We Beat The Rain!

Hi blog readers,

Glorious morning out there again, but the weathermen have threatened us with rain. Well that didn't stop me and Smarty pants from getting out there and doing our thang.

Yesterday was a bit of a no go with the exercises because, of circumstances, little people not waking up on time for one. So I didn't meet up with nagging sister, but still, a nice walk up to the supermarket helped.

I also popped into the local sports shop to ask advice about running shoes. The man took one look at my shoes I was wearing and he said 'They're "hanging out" shoes!' Well after I have jogged in them I certainly don't feel like I have just been "hanging out". The man advised me on which shoes to get, so today, after my jog, and after I have done other stuff, I shall be investing in a pair of machizmo or magic or something beginning with an 'm' shoe today, and see if that will help with the aches and pains that I seem to get. And I thought I was keeping fit!

So, me and Smarty pants went for our jog today. We didn't go to turn around lamppost. No. We need to build up our length of jogging, (at least I do, I think Smarty pants can do her 3 miles then come back and push me round mine) Its a little further than once round the park wwhere we meet nagging sister and Vic.2.

I pushed myself to jog as far as I could, without hurting my neck of course. I kept to the grass for extra softness and springyness, to ease each and every heavy footstep. I had my IPOD on and there were so many very good tunes on there which kept me in a rhythm to keep going. Half way round I had a little break, a sip of water. This old girl was on the ball this morning, knowing it is a little further than turnaround lamppost and no nagging sister with her water bottle, I had remembered to bring mine.

But what did smarty pants say? 'Come on!' Well,I quickly offered her a sip of my water to stop her from going into full fledged nagging sister mode, which she thankfully took! Then carry on jogging for the second half.

Now, round the park where me and Smarty pants is jogging is a circular bit and a bit which leads on to the circular bit. That was where we had jogged from, and I was hoping to head off home as soon as we got back to the bit that leads on to the circular bit. But Smarty pants had other ideas. 'I think I can go around again' she says 'Just this bit. Are you coming' Are you coming she says to me. To me the pink faced, sweaty, lungs on the floor, I cant even get my water bottle out of the butt pack old girl!

Of course she goes off, leaving me in a heap on the freshly cut grass. I took a note of the time that I had stopped jogging and the time smarty pants went off. I stopped at 13.33, smarty pants took off again at 14:15. She got back to me when the clock showed 20:28. so that's 6 minutes if you're good at maths. And we still got to get the rest of the way done.

After a quick stretch from Smarty Pants, we head of the last leg of our session today. I need to jog the whole way home now, espcially as I had a 6 minute break! Non stop now, focus, some good toonz in my ears going. I'm in the zone now, got to keep going. Chest hurting, pain in the neck reminding me to stay on the grass, stitch hurting. What do they say about that, you got to run through it? Then you get the real nice endorphins, the feel good stuff, that makes you want to run and run! Yeah Right!!!!

We eventually make it back to my road. My road where nagging sister has this thing there, where as soon as anyone reaches that point they have to take off like the clappers. So there goes smarty pants, from 2nd gear, into 3rd then 4th, now into overdrive as the dust fills the space where she was.

I look at the time, she gets there in 4:?? (I started the stopwatch again instead of continuing) and I arrive about 20 seconds behind her.

So guys, I can't figure how long I jogged for in total or Smarty pants for that matter. But she so deserves that name.

But a good day, beat the rain, so hair is still straight, (apart from just underneath), must remember hair band next time.

Doh! What A Silly Old Girl!

Hi bloggers,

Part 1

Can you believe it, I was up early, done the washing up, got the dinner out, washing on and the son out to school all before 8 o'clock. Not bad indeed.

I was on a roll, I dragged out my joggers, and pulled on my shrunken hoody and out to the shed to get my bike. I am going to ride to nagging sisters house, and have it out on the beast for 30 mins.

Its hard riding up hill, and it still scares the pants off me when the lorries and cars come to close to me. Negotiating the roundabouts is not quite second nature yet, and I am glad that the school run has finished.

Up the hills. Down the hills, non stop all the way, except of course round abouts, feeling good, exhausting by now, and the legs are killing me, but I'm there. Outside nagging sisters house, Her car parked in the drive way, her boiler working away from some reason. I knock on her door, all pleased with my self and wait. And knock again, and wait.

Hmm still just me, outside her house. Banging, knocking, shouting through letters boxes. I even found a little stone to throw at the window in an attempt to wake her up, because surely that is why she is ignoring my attempts to get in. Nothing, not a sausage, not a movement from inside the house.

I rang Vic.2, and we both did a double barrelled attempt to wake her up, me calling her mobile, her ring the house phone. But nothing. It was until I looked down the road wondering which way to go home, that I had remembered. Nagging sister was signing some papers for the government today, Vic.2 was having an aunt paint her kitchen, so there is no-one in the house. DOH

Only one thing to do for that forgetfulness, and that's to make sure it never happens again. Punishment. Always works, so I force myself to ride up the hill, instead of going the long way, down hill, to get home. Not only that, but do a good time to turnaround lamppost and back again, and this time No Slacking.

Part 2

Yes! Yes! Yes! I just run the mile. Passed the workmen, who for some reason are spread out further from each other, not like yesterday, in one place so that I can walk some bits when I am out of view. Oh no, as soon as one lot are out of sight so another set is up ahead. Why didn't I pound the streets instead, just like all those other joggers I saw on my bike ride this morning, No, I have to go to turn around lamppost, I have a need to get there and back again, to check how my fitness levels are going. AARRGGHH Why, did I pick there to time myself for my first run?

But besides that, the added pressure of those workmen had me pushing myself harder, even though I did walk, but I did the power walking, with the arms, I must have looked a complete idiot, but I know nagging sister will be pleased.

