Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Dog Walking
I couldn't cycle on Monday as my face was still tender & swollen from the bone graft. So instead, I hitched a lift with Husband who was meeting J&B and A&M for a bike ride in the Forest. Whilst 
they pedalled over the horizon, I took J's corgi Sally for a walk. Horrendous traffic - we should know better by now than to attempt the Forest on a bank holiday!
2 and a half hours later, came back to car park with slightly tired looking corgi. She was very tolerant of being dragged around by me, posed for some pics and was very well behaved but she seemed very pleased to see J afterwards!
Very grateful to Sally that I didn't have to bag up any dog poo en route as I think that falls into the category of life skills I don't intend to acquire (along with changing nappies and changing tyres).
J did incredibly well - cycling 19.7 miles, almost all off road, despite not having cycled at all for at least a year. A was also chuffed as she could remember doing the same route just a few weks ago & finding it so much easier this time.
Rounded off the day nicely with a drink & meal in Burley.
they pedalled over the horizon, I took J's corgi Sally for a walk. Horrendous traffic - we should know better by now than to attempt the Forest on a bank holiday!2 and a half hours later, came back to car park with slightly tired looking corgi. She was very tolerant of being dragged around by me, posed for some pics and was very well behaved but she seemed very pleased to see J afterwards!
Very grateful to Sally that I didn't have to bag up any dog poo en route as I think that falls into the category of life skills I don't intend to acquire (along with changing nappies and changing tyres).
J did incredibly well - cycling 19.7 miles, almost all off road, despite not having cycled at all for at least a year. A was also chuffed as she could remember doing the same route just a few weks ago & finding it so much easier this time.
Rounded off the day nicely with a drink & meal in Burley.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Walking
Half an hour yesterday to walk to the dentist - which will be about all the exercise I will do fora couple of days as post dentist, I look like a lopsided bloodhound & it's all quite tender if not too painful!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Big D - what works for me whitter
Food that's really helped me so far with the Big D:
- Rice cakes - weirdly nice - I like the plain ones with low fat soft cheese but also love caramel snack-a-jacks.
- Big punnets of cherry tomatoes - I've been getting through 275-450g per day, snacking whilst I work. High fill factor & I feel as if I am eating lots of food.
- M&S ready meals - way too many of these recently but I love the Steam range that manages to taste good as opposed to just being virtuous.
- Parmesan cheese & high cocoa solid dark chocolate - loads of flavour in not very much volume.
- Smoked trout, smoked haddock, smoked salmon - again, oodles of flavour.
- Microwave porridge for breakfast - quick, satisfying & keeps me full til lunchtime.
- Cereal bars - esp alpen light - v.useful for breakfast in the car.
- Courgettes at barbecues this summer - I can have a plateful of food without blowing out big D.
- Solero ice lollies - much more satisfying than a low fat yoghurt!
- Low fat yoghurts - no fill factor & often taste bad...
- Fruit juice - loads of calories for no fill factor & not as good for me as eating the fruit instead...
- Diet ready meals that are only a tad under the calorie level of tastier options.
- Boring cereal bars which appear to be nought but puffed rice.
Last ever visit to Esporta in Hemel
40 mins on the x trainer, 30 on the bike. I thought about jogging but my knee was a tad achey so cycled instead.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Unwanted consequence of being more active...
My wedding ring doesn't fit me anymore - I have weirdly knuckle-less fingers & my ring was secured solely by flab. It's been loose for a while but when it fell off whilst we were packing bags at the supermarket on Sunday, I decided to switch to my spare - which isn't quite so loose and is nowhere near as valuable if it does fall off! I think I will leave off deciding what action to take on adjusting the ring for a few months - see what happens with my weight....
Belated Birthday Celebration
Saturday was good - even the weather behaved - surprising as there were many heavy showers, but none that hit us whilst outside! 
14.5 mile bike ride - even better as it was from the house so no funny business with bike carriers involved. We skirted north of Bishopstoke Woods then took a tree root infested lane up to Owslebury. Climbed even higher onto teh chalk downs followed by a speedy descent, mostly on quiet & pretty lanes. I can't believe how much stronger A is now on her bike. M, Husband & MS did over 16 miles as they can't read maps....
