Learning to say no!

Does anyone else on here have trouble saying 'no'? I have all this course work to do and not a great deal of spare time- but when I'm asked to go somewhere or do something- before I know it that little word just slips out- 'yes'!! 'Yes' I'd love to meet for coffee" "Yes, I'm happy to cover that shift for you", "Yes, of course we can do dinner". Yes yes yes!!! and I am wanting to do all these things but I need to prioritise ( and perhaps learn how to spell that word- it doesn't look quite right) I guess all the work will get done- it usually does
anyway- today I had lunch and film with my sisters- and a lovely time it was! It is my middle sisters b'day next week so she got to choose the film- Julie and Julia. I had heard it was slow and boring- but I really enjoyed it. We had lots of giggles before it started (hmmmm....some of us never grow up) and each confessed to almost having a mini 'nana nap' sometime during the movie. As I said- lots of fun and I'm glad I said yes!

Goodbye Ash

Farewell old friend. You were with us for more than 13 years. It feels so very empty here without you

Gulp......this is it!!

Well I think I've now committed myself! Yikes! A clent of mine has just achieved her goal of cycling through France. On the way home she thought about what I said about setting a new goal and came up with the idea that she would like to try a triathalon- just a mini one. She told me about an event in Jan run by Ramsay Health Care re Breast cancer. Now that sparked my interest enough to throw caution to the winds and let my fellow runner/cycler/swimmer know about it too. Now it looks as though I've committed myself to this too!! The real baby event only has a 100m swim ( in a pool!!) the next level- a 200m swim and the next a 300m swim. Hmmmmm.....I did ask my client if flippers were allowed. She had the cheek to say 'no' but this could become a goal for you!!! ( who's the client and who's the 'master' here??????) lol.
so now I need to hit the pool and try and wean myself off the flippers. If you don't see me on here anymore it's cos I've drowned on the way!! guess it's good to have a goal

Mao's last Dancer

Went to see Mao's Last Dancer on Friday. Has anyone else seen it? I really loved it! Such an interesting story and what a fabulous dancer! ( at least the guy who played him was!) I'm now off to read the book and see what really happened! Saw it with my two sisters. My middle sister and I had a bit of a 'sob' while my oldest sister was fairly stoic! it's always good to get together with them. Had a bit of a laugh in the 'pre' film bit. lol- a bit like naughty schoolgirls sitting in the back row!

Great feeling!

Just finished organising the next two 15min presentations for Tuesday. I'm really enjoying the planning and the delivery.....well....just say it's not as bad when you do it as when you stew about it beforehand! These two presentations are about using office equipment ( laminator in my case) and customer service. I'm really hot onto customer service. Nothing gets me more riled than the rude ignorant people who SHOULDN'T be anywhere near a customer!!!! I'm SOOOOOO tempted to say something at times but as yet have just bitten my lip! I'm amazed at how some people can complete a whole transaction ( whatever it is) without once giving eye contact- pretty amazing that! They must have sensors on their head so they know where your hand is!!! Anyway- it's laminators and customer service for me on Tuesday. A little more out of my comfort zone- but I guess it's good for you!

This is the way to do it

MY DEAREST FRIENDS,
I'M SO GLAD I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS!
The correct way to weigh yourself:

Sent via email from a very good friend!

thought you all might get a laugh from this. What a great solution!!!

no real news

I'm getting so slack at writing on here without any real reason or excuse. Life is busy but then it's always busy! Tafe starts back on Monday after a 2 week break so will be good to see students again but it does mean more work! The course I'm doing on training and assessment has me sweating a bit. Got to do 15 min presentation this week and, as always, I tend to get a bit stewed up about it. Not really sure why- I face adults and train and teach all week!!! I guess it's just my way of making sure I actually do the preparation. If I didn't feel 'fear' then I'd prob just leave everything to the last minute.
Workouts have been consistent and great. I feel so indulgent when I can spend a good amount of time just moving weights. Trying to vary what I do a bit but there is a limit to the different types of exercises you can do. I tried the d/b chest press with 30lbs ( 13.6kg) and found I could do it! lol I regularly do 25lb (11.3kg- and yes- I do have an online converter!!) but wasn't sure how I would go with the next weight up- didn't want to collapse in the middle of all those tough guys that preen their way around the gym! Got hubby to stand close to spot me in case I failed!
Tried the new leg workout in the latest Oxygen Mag- 7 sets of squats with varying leg positions. It was ok - but in the 60 sec rest inbetween did upright rows and bent over rows- so at least that made good use of my time.
I'm just rambling now- have a good weekend everybody!

kettle bells!

Had the kettle bell workshop the previous week at the gym and what a great one it was. Looking at the guy swinging this weight around it seemed like a great way to do yourself an injury! However, after a good warm up and learning techniques I felt fantastic. I started out with an aching back ( having just been on a 7 hr shift which started at 5.45AM and meant I had to getup at 4.30AM!) and at the end I felt energised, flexible and strong! We ended up with a small circuit we had to do 5 times- 10 swings with each arm, 10 squats, 10 pushups and 10 crunches. When we got to the last round he said to do 30 of each. I beat my manager by about 5 secs! Yaaahhhh. The competitive spirit NEVER diminishes just the execution fades a bit as you get older-lol. I bought one of these kettle bells but haven't used it yet. Hubby is swinging it around in gay abandon and loving it! lol

WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!

