Newcastle trip

If any song can sum up this amazing weekend it has to be . . . .


First up right off the bat, it has to be noted to the whole world that one Miss Barratt is looking incredibly foxy. Mr Chaney you are one lucky guy! Nic - I now hold you in role model status in hopes that I get my fat ass back in gear on the getting in shape front.

As always I would like to thank my favourite 3 geordies for a really fantastic time and for sticking with me despite the fact I was a sniffy mess for most of the weekend. 

Any geordie weekend involves an ample amount of drinking, and this one kicked off with a large beer festival. I have to say I am rather impressed that I have now made two of these in a year. The main differences with this one was there was a seriously bigger amount of choice in the beer/cider front - excellent, live bands - oh yeah the halifax one was really lacking on that front! and there were no grumpy bearded yorkshire men telling me off for not adhereing to the correct beer ordering protocol. In fact there was nice geordie men, helpful geordie men as far as the eye could see. And there was Laura who is a LEGEND!!!!!

I now have my beer festival glass and programme souvinier happily displayed in Casa Rooni!

Some shopping was got in and then in full comeradeship with Jo, a viewing of the rather deletiable Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern was had. Naturally a through analysis and drooling session of Mr Reynolds had to follow. And some sexy pics featured on here - what kind of a blogger would I be if I didn't satifsify that aspect??????

Now I did try to find the one discussed with Jo in the proposal movie but failed miserably so this is for you girl. The next best thing!

Might I add HUBBA HUBBA HUBBA HUBBA HUBBA . . .. . . . . and I will post a review of the film.

Now you may recall my epic fail on the friend front a few blogs back in which I managed to be late wishing Nic a happy 30th. I naturally had to make amends to that this weekend so Nic and I became proper ladies. We went to the Hilton hotel and had an afternoon tea with Champayne. Because lets face it - we are ladies! and Nic deserved to be throughly spoilt.

Now as I know Becks will kill me without a proper low down on any kind of Cakeage here goes:

What we have here is Egg, Ham & Mustard crustless finger sarnies, Mini custard slices, mini Bannofee tarts and mini summer fruit tarts, fresh baked scones, strawberry preserves and clotted cream. I give the Hilton a 10/10 for presentation, 8/10 on taste (Sorry Im not really a mustard fan and I had to deduct 1 point for the summerfruits lol berries are not me) and 10/10 for service. I felt we were very well looked after.

The vanilla slices were yummy and the custard not too gloopy as you tend to get it from certain bakers around the hospital. The Banoffee tarts were scrumchous and the topping tasted almost marshmallowly which worked really well with the dulce de leche. And the scones were perfectly fluffy. All in all I would recommend afternoon tea here. Oh and one more thing . . . .

Cheers Darling!!!

The weekend culminated with a trip to Wickham. No geordie trip is complete without a trip to Wickham and this years was extra special as in all the time I have been visiting I have never once managed to view the infamous Corpse. This year I did. I still don't get the attraction but each to their own! I did however get to meet Mr Chaney, Nic's fella. Who was utterly charming, passed level 1 of the debs friends bloke test and managed his role as Hugh Hefner escorting 3 geordies and 1 yorkshire lass around Wickam with considerable ease.

Now what I didn't learn until yesterday is Michael is actually a musician, in fact quite a good one. Any of you who read regually know I don't tend to follow/talk about a lot of people and even less so on the musician front but you do all need to check him out especially the song Brainy girl which is very good

http://www.myspace.com/michaelchaneyuk

Oh and I have saved the best for last. My geordies gifted me with one of the greatest things known to mankind. I now own a "don't hassle the Hoff" t-shirt!"Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Muchous love and hugs and see you real soon for Halloween!
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My new secret guilty pleasure - Made in Chelsea

I am now six episodes in to this and although I know its scripted and scripted pretty badly I still love it. Bex at work thinks its quite weird that it would be my thing. I'm actually surprised that its my thing. I mean I never watched "The only way is Essex."

Anyway so far my favourite character has to be Ollie. Not cause I fancy him, but because he is kind of a sweetheart. These are the boys, Ollie is in the union jack clothing.

