69. Indentured slavery

So, you get asked to play a role in an important person's wedding, and you're thrilled. Pleased. Proud. Such an honour!

If you're me, you then can only do one thing: rush out get a book and start the research! Book number 1 arrived today - specific advice on how to perform my important role.

Huh.

Well, the book confirms that it is indeed an honour. In fact, you are only allowed to turn down this honour for an "acceptable" reason: one of those listed is, and I quote, "a previous liaison" with one of those parties getting married. Which made me laugh.... Particularly since just hating one of them is NOT an acceptable reason... So now you know.

It appears that my new role dates from pagan times, when evil spirits were thought to attend wedding ceremonies: by surrounding the marrying couple with "look-a-likes" it was thought that the evil spirits would not be able to single out the happy couple. Hmmm.... Not just an honour, it appears, but a vital safety feature. Although I'm not sure that I find the role of potential sacrificial lamb quite so enticing...

It gets worse. It would appear that my new role requires me to become my friends (or, actually, friends') personal assistant, someone who can be relied on to chase quotes (?!) if required and also to keep them calm in times of stress. So my great role of honour is not only fraught with danger, but involves me taking on 2 more jobs on top of the one that I already have... Ooooh, the honour!

In order to successfully undertake my role I apparently have to be:
Organised (um...);
Calm (I can do this - manically, but it's do-able);
Enthusiastic (oh, dear);
Focused (ah, yes, can do);
Cooperative (well, I can give it a go);
Supportive (now this is just getting silly!).

So that's a lot of work ahead of me... On top of the desperate fitness regime... I feel quite fatigued already. Time for some rum and coke, I think!

(O_O)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 30 mins, 4 miles [Level 5]
Pilates - 35 mins, DVD1

68. A mouse! Where? There on the stairs...

As I am now preparing to be supportive in 2 wedding (G&T having joined the Smurf in heading for matrimonial bliss), I have become a lot more focused about this training lark. Or carried away - it's tricky to tell... Anyway, I have decided that it is possible for me to undertake more than one form of exercise in a given day, and so shall proceed accordingly (at least for the next day or so - don't want to over-do things...).

Slightly worried, actually, as my Mother kindly informed me that these things tend to come in 3s: this means that I am now viewing all communications from (single) friends with great suspicion. I am not sure that I can fit in another wedding next year, at least not one that I have to actually do stuff for. I have other things to do, you know - like, well, work, and stuff...

Anyway off to the gym I toddled today, after a few hours of loafing around (hmmm, fairly sure that I should have been tidying or something. Oh, well.). It being a Friday, I expected to be in solitary splendour for my hard miles. And I was initially. But then some girl arrived to dice with Darth (in full running regalia - she's either serious about her running, or very fashion conscious): I decided to ignore her, not hard as she was round the corner from me and thus out of sight. But....

Dear Lord she made a lot of noise running on the treadmill! It was like she was wearing clogs (I checked - she wasn't!) - thump, thump, thump, thump. Which could be clearly heard even over my iPod tunes! Now, I've often been accused of being heavy-footed and so have not much room to comment - but that can't be good for her. Slamming down that much force over and over again - she'll do herself an injury! She was still clog-hopping away when I left the gym, a fact that sadly needed no visual verification. Quite distracting, all told. I shall pray for her knees ('cos, you know, it's Christmas, and all).

:o) 

Today's stats:
Cycling (in gym) - 29 mins, 5 miles [Level 5]
Pilates - 35 mins, DVD1

67. To resolve or not?

Normally I don't make New Year's resolutions - I'm not convinced of the benefit of listing everything that I'm not going to do in the year ahead... I may put together some unofficial resolutions (for comedic effect, if nothing else), but no resolutions for me!

However... I normally have an annual "theme". I can't remember what last year's was supposed to be, but it ended up being "exercise" or more precisely "running". I'm still mulling over what I want next year's theme to be, but there is already an official theme going on whether I like it or not (and of course I like it: thrilled, etc, etc).

And the official theme is going to require much exercise, I fear. Much, much exercise, and planning. Lots and lots and lots of planning... I'm quite fatigued by the whole thing and it's not started yet...!

To that end, today saw the start of the Fake 5x50, an entirely unofficial, not-for-profit and personally challenging attempt to do 5kms-worth of exercise daily for 50 days (or at least 35km per week). Hey, and indeed, ho. Welcome to Challenge 4, people!

By my calculations (which could, it has to be said, be wrong - numbers, not my forte) the Fake 5x50 is due to come to an end on 14th February 2013. Joy. My favourite day of the year just got even better...

(^_^)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 30 mins, 4 miles [Level 5]

66. Saving the world, one fruit fly at a time...

Green is obviously the way forward. And recycling is a key element of making the future green (technically the present too, but we've all had out "I can't be bothered, I'll just throw this bit of cardboard in the general waste bin because the walk to the cardboard bin is too long" moments, haven't we?).

But. Food recycling? Fraught with issues...

Perhaps not for everyone. But I live alone, I'm travelling hither and thon, and housekeeping is not a speciality... So maybe I can't remember when I last took the food box to the food recycling bin (overly complex process, if you ask me). But there can't be that much food anyway as, you know, I live alone. And don't cook... Spare food / food waste in a sealed container - really, what could go wrong?

Well, this is where we discover a little-known fact about the humble fruit fly: they are inter-spatial travellers. Have a sealed box within which food resides? Not a problem, guvnor, we can get in there in a jiffy... And how did I discover this amazing capability of fruit flies? Well, I was tidying (I know - random!) and thought that I would check the contents of the food recycling box. BIG mistake!

Not only was it obvious that I had not emptied said box in a while (how am I supposed to remember these things?!) but also that the fruit flies had established something of a colony outpost (en route to world domination, of course). Tragically, opening the box allowed some of these fruit fly advance scouts to escape into the rest of my house.

So that was an entire day spent swiping at (and missing) teeny little flies that were particularly fond of flying past just at the corner of my eyes... Not only that, but the blasted find my computer screen amazingly attractive. That would be the touch-screen computer... Aggravating indeed, but also potentially quite embarrassing. How many police officers would go for the line "Ah, yes, well, you see, it wasn't me that was accessing that incredibly dodgy internet site, it was one of the fruit flies that have invaded my front room?"

I left them to it, dear reader, and sloped off for Christmas. I expect to return home to either a fruit-fly-free zone (they are inter-spatial travellers, after all), or a fully-functioning first-stage-of-the-revolution colony... Shall be intriguing to find out!

(@_@)

Today's stats:
Pilates - 45 mins (DVD1, oooh, dear - the nice American lady did not look impressed - might have left it a bit long between classes, there...)

65. Kaboom!

"Where's the kaboom?! There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering kaboom!!"
- Wise words from the mighty Marvin the Martian; always cool, calm and collected under pressure, and yet still able to deliver a pithy line or two...

Am fairly sure that there should have been an apocalypse last night (or possibly this morning. Or even this afternoon...). I think that I would have noticed an apocalypse (but with my track record, I can't be 100% sure)... But I appear to still be here, as indeed does the rest of the known world. Hmmm - underwhelming, as apocalypses go, I think...

I discovered today that fudge donoughts come in (at least) 2 different types - cream-filled or custard-filled. I don't know how I've managed to miss this fact before now, but apparently it's widely known... Sadly I was buying said donoughts first thing in the morning, and so it took me several loooong minutes to decide which ones to buy (custard-filled, just in case you were wondering).

As will be obvious from the above, today was a day which involved cake. Last day at work until the new year! Woo-hoo! And so cakes were a must, obviously... Admittedly, there was subterfuge involved in this cake-buying exercise. I don't share worth a damn, and so if I want cakes (which I pretty much always do), and I guy some (note: some), then I'm not for letting others have them. The answer to this? Buy everyone else cakes of their own! End result being I trundled into work today with piles of cakes for everyone else who was working today, just so that I could justify buying myself a bag of sugared ring donoughts.

The shame! Oh, the shame!!

Obviously, the only way to deal with this trauma was to get myself to the gym and work those cakes off sharpish... Sadly, I think that I might have had more cakes than one gym session could handle.

But that's a problem for another day...

;oD

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 30 mins, 4 miles [Level 5]

64. Pretty and pious

At this time of year I do tend to feel like the sun should just stop mucking about and go on holiday already. I mean, when "daylight" is a slightly lighter grey than the dark grey that we've been treated to all night, you've got to wonder what the point it. Wet, windy, dreach, dreary.... And I haven't written any Christmas cards yet!!!! (Clue: not going to happen. Again... *sigh*) Now you see why I took some leave in October to deal with Christmas preps (just ignore for the moment the fact that I didn't do any  - it was vitally important that I read those 6 books. Vitally important....).

Am having a bit of a Biblical week (trying not to read too much into this...) - more work than you can shake a stick at, loads to do of an evening, and what happens? My work laptop dies a rather sudden and unexpected death. Which is when we really give importance to words like "back-up" (ah, yes...)... Anyway, that at least doubled my work (re-doing stuff and just making everything more difficult), and then the weather took a turn for the very mildly apocalyptic (we're doomed! Sorry, couldn't resist....).

So I'm expecting Christmas to be cancelled at any moment (which would be typical - just as I finish buying the presents....). 50% of me would be in favour of a small delay in arrival at least - give more of a purpose to ye olde New Year. So much to do, so little time... Note to self: buying presents is not enough - you must wrap them. Must. Wrap. Presents.

Against this atmosphere of disaster, gloom and last-minute traumas, I decided tonight was the night for the triumphant return to the gym. I do not intend to dwell on the woman on the treadmill in her tiny white t-shirt and teeny black hot-pants (we're not at home to that sort of showing off in our gym!). Hopefully she'll not be back and I won't have to dignify her with a name... But, anyway, back to me (as ever!): I thought I was doing quite well as the whole gym thing went quite well.... Then I got home and discovered I'd dropped 2 difficulty levels on the cross-trainer (that'd explain why it wasn't as tricky as it might have been..., then). Story of the week right there, people!

