Sunday, 30 October 2011
Saturday, 29 October 2011
It's been a while...
...to quote a song.
Sooooo, how to sum up, what, 5 months in one post? I can probably do it in 3 words. Now excuse my french, it's going to get sweary...
SCARY AS FUCK!
Back in May, me and the boy wonder had a cold. Whoop de doo, you say. Mine went, his didn't. I hear you say 'whoop de do' again. Thing is, when husband had bone cancer 3 years ago, The Prof said it was 50/50 whether it'd come back and if it did it'd most likely be in his lung(s). So anyway, it did, and it was.
The last 5 months have been horror and terror and general crap. he's had chemo with a view to shrinking the 16cm interloper in his right lung. It's done a good job so far - scan number 2 shoed it's shrunk from 16 to 10cm, which is not to be sniffed at. And it's looking 'a bit poorly', according to The Prof - it's no longer a dense chunk of cells gone mad, but a patchy looking blob. That's a (relatively) good thing.
So, 6 cycles of 3 weeks consisting of 4 or 5 days in hospital for the boy blunder - sick boy as he is now affectionately know - 4 or 5 days of him being sick (not so much now The Prof has found an anti-emetic that works) and 'meh' and me travelling to the hospital twice a day with food because I am such a good cook. Not really - the chemo fucks up your taste buds and in his case your sense of smell. Result? Everything tastes like shit. Except my totally amazing cooking, of course. :-) Anyway, 2 trips a day with nice food. and the 2 weeks indetween? Well, they usually turn into 3 weeks because, despite my best efforts at feeding him up and getting to inject him with something to boost his immune system, his blood doesn't usually manage to recover sufficiently to enable him to stick to his 3 weekly regime. And when you have no immune system, the slightest hint of an infection can become literally life threatening: take the day when I managed to launch myself over the handlebars of my bike in Bolehill Woods and I had to ring J to come and pick me up. I knew he wasn't very well, but when we got home and I checked his temperature it was 38.something. 38.something=not good at all. I rang the hospital and they said "Bring him in. NOW!". So I did. He stayed for 5 days. Apparently they were quite worried about him. Me too...
So chemo? Yeah. not just hair loss and sick. There's lots of things to be aware of. Lots and lots of things. It's a pretty unsophisticated way to solve a problem really, isn't it. BUT if it solves the problem.
Inbetween chemo and vomit, I have had some amazing support from my friends and, unexpectedly, my manager. She can be hard work as a manager, but as a person she's pretty cool and having been through cancer herself she understands the trials and tribulations and as such she's been pretty damn cool about it all.
Another unexpected but cool side effect is that I have lost a fair chunk of weight. I can't say I recommend the stress diet - plays havoc with the skin and my hair is like straw (okay, that might be all the hair dye???) - but getting into size 12 trousers is not to be sniffed at! Even if they are a vanity sized 12 and stretchy...
Hubby's endured 6 rounds of chemo so far, each consisting of 4+ days in hospital and bonus visits for high temperatures and infections and the cherry on the cake is surgery in a short while to remove the tumour from his lung. Hopefully anyway. The surgeon The Prof has lined up sounds like something of a maverick, but he has a very good reputation - what more can you wish for. Actually, we have to wish for a good scan that shows more shrinky shrinky and a tumour he can pop out like a zit. We can hope...
In the meantime, here are some kittens...
With regard to exercise:
I have been slacking totally. I haven't cycled much at all, despite acquiring a road bike. I *have* run 6.5 miles in one go but I couldn't walk for 2 days afterwards. Going to have to get my arse in gear because I told my bro I'd run the Nine Edges with him in 2012. Look it up - it's 20 miles of off road stupidity. What WAS I thinking...
TTFN.
Think Shrink.
x
Sooooo, how to sum up, what, 5 months in one post? I can probably do it in 3 words. Now excuse my french, it's going to get sweary...
SCARY AS FUCK!
Back in May, me and the boy wonder had a cold. Whoop de doo, you say. Mine went, his didn't. I hear you say 'whoop de do' again. Thing is, when husband had bone cancer 3 years ago, The Prof said it was 50/50 whether it'd come back and if it did it'd most likely be in his lung(s). So anyway, it did, and it was.
The last 5 months have been horror and terror and general crap. he's had chemo with a view to shrinking the 16cm interloper in his right lung. It's done a good job so far - scan number 2 shoed it's shrunk from 16 to 10cm, which is not to be sniffed at. And it's looking 'a bit poorly', according to The Prof - it's no longer a dense chunk of cells gone mad, but a patchy looking blob. That's a (relatively) good thing.
So, 6 cycles of 3 weeks consisting of 4 or 5 days in hospital for the boy blunder - sick boy as he is now affectionately know - 4 or 5 days of him being sick (not so much now The Prof has found an anti-emetic that works) and 'meh' and me travelling to the hospital twice a day with food because I am such a good cook. Not really - the chemo fucks up your taste buds and in his case your sense of smell. Result? Everything tastes like shit. Except my totally amazing cooking, of course. :-) Anyway, 2 trips a day with nice food. and the 2 weeks indetween? Well, they usually turn into 3 weeks because, despite my best efforts at feeding him up and getting to inject him with something to boost his immune system, his blood doesn't usually manage to recover sufficiently to enable him to stick to his 3 weekly regime. And when you have no immune system, the slightest hint of an infection can become literally life threatening: take the day when I managed to launch myself over the handlebars of my bike in Bolehill Woods and I had to ring J to come and pick me up. I knew he wasn't very well, but when we got home and I checked his temperature it was 38.something. 38.something=not good at all. I rang the hospital and they said "Bring him in. NOW!". So I did. He stayed for 5 days. Apparently they were quite worried about him. Me too...
So chemo? Yeah. not just hair loss and sick. There's lots of things to be aware of. Lots and lots of things. It's a pretty unsophisticated way to solve a problem really, isn't it. BUT if it solves the problem.
Inbetween chemo and vomit, I have had some amazing support from my friends and, unexpectedly, my manager. She can be hard work as a manager, but as a person she's pretty cool and having been through cancer herself she understands the trials and tribulations and as such she's been pretty damn cool about it all.
Another unexpected but cool side effect is that I have lost a fair chunk of weight. I can't say I recommend the stress diet - plays havoc with the skin and my hair is like straw (okay, that might be all the hair dye???) - but getting into size 12 trousers is not to be sniffed at! Even if they are a vanity sized 12 and stretchy...
Hubby's endured 6 rounds of chemo so far, each consisting of 4+ days in hospital and bonus visits for high temperatures and infections and the cherry on the cake is surgery in a short while to remove the tumour from his lung. Hopefully anyway. The surgeon The Prof has lined up sounds like something of a maverick, but he has a very good reputation - what more can you wish for. Actually, we have to wish for a good scan that shows more shrinky shrinky and a tumour he can pop out like a zit. We can hope...
In the meantime, here are some kittens...
With regard to exercise:
I have been slacking totally. I haven't cycled much at all, despite acquiring a road bike. I *have* run 6.5 miles in one go but I couldn't walk for 2 days afterwards. Going to have to get my arse in gear because I told my bro I'd run the Nine Edges with him in 2012. Look it up - it's 20 miles of off road stupidity. What WAS I thinking...
TTFN.
Think Shrink.
x
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Wind, wind and more wind
Hello again.
Since I last posted I have been on holiday. We had booked the whole week off and went up to the Lake District on Friday - in an attempt to avoid all the royal wedding hype (although I have to admit, she did look rather lovely).
We stayed at Burns Farm, just outside Keswick, with views from the tent of Skiddaw and Blencathra. It was beautifully sunny, showing the hills at their best, but it was also very clear from putting the tent up that it was rather windy, but we persevered and decided that on Saturday we were going up Skiddaw - see below - if it wasn't raining.
The descent was a sketchy scree/shale slope that gave way underfoot and by the time we got back down to civilisation our nerves were shredded, not to mention our toes. We walked into Keswick for some grub and then back to the campsite.
The next day we were STILL fit for nothing, but decided we'd brought the bikes so we were damn well going to use them, and got ourselves kitted up and headed to Whinlatter Forest where there are purpose built bike trails.
Well, it was amazing. Desolate and beautiful with some great singletrack climbs - turns out switchbacks ain't my thing but J rocks at them. He made up for it on a steep track cut into the hillside - a scottish chap had headed up in front of him and wobbled and stopped and wobbled and stopped and eventually reached the turn. J did similar about half way up and they were having a chat about how tough it was and J said to him "when I set off I tend to weeble a bit and obviously the consequences of that are pretty stiff". He then set off, weebled and fell down a 10 foot slope on the the trail below. Ooops. With nothing more than a scuffed visor on his helmet and lots of stones in his shoes, he picked himself up, dusted himself off and pushed back up the path. 
He has learned to fall - rather than tensing up like us occasional fallers, he goes limp like a ragdoll and just goes with it. It seems to work...
Since I last posted I have been on holiday. We had booked the whole week off and went up to the Lake District on Friday - in an attempt to avoid all the royal wedding hype (although I have to admit, she did look rather lovely).
I haven't been on my bike (apart from testing the new chain I fitted) since my little accident - my thumb has been really sore and swollen - but we took the bikes with us just in case...
We stayed at Burns Farm, just outside Keswick, with views from the tent of Skiddaw and Blencathra. It was beautifully sunny, showing the hills at their best, but it was also very clear from putting the tent up that it was rather windy, but we persevered and decided that on Saturday we were going up Skiddaw - see below - if it wasn't raining.
The rain exclusion applies because every time we've been with the intention of going up high the weather has been crap and there have been no views - well what's the point in going up a hill if you can't se the scenery when you get up there??
After a scary windy (and cold) night we woke up to a beautiful view of wind-wrecked tents and glorious blue skies so after a hearty breakfast (of leftover chilli) we kitted up and headed off along the disused railway track to start our ascent. What an awful ascent - so windy we had to, on occasion, drop to the floor to stop getting blown over. No fun, but we figured we'd started so we'd finish. The summit was ridiculous, but it was worth it for the views out to sea and back inland - amazing:
The descent was a sketchy scree/shale slope that gave way underfoot and by the time we got back down to civilisation our nerves were shredded, not to mention our toes. We walked into Keswick for some grub and then back to the campsite.15 miles in about 6 hours of walking - hard work, but worth it.
The next day we were fit for nothing, so we just kicked around Ambleside and looked at shiny things and walked to Castlerigg stone circle for the sunset. It appears lots of others did too, but we still got some beautiful pics - see gratuitous sunset pics below:
 |
| My version - I'm not too proud to lay in cow poo to get my shot. |
 |
| Julian's version - way better technically, but I still think mine is prettier. :-) |
We got there and I taped my thumb very firmly so that it would not move, and off we went.
Well, it was amazing. Desolate and beautiful with some great singletrack climbs - turns out switchbacks ain't my thing but J rocks at them. He made up for it on a steep track cut into the hillside - a scottish chap had headed up in front of him and wobbled and stopped and wobbled and stopped and eventually reached the turn. J did similar about half way up and they were having a chat about how tough it was and J said to him "when I set off I tend to weeble a bit and obviously the consequences of that are pretty stiff". He then set off, weebled and fell down a 10 foot slope on the the trail below. Ooops. With nothing more than a scuffed visor on his helmet and lots of stones in his shoes, he picked himself up, dusted himself off and pushed back up the path. 
He has learned to fall - rather than tensing up like us occasional fallers, he goes limp like a ragdoll and just goes with it. It seems to work...More climbing until we reached the summit - well worth the grind.
The rest of the ride was fairly uneventful apart from one more fall where it appears he smashed his little camera up. Ooops.
We were both a bit wary on the way back down but got back to the car in tact, dusty and smiling.
As we left the trail there was a notice up for a guy we'd seen taking pics of riders, so I signed on when we got home and bought this photo of me. Not exciting, but I love it.