The chap in the middle is Fredrik, apparently a supermodel. He doesn't float my boat apart from his piano playing skills abilities. I suppose theres only room in my heart for one Icelandic hunk and thats True Bloods Eric.

Next to him on the left is Spencer who reminds me so much of Mr Morrisons in his ability to completely f£$^ up communication and come out of a situation worse pretty much every week then when he goes in it. In eps 1-6 we have been treated to this god awful love triangle between him, his girlfriend or ex now Funda and Caggie. And I am bored of that now!

To Freds right is Francis who I can't stand. He's really pompous. I know they are all supposed to be pompous being it a show about upper class in Chelsea daaaaaarling but he really gets on my tits. Firstly he seems to think he's gods gift to women and can manipulate them via subconscious suggestions or at least thats what I took away from one of the eps. Perhaps I misunderstood it wrong getting confused with the suggestions????? Watching him try to impress women in this show is just laughable. Secondly he's a prat. I mean who skateboards into a restuarent holding a rose in their mouth for a date and then falls off it. And if that wasn't his idea, who allows themselves to be filmed on tv skateboarding and falling off it in a restuarent??????? And last night both him and Frek both deciding to date his assistant. LOL I wonder how thats going to end? Hopefully she will have the sense to run off with the other bloke who invited her to Cann.

Hugo on the far right I am warming more and more too. He seems to be the one with the most common sense, bar the whole rosie/millie blip last week. Although I love the idea of him and millie and Im glad that came off last night as Im sorry but we all knew Caggie wasn't going to let Spencer sweep her off her feet last night.

So the girls:

At the back, Cheska and Binky (I kid you not. Someone nicknamed their daughter Binky) who are slightly annoying but you love to hate them as they are kinda of Ollies "and this is his own words" Witches. It works brillaintly and them taking photo's of him posing with carrots this week was pure genius!

Amber is in the pink skirted dress, not quite made my mind up about her yet. Rosie is next to her, and sorry lass but that whole hugo thing, what was the point???????? You fussed and huffed and got narked that Millie had him, Hugo came running to you and confessed he loved you and you threw him away like a dogs dinner. Mental!

In the middle - Caggie. Who is stunningly pretty, you get why Spencers mad for her but again what are you playing at? She does sing nice though and hopefully doing this may be a platform for her there.

Gabs is next. Ollies ex as he dumped her cause hes Bi-sexual. NO ONE saw that coming hehe. But I think shes lovely. She sings too. You can tell she geniuenly cares for Ollie. Probably the most truest on the show. I hope theres a nice happy ending for her. No Gabs last night so next weeks might be Gabs heavy. Who knows. I get the feeling she and Ollie aren't through though despite his detour in to man love.

And Millie at the front. I am liking her more and more I think. She had the guts to admit to Rosie something happened with Hugo and is going for it now. Good lass.

So yeah my new guilty pleasure - Made in Chelsea!

Camelot ep 1 review

Spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Gotta get that in as I keep getting told off at work for putting anything giving anything away on facebook.

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Okay presuming its safe now . . . . Camelot is a new 10 part reimaged telling of the King Arther stories on channel 4. Now I was a little wary knowing how much I actually love the BBC's Merlin but I watched the 2 hour preview and I have to say I loved it. Its a tad more adult - ok tad is the wrong word. Its very adult. It was almost at True Blood level if I am honest.

Differences to previous stories, Morgan le Fey is actually the legitimate daughter and Arther is the illegitmate son. Merlin took Arther as payment for changing Uther to look like the Duke of Cornwall and seduce his wife. Thats the same legends Im familiar with. Anyhoo, Morgan turns up after 17 years in a nunnery (NICE - you can understand somewhat why shes pissed!) and murders her father. She assumes the thrown.

Meanwhile Merlin gets the King before he dies to sign a document claiming parentage to Arther, goes and gets him from the foster family he left he with 20 years ago - Sir Hector. They journey back to an old ruined castle which they will make a new, better future for England. Yes you have guessed it - Camelot. All of Uthers knights followed Merlin so they are all there waiting.

Morgan meanwhile trys to have an alliance with a rather nasty prince Mott. That doesn't work out and we discover shes up to some pretty dark magic. Merlins on to that and warns her away. All through the two hours shes talking to something in the dark you can't see. At the end you do and its a wolf.