In the evening, got drunk at Mudeford beach in great company. I'm not going to reel off a list of initials but G will be miffed if not mentioned (only
coz she reckons she's not been referred to so far in this blog!) - it was brilliant to see her & everybody else. It wasn't warm, but it was mostly dry. Played swingball, boules & rounders & ended up bringing vast quantities of sand into the house. Grateful to M & A for driving.
Sunday was active too - dug up potatoes at the allotment and then spent time sorting out the debris at the side of the house - it almost looks tidy now! This did entail evicting a large hedgehog so we are hoping that he finds another home in our garden soon....
14.5 mile bike ride - even better as it was from the house so no funny business with bike carriers involved. We skirted north of Bishopstoke Woods then took a tree root infested lane up to Owslebury. Climbed even higher onto teh chalk downs followed by a speedy descent, mostly on quiet & pretty lanes. I can't believe how much stronger A is now on her bike. M, Husband & MS did over 16 miles as they can't read maps....
In the evening, got drunk at Mudeford beach in great company. I'm not going to reel off a list of initials but G will be miffed if not mentioned (only
coz she reckons she's not been referred to so far in this blog!) - it was brilliant to see her & everybody else. It wasn't warm, but it was mostly dry. Played swingball, boules & rounders & ended up bringing vast quantities of sand into the house. Grateful to M & A for driving.Sunday was active too - dug up potatoes at the allotment and then spent time sorting out the debris at the side of the house - it almost looks tidy now! This did entail evicting a large hedgehog so we are hoping that he finds another home in our garden soon....
Friday, August 18, 2006
Gym - just for a change
Another good interval jog on the treadmill:
8 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9.5kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9.5kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 1 mins 9.5kmph.
Plus 15 mins on the x trainer, 15 mins on the bike & some weights.
I think I'll only be going to Esporta at Hemel a couple more times before leaving Watford. The lack of TV channels has been a bit frustrating (Music/Sky Sports/Sky News/random terrestrial) but apart from that, I've enjoyed using the gym - there's always equipment available and the changing rooms are a little nicer than the Hampshire's.
8 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9.5kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 2 mins 9.5kmph, 2 mins 7.5kmph, 1 mins 9.5kmph.
Plus 15 mins on the x trainer, 15 mins on the bike & some weights.
I think I'll only be going to Esporta at Hemel a couple more times before leaving Watford. The lack of TV channels has been a bit frustrating (Music/Sky Sports/Sky News/random terrestrial) but apart from that, I've enjoyed using the gym - there's always equipment available and the changing rooms are a little nicer than the Hampshire's.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Smug!
This morning I am wearing a size 18 Boden skirt - 3 months ago, my size 20 Boden skirts were a tad snug. I am also wearing a size 18 M&S blouse - previously was wearing size 22 M&S shirts. Last night, established that my new size 18 Monsoon skirt fits me - 3 months ago, was in size 22 Monsoon skirts (admittedly, they were on the loose side even then!).
So I figure that in the eyes of M&S, Boden & Monsoon, I can declare myself mostly a size 18 (my size 20 Boden shirts are still not baggy though).
Feeling smug - get me (to quote Baby Sister)! Apologies for the gloat!
So I figure that in the eyes of M&S, Boden & Monsoon, I can declare myself mostly a size 18 (my size 20 Boden shirts are still not baggy though).
Feeling smug - get me (to quote Baby Sister)! Apologies for the gloat!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Gym last night
Treadmill to wam up followed by 25 min treadmill jog, finishing with 25 mins on the x trainer. Pleased with my jog - 8 mins at 7.5kmph then did the rest as 2 min intervals between 9 and 7.5.
Yesterday was a challenge for the Big D - I bought cakes at lunchtime for the office to commemorate my birthday at the weekend & had lots of calories sat on my desk for most of the afternoon. Gave in to 1 M&S mini-mini roll.... Still got quite a bit left today so more will power required!
Yesterday was a challenge for the Big D - I bought cakes at lunchtime for the office to commemorate my birthday at the weekend & had lots of calories sat on my desk for most of the afternoon. Gave in to 1 M&S mini-mini roll.... Still got quite a bit left today so more will power required!
Monday, August 14, 2006
Grizedale Biking & Sister's Wedding
We tried the North Face trail in Grizedale on Friday http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-69hbp2 - less scary than Coed y Brenin but still challenging enough for me to walk quite a few bits and to fall off, breaking my chain! Fortunately, broke my chain just before the last singletrack section so I don't feel that I lost out and it was fairly easy to get back to the car. Wonderful views of Coniston Old Man at the highest point as well as seeing more of the sculptures within Grizedale Forest. Ate bilberries and saw a couple of wrens.
