I've been a bit remiss at posting again!
Saturday June 12th
Isobel and I got up early and went to a car boot sale at Bramhope. It wasn't as big as we had expected so we didn'tbuy much. Isobel got a denim printed sleeping bag in really good condition for £2 and some pink hair spray for 20p. I got some pinking shears for £1.
On the way back we went into Otley and had a tootle round the charity shops there. We were talking about a friend called Gemma when not 10 minutes had passed and we bumped into her. She doesn't live anywhere near there so this was totally unexpected. Only things we bought there were for Isobel, a pair of denim shorts and a pair of board shorts.
We got home, got changed and sorted out our gear and went canoeing at Pugney's lake with the club. It was a lovely sunny day so there was a big turnout. Isobel played the game where you get out of the canoe and walk along a raft of other canoes, yes, she fell in! We really enjoyed ourselves today and it must have done the arms and core muscles good as we did plenty of actual paddling.
Sunday 13th June
Got up early and went for a run on Tong St. Did 49 minutes of r2.5/w1 minute. Didn't feel too bad either.
Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th June
Both work days so the only exercise I did was walking 10 minutes to and from the car.
Wednesday 16th June
Lovely sunny day so after getting up at some unearthly hour by accident (I thought it was an hour later than it really was) I took the dogs out for a walk. You can't sneak out with Bear as he barks very loudly as soon as he knows and even out on the street. We were out for 6.25am and had a lovely walk and it was so warm.
Decided that I was going for a bike ride today. Took the mountain bike on the back of the car down to Apperley Bridge and joined the Leeds Liverpool canal there. It was such a lovely morning that I felt really happy. Most other people seemed in a good mood too.
I felt good physically as well. I wasn't struggling at all and it was lovely to see the swans with their cygnets and the geese with their goslings. Disn't see many ducklings though.
I went as far as what I call Kildwick (not sure if it is or not but it is 12.1 miles from Apperley Bridge. Stopped at my usual spot by a bridge and found two ladies sat there. They were walkers and we had a rather nice chat.
We said our goodbyes and I set off back again. This time I stopped at the Five Rise Locks cafe and had a coffee and a piece of strawberry shortcake (well I needed to fuel up!) before completing my journey back at Apperley Bridge. What a fabulous day.
Thursday 17th June
After taking Isobel to school I took Evie to the Spen Valley Greenway for a run. Decided to move it up a notch and do R3/W1. It was a hot day and Evie struggled a bit poor little dog, she is about 11 years old and a bit rotund although she is losing it a bit now.
Despite the heat we managed 50 minutes of this so I was really pleased with that. When I got back Peter had already walked Bear.
Usually a busy day exercise wise for me but today Peter wanted me to go to the property auctions with him. We had put in an offer on a house in Birkenshaw but they told us to go to the auction. We did all the necessary registration etc and then bumped into someone I know. Her dad was selling a commercial property but as he isn't well she had come instead of him.
It was interesting seeing the prices that some properties were (or weren't) making. Eventually it got to the one we were after. Two other people were bidding but we got it for £2k less than we had offered originally so that was okay. It is a one bed mid terrace with a sitting tenant so nothing to do with this one as yet.
Peter and I went for a carvery to celebrate and we phoned Chris (our partner) who is on holiday in Greece to let him know we now have another property in the portfolio.
The planned circuit training didn't happen this evening as I found out that it was induction evening for parents at Isobel's new school. She hadn't told me so it was a good job I bumped into Tania at the auctions as it was her that told me.
Friday 18th June.
Well the Juneathon went well and truly down the drain. Today I had to go and get Peter's Father's Day presents so it was a wander around Aldi and then I went across the road to the retail park. Bumped into Monika who I used to know years ago and we had a chat about Carol who used to be my best mate until she got into Spiritualism and became very odd. She is even odder still apparently.
We didn't go canoeing tonight as Peter's back isn't too good again and I was being lazy.
Must try harder as it used to say on my school report!
Saturday 19 June 2010
Friday 11 June 2010
Cheating on the Juneathon!
Monday I was going to go swimming after work but I stayed at work a bit too long so missed out on the swimming. So my entries for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday consist of a 10 minute walk to and from the car each day. I do park out of the city centre and leaving work it is all uphill back to the car. In my defence i also work on the second floor and climb 52 steps twice a day.
