Lent day 2

Yesterday I got those 'do I want to go swimming' feelings. Why do I feel like that. I always have. I enjoy any of the things I do when I get there but I do so easily talk myself out of it. I've never understood why. Probably my basic laziness.

Anyway I didn't talk myself out of it and went along to Spenborough Pool. Thankfully it wasn't very busy at lunchtime and there were only two other people in the fast lane.

I did 50 lengths in 43 minutes (there are 48 lengths to a mile at this pool) so I was pleased with that. I also included one length of back crawl and one length of front crawl in that. Front crawl is definitely not a strength for me and I do not feel confident doing it but I didn't drown so must be doing something nearly right.

After a pleasant hour or two wondering around the nearby town's charity shops I came home and had something to eat. By that time I was starving.

In the evening I went to my usual circuit training class. This class has always been small but I don't know why as the instructor, who is also a friend, is excellent. She is very knowledgeable and is willing to help you if you have any problems at all. Last week there were 9 of us which is almost unheard of for a long, long time. This week there were only 4 probably due to the heavy winds, rain and hail. Who can blame anyone staying at home in that lot.

Anyway an hour of circuits done and dusted. Roll on Friday.

Day Twenty, Some Good News, Some Bad News

I have been coughing all night on and off but still don't feel 'ill'. It's not a chesty cough just a sore, tickly throat.

Today was swimming day and I nearly talked myself out of going. Did I feel like going? What if I coughed too much in the water? Did I have a headache coming on? etc. BUT I went, later than I normally do but I went. I did 36 lengths (three quarters of a mile)in 32 minutes. So it wasn't a washout after all.

This evening I also went circuit training. My legs felt heavy while running around the room but not too bad other than that.

The bad news is that my sister in law is being taken off the life support machines and drugs and isn't expected to last through the weekend. In fact the latest telephone call said that she is unlikely to survive tomorrow. Depending on the news in the morning we will be going across to the hospital to say goodbye to a beautiful 46 year old woman, a wife, a mother, a sister and a daughter!

Day Six, Time For A Change

After running 4 out of five days so far I thought it was time to do something different today.

The day started with a dog walk. We went across to our local moor and threw the ball about for a little while. Once the excess energy was out of Bear's system we walked down to the second moor and threw the ball about some more. My right arm should resemble Popeye's after all that ball throwing. We walked about 2 miles in all after this. Very pleasant walk but it was threatening to rain.

I got back home, grabbed my swimming gear and headed back out of the door. Haven't been swimming for about two months so didn't want to do too much so aimed for 50 lengths of a 33m pool. There were already three people in the fast lane and only one in the next lane so I went for the second lane. Managed to do 50 lengths of breaststroke in 46 minutes.

The afternoon was spent with my partner up at the local hospital as he had an appointment there regarding his eyes. After loads of tests he has to go back toorrow to for a CT scan. It's something to do with blood pressure in his eyes.

Anyway to finish the day off I went back to my circuit training class. Five of us there tonight. Put quite a bit of effort into the exercises and felt good but tired by now. Part of the circuit is boxercise exercises and that really makes me puff and pant.

Anyway I feel justified in not running today as I did quite a lot anyway.

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.

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.

Starting again

Sunday 16th May

Didn't feel too bad on the day I came back from the cycle ride. So we were up early next day, with canoes firmly attached to the roof of the car, we headed towards York, Nether Poppleton actually.

We were actually a little bit late but met up with the rest of them as they were taking the cars to the other end. Once they returned we all launched onto the river.

It was a nice morning with a slight breeze and a threat of rain eventually. We had a nice steady paddle down the river. There were about 20 of us all told.

When we got into the town centre we pulled out of the river for a lunch break and a drink.

With everyone satiated we then put back onto the river and continued down stream. We had a slight shower but nothing much.

Eventually we got out at the boat club landing. It was warm thankfully so we didn't freeze while we waited for Pater to go and get our car from where we started. In fact we sat and had a nice chat with a few girls from the club.

Thursday 20th May

Had to go into work today for a training session so missed my swimming. However I went to circuit training this evening.

Monday 24th May

At long last I went back to Tong Baths to do my swimming intervals. Got there a bit late as I was waiting for Peter to sort himself out. However I did manage 64 lengths (a mile)in 40 minutes so quite chuffed with that.

Thursday 27th May

Got up in good time and took Isobel to school. Evie came with us in the car as we were going running this morning. Haven't been for ages but was ready for it this morning and it's not many weeks now until the Jane Tomlinson run in Leeds. We went straight down to the Spen Valley Greenway and I did 39 minutes of run 2/walk 1 and I honestly didn't find it too hard at all. Finished it off with 6 minutes cool down walk. Evie was shatterd as she had already had a walk with Peter and Bear.

Lunchtime and I went swimming at Spenborough pool. It's been a few weeks since I came here as well. I was late getting there today and then I saw my friend Claire filling her sweetie machines so I had to have a quick chat.

I did 36 lengths in 29 minutes so pretty pleased with that as it is three quarters of a mile. Claire was still there when I came out so we had another chat.

Evening came and off I went to circuit training. Jeanette was there tonight. I haven't seen her for a few weeks. Im fact there were eight of us there tonight. Felt like I did a good workout.

So that was a busy day.