Trying not to scratch my leg - I got bitten twice by some wee critter(s) at the allotment last night whilst futily attacking the bindweed that's trying to throttle the currants. Should have taken a second antihistamine this morning - and will not wear shorts next time I'm there in the evening! I did a good hour's digging last night whilst Husband weeded onions, watered and examined damage to french beans.
I spent lots of time in the car this week - by current standards. Nottingham & back on Tuesday (snuck in a brief visit to Decathlon where I bought new walking sandals ready for Canada), New Malden on Wednesday. Cycled to work on Wed, Thu & Fri - managed to cycle into another cyclist on Thursday on a blind corner - but it was literally just a tapping of front wheels.
Gym on Wed (treadmill, x trainer) where I watched half of a programme on losing weight - then picked up fish & chips on the way home!
Cycling home's going to be great tonight - hot & sunny day.
Friday 29 May 2009
Monday 25 May 2009
Sunny Bank Holiday Weekend - a rarity!
More glorious sunshine - not natural for a UK bank holiday weekend - which made finding fun stuff to do with in-laws even easier than usual!
Went to Kew yesterday for the first time in years - I wanted to try the new treetop walk - but it was
the older favourites that grabbed my attention. The little water lily house, orchids in the Princess of Wales glasshouse, looking at the Victorian Temperate House & Palm House from the balconies - all good stuff. The site's a mile across and I was so glad that both me & my Fabulous Mother In Law had gone for shoes we could walk forever in. Steps too - up to the balconies and up the treetop walk. Weirdest moment was when I saw a parakeet from the treetops. Not seeing it - I know that they now inhabit Richmond Park which isn't too far from Kew - but it was surprising that I didn't feel surprised (OK, this may not make sense!). I think it's down to seeing so many exotic plants, I didn't find spotting an exotic bird weird. Anyway, my shoulders are a little pink - not too bad. Husband is able to walk today - a pleasant surprise after giving his ankles so much walking.
More sunshine today, so we went to Milkham where Fabulous in Laws headed off for a 6 mile stomp, whilst Husband & I did Kitty's route on the bikes. I panicked at bike-horse interfaces - especially at the underpass where we had to weave around them. Did my best to keep my self where horses could see me & kept talking to 'em! So many foals in the Forest. Project Puncture continued at Burley - Husband had got too far ahead of me to realise I'd stopped. Got the tyre off, found the puncture, cleared tyre - and then remembered that I'd forgotten to pack a repair kit. So I waited for a bit - hey it was sunny. Fabulous In Laws had a good time on their wander too.
Went to Kew yesterday for the first time in years - I wanted to try the new treetop walk - but it was
the older favourites that grabbed my attention. The little water lily house, orchids in the Princess of Wales glasshouse, looking at the Victorian Temperate House & Palm House from the balconies - all good stuff. The site's a mile across and I was so glad that both me & my Fabulous Mother In Law had gone for shoes we could walk forever in. Steps too - up to the balconies and up the treetop walk. Weirdest moment was when I saw a parakeet from the treetops. Not seeing it - I know that they now inhabit Richmond Park which isn't too far from Kew - but it was surprising that I didn't feel surprised (OK, this may not make sense!). I think it's down to seeing so many exotic plants, I didn't find spotting an exotic bird weird. Anyway, my shoulders are a little pink - not too bad. Husband is able to walk today - a pleasant surprise after giving his ankles so much walking.
More sunshine today, so we went to Milkham where Fabulous in Laws headed off for a 6 mile stomp, whilst Husband & I did Kitty's route on the bikes. I panicked at bike-horse interfaces - especially at the underpass where we had to weave around them. Did my best to keep my self where horses could see me & kept talking to 'em! So many foals in the Forest. Project Puncture continued at Burley - Husband had got too far ahead of me to realise I'd stopped. Got the tyre off, found the puncture, cleared tyre - and then remembered that I'd forgotten to pack a repair kit. So I waited for a bit - hey it was sunny. Fabulous In Laws had a good time on their wander too.
WRN sufffered from a sunny day today - nobody for the standard group so I helped Husband very briefly at the allotment. Just L for the intermediate group. We tried out the Itchen Way - glorious, and not boggy!