Arther meanwhile has to retrieve the sword in the stone, which in this imagining is actually in a waterfall. That was pretty cool. He pulls it out and falls in the pool below. Is rescued by the version of Lancelot whos name has been changed slightly. Both Arther and Merlin have a dream about Arther making sweet love with a blond on a beach who Arther later mets and you have guessed it - its Gwenivere. Nice twist later as she turns out to be the betroved of Lancelot - so off bounds to the now King. Hehe is that going to stop him??????

So yes it was pretty good, actors were very convincing. Ralph Fienes as Merlin was a stroke of genius. I like his portrayal so far. And will certainly tune in next week!

In other news I think I am starting to get to grips with some of the technics of music again. Its strange, I am working through this Alfred book and I know all this stuff from years back from my violin lessons but I can't quite remember it. So I am re-learning everything.

Also I now have another adopted goldfish - Bob.My boss gave me her old fish tank which is about 3 times bigger than my last one. All 3 fish seem to be settling in nicely!

Sometimes all you need . . . .

is to get back into a more positive mindset.

Like the last few weeks. Ive been a bit down. I lost my mojo. Allowed myself to get knocked off my game. Just had my second hypnotherapy class with Grant Saunders. Hopefully it will kick in. I certainly feel like something has shifted anyway.

Something a little more exotic, oh and trueblood season 3

New stuff I have tried = Dragon fruit. Which looks like:

 My brother and I took my gran shopping yesterday and saw this. Gareth decided to buy me one but instantly regretted it when we got to the till and discovered it was £1.50. Anyway I had to google it to figure out what you even did to get in it and it turns out it was pretty simple, just slice it in half to get this:

It was bizzare. You know when you go to one of those all you can eat chinese buffets and you get to the desserts and theres squares of jelly, ice cream, pieces of bizzare cake and then squares of stuff that isn't jelly but isn't cake and certainly isn't ice cream and you can only put it down as some sort of hardened moose with a blah flavour??? Well it was kind of like that. Slightly tart but weird chinese buffet square dessert thing I really can't identify with seeds in.

I bought and subsuquently have now caught up with trueblood season 3. I actually enjoyed it more than the last season although its a bit of a weird ending.  

SPOILERS!!!!
Look away if you don't want to know anything that happens in it now .................................


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So Sookie is a fairy and in her words - "how f£$king lame". Yeah there was this whole dream sequence in which she dances with the other fairies in this paradise world. No wings, no toadstools . . . . just shes a fairy and can shoot lightening out her finger and her blood is like crack to vampires.

Lafayet is shaping up to become I presume a witch, and theres another blond witch in Bon temp now who tried to help Arlene abort her baby.

Sam finds his family. They are mental. Not surprised, nothing goes right for him. He lets his brother work for him, who stabs him continously in the back and it ends with him firing a shot at his bro.

Tara's been through hell and back, morning eggs - seriously EGGS what a name and then she hooks up with a psycho vamp Franklin who kidnaps her and decides she will be his vampire queen . . .

Meanwhile the real Vampire queen - of Louisianna to be exact . . . . turns out she hired Bill to find sookie.

The Vampire King of Mississippi also gets in on the action and it turns out it was him who abducted Bill during his highly romantic proposal to Sook at the end of the last season. Amazingly Tara's psycho vamp takes her to the same place and with the help of a werewolf hired by Eric to help Sook they rescue him and escape.

During which Bill almost drains our fairy herione, Tara finally flips and kicks him out into the sun to burn and thats when the whole fairy blood lets Vamps walk in the sun revolation comes from as Bill does not die. Although the effect is temporary.

Anyhoo Eric meanwhile after a rather nice back naked shot in ep 1 ( it was worth the £20 just to perve on that!), it turns out he has a beef with the king and has been searching for him for a thousand years. So he seduces and kills the Kings boyfriend, setting everything up for a lovely finale in which Bill and Eric trick the king and he ends up buried in concrete for 100 years.

