave the condition as contains
6. Write your category names separated by “AND” in the Value field.
7. Hit “Add to list”
8. OK your way out of the dialog box and you should have a functioning multiple category search folder.

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4 mile commutes are barely worth getting togged up for but the miles add up slowly and we’ve covered about 160 miles since pick up. I’ve put the grand sum of £19 in the tank so it’s no eco warrior but maybe that will improve with the new extended commute when I’ll hopefully get to spend a greater proportion of my time out of 1st and 2nd gear.

The Bonneville rides very well, I just need to stop letting it down on my slow speed cornering when I manage to turn a solid dependable bike into a wobbly old crock in need of stabilisers.

I’d noticed the rear wheel skittering around a bit on the white lines and man hole covers littering the bus lanes round these parts but after taking advice from Triumph RAT forum, and then waiting a further 10 days while I fathomed out how to inflate bike tyres, I discovered my tyres were flat.

Turns out you can inflate motorbike tyres with bicycle pumps so long as they have the Schrader valve fitting. This news filled me with unexpected joy as I have an unacceptable glut of bike pumps and now I can nip out with my track pump and keep the bike properly inflated without ever having to risk a petrol station, pump related melt down.

It’s a miracle with all my bike related anxieties that Lynn ever agreed to ride out with me but by yesterday lunchtime we had cobbled together enough additional biker garb to remove most of her pre-existing excuses and delaying tactics. We set off on a major expedition to the old allotment in search of leeks and parsnips. It’s was pretty cold and Lynn noticed my wobbly old crock tendencies on the corners but I think the ability to whizz down the bus lanes avoiding horrendous tail backs through Mitcham and Wimbledon may have sold the biker lifestyle to her.

Actually I don’t think she liked the Wimbledon bit very much, I recollect screaming and aggression there as I threatened to scrape her knee caps between two vehicles but the rest was good.

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I fell off the treadmill today.
Or at least I stumbled and found myself being propped up by my neighbouring runner.
It was reasonably embarrassing.

I picked the machine directly in front of a bank of tv’s and was happily listening to my audio book, glancing from one flickering screen to another when one of them started screening virtual horse racing.

It turned out to be an animated version of the Dubai International, showing Frankie Dettori way back in the field, the fact that his image kept flashing and he was leaving a trail of light made me think something important was going to happen.

I was urging that horse on, “come on no 2!” and moving closer and closer to the screen until my shoe started squealing and I squawked and tripped. My neighbour pushed me upright and kept me in motion.

Turns out that horse racing seems to be the perfect accompaniment to treadmill running. I wacked the pace up and didn’t notice the pain until Alexandros had crossed the line, winning in an amazing show of determination.

Maybe I should get a treadmill installed in the local bookies.

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Here’s my checklist for setting up the new system on Outlook 2007.
Most tips and code are taken from Simon Guest over at Simon Says but I’ve amended the code (very slightly) to suit my particular needs and naming conventions. For further details and descriptions please follow the links to his blog where I’ve listed them.

1. Create Folders at same level as Inbox

• @ACTION REQD
• @MEETINGS
• @READ
• @REFERENCE
• @PERSONAL
• @WAITING FOR

2. Create Macro for categorising and assigning email as task:

To create a new task from an email, select the email, run the NewTask macro, choose categories and at least one @CATEGORY, in my case @ACTION. Then you can choose to rename the subject title – this will become the new task.

Function FileFolderEntryId() As StringDim myolApp As Outlook.Application
Dim myNamespace As Outlook.NameSpace
Dim myInbox As Outlook.Folder
Dim rootFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim subFolders As Outlook.Folders
Dim subFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim fileFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim fileEntryID As String
Dim fileFolderName As String

‘Set the folder name – must be at the same level as the inbox
fileFolderName = “@ACTION REQD”

‘ Move the the file folder
Set myolApp = CreateObject(“Outlook.Application”)
Set myNamespace = myolApp.GetNamespace(“MAPI”)
Set myInbox = myNamespace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
Set rootFolder = myInbox.Parent
Set subFolders = rootFolder.Folders

Set subFolder = subFolders.GetFirst
Do While Not subFolder Is Nothing
If subFolder.Name = fileFolderName Then
fileEntryID = subFolder.EntryID
Exit Do
End If
Set subFolder = subFolders.GetNext
Loop

‘ return the entry ID for the file folder
FileFolderEntryId = fileEntryID

End Function

Sub NewTask()

Dim item As MailItem
Dim myolApp As Outlook.Application
Dim myNamespace As Outlook.NameSpace
Dim fileFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim newName As String

‘ Pick the category
Set item = Outlook.Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection.item(1)