Saturday 23 May 2009
Waiting on the quay
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Friday 22 May 2009
Swimming with Potential
Every time I go swimming, I vow to swim a bit more often in order to perfect this head-in-the-water malarkey. And then don't swim for a good month or so!
Tonight was no exception. I'm getting better, but not as quickly as I think I would if I managed to get my bum in the pool a bit more frequently! I can either breathe or count lengths - not both. Appreciated some coaching from Husband at the end which led to 3 much faster lengths - and tired me out completely. The technique is to bring up my head from my shoulders, not from my neck. And to do this, my arms need to push down more - he described it as doing a press up. All very effective, but I have very little upper body strength - I can't do a single press up on land!
Still, it did highlight that I can get some real benefit from swimming so I vow to go more often. Again!
Tonight was no exception. I'm getting better, but not as quickly as I think I would if I managed to get my bum in the pool a bit more frequently! I can either breathe or count lengths - not both. Appreciated some coaching from Husband at the end which led to 3 much faster lengths - and tired me out completely. The technique is to bring up my head from my shoulders, not from my neck. And to do this, my arms need to push down more - he described it as doing a press up. All very effective, but I have very little upper body strength - I can't do a single press up on land!
Still, it did highlight that I can get some real benefit from swimming so I vow to go more often. Again!
Thursday 21 May 2009
A bit lazy of late....
No biking last weekend - we're (still!) sorting out the house. I did a bit of mall walking with G on Saturday but I'm not sure that counts.
Running on Monday went OK - Intermediates did their 5K fine. I'm a bit miffed I'll be on hols when WRN have their AGM - esp as it's in Salisbury and esp as it might have been a good opportunity to encourage the Intermediates to do the AGM 5K run as their first ever event. I'm still encouraging them, but I'm not convinced....
Anyway, good chat on Tuesday over dinner convinced me I should at least think about a 1/2 marathon next year. I was a bit overwhelmed talking to "proper" runners on Saturday night and Tuesday - a useful reminder that I have a long way to go.
Jewellery meant no combat on Wed, but I did walk to Kitty's which I'm hoping compensates. Great to chat to her and X - according to my boss, we are bang on trend getting together to do craft stuff.
Skipped cycling today (good reason - but not interesting), but Husband took me out for a great run tonight for the first time this year.
Running on Monday went OK - Intermediates did their 5K fine. I'm a bit miffed I'll be on hols when WRN have their AGM - esp as it's in Salisbury and esp as it might have been a good opportunity to encourage the Intermediates to do the AGM 5K run as their first ever event. I'm still encouraging them, but I'm not convinced....
Anyway, good chat on Tuesday over dinner convinced me I should at least think about a 1/2 marathon next year. I was a bit overwhelmed talking to "proper" runners on Saturday night and Tuesday - a useful reminder that I have a long way to go.
Jewellery meant no combat on Wed, but I did walk to Kitty's which I'm hoping compensates. Great to chat to her and X - according to my boss, we are bang on trend getting together to do craft stuff.
Skipped cycling today (good reason - but not interesting), but Husband took me out for a great run tonight for the first time this year.
Thursday 14 May 2009
Ready meals required
No cycling yesterday as I had to squeeze a London meeting before a 2pm meeting at the office. We considered the gym on Wed evening but decided to pay the allotment a visit instead. Husband had to spend longer than he expected prepping stuff in the greenhouse, leaving us with just 45 mins of light to plant tomatoes, autumn psb & dig over bed ready to plant carrots.
So much easier cycling today compared to Mon/Tue as the wind's died down. We managed to get to the gym with just enough time to make it worth Husband's while - aquacise curtails swimming at 8pm on Thursdays. Rare exposure to Eastenders whilst I did 10mins X trainer & then 35 mins on the treadmill. Then discovered that aquacise hadn't happened, so Husband was still able to have his swim. And due to lack of veg in the house (we have some, but not in combinations that are winning - celeriac & red cabbage surprise anyone?) paid an unjustified visit to chip shop on the way home!