Sookie quite rightly fed up with the lot of them tells both vamps to take a hike and it ends with her joining the fairies. Well at least there was a little Sam and Tara to ship. He told her hes a shifter, she freaked again, cut her hair and has now buggered off. Oh and Jessica gets a happy ending in she and Hoyt get engaged and he buys a house but there was a clip of his crazy mother buying a gun LOL Have I missed anything ????? Jasons dating a werepanther . . . . . oh yeah theres not just werewolves, but werepanthers too!

The Apprentice ep 4

I am not warming to any of this lot yet. We are 4 weeks in and there all pretty crap. I intially thought in week 1 that susan had some nouse in that she claimed the price of the fruit salad was higher and then made out she had lowered the price to £2.50 when in fact that was the price they were selling at but this week she was annoying. Yeah you have a skin care business but you totally messed up selling the fake tan didn't you.

I did feel sorry for Tom is it? the guy Nick so nicely referred to as Mr calculator and notepad or something along those lines. He was the only one actually really thinking about stuff. He worked out the profits, made the very valuable point of they needed more than 1 treatment room and got totally ignored.  At least next week looks good. Hopefully some of them will buck up!

In other news Radio 2 today, awesome discussion on geese attacking people. Raised some discussion in the office, Bex has wisely deemed that if a Goose takes a dislike to you its good to have an engine of some sort so you can get out of there. I want to add some sort of body armour cause lets face it if one of those birds pecks you it isn't going to be pretty. I recon Im the sort of peron a goose would take a dislike too. Hell pigeons come over and freak me out so being chased by a frikking goose would no doubt be my luck. And the honking. Ouchies.

A belated happy birthday to my favourite geordie!

BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG APOLOGY!!!!!!!!!

I cannot believe I forgot Nics birthday.

I normally do fairly well on remembering birthdays and I think its just cause I have it in my head its June Im up in geordieland that I got the wrong month. Anyway I want to say SORRY to Nic. I know I am late and feel bad with it being your 30th. I did text her yesterday when I realised how dumb I had been and missed her birthday. I haven't had a reply. As such Im stepping up the apology the only way I know how. A stargate happy birthday tribute for my best geeky mate!!!


I ordered her pressie last night. I hope she will like it. Its quite big so I hope getting it on the bus up to Newcastle won't be a problem. Anyway, if your reading this and Im forgiven . . . . ..

Love ya and see you real soon XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Life in a man suit and something to consider

I would just like to share with anyone reading this, another blog that I am following. You can click the link on the right. Life in a man suit is a friend of my brothers who I have known for many many years. Reading through his backposts has not only been enjoyable but he puts me to shame a little. When I started this blog I envisioned I would be posting about some of the spiritual/paranormal stuff that interests me and I haven't done much of that. In fact I haven't even meditated for weeks.

However I did have some thoughts this week. Energy comes in good and bad forms, I think. I believe and have been told by many people over the years at spiritual fairs I have been too that I can sense energies. The most intense of these experiences was when I visited my friend Simon in Oxford and he took me to a musuem where there was a lot of Egyptian relics. I don't know what had gone down in the place where they had brought them from but the energy coming off those was . . . .  I can only describe it as frightening. I couldn't stay in that room. It was like something really dark and dangerous was trapped in those exhibits. Simon of course thought I was mad. Im not even sure if he will remember that experience as it was so many years ago but the experience of it stayed with me. When I go to the spiritual fairs the energy is amazing. Completely the opposite, I could sit in one of those all day long and feel happy as a cloud.

So I think that if you surround yourself with good people and good things, you reap the rewards of that. You have good energy. I am also coming round to the idea that it works both ways. If you surround yourself with negativity, selfishness and meaness. It brings you down.

So heres something beautful to bring you good energy today. Enjoy!

Eurovision song contest

So last night was one of my favourite times of the year. The song contest was held in Dusseldorf last night. Radio 2 were doing interviews live from there on Friday. Sounds an interesting place. The set was amazing. All the competing countries had these little pod like areas. My favourite was actually Iceland. I thought the song was lovely and the fact the band were singing in honour of their dead friend was beautiful too. They didn't win though.

Azerbaijan were crowned the victors last night with this song:


England - although sucking somewhat with Blues number did fairly respectfully. Especially so compared to last year. We got something like 13/14th place and 100 points.