One last photo for this entry - the view from my thermarest. I think you will agree, as views go, it is pretty darned fine. <contented sigh>
You know my (and Julian's) poor attention span and so by Tuesday we'd had enough of the wind, so we packed up early and came home, still marvelling at the amazing blues skies and lack of rain. And bloodshed.
More later - I'm bored of writing, so you MUST be bored of reading...
Oh, just one last thing, the bike appears to have been named Big Red and following the running successes on my previous post, I got my local time trial route done in under 30 minutes! Well pleased. :-) But slightly worried, because the next target time is 25 minutes and I think that may just finish me off...
Oh, just one last thing, the bike appears to have been named Big Red and following the running successes on my previous post, I got my local time trial route done in under 30 minutes! Well pleased. :-) But slightly worried, because the next target time is 25 minutes and I think that may just finish me off...
Saturday, 23 April 2011
My bike tried to kill me!!!
Last Sunday we arranged to meet Gav for a ride around Houndkirk and Totley Moor. It was quite a novelty, riding the moors in dry conditions and we were all riding well - Gav commented a few times on how much more confident and in control J seemed since we last rode XC with him, which is quite cool. I was living up to my 'solar powered' suspicion and was also riding well.
Unfortunately, on the last rocky, hard climb before we headed downhill, fast, back to the car, my gears started skipping. Only a couple of times and I made a mental note to check it out when I got home.
And then the chain snapped.
This has never happened to me before and I didn't like it. :-( To my left, a grassy slope with hidden rocks, to my right, the rocky trail dipped away. I fell to the right and managed to unclip my feet, but not quick enough. I clattered down on my right knee and (somehow) my left hand, the thumb taking much of the force of the fall.
I picked myself up quickly and cursed the bike - had I not lavished enough love and attention and shiny bits on her? What had I done to deserve that kind of treatment? :-( My knee was bleeding, my thumb was throbbing and my pride was in tatters. And even worse, there were no witnesses - no one to come rushing up and pat me on the back and say 'there, there'. I was alone in my pain. (on the plus side, there was no one to see me fall off...)
I gathered up the broken chain, noting it had snapped just before the power link - odd, I thought - and pushed the evil machine up the hill to where Gav had been sitting for some time, having a drink and waiting for me and J.
[I worked out later it had snapped where I split it to reroute after I somehow managed to route it OVER a guide on the rear derailleur, insted of under it. Muppet. I had used a new pin to rejoin it but obviously I'd done something wrong and it had warped and pulled undone under strain. Still, it was a (painful) lesson learned - I won't do that again. And the paint on the bike is still in tact, so she is still beautiful.]
By now, my knee was bloody but not too bad, but the thumb was definitely not right. :-(
I coasted down to the pub and had a pint of medicine (cider) then went home, thoroughly peeved with myself - I was so close to cleaning that climb too, sooo close. Ah well, next time.
Unfortunately, I had to drive down to Reading at 5am the next day and when I got up my thumb resembled a sausage, not a thumb. Uh, oh...
I spent Monday evening at The Royal Berkshire A&E dept wher I was examined and x-rayed and declared to be not broken. I was however sent away with a real heavyweight neoprene and steel splint to wear at all times for the next week. Great - sunshine and outdoorseyness with a big old sticky and stinky splint on = stripy arm...
On the plus side though, not being able to ride my bike meant I had to find an alternative way to spend my evenings at the hotel.
Monday was a write off due to the hospital visit so on Tuesday I got my shorts on and set off for a tentative jog around the lovely route I mentioned last time. Miraculously, my knees held up fine - I think my jeans had been squishing the sore bits and making them feel worse than they really were.
Not only did I cut 2 minutes of my last effort but the woods had been transformed into a wonderland of sring loveliness - bluebells, new leaves, young deer, bunny wabbits, new lambs in the field and best of all, warm sunshine. It was lovely. I felt surprisingly fit and fresh.
So much so that I did the same the next day - and chopped a further 2 minutes off, getting my 'lap time' below 40 minutes. Well pleased with myself. Maybe I am not so bad at running afterall, I just need the practise.
Bad news - my thumb is still very sore and swollen and I am beginning to think maybe it IS broken afterall. If it's still as bad on Tuesday I might take myself back to the docs. Boooo for injury.
Mind you, I feel lucky to have got to 38 with no major cycling mishaps, so it had to happen some time and having spoken to various other cycling friends I got off lightly anyway - they told me horror stories of not only broken thumbs, but broken wrists, elbows, compound arm fractures and testicles so badly battered by the handlebar stem that there was still no sign of them three weeks later. At least I avoid that delight. :-)
My veg garden is taking shape. My planting now includes red onions and carrots. I have 3 very robust looking buttenut squash plantlets, 5 cauliflowers that need to go in the garden, my spuds are sprouting nicely and my aubergines and tomatoes need potting on.
We've also managed to get some of the garden waste burnt - probably a couple more burnings and it'll be clear. I don't want to burn too much at a time and piss the neighbours off, but it is proving difficult to find a time to do it when people are not enjoying barbecues or have washing out.
We're getting there though.
Unfortunately, on the last rocky, hard climb before we headed downhill, fast, back to the car, my gears started skipping. Only a couple of times and I made a mental note to check it out when I got home.
And then the chain snapped.
This has never happened to me before and I didn't like it. :-( To my left, a grassy slope with hidden rocks, to my right, the rocky trail dipped away. I fell to the right and managed to unclip my feet, but not quick enough. I clattered down on my right knee and (somehow) my left hand, the thumb taking much of the force of the fall.
I picked myself up quickly and cursed the bike - had I not lavished enough love and attention and shiny bits on her? What had I done to deserve that kind of treatment? :-( My knee was bleeding, my thumb was throbbing and my pride was in tatters. And even worse, there were no witnesses - no one to come rushing up and pat me on the back and say 'there, there'. I was alone in my pain. (on the plus side, there was no one to see me fall off...)
I gathered up the broken chain, noting it had snapped just before the power link - odd, I thought - and pushed the evil machine up the hill to where Gav had been sitting for some time, having a drink and waiting for me and J.
[I worked out later it had snapped where I split it to reroute after I somehow managed to route it OVER a guide on the rear derailleur, insted of under it. Muppet. I had used a new pin to rejoin it but obviously I'd done something wrong and it had warped and pulled undone under strain. Still, it was a (painful) lesson learned - I won't do that again. And the paint on the bike is still in tact, so she is still beautiful.]
By now, my knee was bloody but not too bad, but the thumb was definitely not right. :-(
I coasted down to the pub and had a pint of medicine (cider) then went home, thoroughly peeved with myself - I was so close to cleaning that climb too, sooo close. Ah well, next time.
Unfortunately, I had to drive down to Reading at 5am the next day and when I got up my thumb resembled a sausage, not a thumb. Uh, oh...
I spent Monday evening at The Royal Berkshire A&E dept wher I was examined and x-rayed and declared to be not broken. I was however sent away with a real heavyweight neoprene and steel splint to wear at all times for the next week. Great - sunshine and outdoorseyness with a big old sticky and stinky splint on = stripy arm...
On the plus side though, not being able to ride my bike meant I had to find an alternative way to spend my evenings at the hotel.
Monday was a write off due to the hospital visit so on Tuesday I got my shorts on and set off for a tentative jog around the lovely route I mentioned last time. Miraculously, my knees held up fine - I think my jeans had been squishing the sore bits and making them feel worse than they really were.
Not only did I cut 2 minutes of my last effort but the woods had been transformed into a wonderland of sring loveliness - bluebells, new leaves, young deer, bunny wabbits, new lambs in the field and best of all, warm sunshine. It was lovely. I felt surprisingly fit and fresh.
So much so that I did the same the next day - and chopped a further 2 minutes off, getting my 'lap time' below 40 minutes. Well pleased with myself. Maybe I am not so bad at running afterall, I just need the practise.
Bad news - my thumb is still very sore and swollen and I am beginning to think maybe it IS broken afterall. If it's still as bad on Tuesday I might take myself back to the docs. Boooo for injury.
 |
| Fat thumb, skinny thumb. Ouch. |
My veg garden is taking shape. My planting now includes red onions and carrots. I have 3 very robust looking buttenut squash plantlets, 5 cauliflowers that need to go in the garden, my spuds are sprouting nicely and my aubergines and tomatoes need potting on.
We've also managed to get some of the garden waste burnt - probably a couple more burnings and it'll be clear. I don't want to burn too much at a time and piss the neighbours off, but it is proving difficult to find a time to do it when people are not enjoying barbecues or have washing out.
We're getting there though.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Tempus fugit
It sure does. 3 weeks since I last checked in - and what's happened? Not a lot, really...
Well, it has and it hasn't.
The bike has been well and truly christened, with a few trips to Wharncliffe, Bakewell and Wyming Brook and just out and about. All the bits that came loose while I was riding (including the non-drive crank and the headset) have been firmly secured and it actually rides really well.
The main difference over the old bike is that it looks so pretty. No, only kidding - although it is true - the main difference is that because of the bigger frame and the wide handlebars, it opens my chest up while I am riding resulting in better breathing and not kneeing myself in the boobs when I am bobbing around trying to get up a hill.
I have also gone back to the SPD pedals - mainly because the old DMR flats looked far too shabby for my lovely. :-) I can tell the difference on the hils, again, but it is taking a lot of nerve when I am riding XC not to unclip and ride like a motocrosser, sticking the leg out for stability (and an easy escape).
What else??
J has bought himself a road-ish bike. It too is very pretty - all matt black and sleek. He seems to be enjoying riding that, which is cool. I wasn't sure how well he'd get on with the lack of suspension and the general difference in riding position but it's all good. Apart from one comedy fall whilst still attached to the SPDs. Lesson learnt; make sure you adjust the spring on BOTH sides of the pedal. Ho ho ho. (we've all done it)
Erm, so, gardening.
I now have 19 cherry tomato seedlings, 18 aubergine, 1 butternut squash, 5 cauliflowers, lots of peas and 1 purple capsicum all growing up nicely, ready for potting on or planting out. There are also more peppers and chillis (supposedly) germinating, carrots and raspberries in the ground, potatoes in bags and strawberries, thyme, oregano and sage in pots. I am waiting for some Tumbler tomoato plant plugs and my red onion sets to turn up - any day now...
It all sounds very organised, but I have never attempted this kind of thing before and I am definitely winging it. I guess I will see what grows and what doesn't and adjust/abandon next year as appropriate.
The front garden is a mass of colour and is my little haven of peace and girliness.
Wish my house faced the other way though, so I wasn't facing every passing stranger when I sit out and read.
And finally, the exercise...
Well, I have not been as exercisey since the turbo trainer got packed up - maybe I should recommission it?
I have been out running a bit more though, and while I was down at head office last week I went for a run that looked good on my little map and was even better in real life - I got fields and woods and hills and nice chatty cyclists and baby lambkins and I was back at the hotel before I knew it. Yes, I ran and I enjoyed it - breakthrough!! Here is a pic from that route:
Since then I have been out on my local 4.5km 'time trial' route and from my baseline time of 34.5 minutes I did it in 30 minutes and 3 seconds. My 'might take some time' target was 30 minutes, so to have been just 3 seconds off already made me very happy indeed. Feeling quite pleased with that.
Cycling - the race is in 65 days so I need to get my arse into gear for that.
Got my BMI and body fat % down into the next number. Still a fat knacker, but a little less so.
Right, dunno about you but I am bored now, so bye for now. Hopefully my next update might be a little bit sooner.
Well, it has and it hasn't.
The bike has been well and truly christened, with a few trips to Wharncliffe, Bakewell and Wyming Brook and just out and about. All the bits that came loose while I was riding (including the non-drive crank and the headset) have been firmly secured and it actually rides really well.
 |
| Apologies for crap quality but here is the bike in its natural habitat - Wharncliffe. No trees were harmed in the making of this photo... |
The main difference over the old bike is that it looks so pretty. No, only kidding - although it is true - the main difference is that because of the bigger frame and the wide handlebars, it opens my chest up while I am riding resulting in better breathing and not kneeing myself in the boobs when I am bobbing around trying to get up a hill.