Yaaahhhh- I've finished! Not sure my waistline is enjoying the study but at least I've finished the first round! we're going away for the w/e so I really needed to get all this finished before we went. Assignments are due on Tues and then we will have more set for the next week. However it can't possibly as heavy a work load as this has been. We ultimately end up giving an hour training session to the group- half hour training and half hour assessment. I'm sure I can think of something to yap on about!! Off to work now and good to get some movement back in this body!

SWAMPED!!!

I've eaten 2 small cakes, half a pkt liquorice allsorts, numerous cups of tea and I'm still floundering under piles of paper, computers and folders! I'm getting desperate here- a bit like paddling upstream with only one paddle- going around in circles and getting nowhere fast! So what am I doing here leaving a blog???? Do any ostriches need company???

It feels so good when you stop!

Just started a course that already I'm thinking will be great when it's over- if I survive it!! The amount of work is amazing- have to have a 14 page work book of short answer questions, 4 2 page assignments and a 5 min presentation- all due by Tues week! yikes!!! I'm finding it hard just understanding what I'm reading never mind actually using the info. I hate to be beaten by things though so that spurs me on!

A good time had by all

Had a great time at Clover Cottage- a lovely old house but hardly a cottage! The group ( ladies from my over 50's group at the gym) are such a nice lot of people I love spending time with them. I even ditched my jeans and trackky daks for them!!

Princess for the morning

Well.....I've spent the past hour primping, preening, plucking and dyeing, washing and polishing until I've scrubbed myself to within an inch of my life! Now I'm ready to have "lunch with girls" - at Clover Cottage! Apparently a lovely cottagy thing- as a fund raiser for breast cancer. I'm really not a sit down at lunch time and natter for hours type of person ( especially the 'dressing up' part) but I suspect it will be fun and it's good to do something different. I was instructed by my ladies that jeans were not on and nor were trackky daks! doesn't leave much left in the cupboard- but at least I'm clean and plucked and polished and buffed!!!

DUH!

kettleBELLS not KettleBALLS!!!!!

explanation!

The 'ouch' on the previous post refers to my back and arm muscles!!!!

Boxercise- OUCH!

Did a boxercise class with Catherine ( daughter) on Thurs night- and good fun it was too! We shared a bag and took turns in doing the combo's. It was funny to see her foot appear left and right and then it was my turn! I took it easy with the hardness of punching cos I know I'll just end up hurting something. It was a good class actually- only small amounts of time on one combination, followed by a minute or so or cardio and stretching and then back to the boxing. Meant not too much consistent stress. I was pleased to see, that although I'm slow., I could out 'pushup' the two young girls near me! We were all doing 'girlie' pushups so it was pretty easy- and they were struggling!! Yahhhhh for 'nana power'!!!
\Next time I go to see catherine ( an hour away) we're going to do an army style circuit- with kettle balls etc. Looked a bit manic but lots of sweaty fun! I could so with having a good sweat-I'm a bit of a princess and don't really push myself all that hard- lol

Aren't we soft

Finally got the power back on after 2 nights without ( Melb had quite severe storms) The prob with our lack of power is that it also means lack of water as we're on tank water and therefore no pump!! Managed ok with dinner out and the gym nearby for a shower ( plus a workout- might as well as I was near!). Good to actually have light now when you switch on the light switch for the umpteenth time!! Had lots of trees and branches down. My sister and her partner ( with chainsaw) came to the rescue and we managed to get a lot of the debris chopped and burnt- it was lovely of them to give up there time.
Now- I need some help! Does anyone have any suggestions of getting around a reaction to chlorine from swimming pools. I don't really want to change pools but I am tired of feeling bunged up and having piggy little eyes for days after. Sudafed does seem to help- but I don't want to pump my body full of medication either. I'm actually enjoying the swimming and slowly slowly slowly (dare I say it ) improving !!

half marathon- maybe???

I've been reading the good weekend section of The Age. There was an article of one man's experience with running a marathon. Hmmmmm........food for thought! Maybe - If I ran/walked I could manage a half marathon without permanent damage. I'd love to give it a go. I did the run for kids ( 15km) without any permanent side effects so what's 6 more??

what a decadent day!

After 4 days of frenetic activity I had the most decadent of days today. Started with a swim- I did 20 laps today- whoowooo!!! ( I did have flippers for 18 and I did mix it up with backstroke) then off to TAFE to do some preparation- but then here comes the good bit- off to the MOVIES, in the MIDDLE of the day by MYSELF!! All of this is basically unheard of with me- but it was a good indulgent thing to do! Saw Coraline- an animated 3D PG but too scarey for most kids I would think. So me, and my 3 other 'friends' in the cinema , happily munched and lazed the 2 hours away!
After this came more decadence- a MASSAGE! a therapeutic one with lots of 'sore bits' being man handled, but a massage never the less!
I think I need to plan more Fridays like this one

I would NEVER fit all my clothes in here- AND I used to share this with my middle sister!!

Not kicking and screaming now- but maybe I've matured a bit since then!