Thursday, I went swimming at Spenborough. Did 68 lengths in 59 minutes. That is four lengths short of a mile and a half. I would have done the other four but the attendants were chucking us out on time today. In the evening I went circuit training and enjoyed it.
Friday, I got up at a reasonable time and went running on the Greenway. Evie came with me and we did 49 minutes of r2.5/w1 minute. Can't say it was easy but I did it and enjoyed it.
Then I took Bear for a nice walk and he actually behaved himself. We only passed one dog and although he pulled he didn't bark at it. He did try chasing a squirrel that was up a tree though.
This evening we went canoeing at Batley Baths. Had a good evening but it was very busy in the pool tonight. Think I made up for the start of the week!
Thursday, I went swimming at Spenborough. Did 68 lengths in 59 minutes. That is four lengths short of a mile and a half. I would have done the other four but the attendants were chucking us out on time today. In the evening I went circuit training and enjoyed it.
Friday, I got up at a reasonable time and went running on the Greenway. Evie came with me and we did 49 minutes of r2.5/w1 minute. Can't say it was easy but I did it and enjoyed it.
Then I took Bear for a nice walk and he actually behaved himself. We only passed one dog and although he pulled he didn't bark at it. He did try chasing a squirrel that was up a tree though.
This evening we went canoeing at Batley Baths. Had a good evening but it was very busy in the pool tonight. Think I made up for the start of the week!
Sunday 6 June 2010
White water rafting
I've sort of spoiled my Juneathon as I didn't do anything yesterday. However I have done two things today so hopefully that kind of keeps me on track.
This morning I did 42 minutes of run 2/walk 1 minute. I got up early and was out of the door for 7.20 am. Found it a little more difficult than last time I went out but hopefully that is just a blip. The weather was cooler than of late but not raining. The streets were pretty quiet thankfully.
When I got back I got my canoeing gear ready as we were off up to the Washburn Valley to go whitewater rafting.
This is the reservoir that feeds the white water area. The bottom of the dam wall is where this starts.
Our canoe club, West Yorkshire Canoe Club, pay for the water to be released from a reservoir so we have guaranteed whitewater no matter what the weather has been doing.
We arrived and got ready fairly quickly and soon found we were in the next raft to go down. Steve Thorley-Lawson was guiding this one and after the briefing we were on the water. It was a fairly sedate journey down but we still got wet. Right at the last minute we went down a small weir and the passenger in front of me lost her balalnce and went overboard. In getting her back in we miss the disembarkation area so had to go a bit further downstream to where we used to get out. Luckily the van had seen it happen so came down to the car park to pick us up.
Second time down we went with George Harrap who is fairly new to guiding on his own but is due to take an assessment for it in October so wanted as much practice as possible. This time there was Chris, Paul, Peter and myself in so we had a right laugh. The ride was fairly tame though. When we got to the exit area, Peter jumped out to pull the boat in and didn't realise it was going to be so deep at the edge so went for a complete ducking.
There was a bit of a wait for the next go so we had some lunch and coffee and then wandered back up to the starting point. We got George again! This time he wanted to do a classic run, so no bumping or trying to get us out of the boat. He did some surfing in one of the bigger weirs though as he wanted to perfect the technique. We all survived this journey intact.
Fourth time around we managed to get Heath who is a complete headcase. He knew we were up for a bit of fun. He purposely hit every rock and tree possible and when it came to the weirs he tried his hardest to get us to tip someone out. Luckily I mostly spotted which way he was leaning and leaned the opposite way to counterbalalnce the raft. Having said that Peter did go overboard and hung on by a toe loop in the boat and I managed to pull him back in.
Heath then got Peter to jump into the front of the boat and we went over the big weir. He then turned the boat around and we paddled upstream and into the bottom of the weir and Peter got absolutely soaked by the freezing water. He then tried tipping the raft up in an eddy but again I counterbalanced this and he failed. We reached the bottom intact again.
We waited for the van to pick us up but this time there was all three rafts and a load of canoeists. I managed to jump into the front of the van thankfully and so did Sandra. Ken was driving but we had no idea how many people were in the back of the van with the canoes (the rafts and paddles were on a trailer). We counted people out, including us in the front, there were 22 of us in a Mercedes Sprinter van!!!! Health and Safety would have a field day with us.