I have also gone back to the SPD pedals - mainly because the old DMR flats looked far too shabby for my lovely. :-) I can tell the difference on the hils, again, but it is taking a lot of nerve when I am riding XC not to unclip and ride like a motocrosser, sticking the leg out for stability (and an easy escape).
What else??
J has bought himself a road-ish bike. It too is very pretty - all matt black and sleek. He seems to be enjoying riding that, which is cool. I wasn't sure how well he'd get on with the lack of suspension and the general difference in riding position but it's all good. Apart from one comedy fall whilst still attached to the SPDs. Lesson learnt; make sure you adjust the spring on BOTH sides of the pedal. Ho ho ho. (we've all done it)
Erm, so, gardening.
I now have 19 cherry tomato seedlings, 18 aubergine, 1 butternut squash, 5 cauliflowers, lots of peas and 1 purple capsicum all growing up nicely, ready for potting on or planting out. There are also more peppers and chillis (supposedly) germinating, carrots and raspberries in the ground, potatoes in bags and strawberries, thyme, oregano and sage in pots. I am waiting for some Tumbler tomoato plant plugs and my red onion sets to turn up - any day now...
It all sounds very organised, but I have never attempted this kind of thing before and I am definitely winging it. I guess I will see what grows and what doesn't and adjust/abandon next year as appropriate.
The front garden is a mass of colour and is my little haven of peace and girliness.
 |
| My little corner of peace and quiet. Wish the back of the house got so much sun. Found an old, enamel bedpan in the back garden and planted it up with pansies. I think it looks ace on the table. |
Wish my house faced the other way though, so I wasn't facing every passing stranger when I sit out and read.
And finally, the exercise...
Well, I have not been as exercisey since the turbo trainer got packed up - maybe I should recommission it?
I have been out running a bit more though, and while I was down at head office last week I went for a run that looked good on my little map and was even better in real life - I got fields and woods and hills and nice chatty cyclists and baby lambkins and I was back at the hotel before I knew it. Yes, I ran and I enjoyed it - breakthrough!! Here is a pic from that route:
 |
| In a field, near Knowl Hill. There's cycling in them thar woods too - might take my bike next time I am down south... |
Since then I have been out on my local 4.5km 'time trial' route and from my baseline time of 34.5 minutes I did it in 30 minutes and 3 seconds. My 'might take some time' target was 30 minutes, so to have been just 3 seconds off already made me very happy indeed. Feeling quite pleased with that.
Cycling - the race is in 65 days so I need to get my arse into gear for that.
Got my BMI and body fat % down into the next number. Still a fat knacker, but a little less so.
 |
| Gratuitous food shot - sorry. I made american style pancakes with slightly tired strawberries and my home made dandelion jam that didn't set and is more like dandelion syrup. It's kind of like runny honey. Nice, but dead sickly. |
Right, dunno about you but I am bored now, so bye for now. Hopefully my next update might be a little bit sooner.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
I were right abaht that saddle though
Oh dear, nearly two weeks since my last update and there's very little to tell you.
Weight loss minimal, been off sick for 3 days with some crappy virus that made me lose my voice but the important bit is..
I got the bike finished!!!
After a minor headset catastrophe (as in, the one I had was not complete) - and I thought I was going to have to go for a hardcore off road ride with the girlies on the Halfords hybrid bike. That could have been interesting, but as it happens I got her finished in the nick of time.
And as it also happens, because of illness - not all of it alcohol related - I baled on the ride, instead opting to ride the 28 miles home from Bakewell because I woke up ridiculously early and I am crap at being quiet.
I mailed J before I set off and then just as I got to the other side of Bakewell he texted to see whether I wanted picking up. I was actually quite prepared to ride all the way home - I wouldn't have set off in teh first place if I hadn't been - but he offered and I was ill... I made it to the other side of Calver, half way up that big old hill, when he got to me.
I went back to bed for the rest of the day. Poorly and almost mute.
I had Monday booked off as holiday so I (stupidly?) went for an 18 miler with the boys and Bimbenstein was great.
See...
She is a much more suitable size for me and even though she's going to take some getting used to with different gear ratios etc I don't think near-silent gear changes and not kneeing myself in the boobs is ever going to get old... The only problems were a pedal crank that insisted on coming loose and the fact that I had put one of J's old but expensive saddles on because it was to hand and I think it was designed for little boys with slender bottoms, because my fat bird arse was killing when I got home.
As painful as it is, I think the saddle that says Windie on it is going to have to go on the bike. It's like it was made for me. In more ways than one...
Weight loss minimal, been off sick for 3 days with some crappy virus that made me lose my voice but the important bit is..
I got the bike finished!!!
After a minor headset catastrophe (as in, the one I had was not complete) - and I thought I was going to have to go for a hardcore off road ride with the girlies on the Halfords hybrid bike. That could have been interesting, but as it happens I got her finished in the nick of time.
 |
| My precious |
I mailed J before I set off and then just as I got to the other side of Bakewell he texted to see whether I wanted picking up. I was actually quite prepared to ride all the way home - I wouldn't have set off in teh first place if I hadn't been - but he offered and I was ill... I made it to the other side of Calver, half way up that big old hill, when he got to me.
I went back to bed for the rest of the day. Poorly and almost mute.
I had Monday booked off as holiday so I (stupidly?) went for an 18 miler with the boys and Bimbenstein was great.
See...
 |
| At Wyming Brook, waiting for the boys. |
As painful as it is, I think the saddle that says Windie on it is going to have to go on the bike. It's like it was made for me. In more ways than one...
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Bits of news
Not got a lot to tell you - the bike building has stalled a bit and so has the exercise. Tut tut.
I've been under the weather a bit - I have a tendancy toward a little black cloud every now and again and J's oncology check was looming which always does a job on me.
Still, he had that on Tuesday and everything's looking okay. :-D
He saw the lovely Prof who looked after him throughout his treatment and she spent ages with him showing him his MRI pictures from before and during his treatment - apparently they weren't pretty. All okay so far though, at the third anniversary of his diagnosis. And to celebrate, the Prof has moved his checkups to 6 month intervals. That's quite reassuring, so hopefully now MY body will stop being such a wuss and the coldsores will heal and the motivation will kick in again. Here's hoping...
Despite the lack of exercise I *have* been trying to eat healthily and it looks like it might have helped. I weighed myself this morning and I have moved down into the next decade of kilograms - it's a big psychological boost seeing a smaller number up front. This shift means my BMI has also dropped into the next number down and best of all, my body fat % has too.
This doesn't mean I am slender yet, but it does mean I am headed in the right direction, and that's good enough for me.
For now.
On the bike front, the handlebars arrived and the general consensus is that they are huge, but they feel really comfy. I suppose the proof will come when I keep riding into trees/walls/cows and end up chopping the ends off the bars. The riding position feels promising though.
Right, I am off to Sherwood Forest to a company meeting and then off orienteering, apparently. I can't wait. Seriously!!
I've been under the weather a bit - I have a tendancy toward a little black cloud every now and again and J's oncology check was looming which always does a job on me.
Still, he had that on Tuesday and everything's looking okay. :-D
He saw the lovely Prof who looked after him throughout his treatment and she spent ages with him showing him his MRI pictures from before and during his treatment - apparently they weren't pretty. All okay so far though, at the third anniversary of his diagnosis. And to celebrate, the Prof has moved his checkups to 6 month intervals. That's quite reassuring, so hopefully now MY body will stop being such a wuss and the coldsores will heal and the motivation will kick in again. Here's hoping...
Despite the lack of exercise I *have* been trying to eat healthily and it looks like it might have helped. I weighed myself this morning and I have moved down into the next decade of kilograms - it's a big psychological boost seeing a smaller number up front. This shift means my BMI has also dropped into the next number down and best of all, my body fat % has too.
This doesn't mean I am slender yet, but it does mean I am headed in the right direction, and that's good enough for me.
For now.
On the bike front, the handlebars arrived and the general consensus is that they are huge, but they feel really comfy. I suppose the proof will come when I keep riding into trees/walls/cows and end up chopping the ends off the bars. The riding position feels promising though.
 |
| My pretty |
 |
| A LOT less squashed up then on the old bike, and I CAN still hang my bum off the back of the saddle. Looking promising... |
Right, I am off to Sherwood Forest to a company meeting and then off orienteering, apparently. I can't wait. Seriously!!
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Project Funky Rhubarb* begins
I decided, in a moment of ambition, that I was going to build myself a new bike. I have an old bike with perfectly good stuff on, but the bike is just too small for me. I know I have been riding this bike for a few years now and you'd've thought I would have twigged that by now, but I didn't - but once I got it in my head that was it - I had to have a new bike.
However, there's nothing really wrong with the old one so I couldn't justify buying a new one.
I figured building my own would be a good way to learn about bike mechanicals and it'd be something cool to do. Like I said, ambitious...
Anyway, I found 'the frame' on Pinkbike.com and within 3 days of buying it, it arrived all bubblewrapped. You wouldn't believe how giddy I was.
This is what I got (I put my new forks in to show how the white and red forks didn't go and to justify therefore having it resprayed/powdercoated - more on that later):
I suspect the seller left the cranks and bottom bracket and the headset cups fitted because he couldn't get them off, because they took some elbow grease (and my 3rd ever proper bike tool - my shiny Park Tool crank remover) and creative use of a socket set extension and hammer to get them all off, but I did it. This gave me some confidence that actually I wasn't as inept as I feared. Woohoo!
I knew the frame had to be red and, after much research, I decided to get it powdercoated a nice shade of blood red, to go with the fork decals. Yes, I AM that girlie!!
I actually took Friday afternoon off work so I could take it to be done. I took it to a small company in Sheffield and was quite relieved to see them stripping a Cannondale frame as I went in. And even more flattered when the owner asked whether I was building it myself and was really impressed when I said yes. :-) I mentioned that the bottom bracket shell and all the other bolt hole MUST be masked well, that there must be no overspray on any of those bits.
J collected it on Thursday for me - I was 200 miles away at head office. Typical!! They sent me a photo and even in the bad lighting I could see red stuff in the BB shell!! And when I say red - it looked kind of salmon pink. Oh dear. I was dreading what I was going to get home to. :-S
I got home later that day and the frame DID look pink and it DID have overspray on the bottom bracket threads. Oh god. That threw me - how on earth was I, the mechanical numpty, going to deal with that. I decided it was going to have to go to the bike shop to have the threads retapped.
So, what could I do until I could get to the bike shop to get them done? Refit the headset cups and the various clips and bolts that I took off. That took an entire lunch hour of breezeblocks, blocks of wood and my trusty hammer, but I did it. Again, a small victory and I was really relieved to see that, with a few black bits on the frame and the forks just pushed through and held in place with a temporary stem and my old wheels in it, it looked less pinky/more brick red. I could deal with that. Not quite my lovely blood red, but definitely better. And it was starting to look like a bike now too:
So, now it was time to deal with that overspray...
With the advice (sometimes conflicting) and calm reassurance from some of my friends, and mechanical support in the shape of J's brothers dremel, I attacked the threads gently and slowly but slowly, they started to come shiny and clean. J stayed to help for a little while, but I was fretting and bitching and it was safer in the end for him to retire to bed with his book. Ooops. Sorry Julian...
Anyway, another minor victory there meant I could fit the bottom bracket, the cranks and my SPD pedals.
I bought a new seat stem and borrowed J's old saddle, just for photographic purposes, and this is where I was by Saturday afternoon:
I am still not brave enough to cut the steerer tube but it will need doing at some point, but I can do it, I am not as useless as I first thought I was.
Next?
Well, I have ordered a set of white Felt decals and a set of black handlebars, so waiting for those to arrive, and the chap in the bike shop appears to have donated a gear cable guide so I need to pick up some gear cables, a chain and some handlebar grips and then I can start transferring the gubbins from my old bike. How very exciting!!
And after that, when it is all ready to ride, I will get some white Team Bimbo stickers made and the transformation will be complete.
Sorry if this was a bit of a long and boring read but I am just documenting the build process.