‘ Mark as unread
item.UnRead = False
item.Save
item.ShowCategoriesDialog

‘validate to see whether two categories exist, including an action
If (item.Categories <> “”) Then
If (InStr(item.Categories, “@”) > 0) Then
If (InStr(item.Categories, “,”) > 0) Then

‘ Set the follow up flag
item.MarkAsTask (olMarkNoDate)

‘ Move the item to the file folder
Set myolApp = CreateObject(“Outlook.Application”)
Set myNamespace = myolApp.GetNamespace(“MAPI”)
Set fileFolder = myNamespace.GetFolderFromID(FileFolderEntryId())

‘ Ask for a different name if required
newName = InputBox(“Please enter a subject for the task:”, “Task Subject”, item.TaskSubject)
item.TaskSubject = newName
item.Save

item.Move fileFolder
End If
End If
End If
End Sub

3. Create a rule that will send a email from me and cc’d to me as @WAITING FOR category and file

This is a way of keeping track of requests you’ve sent out in the @WAITING FOR folder.

4. Create a macro that will categorise and send mail to the @REFERENCE Folder

Sub ToReferenceAndCategorise()

Dim item As MailItem
Dim myolApp As Outlook.Application
Dim myNamespace As Outlook.NameSpace
Dim myInbox As Outlook.Folder
Dim rootFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim subFolders As Outlook.Folders
Dim subFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim fileFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim fileEntryID As String
Dim fileFolderName As String

‘Set the folder name – must be at the same level as the inbox
fileFolderName = “@REFERENCE”

‘ Pick the category
Set item = Outlook.Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection.item(1)
item.ShowCategoriesDialog

‘ Move the the file folder
Set myolApp = CreateObject(“Outlook.Application”)
Set myNamespace = myolApp.GetNamespace(“MAPI”)
Set myInbox = myNamespace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
Set rootFolder = myInbox.Parent
Set subFolders = rootFolder.Folders

Set subFolder = subFolders.GetFirst
Do While Not subFolder Is Nothing
If subFolder.Name = fileFolderName Then
fileEntryID = subFolder.EntryID
Set fileFolder = myNamespace.GetFolderFromID(fileEntryID)
item.Move fileFolder

Exit Do
End If
Set subFolder = subFolders.GetNext
Loop

End Sub

5. Repeat above for Categorise and send to @Waiting For Folder

6. Create a macro that will categorise and send mail to the @READ Folder

This is the same as above but I want to include it under my task list, which I have sorted by folder, so I also include a routine to add a no date follow up flag.

Sub ToReadAndCategorise()

Dim item As MailItem
Dim myolApp As Outlook.Application
Dim myNamespace As Outlook.NameSpace
Dim myInbox As Outlook.Folder
Dim rootFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim subFolders As Outlook.Folders
Dim subFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim fileFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim fileEntryID As String
Dim fileFolderName As String

‘Set the folder name – must be at the same level as the inbox
fileFolderName = “@READ”

‘ Pick the category
Set item = Outlook.Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection.item(1)
item.ShowCategoriesDialog

‘ Set the follow up flag
item.MarkAsTask (olMarkNoDate)

‘ Move the the file folder
Set myolApp = CreateObject(“Outlook.Application”)
Set myNamespace = myolApp.GetNamespace(“MAPI”)
Set myInbox = myNamespace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
Set rootFolder = myInbox.Parent
Set subFolders = rootFolder.Folders

Set subFolder = subFolders.GetFirst
Do While Not subFolder Is Nothing
If subFolder.Name = fileFolderName Then
fileEntryID = subFolder.EntryID
Set fileFolder = myNamespace.GetFolderFromID(fileEntryID)
item.Move fileFolder

Exit Do
End If
Set subFolder = subFolders.GetNext
Loop

End Sub

7. Create a macro that will create Task and Mail Search Folders

Sub CreateNewSearchFolder()

Set MyOutlookApplication = Outlook.Application
SearchSubFolders = True
Set MapiNamespace = Application.GetNamespace(“MAPI”)
Set TasksFolder = MapiNamespace.GetDefaultFolder(Outlook.OlDefaultFolders.olFolderTasks).Parent
strS = “‘” & TasksFolder.FolderPath & “‘”

Dim folderName As String
folderName = InputBox(“What category would you like to create a search folder for?:”, “Category”, “”)
Dim objSch As Search
Dim categoryFilter As String
categoryFilter = “(“”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office#Keywords”" LIKE ‘%” & folderName & “%’)”
Dim taskFilter As String
taskFilter = “(“”http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0×0e05001f”"= ‘Tasks’ AND “”http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/81010003″” <> 2) OR (NOT(“”http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0×10900003″” IS NULL) AND “”http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/81010003″” <> 2)”
Dim strTag As String
strTag = “RecurSearch”

‘ Create the tasks folder
Set objSch = Application.AdvancedSearch(Scope:=strS, Filter:=categoryFilter & ” AND (” + taskFilter + “)”, _
SearchSubFolders:=True, Tag:=strTag)
objSch.Save (folderName)