However Jedward did admiraby in 8th place.

I have failed miserably on the running front this week only making it out 1 day. I need to rectify that this week and get back to 3 times a week. I also need to start swimming. However I haven't failed miserably on the trying new stuff front. I have tryed a different curry this week. Okay it made me very ill. My stomach immediatly rejected it but it was lush. So Im going to say worth the pain.

And Becks challenged me to serenade my goldfish. So I did, and I filmed it. I showed it a couple of people at work who thought it was hilarious but Im not sure about putting it up on here. So I pose it to you the readers. Do you want to see my (I am assured fairly in tune) rendition of your so vain?????? Leave a comment or click the poll if you want me to put it up.

Couch to 5K Week 7 Day 2

Great session this morning. The last 5 mins of my 25 min run were a little tiring but got through it. Its been 4 days since my last run, I missed Sundays due to the Mayfest so was a little worried about how this one would go but so far not aching too much. My distance is pretty much the say, just over 1.5 miles. At least I am consistent! One of the girls on the facebook couch to 5k has said shes re-doing the prog, jogging at a normal pace on the walk bits and trying to run faster on the run bits. So I am thinking I might try that too once im done to try up my speed.

More fantastic news, I passed my ILM offically. Which is great, no more homework and all my bosses decided to treat me. Bev got me a lovely bottle of rose wine, Kirsty some beautiful purple flowers and posh yesterday some lilies. Thank you ladies they are all lovely!

Also the AMAZING Rebecca Heywood got me a speciality sausage - chocolate and pork. For those of you who haven't read my blog todate then may I draw your attention to the Bonkers about bangers post. In the OD Admin office - We LIKE sausages. Sausage appreciation is high and only perhaps surpassed by Cake appreciation.

It actually had lumps of chocolate in it. When I pulled it out the oven melted chocolate had oozed out. It looked a tad disgusting so I didn't get a shot. It tasted nice. I don't think I would order a chocolate sausage above say pork and apple or something but it was delicious. It also counted for todays new blog section - What I learnt or tryed today!!!! A chocolate and pork sausage!!!!

Today is going to be a great day - new vlogbrothers vid blog out and the Apprentice starts tonight. I read chapter 1 of sir Alans book last night. He was so enterprising at such a young age, selling material scraps, fire lighters. No wonder he got to where he is. Respect where its due.

Nerdfighters

So I have spent some time today watching the Green boys vlogbrothers videos from the beginning. Yes I went to the very first upload in which the vlogbrothers started. Everything began 4 years ago, 2007 with something called Brotherhood 2.0. Hank and John decided to no longer communicate textually but by video only every other day back to each other. I am currently at April 12th.

If one of them accidently sends a textual communication they get punished. The punishments are good. John waxed his chin. Seriously he bleed. Twice. Also they set up a bank account fund called against world suck which all donations in it go towards charity. Well Im currently raising money for cancer research with my race for life sponsorship so I think I have for the moment got that quota covered. I don't think I have updated on that - so far £100 raised.

Anyway I think I am getting the gist of what you need to do to be a nerdfighter.

1. In a very specific video titled "how to become a nerdfigher" the first step is to figure out what kind of nerd fighter you actually are. For instance - John Green (the author brother) is an english literature nerdfighter. Hank however is a magic card game playing nerd fighter. Naturally this got me thinking what am I????? 

Then it hit me Im two kinds of nerdfigher overlapping each other. Firstly I get obsessed with certain books and tv shows (mainly of the sci-fi persuasion) to the point where I have a seriously spooky ability to quote and remember the most bizare things about said shows and I obsessively rewatch and read them. Like how many times have I read the harrypotter series. It can't be healthy but I love those books so much. Secondly in my love of trek over the years I also simm. So that makes me an obsessive scifi TV show/book lover and Trek simmer Nerdfighter. What a mouthful. I might have to acronym that to OSTSBLTSN.

According to Hanks video, step 2 of becoming a nerdfigher is you have to make up some song lyrics about you being a nerdfigher. A theme song if you will. That ones is going to take a little more consideration. There are quite a lot up on youtube so Im going to have a rumage through to gets some ideas there.

