Monthly Archives: March 2012

Change of plans

Change of plans

I really should have gone for a run today. It should have been my longest one before the very silly far too long one … and so far I have been good (ish) at keeping to the plan. Thanks more to the fear, than the overwhelming enthusiasm. I was kind of up for it in a head clearing, muscle aching, questioning the word and humming along with the bit-too-familiar content of my playlist kind of way. But then the devilish phone call came and was humming a different song in my ear … and the resistance was futile … sunshine, bike and great company, oh yes I was in. My lovely friend Lisa’s and her fantastic dad Frank were out for a birthday bike ride and I was invited, so no question about it, I was going. Frank is great, 67 (Happy Birthday Frank!) on his rather shabby bike, which is not far from falling apart, his legs go like mad as his the gears are stuck in high. On the picture is an attempt to unstick it … did not work for long… come on Frank treat yourself to a nice one!

I have not been out for a longish bike ride for yonks’ as this running about taking up all my exercise time. Oh it was so good pushing along in the sunshine. I can’t wait to get the running out of the way and get back to the saddle.

Jazz up!… please…

Jazz up!… please…

Well it’s maybe not everybody’s problem but …I am a bit fed up with boring cycle clothes mainly ladies’ ones.  I am aware of the difficult and wobbly bridge between practicality and glamour but at least somebody should attempt to sashay across it. There are many sites devoted to urban cool biking which is fantastic; you can see how can you pedal in stilettoes , floaty dresses … great, love it, point taken, I do the same . But when it comes to cycling a bit longer than going to the shop or to the café to meet with friends, the options to feel a bit proud of what you are wearing run out in no minutes. There is a choice between Lycra in black and pink or red if you really fancy variations of shapeless or sticking to you for dear life. There have been some attempts, the latest is a total disaster, Henry Holland… what were you thinking… frumpy frumpy frumpy. Even the models look uncomfortable… not a good sign!

 

So if anybody sees some proudly wearable interesting looking items, please give me a shout.

 

hilarious photo session

hilarious photo session

I woke up feeling much perkier than the last couple of days, so a run was on the cards. Interval training – I thought-will do (interval training – short burst of pushing it with recovery periods). Well it did me. My heartbeat was over the roof in about 2 lamp posts distance, even slow jogging in between was out of the question I resulted to walking and muttering under by breath about silly people who run. But apparently it does do the trick, I feel achier than after a 10 miles run.

Couple of days ago lovely Penny and Carl came to see us. Penny will be riding too : ). We ate vegan ratatouille, wild garlic soup and laughed a lot, such a lovely company …then we had a hilarious photo session directed by Carl … tremendous fun and more laughing. I just got the photos…

Had also great news from Mike, who will be joining The Ride for the Wales part of the adventure. The National Educational Trust has kindly donated £100 to The Ride.
Please check out his great web blog http://www.mikebakereducation.co.uk/beatingcancer/

I made some phone calls for sponsorship and had some discussion about the lobbying side of the website.

Steroid story

Steroid story

I have kind of decided to get a bit better with blogpost … so I am on a little mission to write a little bit every day… we’ll see how it rolls
Not the very best day to start off with, but we have to start somewhere so it has been bit of a difficult day. I have GP, golden poison for long, and chemotherapy for boring, 2 weekly on Mondays. This is a cocktail of drugs on the day followed by a 46 hours companion in a pump form, escorted also by some steroids which give me rosy cheeks and help me to perk up and not to feel queasy. Reading back this sounds exhausting but it is bearable. Anyway … so I decided as I am usually fine just leave the steroids out; as I might just not need them and they give me wrinkles (joke… well kind of) and see what happens … well I got a bit shattered, which made me feel cross, which made me feel powerless, which I am not really good at a throws me into wobbles. I think I will take the damn things next time.
On the other hand
It looks like the accommodation for the Wales part of The Ride is sorted which is great.
Also I have been called by my MP Diana Johnson’s secretary, a really quite nice sounding young man, who assured me things are in hand and he is working on helping The Ride to get recognition at the end of the journey.
But
One of the funding bids I put in has come back and the answer includes the word … unfortunately … so I got a bit disheartened, but by the time I am writing this my head is in a bit better place.
Tiredness and rejection do not make a cheerful couple.