Off We GO

Hey Ho Hey Ho- it's off on holiday I go! In approximately 5 hours I should be winging my way to Great Britain and Austria to celebrate my big 60!! The plane goes at 2.40am!! Oh well- at least this time it hasn't been a tearing rush. Looking forward to getting there , rather than the plane trip- although I do like plane travel but 21 hours of it can get a little tiresome after a while! And- I never sleep but always think that I will. Doomed for disappointment every time! lol

What's New?

Goodness it's been a month since I wrote on here- however I have been 'lurking' just not feeling very inspired to write anything. Friday I did another Kettlebell workshop. Well run and lots of fun and now feeling the aftermath!! Bum and legs are really tired and a bit stiff. Should have gone for a bike ride this w/e but just couldn't muster up the enthusiasm- most unlike me. However- never mind- I'm sure the mojo will return soonish. Still planning and organising for our trip away. Things are starting to fall into place and now I'm writing lots of lists. One task is to clean the house! Most important when you're going away!!!! Just loving my little ( not so little anymore) kitten. He brings us such pleasure and lots of laughs. He has the biggest and noisiest purr I've ever heard and roars in my ear early every morning. He likes to lie his head across my neck and then start his rumble!! How can you get annoyed when he's so cute! lol

Are you sitting on a fortune??

I'm positively sure I'm not the only person with pots of loose change sitting around the house. Purse gets emptied, hubby's pants hung up, handbag gets cleaned out- all these things lead to an accumulation of 'loose change' It had got to slightly ridiculous proportions so I took two bags to our local bank. They have this whiz bang coin sorter which I've never used before. 5 minutes later I'm $181.00 richer!!! Couldn't quite believe there was so much. Still got another pot to go. So, you see, I've been sitting on quite the fortune!!

Been ages again!

Seems to have been a long time inbetween blogs for me! Nothing momentous happening just being lazy I fear. I've been having a lovely time playing with Rupert- he is def the nicest cat I have ever owned. Very loving and gentle but also loves playing and leaping and is generally a laugh a minute!
Our trip in May is progressing nicely. I have the tickets to the Spanish Riding School so the main purpose of the trip is settled- yaaahhhh
Bike riding is also progressing- up to 58km with only one minor prob- my foot!!! eeeeegh- the soreness that happened at Christmas ( when I was riding an exercise bike about 30 mins most days) has now flared up again. I'm not totally convinced its the bike- at least I hope not!!!

Our New Addition!

This is what is taking up my time lately- meet Rupert Bear! Just picked him up this afternoon. He is the most delightful of kittens- very purry, friendly, playey and cuddly- couldn't be more perfect! We haven't had a kitten for about 17 years and I'd forgotten how much fun they could be. Tabs ( our resident cat) hasn't been too bad with him. She's very timid but has been reasonably comfortable and he's been extremely respectful of her senior position! Lovely to have another cat in the house again

Please have a look - part 2

I'm not so good at inserting links- but I think the previous post is ok! To explain- I'm planning on this bike ride in October- Conquer Cancer- and the link will take you to my personal page and blog. As a team we need to raise a considerable amount of money to participate so through this page you can give a donation- if you wish.Can I say 'thankyou' in anticipation??

Please have a look

Please have a look at my Conquer Cancerblog

Update

A boring title to a post that may also claim the same !
I've been spending most of my spare time on the bike! Gradually increasing distance but ever so slowly. Went for a lovely ride tonight- late arvo/ early evening- up to Warby. It truly is a beautiful spot. Now have to start fund raising for this bike ride- any suggestions? The team is doing some major fundraising but we still need to do some of our own. There's a local market so might have a stall there some time. Bunnings BBQ sounds like a good money raiser but not sure if I can get a spot before October. Suggestions gratefully received!!

exciting times ahead!

This year is my BIG birthday! I've been thinking of what to do to celebrate ( I reckon if you're entering a new decade, might as well celebrate memorably!) Had contemplated a holiday in central Australia on a station or something but hubby suggested I might like to see the horses in Vienna! Would I what!!!!!!!!. So- trip is being planned! Hopefully we can get this organised in time- Spanish Riding School, Stud farm in Piber ( where they grow them) a 6 day walk in country Austria, trip over to Britain and make way to Wales where I will sit on the memorial seat we got for my parents ( scattered ashes in 2007) which is in a park we used to go to when we were kids! I'm so delighted with the thought of this- it's just perfect:))))) Makes turning the big 60 something to look forward to!

finally

This hungry little caterpillar is sated- finally!!!

just stuff

Don't know really what I've been doing this past week I just know it has flown! Tafe starts back on Monday and now I'm really beginning to feel as though my holiday is over:(( I really enjoy the teaching but it's that old 'school feeling' deep in the tummy ( otherwise know as major butterflies). I've done heaps of prep so I should be ok for about half the year I would think!! I'll be glad when I've broken the ice and things calm down to a dull roar.
Cycling is going ok. I've ridden a couple of 30kms. I've felt fine afterwards but glad to stop! The weekend will see at least one more ride- we're fairly busy Sunday so not sure if it can happen that day!
Exercise is going ok generally- hitting the gym more days than not. Diet is a bit hit or miss but at least that gives me something to work on.
Have a good weekend everyone!

