Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

Spinning only postponed, not cancelled!! (Photo by Larixinhah)

15 February 2014

C – what a night and I am not talking Valentines escapades. Felt like I was awake off and on the whole time with the storm ringing in my ears (unusually, it was not Toby who was creating the wind).

S – I know, it has been awful here, we have been trapped in the village due to flooding and the electric went off at 10.00 yesterday evening, so was forced to have an early night!!!

C – did you hear the roof has been blown off the new leisure centre, so Spinning will definitely be cancelled on Monday. Every cloud has a silver lining; was dreading the whole Spinning thing anyway.

S – it’s not cancelled, just postponed, we are going to stand firm and give it a go.

Improving Our Aerobic Fitness

I believe these are what you use for Kettlercise Classes.

11 February 2014

C – hope the Excel training is going well; I know how they drag these training courses on and on. Got some bad news; I have injured my right shoulder and arm, so am struggling to clean. I reckon it happened on Sunday when I was man handling that errant sheep into the trainer.

S – ok, I will cancel for tonight and book for Friday if you think you will be fit by then.

C – yes, I hope I will be back to full strength by Friday. Looking at the Activities Timetable and happened to notice that they are colour co-ordinated, as a guide to level of workout. Spinning is Gold on the list and is described as High Energy, do you think we should be doing Aqua Zumba which is two levels lower?

S – don’t be a wimp, we will be fine, we need to push ourselves with some high energy workout that will raise our heart rate, burn calories and improve our aerobic fitness.

C – I also noticed that our spinning instructor, JOHN, does the Hard Hit class when I was at the gym getting some info. I bumped into an old school friend who was about to go to her Kettlercise Class what the hell is that??!! I was chatting to her daughter after she went to her class and said I was looking at the Spinning and she said her mother did it yesterday, and refused point blank to go again.

S – it will be fine. Positive attitude needed. Stop whining.

C – had a message from George today; he is in New Zealand meeting up with some friends so can rest easy in my bed for now.

Later …

C – just had the plumber in, problems with the heating, went with him into the shed under the house and stepped over a dead rat. Ahahahahha just can’t handle vermin dead or alive. Never going in that shed again.

S – don’t blame you; I would not go either!

C – Spinning turning into a nightmare. Just spent hours fighting my way through school traffic to book it (because, as you said, they refuse to answer the phone at the Leisure Centre) to find no spaces left in the spinning classes this week. I have booked and paid for a session on Monday at 10.30. I tried to get you on phone but no luck. Can you believe this kind of torture is so popular?

Saying No

What shall we wear?

10 February 2014

Camilla has had her hair done today and come over to me afterwards to put together a post. She was seated with her hair in a mountain of foils when Toby phoned to see if she could help him move some sheep – you can imagine what her reply was – I don’t think I can print it!

Good old Radio 4 have done it again, producing a very interesting interview on Woman’s Hour about “Saying No”. What they were discussing is that most women need to learn to say NO to someone at lease once a day, be it husband, children or friends. Apparently, most women seem to have a problem with saying no to their nearest and dearest. They agree to all requests and then spend a great deal of the day complaining that they are doing everything whilst, others seem to be “Fiddling Whilst Rome Burns”. According to the programme, men are happy to say no and use sentences such as “You don’t need me to go to the bank, do you?” instead of “Do you need me to go to the bank?”

Looking back we feel that our parent’s generation were much better at deflecting requests, especially where their children were concerned. Do any of our female (or indeed male) readers feel that they have problems with saying “NO”?

On another note, we have agreed to go for the BIG SPINNING SESSION tonight, so we are girding our loins for a very painful 45 minute session, followed by debrief in the pub afterwards. Now the big issue is what to wear?

We Need A Plan B

Skipping. Is This Our Plan B?

7 February 2014

c – hooray, the bus stopped to pick up Phoebe this morning – a good start to the day. Had to laugh as the wind was playing merry hell with that short, short skirt.

S – yes, Sophie was stressing about that as well and clutching feebly at the back of her “pelmet of a skirt” in an effort to keep it down. The headmaster was at the gates – he needs to be a bit tougher about this skirt length business.

Later …

C – am feeling clinically depressed; as you know a great friend of mine, Kristina, is soon to be joining the 50 plus brigade. She has decided to celebrate the event by going to a posh hotel/spar and I have been invited. Yes, there is a God up there who knows I need a break with the girls. It is, of course, the best therapy that does not require a prescription and will include copious amounts of champagne, wine and laughter.

S – oh, you lucky thing I wish I could come.

C – so sorry Sheshe limited guest list “Best Friends Only” but will send you a text with a photo of us all enjoying ourselves.

S – thanks!

C – the whole thing will be wonderful, 5 star luxury hotel, pool, spa treatments, lunch, dinner and then a fabulous treat; lunch at a seriously posh waterside hotel on the way home. So I need a swimming costume. Went to TK Maxx to try on cossies. Not to be recommended, it was a hideous ordeal never to be repeated. Unleashing my usually well scaffolded body in that cubical was pure hell. Hence the depression and need for more wine. Top of my wish list is now some drastic cosmetic surgery – do not think anything else will help.

S – steady on can’t be that bad, come over and we can have a glass of wine and put some posts together.

C – ok, just leaving but am not the best company today.

S – we must start that spinning next week – we have been talking about it for so long! Hopefully you are not filling in at the estate agents and that will give us time.

C – no, not at estate agents so spinning is a sure thing!!

Does My Bottom Look Big In This Lycra?

In Our Dreams! (Thank you Pamela for providing the photo – it’s a good one).

C – good news, break out the Lycra our first spinning class is set for a week on Tuesday; I hope my bike is the same as the one above with refreshments on board, I reckon it will be the making of us and I have heard on the grapevine that you can loose inches off your waist and thighs. Don’t think this will happen immediately but as they say their is no gain without pain. So chins up and off we go. Fancy a debrief in the pub on the way home – obviously we will be having a glass of low fat wine or should that be low calorie? I wonder how many calories you burn off in one spinning session?

S – yes to all of that – have already had a glass or two this evening – I find I never feel quite as sharp after wine.

Much Later, After Several Glasses Of Wine …

C – how strange, I am often at my most productive after a glass or two, some of my best posts have been created after a couple of glasses. Poor old thing you must be feeling your age. 🙂

S – is there something you are trying to tell me?