* The name Funky Rhubarb comes from my lovely friend Heather who, when she came out with that name, cheered me up no end and actually made me feel loads better about the colour, even if it wasn't quite what I expected.
However, there's nothing really wrong with the old one so I couldn't justify buying a new one.
I figured building my own would be a good way to learn about bike mechanicals and it'd be something cool to do. Like I said, ambitious...
Anyway, I found 'the frame' on Pinkbike.com and within 3 days of buying it, it arrived all bubblewrapped. You wouldn't believe how giddy I was.
This is what I got (I put my new forks in to show how the white and red forks didn't go and to justify therefore having it resprayed/powdercoated - more on that later):
 |
| It was a very pretty paint job, but it didn't go with the forks and, in honesty, I wanted a red bike! |
I knew the frame had to be red and, after much research, I decided to get it powdercoated a nice shade of blood red, to go with the fork decals. Yes, I AM that girlie!!
I actually took Friday afternoon off work so I could take it to be done. I took it to a small company in Sheffield and was quite relieved to see them stripping a Cannondale frame as I went in. And even more flattered when the owner asked whether I was building it myself and was really impressed when I said yes. :-) I mentioned that the bottom bracket shell and all the other bolt hole MUST be masked well, that there must be no overspray on any of those bits.
J collected it on Thursday for me - I was 200 miles away at head office. Typical!! They sent me a photo and even in the bad lighting I could see red stuff in the BB shell!! And when I say red - it looked kind of salmon pink. Oh dear. I was dreading what I was going to get home to. :-S
I got home later that day and the frame DID look pink and it DID have overspray on the bottom bracket threads. Oh god. That threw me - how on earth was I, the mechanical numpty, going to deal with that. I decided it was going to have to go to the bike shop to have the threads retapped.
 |
| Funky Rhubarb. What am I going to do with a rhubarb coloured bike with fouled up bottom bracket threads?? |
So, what could I do until I could get to the bike shop to get them done? Refit the headset cups and the various clips and bolts that I took off. That took an entire lunch hour of breezeblocks, blocks of wood and my trusty hammer, but I did it. Again, a small victory and I was really relieved to see that, with a few black bits on the frame and the forks just pushed through and held in place with a temporary stem and my old wheels in it, it looked less pinky/more brick red. I could deal with that. Not quite my lovely blood red, but definitely better. And it was starting to look like a bike now too:
So, now it was time to deal with that overspray...
With the advice (sometimes conflicting) and calm reassurance from some of my friends, and mechanical support in the shape of J's brothers dremel, I attacked the threads gently and slowly but slowly, they started to come shiny and clean. J stayed to help for a little while, but I was fretting and bitching and it was safer in the end for him to retire to bed with his book. Ooops. Sorry Julian...
Anyway, another minor victory there meant I could fit the bottom bracket, the cranks and my SPD pedals.
I bought a new seat stem and borrowed J's old saddle, just for photographic purposes, and this is where I was by Saturday afternoon:
I am still not brave enough to cut the steerer tube but it will need doing at some point, but I can do it, I am not as useless as I first thought I was.
Next?
Well, I have ordered a set of white Felt decals and a set of black handlebars, so waiting for those to arrive, and the chap in the bike shop appears to have donated a gear cable guide so I need to pick up some gear cables, a chain and some handlebar grips and then I can start transferring the gubbins from my old bike. How very exciting!!
And after that, when it is all ready to ride, I will get some white Team Bimbo stickers made and the transformation will be complete.
Sorry if this was a bit of a long and boring read but I am just documenting the build process.
* The name Funky Rhubarb comes from my lovely friend Heather who, when she came out with that name, cheered me up no end and actually made me feel loads better about the colour, even if it wasn't quite what I expected.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Come on spring, do your thing!!
Bored with cold weather now. And having heating now means you're never quite sure just how freezing it is going to be when you finally get outside - although currently it is fair to assume that 'bloody cold' will do.
Anyway, the headlines - got my new bike frame and took it to be powdercoated. Very giddy because that *might* be ready to collect today. Also, got my body fat and BMI under my first targets I had set. Don't get me wrong, I am still a fat knacker, just slightly less so...
We went for a walk in Rivelin Valley on Saturday - took our cameras and had a nice pootle around, snapping pictures off here there and everywhere and it was nice. I think I have almost got my photography mojo back. Yay. I've missed it. I hope this is the start of me getting a bit of get up and go back because I am fed up of lacking the motivation to do even the slightest thing. Fingers crossed, eh.
Anyway - here is one of my pics from Saturday. It cheered me up when I saw these little fellas, made me feel a little bit like spring is almost here...
Exercise wise:
In the past week I have stuck to my press up and sit up plans, I have turboed twice, been for a real bike ride once, been for a walk with some fairly decent hills and been for a 'run' this morning (I think I actually did walk most of it today). I still don't like running but I did do my best time so far for the route I did. It's only 4.5km, but it is hilly and horrible and I took 2 minutes off my previous time. I don't think I will ever enjoy running but it is a very handy way to get a quick stint of exercise in, and no muddy bike to wash when I get back. Maybe when it is a bit warmer and I can go out in shorts I will change my mind, we'll see...
Right, I'm off to work now. Whoop.
Anyway, the headlines - got my new bike frame and took it to be powdercoated. Very giddy because that *might* be ready to collect today. Also, got my body fat and BMI under my first targets I had set. Don't get me wrong, I am still a fat knacker, just slightly less so...
We went for a walk in Rivelin Valley on Saturday - took our cameras and had a nice pootle around, snapping pictures off here there and everywhere and it was nice. I think I have almost got my photography mojo back. Yay. I've missed it. I hope this is the start of me getting a bit of get up and go back because I am fed up of lacking the motivation to do even the slightest thing. Fingers crossed, eh.
Anyway - here is one of my pics from Saturday. It cheered me up when I saw these little fellas, made me feel a little bit like spring is almost here...
Exercise wise:
In the past week I have stuck to my press up and sit up plans, I have turboed twice, been for a real bike ride once, been for a walk with some fairly decent hills and been for a 'run' this morning (I think I actually did walk most of it today). I still don't like running but I did do my best time so far for the route I did. It's only 4.5km, but it is hilly and horrible and I took 2 minutes off my previous time. I don't think I will ever enjoy running but it is a very handy way to get a quick stint of exercise in, and no muddy bike to wash when I get back. Maybe when it is a bit warmer and I can go out in shorts I will change my mind, we'll see...
Right, I'm off to work now. Whoop.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Bimbo bike build
I've just bought myself a new bike frame - another hardtail, a Felt Q720. Nothing spectacular but a better size and a good price, so I can have it powder coated and made to look pretty. Pure bimbo style.
My current idea is have it done white, with replacement red decals, but I could have it done pink or green or any colour. Suggestions?
I am giddy and terrified in equal part. I have done 'bits' on my current bike, but I have never built one from scratch. Will be a good learning experience if nothing else.
Pictures to follow, I guess.
On the exercise front, I haven't done a lot this last week due to having possibly the worst cold I've ever had. :-( Poor me. We were going to ride yesterday but woke up to snow. BLOODY SNOW!!!
So I finally got out for a ride today with Julian and Graeme. We went along the canal towpath to Temple Newsam near Leeds - a mud fest to almost rival Wharny!
And in other news, in light of the bloody cold weather today I realised that my boobs have their own micro climate. It is the only explanation for my boobs being so cold I thought I might get frost bite. Or should that be frost nip? Ho ho.
I wonder if there is a market for big boob sportsbras with special pockets to slot in those hand warmer pouches you can buy? Who do I contact to find out?
My current idea is have it done white, with replacement red decals, but I could have it done pink or green or any colour. Suggestions?
I am giddy and terrified in equal part. I have done 'bits' on my current bike, but I have never built one from scratch. Will be a good learning experience if nothing else.
Pictures to follow, I guess.
On the exercise front, I haven't done a lot this last week due to having possibly the worst cold I've ever had. :-( Poor me. We were going to ride yesterday but woke up to snow. BLOODY SNOW!!!
So I finally got out for a ride today with Julian and Graeme. We went along the canal towpath to Temple Newsam near Leeds - a mud fest to almost rival Wharny!
And in other news, in light of the bloody cold weather today I realised that my boobs have their own micro climate. It is the only explanation for my boobs being so cold I thought I might get frost bite. Or should that be frost nip? Ho ho.
I wonder if there is a market for big boob sportsbras with special pockets to slot in those hand warmer pouches you can buy? Who do I contact to find out?
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Starting as I mean to go on?
Oh dear, it's been a while. In my defence though, I did warn - right back at the beginning - that I was crap with diaries.
So, what's been happening? Not a lot.
In my last post I tentatively announced that we almost had heating and hot water. We now have both, but it was a bit hit and miss to start with. The plumbers did a sterling job, got it fitted by early afternoon and temporarily wired it in to test it was working. Seriously, I was so close to tears when I heard it start up and felt the radiators getting warm. I had to go back upstairs and hide my pathetic, over emotional self!
However, the next job was for the electrician to wire it up properly, with the thermostat and the frost sensor. That didn't go quite so smoothly. It seemed like it did but by the time J got home from work, it had stopped working again. I figured out (5 3A fuses later) that it was blowing the main fuse every time it lit up, so the electrician came back the next afternoon and was still there when I got home after 6pm. He wasn't a happy bunny. And then he started having a PROPER blazing argument with his boss on the phone. Not very professional but to his credit he did apologise profusely and say that it wasn't very professional, and he got it sorted so all is forgiven.
One week on, the novelty of having a hot shower hasn't worn off but we still haven't got used to having heating again and haven't figured out a comfortable temperature and schedule for the heating. Still, it'll be summer soon. :-)
Next 'thing' was my car MoT. I live at the top of a hill - my mechanic lives at the bottom of the hill. It's about 2.5 miles from here to there. I had decided that I would take my bike in the car and then ride home after I had dropped the car off. And then I remembered, for all I have a big car, it is shit when it comes to actually getting stuff in it and I have had my bike in the car before - nightmare. So I decided I would run home instead.
STUPID idea! I haven't run for weeks, why did I think it would be a good idea? And it was raining!!
As it happens it WAS horrible but I got home in under 35 minutes which I was really pretty pleased with and it even encouraged me to run back to collect it after work. It took almost 25 minutes to run back. That seems a bit odd to me, given that it was downhill all the way but there you go.
What really seemed wrong though was that it then took 15 minutes to drive back up the hill. This is no reflection on my mad running skills, but an indictment of the shocking state of the traffic in Sheffield.
The car passed the test and I couldn't walk the next day.
And then I got a really bad cold. Crap. I am now at the coughing up chunks of lung stage. It isn't very nice and I am going stir crazy but I know enough not to go on the bike yet. Even though I REEEEEALLY want to.
Despite the lack of exercise since last Thursday, I have lost 2kg and my BMI and fat % are down so clearly shivering and coughing are really good exercise.
I have consoled myself by ordering a new set of forks for my bike. I say for my bike, but depending on how pretty they are, I might order a new bike to put them on. Uh-oh...
Also, I cut J's hair (short, respectable!) the other day and he has been on a proper downer since. I wonder if the two are related? He shouldn't be down - it looks really nice and he looks about 5 or 6 years younger now. Not fair!
Over and out. Sorry it was mundane, but that's just how I am feeling today.
So, what's been happening? Not a lot.
In my last post I tentatively announced that we almost had heating and hot water. We now have both, but it was a bit hit and miss to start with. The plumbers did a sterling job, got it fitted by early afternoon and temporarily wired it in to test it was working. Seriously, I was so close to tears when I heard it start up and felt the radiators getting warm. I had to go back upstairs and hide my pathetic, over emotional self!
However, the next job was for the electrician to wire it up properly, with the thermostat and the frost sensor. That didn't go quite so smoothly. It seemed like it did but by the time J got home from work, it had stopped working again. I figured out (5 3A fuses later) that it was blowing the main fuse every time it lit up, so the electrician came back the next afternoon and was still there when I got home after 6pm. He wasn't a happy bunny. And then he started having a PROPER blazing argument with his boss on the phone. Not very professional but to his credit he did apologise profusely and say that it wasn't very professional, and he got it sorted so all is forgiven.
