I have cycling helmet, lock, lights, fluorescent bands, and saddle. Just cycling tights, shoes, wet suit, snorkel, and wings to get.

Now I have to get used to wearing the helmet really don't like the idea and it needs some adjusting as I feel slightly strangled, but it's better than having scrambled brains.

Went to gym last night and someone was watching the football on the screen. I think Southampton scored, he cheered and fell off the cross trainer and so did I nearly laughing at him.

DETOX REPORT


Detox is going well.
I have put a few of the recipes I am using on HERE
The weight I put on during the flu is begining to shift and I'm feeling so much better.

O.M.G

These are very rare photos. I can't remember why I exposed myself as I used to avoid the camera like the plague. It must have had something to do with being at Art College. But it is history.








Just needed to put this photo in too to remind myself that the above is no longer

Helta Skelta Bike Ride

Following a morning of thunder storms and doing Sun dances on the roof I was determined to go for the long bike ride planned on my programme.
So to kill 2 birds with one stone I had also planned to meet 2 old work colleagues in Stockbridge so I cycled there and back about 18 miles, not too bad for first long ride on Hamish.
Cyclists from this area will know the road really well for it's hills. I only got off twice and fell off once trying to do a hill start!!!
The great thing is with this road's hills is that 'what goes up must come down!'. I free wheeled down some steep hills with one eye open and hoping for the best. But it is the best fun ever the 'rush' is great. I heard Will's words in my ear 'cycling is all about anticipation, anticipating the next move and the next gears'. When I got to nearly the bottom of the hill i put Hamish on a high gear and peddled for all my worth to see if I could get the momentum to get up the other side. Mostly it worked but changing gears going up steep hills is not easy so I got to work that one out.
There were some serious cyclists out in their full gear and I felt quite chuffed when they gave me the nod and acknowledged me as a 'trier'

I got to Stockbridge and was welcomed with French flags. After realising that I hadn't closed my eyes too long and ended up in the Tour De France, I soon took in the smells of the French market.
I walked past rows of stalls selling biscuits, sweets, olives, wierd looking sausages and crepes...... eating my apple!!

I had a lovely time with Susan and Christine and caught up on all their news and shared mine.

I have a new job - after working back in the book shop for a few weeks and having/recovering from the flu, I have been given a job in a sports shop.

If I think 3 years ago, me working in a sports shop or even going in one would have just not been on the cards. How life has changed.
In the middle of updating my story, and it is a great reminder where I have come from but also, now I have so many challenges, opportunities, and ideas for the future.....exciting eh!
It's strange, but recently a lot of photos of me when I was bigger seem to have come to light. I found some from when I was at Uni yesterday and they are horendous. I f I can work it out I'll put them on next post.

Stu sent me this today and it is a good reminder of why I am doing this.
Just need to put this is as well so I don't feel so scared !!
l

Fablass Day

Some days are like a whole holiday stuck into one day. Yesterday was one of those days. I met Wil at Christchurch and we cycled to Saint Catherine's hill. My bike, a bit like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang found it's mountain bike side and off we went.
So exhilarating. Mud, puddles hills up and down (those who know me will know I was in my element) ..fantastic fun the view is spectacular across the Avon Valley. I got stuck in the mud a few times and I found a few new pitches to scream at.
Fresh air in abundance.


Wil admiring the scenery, I think!!



Then all spattered with mud we cycled back into Christchurch. Apparently there is thing called the Highway Code that you are supposed to abide by as a cyclist, so I think I need to do that rather than my creative cycling.Had a brilliant chat about goal setting etc in a coffee bar. Passer by admired our muddy bikes.

After leaving Wil I cycled into Bournemouth, against the wind which was quite a challenge but even more fresh air...just can't get enough. I am quite lucky really.




Then it was off to Gorgeous Stu's for a chat and some healthy food. So great to have time with him cos we laugh a lot.
All in all a Fablass day

Now apparently I have to 'behave for 2 weeks'

Winchester Triathlon

Sunday was the Winchester Fast Twitch Triathlon. My first real massage appointment on my own.
Roger of Concept Sport was already well into organisation mode by the time I had got to Riverside at 6.30 am. The park had been red and white taped and the signs were up.
I had the job of writing numbers on limbs of Triathletes as they came in for registration. They really are a great crowd and we always have loads of fun.

