I'm in training

 I'm not in training for anything, but ASICS are apparently keen to "make sure you continue with exercise in whatever style and approach works for you," and are paying for Geoff to give me a personal training session once a week.

I assume they're paying him, anyway. Maybe they just told him to do it. But anyway, I'm getting trained. I have told them that I'm not even going to any memory competitions or anything, for strictly financial reasons, and thus even if (as demonstrated by an actual scientific study) physical exercise helps with performance at mental competition, it's pretty redundant in this case, but I've been assured that that doesn't matter in the slightest.

And so, in keeping with my philosophy of doing whatever someone tells me it would be a good idea to do (one of these days I'll meet that legendary person who tells friends to jump off a cliff), if training is what I should be doing, then by thunder I'll train. But without an officially-approved schedule of exercise, I'll have to decide exactly how to do this whole training thing myself! I'll consult with Geoff and see what he thinks. Maybe we'll just watch cartoons every week when he comes here.

Okay, this is a new thing!

 A new thing for me, that is. And a new thing for Britain, but not a new thing for France, where it's been going since 1987, and the rest of the French-speaking world, which has joined the party over the years.

It's "Logic and Mathematical Games", the British edition of which took place at Coventry University yesterday in the small-scale, friendly way that I always love competitions to happen. I'd certainly never heard of the French competitions before, and everybody there had never heard of the various mental calculation and mind sports competitions that exist in this country, which reminds me just how much this kind of thing always runs in its own little circle, gradually expanding and maybe one day intersecting with something similar.

But I came second (out of seven) in the "General Public" category, and I have to say that the questions weren't particularly difficult if you like puzzles and have a basic grounding in geometry. I'm slightly lacking in the latter, but I'm going to brush up on it in preparation for the next event (an online thing in October, apparently). Entry was free, refreshments were provided, and I won an Amazon gift voucher for £10! I need to spread the word to all the mathematical and puzzly types I associate with.

I also got to spend the day hanging out with one of my closest friends, having spent the bus journey to Coventry trying to remember what he looks like (I was thinking a couple of inches shorter than me, with black hair, but he's actually a bit taller, and it's light brown. I was picturing the right kind of glasses, though.) and after he'd fortunately greeted me from across the room, I took the opportunity to discreetly ask him what his real name is, in case it surprises people that I don't know it.

I've known him for many years now, he's been round to my house a couple of times, but our interaction is mostly internet-based, using nicknames. This is the kind of social circle I have. And now I've really made an effort to remember what he looks like (on this at least our sixth real-life meeting) I should be fine next time!