My time today was a very pleasing 15:38:18, So much better than yesterday, and this is after that bike ride to nagging sisters house.

I am so pleased that I listened to those still small voices, and get my butt out there and do it.

Busy Busy Monday!

Hi blog Lovers,

Its been a busy busy morning for me, and fairly busy afternoon.

There was no happy neighbour neighbour today or Vic.2. Just me and the nag and the very creaking beast and fat hater beauty.

I have my determined head on today. I had a bit of a weekend, so had to make up for it. I should have rode my bike to nagging sisters house, but I had other plans. So this is how my morning went.

First of, drive to nagging sisters, do half hour, yes that's right, 30 minutes on the beast then get wobbled by beauty, quick rest up then off home. Park the car, go get my Ipod and set stopwatch on and go for a JOG to turnaround lamppost. Then back, quick shower and on my bike to the supermarket.

Confession time, didn't quite make the bike ride to the supermarket. My shopping list got more and more. I was looking in my house for a back pack where I could put some shopping, its not as if I didn't try, but, there you go. Confessions over.

So the beast. That thing is not sounding to good at all. Its creaking and squeaking. I think us girls are wearing it out. It just cant cope with all us working it. Now we should be out jogging today, the new schedule and all, i.e. jogging Monday, beast and beauty Tuesday, Wednesday, jogging or beast on Thursday, and out jogging again on Friday. But Vic.2 is still suffering from back ache, and nagging sister is still suffering from pains in the neck.........oh dear people, I don't mean her victims, a real pain in the neck, like I had. So for now its the beast only for nagging sister and Vic.2, and a little extra jogging for me and Smarty pants. (Happy Neighbour still having to do a full week at work). I did my stint on creaky beasty, calories fed to the beast was 237.1 and the distance (apparently) traveled was 10.1 km. I don't feel as if I supposedly traveled that far on the beast, but what do I know about techno stuff.

The jogging. Hmmm, that is a slightly different matter. The workmen out in force again, fixing the new lampposts, but on the way to turnaround lamppost is not a problem, is the coming back that I wasn't looking forward to, no way could I keep up the pretence. But I kept a steady pace, got to turnaround lamppost, a quick glance at my phone told me I am slacking and need to get a move on. The Ipod tuens need to change from Celine Dion, its not a good jogging track! A quick shuffle through and I come across Fox On The Run by the Sweet. That put a smile on my face, thinking of myself as a foxy lady, he he he. Oh maybe, one day, right now feel like a fat old badger. Anyway, I digress, again.

I was well into the zone, and I heard in my ears phones a motor bike, since when was a motorbike in this song?. But when I turned around I saw a motorbike, with a pillion passenger transporting a 32 inch flat screen t.v.!!!!

You see some sites when you go out jogging. Something that you don't see when you're on on beast, unless you call nagging sister coming down head wrapped in towel and no makeup (again) its the down fall of working the beast in her house.

So that was that! I didn't, couldn't even acknowledge the workmen on the way back. didn't, couldn't care that I was looking a complete wreck. Maybe next time I should wait an hour or so before going out for a jog, or maybe even save it till the evening time, before dinner.

The time for jogging to turnaround lamppost and back was 16.16! 16.16 I tell you, bad bad, 'should go out again', those still quiet voices were saying in my head, punishment for doing bad.

Lets see what tomorrow brings!

New Name For New Buddy!

Hi blog readers and fellow victims, and nagging sister of course.

Another glorious day in this wonderful sunshine, what can I say.

I was quite looking forward to today's jog, but I knew in my heart that I will only be able to do one round of the park. The pain in my neck, although just a slight annoyance during the early hours of this morning, was a reminder, that this old girl is not a spring chicken anymore. And besides which I had to make sure I was back home for 10.30 to look after the little girl.

So after me nagging Vic.2 and nagging sister to get a move on, me and Smarty pants (formally know as new buddy) jumped in the car to drive to the park. 'I don't think I will do two rounds of the park' she says to me as we driving along. And even after getting there she was still insistent that she was not going to be able to jog twice.

So after meeting up with nagging sister and Vic.2 we warmed up, stretched our muscles, looking like pro joggers we started on the first run. I had decided to run on the grass with Vic.2, to help with the whole impact thing crushing my little cushions in my neck. (got to try lose weight too, that will help), while nagging sister and smarty pants jogged on the path.

It was tough going. I managed to jog half round round non stop, but then had to remove my jacket, so had a little rest, but nagging sister wasn't having to much resting, and started pushing me, physically to get a move on again. I was puffing and complaining from then on. By now Smarty pants was in the zone, she had her ipod on and was totally in grossed in getting the job done, Vic.2 was not far behind her. Me? I was being pushed along by nagging sister. Why didn't she run off with the other two, show off what she can do. Oh no! She's having to stay here with me pushing, nagging, 'Come on you can do this, you have done it loads of times' shouts nagging sister.I know that! which is why I'm taking it easy, I remember what pushing yourself too far can do to your muscles!

Last part now, I can see smarty pants heading towards the car. 'Tell me when she is there' I manage to splutter to nagging sister between trying to remember how to breathe and keep on jogging.

Well, would you believe smarty pants was there by 13.20! Now you know why Vic.2 suggested the new name. But read the score board at the end, and then you will call her smarty pants yourself. Vic.2 wasn't that far behind her only 20 seconds between them. As for me, well I can in a pathetic 15.16, I pride myself though I got to the car before nagging sister, but i think that was just in case I stopped again and she would be able to push me.

After nagging sister and Vic.2 went off on their second lap, leaving me and smarty pants to recover, smarty pants kept looking at them disappearing, 'I think I can do a second lap' she says, and takes off after them a whole minute behind them.

