Down a few more pounds

Time soon passes on and yet again I have been remiss with my blog.

I have been busy doing things. Walking, aquafit, swimming etc and despite being tempted umpteen times I have only been a tiny bit naughty once.

Last Thursday I made a chocolate cake for my friend Gemma's birthday. I managed to not lick the bowl. Isobel filled it with Jam and topped it with chocolate and hazelnut spread, then decorated it with chocolate buttons and glitter. All of which I didn't succumb to either while making it or after Gemma cut it. However the remainder of the chocolate spread was in the fridge, OPEN! Oh dear. Thank goodness there wasn't much in it.

Friday morning, the dogs and I had a really good walk up the Spen Valley Greenway. We went up the Greenway playing with the ball and walking at a fairly relaxed normal place. It took us 55 minutes in all. I decided the return journey was going to be different. We stepped up the pace and didn't mess about and it only took us 35 minutes.

Steps on the Greenway

A view from a tunnel on the Greenway


I lost another three pounds in the second week of the Octoberthon so 8lbs in total.

Sunday I was at Derby comping day so we decided to stop at the hotel in Mickleover overnight. When we got there we all decided to go use the swimming pool. Small but okay with a jacuzzi and steam and sauna rooms. Did a bit of swimming but I had developed a dodgy knee the night before so I didn't do too much. Went in the jacuzzi and steam room too and then rejoined Claire.

Later we went for a meal in the restaurant. It was a full three course job but once again I exercised restraint although I did have a small pudding of pear and rice pudding.


View from the hotel window on Sunday morning


Sunday was the first day that I didn't do any exercise as it was the comping day. A lot of sitting down done today. However my halo is intact despite there being two packs of biscuits on the table I didn't have any. At lunch there was cake on the table, Claire, my friend had mine. Then during the afternoon, chocolate cake, carrot cake and fruit cake all appeared but I firmly turned them down. Claire had mine again.

This week I haven't done much exercise and I am feeling like my resolve is weakening. I walked to and from the car on Monday and Tuesday. Had a good long walk with the dogs to Drighlington and back on Wednesday and a nice walk on Thursday with them.

Thursday night though we went out for a meal from work. We went to the Aakash in Cleckheaton where it is a buffet meal. I asked if I could have a straight meal instead and they agreed. I didn't have a starter, extras or pudding.

AN EARLY WALK

I was up at 6am this morning partly because I had forgotten to put the dustbin out to be emptied and partly because I was going out for the day so I wanted to get the dogs walked early.

Bear was a pain though as he gets so excited and starts barking and boy, can that dog bark loudly. Thought about going down the moor but it was pitch dark and I didn't fancy that straightaway. So we walked down our road and turned off up Moorlands Road which leads on to the second moor. There is a large parcel depot next to this which is lit up day and night so I could see enough to be able to throw the ball for the dogs for a bit. Despite that if the ball was more than 20 yards in front of me I couldn't see it.

We then walked round the streets in Birkenshaw, took a snicket, a few twists and turns and eventually came back up to another snicket which leads onto a small road between the two moors. By now it was getting light and I didn't feel afraid to go up the top moor.

Then all too soon we were home again. It had got very misty but it was surprisingly mild.

About 9.20am Carol, Janet and myself set off to go to near Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire to see Olga who was our supervisor many, many moons ago. She is 78 now and her hip has suddenly collapsed so she is walking with a zimmer frame. We went out for lunch across the road from where she lives and as usual we were the last people in the place. Lovely meal but I avoided the biscuit that came with the coffee and any desserts.

We went back to Olga's house and carried on chatting until she insisted on us having something to eat. So while they tucked into cheese and biscuits and cheesecake and choccy biscuits I was absolutely angelic and just had two pieces of toast.

Oh and i got weighed this morning......have lost 5lbs this week. 15st 11 to 15st 6. Woo hoo.

Water, Walking and Circuits.

Tong Moor Side

Well Octoberthon isn't going to badly.

Monday and Tuesday 4th and 5th October, the exercise I took was walking to and from the car when it was parked up for work. It is about a ten minute walk each way and coming back to the car is a fair trek up hill. I know that's a bit of a cheat for the exercise bit but Monday we went to see Evita at the Alhambra so I didn't have any other chance to do anything else. Tuesday we went to do the weekly shopping so it included more walking. I also resisted temptation of an ice-cream or sweets at the theatre.

Wednesday 6th October. Not a work day so decided to go to aquarobics at lunchtime. That's about three quarters of an hour of exercise that is pretty energetic if you make it that way. My arms were aching after the session as I had been using the big 'weights' in the water.

After that session I went into the lanes part of the pool and completed 30 lengths in 20 minutes.

Thursday 7th October. This morning the weather was beautiful so I decided to go for a bit of a longer walk. We set off down the moors as usual and Bear was very excitable. We stopped at the top end of the moor for a ball throwing and fetching session. Then we wandered down the rest of the first moor and down to the second one. At the bottom of there we have another session of ball throwing. That seems to get some of the spring out of Bear's legs and settle him down a bit.

Red Clover in October Evie Bear

We then cross the road and go on down a track past a farm or two. Initially this is a nice walk but as the track rounds the corner a bit and narrows we come across an absolute mound of tyres that have been dumped. This is not a nice thing to see at all. However round the next corner there is a long secluded track and there are mounds of rubbish starting with a very big mound. Most of this is due to flytipping as they can't be seen from the road. It is a disgusting sight.

When we come to the end of this road we are actually at the side of a very busy bypass so Evie and Bear are back on their leads. We turn a corner and walk down a fairly busy road and back into Birkenshaw. Up Old Lane and then take a road of there and we eventually come into St Pauls church yard. The view from the back of the church and churchyard



They have recently tidied up the old part of the graveyard and cut back trees and overgrown bushes and put a footpath in. There are some interesting gravestones and sometimes you wish you knew the story behind the people buried there. My ex husband's Grandma and Grandad's ashes are buried in this churchyard so I always go and say hello when I walk through.