;oD

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 29 mins, 4 miles [Level 4]

63. The problems with Zen travelling

So I'm trying to be more Zen about my travelling. Trying not to get so wound up about the fact that some people seem to be surprised when officials at the airport scanners ask them to take their jackets off (really? You miss the signs, the pictures, the annoying hologram woman....? Really?!?), and so forth. I shan't dwell on this (much) as it's sort of anti-Zen. And there's enough of that to come....

A small success has been achieved in terms of the "We know that many of you are frequent travellers, but we do ask that you do us the courtesy of giving your full attention to our short safety briefing" issue. You know, the fact that I appear to be the only person on any plane who actually pays any attention to this, up to and including reading the safety card (I'll admit noting and finding interesting the differences between the safety cards is geeky). Despite the fact that I'm pretty much word-perfect in the briefing for at least 3 different airlines... Anyway, the success was that when I was island-hopping round the Caribbean (did I mention that I'd been on holiday in the Caribbean recently?), I went off on my rant about people not paying attention (so rude!), etc. And was promptly designated the aircraft safety person as a result (who knew that such a vacancy existed?!).

Now, this might seem like my being taken advantage of (uh, or something) but I was actually comforted. I had a role. I was not merely being anal. And, crucially, my role meant that I had to pay attention whether anyone else did or not. Since my return I have taken this small measure of comfort with me on all subsequent flights.... It works for me, and I am soooo much calmer in the run-up to take-off, concentrating hard to ensure the safety of my fellow (frankly, ungrateful) passengers.

Sadly, I have yet to find something to calm me upon landing. Really, people, would it kill you to leave your 'phone off and stay in your seat at the very least until the fasten seat-belt sign goes off LIKE THE AIR STEWARD JUST TOLD YOU TO????!!!! My last landing, as the plane finally stopped rolling to a stop, the woman behind me felt the need to call someone just to say (literally) "We've just landed" and half the people in front of me bounced out of their seats for their bags AND THE ENGINES WERE STILL RUNNING!!!

I have to find some way to counteract this, as it simply can't be good for me to walk off every flight I take seething at the fact that people can't follow very simple instructions... Gah!!!! Suggestions?

(*_*)

Today's stats:
Christmas prep - eating and TV-watching... Was going to go to the gym now that I'm no longer ill. But didn't.

62. Bzzzt! Hello? Hello? Anyone there?

Well, it's been a while... But part of that involved toddling off to a series of beaches in the Caribbean for a fortnight of holiday frolicking. Which was very nice... And not entirely lacking in activity - some swimming, lots of walking/hiking... Almost athletic, in fact!

I continued my charitable giving, too, laying on a veritable feast for the mosquitoes. They've never eaten so good, as far as I can tell - gluttony obviously being less of a concern when you're a tiny flying biting thing. Need to research insect repellant - my attractiveness overcame all brands of insect repellant tested to date.

Now that I'm back... It's far too cold for me right now to go outside, I can't currently contemplate wearing less than 5 layers (and so visiting the gym seems to be a bit of a step too far), and the obligatory post-holiday cold is kicking in with a vengeance. So order of the day is sitting in front of the TV enjoying the magic that is a working radiator in the sitting room...

But there is much to be done in the coming weeks. I need to decide on next year's challenge(s), rather than just agonise over them. I need to get back into regular exercise before I no longer need multiple layers of clothing to look like the Michelin Man... Oh, yes, and there's thon Christmas thingy coming up... Might get to all of that after I read the latest Lilith Saintcrow book (literature is important for the soul, you know).

Also need to recover from the shock of going to the supermarket (to replenish the cupboards), forgetting half of the essentials I needed, picking up a few Christmas present items, and managing to spend an entire month's shopping budget in one trip! And I haven't even got the important Christmas presents yet!! AND I'll need to go back in a couple of days to get all the stuff that I forgot!!! Need a drink to recover from the shock - luckily I may be short of food, but I'm rolling in rum at the moment.

Hic!

:o)

61. The power of positive thinking

So... Been a bit quiet of late... Well, you see, the thing is...

As happens every so often in my "training regime" I had a week of sloth - couldn't really be bothered with the exercise lark. And didn't feel 100%...

Which devolved into a second week of really not feeling well, and even less exercise...

After 2 weeks of loafing about, I exhibit all the features expected of someone who has done little more than lounge around feeling sorry for oneself and compensating by eating accordingly (when I got around to eating)... Great preparation for the beach...

Feeling a bit perkier this week (hence post) but very tired and so, as yet, have yet to darken the gym's door this week... Ho, hum...

So I am embracing my usual holiday preparation: think oneself thin. I was relatively fit and toned at the end of May (and even a few weeks ago), and so this is quite vexing, but still... If I believe that I am trim, toned and healthy, then that is what I will be. I believe, and therefore I am.

It's as good a strategy as any (and the only one left to me, apart from "stop eating the Christmas chocolates!")...

:o}

Today's stats:
Holiday prep (continued) - lots of eating and TV-watching... Ooops!

60. Supermarket sweep

They say that you shouldn't go to the supermarket when hungry, but I sneer in the general direction of such advice. Shopping when hungry leads to all sorts of interesting foodstuffs being bought for trial, and that makes life that little bit more interesting...

That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!

Sadly, over the past week, I seem to have taken the end of the 5x50 challenge to heart, and have done little this week other than consume forbidden food and loaf about on the sofa... Which, let's face it, I enjoy far, far more than all the other stuff... There should be a limit in the amount of "bad for you" food that a body can consume in a week, but luckily a visit to the supermarket can provide one with a whole new supply of different (but equally bad) foodstuffs... Yum, yum, yum...

Still, it has to end, and end now... There's and appointment with a beach fast approaching, and I don't really need to increase my body mass for that - I can build up the standard winter-proofing blubber thereafter... Surely...

On the subject of supermarkets (no, really, this is interesting) I recently discovered that Scotmid ("the Co-op") and the Co-operative (erm, "the Co-op") are completely different shops. Apparently Scotmid use the Co-operative name (and branding and stock and offers) under license, but otherwise they are different companies... And a £2.50 voucher for Scotmid will not be accepted in the Co-operative.... Who knew?! I shall need to watch this in future... But it does explain why they keep opening shops within 5 minutes walk of each other. Fascinating stuff, eh? [WAKE UP!!]

Oh, and in exciting news, I was again lucky on the Lottery - a £2.70 win this time! Early retirement is a step or two closer... If only I wasn't spending more than that weekly buying tickets, all would be golden... Hey, ho...

:o)

Today's stats:
Holiday prep - lots of eating and TV-watching... Ooops!

59. Expect delays

The Council hates me - it's really the only sensible explanation. And, also, they're becoming quite gallus about displaying this hatred...

I have one main route to drive to work. The Council has just approved gas main replacement works on this route (a fairly major and busy road) for 22 weeks. Yes, that's right - 28 weeks of roadworks!!! Big sign - "roadworks for 28 weeks - expect delays - use alternative route".

Well, OK. Except, my second route to work has roadworks on it - gas main replacement works again, oddly - causing, well, delays. So can't go that way.

That's it for easy routes to work... And that's ignoring the fact that they've just slapped down some roadworks on the road outside my house. Route 3 is a bit silly (drive out of my way to get round the roadworks) and bumpy (there goes the rest of my suspension), but not too much longer than the normal route(s)... Except some roadworks have appeared on this route too! Seems to just be surface replacement works, but come on! This is persecution!! Of the highest order!!

Route 4 is a slightly different version of Route 3... We shall see how long it takes for them to schedule some roadworks on that route too.... Assuming that my car survives the quaint cobblestones and accursed speedbumps which are now its daily challenge...

I shall have to see if there is some way to appease the Council before I end up trapped in my own home, in the cold (yes, radiator in sitting room still not working - must get that fixed... With the mythical money which I will be printing in my office any day now...)

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 25 mins, 3.1 miles [Level 6]

58. Damp squibs

And so, the 5x50 challenge ended... On Sunday... With more of a squeak than a roar, as it turns out...

I went for a walk to the library and back on Saturday (taking me to the grand total of 252km logged since 9th September - 2km over the 250km minimum required!). Fully intending to go to the gym on Sunday and put in some more miles, it being the last day and all...

Wandered to the gym (eventually) at around 9pm on Sunday only to find my way barred, my entry denied, my gym-time cut short before it could begin! After much pushing and pulling of the door (I do like to check that it's not just me), I accepted defeat: no exercise for me on Sunday. Darn...

My 5x50 was over somewhat earlier than planned... The argumentative amongst you might point out that I could still have done a 5km run (party poopers!) but I took this as a sign from God. My way was barred - this is the Good Lord telling me to go home, sit down... And eat ice cream. He was actually quite firm on the eating of ice cream part - go figure?!

Of course, later (much, much later) it occurred to me that maybe the time lock on the gym door had not been re-set to take account of  the clocks going forward... And that my way was barred due to the gym thinking that it was 10pm and thus shut, rather than 9pm and still open... But I like the "sign from God" scenario better and so that's what I'm sticking to!

Soooo, Challenge 3 finished. Challenge 4 undecided. The nights have drawn in, the days are suddenly ridiculously short, and it's cold, cold, cold.... From whence will come the motivation to continue with the endless exercise regime?

Oh, yes - beach soon. *sigh* Must stop eating ice cream...