‘ Create the mail folder
Set objSch = Application.AdvancedSearch(Scope:=strS, Filter:=categoryFilter, _
SearchSubFolders:=True, Tag:=strTag)
objSch.Save (folderName & ” (Mail)”)

End Sub

8. Create custom toolbars for the above macros

• Right click on toolbar – Customise
• Select commands tab the Macro on Left
• Drag desired macro to toolbar
• Right click on macro button and rename and assign keyboard shortcut if necessary (you need to do this with the customise box still open)

9. Introduce colouring to organise selected folders

• Go to Tools> Organize and complete the following steps:
• select Using Colours
• Change “Colour messages from [you] in Silver”
• Apply Colour
• Turn on the “Show messages sent only to me in Blue”

10. Panic if new job doesn’t use Outlook 2007

Alternatively I could start working through some tips for using Outlook 2003 for GTD, starting here.

I am still a little bemused as to how to deal with SENT items in Outlook, I’ve seen macros directing all sent items back into the inbox to be categorised and filed but I would prefer the category dialog box to pop up when I press send.  I’ve currently set up a lot of rules which apply categories on the basis of who I have sent them to but it is not foolproof.

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1. Outlook 2007 – Creating Search Folders for Combined Categories

I’ve slipped to beginner runner status again but I’m gradually pulling back and feel happy to be putting in some mileage even if its slow and single figured. The ballot results for the Great North Run will be revealed in a couple of weeks and as my name is in there I’m going to have to start a proper program soon enough. I might even start running outside again which will result in an investment in another GPS gadget and blog posts littered with pretty maps.

Still, I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m scheduled for another 3.1km trog on the treadmill tonight and GPS is just a little bit over the top and besides, if I can wait til September I might get to try out this new toy from Timex.

Despite being practically a non-runner at the moment (and therefore a poor blogger), I am still regularly asked to review or promote running related stuffs on the blog. The latest request was to publicise the first UK running festival, which looks really quite exciting.

It’s called “Love Life Love Running” and is a weekend event aimed at runners and their families. It takes place in the grounds of Cannock Chase over the weekend of the 24th/25th of July 2010. There are two main events: a standard 10k held on Saturday and a rather intriguing 6-hour challenge on Sunday.

I’m particularly drawn to the 6-hour challenge event which is a relay based around a 7km course and can be run by teams of 2, 4 or 6. It suggests on the event website that you can make this as challenging as you like but I haven’t seen the rules so can’t imagine what this means, I’m presuming motorised bikes are ruled out.

As a family oriented event there are obviously events aimed at the kids as well, such as the mini zoom – a 60m course where speed is of the essence. Not my cup of tea at all but there’s a certificate available for every finisher so I could be persuaded.

Anyway, if you struggle to find the time to sneak off to running events it’s well worth taking a look. You can sell it as a family getaway!

Also this week I was sent a copy of the Ultimate Guide to Marathon Running to review.

It’s a large format, magazine style book covering everything from goals, nutrition, motivation, training, technique and so much more. I’m really quite impressed with it and for the price I think it’s amazing value.

I recently canceled my subscription to Runners World mag, not because I was disillusioned with it, but I wasn’t running a lot at the time and after a 3 year subscription I was beginning to notice that the same things would come round too regularly. The content of the Ultimate Guide to Marathon Running magbook is such that you can save yourself an annual subscription to A N Other running mag but still get your fix of motivational tidbits and of course it is solely focused on the marathon distance and event itself.

It has a good training section, discussing various aspects such as interval training and the long slow run but the final 12 week recommended schedules are a bit thin on the ground. There are only 3 schedules illustrated, a 4hrs + (or get round), 3hrs 30 mins or a sub 2hrs 55mins. Personally I think there’s a huge difference between a 4hr marathon time and a get me round time but I suppose schedules are very personal things, there are stacks freely available on the web and it doesn’t detract from what is otherwise an incredibly useful guide to the marathon.

CREDIT: The Ultimate Guide to Marathon Running is available now on the magazine newsstand from WH Smith, Sainsbury, magbooks.com and amazon.co.uk for only £7.99

As I don’t have a marathon on the horizon and my planned half is quite some time away I thought it would be the perfect giveaway for one of my real running readers. Just leave me a comment telling me why you deserve the magbook more than me and I’ll post the book off to the one that makes me smile. You can be cruel but if you hurt my feelings you won’t win.

On an unrelated note, I will just take this opportunity to plug my latest obsession – warriorwoman can now be found masquerading as Big Betty, riding and writing about the new Triumph Bonneville.

If I’m not on here writing about running then I’m probably on whatapalaver discussing the trials and tribulations of motorbike commuting.

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