We then walk up Bradford Road for a while until we take a footpath off which leads across farmland and through the farmyard. There are some good views from this land as it is high up. Across another field and through a snicket and we come out back in our own village of East Bierley, right by the village pond. This is just behind the junior school that Isobel used to attend. A walk back on the road and we are home.

We were out about 1.5 hours in total.

This evening I went circuit training. I think that was a reasonable amount of exercise for the last two days.

A lazy day.

After two very late nights I had nothing planned for today so managed to turn over and go back to sleep when the alarm went off. Eventually got up around 10am which is almost unheard of for me. Didn't do anything of interest really as it was absolutely pouring down all morning and for most of the afternoon.

About 5pm I took the dogs out for their walkies. The sun was out but everything was very, very soggy. We did our usual playing with the ball, walking a bit, playing with the ball and then carried on with the walk. We went down Tong Moorside and out into Birkenshaw. Down Station Lane and up Bradford Road. We then crossed Light's farm and back into East Bierley and then home. I fulfilled my exercise quota and again didn't fall prey to temptation on the food front despite being tempted to a Cornetto by my dear daughter.

Blackpool Trip

Yesterday I was up early, too early really.

Got on the coach with Isobelto go to Blackpool and had a pretty uneventful journey. By the time we got off the coach I was desperate for the loo and McDonalds was the nearest place to go to. It was nearly lunchtime anyway so I got a Deli sandwich and Isobel got a McChicken Sandwich.

We then walked for a good 20 minutes or so down to the Pleasure Beach. Once we got through the entrance wearing our shiny new wristbands the sky was the limit for the rides. The main one I wanted to get on was The Big One, never quite managed it for one reason or another. They said it would open later on.

So first up we queued for the Ghost Train. Pathetic is not the word for it. There weren't even any dangly bits to give you the creeps. Next we headed for the Space Invader as that was my favourite ride. I noticed it wasn't mentioned on the leaflet but someone in the Ghost Train queue told me they had seen it. Unfortunately the building for it is still there but the ride was closed down for some reason.

Next we walked round to the Revolution. Been on this numerous times before but Isobel never had. There was quite a queue again but we eventually got there. All too soon it was over and we were back in the start position. Boy that made my head feel fuzzy.

We had a wander around and decided on the Steeplechase next. This is a ride where you sit on a mechanical horse and go round a race track. There was only a seat belt holding us on the horse and it took some severe swings at times. Good fun though.

Next up we went on the Gold Mine. Rather like the Ghost Train without the weird bits. In fact the actual ride was better than The Ghost Train but very tame.

I suggested we go and try Valhalla but Isobel wasn't keen as it meant getting wet. The signs outside it say you will get wet and you may get soaking wet. I had my waterproof jacket on but Isobel only had a hoodie and jeans. I noticed that they were selling plastic capes for £1.50 as we got further down the queue so I bought her one. When we got inside the building there were Viking Longships slowly making their way through but never stopping so you had to be quick to get on. I pulled my hood up and made sure my bag was well covered by my jacket. Then the fun began. We started by going through a wall of water and down a dark tunnel. There were several places where water was squirting at us. We went through a windy place, a very hot part and a freezing cold part. All the while the boat was sloshing through the water and it got everywhere. Even our underwear was damp!

We decided to have a break after this and have something to eat. After an expensive cheese and ham toastie and a coffee we set off again. We had a bit of a play on the 2p machines and then went to the Ice Blast. Another long queue and my feet were aching by now. We eventually got our turn on this high tower ride. It is one of those where it shoots you to the top of the tower very suddenly and very fast and then stops and drops you just as suddenly. There was a good view of the sea from the top. My one regret is the The Big One never did open so I missed out again.

We had both had enough by now so we started the walk back towards the coach park. Isobel wanted some rock or rather a rock dummy so I indulged her. Then we walked on.

A quick visit to Home Bargains for some bottled water for the return journey and then we went to MaccyD's again so that Isobel could get a bite to eat before we set off back again. As it turns out I'm glad we did that.

We got back on the coach and they headed for the North end of Blackpool so that we could ride through the lights. Goodness knows what happened but we were two hours waiting in a line of traffic before we even started on the lights. Both of us had fallen asleep before we got to them. I did wake briefly and saw some Alice in Wonderland lights.

They cut the lights short and we headed home. All was going well until nearly home when we hit four lanes of traffic. They had shut all but one lane further up to rebuild a bridge and it caused horrendous tailbacks. We eventually got home around midnight.

At least I had done my quota of exercise and I hadn't given in to temptation of any rubbishy food etc.

Octoberthon

I have challenged myself to get a kickstart on things again. Decided that for the month of October I am going to try not to eat sweet and rubbishy stuff. I am also going to do some kind of exercise each day.

Yesterday was DAY ONE. Even though it was bouncing down with rain so hard that it literally bounced of my eyeballs I was out walking with the dogs.

It was nothing exciting but it definitely was WET. We still played ball despite the rain coming down so hard that we could hardly see it at times. We were out walking for about 45 minutes in all.

When we got back the dogs were so wet I had to throw them straight in the utility room and run upstairs and get towels. Poor little Evie was happy for me to dry her off and then snuggled up in her bed. Bear wasn't as happy for me to dry him off but it was more necessary as he is big and long-haired. He did let me sort him out though thankfully. He was still damp in the evening and we had been out walking in the morning.

Anyway we are off to Blackpool today so there should be some walking involved there too will report back later.