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

Did a trial run to Littledown today. Caught the 5.59 a.m train, yes A.M. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I wasn't the only person on the train either!! Other people were also looking like rabbits in the headlights in a state of shock on their way to work.
The walk from the train station to Littledown was straight forward and managed it in time I needed to. As I get fitter the time will decrease. It is 1.8 miles so in Roger Bannister style I'll be doing it in under 8 mins soon!!!!!!!.
Last day at work tomorrow.
Catherine, my niece popped into the shop today with friend Jo, she starts her midwifery course on Monday... she'll be great, so good with little babies especially Harry. So all the best Cat XXX

Training with Wil on Friday really looking forward to that. Seems ages since we last met and I may have to work hard a bit on Christmas, New Year and Leaving Party.

Gorgeous Stu has finished his new house and people are moving in. So much hard work... really paid off. Well done my lovely good job!!

Hurray!! I did my first 10 k walk since the knee op. I read that after a knee op your knee is bound to ache, ache is ok but pain is not. Differentiating between ache and pain is not easy but I am not getting sharp pains just aches after being used . So I'll persevere unless it falls off, then I might go a bit easy.
So my walk was a bit slower than usual and the last K was a bit achy. I had my heart rate monitor on and it was really interesting to see how your heart changes pace.
Half way through the walk I stopped at a Farm Shop and brought some gorgeous bread flour , and some huge coxes apples and then realised I still had 5k to walk. It was interesting to see my heart rate went up by 5-10 bpm carrying that extra weight, so that was a bit of a warning.

Managed to get back home and after a 20 min rest went down to the gym and did 20 mins of Cross Trainer, Lat Pull Down, Cable Wood Chops, High Cable Rows and Chest presses.I thought I might wake up with knee trouble but it wasn't any different from usual

Two more working days to go and then I am done! And then it's full throttle towards the PT Course. I am so excited but of course nervous. Retaining information is a challenge at the moment. Put some info in and some has to fall out to make room.
Information is more relevant when it's more relevant!! I think!!

Oh and by the way..........

What a lovely Christmas that was. After months of training and studying in the school of Santa the season was fab!!
We had our traditional big family dinner and present giving. Harry had his first ever Christmas. Not particularly interested in presents but the silver ribbon was fascinating.
Nigel and David did a grand job with the catering.
All kitted out for my course and to smell like a garden!!!Also have a computer thingy for drawing which is great cos I can draw anatomical diagrammes straight onto the computer and funny faces on people!!
Dvds of Billy Conolly, Scrooge the musical which I saw once a very long time ago and had an inkling of one song but only remembered two lines of it now I'll be able to sing to my heart's content, just to warn you!!
I had a pack of exercise bands too. I am not sure what you call a collection of exercise bands, a pack, herd, set,.... very useful!!
I also got a little version of Bartley (stu's cat) that doesn't need feeding or cough up hair balls very cute I will introduce him later.
Now for the big work off of all the mince pies, christmas cake and yummy food.

I woke up this morning on the Cross Trainer and managed 30 mins and a bit of shoulder pressing and lat pulls. Going to build up gradually. Have new swimming goggles and hat so I am licensed to go back in the pool costume willing!!


The last view of the Santa Clauses before they go back to the mysterious place for next year.

Little Harry did very well on his first Christmas and was a little charmer!!

Mum and Sarah discussing Christmas present opening tactics

Jenny and David who seems to have grown an extra head!!

Happy Christmas Everyone!
have a great time

Yet another fabulous Thursday. The train journey to Bournemouth was beautiful, the Forest was covered in frost, very Christmassy.
Met Wil by the pier for a PT session. I am not exactly a vision of health at the moment, with a wonky knee and the remains of flu. Still we managed a walk along the sea front, I hope I never take it for granted because I am so lucky to be able to train in such beautiful surroundings. We then walked up the ziggy zags and did some work with exercise band. A dear little old lady gave us some encouraging remarks as she went by and said she used to be a physio therapist. She disappeared before I could get my knee out.
Fab and fun Christmassy PT session, last this year............ooo it's going so fast.
Next I met the Gorgeous Stu for lunch and his friend (see below).

Then it was on to have a massage at Premier Pavilion. Slightly apprehensive about the course so it was good to be in the pavilion and chat with the people there. Had a great massage, so nice to be pampered for an hour, getting used to the idea of sports massage and the arghlllllllgh factor!!
Only five days to Christmas, looking forward to a lovely family time. Going to get into doing some gym over the next 2 weeks and regain some territory.

Last night I went to see Maddy Prior in concert in Salisbury with Gorgeous Stu and his Mum and Dad, Reg and Maureen. It's the very essence of Christmas. Maddy and the Carnival Prior orbit the earth every other year at Christmas if you can catch one of her concerts I highly recommend it. Absolutely bloomin' MARVELLOUS.
She sings new and medieval folk carols, with copies of original instruments, it's such a great sound. Our row was visibly melting in chritmassy ecstasy.
It was doubly wonderful because I went to Wagamamas with Stu and another gorgeous young man before hand.
My cold is a lot better and my voice is coming back

The lovely Maddy, last night, you may know her from Steeleye Span.
http://www.maddyprior.co.uk/


Carnival Band on stage

Oo it's not fair. Been eating really healthily, taking supplements of all kinds, and doing exercise and this weekend I came down with a whopper of a cold. It's my fault I've been boasting how I haven't had a cold for 18 months, now all those bugs are having a hay day. My nose is becoming something Rudolf would be proud of. All I want to eat is comfort food. I've been, off work a little but had to go back.
Just got to surf the germ wave.I so want to go out and do the gym or power walk but my legs seem want to stay in the warm. I know it will pass but I want to get healthy for January. Argggggghlllll!!