After that I called it a day. It was raining hard and I was quite damp by then so starting to feel a bit cold.
This morning I did 42 minutes of run 2/walk 1 minute. I got up early and was out of the door for 7.20 am. Found it a little more difficult than last time I went out but hopefully that is just a blip. The weather was cooler than of late but not raining. The streets were pretty quiet thankfully.
When I got back I got my canoeing gear ready as we were off up to the Washburn Valley to go whitewater rafting.
This is the reservoir that feeds the white water area. The bottom of the dam wall is where this starts.
Our canoe club, West Yorkshire Canoe Club, pay for the water to be released from a reservoir so we have guaranteed whitewater no matter what the weather has been doing.
We arrived and got ready fairly quickly and soon found we were in the next raft to go down. Steve Thorley-Lawson was guiding this one and after the briefing we were on the water. It was a fairly sedate journey down but we still got wet. Right at the last minute we went down a small weir and the passenger in front of me lost her balalnce and went overboard. In getting her back in we miss the disembarkation area so had to go a bit further downstream to where we used to get out. Luckily the van had seen it happen so came down to the car park to pick us up.
Second time down we went with George Harrap who is fairly new to guiding on his own but is due to take an assessment for it in October so wanted as much practice as possible. This time there was Chris, Paul, Peter and myself in so we had a right laugh. The ride was fairly tame though. When we got to the exit area, Peter jumped out to pull the boat in and didn't realise it was going to be so deep at the edge so went for a complete ducking.
There was a bit of a wait for the next go so we had some lunch and coffee and then wandered back up to the starting point. We got George again! This time he wanted to do a classic run, so no bumping or trying to get us out of the boat. He did some surfing in one of the bigger weirs though as he wanted to perfect the technique. We all survived this journey intact.
Fourth time around we managed to get Heath who is a complete headcase. He knew we were up for a bit of fun. He purposely hit every rock and tree possible and when it came to the weirs he tried his hardest to get us to tip someone out. Luckily I mostly spotted which way he was leaning and leaned the opposite way to counterbalalnce the raft. Having said that Peter did go overboard and hung on by a toe loop in the boat and I managed to pull him back in.
Heath then got Peter to jump into the front of the boat and we went over the big weir. He then turned the boat around and we paddled upstream and into the bottom of the weir and Peter got absolutely soaked by the freezing water. He then tried tipping the raft up in an eddy but again I counterbalanced this and he failed. We reached the bottom intact again.
We waited for the van to pick us up but this time there was all three rafts and a load of canoeists. I managed to jump into the front of the van thankfully and so did Sandra. Ken was driving but we had no idea how many people were in the back of the van with the canoes (the rafts and paddles were on a trailer). We counted people out, including us in the front, there were 22 of us in a Mercedes Sprinter van!!!! Health and Safety would have a field day with us.
After that I called it a day. It was raining hard and I was quite damp by then so starting to feel a bit cold.
Friday 4 June 2010
A bit of canoeing
What a glorious da it has been today. The sun has been shining and I have been making scarcrows. It is our village's annual scarecrow festival starting tomorrow. Well our village and the next village do it.
Our scarecrows this year are going to be a Morris Dancer and Little Miss Muffet along with a spider.
Morris Dancer
Not the best picture but this is Little Miss Muffet and the spider is hanging from the tree above
Anyway this evening we had to go canoeing as we had to take the club's boat back with us. It was fairly quiet at the pool so we had a good paddle really. Nothing exciting happened except the staff wouldn't let us raft up and play the game where one of the younger kids walks along the whole raft of boats. Health and safety!
Our scarecrows this year are going to be a Morris Dancer and Little Miss Muffet along with a spider.
Morris Dancer
Not the best picture but this is Little Miss Muffet and the spider is hanging from the tree above
Anyway this evening we had to go canoeing as we had to take the club's boat back with us. It was fairly quiet at the pool so we had a good paddle really. Nothing exciting happened except the staff wouldn't let us raft up and play the game where one of the younger kids walks along the whole raft of boats. Health and safety!
Thursday 3 June 2010
Bowling, walking and circuits.
My daughter Isobel had a friend over to stay last night so I organised for us to go ten pin bowling. We had two games and I won both! It was good fun though I was a bit annoyed by them both accessing Facebook on her friends phone all the time.