Oh Vic.2 did action shots, right now, she has only sent one to me, but I will request the others and post them here, so for now its just me. And I don't know about you, but I think Vic.2 has managed to squish the picture, because I am not as skinny as this picture suggests, but I am quite pleased with it. Also the fact that Vic.2 says that the huge sitting area of my person seems to be shrinking too! She is not the only one to have said this. So maybe it is finally beginning to show, all these weeks of training and (not) dieting very well.


Nagging sister.......first lap 15.28 second lap 12.55 last lap 11.26.76
smarty pants..........first lap 13.20 second lap 12.30
vic.2........................first lap 13.30 second lap 13.55
Old girl....................first lap 15.26

So You can see from the times above that new buddy aka smarty pants, wiped the floor with both me and Vic.2, hence the new name!


Heres me, jogging, also with my ipod stuck in my ears, trying to drown out nagging sisters nagging. It didn't work by the way.

Gods Creation Versus Plastic Beast!

Hello all you wonderful blog watchers,

How are you all? Oh what a day, what a lovely day!

The day started off perfect, the sun shining, old boy off to work, even getting young song out of the door wasn't to much of a struggle, and then the day just got nicer!

I had every intention of jogging with new buddy today, but circumstances stopped that. I had to do a bit of unexpected babysitting this morning, so I tried to knock for new buddy, but she must have been busy and didn't hear me. Anyway I thought I would call her as soon as I got to where I needed to be. When I got to the house, said our hellos and a little chat, I managed to call new buddy, she sound out of breath and panting hard. 'I just did it' she said between breaths. New buddy had jogged around the park with out me! Of course I congratulated her, at least she didn't turn around and go home when she found I wasn't at home.

So I thought about my day, how I was going to get my daily exercise in, and decided, after babysitting, that I would drive home, collect my bike and ride back to virtually the same place and do a little bit of shopping. I could quite easily do it now, while I am here, with my car, money in my pocket, but the nagginess was there in my head again, the still quiet voices telling me to go, get the bike, was winning today's arguments. So thats what I did. Not only that, but after the shopping I will get changed AND jog to turnaround lamppost!

Let me tell you what I have discovered. Running, in this wonderful creation of Gods is so much harder than having a namby pamby session on the beast! First of, the chill gets to you, then you warm up of course as the glorious sun beats down on you. Running on ground, on the dirt, on the grass, is so much harder than spinning that wheel on the beast a few revolutions.

Even new buddy said so herself! Nagging sisters influence is still instilled in us, because new buddy sprinted from the end of her road to her house and she lives up hill!

So, decided, no more complaining about the beast, well not too much, of course it gets your heart rate going and I feel sure that it is helping the fitness levels (still not sure about the flab wobbler) but jogging on the streets, on the grass in the earth, hurdling poo, is so much harder.

My time from my house to turn around lamppost and back again wasn't good today, 16.10, but, riding my bike and then jogging is more exhausting than riding my bike and then the beast! There justified! I think. Wait till nagging sister sees this, and what I think of her plastic manmade beast!

Oh yes, just a foot note, about the day getting better and better, after my jog I went to new buddys house and we had lunch and shared some wine sitting in the garden in the warm sunshine enjoying every minute of it.

Hot Wednesday!

Hi blog watchers,

What glorious day today, the sun is shining, I have no work today, so no excuse for not going to see nagging sister and her band of evil machines. Apparently, working is not an option for opting out from being there on a Wednesday, so Vic,2 suggested to nagging sister today. I tried my hardest to get out of it but to no avail. Oh well.

I suppose you all thinking I took my bike today, I will be very honest, I listened to the now tiny little crushed voice today that said, 'Please take the car, and if you want you can ride to the supermarket later'

I felt so sorry for that pathetic little cry of desperation, I glanced at my bike, made a gesture towards it and headed for the door with my car key at the ready.

Of course Cruella de'Nag wasn't too impressed, but fortunately she was working the beast when I got there, and couldn't get to nagging mode while she was taking punishment from the beast. And fortunately for me, nagging sister has a memory of a goldfish and will forget to nag me when she gets off.

I forgot to ask nag how she did today and if, like me, is smashing her pb each time she goes on, anyway, vic.2 was next to ride on the thing. She was doing well until the last hill, the smile dropped, the red face looking dejected and forlorn, so, in my own unique way decided to cheer her on. Apparently I am not very good at that, I make them laugh, yes even nagging sister! and for some reason they don't like that either! 'Its too hard to laugh and work the beast' they say, and they send me away, to sit on the sofa, like a naughty school girl. But I'm only trying to help.

My turn next, nag and Vic on the sofa, probably glued with the glowing from every pore of their bodies, which of course means they cant come and torment me.....ooops I'm mean encourage me like I do them.

You know what I am going to say. That's right smashed my personal best again, calories eaten up is 233, I should be stick thin, I should be losing inches, toning up, weight should be falling off me, yet....!

But I know that on the inside I am getting fitter, stronger, the fat deposits round this old girls heart and other bits of offal is slowly going, then it will start on the fatty bits everywhere else. When that starts that must be a two year project at least!

Have You Heard Of That Film 'Christine'?

Hi blog readers,

Well, what can I say after a title like that! Me and all my comrades in joggers are being dictated to, not by nagging sister anymore, but by her egotistical, megalomaniac, sadistically possessed cross trainer!

'Why do you say that?' I can feel you all asking, well sit back and listen to this horror storey.