Saturday was Middle Sister's wedding and Oldest Nephew's naming ceremony - which included walking (a mile-ish?) from Village Hall to an open access area (very young woodland) close to their house with views across to the Lakeland fells. We had a picnic after the ceremony & then walked back to the hall for hog roast followed by a boogy. Wonderful day!
No pics of the wedding here as I'm now deliberately avoiding pictures of people unless I get permission or they are unrecognisable (it's me on the bike in the pic with this post - so that's OK!). Middle Sister looked stunning in a blue floaty long grecian kind of dress, New-Brother-In-Law had an indian embroidered jacket and Oldest Nephew looked very cute.
Back on the Big D today after a weekend of excess..... in particular, lots of courgette cake. Very impressed that Middle Sister found the time to bake me a birthday cake and that Mum & Baby Sister iced it for me in amongst the preparation for the wedding.
Saturday was Middle Sister's wedding and Oldest Nephew's naming ceremony - which included walking (a mile-ish?) from Village Hall to an open access area (very young woodland) close to their house with views across to the Lakeland fells. We had a picnic after the ceremony & then walked back to the hall for hog roast followed by a boogy. Wonderful day!
No pics of the wedding here as I'm now deliberately avoiding pictures of people unless I get permission or they are unrecognisable (it's me on the bike in the pic with this post - so that's OK!). Middle Sister looked stunning in a blue floaty long grecian kind of dress, New-Brother-In-Law had an indian embroidered jacket and Oldest Nephew looked very cute.
Back on the Big D today after a weekend of excess..... in particular, lots of courgette cake. Very impressed that Middle Sister found the time to bake me a birthday cake and that Mum & Baby Sister iced it for me in amongst the preparation for the wedding.
Monday, August 07, 2006
First Wedding Anniversary
First Wedding Anniversary this weekend - we've decided that rather than doing gifts/flowers/chocolates/womantic meals, we're going to try & go away for the weekend closest to our anniversary. So we've just come back from Dorset - 2 nights in the very pleasant Cross Keys House www.crosskeyshouse.com in Broadwindsor - which gave us the chance to try out a book of mountain bike rides in Dorset that I've had for a few months: "The Mountain Bike Guide to the Highways and Bridleways of Dorset" by Steve Wrann.
On Saturday, we did a 14 mile ride which started on the Golden Cap Estate near Charmouth. Very up & down with a killer climb at the end. I'm very proud of only walking up 1 hill (a little one at the start where I was worried about catching up with a very excited looking horse...). Some good views over Lyme Bay but too hazy to photograph well. 14 miles which took just under 3.5 hours - reflecting just how hilly it was! Having got a little rained on and very very sweaty form the hills, we decided we should change before continuing our daytrip - so got changed in the carpark! We had beach stuff in the car so it wasn't too tricky (sarongs are so useful!).
Then went down to Charmouth for crab sandwiches & a wander up the beach. Evening was spent in the very local pub – delicious meal included scallops & bacon in a cream & brandy sauce & then sea bass with tomatoes & piri piri. Palmers beer was good & Husband appreciated proper cider.
On Sunday, we went to Forde Abbey - just over the border in Somerset - didn't bother with the house, just the gardens. Brilliant veg garden - much better onion harvest than ours! The gardens have inspired us to try some different varieties of dahlia next year.
In the afternoon, we tried out a second ride from the book near Sydling St Nicholas. Finding the start proved interesting - the book described it as "Batcombe Hill Picnic Site", the OS map shows it as the carpark closest to Gore Hill and the sign on the car park gave it another name again
(something beginning with H - can't remember!).
Once we had parked up & started riding, the route was great - following a chalk ridge and then working back up the valley. 13.7 miles which took us about 2.5 hours.
Overall, we liked the book but it is showing its age (published in 1993) as it recommends pubs which have closed and this may also have caused the start point issue already described. Aside from that, I would suggest using an OS map with any of the rides as the descriptions were a bit detail light in places. Excellent weekend - great way to spend our anniversary!