I pitched up my massage bed in the corner which I must practice because it did look a bit like a scene from Laurel and Hardy. I put it on it's side, pulled the legs out and tried to flip it over to stand up, but the legs kept going in all directions.

I learnt quite a few things about how not to do things but it is a learning curve.
I was a bit worried no one would come for a massage and I would come home a bit disillusioned, but luckily that didn't happen.
I went out to watch a bit of the race. Managed to catch Wil as he flew past on his bike. He came first in his categoryWELL DONE WIL



Seem to be feeling the after effects of flu, have not much energy but I know that will change maybe tried to do too much too soon. Yeah you can take that as a confession Stu!!!LOL

DETOX DAY ONE

Why is that when you think of de-tox you wake thinking of custard doughnuts.
Still feeling the after effects, lack of energy and feeling a bit low...so perfect time to do a detox

Sometimes detox plans are so complicated and you have to chew bark from an unpronounceable tree and drink wee. But Will has shown me one from Evolution which looks good although some of the things I have never heard of.

Started off with
early morning drink of hot water and lemon with 1/2 teaspoon of Manuka Honey
Breakfast
Rolled Oats Porridge, soya milk with chopped apple and cinnamon, with a few nuts sprinkled on top.
Good start can cope with that

Had a pear for morning snack

Lunch
Flat bread with tomatoes,leaves, cucumber and humus

Oatcakes for break
Dinner
Tofu and lentil stew fron dinner
Orange and a plum
So far so good the doughnuts have left the front of my mind and are being disolved by hot ginger and lemon tea

Had a great day yesterday. Spent the middle of the day cycling around darkest Brockenhurst with Will. He is beginning to get used to my sound effects. I have different screams for cycling over grills, pot holes, down hill and cycling through gates.

Brockenhurst is very hilly!!! or it seemed that way yesterday.. of course I am the one in blue!!!!

Haven't quite mastered the act of cycling through gates whilst Will holds them open.
After a quick drink I decided to have a go at riding to Lymington. Unfortunately someone moved Lymington. The road signs said to New Milton but I didn't realise that was in the right direction and turned back. I went for plan B and caught the train to Christchurch and cycled to Bournemouth...in around about way.

Christchurch was lovely. Sun and wind made has given me a healthy glow. I cycled all round the quay without falling in. Then made my way along the beach road to Bournemouth to see Gorgeous Stu



Winchester Triathlon on Sunday..can't wait..first one for me this year. I'm helping out with some massage for the triathletes

How not to treat injured sports people but very funny...........

Surviving The Flu

hamish (bike)taking in the view....

Last 10 days have been awful. I have never felt so poorly for so long.
Now it's more or less over except I have been left with a rather interesting husky voice and cough. I feel so much better than I did.
Yesterday I went out on the bike with Will. I love it so much I am like a kid with a new toy (probably because I am!!)
We cycled from Christchurch to Hengestbury head. It was so good to be out in the open air and having a big dose of inspiration and motivation from the Guru of Fitness.






I then cycled on to Bournemouth to spend a delightful evening with Gorgeous Stu. We have become addicted to the 1970s version of Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson. I think it's one of the best interpretations of Elizabeth 1st life. Simple but effective. Good thing about being ill is that you get to see daytime TV but you do get hooked into Soaps.

Starting a detox kind of diet for the next few weeks to get as healthy as poss after al the ups and downs of the last few minths. Nothing too harsh,
Today I had porridge with rice milk which was interesting and I am ashamed to say my first experience of Advacado.

Started back at work at the bookshop today. Feels wierd but it's good to see people again
On Sunday I am helping out with a Triathlon. Marshalling and Massaging. I love Triathlons so much, the atmosphere is great. Can't wait. Hopefully do a whole load more and build up my CV.

Hi I'm back
I have been away so long and have had such a great time, indeed life changing
Over the last 3 months I have been doing a diploma in Personal Training and Sport Massage Therapy. I PASSED... much to my surprise
We had a great group and made some good friends.
The staff and tutors on the course were brilliant.
I have never been faced with so many challenges in all my life.
If I thought 2 years ago that I would be standing in front of a group giving presentations about nutrition and exercises, I'd have run a mile (well I wouldn't have cos I couldn' have)
In all an amazing experience which has now given me an opportunity to enter into a whole new world

Being on a high for 3 months with not much more than 4-5 hours a night is now taking it's toll a bit. I have come down with the real flu. Never been so ill for so long but I am now coming out the other side.

More stories to come and I'll introduce you to Hamish