:o)

Saturday's stats:
Walking - 23 mins, 1.4 miles

57. The big chill

Well, now that the nights have drawn in, and the days are short and dark... It's time for the temperature drops. And, Lordy, how they've dropped! I'm cooooooold!

I meant to go for a run tonight, but it was all just too cold. I have cold-weather gear, but convinced myself I couldn't find it, and so again retired to the gym. Ho, hum, more miles slogged through, tick, tick, tick.

The 5x50 challenge finishes this Sunday (ruining, ruining I say, the gift that is the clocks going back). 5x50 = 250 (no, really?!) and my little log of progress tells me that I've already done 249km... So, the question is, after I walk around the place tomorrow (quickly, of course), will I actually both to slog my way through 5km on Sunday? Hmmmm? Place your bets now, please, ladies and gentlemen...

Other than that, I am trying to keep at the forefront of my mind that this weekend I start preparing for Christmas. Yes, Christmas. November and December are strangely short and manic, and so I must prepare now or make my life an unnecessarily complicated nightmare for the next 2 months...

Of course, statistically, it is far more probable that I will spend the next few days curled up in bed (where it's warm!) reading...

What will happen next?! The excitement is very nearly tangible...

;oD

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 31 mins, 4 miles [Level 6]

56. Well, if I must...

The cake-avoidance is going terribly well - I remain firm and strong in the face of all cakes....

If, by "firm and strong" one means "quivers like a jelly" and "collapses like a blancmange"... *sigh*

When I'm trying to be good, people turn up with free cakes which I have to taste-test because they want feedback... And, let's face it, who would provide better feedback than such a practised cake aficionado? Admittedly, that only explains why I ate cake number 1 - justification for eating cake number 2 is pending (can't really think of anything except that cake number 1 tasted really good...).

Luckily, I can work all this cake off by yet another visit to the gym... Lucky, lucky me... Although, all this "5x50" nonsense is getting old - I keep booking fitness classes and then cancelling them because I don't have time to work, do a fitness class, sleep AND do my daily 5km... Next week I shall attempt a triumphant return. Or, at the very least, a return!

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 29 mins, 4 miles [Level 5]

55. Lucky, lucky me

This year has - comparatively speaking - gone quite well, really. Much, much better than 2010 and 2011.

Flushed with this success, I decided to chance my arm, test my (notoriously non-existent) luck, and buy some lottery tickets. On a regular basis.

And it's not gone terribly. I have, indeed, had a "winning" ticket a time or 2. But before we start getting all excited (me most of all!) I should point out that one can have a "winning ticket" and only win £2.50...

Which I have done a couple of times. And I've won £10 once too (woooo!). Today's excitement was of a different type... £6.60!! Yes, indeedy! Another victory! And yet, still not actually won back more than I put in... If one wants to be pernickety.... At this rate, I'll be able to officially state that I won a million on the lottery in, well, uh, about 200 years (assuming that I win £10 a week... Which isn't happening...)

But I am now officially a lottery winner (several times over) - crack open the champagne and get out the camera, people: let's celebrate!

:o)

Today's stats:
Cycling (in the gym) - 36 mins, 7 miles [Level 5]

54. Fizz-fueled

*Hic*

Pulled myself from my normal life of sloth to zip over to see ZG after work. It's about 5km if you walk, so... Walked! Bought fizz en route, drank half of it when I got there...

Whee!

Need to do that more often. Walk back was shorter - there was a bus, OK, right there... What was I to do?! Tee-hee!

Other than that, I am slightly worried by my sudden addiction to peanut butter sandwiches. 2 last night 1 tonight... Not excessive, but still... Might take a break tomorrow night - there are only so many carbs that a body needs... Particularly when it's 4 weeks to beach...

;oD


Today's stats:
Walking - 57 mins, 3.37 miles
Walking - 15 mins, 0.96 miles
Walking - 23 mins, 1.4 miles [Monday] 

53. Splosh

Water seems to be the theme of the week...

My training would have been sadly rain-interrupted this week, but I have also had a gym available to me for most of the week. Which is good (in a way). Still, as can be seen from the below, my input to the "5x50" challenge seems to be a weekly slow start followed by some panicked catch-up later in the week. Which is bad. The old saying is true - you can take a person's running kit away on business, but you can't make them wear it....

Looked in my famously food-free fridge the other day and was rather alarmed by the number of bottles of water in it: there is actually little room for food in the fridge currently. It is a little-discussed thing - every running event you go to you end up with at least one water bottle at the end. I'm sure other people throw them away (or at least put them in the recycling). But I look at them, think "that could be useful", take the bottle home and fill it with tap water. Sadly too much "useful" becomes a rather worrying collection. New challenge - reduce water storage capacity and free the fridge!

The Terminator had been redeeming himself of late - in gym before me, leaving after me - until tonight. Wandering in 20 mins before the gym shuts to do a bit of cross-training is not scary! I expect better from the scary people in the gym!

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 36 mins, 5 miles
Cycling (in gym) - 20 mins, 4.399 miles [Monday]
Walking - 16 mins, 1 mile [Tuesday]
Walking - 17 mins, 1 mile [Tuesday]
Cycling (in gym) - 37 mins, 7 miles [Thursday]

52. Lessons identified

Some years ago, I found myself standing in Stansted trying to get on an Easyjet flight to Glasgow which was actually flying from Luton. Which confused myself and the check-in girl no end....

Lesson I learned from that - always double-check the airports on the Easyjet flight booking.

Really, that should just have been "double-check the booking that you've actually made with Easyjet". Rather than the one that you were trying to make, and indeed thought that you had made...

If I'd learned that lesson then I would not have found myself again standing before a confused Easyjet check-in girl trying to board a flight which actually left the night before... Ooops... I was mentally flogging myself over being so stupid when she told me that I was the second person that evening who had turned up on Friday having booked a flight for Thursday.... Well at least I had company... As I was standing at the check-in desk trying to decide the best way forward, a man turned up to check-in for the same flight... Only to discover that he too had apparently booked the Thursday night flight instead!

At this point, I started to suspect an Easyjet conspiracy, with their online booking system being deeply complicit in booking you on to wrong flights so that they could at least get another £35 out of you to change it later.... Not helped by the fact that you have to confirm your flight details multiple times between adverts for things you don't want (the flight confirmation is 90% adverts for other stuff and 10% actual flight details)....

Lesson identified? Watch the Easyjet flight booking process very, very carefully...

Or, alternatively, actually read your booking confirmation rather than printing it out and quickly moving on to other stuff!

:o)

Today's stats:
Walking - 36 mins, 2.11 miles
Walking - 19 mins, 1.2 miles
Walking - 17 mins, 1 mile

51. Noye's Fludde

The heavens opened mid-afternoon, and the rain has not stopped since... It's quite depressing, really (although, I'm sure that it makes up for our unseasonably dry, erm, May)... But, on the positive side, it's far too wet and miserable for me to go out running. Yay!

The Terminator has redeemed himself the past 2 nights - a return to form! There before I entered the gym, still going as I left. It's reassuring to have some constants in life...

One of the freebies from the Kilomathon was some sweets - "Kopiko", they're called - "Mini coffee treats" is how they're described. I'm not sure about the "sweet" description, but they are most definitely "coffee". In fact, each one is like drinking a cup of coffee. Now, I like coffee as much as the next caffeine addict: or, rather, I like caffeine. But I do prefer my caffeine liquid, and preferably hot. Being able to "drink" a cop of coffee super-quick by eating a single sweet may be very efficient, but it just doesn't have the romance of sitting down and pondering over a cup of coffee.

So, there you are, Kopiko - all the caffeine, none of the romance.

I feel very public-spirited now - I've shared some knowledge and benefited my society... Or something...

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 30 mins, 4 miles (Level 5)

50. Keeping going

Running out of time at an alarming rate this week, and coming up to another round of heavy-duty traveling... Which always makes doing my 5km per day soooo much easier...

Have noticed that, weirdly, cycling makes me use my stomach muscles a lot. Finished my 7 miles, and have a very sore stomach... Normally I'd reach for some cake to help with that (the curative powers of a nice piece of cake should not be underestimated), but...

I have a beach to prepare for... So No more cake for me. Nuh-huh. Not a single piece...

We'll see how long that self-promise lasts...

*sigh*

:o)

Today's stats:
Cycling (in the gym) - 37 mins, 7 miles

49. Carried away

Up early this morning (but at a reasonable hour, not like last week's trauma) for the Bupa Great Edinburgh 10k run. Toddle off in the sunshine (yes - sunshine!) for a tour of the Edinburgh hills. Ugh...

Then a bit of a walk. Then decide to wash the car. Then decide to do some housework, and sort out some stuff online. Busy, busy , busy...

Am now puggled to the point of collapse, and have not actually done everything that I meant to do this weekend... Note to self - pay better attention to the amount of caffeine being ingested in the "running aids" consumed...

(@_@)

Nonetheless, successfully collected more loot today, bringing the medal total to $1

On balance, the Kilomathon medal is still the coolest... I want the marathon medal to be the coolest, but let's face it, it has issues....

Am now entering the winter hibernating season - oooh, too cold to run outside - although I now have 5 weeks of desperate toning to complete. There's a beach in my future, and I'd like to be fairly happy on it... And, of course, the 5x50 challenge (Challenge 3!) runs to the end of October... *sigh*

:o)

Today's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour (yesterday)
10k Run - see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/
Walking - 30 mins, 1.56 miles

48. The things I do for charity

Today I had to force myself to eat cake and drink tea. Not only that, but I had to encourage many others to do so, whilst exhorting them to pay for the privilege.

And why was this obscene cake-athon taking place? For charity, you know...

The terrible, terrible things that I have to do to raise money for good causes... It's a bit sad, really... *sigh*

Sadly, the downside to all this hard charity work is that it forces me to spend even more time in the gym... Which is good - because, for another charity, I have to be fit enough to run 10k on Sunday - but at the same time a little socially limiting.