One week on, the novelty of having a hot shower hasn't worn off but we still haven't got used to having heating again and haven't figured out a comfortable temperature and schedule for the heating. Still, it'll be summer soon. :-)
Next 'thing' was my car MoT. I live at the top of a hill - my mechanic lives at the bottom of the hill. It's about 2.5 miles from here to there. I had decided that I would take my bike in the car and then ride home after I had dropped the car off. And then I remembered, for all I have a big car, it is shit when it comes to actually getting stuff in it and I have had my bike in the car before - nightmare. So I decided I would run home instead.
STUPID idea! I haven't run for weeks, why did I think it would be a good idea? And it was raining!!
As it happens it WAS horrible but I got home in under 35 minutes which I was really pretty pleased with and it even encouraged me to run back to collect it after work. It took almost 25 minutes to run back. That seems a bit odd to me, given that it was downhill all the way but there you go.
What really seemed wrong though was that it then took 15 minutes to drive back up the hill. This is no reflection on my mad running skills, but an indictment of the shocking state of the traffic in Sheffield.
The car passed the test and I couldn't walk the next day.
And then I got a really bad cold. Crap. I am now at the coughing up chunks of lung stage. It isn't very nice and I am going stir crazy but I know enough not to go on the bike yet. Even though I REEEEEALLY want to.
Despite the lack of exercise since last Thursday, I have lost 2kg and my BMI and fat % are down so clearly shivering and coughing are really good exercise.
I have consoled myself by ordering a new set of forks for my bike. I say for my bike, but depending on how pretty they are, I might order a new bike to put them on. Uh-oh...
Also, I cut J's hair (short, respectable!) the other day and he has been on a proper downer since. I wonder if the two are related? He shouldn't be down - it looks really nice and he looks about 5 or 6 years younger now. Not fair!
Over and out. Sorry it was mundane, but that's just how I am feeling today.
Monday, 7 February 2011
Can it be true?
After me giving them a hard time for not turning up last Wednesday and then them offering to come again next week, the plumbers have arrived and are downstairs making lots of noise. I am assuming they are fitting the new boiler and not just trashing the kitchen...
More later. :-)
More later. :-)
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Definitely a country mouse
Phew, home. <sigh> Glad to be back.
Don't get me wrong, I have had a wonderful trip to London, but I am really not a city mouse.
I have done little formal exercise this week but I can't begin to calculate how far I walked in the last two days. All I know is my legs are really aching now.
Early start on Thursday - I think we were both pretty giddy to have a couple of days off work and to be going somewhere and as such we were both awake WELL before our 6am alarm. We were parked up and waiting for the Natural History Museum to open at 9.50am - gave me time to marvel at what a truly beautiful building it is. Once we got in we headed straight up to the mineral display. It was truly amazing to have the entire, vast room to ourselves when we could hear the mayhem in the main gallery.
After that we went to the Science Museum. That was quieter but everything is rather more interactive than it used to be - I am not sure how I feel about that.
After that we needed some food so we headed to Kensington High Street and found the coolest hippy veggie shop in the entire universe. I can't believe I got so giddy about a food/cheese/'stuff' shop but it really was ace. http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/kensington/
Then we headed off to see Mark and Meg in Tonbridge. We've met Mark before, but never Meg. They are lovely people and have the most chilled out dog I have ever met. He's called Sumo and he's fab. Mark's the guy who rode the John O'Groats to Lands End ride last year with his sister Laura and friend Jay. Jay and Becky joined us that evening and we had a real laugh. Considering we had met only two of the people for about an hour they made us feel so comfortable and welcome.
Mark took us into the basement and showed us his porn. Yes, I know that sounds sordid. It wasn't traditional porn though, it was bike porn. I am not sure J appreciated or understood much of it, but I had to wipe a little bit of drool from the side of my mouth more than once. It's not that he has FLASH bikes, just a fantastic variety and a very clever storage system. Yes, I AM that sad!!
Mark left very early the next morning to go to the Royal Marsden Hospital to receive treatment for his angiosarcoma and then on to the school he teaches PE at. He is a perfect example of someone pissed on by cancer and just getting on with it. People like him and Julian - and every other individual who has had to deal with this bastard disease - just show why the human body is so amazing.
We had breakfast with Meg then she went off to work and we headed to London Docklands to dump the car, check into our proper bargain hotel (a £300 room (which I think is disgusting!!) for a far more palatable £74). I have never stayed in such a posh hotel - valet parking for our shabby blue Japanese car (there was an abundance of shiny black Bentleys, BMWs and BIG Audis), the most lovely concierge and a room with a bathroom larger and lovelier than the one at home. As tempting as it was to run a bath immediately, we headed to the nearby DLR station and headed into London for day two.
J was very amused to have walked me along New Bond Street (I think) to point out the very flash jewellery shops and I was more interested in the bikes chained to the lamp posts. I think he was also pretty relieved to know his wife has such cheap and simple tastes. :-)
And next, the most highly anticipated of all the museums - the Royal Institution.
http://www.rigb.org/contentControl?action=displayContent&id=1871
I cannot describe how emotional I felt to be able to go in there and see all the apparatus used by Faraday and other ground breaking scientists.
I was also quite emotional watching J leaping around to this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8dtquYDXEU and matching the elements on the Periodic Table. It was an entirely different emotion, however. ;-)
Don't get me wrong, I have had a wonderful trip to London, but I am really not a city mouse.
I have done little formal exercise this week but I can't begin to calculate how far I walked in the last two days. All I know is my legs are really aching now.
Early start on Thursday - I think we were both pretty giddy to have a couple of days off work and to be going somewhere and as such we were both awake WELL before our 6am alarm. We were parked up and waiting for the Natural History Museum to open at 9.50am - gave me time to marvel at what a truly beautiful building it is. Once we got in we headed straight up to the mineral display. It was truly amazing to have the entire, vast room to ourselves when we could hear the mayhem in the main gallery.
Julian, engrossed.
After that we needed some food so we headed to Kensington High Street and found the coolest hippy veggie shop in the entire universe. I can't believe I got so giddy about a food/cheese/'stuff' shop but it really was ace. http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/kensington/
Then we headed off to see Mark and Meg in Tonbridge. We've met Mark before, but never Meg. They are lovely people and have the most chilled out dog I have ever met. He's called Sumo and he's fab. Mark's the guy who rode the John O'Groats to Lands End ride last year with his sister Laura and friend Jay. Jay and Becky joined us that evening and we had a real laugh. Considering we had met only two of the people for about an hour they made us feel so comfortable and welcome.
Mark took us into the basement and showed us his porn. Yes, I know that sounds sordid. It wasn't traditional porn though, it was bike porn. I am not sure J appreciated or understood much of it, but I had to wipe a little bit of drool from the side of my mouth more than once. It's not that he has FLASH bikes, just a fantastic variety and a very clever storage system. Yes, I AM that sad!!
Mark left very early the next morning to go to the Royal Marsden Hospital to receive treatment for his angiosarcoma and then on to the school he teaches PE at. He is a perfect example of someone pissed on by cancer and just getting on with it. People like him and Julian - and every other individual who has had to deal with this bastard disease - just show why the human body is so amazing.
We had breakfast with Meg then she went off to work and we headed to London Docklands to dump the car, check into our proper bargain hotel (a £300 room (which I think is disgusting!!) for a far more palatable £74). I have never stayed in such a posh hotel - valet parking for our shabby blue Japanese car (there was an abundance of shiny black Bentleys, BMWs and BIG Audis), the most lovely concierge and a room with a bathroom larger and lovelier than the one at home. As tempting as it was to run a bath immediately, we headed to the nearby DLR station and headed into London for day two.
J was very amused to have walked me along New Bond Street (I think) to point out the very flash jewellery shops and I was more interested in the bikes chained to the lamp posts. I think he was also pretty relieved to know his wife has such cheap and simple tastes. :-)
And next, the most highly anticipated of all the museums - the Royal Institution.
http://www.rigb.org/contentControl?action=displayContent&id=1871
I cannot describe how emotional I felt to be able to go in there and see all the apparatus used by Faraday and other ground breaking scientists.
I was also quite emotional watching J leaping around to this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8dtquYDXEU and matching the elements on the Periodic Table. It was an entirely different emotion, however. ;-)
You had to identify the 10 elements discovered at the RI as they were mentioned in the song.
And then, to top it all, we got to go into the Faraday Theatre. I was in complete geek heaven.
Julian in a very familiar looking auditorium
We then headed off to the Forbidden Planet for a bit more geekiness and then back to the hotel for that long anticipated bath. Oh. My. God. I will NEVER ever take having a bath for granted again.
Food at Jamie's Italian - it was nice, but there was a lot of sage involved - and then back to the room for another bath and a shower. No, not really, but we WERE tempted. :-)
This morning we headed back to Kensington for a shopping spree at the hippy shop, then a wet and mentally exhausting drive back up the M1.
I am going for a bike ride tomorrow, whatever the weather - my bike is totally shite, but my god I have missed it.
But the best bit? We managed to guilt the plumbers into coming on Monday this week instead of next week. Assuming they turn up. Bastards.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Krispy Kreme
Nope, not donuts, it's what I have nicknamed the Benzoyl Peroxide cream I am using to try to fettle my skin. I have been eating more healthily, drinking more water and generally trying to improve my skin but it got to the point where a more forceful intervention was needed - step up the Krispy Kreme...
I supposed in some ways it is nice to have skin like a 15 year old, but at 38 the huge spots do get a bit tiresome.
I have been using it for a few days now and I look like I have got some kind of red, flaky skin lurgy but I can see, underneath all that, that the spots are reducing and there are no blackheads so it's doing its job. Woohoo! Good job I work from home though, I am not sure I would be so elated if I had to go out and see people looking like this.
Anyway, now I've put you off your breakfast...
The butternut squash and spinach gratin wasn't the success I'd hoped - it was kind of watery and undercooked, despite putting it in the oven for 10 minutes longer than the recipe suggested. It had potential though, the flavours were good so I might modify it and try it again some time.
Todays culinary dilemma is what to do with a butternut squash, an aubergine, a punnett of chestnut mushrooms and half a pepper. We have 3 days to use them up, so it shouldn't be too difficult, but I fancy trying some more new recipes. I have about an hour between me finishing work and J getting home each day so there's no excuse not to try new things, but it's always easier to fall back on those easy recipes that you could do with your eyes closed, isn't it?
Exercise wise? Saturday we did none - we had a lazy day in anticipation of the beasting we were going to get from Gav on Sunday. Hmmm.
'Stuff' came up and we ended up having to reorganise our Sunday and putting Gav off.
That meant we had to motivate ourselves to go for a ride AND try to work harder. And we did!
We rode from home and started on our usual 'safe' 6 miler but instead of turning left near the top of the first hill we carried straight on and extended it into a 13-ish mile hill fest. Both of us pushed it that little bit harder up the hills and tried not to stop. It was a good ride - but damned cold (my usual asthma kicked in by the time we got home - I sounded delightful.)
We clocked up 21.5km with 420m of ascent, which is not too bad. And even better, we did it in a little over 2 hours, which isn't bad for us - sure we're not going to win any races, but it's not bad for us.
Here's the route - from the red dot on the left to where it says Moscar Cross is the infamous Gougy Hill - so named because it is a hill with big gouges in it. I came SO close to riding the whole thing yesterday, but I got knobbled by a frozen ridge of mud that threw me off and I couldn't get started again because it's so steep. I got back on a little way up, but felt slightly disappointed that I failed. I think I finally have the strength to ride it, just not the skillz, it seems. One day...
Only 2 days now until new boiler day. I can't believe how much I want a bath - just because I can.
Stinky, signing off...
I supposed in some ways it is nice to have skin like a 15 year old, but at 38 the huge spots do get a bit tiresome.