Today happy neighbour had to go to work, which of course means that I don't have a passenger, so?..... stick with me guys...., I'm on my bike!. But today I have to go shopping so I wanted to use my bike there instead, (its shorter distance) but for some unknown overpowering reason I was heading for my shed to get out my bike. I was arguing with myself (again, I know, but its true) 'Take the car old girl, you know you want to' And I did want to take the car, but this unknown force kept me going till I was outside my house with my helmet and bike clips in place and that darn bike by my side (How people ride for fun is beyond me).

So be it, its healthier right? Anyway I arrived at nagging sisters house, we are working the beauty and beast today, and she duly lets me in, I did hear some vague noise coming from nagging sisters mouth about dots and harder, but you know how it is, I have learned to switch off when she starts.

As nagging sister had done her time on the beast Vic.2 was next to ride. She, not nagging sister, programmed number 7, the program we have had since we started on the beast, herself. Then Vic.2 spoke to me, 'Its 'upped' the levels already, without me having to push the buttons' Said a horrified vic.2 'But its put it on two extra levels and not one, for the first part'

Its as if the beast has developed a personalty of its own, its re adjusting the programs all by itself, it is working us harder without the use of nagging sister! Dare vic.2 push the plus button to a up a next level, or will she leave it. She did the sensible thing, she left it until that is the very last set of 'dots' and she upped her level to 10!.

Vic.2 got off looking exhausted clutching the glass of iced water I gave her as if her life depended on it. Now it is my turn. I programmed in the no.7 program, I programmed in how many minutes and I programmed in my age! But when I pushed the start button the beast took over again! more dots on each section, meaning harder levels. How has that happened? I tentatively start working the beast, how long before its starts to grow tentacles and keep us strapped up on it till we each give it 500 calories a piece!

Well the beast didn't get 500 from me today, I did smash my p.b again whoo hoo but right now I cant remember what it was, it was a scary ride, I was looking forward to stepping off the beast.

Of course I did the wobble machine, I did that before the beast, and as nagging sisters 50th trillion badminton class was due she kicked us out pretty rapid, not really enough time to recover from riding the beast before I had to ride my bike back home!

I must have burnt up 500 calories now surely, maybe I wont avoid the choccie biscuits when then come calling for me.

Back To Turn Around Lamppost

Hi Blog readers

Well, the kids are back to school, you would have thought my jogging party today would cause yet another seismic underground movement through the park today with so many of us now under nagging sisters influence, but, reading the titles of all my blogs, it is a struggle. Not just to get fit, not to stay fit once your there, but to keep all parties interested and motivated, to keep us all motivated and interested, and to get out there and don't get bogged down.

You will no doubt notice the common denominator (is that the right word) in all my blogs, nagging sister and me, happy neighbour and me, new buddy nagging sister and me, happy neighbour, Vic.2, nagging sister and me. can you see a pattern here.

Ok so they have all got lives to get on with, (unlike me, nothing to do but avoid the biscuits all days) the little things get in the way, kids, work, thousands of badminton sessions, you know, proper lives. But I try and keep up the encouragement to get on and get out.

Vic. 2 could have come out today, but she decided shopping with out kids is so much easier than shopping with them, so as nagging sister not going jogging with me today Vic.2 is taking full advantage of the situation. Nagging sisters excuses is her daughters braces need adjusting or something, tut!

So just me and happy neighbour. We decided to visit turn around lamppost to today, just to see what time we can do it in. We set off, happy neighbour took off like a coiled spring and I had to reel her in, 'hey slow down' I said to her 'We are jogging not making a getaway'

Happy neighbour tells me that its been a difficult month having to work 4 or 5 days a week, because it is always someones birthday, and you know what that means,.....cakes! When I worked in an office that was what happened then, its your birthday, you buy the cakes! Mmmm maybe I should start that with my job now, at least I will only ever have one cake at a time!

Well I digress yet again. When we get to the path, there are work men putting in new lampposts. 'Will there be bigger gaps between the lampposts?' Well there's a thought, it seems they are about the same distance apart, but time will tell.

We were thinking of doing a long jog, but quite frankly we both weren't up to it. If nagging sister had been here, we would have probably walked around the park for a second time, but as we doing turnaround lamppost, and going past those workmen again, looking even hotter and sweatier then we were on the way back the first time, was not an encouraging thought. But by then I was feeling a familiar pain in my shoulder blade and neck, I don't want to aggravated it like I did last time, oh know, that was horrible. So, nice and gently does, take it easy, don't push it.

It seems a lot harder work jogging outside then it does on cross trainer, a lot harder, but I'm sure the cross trainer has helped to keep the fitness levels rising because I only had to walk a short bit before we got back to the sprint bit. 'Got to sprint back to yours now Happy Neighbour, are you ready' A short pause, deep breath and away we go. Running, the chest hurting with the fresh air as it fills my lungs, oh heavens, keep going, I can hear happy neighbour as she's running behind me, keep going, keep going. Yes made it.

I check the stop watch and it says 7.40 (this is because, all though I set the stopwatch up I neglected to make sure that I pushed the button on the way to turnaround lamppost) but as all the other jogs to the lamppost resulted in a faster time than the jog back home, both me and happy neighbour decided that we would just double it, which means we did turnaround lamppost and back in about 15.20 seconds. Not bad, not bad at all. Getting close to my all time personal best, and then to thrash that.

Now the toughest bit, telling nagging sister, mmmm I can just imagine it now. Oh the nagging, close my eyes let her get on with it, try to ignore the still quite voices telling me I should have gone further.

What A Turn Around!

Hi bloggers,

Its Friday, the sun is shining and new buddy is having a girly day with her youngest daughter, shopping, lunch and stuff like that. So you know what that means?:......Yep, this old girls has to get on her bike!

