Week 33

Well, that was a strange day...

So that you can fully appreciate my week, let me take you back to last Monday. I started a highly productive week with a one mile swim.  On Tuesday my handyman arrived and ticked off some of the jobs I've had on my to-do list for years including fitting a hanging rail to a wardrobe and installing a whirly gig in my garden (ah the smell of outside dried clothes - you cannot beat it). I have a problem doing nothing (i.e. on my laptop) whilst someone is working hard in my house/garden so I decided to do a bit of gardening. Quite a bit of gardening actually as I cut back all my plants in the front garden, filling 3 garden bags. With a quick stop for a cuppy with a friend, I was off to my Body Balance class in the evening (exercise no 2). On Wednesday I had a trip to the movies to see the award winning film, The Artist (which I would highly recommend) followed by a Body Combat class in the evening (are you counting this - no. 3). On Thursday I started the day with yoga and finished it by rearranging my wardrobe and making space for my (ahem) 50 pairs of shoes.  Well actually, it started as 60 pairs but I only have room for 50 so I had the awful task of deciding which shoes went to the charity shop.  It was a tense moment and I literally had to bag the shoes and take them straight round to the shop.  Friday was an easy day with a leisurely swim (that's exercise no 5 in case you've lost count).  On Saturday I was out and about from 10am till 6pm including 4 hours of driving in snow conditions.  I know you must be exhausted from reading all this...bearing in mind that Skye is getting 2 x 30 minute walks per day too.

So you'd think that Sunday would be a day of rest...alas NO - I went to a yoga workshop (ran by my good friend Julie - who is a wonderful instructor).  A two hour workshop of Ashtanga yoga (or rather power yoga) which pushes your body to the limit. Some of the postures are so intense - it is, quite literally, the hardest workout I have given my body.  A relaxing hot bath followed the workout and then a good friend of mine popped round for a session of reiki.  I was so looking forward to reiki - I was hoping that some of the reiki energy would seep into my body and ease out my aches and pains.  After my friend left I finally relaxed and vegged out.

So that was a total of 6 workouts this week!!!  Unbelievable isn't it?

As you can imagine, I woke up today feeling aches and pains all over my body.  Every movement I make is painful.  My poor shoulders and my aching hip flexers (which have never been stretched like that before).  So not exactly the best day to make an appearance at my new job!  What was I thinking?

I had agreed with my boss that I would go into work today to get some of the admin out of the way so I can start afresh next Monday.  It was bizarre driving up to my old office (I can't remember if I mentioned that I'm going back to work for the company I left last July to embark on my exploratory career change).  Everything was familiar to me.  The people are great but the weirdest thing is the feeling like I'd never left.  So strange.  I only stayed a few hours and came home and threw off my work clothes (wearing heels during the day just doesn't feel right) and took Skye out for a long walk.  I finally collapsed on the sofa early evening and have given my poor body a night off exercise.  I still don't feel 100%.  It almost feels like sensory overload...

Am I looking forward to going back to work?  In all honesty, not really.  I am one of those people who can happily busy myself every day as long as I have a dog to walk.  But in reality, I miss the banter of my work colleagues.  And I'm not a millionaire so I cannot fund a career break forever so, like most people, I need to work.  It's going to be strange for a while but I'll settle back into the routine.  I have to say, working a shorter week is going to be fantastic.  But I do dread next Monday.  A full day of work - oh how I'm going to miss Skye.

6 weeks to go...

Week 32

I still like driving my car...

I did 5 lots of exercise this week - that is possibly a record for me.  I can't see this lasting but I will try my hardest to keep up the good intentions.  Swimming feels so good when I'm actually in the pool but its the getting there and the cold(ish) showers afterwards that doesn't appeal as much.  I can actually feel my stamina increasing each time I swim and my time-trials are getting better.  So much so that I decided I would try "butterfly" stroke for one length (25m). OMG...DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU ARE SUPER FIT.  I could barely lift my shoulders out of the water.  How embarrassing.  I bet the lifeguards were laughing at me when my final 2 strokes looked more like doggy paddle.

Talking of dogs, Skye is doing great.  I've started to increase her exercise and she is off lead most of the time now (unless there's a bouncy dog in the area).  She's looking incredible.  I'm constantly looking for any signs of a limp and sometimes my eyes deceive me and I think I see her walking oddly but maybe I'm just so used to seeing her limping.  Either way, she is doing very well.  We did a favourite walk in the woods this week - in the past she used to walk behind me - now she is striding in front of me most of the way round.  I know she has a bit of arthritis in her elbows so she might limp now and again but the initial signs are good.  The next two weeks I need to build up her off lead playing and jumping in and out of the car.  She will be going back to my lovely dog-walker, Gladys, at the end of the month when I start my job so I need to ensure she's fully fit by then.  Mental note to give her some reiki this week.

I had friends round to my house on Thursday for a meal and a reiki swap.  It was so good to practise my reiki on humans again as opposed to animals.  I am still available to practise on any willing people who want to try reiki.  Even when I go back to work, I'll only be working 3 days so will have time to dedicate to my studies, my volunteering and my reiki.

With a couple of trips to visit my mum (who is a bit poorly just now) that was my week.  Get well soon, Mum!!!

7 weeks to go...

Alien Eyes

I've just been to get my contact lenses checked.  You know how they put dye in your eyes to check the eye and lens?  Well, I decided to put my contacts back into my eye after the procedure (I'd only had them in for an hour and they're daily disposal).  The optician did warn me that the lenses would be green when I took them out but I figured that would be ok because having green eyes for the rest of the day could be a nice change for me.

Luckily, I had to sit in the waiting room after the procedure and whilst there I noticed people looking at me strangely.  So I had a look in the mirror and saw alien eyes staring back at me.  The lenses weren't green they were fluorescent yellow!  Take a look for yourself:

Week 31

Oh I do like driving my car...

Another busy week involving 4 sessions of exercise (get me?  really going for it) - it helps that one of the instructors reminded us that February is regarded as Flabuary when most people give up their resolutions and their good intentions of keeping fit and eating well.  I'm determined to avoid being another statistic...well, certainly up until the BIG DAY - which is only 8 weeks away. OMG.

So, I joined a book club this week (thanks to Shaz for hosting) where we discussed the book "One Day".  I reckon book clubs are more girlie get-togethers involving wine than real serious book chat - though we did spend a good hour answering questions on the book.  All in all, it was good fun - bring on the next one.

I spent Saturday in Edinburgh visiting my friend "Ray".  We started off the evening with a bottle of champagne (has to be done) followed by a Thai meal and then onto vodka.  A mini pub crawl in the Leith area finished off a great weekend.  Just have to say Happy Birthday to Ray and Good Luck on the next adventure!  And surprise, surprise - no hangover on Sunday...but a long, long train journey home...

A few other birthday mentions - it's a busy week for birthdays.  Happy Birthday to Anna on her 30th!  Happy Birthday too for Debbie and Katy!

And finally, great news - Skye has reached the end of her 2 month recuperation.  The vet says I can start to increase her exercise though she is restricted to gentle walks and no vigorous play with other dogs.  I still have to lift her down from the car but most other obstacles are ok.  Here she is straight after her first 30 minute walk:

8 weeks to go...