For example, my Friday evening this week consisted of:
- leave work, drive to supermarket, shop, drive to garage;
- blow up car's tyres (really should get that slow puncture fixed...), put petrol in car, drive home;
- get changed, go to the gym, go home, stretch;
- collapse on sofa with some pasta.... And then (aaargh!) some ice cream...

There's a vicious cycle going on there - I no sooner burn off some calories than I am embracing some new ones... Hmmm... Must contemplate this over the nice glass of wine that I'm off to pour for myself...

;oD

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 30 mins, 4 miles

47. Best laid plans

The idea of the 5x50 Challenge is that you do 5km per day. Which really shouldn't be that hard - relatively speaking, 3.1 miles (= 5km) is not that far....

Here we are, just over half way through (day 26 of 50!) and I seem unable to actually do the daily thing. Which leads to ridiculous catch-up efforts (9 miles today!) which makes everything harder... Plus it also undermines the potential benefits - apparently if you do something for 19 days straight then you form a habit. In this case, supposedly a good habit (regular exercise! Yay! Hmmm...). We'll see if I can at least achieve 19 days straight doing 5km in the coming weeks (since I've resolutely failed so far.

Other than that, it was as well that I was in the gym tonight as the first thing that I did when I got home was kick off my shoes, and then stand on one and fall over it. Not something that you could so if you tried, but managed to really hurt the arch of my foot as I did so (I'm hearing disbelief - no, really, it hurts!). Hopefully it will be all better by this Sunday's 10km jaunt (again, hearing disbelief - I fell over/onto a shoe, alright? It hurts!!).

Have to try to fit in some more miles tomorrow to try to give myself a bit of a rest on Saturday before the silliness that is "running" 10km...

:o)

Today's stats:
Cycling (in gym) - 47 mins, 9 miles

46. Mis-selling, part 2

The second part to the last post was a rant about Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) that I forgot to write... But I put so much time into it, you might as well get to "enjoy" it now...

I received (yet) another text today about PPI. This one informed me that there was £2,467.67 available for me to claim on PPI on my loans and credit cards. Which is exciting, but... If we ignore for a second that I'm very careful who I give my mobile number to (and therefore am not sure how these people are getting hold of it!), there are significant problems with this text.

I never, ever signed up to PPI. I always said no. They asked, and asked, and I always said no. Now, this leaves me somewhat randomly jealous of those who are getting lump sums for insurance they were mis-sold (although I know that that's probably only part of what was paid out). But, let's face it, there's some smugness there in that I didn't buy insurance that I didn't need... But the texts are spoiling that! And the e-mails. And the radio adverts. And, just everything. On, and on, and on, they go. I DIDN'T BUY ANY! LEAVE ME ALONE!!

Obviously, if this were not a rest day, I would be working off this frustration by doing some 5x50 training. But since I'm not, just annoyed. Although I have to be careful this week. I discovered on the Kilomathon that I might get away without properly tapering, but I really need the couple of rest days before the "run" that I gave myself on the longer runs. Was very tired from the start of the "run" which is never good when distance stretches before one...

So, this week, must not slack off and then try to catch up at the end of the week... Despite doing nothing today... And probably doing nothing tomorrow... Hmmm... Wednesday's going to be fun...

*sigh*

:o)

Today's stats:
Absolutely nothing - recovering from the 13.1km trauma of the Kilomathon (see: http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/)

45. Mis-selling

Bodybalance is a class made up of a mix of yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. It's supposed to build flexibility and strength, and leave one centred and calm.

Sounds soothing, fluffy, gentle and not very stressful, eh?

Phwah! No one has told them that, obviously. 10 minutes into today's class and I was gasping for breath and desperate for it all to end. And it doesn't involve any jumping around - it is all stretches and floor exercises... Just very, very hard ones! Ignoring the impossibility of Bird Pose (seriously, never going to happen!), today was the introduction of the new class (they change every 6 weeks or so) and it's just nasty. I fully expect not to be able to move my abs tomorrow morning - so, particularly good class today the day before a run... *sigh*

It's a bit like massages - they sound like nice relaxing things to do... And then you get there and the pain is quite indescribably unexpected.... Even though I have now had 3 massages (yes, I am counting, and yes, they were that memorable. The pain, the pain...!) and should really know better. I mean, OK, you do feel better afterwards, but there's a good few minutes when you're suppressing the urge to deck the person giving you the massage... And you wonder why on earth you're doing this to yourself...

Still, maybe in 6 weeks' time I'll be incredibly flexible and, erm, strong and it will all seem worthwhile...!

:o)

Today's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour
Walking - 59 mins, 3.16 miles

44. Catching up

Ooof...

Busy, busy, busy... Then off to gym... Now trying to pamper my feet (although they aren't particularly cooperating at the moment)...

Was a woman in the gym today - there when I arrived, and when I left - trying out for the Terminator 3 role (not sure that there really needs to be a new Terminator, but...). She was running away on Darth Treadmill when I arrived; after 15 mins she suddenly starts answering her 'phone and chatting away to people... While still running! Unfair! Unnecessary!! And quite possibly evil....

I'm not sure that she deserves the title of Terminator 3, though - after 20 minutes she started walking (quickly) on Darth T rather than continuing to run... Hey, I could do that!

Although, The Terminator himself was in the gym last night with a very poor effort. He turned up 15 minutes before the gym closed - when I'd already been there for a good 30 or so... What was the point of that?! His scariness is reducing.... He'll be wandering around muttering "Hasta la vista, baby" any day now...

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer (in gym) - 59 mins, 8 miles

43. Slight thaw

Mini update:

Central heating fixed (not the world's cheapest repair - farewell £400 - and that was for fixing a problem which had yet to cause the central heating to stop working!).

All rooms in house now warmed by a short spell of the radiators being turned on.

Apart from the one I'm sitting in. Because the one radiator in the whole house which is not working is the one in the living room. Of course...

Tomorrow, I shall be attempting to remove the head of the radiator's TRV and free the pin within to see if that gets the radiator working again... Not that I understand what all of that means, but that's what the experts online say will work, and who am I to argue?

Too cold to type more at present... Off to my nice cosy bed (radiator works in bedroom)...

:o)

Today's stats:
Cycling (in gym) - 39 mins, 7 miles

42. The big chill

In my previous home, I had a very nice Worcester condensing combi boiler. It wasn't brand new, but it worked very nicely, and no trouble did I have for the 3 years that I lived there.

Now I live in a new build house. The Boiler is new. It's a condensing boiler - not a combi. And in the 2 and a half years that I have lived here it has done nothing but cause trouble. We would appear to be engaged in something of a cold (ha!) war, in fact. The stupid central heating/ hot water system has already had to be repaired twice. And now that the temperatures have dropped...

I caved last night - having promised myself that I would be strong and not turn on the central heating until the end of October - and tried to turn the heating on. Just for a bit. An hour or so. The hot water worked; the central heating not so much. So I wandered around bleeding radiators (3 were full of air. 3!) and tightening others (note - when fitting systems to new build houses, it would appear that everyone assumes that someone else will finish off the job properly. Which means that no one does...).

Nothing. Nada. Zip. I sit here, swaddled in more layers than any one person should be wearing indoors (and, I'll admit, if I move even a bit I break out in a sweat... But I'm trying to lounge on my sofa here!). Eating ice cream (damn you, G&T, for introducing me to mint leaves and choc chip ice cream!!) in the Russian style of keeping oneself warm when it's cold by eating even colder things...

Tomorrow, I 'phone someone to come and fix the stupid thing. And woe betide it if it's an expensive repair, as I lack the patience to do this annually and it could very well find itself becoming a former boiler/ central heating system/ whatever. So there!

:o(

Today's stats:
Went for a "run": see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/

41. Efficiency, they name is...

Well, that's Saturday done. So early, I hear you cry? Am knackered - completely and utterly puggled...

Had to catch up the rest of my km on the 5x50 challenge... And get my hair cut... And go to the library... And take stuff to the dry cleaners/repairers...

So obviously the first thing that I did today was sleep in. I didn't exactly jump out of bed and run to Bodybalance, but I did have to drag myself there at a fast clip.

And because I got up late I didn't do my run this morning (oh dear... Deary, deary me,,,). So straight after Bodybalance I went to the gym and punished myself through 30 mins on the cross-trainer.

Scoot then directly to the shower, throw some things in a bag, leave the house again to walk to the hairdresser's via the library (librarian very nice, but wanted a big chat about my books as I'd bought guides for my holiday destination and she appeared very interested... On a clock here, woman!) and the dry cleaner's (again, chatting going on about when would be best to pick the clothes back up again - I can only do this next Saturday and so there's NOTHING TO DISCUSS!)... It's pretty much all uphill, you know...

Arrived at hairdresser's out of breath and really quite tired, but bang on time. They were very amused by the fact that I arrived and just stood there gasping at them... I am an endless source of amusement to all around me. Yay! @_@

Came home the long way (had miles to make up). Then, to treat myself, I went to the supermarket and bought enough calorie-rich food to undo all the benefits of that hard work.

Genius!

;oD

Saturday's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour
Walking - 2.27 miles, 35 mins
Walking - 3.39 miles, 57 mins
Cross-trainer (in gym) - 30 mins, 4.3 miles

40. Running to catch up...

.... Or, rather, cycling to catch up... In a static location...

This week has gone remarkably well (clue: this statement meets all the requirements of what is known as "sarcasm"). Even after I actually went out jogging (in the actual outside world) - see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/.