I was actually looking forward to it, I know strange isn't it. All those hills to ride up, nutter drivers and potholes. But Its just the fact that I am doing something to get my self fitter, not, as I have decided, skinnier, as that is not going to happen. And not lighter. If by getting fitter then inches fall away and pounds drop off then that's a bonus!

So the ride to nagging sisters house, uneventful, I was making mental notes of all the hills that I was climbing so that I know when to look forward to them on the way home.

I get to nagging sisters house and her beautiful daughter answers my frantic knocking, and all I get from her is 'You're late'.....Late!! Late!! I let my sister have a lie in and all I get is grief from mininag! 'Put your bike in the garage and get on the beast, me and mum got to get out by 12' continues mininag. 'Blinkin nora, let me get my cycle helmet off and me bike clips' I said to mininag on the doorstep.

Well I didn't waste too much time chatting, nagging sister and mininag had had their breakfast so no need to sit around chatting. I programed the beast for 25 minutes, three hills demanded the music to be switched on as I got into the zone

Working the beast, working hard, stop the beast, open windows, climb back on, now back in the zone. 'You're really getting into this, aren't you' says nagging sister. DUH What does she think I have been doing for these past 6 weeks, hopscotch! 'Well, yes I am serious,' I explain to nagging sister 'I am wanting to be fit, I got a grandson now that I would like to see grow up,' and maybe even become a great grandmother, but I guess that's way to far in the future to even think about, I think, as I get back into the zone

Well, the beast had a good work out, it owes me even more calories as I beat my personal best again. 9.2k traveled and 198.7 calories eaten up! While I was working the beast nagging sister was having a wobble on the beauty. I had finished with the beast before she had gone through her program and I watched as she wobbled on the machine. All I kept thinking about is how my posterior must look as it struggles to contain itself in my pants, it must look strangely hypnotic if you sat and stared long enough.

I had my turn on the beauty after nagging sister started on the beast, and only 10 minutes or possibly 5 minutes into her stint she was complaining. 'I cant do this today' She says, sound strangely like me, 'Yes you can' I says, sound strangely like nagging sister! Oh wow! Maybe beauty is a personality switcher, invented by some mad professor type and sold on ebay to unsuspecting bimbo type women.

I mean, when you really think about it, here I am standing still on a vibrating platform while nagging sister is there knocking her socks off on the beast, as I did just a few moments ago, working hard, moving limbs, pulse rate going ten to the dozen. Which machine do you think would win the flab war?

Anyway, my vibrating done and nagging sister is flagging, after reaching her personal best yesterday, something obscene which I'm sure she will remind me about, something like 17k distance and 460 something calories burned up, but today she is not going to make that. Today I am........encouraging nagging sister to keep going. 'Go on Cruella, you can do it' but what does she do? she says 'I can't' and pushes the pause button. Well off course I wasn't going to let this opportunity go pass, so I let her have it big time. NAG NAG NAG NAG Oh the power of the nag, no wonder she does it, NAG NAG NAG NAG Oh I am loving this, it has even taken my mind off the ride home as I am dancing in front of nagging sister giving her grief.

Needless to say, she didn't do as well as yesterday, (and apparently she was so annoyed that I never mentioned her achievement) he he he, that's why I have decided to dedicated today's blog to her, even though she didn't beat her personal best achieved yesterday.

Oh Shame No Riding Today!

Hi avid blog watchers.

So are you ready for your next fix of this old girls agonising journey to fitness? Then I shall begin.

So, from today's head lines I guess you have realised that I took the car to nagging sisters house with new buddy in tow, (looking gorgeous in her made up face) nagging sister is going to be so jealous> I had to wake her up with a phone call to let her know that we are coming. She is so not going to look her best, he he, ha ha,.......he he he haa haaaa. I'm sorry, got lost in the moment then.

So after me and new buddy get over the shock of seeing sleepy, naked faced, nagging sister we had a look at the new machine. New buddy stepped up on to the platform, and of course me and nagging sister couldn't resist whacking Beauty to the highest setting, just to let her feel the full affects, you understand, not at all for my or nagging sister sense of wicked humour.

So after we stopped laughing, new buddy decided that she would like to try the new machine and as she was there already, sister programed it for an 'all over' workout. It still baffles me how standing still on a vibrating platform is going to help tone and lose weight. Hard work, sweat, pounding the streets, moving! That's what is going to get you fit and toned! AT least it better be after these past two years of trying!

While new buddy was gently vibrating on the machine behind me I climbed aboard the beast! 'Now you're in for an ass kicking' I thought to myself as I programmed in 25 minutes of sheer torture, (for me and the beast). Its warm, the sun is heating up the conservatory like a sauna, so I fling open the windows and start to get into the zone. I hear new buddy behind me, making little noises as the program progress on to the next level, 'I feel a little sea sick' says new buddy, she is not enjoying nagging sisters new Alie at all. In fact after only 5 minutes into a 10 min program new buddy has to get off and sit for a while. So much for beauty doing her thing, well she wont beat me. Let me sort out beast first the whip her into shape after.

Its hard work, but new buddy is shouting encouraging words to me, like 'You're doing well, Old Girl' While nagging sister cackles from her sofa at me 'Those peddles are moving too slowly, faster Old girl' I wonder if its too late to take nagging sister to a course on 'How to make friends and Keep them' Every time the 'dots' change on the screen I push the plus button to up the level. Oh yes beast, Im pushing the button and sneering in your face! Get in there Old Girl, give the beast hell.

Well I gave it hell! I smashed previous records, which I am very pleased about, I traveled a distance of 9.0 km and ate up 195.4 calories, Take that beasty.

While I was collapsed on nagging sister sofa and being pandered to by her beautiful daughters, water and pieces of apple that I didn't even have to chew, new buddy settled her self on the exhausted beast.