As I said I am now up to April 12th and what I have also learnt so far is being a Nerdfighter means - being fun and taking a leaf out of the eyes of a child for instance - i.e. it is cool to put things on your head. Easy, I can do that. I don't tend to do fun stuff, being a boring dedicated responsible caring friend/daughter/sister all the time and worrying about everything so perhaps thats an area I have been going wrong. I need to do more mad fun stuff. Lets give it a shot.

Also you have to be a role model to others but in interesting ways and have a happy dance. Well Im sure I have one Ive just not really clocked that I have one. So now I need something to make me supremely happy and realise that I am dancing so I can suss out my happy dance.

Finally it seems you should be working on challenges. For instance Hank did the song every week one. So I am going to set myself a challenge, not just because I want to feel part of this whole project awesome thing but also as Im fed up of just coming home, sitting down and having the same evening every evening as Im not in a relationship, being excluded and have nadda money.

This challenge is to make my life more interesting and it is to either learn something new or do something new and report back on it everytime I do a new blog post. Hence forth a new section on this blog will be born - the what I did today part, inspired by the vlogbrothers. It can be little things like learn how to order a beer in japanese or bigger things like I don't know cook french toast - which Ive never tried. Just new things to try and you never know I might find something Im really good at or enjoy very much and it take me in a whole new direction.

So my first what I did today:

I have decided to read a different kind of book. I always read scifi or self help - not that the self help is getting me very far lmao. Anyway in excitment of the Apprentice starting again on Tuesday I have decided I will read an autobiography. A proper autobiography - as much as I love the Hoff one I own it was fun and cheesy. No this time a proper serious rags to riches autobiography. So I am going to read Sir Alan Sugars. Now I realise it will probably take me a while to get through it as looking at it now its quite thick. So this will be an ongoing what I did today. I will have try do a chapter everyday or something. BUT its a start.

I open comments up for suggestions of stuff that I can try and do.


Peace out

Mayfest - Mmmmmm beer!

So yesterday I did something that I haven't done in a really long time. A full day session - drinking with the girls. The day kicked off with a full English breakfast from Shaws - I figured I ought to line my stomach, especially as I don't tend to drink beer. Then I met up with Debbie and Louise and we went down to the head of steam and met up with everyone else, got a train to Halifax and onto the beer festivel.

We were expecting it to be 21c and glorious. It was warm but not sunny, so we stayed inside the arts centre. At first it seemed like there were a lot of bearded older yorkshire men, but as time went on a few hottie halifax men appeared. We gave them names like Jewish nosed guy. I text Vern a few times 1 to make sure he wasn't coming - he wasn't -  no surprises the PS3 needs fixing after all and 2 to try get a nice location for a curry - however we ended up going back to huddersfield any way by that point and went to the cinnamon lounge.

Called in on Simon at Legacy comics. Introduced a couple of the girls to the world of comics. I will make geeks of them yet!!! It was free comic day so we got a sticker each, you can't see the writing close enough but its says "I got a free comic today". For my part I did tell everyone who asked me about my sticker back at the Mayfest about how great Simons comic shop is. But then the worst thing happened, I managed to lose my brand new Thor comic and 2 free comics at the Mayfest. Conclusion - Beer and comic books is not a good combination. Lesson learnt. Do not buy comics when at a beer festivel!!!!

I also managed to scare Verns photographer friend I think. I have him linked on here as Hellbelly my fav photographer. Now that is because I really like his work. Not just the fantastic geeky shots of doctor who and stuff but the city shots and portrait ones he does are really good too. Anyway he was at Legacy and I said hi and was sort of trying to tell him that I liked his work but I think he heard, "stalker!!!!!" which wasn't my intention. Anyhoo check out his website as he does do great pictures.

I cruised along most of the afternoon at what I can only describe as the optimum drunken level. Not to drunk you do anything daft but just merry. Sampled 3 beers and several ciders and perrys. I've lost the programme - it was in the bag with the comics - sobs but one was called cunning stunt. I think that was my favourite one. Anyway we chatted and chilled and it was a good day. I think Louise had a good birthday. I bought her a badge!!!And she wore it all day. Good sport!