Here we are at Friday already, only 1 day to go, and have 25+ km to go in order to reach this week's 35km target (note shift away from 5km per day concept - yes, well, I hurt my leg, and so forth). Bit of a challenge there... Which is a good thing, of course... But then so is sleep...


Yet another Friday evening spent in the gym - not even The Terminator to keep me company this week - desperately trying to get some decent miles in...

Slogged my way through a very quick bike ride (maybe went to the gym a bit late... maybe didn't quite have enough time to do all the miles that I wanted to).... Must remember to be careful sitting down tomorrow!

Unfortunately, I still have another 15km to get through before the end of Saturday... Must remember to not fall so far behind again.

In other news, I am overjoyed to be home after getting on for 5 days away from home... I'm sure that such things would be pleasant if they involved sunshine and Long Island Iced Teas... But it was work, work, work, and then a return to the deep chill. I feel a cold coming on now, though - all these changes in environment are very bad for one's health... Next week's excuse coming along nicely!

;oD


Today's stats:
Cycling - 6.6 miles, 38 mins

39. The blind leading the blind

Well, it's official, the nights are drawing in... And, ooh, it's getting chilly in the evening, isn't it?

All this means that getting out for a jog (let's be honest, there's no real running going on) is becoming trickier. Particularly when I find myself stranded in the country.

Oh, yes, I'm sure the scenic views are lovely, and the wide-open spaces are enjoyable, but really, what is it that the countryside residents have against streetlights?! Hmmm??

You try jogging along a rather uneven pavement (which ends somewhere ahead of you although you're not sure where) - believe me, the fear of the black unknown ahead of you slows your pace down to a crawl. Not to mention the danger inherent in being blinded every couple of minutes as a car zooms past you (admittedly also lighting up the road ahead: if only you could see past the glare).

Fun it's not. Even walking quickly is a test of one's nerves.

Note to self: remember that night falls by around 8pm once you hit September - stay in hotels in civilised locations from then on!

Oh, and 5x50 Challenge? Yes, well, got a lot of catching up to do ("daily" apparently no longer includes Sundays, Wednesdays or Thursdays...). Hey, ho...

:o)

Monday's stats:
Walking - 1.71 miles, 29 mins

38. Balance and bimble and burn

Oof!

Made up my 5x50 kms today - hit 36kms for the week. Yay!

I have to report that the gym is heavily under-utilised from around 9pm of a Friday and Saturday evening... Can't think why - but works for me!

Rest of the day was lost to the trauma of trying to decide where to go on holiday on my own... Cycling in Cuba? Island-hopping in the French Antilles? Journeying through Belize? Circling Sri Lanka, including by train? Decisions, decisions... Or rather general lack there of.

I want to do all of them - but apparently I can't. And I don't want to do any of them on my own - but apparently I have to.

Boo!

Still - I guess that it's a good problem to have.... Although it probably would have been more productive to do the washing up...

Dull!

;oD

Saturday's stats:
Bodubalance - 1 hour
Walking - 1.73 miles, 29 mins
Cross-trainer (on gym) - 23 mins, 3.2 miles

37. The challenges associated with sitting down

Ah, yes... I'd forgotten about that....

I like cycling. I also like sitting down without pain. Sadly, there are somewhat mutually exclusive likes.... Might lay of the cycling for a bit - I know that one can build up tolerance/immunity (how? why? Never quite understood that...) but not in the space of a single week, I think...

And I am rather fond of sitting down in comfort...

Still, very nearly back on track - 28-ish kilometres completed in-week. Just need to do the final 7 and then try not to get myself in this position again next week...

Oh, and I haven't forgotten that I was going to write something about the Paralympics - just haven't got around to it yet... Will be next weekend at this rate - but, worth waiting for, surely...?!

:o)

Friday's stats:
Cycling (on gym) - 30 minutes, 5 miles

36. Spreadsheet analysis

I usually love "Location, Location, Location". And Kirsty and Phil. But tonight.... Really aggravating!

Why?

Point 1: it is not actually de facto a sign of maturity ("growing up") that you decide to have children and thus move to a village in the country - it is quite possible to raise children in a town environment or even *gasp* a city. Some people don't like villages. There is not intrinsic link there with adulthood, Kirsty, thank you very much!!

Point 2: just because people are accountants, it does not actually follow that they love spreadsheets - they may hold a deep affection for abacuses, I don't know. But, either way, commenting once that the couple being assisted are "spreadsheet-loving accountants" is one thing: to do so in every, every single link is quite another. Did they think we'd forgotten? Could they genuinely not come up with something else that accountants might like (off the top of my head, numbers and balance sheets, just for an example)?! Lazy and infuriating television: Kirsty, don't do this again - you have been warned!!

Apart from that, catching up on my "5 km a day" target (more of a "35 km a week" target now) with a swift cycle in the gym (cold, wet and blustery outside - no). Which I enjoyed - easier than running, legs hurt no worse at the end than the start (although they were slightly befuddled) - all good. Yay for cycling! Although, doubtless I would have enjoyed it less if I was trying to drag myself (and the bike) uphill - but that's a challenge for another day...

Sadly, had to miss TBT today as it wouldn't all fit in... And my next opportunity to test out the new instructor will be October! But these things happen... Don't want to over-train (*tee-hee*)...

:o)

Latest stats:
Cycling (on gym) - 38 minutes, 6 miles

35. 5x50 Challenge

Aaaannnnnnd, we're back!

Yes indeedy, rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated (honest!).

After a quick trip to the Paralympics (more on that later), from 9th September I have been taking part in the "5x50" Challenge. Sort of...

Day 1 was 5km on the treadmill (see other blog). Which was OK, except my leg hurt at the end of it. And the next day (= nothing achieved on Day 2), and the next (= nothing achieved on Day 3).... Well, this is going well...!

Luckily, this isn't a running challenge per se, as I can run, walk, jog or cycle my daily 5km.... So today I went off on an extended wander (as quickly as possible) to try to fall no further behind... Not sure how I'm going to make up my missing 10km, but I'm sure that it'll be possible. As long as the leg cooperates...

Hmph.

:o)

Latest stats:
Walking - 55 minutes, 3.31 miles

34. End of an era

Today was a sad day.... The final TBT class with smiley, smiley instructor. *sniff*

Blooming hard work, but at least we didn't have to work on our arms (again!). My arms are barely functioning as it is! Won't be at TBT next week, and so it'll be a fortnight before I find out what the new instructor is like...

Otherwise, I had a rather Biblical trip to work today. It's like the traffic Gods looked down, thought "Hmmm, in a rush to get to work today? Got a meeting with customer at a set time?"... And deployed delays accordingly. Random roadworks, random delays, bridges with temporary closures... That'll be a half-hour journey that took an hour, then....

Aaargh!

:o}

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour

33. Sweet inspiration

My on-going mission to taste test all the confectionery released "in support of" the Olympics and Paralympics has reached a new height.

I have discovered Swizzels Champions!

 

These are truly great - a small selection for your edification....

But I did get slightly confused by this one:

iMOM, I'm thinking. What's iMOM? Hmmm.... 10 minutes of careful thought later, I happened upon another version of this particular sweet, from a slightly different angle...

Wow, indeed! Hom dim am I?! WOW! Still, tasty...

*sigh*

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour (Tuesday)

32. Bats in the belfry

Disaster struck en route to the cinema this evening. Yet again one of my earphones died a death and left me with music blaring in one ear and silence in the other. It's a wonder that I managed to get where I was going with the lopsidedness that resulted....

It would appear that I am rather hard on earphones - that's my third set! - although I really don't know why. It's not like I'm using them for purposes for which they were not designed, like hanging Christmas cards or washing off them. Hmph.

The upside was that, in a bit of a mood, I finally found the spare earphones that I knew I had in the house. That I looked for and could not find last time my earphones failed. In the drawer where I thought they were. In the drawer that I had already been through 3 or 4 times looking for them.... Which, while extremely vexing, is ultimately a good thing. Yay!

Cinema trip was good, if long-delayed (we had to interrupt the scheduled trip for the Olympics... Ah, the memories...). Batman (or, rather, "The Dark Knight Rises") was the film of choice. We could have done with a picnic to get us through - it's a loooooong film. It's good, pretty, and full of gadgets, but... The second film felt a bit long at times, but was saved by Heath Ledger's performance. This time... It just felt long. And a little overly-convoluted. And worryingly relaxed about the effects of nuclear fall-out, frankly... It also ended in the same way as the second film - everyone died. Or did they....?! But less confusingly, as I remember waiting for Rachel to reappear at the end of the second film (everyone else had) - apparently it was really important that she die, though. Can't say she was missed - Anne Hathaway was v good as Catwoman - I'd happily watch all of her bits again. Cillian Murphy remains brilliantly mental - I do like the way he just turns up in each of the films (staying true to the revolving doors policy of Arkham Asylum). You do have to wonder at the miraculous powers of prison, though - 8 years of limping, all sorted by a short spell of incarceration - there's surely some profit in that?!

Half-price cocktails remain a very, very good way to finish off a cinema trip. And I went with the healthy option for dinner - fish and chips (what? Fish is very good for you...). All made better by the company of good friends.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what happened to Bodypump (well, OK, I do know - I didn't go) but I was glad I went to Bodybalance as I was so wobbly that it's obvious I need to start doing the Pilates DVD again... But not right now - everything in moderation!

:o)

Latest stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour

31. To arms! To arms!

So, Wednesday arms better. Thursday arms back to barely functional. Spent all day dramatically wincing and using 2 hands to lift cups of coffee. Oooh, the pain... Took comfort from the fact that I don't need arms in order to run a half-marathon (in a way... Well, some comfort... Possibly slightly sarcastic comfort, but still...).