I have been using it for a few days now and I look like I have got some kind of red, flaky skin lurgy but I can see, underneath all that, that the spots are reducing and there are no blackheads so it's doing its job. Woohoo! Good job I work from home though, I am not sure I would be so elated if I had to go out and see people looking like this.
Anyway, now I've put you off your breakfast...
The butternut squash and spinach gratin wasn't the success I'd hoped - it was kind of watery and undercooked, despite putting it in the oven for 10 minutes longer than the recipe suggested. It had potential though, the flavours were good so I might modify it and try it again some time.
Todays culinary dilemma is what to do with a butternut squash, an aubergine, a punnett of chestnut mushrooms and half a pepper. We have 3 days to use them up, so it shouldn't be too difficult, but I fancy trying some more new recipes. I have about an hour between me finishing work and J getting home each day so there's no excuse not to try new things, but it's always easier to fall back on those easy recipes that you could do with your eyes closed, isn't it?
Exercise wise? Saturday we did none - we had a lazy day in anticipation of the beasting we were going to get from Gav on Sunday. Hmmm.
'Stuff' came up and we ended up having to reorganise our Sunday and putting Gav off.
That meant we had to motivate ourselves to go for a ride AND try to work harder. And we did!
We rode from home and started on our usual 'safe' 6 miler but instead of turning left near the top of the first hill we carried straight on and extended it into a 13-ish mile hill fest. Both of us pushed it that little bit harder up the hills and tried not to stop. It was a good ride - but damned cold (my usual asthma kicked in by the time we got home - I sounded delightful.)
We clocked up 21.5km with 420m of ascent, which is not too bad. And even better, we did it in a little over 2 hours, which isn't bad for us - sure we're not going to win any races, but it's not bad for us.
Here's the route - from the red dot on the left to where it says Moscar Cross is the infamous Gougy Hill - so named because it is a hill with big gouges in it. I came SO close to riding the whole thing yesterday, but I got knobbled by a frozen ridge of mud that threw me off and I couldn't get started again because it's so steep. I got back on a little way up, but felt slightly disappointed that I failed. I think I finally have the strength to ride it, just not the skillz, it seems. One day...
Only 2 days now until new boiler day. I can't believe how much I want a bath - just because I can.
Stinky, signing off...
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Bored now
I'm fed up of being cold. I'm fed up of getting no warm sun on my face and having crap skin. I am fed up of having to wash my hair in a cold shower - I'm fed up of cold showers/kettle baths. I'm fed up of mid-week exercising inside because there's no daylight outside working hours.
Come on spring, do your thing!
The good news is though, spring DOES appear to be in the air - on Thursday I was able to finish my days work without having to turn the office light on. Granted I was really testing my touch typing skills in the last 10 minutes but hey, small steps.
I've not been doing a lot of exercise this week, my back has been playing up again. To the point where the turbotrainer and bike had to stay in the kitchen until yesterday afternoon because I was unable to lift it to carry it to the garage. :-(
Hoping to get out on my bike tomorrow though, pitfalls and pains-in-the-arse permitting. We'll see.
The best thing though is that I have just 3 working days this week and then we're off to London for a couple of days. I really can't wait. I am disproportionately giddy about it. I already was giddy but when I found out you could go to the Royal Institution that was it - my head almost exploded. And then, to add to that, a friend who I know from Singletrackworld.com has invited me and J to stay with him (who we have met) and his wife (who we haven't) and their dog for a night. Really, really excited.
So - a posting with little exercise, and a distinct lack of bimbo skills. What's going on?
Got a new recipe -butternut squash and spinach gratin - in the oven at the mo. If it's good, I will post the recipe later.
Come on spring, do your thing!
The good news is though, spring DOES appear to be in the air - on Thursday I was able to finish my days work without having to turn the office light on. Granted I was really testing my touch typing skills in the last 10 minutes but hey, small steps.
I've not been doing a lot of exercise this week, my back has been playing up again. To the point where the turbotrainer and bike had to stay in the kitchen until yesterday afternoon because I was unable to lift it to carry it to the garage. :-(
Hoping to get out on my bike tomorrow though, pitfalls and pains-in-the-arse permitting. We'll see.
The best thing though is that I have just 3 working days this week and then we're off to London for a couple of days. I really can't wait. I am disproportionately giddy about it. I already was giddy but when I found out you could go to the Royal Institution that was it - my head almost exploded. And then, to add to that, a friend who I know from Singletrackworld.com has invited me and J to stay with him (who we have met) and his wife (who we haven't) and their dog for a night. Really, really excited.
So - a posting with little exercise, and a distinct lack of bimbo skills. What's going on?
Got a new recipe -butternut squash and spinach gratin - in the oven at the mo. If it's good, I will post the recipe later.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Grub's up!
This is another favourite recipe - it's easy to make but looks and tastes like it took a lot longer. It's pretty healthy too, if you don't go nuts with the oil when grilling the aubergine and use low fat yoghurt.
Again, this was brought to my attention on the Domestic Sluttery website but it's become a firm favourite here, with modifications according to what I can find in the cupboard/fridge.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
GRILLED AUBERGINES WITH SPICY CHICKPEAS & PISTACHIO SAUCE (Serves two)
4 tbsp olive oil
1 onion , finely chopped
1 red chilli , deseeded and finely chopped
2cm piece ginger , finely chopped
½ tsp each ground cumin , coriander and cinnamon
400g can chickpeas , rinsed and drained
200g tomatoes , chopped (a tin works just fine, but drain them a bit if you use tinned)
juice ½ lemon
2 aubergines , sliced lengthways
For the Pistachio sauce200g tub Greek yogurt (I have used Greek, standard, low-fat - all different but all very nice too)
1 garlic clove , crushed
30g pistachios , chopped (or cashews or any other nut that you like the taste of...)
handful coriander leaves, roughly chopped
1. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan, add the onion and fry until soft and lightly browned, about 10 mins. Add the chilli, ginger and spices and mix well. Stir in the chickpeas, tomatoes and 5 tbsp water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins. Add a little salt and pepper and the lemon juice.
2. Arrange the aubergines over a grill pan. Brush lightly with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then grill until golden. Flip them over, brush again with oil, season and grill again until tender and golden.
3. Mix the yogurt with the garlic, most of the pistachios and coriander and a little salt and pepper. Arrange the aubergine slices over a warm platter and spoon over the chickpea mix. Drizzle with the pistachio sauce and scatter with the remaining pistachios and coriander.
Yes, it's that easy.
If you are hungry I guess you could serve it with couscous or rice or some other carbo type food, but we just have this on its own and it's plenty.
Kind of looks like it has been 'previously enjoyed' but really, it does taste good.
Again, this was brought to my attention on the Domestic Sluttery website but it's become a firm favourite here, with modifications according to what I can find in the cupboard/fridge.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
GRILLED AUBERGINES WITH SPICY CHICKPEAS & PISTACHIO SAUCE (Serves two)
4 tbsp olive oil
1 onion , finely chopped
1 red chilli , deseeded and finely chopped
2cm piece ginger , finely chopped
½ tsp each ground cumin , coriander and cinnamon
400g can chickpeas , rinsed and drained
200g tomatoes , chopped (a tin works just fine, but drain them a bit if you use tinned)
juice ½ lemon
2 aubergines , sliced lengthways
For the Pistachio sauce200g tub Greek yogurt (I have used Greek, standard, low-fat - all different but all very nice too)
1 garlic clove , crushed
30g pistachios , chopped (or cashews or any other nut that you like the taste of...)
handful coriander leaves, roughly chopped
1. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan, add the onion and fry until soft and lightly browned, about 10 mins. Add the chilli, ginger and spices and mix well. Stir in the chickpeas, tomatoes and 5 tbsp water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins. Add a little salt and pepper and the lemon juice.
2. Arrange the aubergines over a grill pan. Brush lightly with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then grill until golden. Flip them over, brush again with oil, season and grill again until tender and golden.
3. Mix the yogurt with the garlic, most of the pistachios and coriander and a little salt and pepper. Arrange the aubergine slices over a warm platter and spoon over the chickpea mix. Drizzle with the pistachio sauce and scatter with the remaining pistachios and coriander.
Yes, it's that easy.
If you are hungry I guess you could serve it with couscous or rice or some other carbo type food, but we just have this on its own and it's plenty.
Kind of looks like it has been 'previously enjoyed' but really, it does taste good.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Wine free Friday? Surely not.
So, in an attempt to thin the layer of cheese on my bones, I decided against wine on Friday night, That might not sound like much of a challenge, but it was. I had no wine!!
My back was still really painful so we had a very lazy day on Saturday so I didn't mess things up for Sundays bike ride out with friends. At this point I was in so much pain that I was worried I might not even make it out on Sunday and I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. So I had some wine. :-( Still, I only had half a bottle of very low alcohol rose.
Sunday morning came around - cold and windy, for a change - and my back was still painful but I figured what doesn't kill you, and all that...
Everyone turned up and we set off on a route around Ringinglow, Redmires and Stanage. We had riders of varying fitness - Sallie the triathlete at one end, and FKCB (me!) at the other - but it was a fairly relaxed ride that came in at just 19km with 430m of ascent. The recent snow seems to have tamed Stanage Causeway and apart from the bigger drops near the top (which I might tackle one day, but not just yet) I rode most of it and really enjoyed it. And all the hills - well, I got up all of them without stopping and I wasn't at the back, but that was down to some lucky mechanical issues (ie: other peoples bikes misbehaving)
Sallie hadn't ridden this route before and worried that she was slow on the downhills (she wasn't!) but more than made up for it on the hills. For someone used to the flatlands of Lincolnshire she does a bloody fine job on the climbs.
Here she is just after Stanedge Pole - I think she is enjoying herself. Or maybe someone just mentioned the coffee van to her?:
The ride on to Houndkirk crossroads was the hardest bit of the ride for me - it seemed to get really cold all of a sudden and my crappy asthma seemed to kick in. Still, I really enjoyed the descent to the crossroads and rode it faster than I have managed before, I think:
Best of all though, my back held out and all the juddering and jostling did seem to loosen it up.
Until I sat down again, then it was as bad as ever. Booo.
Here is a pic of J and Rich, just because...
Speaking of what doesn't kill you - getting clean after a muddy bike ride is interesting when you have no hot water and heating and a house that's actually colder than it is outside... I am sure people must've heard me howling at the end of the street as I tried to rinse my hair with 'triple point' water (there is no other explaination - it was liquid ice!)
In other news, Clumsy T made a comeback and as I put the bikes away after washing the, I managed to knock the hedge trimmer off the top of a cupboard. Not such a dumb thing, but then I tried to catch it with my leg - you know like you do when you see something falling out of the corner of your eye and you just try to stop it hitting the floor... That smarted a bit. Luckily nothing broke (on me or the trimmer, just a big lump and a disappointing lack of bruising...)
Then it was Monday and back to work. Yippee.
No exercise but J made some cracking curries for tea, so that ended the day on a high.
Today? Work and a bit of coach Troy. Oh, I've missed you, you cheesy American dude with shorts pulled up to your armpits, oh I've missed you...
My back was still really painful so we had a very lazy day on Saturday so I didn't mess things up for Sundays bike ride out with friends. At this point I was in so much pain that I was worried I might not even make it out on Sunday and I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. So I had some wine. :-( Still, I only had half a bottle of very low alcohol rose.
Sunday morning came around - cold and windy, for a change - and my back was still painful but I figured what doesn't kill you, and all that...
Everyone turned up and we set off on a route around Ringinglow, Redmires and Stanage. We had riders of varying fitness - Sallie the triathlete at one end, and FKCB (me!) at the other - but it was a fairly relaxed ride that came in at just 19km with 430m of ascent. The recent snow seems to have tamed Stanage Causeway and apart from the bigger drops near the top (which I might tackle one day, but not just yet) I rode most of it and really enjoyed it. And all the hills - well, I got up all of them without stopping and I wasn't at the back, but that was down to some lucky mechanical issues (ie: other peoples bikes misbehaving)
Sallie hadn't ridden this route before and worried that she was slow on the downhills (she wasn't!) but more than made up for it on the hills. For someone used to the flatlands of Lincolnshire she does a bloody fine job on the climbs.