We do scoot around a lot in the evenings - leaving not much time to cook - I really should plan for this & put some quck & slutty options in the freezer! Yes, I could cook more at weekends - but to be honest, time doesn't seem to be available then in abundance either. I'll stop whinging now.
So much easier cycling today compared to Mon/Tue as the wind's died down. We managed to get to the gym with just enough time to make it worth Husband's while - aquacise curtails swimming at 8pm on Thursdays. Rare exposure to Eastenders whilst I did 10mins X trainer & then 35 mins on the treadmill. Then discovered that aquacise hadn't happened, so Husband was still able to have his swim. And due to lack of veg in the house (we have some, but not in combinations that are winning - celeriac & red cabbage surprise anyone?) paid an unjustified visit to chip shop on the way home!
We do scoot around a lot in the evenings - leaving not much time to cook - I really should plan for this & put some quck & slutty options in the freezer! Yes, I could cook more at weekends - but to be honest, time doesn't seem to be available then in abundance either. I'll stop whinging now.
Tuesday 12 May 2009
Playing one too many with time
Tried to fit too much into yesterday evening.
- Cycled home as per usual but strong easterly made it harder work.
- Ran 6.5km with L and then 5km with the Intermediate group at WRN - their first ever 5K - so v.impressed!
- Cooked tea
- Painted dresser base with its final coat
- Helped Husband with wardrobe assembly
Bit tired today - wonder why?
I now have a full length mirror in the house for the first time - something that for years I wouldn't give house room too! Having a lazier evening - finishing touches to dresser base, tidying, made tea (again), now got my feet up with Gok's Fashion Fix & a glass of wine - indulgent trash!
Sunday 10 May 2009
Garlic didn't ward off punctures
6 bikes today - mine, Husband's, M's, C's, S's and X's - 5 punctures! And that was over just 22.5km from the house. M had 2 very loud blow outs withing a few hundred yards of each other - a new wheel was required so he retired to walk home - looking a little forlorn as you can see. 5 of us carried on but I then had a back wheel puncture, followed shortly by X on the front. This really held us up!One of the objectives of the ride was to forage for ransoms. I never click that wild garlic surrounds me until it flowers - and that's the very point at which the leaves don't make good eating! Luckily, a few of the flower heads make a garlicky addition to salad dressings, bottle of olive oil and many other yummy applications. We were hoping for 
elderflowers too, but were a tad too early although X explained that they are already over in Vienna.
elderflowers too, but were a tad too early although X explained that they are already over in Vienna.Loved going through the woodland bits today - everything looks so fresh English spring atm with bluebells as well as ransoms. Also enjoyed the bridle way from Owslebury with a surreal view of the zebras & giraffes at Marwell!
I hoped that the garlicky smell would ward off more punctures, but on the very last bit of off road, X's front wheel had a second puncture - different spot. I think we worked through every possible innuendo for pumping up tyres...
Momentous occasion today - I washed the bikes! I also have a new objective for 09 - I will learn how to fix punctures! I'd like to be able to do some vaguely competitive stuff sometime - and before I can, my extreme aversion to anything involving oil/screwdrivers/cogs etc has to be tackled or I'll end up stranded somewhere random without a lovely Husband to rescue me!
Saturday 9 May 2009
Short & sunny
QE Country Park with Husband, Goldfish, Captain Chaos & D. We did the mountain bike trail - or rather the guys did it all, I covered some on the bike & some on foot - I need to get braver! We then did the HCC route, getting back to the carpark in time for D to scoot off to a rugby match. So only 17km, but the first section on the trail took some time. I had a flint puncture earlier on & the boys played on an "interesting looking doofah" (technical phrase!) whilst Husband fixed it for me. Today's pic is of CC's final successful attempt to mount it - steeper than it looks - having fallen off initially & has some weird support thing going on with D & Goldfish that I'm not sure about! The chalky impossible hill remains a steep walk downhill for me, but I'm pleased that a 3rd name is added to the shortlist of those who've descended it - D, Husband & M. Brie & Bacon baguette in the cafe in the sunshine afterwards.
