Gym, Weddings and Cars

Wow, is it really a month since I posted on here? Slap hands.

So, what have I been up to? Well, the fitness thing is going slowly, I've had another routine review and my instructor has upped all my bits (so to speak) so that's good. And the big news is, my sister got married at the weekend! It was a lovely do, flippin cold while the photographer was doing his business but all the Christmas lights were on in town and it was very festive. She's now in Scotland with her new hubby, lord knows why as it'll be even more cold up there. So, I'm very happy that she's happy and I'm looking forwards to Christmas with my new brother-in-law.

Pete also was dragged along to the wedding and he didn't do too badly. He survived being grilled by my Aunties who single-handedly worked out our living and financial arrangements, he didn't hit my Dad when he drunkenly dropped Pete's camera, he smiled for all the photos (well, most of them), put up with me sticking glittery stars on his face all night (it seemed like such a good idea at the time) and also danced for at least 2 songs! Well done Pete, I'll turn you into a family-loving bloke in no time.

Other news, my mortgage has been reduced by 2% which means I should reach my saving goal (3 months salary) earlier than expected and be able to afford a new car in the New Year. I've had my current car for 6 years and it's getting on a bit so I thought it was time to treat myself. After looking around for deals (which aren't great) I've reduced the shortlist to 2 cars, a new Seat Ibiza (upgraded version of my current car) or a slightly used Ford Focus. It all depends on the finance deals available so I'll keep you updated on that one.

Getting Fit?

I've started trying to get fit. After being a member of Pulse 8 for almost a year and only managing to get there a couple of times a week with no real effect, I'm making a conscious effort to change my lifestyle for the better.

I've got a new gym routine and asked the instructor to make it quite challenging otherwise I'll get bored. I've been following it for a week now (been 4 times) and I can definately notice the difference already. Some of the machines are getting easier, for example, I do 15 minutes uphill walking at quite a brisk pace of 6kmph, today I managed to keep it at 6kmph for almost 9 minutes. My aim is to do the full 15 minutes by the end of next week as that's when I have to add to the incline and the speed.

My motivation? It's a combination of getting older and realising that being fit would be quite beneficial. I've started to notice the odd creak which is freaking me out as I didn't think I was that old (only 30). Also, it's a shift from the perpetual diet I seem to be on. Instead of watching what I eat and getting huge guilt trips when I fall off the dieting wagon, I'm trying to eat sensibly but my focus is now on fitness and not reducing my ass size. I'm hoping that that will be a side-effect but it's not the be all and end all. I've been a curvy lady for most of my adult life and I've finally worked out that I should accept it and enjoy it instead of wasting years planning for when I'm a size 10 (so not ever going to happen). Also, my lovely boyfriend Pete is a kind of fitness freak and started training seriously when he was 30, 2 years later he's very fit and actually enjoys knackering himself.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Back to Civilisation!

I'm back! Devon was fab, we were really lucky with the weather and only had one rainy day in seven. The cottage was so cute, very small (lounge, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom) but it had a little loft over the lounge which Pete made into his den. We had to cook on a oil burning aga which had no temperature control (the oven went up to 300 degrees and stayed there), it also heated the water and sounded like it was going to blow up whenever it turned itself on. The cottage was right next to a mill stream which was rather relaxing after we got used to the constant sound of trickling water.

We did loads of stuff, Eden project, walking on Dartmoor, trip to the beach at Dartmouth and a gentle meander around Totnes. Most afternoons we got back to the cottage and settled down with copious cups of tea and good books, when we'd read those we both started on the games (on DS and PSP). Evenings were spent cooking food and playing board games. I think Pete will agree that I totally whooped his ass on most games, which meant we had to keep playing until he won!

So now we're back, Pete wanted to get back and see how his bathroom was progressing (pretty good actually) and I wanted to see my little puddy cat but she still hasn't come home!

All in all a very good break, tomorrow I'm off to Nottingham for my sister's hen weekend - it's all go here.

Holidays here I come ....

Last day of work today for 11 days, yay!

Tomorrow I'm off to Thorpe Park to scare myself silly on all the rides, then on Saturday we're driving down to Devon for a week. We've rented a little cottage in the middle of nowhere and we're going to relax, go to Eden, go for walks and cook nice food.

It's ages since I've had a proper break and this is only the second holiday with Pete (first was a long weekend in Jersey in May). It's really nice to have someone to share stuff like this with, I've been single for far too long!

I'm really going to enjoy the next week and will probably start planning the next holiday very soon.