We then went home and picked up the dogs and then drove to The Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley. It was fairly busy up there but we managed to find a parking space.
THE COW AND CALF ROCKS
Bear was pulling like a traction engine going up 'the Cow' but came unstuck when he came to a large rock. We had to 'hoik' him up it. We crossed the moorland and then went down a fairly steep ravine to a stream and up the other side. Leah had never done anything like this so was a bit surprised and a bit scared.
We carried on across more moorland until we came to a small wooded area. Isobel discovered a rope swimg in a tree but it wasn't very good so we carried on again. Leah thought our destination looked a long way off but was surprised how quickly we got there.
When we got to White Wells I was disappointed to find it was closed. I was hoping to get a drink there or at least show the girls the 'spa bath' ie a wide well of spring water. In Victorian times it was a spa that was supposed to have healing properties. These days people are challenged to plunge into the icy water on New Years Day...brrr!
We sat and rested a short while and then set off back again. We dropped down to the tarn which was full of tadpoles. It was also full of Evie very shortly as she adores water. After throwing a stone in for her she firstly came up with a much bigger stone and the second time she brought out a tree branch.
Anyway the rest of the return journey was pretty uneventful and we got back to the car park. The cafe there was closed but there was an ice-cream van so I treated the girls to ices and a can of pop each and I had a cider lolly. What a rip off £1.20 for a can. Total was £8.50 for two small ice lollies, an ice cream and two cans of pop. I'll take my own next time.
This evening I went circuit training. Eight of us there tonight. The weather has been very warm all day and this evening it was very warm in the hall. A good session though and a nice chat with Liz afterwards.
We then went home and picked up the dogs and then drove to The Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley. It was fairly busy up there but we managed to find a parking space.
THE COW AND CALF ROCKS
Bear was pulling like a traction engine going up 'the Cow' but came unstuck when he came to a large rock. We had to 'hoik' him up it. We crossed the moorland and then went down a fairly steep ravine to a stream and up the other side. Leah had never done anything like this so was a bit surprised and a bit scared.
We carried on across more moorland until we came to a small wooded area. Isobel discovered a rope swimg in a tree but it wasn't very good so we carried on again. Leah thought our destination looked a long way off but was surprised how quickly we got there.
When we got to White Wells I was disappointed to find it was closed. I was hoping to get a drink there or at least show the girls the 'spa bath' ie a wide well of spring water. In Victorian times it was a spa that was supposed to have healing properties. These days people are challenged to plunge into the icy water on New Years Day...brrr!
We sat and rested a short while and then set off back again. We dropped down to the tarn which was full of tadpoles. It was also full of Evie very shortly as she adores water. After throwing a stone in for her she firstly came up with a much bigger stone and the second time she brought out a tree branch.
Anyway the rest of the return journey was pretty uneventful and we got back to the car park. The cafe there was closed but there was an ice-cream van so I treated the girls to ices and a can of pop each and I had a cider lolly. What a rip off £1.20 for a can. Total was £8.50 for two small ice lollies, an ice cream and two cans of pop. I'll take my own next time.
This evening I went circuit training. Eight of us there tonight. The weather has been very warm all day and this evening it was very warm in the hall. A good session though and a nice chat with Liz afterwards.
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Juneathon
Monday 31st May - Bank Holiday
We got up reasonably early to go canoeing up at Sleningford in North Yorkshire. There hadn't been much rain and the water levels were never going to be high.
Isobel's friend, Leah, came with us. We kitted her out in all the gear but we only took two boats with us, Peters and the one I have borrowed from the club.
When we got up to Sleningford it was fairly busy but as anticipated the water levels were low. We burbled around at the bottom end to begin with and then dragged the boats further up and came through the 'rapids' back to the bottom part. Isobel and Leah were mainly playing in the water or sitting on the rocks and sliding down with the tide.
We got out and let the girls get in out boats. Leah was a little bit apprehensive but did really well and soon lost her fear. They both took the boats further up and came down the last bit of the rapids and the only problem they had was getting stuck on the rocks due to the shallow water.
The girls were getting cold so decided to call it a day and went to get dressed. However Peter and I dragged our boats up to the hole. Looking at it for a while I decided not to do it because the water was too low and, being heavy, I was more likely to get stuck on the rocks. Peter managed it after getting stuck. I re-launched at the bottom of the hole and we both travelled back down to the bottom, flat part of the river and we then decided we were hungry and thirsty and we got out as well.