Here she is just after Stanedge Pole - I think she is enjoying herself. Or maybe someone just mentioned the coffee van to her?:
The ride on to Houndkirk crossroads was the hardest bit of the ride for me - it seemed to get really cold all of a sudden and my crappy asthma seemed to kick in. Still, I really enjoyed the descent to the crossroads and rode it faster than I have managed before, I think:
Best of all though, my back held out and all the juddering and jostling did seem to loosen it up.
Until I sat down again, then it was as bad as ever. Booo.
Here is a pic of J and Rich, just because...
Speaking of what doesn't kill you - getting clean after a muddy bike ride is interesting when you have no hot water and heating and a house that's actually colder than it is outside... I am sure people must've heard me howling at the end of the street as I tried to rinse my hair with 'triple point' water (there is no other explaination - it was liquid ice!)
In other news, Clumsy T made a comeback and as I put the bikes away after washing the, I managed to knock the hedge trimmer off the top of a cupboard. Not such a dumb thing, but then I tried to catch it with my leg - you know like you do when you see something falling out of the corner of your eye and you just try to stop it hitting the floor... That smarted a bit. Luckily nothing broke (on me or the trimmer, just a big lump and a disappointing lack of bruising...)
Then it was Monday and back to work. Yippee.
No exercise but J made some cracking curries for tea, so that ended the day on a high.
Today? Work and a bit of coach Troy. Oh, I've missed you, you cheesy American dude with shorts pulled up to your armpits, oh I've missed you...
Saturday, 22 January 2011
A food interlude...
Courtesy of Delia, this is one of my absolute favourite cold weather comfort food recipes.
I believe it isn't technically a risotto, because it is baked, but do you know what, it's easy to make and tastes fab so I really don't care. I hope you get round to trying it some time and enjoy it as much as we do.
Mmmmmm.
Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6, 400°F (200°C)
I believe it isn't technically a risotto, because it is baked, but do you know what, it's easy to make and tastes fab so I really don't care. I hope you get round to trying it some time and enjoy it as much as we do.
Mmmmmm.
Roasted and Sun-dried Tomato Risotto
Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6, 400°F (200°C)
For the roasted tomatoes:
1.5lb (700g) tomatoes
1 dessertspoon olive oil
1 fat clove garlic, chopped
Basil leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the risotto:
2 level teaspoons sun-dried tomato paste
4oz (110g) sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1oz (25g) butter
1 red onion, finely chopped
8oz (225g) risotto rice
10 fl oz (275ml) dry white wine
2oz (50g) parmesan, freshly grated
1 tablespoon double cream
Slice each tomato in half and put halves on a roasting tray, then season. Sprinkle olive oil, followed by and top each one with half a basil leaf dipped in oil first to get a good coating.
Put in oven and roast tomatoes for 50-60 minutes or until the edges of the tomatoes are slightly blackened. Remove them from the oven and then put the dish in the oven to pre-heat it, reducing the temperature to 180°C first. Now put the tomatoes and all their juices into a processor and blend.
Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan and fry the onion for about 7 minutes until it is just tinged brown at the edges. After that, add the rice and stir to coat all the grains with the buttery juices. Now add the wine. Bring it up to boiling point, let it bubble for a minute then add the tomato paste and 12 fl oz (330 ml) boiling water. Give it all a good stir, season with salt and pepper and then add all the processed tomato mixture plus the sun-dried tomatoes. Stir again and bring it just up to simmering point, then transfer the whole lot to the warm dish, return the dish to the oven and, using a timer, give it 35 minutes. (I have never cooked it for this long - more like 25 minutes, so do check it earlier)
After that stir in the grated Parmesan and give it another 5-10 minutes – what you'll have to do here is to bite a grain of rice to check when it's ready. It should be tender but still retain some bite.
1.5lb (700g) tomatoes
1 dessertspoon olive oil
1 fat clove garlic, chopped
Basil leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the risotto:
2 level teaspoons sun-dried tomato paste
4oz (110g) sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1oz (25g) butter
1 red onion, finely chopped
8oz (225g) risotto rice
10 fl oz (275ml) dry white wine
2oz (50g) parmesan, freshly grated
1 tablespoon double cream
Slice each tomato in half and put halves on a roasting tray, then season. Sprinkle olive oil, followed by and top each one with half a basil leaf dipped in oil first to get a good coating.
Put in oven and roast tomatoes for 50-60 minutes or until the edges of the tomatoes are slightly blackened. Remove them from the oven and then put the dish in the oven to pre-heat it, reducing the temperature to 180°C first. Now put the tomatoes and all their juices into a processor and blend.
Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan and fry the onion for about 7 minutes until it is just tinged brown at the edges. After that, add the rice and stir to coat all the grains with the buttery juices. Now add the wine. Bring it up to boiling point, let it bubble for a minute then add the tomato paste and 12 fl oz (330 ml) boiling water. Give it all a good stir, season with salt and pepper and then add all the processed tomato mixture plus the sun-dried tomatoes. Stir again and bring it just up to simmering point, then transfer the whole lot to the warm dish, return the dish to the oven and, using a timer, give it 35 minutes. (I have never cooked it for this long - more like 25 minutes, so do check it earlier)
After that stir in the grated Parmesan and give it another 5-10 minutes – what you'll have to do here is to bite a grain of rice to check when it's ready. It should be tender but still retain some bite.
Just before serving, stir in the cream and top each portion with shavings of Parmesan and any leftover basil leaves.
Fat Knacker Cheese Bimbo rides again...
So, Saturday already!
The week started well with a bit of coach Troy on Monday but after Sundays bike ride it took a lot to get my legs moving fast enough to get the heart rate up to a worthwhile rate. Still, I did it.
Wednesday started VERY early with a journey down to Reading. My legs were still tired from Sunday and Monday but I took my running kit with me. Then an evil colleague invited me out for a curry that evening. OH NO!!!!
But do you know what - I resisted the temptation, went for a 'run' and ate relatively healthily at the hotel.
The run was more of a waddle but I experimented with my style (ha haa!) and found that it was a lot easier and more comfortable to use a longer stride, but it tired me out a lot more quickly. More practise needed, I think. Still, that's another 2.5 miles done.
Thursday was another long day with a drive home from Reading. Tired tired tired. And I woke up with a really bad back - you know the sort where you get out of bed and do a great impression of the 'ascent of man' picture? So Friday was another lazy day.
Plus side though, I didn't have any wine on Friday night, I had a small vodka with fresh orange yet I woke with what felt like a hangover (and a bad back still). How's that work then? Not fair.
J cooked 'lazy pierogi'. It wasn't bad, but fairly stodgy, typical Polish fare. We might try it again, but J says we need to 'increase the cheese:stodge ratio'...
In related news, I ordered some scales last week and they turned up on Thursday. They're those fancy ones that measure your body fat %. Oh dear. I think my jokes about a camembert reinforced skeleton might not have been so far off the mark. Henceforth I shall be known as Fat Knacker Cheese Bimbo.
This may be my last post. Tomorrow I am going for a ride around Stanage/Houndkirk and Sallie has had her bike fixed and J seems to have regained his fitness so my short lived 'hill supremo' status is under threat.
There's been a lack of food related posts lately, so I'll post another recipe in a bit...
The week started well with a bit of coach Troy on Monday but after Sundays bike ride it took a lot to get my legs moving fast enough to get the heart rate up to a worthwhile rate. Still, I did it.
Wednesday started VERY early with a journey down to Reading. My legs were still tired from Sunday and Monday but I took my running kit with me. Then an evil colleague invited me out for a curry that evening. OH NO!!!!
But do you know what - I resisted the temptation, went for a 'run' and ate relatively healthily at the hotel.
The run was more of a waddle but I experimented with my style (ha haa!) and found that it was a lot easier and more comfortable to use a longer stride, but it tired me out a lot more quickly. More practise needed, I think. Still, that's another 2.5 miles done.
Thursday was another long day with a drive home from Reading. Tired tired tired. And I woke up with a really bad back - you know the sort where you get out of bed and do a great impression of the 'ascent of man' picture? So Friday was another lazy day.
Plus side though, I didn't have any wine on Friday night, I had a small vodka with fresh orange yet I woke with what felt like a hangover (and a bad back still). How's that work then? Not fair.
J cooked 'lazy pierogi'. It wasn't bad, but fairly stodgy, typical Polish fare. We might try it again, but J says we need to 'increase the cheese:stodge ratio'...
In related news, I ordered some scales last week and they turned up on Thursday. They're those fancy ones that measure your body fat %. Oh dear. I think my jokes about a camembert reinforced skeleton might not have been so far off the mark. Henceforth I shall be known as Fat Knacker Cheese Bimbo.
This may be my last post. Tomorrow I am going for a ride around Stanage/Houndkirk and Sallie has had her bike fixed and J seems to have regained his fitness so my short lived 'hill supremo' status is under threat.
There's been a lack of food related posts lately, so I'll post another recipe in a bit...
Monday, 17 January 2011
Preparing for a summer of pain
I managed to wheedle out of it last year but there is no escaping it now.
This year I WILL be riding the Mary Towneley loop (more info here) which is 47 off-road miles with over 2000m of ascent. That's going to hurt. And I'm doing this one for fun...
Then there's the Mountain Mayhem race. This one's not for fun, but for charity. Me and J are riding as part of a team of 10 to raise money for Sarcoma Trust. It's a 24 hour off road race. So far I don't know much more about it, but rest assured, I will be begging for sponsorship nearer the time.
Anyway, for both of these I am going to need to get fit. I am going to need to get very fit. (for me)
I need to work myself up to being able to ride 30 miles off road, easily, and riding for many hours in one go. Oh dear. I think it's going to take more than the beloved Coach Troy.
And do you know what? Actually, I am looking forward to both of these events. I will probably hate every minute of them at the time, but I imagine the sense of achievement is going to be bigger than anything I have ever done, and that rocks. :-)
This year I WILL be riding the Mary Towneley loop (more info here) which is 47 off-road miles with over 2000m of ascent. That's going to hurt. And I'm doing this one for fun...
Then there's the Mountain Mayhem race. This one's not for fun, but for charity. Me and J are riding as part of a team of 10 to raise money for Sarcoma Trust. It's a 24 hour off road race. So far I don't know much more about it, but rest assured, I will be begging for sponsorship nearer the time.
Anyway, for both of these I am going to need to get fit. I am going to need to get very fit. (for me)
I need to work myself up to being able to ride 30 miles off road, easily, and riding for many hours in one go. Oh dear. I think it's going to take more than the beloved Coach Troy.
And do you know what? Actually, I am looking forward to both of these events. I will probably hate every minute of them at the time, but I imagine the sense of achievement is going to be bigger than anything I have ever done, and that rocks. :-)
Sunday, 16 January 2011
So, how'd we manage that then?
How can you plan a circular bike ride yet have a head wind all the way round? Who knows, but we managed it anyway.
Today, while J was off 'enjoying' himself at the Natural History Museum with 460 children, me and Heather decided it would be a good idea to go for a bike ride. In fairness we decided this last week, but the decision was made so there was no way it wasn't going to happen. Not even if there was rain and high winds. That's lucky then, because we had both in spades...
I have to say though, good old Coach Troy has done some magic on my legs. I managed to grind up some of the hills at a decent speed, rather than spinning them all as I usually do. Gives me a bit more faith in the turbo training regime. :-)
The route clocked in at 20 miles (32 km for you metric freaks) with about 550m of ascent. Not huge but with the 25mph winds and the rain it was blooming tough.
As an aside, why do I record distance in miles but ascent in metres? Odd.
Here's a pic of me an Heather after the ride. It isn't a pretty picture but I think you can tell just how knackered we were:
I have just collected J from Sheffield station. To say he looked knackered is something of an understatement. I think I got the best deal this weekend, despite the pain.
