Damn it!! Why didn't anyone tell me that gardening is just like house work!!! As soon as you do it someone comes along and undoes it! First it was the dog deciding that what I actually had done was create a nice clear place for him to lie in all this heat. Then the birds decide that I've raked the leaves so they can then have a playground in them. And now all the weeds are having a field day growing back again!!! Perhaps I should concrete it all and paint it green!! Grrrr.

Ran 11km + on Saturday so really pleased that I'm on target for this run in April. Had a good run and plenty more fuel in the tank when I finished. Isn't it amazing how one week you can feel as though you couldn't make one more step and then a week later it all seems fairly attainable! Hope I have one of those weeks on April 1st. Had a gentle (Hah!) reminder from my middle sister Judy about the 12 week challenge I set myself this year. like- was I still doing it- just as I was about to tuck into a pancake and ice cream!!! I guess I asked for that!
This week I start the gym shifts without shadowing anyone- that's right- all on my own ( with the other staff around of course!) On one hand I'm really looking forward to it but there's also the part that says- new things- terror!!! lol

I've had two shifts at the gym and survived to the point of enjoying it! Feel very much like the new kid at school and shadowing another gym instructor is a bit difficult at times- but basically it's been great. The Wed morning shift was something to get used to! I have to be there at 5.45am and as it's a half hour drive away I had to get up at 4.30am. I do like early rising but that is in the middle of the night!! Had a work out there on Tues as much to get used to all their equipment. Hmmm.... maybe I overdid it a bit cos I can feel just about every muscle in my body!! Even my abs which I thought has disappeared over time.

Hopefully this has worked and you can see the shaggy before and the less shaggy after! It's a huge garden!

Saturday's run was pitiful- only made 9k when I intended to do 11. I was still feeling tired after a work out ( legs) on Thurs and it was hot!

Trying to post my before and after pics but I think they got lost in the process!

Friday started out a bit 'ho-hum'. Nothing really planned to do except meet with school buddies for coffee later in the day. Wrote my 'list' and changed the order about 6 times till I finally settled on the garden! yah!!. In the middle of the dust, sweat, dog, cat and weeds my telephone rang and out of the blue it was a job offer at a Fernwood gym - one that I had applied for previously as part time reception. Well... if that didn't turn me up side down!! for about 5 mins. Went down there and had a chat and decided that this was far more 'me' than the other gym- so feeling really guilty I rang them- but they were fine about it. So.... I start on Monday shadowing someone and prob for the rest of my shifts that week. It's Mon 2-9pm, Wed 6am-1pm, Thurs 5-9pm and every second Saturday 8am-4pm. I'm really delighted and now, instead of feeling apprehensive I feel really excited at this prospect, yaaaaaahhhhh

I started the day with a humumgus list of 'things to do'!! and yes- gardening was one of them! well I'm sorry to say that ALL the other stuff got done but no soil tainted my dainty little hands! I think it might have been my husband telling me to be careful as he was sure he saw a snake under the geranium bush the night before! It could have been a 'whopper' designed to keep me out of his domain- but in actual fact he could have been right. We do get snakes here and sometimes around the house. Tomorrow I intend to make up for it. However I do have a lovely clean and relatively tidy house and 3 lots of sparkling windows!!! Suit is at the dry cleaners and all the bills are paid. That is so much more fun than gardening!

Day- 123??? It sure seems like that long ago I was posting about my fitness achievements. They seem to have been put in the back blocks for the time being. However I did run 10k on Saturday so I'm on track ( no pun intended- but it was rather good!!) there. Had the 2 days orientation and Yikes!!!! Talk about information overload! Not sure how this is going to work out but hoping that how I'm feeling is my usual state of panic when trying something new. I feel really lacking in 'real ' knowledge - like instructing on the equipment and being asked scarey questions- but I guess I can only learn. Shadowing for 3 shifts and then thurs I'm on my own!!!!!

I got it!!!!! Yaaaaaahhhhhh!!!! Orientation on Monday and Tuesday and then not sure when my shifts are. A bit scarey starting a new job and so different from my old one. Just have to dive in the deep end and give it a go!!

And this was my helper until I inadvertently swept the leaves onto her- then she got huffy!

I think this is going to be the LAST time I try to swim! I've now got a headache and the starting of feeling as though I'm getting a cold- it's that damned chlorine!!! I did my gardening stint this afternoon and am trying to post those 'before' and 'after' pics but not sure blogger wants to play tonight!

Also- tomorrow must be 'gardening day'!! I'll post some pics- before and after to show and verify that I am keeping up my new year's resolutions!!!

Now I really have lost track of the days which probably indicates I've lost my way with this 12 week challenge I was trying to do! Started the day with a spin class but then I guess it deteriorated from then on!!! Tomorrow is swimming early. I really need to try to fit in a run before saturday when I'm doing my longer run.
Heard from that gym yesterday and they want me to come in to conduct a training session for one of their staff. This is starting to sound hopeful now. My head is now going round in circles planning forFriday!!

Day- whatever it is! I must count them up. Did a spin class tonight and worked really hard. It kept me interested by counting the drops of sweat accumulating on the cross bar! ( ugh!)

Went to Williamstown today- it was just beautiful. Great views of the city.

here it this time- I hope!

Day 22 - I think. Not a great deal to report on the diet and exercise:(( However here is a pic of the new hair cut - after it's been squished under a hat and blown around. As you can see it is awfully flat! It looks much better when first done and sprayed to within an inch of its life!

Oh Dear- is it Day 21? Anyway- exercise and eating has been rather wayward this week. I could list all the reasons (excuses) but I think my main problem was the lack of planning. I find that writing down the exercise I plan to do for the week makes it happen and planning my daily menu helps to stop that impulse eating. That said- I did do 9k this morning so I'm on schedule for the Run for Kids in April. Went to a masseur on Wed who always has a great effect on me. She said I was really tight in the glutes and massaged (ouch!!) them! I went kicking /swimming with flippers on Thurs and my dicky knee kept clicking and running this morning left me feeling a little loose in the kneecap. Not sure if its all related but I guess it's a sign to do my leg exercises and keep the muscle up to scratch!