I'm Back!!

I've only been back a week but it feels at least a month!!! Doesn't take all that long to lose the 'holiday feeling'!
I'm planning of doing this bike ride in September- Conquer Cancer- it's 200km over 2 days. This has given me the much needed boot to get me riding in earnest! It's only fear that drives me but actually I'm enjoying the challenge very much ( at the moment)
I'm not a very good bike rider at all! I managed a trip to Warby on the bike trail which was 30km and that's about the longest I've done in one stretch for a very long time. At least I've got 8 months to go! My aim is to do this without injury- but I do tend to overdo things and then suffer the consequences. Running is off for the moment due to overdoing it while we were away- so the bike is looking good.

Update

Still here in the far north but sadly returning soon:(((

Sunny slow lane!

Up here again in the sunny slow lane of Port Douglas! They should make us honourary Queenslanders! The weather is 'perfect'! Warm and sunny- not too hot and not too humid ( although it really couldn't be too humid for me!)
My goal, while I'm here, is NOT to put on any weight. I always come back a kg or so heavier than when I started, despite the running and gymming that I do. Its back to apples and carrots and not toast and croissants!We'll see how that goes!

This year's challenges

My goals for 2012 are
1. A bike ride to raise awareness and money for cancer- in Sept. 200kms in 2 days. My initial reaction was- I'm not a bike rider!! However- I guess I wasn't a runner til I started running and ...... I've got a much better chance of doing this than swimming!!

2. Home renovations- the kitchen is under fire. I've enlisted a very good friend to help me get the ball rolling.

3 I think those biscuits have to go!

4. Yeah- socialisation is on the cards again! Make more of an effort with those work do's and general getting out and about.

At this stage I think this will do- may add more along the way

Last Year's

1. Do a 'Challenge'
I did sort of do one in Feb. However I got sick so the challenge seemed to dwindle a bit. I did improve my eating and lost a lot of weight- then people said how sick I looked!! Grrr
2. do a half marathon- walking and running
Sadly no to this one. Injuries stopped me:((((
3. become more sociable- this means not avoiding contacts if I have an opportunity! When a work 'do' comes up I look for ways to avoid them! I rarely make the first move to contact someone I'm not totally familiar with to arrange a coffee date. Just little things- but important to keep outward looking
Actually no to this one too. Discovere I hadn't had this in my focus when I realised that I only went to one Christmas party/lunch and avoided all the others! Bad bad bad!!
4. Give up coffee, biscuits and jellied snakes
I don't drink coffee any more at all ( and feel heaps better for it. Biscuits I eat like they're going out of fashion and I haven't bought any jellied snakes ( except for 2 when we were at the Daintree in October.
do something a bit different in the work area- not change jobs but maybe add 5.something different to what I already do
No - didn't really do anything different here
6.more home renovations
Not Yet- but it's coming into focus again!!

well.............. didn't do too well this year. I think some of those may be used again!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everybody! Can't quite believe we're seeing out 2011- it has just raced by. I am thinking about New Year Resolutions- I love setting goals and trying to achieve them. Some years I've done really well and others???........... Let's just say recycled resolutions have their place too! Tomorrow I will cut and paste last years goals and see how I fared. Then it will be more goal setting! Already have a couple but will post them when I've decided the whole package. Hehehehe- this is serious business here!!!

War Horse???? Yes/No/Yes/No/Yes/No

We went to see the movie and I'm really not sure what I thought of it. The themes were incredibly corny and very predictable. The acting was wooden. The ending was like something out of War and Peace. All this seemed to clash with some very graphic and quite horrific war scenes. The one saving grace was the beautiful horse- lol- they always can save anything from ruin for me!
Did I enjoy it? Yes/No/Yes/ No- not really sure
would I recommend it? Yes/No/ Maybe
However- I didn't go to sleep in it. It wasn't boring and I am writing a blog about it which I never usually do!!
Has anyone else seen it?

next year

Just found out I've got two tafe classes next year! Yah!! They are much the same as this year except I don't have Friday morning ( 2 hours) I had the option of Friday afternoon for 2 hours but......... been there done that I didn't like that time at all!!!
So- my aim is to tidy this study before next year! I've made a great start and have two green garbage bags full of papers. Many more to come! I love chucking out! Very therapeutic!!