Joining the Elf Club!

Yesterday we had a Santa Tea to celebrate Saint Nicholas' day (6th December). All the family came except poor Sarah who had to work. It was soooooooooo Christmassy . I had been looking forward to it for ages and we had loads of fun, as always with my family. My flat has been taken over by lots of Santas, due to one of his elves being very kind and posting lots of goodies.


How about this for a cute photo. Harry the little elf stole the show.


Harry tries to sort out my Christmas light for me. His mum had to take over as most things go towards his mouth, didn't want him to light up from the inside!!


We had great discussions about how Santa was doing.


Harry has a Christmas story

Elfing Around

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1239564279

Have a look at this and have a go yourself it's so much fun

Another fabulous Thursday
After a long break from gym work I had a fab and fun PT session with Wil in a little gym in darkest New Forest. I am a bit nervous sometimes of using the knee but I felt really excited because I could do steps ups and chest presses, and all manner of things with a dyno band!! Which I snapped (sorry Wil) . well when I said I could do....I was a bit rusty. Interesting post op things such as sitting on the floor and getting up off the floor, I forgot I hadn't done that. So I sat on the floor and pondered how I could get up. Luckily Wil gave me a time limit, but it was strange trying to make my mind think, this isn't going to hurt as much you think it is.
So now it's a case of building up gym work again.
I keep having little explosions of excitement about the course, which can be a little alarming if you're standing next to me.!!

After gym went to Bournemouth and snuck a look at the sea before meeting Gorgeous Stu, which I was quite late for (sorry Stu) but there were loads of men in wet suits surfing by the pier!!!
One particular surfer was just putting on his suit which did look a bit painful I asked him if I could take a photo of him going into the water and this gorgeous Italian accent said I could. Anyway apart from swooning I must have been shaking a little because that picture came out very fuzzy but there is one below.

Had a lovely time with Stu, Bartley and Osca the cats and then off home on the train. I always feel a bit sad when Thursdays are over but Christmas is on it's way and we are in Advent, the best time of the year.

Cider Vinegar and Honey

Sounds a bit like a Miss Marple episode. I am having a go at taking Apple Cider Vinegar with honey to help with the Osteoarthritis. I managed to find a mixture in Holland and Barratt. A litre bottle of 'Honegar'.Have a look at these sites

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/cider-vinegar-and-arthritis.html
http://www.health4youonline.com/nutrition_facts_osteoarthritis.htm

In the morning I put a tablespoon of Honegar in a glass of water take 10 steps back, undergo some diaphragmatic breathing and run towards the glass, picking it up and drinking it as quick as possible. ewghukkkkkk.a sip of neat lemon juice and it's all over. I do this twice a day. Chanting the mantra..tis good for me tis good for me....Well, anything that helps I'm up for.

A friend came in the shop with her little boy yesterday. Now, I love children but when ever this child sees me he is a bit like Dino, the pet dinosaur, from the Flintstones. I have known him all his life and a bit when he was on the 'inside'.
Yesterday I was putting some books on the shelf and the door opened and a loud shriek 'Soooooooooooo....' I tried to run for cover but he got me!He took a run and a jump and decided to hug my knees, whilst pushing them back. I was shocked at my control, I didn't swear or throw him back through the door but managed to hang on to the counter and smile whilst I could feel knee swelling going on.
Bless him, he is a gorgeous little boy.
So I am hobbling a bit. In a way it's not really going to damage the knee but I suppose it could even strengthen it a bit building up the tendons flexibility.

Congratulations to PT Will who came FIRST in the Rempstone Roast Duathlon. Battling against the elements and loads of mud.Hope the washing machine stands up to the challenge!!

Rejection isn't so bad!!!

Handed in my notice on Friday.
special mention to Martin and Valerie who come and cheer me up at the end of Saturdays........

I was rejected from running next year's Flora London Marathon (thank goodness, not ready yet by any means), but I did get a lovely FLM Rain coat. This came just in time because it rained really hard this weekend (I think I might have lost my touch with the weather, my 'sunshine' magic wand's batteries are low)!!)


It's Christmas at the Cathedral. For the second year running the Christmas Market has come to town. I think Winchester is coming to terms with Christmas and that it's a fun time. And we still have loads of traditional stuff too. E.g there is a candle lit Carol procession around town with a brass band going into the Cathedral close on Saturday....can't wait!!


Ice skating at the Cathedral again this year. Shrieks of laughter and yells for help as people collide on the ice. You always get the poser who tries to show off and inevitable ends up in a mangled mess on the floor with those who think they're either Torville or Dean! Good fun to watch.

Difficult to walk around the Close unless you're going the same way as everyone else. Not complaining though because it's very Christmassy.