Then went to TBT. Smiley, smiley instructor was obviously inclined to torture me, as she decided - despite my dramatic wincing - that we'd do some more conditioning work on our arms...! Luckily, there's always an easy option, and I unashamedly easy-optioned my way through the entire session. Arms were again feeble after the class, but at least work today. No doubt they will again fail just in time for Bodypump tomorrow... The endless joys of trying to be fit and healthy continue.

Shock news from yesterday was that smiley, smiley instructor is quitting TBT as of next week! Reeling at the thought of having to get used to another instructor - God knows who we'll get next. As long as there's no requirement for grace to be involved... I can see that I'll have to re-think my entire exercise plan from the start of September...

Bother.

:o)

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour

30. T-Rex are us

So, another unscheduled mini-break there... Um, I was tired, it was hot, I had a headache, then another headache... Look, I was tired, OK?

Paid for my sloth today. Today (for no good reason) we decided to focus on arms in TBT. Now, I am aware that my arms have muscles because they move... But really my arm muscles can do little more than this. They are weak, and pathetic, and puny.

So an entire conditioning session focusing on arms is not good. Cue comedy moments where I'm working my triceps and after 8 reps my elbows (which must be pressing inwards) start spontaneously springing outwards, threatening to face-plant me into the gym's floor. Or when working other arm muscles (I'd lost track by this point) and my arms start locking and failing (again, face in danger of meeting floor at speed). Oof.

End result of all this "strengthening" activity is that I no longer have arms, but T-Rex-style appendages which are weakly flopping at my sides. I'm having to use both hands to lift anything. It's really very embarrassing...

Lots of work yet to do, then...

:o)

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour

29. Modern Pentathlon

Had visitors this weekend, which means the house has been tidied and cleaned. It now looks like a house in need of some tidying and cleaning, rather than a house which has recently been turned over by burglars.... So, progress...

My visitors were very useful. First, lots of walking on Saturday. Then my little sister (for it was she) dragged me out for a run (which went well, although it should be noted that she completed 8 miles in pretty much the same time that I did 7...). And, after that, her boyfriend fixed my bike. Yes - the bike is now fixed!! A whole range of cycling-based activities can now stretch before me! Assuming that I ever take the bike outside the house...

But the bar is set high now. No longer will visitors be allowed to just visit my (desperately tidied and cleaned) house. No, from now on they must: (a) inspire me to and/or join me in some sort of exercise activity; and (b) fix something in my house that is broken. I have standards you know...

:o)

Latest stats:
Running - see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/

28. Athletics

Busy, busy, busy today... Cleaning and tidying and running to the library and the bank and the chemist's...

Ready for a nice sit down and a cup of tea now...

Went to pick my dry cleaning up: it will give you and idea of how much dry cleaning I had managed to pile up if I tell you that the bill was £84! And that's after a "3 for 2" discount, and a discount card percentage off! Not sure whether I should stop wearing so many clothes, or just stop cleaning them.... Hmmm... Either way, probably best not to let such a big pile build up again as that many clothes way a ton - and it's all uphill to the dry cleaners...

Picked up a pile of books at the library (amongst other little jobs that I had to do today). Included in that is a book entitled "Get Into Running": perhaps this book will be the thing that cures me of my hatred of all things running...? Although I got it more as a support text for the theory in fitness training course...

After my tour of the town for practical reasons (quite a long walk), a short rest, and then off again to tour some of the sights in the town at the moment. Up hill and down dale (via quite a few hostelries, it has to be said) and then home again...

All in all, it's all been a bit hectic for me for a Saturday - shall hopefully return to my life of sloth tomorrow!

:o)

Latest stats:
Walking - 3.6 + 4 miles

27. Synchronised Swimming

Another day, another opportunity to go for a run missed... Anyone would think that I didn't enjoy running! As if...

*ahem*

Weather is still warm and sunny - makes me want to curl up on a sun lounger and snooze. Sadly there's this work thing going on...

On a sudden rush of optimism, I have entered my name into the ballot for the Ride London event in August 2013 (see http://www.ridelondon.co.uk/). This is obvious insanity - was last on a bike around 4 years ago! - and my only reassurance is that it's a ballot and I have extensive form on not being lucky with such things. Or at all. In fact, if luck is required for a positive result, I'll be over in the negative camp. Not that that's a bad place to be, but still, you have to wonder - did the Irish have to take all the luck? Leaving a few bits and pieces lying around for the less fortunate would have been at the very least kind of them...

I'm going to stop there before I descend into long-winded ramblings about leprechauns.... For the best, really...

:o)

Latest stats:
Cross-trainer - 5 miles, 37 minutes, Level 5

26. Taekwondo

Hmmmm... Should have gone for a 5 mile run yesterday and kind of didn't... Did manage to drag myself to TBT tonight, but still - is this really the preparation necessary to be able to run a half-marathon? I think not... Must do better.

It also doesn't bode well for Challenge 3 - 5km daily (walk, cycle or run) sounds fairly easy-going, but I've not managed anything that routine since I started this madness - I do like my days off... Still, by the time September comes, I'll probably have been inspired by the Olympics (and Paralympics) to new heights of sportiness... Or something...

The heatwave continues (one more day and the complaints will start that it's too hot and sunny - do love to discuss the weather, and negatively is usually best...). Obviously it will all be over by the time Saturday comes, but in the meantime I expect the "garden" to undergo another growing spurt soon. Torrential rain followed by blistering heat - ideal triffid-growing conditions... I still have my shears ready and waiting - more gardening exploits to come, methinks. Yes indeedy, the excitement never quite ends round here!

:o}

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour

25. Triathlon

Feel slightly better today, and so managed to drag myself to class like a good girl. Which is good.

Spent today watching the sunshine - it was a properly lovely hot and sunny day, and I am surrounded by windows all the better to view such things. An impromptu day off today would have been nicer, but at least I didn't have to row home.

Am powering my way through "Thirteen". This is not getting the housework done, but it's gripping stuff.

Apart from that, nothing new to report... The Olympics is still on... I must organise some travel soon - won't get down to the Paralympics without it!

Oh, and the damn fly is back - it took me 5 minutes to type that last para as the fly kept moving the cursor to odd places around the screen. Dammit! Shoo!! My computer, mine!!

:o)

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour

24. Swimming

Global warming seems to have brought us tropical weather conditions. Today, warm and sunny. No light rain. No, warm and sunny. No, massive thunder storm and torrential rain. Make up your mind already!!

Spent some time trying to work under the rolling thunder storm. Decided to leave work when it looked likely that an ark would soon be required to go anywhere.... If we're choosing animals to line up 2 by 2 for rescue, I vote for slugs being left behind - possibly snails too. A snail mistook my car for a nice wet place to slime earlier - it found itself cruelly attacked from above and slid back off onto the ground. Hard. Take that, slimy plant-destroyer!!

All of this electric tension brought on a headache. Yes, I'm feeble-minded before thunderstorms. Also, generally not feeling that well (which I'm trying to ignore in the hope that it will go away). anyway, had to take some painkillers and have a lie down when I got home, which meant that I was a no-show at Zumba tonight. It's all a bit up-and-down, this training lark... Must try and actually do some running soon, at the very least to check whether I have actually managed to maintain some sort of level of fitness... Don't think all this sofa-sitting and TV-watching will have helped - but it's not like I can ignore the Olympics. That would just be wrong...

Have been lent "Thirteen" by Kelley Armstrong and am now devouring that (when not training / working / sleeping)... Not sure when I'm going to fit in the housework necessary before the weekend... But I'm sure that I'll find a spare day somewhere this week...

:o)

23. Sailing

My new computer has a touch screen (which is cool). But I mostly don't use that - have got into the bad habit of sitting back on the sofa and typing on the wireless keyboard on my lap (um, like now). Anyway, the other day I was typing away and a fly started to investigate the computer screen. It was a little thing, and every time it touched the screen there was a ripple, like the effect of a stone hitting a puddle. This was quite cute, I thought, although a little distracting. Until the stupid little thing managed to hit the screen at just the right place and started surfing the net. Suddenly the fly and I were in a desperate battle for control of the computer. I eventually won - without turning it into a battle to the death, despite the temptation - but it was a ridiculously close-run thing....

The Olympics continues, and I slide ever deeper into addiction... Not that this is unusual, but the irony of how much sport I'm watching versus how much training I'm managing is becoming painful... Didn't do my 7 mile run today (or indeed the original plan of 11 miles). Too tired.... Didn't do Bodypump (slept in!) or Bodybalance (uh.... Too tired) yesterday - did manage to eat lots of crisps and popcorn while watching the Olympics though.... Hmmm...

Might be able to continue watching the Olympics if I (a) eat less) and (b) exercise more... We shall see what tomorrow brings....

Points to ponder:
1) why can Mark Cavendish not explain cycling?
2) would it be worth taking up rowing just to have Sir Steve carry you about for a while post-race?
3) what is the best nickname that the media have come up with for an athlete at the Games? I'm personally liking "Big Bad Ben" (alliteration and good rhythm, not to mention mmm, Ben!)...
4) if you were a pundit who would you be? My vote has always been "Michael Johnson" (he's just, you know, a golden-shoed God), but at this Games, Ian Thorpe has also been special (and not just because he could have given tents lessons).
5) if you were a commentator, who would you be? I'm still with "Andy and Ade" from the pool - they're a lot more knowledgeable and a lot less po-faced than most others...

;oD

22. Rowing

This is the life of the Olympic obsessive - after a full day at work, and a desperate attempt to catch up with all the action, I'm finally getting around to blogging...

Tried to combine gym and Olympics this evening - turned on the TV in the gym and got on the cross-trainer. The Terminator was there, working away on the other cross-trainer. Watched my way through the whole women's 10,000m until the last few laps. Finished my miles, then hung around to watch the end of the race. The Terminator also finished, and the 2 of us (silently) bonded over watching the race. Just over a lap to go, it's all tense, Brendan Foster is getting very over-excited, Steve Cram has run out of empathy for the moment (it's like he's been there!)... And the TV switches off. Gym is now closed. Good-bye.