Tuesday 1st June
I had intended atarting the Juneathon but went into a downward spiral quite early on in the day. I had an argument with Isobel about money. It was her 13th birthday recently and she had £85 in total after buying a memory card for her camera. She has bought a few items but I was shocked to find that she only had £20 left as most of it has been frittered away.
Unusually for me I couldn't shake the negative feelings off all day and even a nice little wander around the charity shops in Cleckheaton didn't help. Consequently I ate some rubbish today and then slept on the sofa which annoys Peter intensely.
Wednesday 2nd June
Ok so today is the real start of my Juneathon. The Juneathon is meant as doing some form of activity everyday all month. It doesn't have to be major as long as you do something.
I woke up at 5.30am and wasn't sure whether to run or take the dogs for a walk first. I decided to run. Instead of going elsewhere I set off from home and ran to the top of our road and along Tong St to Dudley Hill. I am amazed at how many people are out and about at 6am. There was a steady flow of traffic and plenty of pedestrians about. I did 39 minutes of run 2, walk 1 and then walked for about 4 minutes home.
A quick change of clothes and I then took the dogs out for a walk. We walked down the moors, where they had a short run about after a stone but someone else came on the moor with a dog so I had to put Bear back on the lead. He is a bad boy where other dogs are concerned. We came out onto Station Lane and past Birkenshaw first school. Up the snicket and round an estate and we eventually come back up to the moors. Back up the moors and we were back home again.
All this before 7.30am! Therefore I am back on track for the Juneathon.
We got up reasonably early to go canoeing up at Sleningford in North Yorkshire. There hadn't been much rain and the water levels were never going to be high.
Isobel's friend, Leah, came with us. We kitted her out in all the gear but we only took two boats with us, Peters and the one I have borrowed from the club.
When we got up to Sleningford it was fairly busy but as anticipated the water levels were low. We burbled around at the bottom end to begin with and then dragged the boats further up and came through the 'rapids' back to the bottom part. Isobel and Leah were mainly playing in the water or sitting on the rocks and sliding down with the tide.
We got out and let the girls get in out boats. Leah was a little bit apprehensive but did really well and soon lost her fear. They both took the boats further up and came down the last bit of the rapids and the only problem they had was getting stuck on the rocks due to the shallow water.
The girls were getting cold so decided to call it a day and went to get dressed. However Peter and I dragged our boats up to the hole. Looking at it for a while I decided not to do it because the water was too low and, being heavy, I was more likely to get stuck on the rocks. Peter managed it after getting stuck. I re-launched at the bottom of the hole and we both travelled back down to the bottom, flat part of the river and we then decided we were hungry and thirsty and we got out as well.
Tuesday 1st June
I had intended atarting the Juneathon but went into a downward spiral quite early on in the day. I had an argument with Isobel about money. It was her 13th birthday recently and she had £85 in total after buying a memory card for her camera. She has bought a few items but I was shocked to find that she only had £20 left as most of it has been frittered away.
Unusually for me I couldn't shake the negative feelings off all day and even a nice little wander around the charity shops in Cleckheaton didn't help. Consequently I ate some rubbish today and then slept on the sofa which annoys Peter intensely.
Wednesday 2nd June
Ok so today is the real start of my Juneathon. The Juneathon is meant as doing some form of activity everyday all month. It doesn't have to be major as long as you do something.
I woke up at 5.30am and wasn't sure whether to run or take the dogs for a walk first. I decided to run. Instead of going elsewhere I set off from home and ran to the top of our road and along Tong St to Dudley Hill. I am amazed at how many people are out and about at 6am. There was a steady flow of traffic and plenty of pedestrians about. I did 39 minutes of run 2, walk 1 and then walked for about 4 minutes home.
A quick change of clothes and I then took the dogs out for a walk. We walked down the moors, where they had a short run about after a stone but someone else came on the moor with a dog so I had to put Bear back on the lead. He is a bad boy where other dogs are concerned. We came out onto Station Lane and past Birkenshaw first school. Up the snicket and round an estate and we eventually come back up to the moors. Back up the moors and we were back home again.
All this before 7.30am! Therefore I am back on track for the Juneathon.
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