So anyway, this weeks tally is 3 x 50 minute hard turbo sessions and a 3+ hour ride today. Not bad really.
Today, while J was off 'enjoying' himself at the Natural History Museum with 460 children, me and Heather decided it would be a good idea to go for a bike ride. In fairness we decided this last week, but the decision was made so there was no way it wasn't going to happen. Not even if there was rain and high winds. That's lucky then, because we had both in spades...
I have to say though, good old Coach Troy has done some magic on my legs. I managed to grind up some of the hills at a decent speed, rather than spinning them all as I usually do. Gives me a bit more faith in the turbo training regime. :-)
The route clocked in at 20 miles (32 km for you metric freaks) with about 550m of ascent. Not huge but with the 25mph winds and the rain it was blooming tough.
As an aside, why do I record distance in miles but ascent in metres? Odd.
Here's a pic of me an Heather after the ride. It isn't a pretty picture but I think you can tell just how knackered we were:
I have just collected J from Sheffield station. To say he looked knackered is something of an understatement. I think I got the best deal this weekend, despite the pain.
So anyway, this weeks tally is 3 x 50 minute hard turbo sessions and a 3+ hour ride today. Not bad really.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
It's do or dye
The hair dye saga has finally come to an end. Phew.
I applied a lovely mid-brown on Monday and I now have very shiny brown hair with not a hint of pink. Never thought I would be so pleased to have normal coloured hair.
Okay, I promise, no more bimbo posts for a while. Or until I do my next stupid thing - whichever is first.
As for exercise? Hmmm. It's been a bit sparse. All I can say is God Bless Coach Troy Jacobson - that's the man who, according to J, just shouts "3,2,1 and soft pedal" over a 80's porn soundtrack. I suppose to the non-pedaller that is a fairly accurate assessment - there is a lot of garish lycra and sweating.
I have been on a few times since my last update for a 50 minute torture session each time but yesterdays really took the biscuit. 4 sets of: 15 secs at 95% effort, 15 at 97.5% and 15 at 100%, 15 seconds 'recovery'. 15 SECONDS??? 15 minutes might have been more helpful. Wow! My legs were like jelly - it's a good job that was the last bit. And I am really going to have to try to curb my instinct to vomit when I try hard...
And sweat?? I didn't know the human body contained that much 'spare' water!
I am pleased to say however that on Sunday, when my lucky lucky husband is away spending the night at a very cool museum, I am going for a bike ride. A real one - outside and everything. :-) And do you know what, I can't wait.
I will post photos at the beginning of Feb, because that's probably when I will get round to writing my next post. I'm sorry...
Bye for now.
I applied a lovely mid-brown on Monday and I now have very shiny brown hair with not a hint of pink. Never thought I would be so pleased to have normal coloured hair.
Okay, I promise, no more bimbo posts for a while. Or until I do my next stupid thing - whichever is first.
As for exercise? Hmmm. It's been a bit sparse. All I can say is God Bless Coach Troy Jacobson - that's the man who, according to J, just shouts "3,2,1 and soft pedal" over a 80's porn soundtrack. I suppose to the non-pedaller that is a fairly accurate assessment - there is a lot of garish lycra and sweating.
I have been on a few times since my last update for a 50 minute torture session each time but yesterdays really took the biscuit. 4 sets of: 15 secs at 95% effort, 15 at 97.5% and 15 at 100%, 15 seconds 'recovery'. 15 SECONDS??? 15 minutes might have been more helpful. Wow! My legs were like jelly - it's a good job that was the last bit. And I am really going to have to try to curb my instinct to vomit when I try hard...
And sweat?? I didn't know the human body contained that much 'spare' water!
I am pleased to say however that on Sunday, when my lucky lucky husband is away spending the night at a very cool museum, I am going for a bike ride. A real one - outside and everything. :-) And do you know what, I can't wait.
I will post photos at the beginning of Feb, because that's probably when I will get round to writing my next post. I'm sorry...
Bye for now.
Friday, 7 January 2011
I think I must be ill...
It's the only explanation. I was actually really keen to 'do something' today.
I was going to go for a joglet but the snow put paid to that - J went out in the car earlier, intending to go to town, but was back 10 mins later saying the roads were just treacherous. No way I am trying to run in that!! I am hampered enough as it is.
So it was turbo time instead.
Does it sound weird to say I am actually starting to enjoy my turbo sessions?
I have a 'spinning' video with lots of not so beautiful and not so skinny people in it, which is actually fairly motivating. It's a really long vid and there's no way I can do the whole thing in one go, so I just pop in at a random point and do as much as time allows from that point on...
Today however, I actually chose the middle section because I knew it had a lot more <ahem> 'hill work' in it.
Having someone telling you what to do - albeit a little man on a computer screen - and when to change gear, get your arse off the sadde, pedal harder etc does make for a better workout.
Anyway, I had fun and it scratched that itch that I was surprised to have. Cool.
Now, the hair... Hmmm
There is still a lot of pink left in there - there's a bit too much and it makes the brown look a funny colour. It's not a good look. Still, I have a lot of hats so that's okay.
And I have a couple more tricks up my sleeve. (not including J's kind offer)
So, 50 minutes of pedalling with HR average 162, max 184 - I tried VERY hard today (my theoretical max is 182!!) - and allegedly 750 calories burned.
Pizza for tea. :-)
(really, but home made so pretty healthy too)
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Lucky dip hair
Okay, this is definitely a 'bimbo' post.
No exercise today (so far) as I had chores to do at lunchtime including shopping, disposing of a mouse and trying to bleach the red/pink out of my hair.
So, one mega blonde application later and it's less Ulrika Jonsson and more Ginger Spice in her heyday (but not in a good way).
Hmmm, gingery hair with some tired looking red bits - not a good look. How to deal with it?
J kindly offered to cut my hair for me, but it'd have to be REALLY bad for me to go with that, so I am currently sitting waiting for the next dye to cook - going for a mid brown this time. Wonder if my hair will melt/fall out - guess I'll find out in about 30 minutes. Maybe my pink wig won't have been such a silly purchase afterall.
On the plus side, I got some lovely chunky cable-knit wrist warmers today and I painted my nails a nice shade of 'almost black'.
Yep, definitely chanelling the bimbo vibe today.
Normal service will (may?) be resumed tomorrow.
In the meantime, here is a pretty picture...
No exercise today (so far) as I had chores to do at lunchtime including shopping, disposing of a mouse and trying to bleach the red/pink out of my hair.
So, one mega blonde application later and it's less Ulrika Jonsson and more Ginger Spice in her heyday (but not in a good way).
Hmmm, gingery hair with some tired looking red bits - not a good look. How to deal with it?
J kindly offered to cut my hair for me, but it'd have to be REALLY bad for me to go with that, so I am currently sitting waiting for the next dye to cook - going for a mid brown this time. Wonder if my hair will melt/fall out - guess I'll find out in about 30 minutes. Maybe my pink wig won't have been such a silly purchase afterall.
On the plus side, I got some lovely chunky cable-knit wrist warmers today and I painted my nails a nice shade of 'almost black'.
Yep, definitely chanelling the bimbo vibe today.
Normal service will (may?) be resumed tomorrow.
In the meantime, here is a pretty picture...
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
50 minutes of hell...
Okay, maybe not hell but I was never good at pedalling stood up and on a turbo trainer it is even worse.
I have been using a 'spinning' DVD and today I did the last 50 minutes of it. It is a 2 hour workout - I am never going to see the end unless I come in half way!
Todays particular brand of evil involved a lot of intervals including pretending to be pedalling up hills. This in itself is something of a novelty as I have only recently actually started pedalling up hills as opposed to walking.
Anyway, the HRM tells me I did 50 minutes with an average HR of 156. Not sure if that's good, bad or indifferent, but that's what I did.
My legs hurt now.
I have been using a 'spinning' DVD and today I did the last 50 minutes of it. It is a 2 hour workout - I am never going to see the end unless I come in half way!
Todays particular brand of evil involved a lot of intervals including pretending to be pedalling up hills. This in itself is something of a novelty as I have only recently actually started pedalling up hills as opposed to walking.
Anyway, the HRM tells me I did 50 minutes with an average HR of 156. Not sure if that's good, bad or indifferent, but that's what I did.
My legs hurt now.
Mmmmm, food.
Yeah, I'm here early today aren't I? That's because someone who shall remain nameless doesn't do 'getting up quietly' so I am wide awake but really don't feel like getting out of bed. It's all cold and I can hear the rain lashing on the window, so I thought I would cheer myself up with thoughts of food.
As threatened, here's the recipe for last nights tea.
The recipe is taken directly from http://www.domesticsluttery.com/ - one of my favourite websites. There are loads of other lovely recipes there for food and drinks and also lots of pretty stuff.
Anyway, food...
This recipe was quite a revalation because I HATE peeling squashes. They're all hard and dangerous. And it tastes lovely. And if you don't go nuts with the olive oil and you make your own tomato sauce (come on, it's not difficult!) it's pretty healthy too
Autumnal Squash, Mushroom & Chick Pea Roast (serves 4)
You'll need:
1 butternut or acorn squash
1 red onion
Olive oil
1 punnet of chestnut mushrooms
1 can of chickpeas
1 small jar of tomato sauce, I used Sacla stir-through pasta sauce because I happened to have some in the cupboard, but if you're feeling nifty you can make your own
Cut the squash in half and scoop out all the seeds and stringy bits with a spoon, discard the seeds. Cut into wedges - leave the skin on as it helps the wedges keep their shape and it's easy to scoop the flesh out at the table once it's cooked (you can even eat the skin if you fancy it).
Remove the skin and root from the onion and cut into wedges.
Put the squash and onion into a roasting tin, drizzle with oil and season with plenty of salt and pepper. Toss it around so it's covered in oil.
Roast for 45 minutes until nice and tender. The squash and onion should be nice and caramelised.
Clean the mushrooms and quarter them. Drain the chickpeas.
Add the chickpeas and mushrooms to the tin with the squash and onion. Shake it around and drizzle a bit more olive oil over if necessary. Roast for 10 more minutes.
Warm the tomato sauce in a pan, then stir through the vegetables.
It should look something like this and taste delicious:
Right, 45 minutes before I have to start work. I think I am going surfing. ;-)
As threatened, here's the recipe for last nights tea.
The recipe is taken directly from http://www.domesticsluttery.com/ - one of my favourite websites. There are loads of other lovely recipes there for food and drinks and also lots of pretty stuff.
Anyway, food...
This recipe was quite a revalation because I HATE peeling squashes. They're all hard and dangerous. And it tastes lovely. And if you don't go nuts with the olive oil and you make your own tomato sauce (come on, it's not difficult!) it's pretty healthy too
Autumnal Squash, Mushroom & Chick Pea Roast (serves 4)
You'll need:
1 butternut or acorn squash
1 red onion
Olive oil
1 punnet of chestnut mushrooms
1 can of chickpeas
1 small jar of tomato sauce, I used Sacla stir-through pasta sauce because I happened to have some in the cupboard, but if you're feeling nifty you can make your own
Make it!
Pre-heat the oven to 200c / Gas 6.Cut the squash in half and scoop out all the seeds and stringy bits with a spoon, discard the seeds. Cut into wedges - leave the skin on as it helps the wedges keep their shape and it's easy to scoop the flesh out at the table once it's cooked (you can even eat the skin if you fancy it).
Remove the skin and root from the onion and cut into wedges.
Put the squash and onion into a roasting tin, drizzle with oil and season with plenty of salt and pepper. Toss it around so it's covered in oil.
Roast for 45 minutes until nice and tender. The squash and onion should be nice and caramelised.
Clean the mushrooms and quarter them. Drain the chickpeas.
Add the chickpeas and mushrooms to the tin with the squash and onion. Shake it around and drizzle a bit more olive oil over if necessary. Roast for 10 more minutes.
Warm the tomato sauce in a pan, then stir through the vegetables.
It should look something like this and taste delicious:
Right, 45 minutes before I have to start work. I think I am going surfing. ;-)
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