On Saturday, we did a 14 mile ride which started on the Golden Cap Estate near Charmouth. Very up & down with a killer climb at the end. I'm very proud of only walking up 1 hill (a little one at the start where I was worried about catching up with a very excited looking horse...). Some good views over Lyme Bay but too hazy to photograph well. 14 miles which took just under 3.5 hours - reflecting just how hilly it was! Having got a little rained on and very very sweaty form the hills, we decided we should change before continuing our daytrip - so got changed in the carpark! We had beach stuff in the car so it wasn't too tricky (sarongs are so useful!).
Then went down to Charmouth for crab sandwiches & a wander up the beach. Evening was spent in the very local pub – delicious meal included scallops & bacon in a cream & brandy sauce & then sea bass with tomatoes & piri piri. Palmers beer was good & Husband appreciated proper cider.
On Sunday, we went to Forde Abbey - just over the border in Somerset - didn't bother with the house, just the gardens. Brilliant veg garden - much better onion harvest than ours! The gardens have inspired us to try some different varieties of dahlia next year.
In the afternoon, we tried out a second ride from the book near Sydling St Nicholas. Finding the start proved interesting - the book described it as "Batcombe Hill Picnic Site", the OS map shows it as the carpark closest to Gore Hill and the sign on the car park gave it another name again
(something beginning with H - can't remember!). Once we had parked up & started riding, the route was great - following a chalk ridge and then working back up the valley. 13.7 miles which took us about 2.5 hours.
Overall, we liked the book but it is showing its age (published in 1993) as it recommends pubs which have closed and this may also have caused the start point issue already described. Aside from that, I would suggest using an OS map with any of the rides as the descriptions were a bit detail light in places. Excellent weekend - great way to spend our anniversary!
Friday, August 04, 2006
The end of Watford is in sight!
I will be leaving Watford on 23rd August. Things I am looking forward too when I'm based at home again (some of them anyway!):
- Body Combat class
- Going to a Gym that shows more than 1 non-sports/news channel
- Not feeling wiped out all the time I'm at home
- Mid week allotment visits
- Seeing more of my buddies - and not feeling like I have to choose between spending time with Husband and friends coz there will be enough time to go round
- Air conditioned bedroom
- Proper food (Big D will require more discipline though)
- Not having to cram my social life into Saturday nights
Straight & Shiny Halo
Gym last night - 40 mins on the cross trainer, 8 on the bike (I got bored - rubbish TV!) and then some weights focussing on my arms & upper torso.
I want to find something exercise-wise that will enable me to develop stronger core muscles as I think that it's weakness there that's contributing to shoulder problems. However, since I've stopped going to bed with wet hair, this has been much less of an issue!
I want to find something exercise-wise that will enable me to develop stronger core muscles as I think that it's weakness there that's contributing to shoulder problems. However, since I've stopped going to bed with wet hair, this has been much less of an issue!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
New Blog for the Fat Bird Portfolio
Fat Bird Does Cooking: http://fatbirddoescooking.blogspot.com
This blog aims to be a collection of recipes using home grown produce - also suitable for farmers market veg and box schemes.
Every year, we seem to get gluts of something at the allotment (although none this year of peas sadly!) - and I'd like to make more enjoyable use of the veg rather than getting fed up of runner beans!
This blog aims to be a collection of recipes using home grown produce - also suitable for farmers market veg and box schemes.
Every year, we seem to get gluts of something at the allotment (although none this year of peas sadly!) - and I'd like to make more enjoyable use of the veg rather than getting fed up of runner beans!
Never mind the exercise - my hair!
Gym last night - 20 mins on the treadmill with an interval segment built in followed by 30 mins on the cross trainer. Did 3 X 2min higher speed intervals - I want to get it up to 5 X 2mins within 20mins & then build up to 30mins.
But very fed up afterwards. I had a fab haircut on Monday evening at an excellent hairdressers close to the office. Much shorter & even looked a bit funky rather than resembling a haystack. Tried blow drying it for myself last night - nowhere near as good. Will dig out the straighteners tonight - the hairdresser didn't use 'em but she is capable of decent blow drying!
But very fed up afterwards. I had a fab haircut on Monday evening at an excellent hairdressers close to the office. Much shorter & even looked a bit funky rather than resembling a haystack. Tried blow drying it for myself last night - nowhere near as good. Will dig out the straighteners tonight - the hairdresser didn't use 'em but she is capable of decent blow drying!
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