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.