Running Again!

I've started running again after having a 2 week break due to the Swine Flu.

I have to admit was really impressed with myself. I didn't really want to go (as always because I hate running) but I forced myself out of the door to do my usual circuit which is 2.2 miles.

I thought I would keep the speed down and just make it round without stopping to walk but this isn't how it worked out. I ran down the road. Usually I "slow jog" the whole route. Then I ran to the field. I slowed a bit on the field mainly because the surface is uneven and I didn't want to twist an ankle. I soon reached field 2, 3 and 4 without any difficulty. But as soon as I started to get short of breath I slowed down. I didn't want to walk, so I just slowed my pace down. It seemed like I had got 3/4 of the way around my route quite quickly so I was in no hurry.

But I ended up walking! I was annoyed with myself because if I had a trainer with me or someone pushing me I wouldn't have walked, but because I was on my own I just wimped out and walked - for 30 seconds. Then with some positive self talk (actually I cursed at myself out loud for walking in the first place) I picked up the pace and started to run again. I kept the same pace up the rest of the way back to my house.

I did the run in approximately 14 minutes which is a new personal best for me and flippin' walked some of it!
Im not quite sure of the time so please don't quote me on that, I left the house at 6:45pm and when I got home I did some stretching outside before going inside for some water. By the time I'd had a drink and took off my shoes it was 7:04pm so Im guessing I did the run in about 14 minutes.

Funny how having a break can then bring out one of my best times ever. I wonder if I got the time wrong when I left the house.

Feeling Human Again

Finally! After a long haul of the Swine Flu I am feeling human again. For 10 days I've been feeling so tired, so lacking in energy and enthusiasm to do anything its been awful. For the first 5 days of the virus I drifted in and out of sleep all day long.

For the last 5 days without the Tamiflu treatment I have been feeling better and better each day but still having bouts of excessive tiredness.

I don't even know how I made it through my day at work yesterday! I was very tired and not very productive.

The best bit is that I went to Kuk Sool last night for the first time in 2 weeks and it was brilliant! It was great to be working out again, to be teaching again and to be sweating again. Its amazing how I felt so good by the end of the evening. I'm so glad I went because after the day I had it would have been very easy to just curl up on the sofa and snooze all evening.

As it happens the classes were great and quite high energy so I really enjoyed it and got a good sweat on. I haven't done any training, at home or at kuk sool for 2 weeks while I've been poorly.

Needless to say, with the good workout at Kuk Sool, I slept much better last night so today I feel really refreshed and energised. I feel positive again and ready to set some new goals for my training and teaching going forward.

Thank goodness because I was starting to think I was going through a "Phase of life" where I was really lethargic all the time and it was very difficult to get motivated to do anything.

Cats and Kitten

Here's how the kitten is settling in. The three of them all get along (pretty much, the girls dont play together) and its great fun to see a small kitten playing our industrial sized Smokey cat!

Guitar Fest

We went to guitar fest on 11th July at the National Indoor Arena. I was expecting great things with loads of stalls selling guitar stuff and shows all day long.

The shows were great. Well some of them were. Others were just... wierd!

To be honest, for the long drive and cost of petrol I didn't think the day was worth it, but Luke enjoyed the experience and it was nice to have some father/son time.

The finale show was flipping awesome and made the whole day worth it.

I liked this guitar the best, but there weren't many to choose from as there was only about 20 stalls selling stuff.

Swine Flu

On Wednesday 15th July I was diagnosed with the Swine Flu. Great.

I say great because I'd rather have it now than when I'm going on holiday to Egypt!

Its not been great having it though. It seems symptoms vary from person to person. Me, I'm getting hot and cold temperature fluctuations all day long, with dizziness and feeling "spaced out" all the time. I can't concentrate on anything and just feel completely without energy.

My brother - who also has it - has what you would call regular flu like symptoms with the running nose, sore throat etc. I don't have any of those symptoms. There are people I work with who have had it the week before me and they too experienced differing symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea.

Why is dia-rear such a hard word to spell?

I had dia-rear for the first 2-3 days but this is predominantly a side effect of the Tamiflu treatment.

Today I am feeling the same - hot/cold vacant brain spaced out feelings and lethargic. I'll be glad when this is over.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh.

The sound of Angels in heaven "aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh" as at this weeks weigh in Helen is now back to the weight she was when we first got together.

Not bad lookin is she?

Horrible!!

This chocolate torte with a gingernut crunchy base was horrible. Blah. Nobody wanted to touch it when Helen got home. Uh uh. no way. Not me. Not anyone. No sir.

Damn it was nice!

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This post is to promote a Marketing and Design company. I am good friends with the Company Director and like to do my bit to push business their way.

If you have any requirements from Business Cards to... well anything! Give @apparition a call or take a look at their website for a taster of what they are capable of:

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Thanks for looking!

Can you see.....

our kitten?

Our Own Veggies

At last we have finally started digging up our own veggies and eating them. I love the taste of home grown vegetables. These lovelies were delicious.

Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is one of our favourites so it was great to be able to try one that Helen made at college with the chef!

6 String Electo Accoustic

This is the new electro 6 string guitar. I am really pleased with it and got it for a real bargain. It was supposed to be £350 but because I traded in my blue electro-accoustic 12 string I got it for £250. The sound it makes is really nice and I'm looking forward to spending more time with it.

Guitar Fest 2009

Its Luke's birthday today and tomorrow I'm taking him (and Madmike) to Guitar Fest! The largest Guitar show (Clarkson Voice Moment.....) In the world!

Its been years since I've been to the National Indoor Arena and Im really excited about seeing all the guitar stuff, the famous people and the live shows!

Its gonna be brilliant!!!! (for Luke of course uh-hem) Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!

More to follow after the event!