When she had about 10 mins left on the beast I had recuperated enough to be able to hang on the hand rails of the beauty Nagging sister, again, programed in a 10 minute all over massage and pushed the green button.

I stood on the platform and shook like a jelly, my legs probably causing some sort of underground seismic energy force that's going to cause the conservatory to crumble, the hips going faster than those on Turkish belly dancers on a dance-off competition. But I will persevere, let the machine do all the work. I am just going to stand here and laugh at beauty as it tries to combat my fat levels, deal with my metabolic rate. For 10 minutes beauty tried its best to get me off the platform, it was vibrating at 15, 20, 27, 30 35, 37 and finally 40! This old girl stood her ground, well platform, and it finally started to come down (no not the conservatory), 30 25 15 peep peep! Stop! In your face beauty! But when I stood off the machine my legs were so itchy. I scratched away and realised that wasn't relieving the itching and my legs and hips were NUMB. Is that normal, is that right. Will I ever be able to satisfy these itchings again. But after a while, sitting down, my legs became warm and i could satisfy the itchiness. Hmm, Jury is out on the Beauty still, give me a few turns on it. Will it deliver all it has promised, we shall see.

After all, standing around doing nothing but holding on to a handrail cannot compete with working hard on the beast, jogging for miles in the cold or heat around beautiful parks, cycling, avoiding nutter drivers going through bluebell carpeted woods, dancing around to some well wicked toonz on my IPOD or glaring at well fit dudes on youtube, can it?

A lovely Day In London!

Hi Blog watchers,

No riding on the beast, no glaring daggers at the beauty, and no cycling! I took a day off, yes I know, another day off! But after yesterdays fines and everything else (I don't suppose I mentioned my dishwasher has broke too?!) I needed another pleasant day.

But to be fair on me, I did walk to the station. I had my car keys in my hand and everything, but knowing how my misfortune was running I decided to leave the car where it was.

I even remembered everything I had to take with me, Easter eggs, umbrella, forms, credit card, that's not to bad for me, and those of you who know me personally will pat me on the back for that!

I'm off to meet firstborn for a nice 'al fresco' lunch in London, carnaby street. I can't remember the last time I was there, and if I could I wouldn't say, it was that long ago! I was early, well I hate being late for anything, and I just looked around the shops, listened to the accordion player, so far, so pleasant. Nothing bad is going to happen.

I took the tube to Oxford street and walked from there to Carnaby street. I met up with firstborn and we had a very pleasant lunch at a little place just around the corner from Libertys where we arranged to meet, a slight misunderstanding in orders, but who cares, its a nice day. After lunch, we walked for a little while and firstborn showed me where she worked, and that was that. She went back to work, pointed me in the direction of Shafstbury avenue, Trafalgar Square and off she went. I could quite easily have turn around and gone back to Oxford Circus to get the tube back to the train station, but hey, why? I meander along the streets, looking in the shops, people watching, reminiscing of days when London used to be my playground. Of course its slightly different now, Soho for instance seemed to be a lot more upmarket, still Soho though.

I wander down to Shaftsbury Avenue, looking at all the theatres then at the people, well they could have been famous right? And before I knew it I had reached Piccadilly. Remembering an old picture of me as a toddler in my dads arms at this very spot. Well no need to get any tube trains to the station now, carry on walking, down the Haymarket to Trafalgar square. How that has changed too! Huge pedestrian place now, so much better. Walking enjoying the old sites and reminiscing, it is a good day.

Back to the station, sitting on the train home and feeling mellow. And remembering why I am getting fit, (apart from wanting to be fit any way) but doing the Race For Life here in London, on the 13th June, remembering my mum who suffered through cancer, and my dad who suffered through cancer. And remembering the times when London, to me, wasn't a day out, it was where I hung out as teenager, where I went on dates with the old man.

Watching now as the buildings turn to trees and playgrounds, nearly home. Its only a 30 min train journy, but such a difference in landscapes! I dug in my pocket for £2.00, I though if the bus is waiting I will get that home. But when I got off the train, sun still shining, smile on my face not faded, I decided to walk home too.

So Blog lovers, as it was such a lovely day today, I had decided to go to nagging sisters house tomorrow while I am working, and look the beast in the eye, glare daggers at the beauty, (I am so not calling it that any more, I shall think of a name for it when I have another go on it, I'm sure it will come to me) and work out on my working day.

But, I seem to recall a little conversation between nagging sister and her youngest about her having to fight crime and justice (apparently she is a side kick for superman if you believe that) so looks like another day off tomorrow!

Thursday it is then, when hopefully I shall have new buddy with me. If not, then I'm definitely taking my bike!

Oh yes, just remembered, a nice picture of me and nagging sister out for our girls night out, as I'm in such a good mood.

Now to tackle housework which I asked lazy little youngest offspring to do!!!!

A Good Day?! Hmmmm!!

Hi blog watchers,

Well, I did some exercises today, I rode the beast. I should have taken my bike to my sisters house because happy neighbour and new buddy are both working today, but, I had a really good weekend, in fact a brilliant weekend, and my legs were still aching from all the dancing I did on our night out! Oh such fun, such fun!

I was feeling healthy, and happy, the sun was shining and I had a very good night out with the girls on Friday night.

But you know that how people say with the pleasure comes the pain, some where there's good, round the corner bad? Well Today is BAD

Not the fact that I didn't do well on the beast, nor for the fact that I dont feel healthy, because I do. Oh no, just for the fact..... well read on!

When I arrived at nagging sisters house in my car I couldn't get up on to her drive. But besides nagging sisters house is a single parking space, your allowed to be there, but just remember to move at 12 o'clock. Well I wasn't planning to stay any later than 11:30 so plenty of time. But when I arrived at nagging sisters house she had her new machine delivered, she has in fact called it Beauty, well she says that as we got the Beast, who works you hard, Beauty will give you gentle massages.