Such is my life.

Apparently one of the women run, but I haven't managed to catch that on any of the hours of highlights I've watched yet... So much to see, so little time!

Loved Alan Campbell wining bronze in the rowing. You see how knackered he was at the end? That's me, that is, after any distance of running... Sort of...

;oD

Latest stats:
Cross-trainer - 5 miles, 37 minutes, Level 5 (snap!)

21. Track Cycling

Um.... Bit tired now... Can't remember what I was going to say... Desperately trying to keep track of what is happening in the Olympics, plus go to work, plus do training...

Tired....

Should have been running tonight, but went for the cross-trainer option again... The question is, how much actual running do you need to do before you run a half-marathon...? Quite probably more than I've done to date.... *sigh*

Ooh, yes, I've remembered. Have decided on a Challenge 3 - which pushes the old Challenge 3 (i.e. next year's big thing) to Challenge 4.

Hmmm? What is it? Oh, right...

Challenge 3 will be the "5x50 Challenge"! [see here: http://www.5x50.co.uk/] Basically, do 5kms a day (walk/run/cycle) for 50 days. Starts 9th September 2012. Supposed to improve the regularity of my exercising... Without being too tricky! If I get my mike fixed, it may even be a doddle! Famous last words...

:o)

Latest stats:
Cross-trainer - 5 miles, 37 minutes, Level 5

20. Road Cycling

Having a rest day today, as it's somewhat tricky to fit in exercise around all the Olympics-watching couch-surfing...

Also continuing in my challenge to actually buy Olympics tickets... It takes a long time (15 mins plus) for them to tell you that there aren't any.... Hey, ho... And you can't move away from the screen (I've discovered) because after eternity for them to find the tickets for you, you then only have 2 minutes (timed!) in which to buy the blooming things!!!!

But finally - success! I sneer in the face of the Olympics: the Paralympics is where it's at!! On current plans, I'm off in September to Goalball at the Copper Box, Swimming in the Aquatic Centre, Athletics in the Olympic Stadium and the Orbit. Now just need to book the leave and travel! (*ahem*)

The only other big news for today is that my coursebook has arrived. The course? "Exercise and Fitness Knowledge". No longer will I be bamboozled by people shouting at me the names of random muscles that I've never heard of! Soon I shall be able to identify the muscles that I don't have in great and intricate detail! At least, that's the theory... Having quickly flicked through the coursebook, it's looking a bit scary... Might come back to that in a bit...

Other than that, have put out a call for ideas for Challenge 3 - have a small list now (more suggestions are welcome - nice ones, anyway. I shall ruthlessly ignore anything I don't like the sound of!). In a bit I'll turn the list into a vote and then open the decision up to the "public". Although I'll warn you now, I reserve the right to rig, or just plain ignore, the vote if it goes in a direction I don't like! Still, I'm all about the interactive, and it might be fun...

:o)

19. Equestrian

The hunt for tickets continues...

After a traumatic session last night trying to get tickets for the standard Olympics (20 minutes wait to be told there were no tickets available - gah!), I have once again reverted to thinking that the Paralympics is the answer. Not least as this removes the temptation to pay £300 and up for a ticket (which I don't have, but that's why God invented credit cards... Erm, I mean, but nonetheless this is NOT why God invented credit cards...).

Plan is going badly already as no sooner had I decided on a vague plan (dates, venues, etc) than the Sheriff Court called upon me to be a witness at pretty much the same time. I'm assuming that this is my burglar having his day in court (it's not really clear, but I don't spend that much time dealing with criminals... Honest!). And the tickets for my preferred dates appear to have gone overnight anyway...

New plan is in production - you never know, I may actually buy some tickets at some point in the near future... Or I may just continue to enjoy the excuse to sit in front of the TV for hours on end. Although it does lead to some alarming experiences: suddenly realised that I was watching the GB women playing football earlier this evening - had to run away and find something else to do at that point. I wish them well, but having been denied all opportunity to play football as a child ("Gregory's Girl" being very much the exception and not the rule) I object to women's football on principle. Plus, there were highlight of the men's swimming elsewhere...

Speaking of events I don't watch. Hockey. Not a fan. But I feel that it's worth highlighting a small round-up which the BBC provided earlier today: "... it's another injury scare for GB women in the hockey after Alex Danson rolls her left ankle. GB have already seen captain Kate Walsh break her jaw, while Danson was a doubt for the Games because of a shoulder injury. She is currently being carried off on a stretcher..." Blimey! That all sounds a bit more dangerous than I was expecting! They'll be getting hazard pay soon (or maybe they do already?)! Let that be a lessons to you - women with large sticks = dangerous always.

;oD

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour

18. Rhythmic Gymnastics

Am trying to keep up with the Olympic goings on (darn you, pesky work!) but am being thwarted when it comes to the highlights programmes. All I want is a bit of men's swimming, is that too much to ask?! Am currently being "treated" to beach volleyball (*yawn*). Just not at all interested... Although I am relieved to note that they don't have to wear the teeny tiny kit all the time...

Perhaps it is as well that I have not managed to catch much swimming - I have recently noted that I have developed a worrying issue. What issue, you ask? I shall demonstrate... Watching Matthew McConaughey wander around shirtless (as I sadly, sadly had to do in "Magic Mike") is normally enough to cut short any brain activity for a while. Just enjoying the view.... However, during "Magic Mike", at first sight of the McConaughey abs, I was troubled by a sudden rush of thoughts along the lines of "Blimey, that must take an awful lot of work. Getting the abs in the first place - hard. And then the maintenance.... Ooof!". Yes, indeed, all this exercise has now ruined the simple enjoyments of life for me... Darn it!

Didn't spend all tonight sat on my backside watching people be sporty - toddled off for Zumba. Which has not become any less barking mad, and is still more fun than most of the other exercise I force myself through put together... So, fun!

:o)

Latest stats:
Zumba - 1 hour

17. Artistic Gymnastics

And so it begins...

Didn't manage to watch much of the Olympics today - was busy, busy, busy. Hair-cut at ridiculous early hour (9.15am - what, that's ridiculously early to me!), pay cheques in at bank, visit library to return/pick up book, and then to the gym. Although the library visit was a little redundant as the latest Ilona Andrews book has arrived and so I am buried in that.

Today was Body Balance, my nice relaxing stretching and Zen-like focus on relaxation. Except someone forgot to tell the instructor that - Body Balance has become hard! Was definitely much harder than previously - not that this is a bad thing, but it was a bit of a shock (although that might have been the fault of the 9.15am hair-cut!).

Then on to the my brother's traditional birthday barbecue. That is correct, people, today we had some nice, refreshing torrential rain. Although I remain disappointed that the forecast thunderstorms and hail failed to appear... Still, hopefully those getting married today managed to take advantage of the not-forecast regular warm sunny spells. Ah, July, such a summery month...

Trying to catch some quality Games highlights, but everything is women - women playing football, women swimming... I am happy for them, but really, there was some quality men's swimming today and those are the highlights that I want. Now!

In other news, my recent foray into gambling (have actually bought lottery tickets) has resulted in... Absolutely nothing. Nada. Zip. It is good to know that in this year of hopeful enthusiasm my good luck remains elusive to the point of non-existence... Am considering investigating the option of making sacrifices to benevolent gods to see if that changes anything - next ticket is for Friday's draw and so I have time to do some proper research first. Don't want to rush into these things...

:o)

Latest stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour

16. Has it started yet?

Watching AbFab (funny at times), paraphrased quote as follows: "It's been everywhere for 5 years! How was I supposed to know that it had actually started?!"

Ah, yes, good people, it is of the Olympics that I speak... Apparently, the Olympic Games will be starting soon (please, God) in London (who knew?!). I love the Olympics, but... High points of them happening in the UK that I can see to date are that there will not be a time difference getting in the way of our enjoyment of the Games, and there exists the possibility that the Festival will be slightly quieter as a result of them being on. Perhaps I will be overcome with a sudden surge of excitement tomorrow?

The latest results of my on-going attempts to eat my way through the Olympic-themed delicacies currently on sale are as follows:

Cadbury Dairy Milk "Nuts for Gold" - very, very tasty. Intriguing that Dairy Milk have actually made their topical chocolate tasty in direct correlation to their "medal" colour. Gold is definitely best... Well, I found it interesting, anyway. For at least 2 minutes...

"Golden Medals" by Haribo - nothing special. Just your normal Haribo in vaguely medal-shaped format.

Thankfully, that seems to end the list of Olympics-themed chocolate... I'm not sure that I could face any more (or, rather, I could eat lots, lots more but most definitely should not. Best to draw a line under that now...)

:o)

Latest stats:
TBT - 1 hour

15. Parking etiquette

Consider the following scenarios:
1) you have parked on double-yellow lines;
2) you have parked across someone's driveway;
3) you have double-parked;
4) you have parked across someone's driveway on double-yellow lines...

What should you do?

If your answer is "turn on my hazard lights and walk away" then you are obviously one of my neighbours, or even one of their visitors. And you should be hunted down like a dog and at the very, very least remonstrated with most firmly!!

In slightly less obsessive news, having had a bit of an exercise-lite week (fortnight/month - delete as applicable), I finally returned to the gym tonight. Apart from an appearance from The Terminator (hello!) it was very quiet. I don't know, the slightest bit of sunshine and warm weather and people just abandon the gym... Which I spent a good deal of time talking myself out of as my whole body tried to convince its TU rep that it was being forced to endure some harsh and unsafe working conditions...