Heres a nice one of me and the binnsmeister. Complete with my "I got a free comic today" sticker.

The twins, louise and her friend Gemma complete with Jewish nose guy in the background, and Debbie and Jenny. ..

We enjoyed it so much we are already making plans for the Huddersfield October Fest. And I have the one in Newcastle in June when I go up and stay with Nicky and the Geordies.

Woke up this morning and no hangover. Even better! To be fair the curry probably helped and I did get to bed at a decent hour. Although, I didn't manage to get up for a jog. So todays plan, major tidy up as I am getting a bigger fish tank on monday and need to move stuff around to accomodate it. I think I will have room for some more fish too :0)  And potentially mum and dads for tea later.

Interestingly I have been checking the stats on here and to date my Thor review is the most viewed entry. In fact I traced back one of the sources of bringing people to my blog yesterday and someone has put my review up on a message board with a link to download it. Never expected that but wow I guess people must be liking what I write as 3 people had downloaded it. So I will have to keep reviewing TV and films. I just really wish more people would comment and follow me. Come on click the comments link!!!!! The comments are working now.

Happy birthday Hank and C25K Week 7

So in my earlier blog I mentioned I had stumbled across and subscribed to the vlogbrothers who are awesome. My first round of video subscriptions this week and its one of thems birthday. Hank I just want to say Ive only known about you guys for a week, want to be a nerdfighter - not sure how I go about it yet so am slowly combing through your 800 plus vids to work that one out, hence why there isn't a dollar for charity or a cool homemade card/knitted rocket/cute mini hank figurine from me although wow these nerdfighter people are amazing!!!

I hope this year a belated Happy Birthday  will be okay. As this blog is a new thing for 2011, you are only the 3rd person to get a birthday mention and the only person I don't actually know in real life! Now Im not clever with technology and I can't play guitar yet . . . . although I am considering learning inspired from your song videos. So I selected a rather cool youtube vid by someone called ffogfogg (cool name) for you.



Honestly whats cooler than a giant robot singing happy birthday and giving you a flower ehh! Also muchos congrats on beating portal two!

More awesome news in the running form. Week 1 day1 of couch to 5 k was nailed yesterday morning. And the most fantastic thing is I don't seem to be hurting as much now doing these longer runs and if it couldn't get any better I can now fit back into my incredibly comfy denium crop trousers and my legs are looking a lot more toned. All this exercise is now starting to pay off. Que I know what Im wearing to the beer festival today!

Couch to 5k Week 6 Day 3

Jogged for 25 full minutes. Yes Im still slow but I managed about a mile and a half non stop. Knees are killing now like. Just hope they recouperate ready for the next stab at doing 25 mins. People on facebook being very positive and encouraging. Esp. the couch to 5 k page. Big thanks to all them. Everytime I go on I keep trying to encourage people too.

Thor review - Don't read if you haven't seen or are planning to see the movie

So if you don't know it already, this year is the year of the Avengers. For all of you like me not so up on superheroes bar Batman which I read about to try impress someone once, the Avengers are pretty much the Marvel version of the Justice League - so I am led to understand. As such a big movie is coming out next year including all the following superheroes:

• Thor
• Hawkeye
• Iron man
• Black Widow
• Captain America
• Nick Fury
• The Hulk
• Thors evil trickster brother Loki

Not sure if I have missed anyone there or not. But all this year as I understand it there are standalone movies for members of the Avengers. Thor being one that I viewed today. Now as mentioned earlier I did not intially go to see it because Im into superheroes. Oh no. I saw a trailer and being the gal that I am, thought bloody hell hes particually gorgeous I must see this movie. And I was rewarded with this:

Yum! Sorry guys I know if your still reading your shaking your head about now.

To the review. Thor tells the story of the Son of Odin, King of Asguard (another realm to you and me). The Asguardians have in the past saved humanity from these other beings called the Frost kings who tryed to invade Earth. This was back in viking times and they are the beings that we mistook as gods and became the legends we have today.