Yeah right! After spending a good hour putting the thing together, I was first to step up to the plate, switch on, and the thing wobbles you, I mean, wobbles you like a jelly! That is, until nagging sister whacks it up to its full potential and vibrates the living daylights out of you! Talk about white knuckle ride!

Anyway, I'm not talking about that thing, it was that thing that got me my PARKING TICKET all for the sake of an extra 10 minutes!! arrgghh 'Should have gone on your bike' is what the still quiet voices are saying in my mind, 'You dont need to pay for parking on your bike, its healthier, less bother' oooooo give me some Valium to drown them out!

Next time parking attendant, you just wait, I shall run rings round you, you just wait!!

This Old Girl Is On Fire!!

Hi impressed blog lovers,

Oh yes, This old girl is winning the fight with the beast. In fact so much so that nagging sister has had to purchase a new machine to help the beast, a vibration thing-a-ma-bob! what ever that is! Still we shall conquer that when it gets here too.

I called for new buddy, today, to see if she was coming to ride the beast, but she thought I was too ill to go, as you may have noticed, no blog yesterday, therefore no exertion for me. My still quiet voices in my head suggesting that I stay quietly in bed and recuperate from my mystery illness. So new buddy had made other plans, of course happy neighbour is busy at work so just me on the way to nagging sisters house. I didn't ride my bike though, well, as I was sick Wednesday night and had hardly any food yesterday, I didn't want to keel over in the middle of the road!

Knocking on the door of nagging sisters house, knocking, waiting, knocking! Waiting! Ringing the phone! Ah! here it is, not looking very pleasant, mumbling about it being to early. It was 10:30 in the morning!

So what did I do?...........I nagged of course, 'Come on get the beast out of its chains, program me in the three hills, lets see who wins today' All I got from nagging sister was, its too early, not had breakfast, mutter mumble, sleepy, moan!

So, no new buddy, no happy neighbour, no Vic.2 and now now nagging sister. Oh yes, this old girl is on FIRE Who's the mummy, who's the mummy?

I, of course, beat the target calorie burn up set by the now falling apart beast, not as good as a few days ago, but better than Wednesday, (I knew it wasn't the beast wearing me out, its a darn virus) 156.4 I think I burnt up, enough for a extra pint of lager I should think , what with the other calories beast owes me. OWES ME! and I travelled about 7.2 km

Us keep fitters are off out tonight, get my extra pint of lager, well me and nagging sister and a couple of other girls, maybe I should get a nice picture of us all later to slap on here and show us that we scrub up ok (Ok, that I scrub up ok, ok?)

Till next time blogger lovers.

Only Me!

Hi blog addicts,

Only me, that is correct, Only me riding the beast. Only me, sweating, panting, pushing myself hard on the beast.

My other sister is at nagging sisters house today, and she is encouraging me from the comfort of the sofa, while she and nagging sister ride the waves of the Internet researching, hot flushes or palpitations or anything else that other sister can use as an excuse for not even trying out the beast. (I think she has finally settled on the fact that she cant get down here every time to use it so no point even having a go), a fact backed up by nagging sister no less!

So here I am being 'supported' and spurred on by my loving sisters. After yesterdays marathon exercises fest I don't feel as energetic. I know in my heart as I look at the minutes ticking away, (only 18 minutes to go of my 20 minute stretch) that I am not going to do as well as I did yesterday. But the determination to reach my target of 147 calories burned up, lost forever in......wherever calories go when they are burned, up is there.

Eyes closed, try to ignore those two sitting, staring at the computer. Just get into the zone listen to the music, its capital radio, the music is pumping!, maybe I should ask for 'Magic', nice mellow tunes. But cant talk, don't want to answer, let me just get this thing over with.

The hill, the first hill, and.....yes......my hand is reaching for the plus button! Next level, oh why oh why did she have to say that. The dots higher, representing Mount Everest's big brother!

Two more hills, to go, other sister now definitely deciding that she doesn't need to go on the beast, seeing my hot sweating face, the cries of pain as I am yelling at the beast, and still other sister and nagging sister nonchalantly saying 'Go old girl, you can do it' vaguely in my direction, over the computer screen

Well, beast conquered, I stayed in the zone, I beat the beasts 147 target, again, ok not as good as yesterday, but still beat it, 156.5 calories lost in calorie heaven! 7.1 km traveled. Yes I am pleased with today's effort.

I mustn't be too hard on nagging sister, apparently she is going to ride the beast later with Vic.2, after Vic.2 hands over half a dozen kids back to their owners.

But I can still be hard on other sister!! Not even put a foot on it. I think nagging sister should force her on later with Vic.2 is here.

Whose Idea Was It That I Ride To The Beast?!

Hello Bloggers,

I should be writing this from my hospital bed after what I have done, but there is no sympathy from anyone in this house hold, let alone them stopping what ever it is they are doing to let me in to collapse on the sofa through sheer exhaustion, or even offer me some water or a cuppa!

I have just rode my bike from my house to the chemist to fill in the prescription for the old boys happy pills, mmmm, maybe he wont miss one. No, no, no, I am going to do this, pain or no pain, now carry on riding to nagging sisters house.