Note to self - regular exercise is much easier when it's, well, regular...

;oD

Latest stats:
Cross-trainer - 5 miles, 38 minutes, Level 4

14. Zumba magic?

Well, the foutering and skiving is going very well, everything else not so much...

Saw "Magic Mike" at the weekend, which was.... Well, a bit boring in large doses, sadly... Although Channing Tatum has skills (very nice to watch) and Matthew McConaughey remains eatable with a spoon. Still, probably best to hire it on DVD and fast forward through the dull bits... Next up: Batman! Woop!

Was very busy last week (Winfrith and Bristol and Bath, oh my!) and so obviously this required much eating (keep strength up) and little exercise (tired, oh so very tired...).

But this is a new week and so hopefully a re-boot will work. Although dragged myself to Zumba on Monday and the class was promptly cancelled on health and safety grounds (overly slippy floor...) - does not bode well.

Anyway, this is the start of the new me. Or perhaps the return to the old new me. Or even a new me that is very like the old new me but better. Well, someone will be updating this blog in the coming weeks anyway - may or may not be me, who can tell any more?!

:o)

Latest stats:
Zumba - cancelled!
TBT - 1 hour, not last Thursday but the one before!

13. Olympic games

Encouraged on my weekend visit to London to note that planning for the Olympic Games is advanced - little signs and directions everywhere. Unfortunately, they are uniformly in a very bright... Pink. Yes, that's right, these will not just be the austerity Games, but also the bright pink games. Oh dear...

Am contemplating getting over my lack of tickets for anything I want to see and just going down for a quick visit to the Games anyway. In the meantime, I am showing my support by taste testing my way through all the Olympics-themed chocolate (which, by definition, should be healthier than normal chocolate, surely...?). To date, I've tried:

Red, White and Blue Peanut M&Ms - meh, just normal Peanut M&Ms with red, white and blue shells (wanted white chocolate at least!).

Cadbury's "Bronzed Creme Crunch" Dairy Milk - OK, a bit odd, not something that I would want to rush out an eat More of.

Cadbury's "Silvery Creme" - quite tasty, not to-die-for, but tasty.

More reviews as chocolate is discovered and consumed...

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-training - 36 mins, 5 miles, Level 4

12. In the land of the blind...

Exiting the gym tonight, I spotted a sign across the road (it's been there all the time, but I just haven't noticed in the past, erm, six months...).

Sign reads "Blind Manufacturers". Oh, that's nice, thinks I, a company set up for blind people to manufacture things (they have companies like that in Cambodia.... Although that might just have been for masseurs... I digress...).

I read further: "Venetian", "Vertical", "Roman". Ooooooh - it's a company that manufactures blinds. Of course...

Trying to decide if the title's wrong or not - I personally would have gone with "Blinds Manufacturer" as it's clearer - but is it more correct? Thorny questions abound....

Other than that, the great Triffid clearage was a damp squib as although they were tall they were also very lightly rooted and so could be pulled up by hand with little effort. Still had to chop down one with some garden implements before I discovered this... But, all in all, took about 5 minutes to clear the outside space. Which is a good thing, obviously...

:o)

Today's stats:
TBT - 1 hour

11. Day of the Triffids

I don't have a garden. Which is a bad thing from the point of view of lacking somewhere outside my house to sit and enjoy the (very rare) sunshine; but from the point of view of my innate ability to kill all things green and growing, overall not a bad thing.

I do, however, have an "outside space" - a small strip of land which gets almost no light and sits between the back of my house and a very high (cemetery) wall. It's covered in stone chips - really the definition of low maintenance.

But we've been having odd weather - warm, muggy, sunny, heavy rainfall, constant drizzle - and suddenly... There are Triffids in my non-garden! I am slightly worried at the suddenness with which they have appeared, not to mention the size of the (not yet) blooming things. If they keep up at this rate they'll be as high as the house within a fortnight...

So, this weekend I am going to utilise my God-given talent to garden by means of decimating plant life and recalim my non-garden! It's not so much gardening as demolition... Triffids - your days are numbered!

:o)

Today's stats:
TBT - 1 hour

10. Snow White and the Zumba Toning

Went on a trip to the cinema on Saturday - after having successfully proved the veracity of the blog's title by foutering and skiving through the rest of the day rather than attending the 2 classes that I should have...

"Snow White and The Huntsman" was the film of choice. Um - don't. There are some nice ideas, but the film basically suffers from being slow enough that you have time to wonder about various things and then become annoyed by them. For example - you're locked in a tower from early childhood, when do you learn to ride? You're running for your life from a murderous enemy: do you (a) take the shortest route to where you're going and go as fast as you can, or; (b) wander aimlessly, meeting lots of people for tea, and repeatedly not post a guard while you sleep? And don't even get me started on the folly of mounting a cavalry attack against foot only to dismount as soon as you've made contact...

Charlize Theron chewed the scenery exceedingly well though: sadly, Kristin Stewart's annoying mouth thing isn't something that she affected for Twilight and her Snow White is thus only slightly less blank and annoying than Bella.

Here endeth this week's film review...

Other than that, I tried out Zumba for the first time on Monday night. Far, far too much fun to be proper exercise - a random cross between belly-dancing and all schools of Latin dancing. I am quite sure that it would not appear on any list as recommended exercise - no mention at all of working only one muscle group at a time - but... I will be back!

:o)

Today's stats:
Zumba - 1 hour

9. Dancing in the rain

Hot topic today is that the apocalypse has returned to the south (obviously it was my presence there that briefly turned the tide). There's water falling from the sky to such an extent that the ground - gasp! - is turning to MUD!!! Jumpin' jehosephet, that's not something that you see every day!

Unless you live here, of course, when that's pretty much situation normal for "summer". Still, in the south it's a sign that the end of the world is night, and so I'd like you to take a moment to sympathise in silence with those currently suffering from this thing called "rain".

He-he!

Otherwise, busy, busy, busy at the moment, but still managed to virtuously fit in a trip to the gym this evening. Who says that I don't know how to have fun of a Friday evening, eh?!

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 23 mins, 3 miles, Level 4
Pilates - 20 mins

8. The search for Challenge 3 begins

The suggestions for Challenge 3 are flooding in thick and fast... Well, I've received a few anyway...

Suggestions so far:

a) The "3 Peaks in 24 hours" thingy (sounds hilly - I'm not a huge fan of hills. Plus a logistical nightmare...)
b) The London to Paris bike ride (proclaimed as being the nearest thing to the Tour de France that isn't the Tour de France... Erm, perhaps not...)
c) A triathlon (thank you G&T. Although, since I don't do outside water unless it's warm and in the Caribbean...)
d) A duathlon (my desperate counter-suggestion to the triathlon...)

Any more? This is your opportunity to suggest the next event that I will loathe until it happens and then never shut up about once it's finished... All suggestions welcome (although I retain the right of veto. I'm not entirely stupid, you know...).

Smiley, smiley instructor was back for aerobics tonight, Yay! But she came back in evil form and tortured us for the whole hour - I may not be able to walk tomorrow. Or, indeed, sit up... Ooof.

;oD

Today's stats:
TBT - 1 hour

7. You wait forever, and then 3 come along at once...

Since I get to do a fair amount of travelling, I guess I might have some words of wisdom for the less-frequent traveller. I think that I'll start with the following:

1) When passing through Security at the airport, your aim is for speed. End-to-end as fast as possible. This means you need to pay attention to the signs, the pictures and the endlessly-repeating-herself woman about what to do when you get to the scanners. Perhaps even, as you stand in the loooong queue for the scanners, you might consider preparing yourself (take off jacket, remove laptop from bag, etc, etc). That way people won't want to kill you when you get to the scanners and suddenly start unpacking, and unpacking and unpacking...

2) Again, your aim at Security is speed. If you find yourself standing on the air side of the scanner, collecting your things from your 4 trays (slowly - put on jacket, put things carefully and slowly back into bag, take other items slowly from the little tray one at a time...) and wonder at the rather grumpy-looking queue standing behind you watching your every move... It's because you're sooooooo slow! And no one else can get their stuff while your trays are still on the rollers. And it doesn't matter how much you smile politely at the crowd (yes, crowd!) behind you - you're in the way and we don't like you!! Completely oblivious woman, you know who you are! Well, apart from being completely oblivious...

3) You're on the plane. The doors are being opened - you have to grab your bag and "deplane". Now, nobody is expecting a Flash-level of speed, but prompt and swift exiting of the plane is always appreciated. If you find yourself standing in the aisle, blocking everyone else, still collecting together your 400-million different bags (I thought that there was a 1-bag limit!) from the over-head lockers.... And you observe that the entire front-half of the plane has already disembarked in the time that you've taken to stop the back half of the plane exiting... Clue: you're taking too long!!! Far, far, far too long! There are people on the plane planning your demise in great detail! And, worst of all, you would probably have got off the plane just as quickly if you had sat down and let everyone off first!

Arrrrrgh!!

Apart from that travel's a doddle, really... And such fun...

;oD

Today's stats:
A travel-tastic day of rest

6. Tuesday maintenance

Am massively over-dressed for a trip south - it's all warm and sunny and ready for summer (I thought that it was supposed to be the advent of the apocalypse?!) and I'm dressed for early spring. Luckily, I'm getting to work inside all day, and so the reason for my rather pink face is simply that I'm over-heating. Lucky, lucky me...!

Got to try out a new (teeny-tiny) gym tonight. Quickly. Before dinner. It was really very small, and right next to a pool, which means that it was uncomfortably warm... Still, I felt virtuous to have seen the inside of said gym, and so that was good...

:o)

Today's stats:
Cross-trainer - 30 mins, 4km/miles (it was hard to tell) at cardio burn heart-rate of 146 bpm