Friday 8 May 2009
Midweek Mud
I thought Husband should find out if his new saddle is comfy before going out with the boys on Saturday to play so we went for an evening pedal from the house on Wednesday. We risked the often-ultra-muddy bridle path that goes east from the Fox & Hounds pub - and as you can see from the pic, it didn't disappoint! It's so good being able to do outdoor things in the evening. No punctures but a bramble cut my finger in a painful yet very minor paper cut kind of way.I explored on my way home from work tonight. Fleming Park Golf Course is no more - but it makes a very pleasant outdoor space, even with background noise of the M3. Resolved to return with knobbly tyres before rules start materialising about where we can cycle!
Gym too but not very exciting. X trainer, fairly rubbish treadmill session, 6 mins on the stepper then a couple of weights machines.
Tuesday 5 May 2009
Tidy house & garden - for once
It's a rare weekend that I don't get on my bike. We had a "we have our house back" celebration BBQ on Sunday - which required spending Saturday blitzing the garden (5 trips to the tip) and Sunday blitzing the house. It was worth it to actually see it all looking OK again. Sun kind of made guest appearances at the barbecue but it wasn't too warm. Really chuffed that so many people came & downed enough beers to ensure that I slept badly and had a bit of a bad head on Monday - a bank holiday.
I spent Monday afternoon at the local fete, smiling lots at people who seemed a little bemused to see a Women's Running Group's stall! Chatted to one of the previous Eastleigh WRN runners which was interesting and I think she's considering rejoining. A few others sounded interested in the nextr beginners group, so I think it was worth it.
Fairly predictably, it was just a hardy few at running later on Monday. J & I did our fastest ever joint 5K time at 29:50. Ventured into Eastleigh with the Intermediate group as I wanted them to realise how much easier they can make it over the railway bridge now - think I was successful.
Just cycling today as we went to the cinema tonight to see Age of Stupid - and now I'm down about the planet being doomed. Doomed, doomed, we're all doomed I say!
I spent Monday afternoon at the local fete, smiling lots at people who seemed a little bemused to see a Women's Running Group's stall! Chatted to one of the previous Eastleigh WRN runners which was interesting and I think she's considering rejoining. A few others sounded interested in the nextr beginners group, so I think it was worth it.
Fairly predictably, it was just a hardy few at running later on Monday. J & I did our fastest ever joint 5K time at 29:50. Ventured into Eastleigh with the Intermediate group as I wanted them to realise how much easier they can make it over the railway bridge now - think I was successful.
Just cycling today as we went to the cinema tonight to see Age of Stupid - and now I'm down about the planet being doomed. Doomed, doomed, we're all doomed I say!
Friday 1 May 2009
Thoughts on shampoo - I should get out more
Bike shop have not disappointed - I'll be picking up my repaired wheel tomorrow morning. Not that I'll be able to do much riding - we're having a barbecue on Sunday & I suspect that Sat & Sun will be spent frantically tidying house & garden!
Gym tonight - I had my ipod with me for once so tried the nautilus weird incline treadmill thing that is one of the few CV machines not to be linked to the TV screens.
I'm not sold on my current shampoo. I chose it as it's made without petrochemicals - not for any health motivation ("natural" does not equate to "better" in my mind - asbestos occurs naturally....) but at work, I've been looking at cleaning agents that purport to be less environmentally dodgy than others, so figured I'd try some different toiletries at home. The shampoo I'm trying seems to struggle to lather & it's difficult to work into my scalp. Not sure I'm brave enough to try an equiv conditioner - ever since I went blondish, getting a comb through my hair post washing is near impossible without industrial strength conditioner!
Gym tonight - I had my ipod with me for once so tried the nautilus weird incline treadmill thing that is one of the few CV machines not to be linked to the TV screens.
I'm not sold on my current shampoo. I chose it as it's made without petrochemicals - not for any health motivation ("natural" does not equate to "better" in my mind - asbestos occurs naturally....) but at work, I've been looking at cleaning agents that purport to be less environmentally dodgy than others, so figured I'd try some different toiletries at home. The shampoo I'm trying seems to struggle to lather & it's difficult to work into my scalp. Not sure I'm brave enough to try an equiv conditioner - ever since I went blondish, getting a comb through my hair post washing is near impossible without industrial strength conditioner!
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