There are few long hills on route, ok so they are not very steep hills, but hills none the less, I will just have to think of the ride back home, down hill, feet on handlebars cruising to the door. But then when get to the top of nagging sisters road, I am looking down to where I have to go, and right now, looking down, I am pleased, but oh, and its a huge big but oh, on the way home it will hurt! Its a steep hill, all the way down to nagging cruella De'Nags house.........Come on keep up with me guys, on the way home I am going to have to ride up after riding the beast and after riding here in the first place! AARRGGGGHHHH

Nagging sister is first to use the beast,just as well, I can raid her fridge and recover from bike ride here. She is threatening all sorts of nasty things, like, upping a level when it gets to certain dots on the screen??!! I have no idea what she is on about, lets just hope she is to exhausted from her workout with the beast to even get off her mmummmblees mmmmmutter skinny backside to come and alter the beast.

Right now my turn!

Well I just got off the beast, nagging sister was in the bath, so she couldn't alter the levels, but I don't know how she did it, I found myself reaching for the alter button to up the level myself!!! It must be sublimmin.....subconssion.....subli...... brainwashing! How does she do it. Its hurting, I altered it as she suggested in her nagging brainwashing way to the next level on the virtual hill!!

There beast done and conquered, I am so glad I took a picture of her before she got off the beast, with only the last two minutes of her time left, she really looked in pain he he he.

Now I am just going to rest for a while before making the mega journey home. Here I go!!

Home, home, home glorious lovely comfy choccie filled home!

Oh my word, never again! That was murder, torture, inhumane!! If I ever decide to do that again, please someone direct me to this very blog!! The hills seemed to have done a 'Harry Potter' and switched all the down hill slopes to up hill but forgetting to make any of them go back down! It was like that optical illusion picture,I'm sure you have all seen, of the stairs that go up on each side of the square. I felt sure there were more hills that I rode up on the way to nagging sister, oh by the way she of course smashed her target calorie burn up yet again, yawn yawn, but she really did push herself. It seems now nagging sister has developed schizophrenia too (a family trait?)! She has a voice in her head that's sounds like her action man back in Iraq, (training in the heat there), nagging her. It really is a joy to watch nagging sister argue with her voices he he he. I too broke the beast, I hit my suggested target and then carried on eating away the calories. The beast owes me calories because my burn up today was, 147, and I went way past that I hit 168.6, which means beast owes me, 168.8 take away, 147, is......erm, one two, carry that over, put point here, yes, 21.6 calories! (I think)

It is with some relief knowing that I can only ride my bike to, either, jogging or nagging sisters house if I don't have to pick up anyone else!

So, anyone else want to join in our band of keep fitters!!! Anyone, please!??

Oh yes, as promised, here is a picture of nagging sister in pain, trying to ignore her voices he he he


























And, erm, a picture of me, looking.........well ...........glowing, but smiling after finally beating the beast.

Last Time Before Holidays!

Hi blog readers

So, this is the last time before the bank holidays. The kids are all home from school, it would be so much easier to say, 'well, lets start again in two weeks time'. But, as you can see from the blog being here for all to see, me and new buddy got out of our beds pulled on joggers and went to nagging sisters house.

We arrived there expecting to see a hive of activity. The beast in full pelt being worked like a slave, kids on the wii maybe practicing there tennis elbows, but no! Nagging sister was cleaning (ok, yes it is activity of sorts, just not enough) and there was only three kids about, one on her teeny tiny laptop, the other two, from where I was standing, looked as if they were pandering to the beast. Gently standing on it, programing it for a three minute crawl. Just wait till we give it a work out, (I am trying, in my mind, to turn around my way of thinking about the beast) Yeah, you just wait beast, We will work your peddles off.

No Vic.2 today either, she has seven kids today and Happy neighbour is of course working. So new buddy was first to ride the beast today. Nagging sister programmes the beast for twenty minutes and three hills. Of course her being younger than all of us has the most calories to burn up, 155! Lets see if she makes it. 'Oh this is nice' says new buddy, 'better than jogging outside' she says with a smile. Ok let her get settle into the beast then see if she stays smiling! Ten minutes in and she stating that this is more of a work out than her rebok step! But she is still smiling. Why don't I smile when I get on the darn beast. Here see for your self how happy she looks,



Didn't I say she looks happy! Well, she smashed her target getting way passed her calorie burn, but by now the beast wasn't sounding too healthy.

Now it was my turn, nagging sister programs the beast for 20 mins, the same as new buddy, for three hills, the same as new buddy, but the age difference, well I don't mind that, beast wants me to burn up 147 calories. Yeah right!! I step on the beast and slowly ride the beast the clonking sound making me feel.......no, it cant be, is it sympathy for the beast? It doesn't sound quite right, I shall take it easy on the beast today. But I'm still working hard, I still get the heart rate going, you can tell cos the beast has this great gizmo that will show your heart rate, and I am still sweating like Niagara falls! Even with the windows wide open. Nagging sister says 'but you have the breeze' Thankfully new buddy answered for me, 'You can't really feel that when you're working on it' It was only towards the end of my 20 minutes that nagging sister realises that its always me taking the photos, that its always 'them' plastered all over my blogs. So with even more naggingness then ever I hand over my phone, all set and ready for her to capture my moments on the beast. I didn't mind really, because while I was setting up my phone for her to snap me I was resting!

So, for your entertainment, and my huge embarrassment, here is pic of me giving hell to the beast!



I didn't reach my target burn up, but I am sure I did better than last time I rode the beast, which surprised me. Pat on the back old girl!!

Of course Nagging sister, rode the beast, of course nagging sister smashed her target calorie burn and of course nagging sister did an extra 10 minutes more than us! Grrrr. This is her at the end of her session, make up still in place (just like new buddy buddy by the way) If I were to put on make up, at the end of the session I would not look the same as those two!!



Nagging sister rang me earlier to tell me the the clonking noise was from a screw come loose from one of the peddles, seems all my praying about peddles coming off and disassembling it seems to be working! But the nagging one came to its rescue and fixed it.