It kicks off with Thors dad showing kid Thor and his brother Loki the source of the frostkings power that he took off them and then flips to where they are grown up and Thor at this point in his life, arogant, rude and drunk on power, itching for war is about to be crowned the successor BUT an attack from the frostkings stops that. Thor insists he wants to go kill all of them so they can never threaten the kingdom again. His wiser father is against it so decides he's not ready to be king after all.

So Thor decides to take things into his own hands, convinces all his mates to go to the frostkings realm and kicks some butt. His father has to come rescue them, gets them home, gives them a royal good telling off and decides to banish his son to Earth to teach him a lesson. He strips him of his power - the hammer but send that through to Earth also enchanting it so he can have it back when hes learnt a lesson and is worthy again.

Queue Natalie Portman - a physics scientist person who runs Thor over. The Hammer follows and the US government go all secret agency x-files on it, build a base round it and confiscate all Natalies research into gateways/wormholes. Thor decides to break into the complex and after a good action scene where he kicks some butt and get rained on (again quite nice Chris Hemsworth all wet :0) - sorry guys!) Junior Odin discovers he cannot wield the hammer.

Meanwhile Thors brother Loki it seems has been rather naughty and jealous of Thor being the heir arranged the attack. He then discovers and it was a nice twist - that he is in fact a frostking. Daddy Odin rescued him as a baby back in the war and decided to bring him up as his own. Angry, hurt and particually stupid, his fathers health fails somewhat when they argue and Loki assumes the throne while Daddy Odin is healing up. He visits Earth and tells Thor that their father is dead and he can never come back as its a term of keeping the peace with the frostkings.

Natalie gets her friend to break Thor out of jail and they start to fall for each other - who wouldn't. Come on Chris Hemsworth is a smoking hottie. Good on you Natalie. Meanwhile Thors mates back on Asguard realise Loki is up to no good and leave to go rescue Thor. They reunite on Earth and pissed, Loki sends some weird large fire breathing robot thing to kill his brother once and for all. It looked like Loki was winning, he sent poor Thor flying and then stomped off intending to go back home again when Natalie pretty much professes her love for the norse god and suddenly Thor is worthy of his hammer again. It flys back in his hand, he gets his groove back and knocks the crap out of the robot.

The Asgaurdians then return back to sort Loki out. It climatise in a cool show down in which Thor has to break the bridge that allows travel effectively cutting off his way back to Natalie and Loki falling down to some presumable horrible fate but as I know hes in the avengers film - he's not dead lol. Natalie meanwhile is now heading up the US government research on portels and stuff and as Thor is also in the avengers film, que a nice reunion for both next year.

Likes: the asguard landscapes and Frostking realms was stunningly good. As previously mentioned Half naked beefed up Chris Hemsworth and generally the fact he got to kick ass. Story was fairly predicable bar the Loki twist which I enjoyed actually.

Niggles: If they had all that superior magic and tech on Asguard - why need a horse to get to the end of the bridge? Also Thor can fly. Thor also seemed to magically over night realise the error of his ways and suddenly become this decent honorable guy. Seemed to fast to me. He fell in love with Natalie pretty darn quick as well. Why did Thor not fly and rescue his brother at the end. He can fly yet was hanging there and had to be rescued by his dad.

C25K Week 6 Day 2

Much much much better. I mean Im still plodding at a snails pace but I'm plodding. Not sitting down and doing nought. Today I jogged 2 intervals of 10 mins. The first 10 mins was uncomfortable. I tryed to go abit faster I think and I could really feel my legs from the last session and thats on top of giving myself an extra day to recooperate.

The second jog I slowed my pace and it felt a lot lot lot better. I really must be a penguin runner. I felt so much better in fact that after Laura had talked and announced the cool down was over I did another couple of mins extra and jogged home. On some different surfaces - pavement and woodchip path. Still a slow pace but for the first time I jogged to my door. Anyway I don't know what I did wrong on thursday morning but my legs are feeling okay now.

The plan is to go see the film Thor this afternoon with Ames, so I will walk down to the cinema - nice 30 min walk. Yesterday I went to the white rose centre with mum and tryed on some summer dresses. Happy to announce I am fitting almost in normal high street shops size 20. Just having so issues round the chesticals area. Dam boobs. Why do you have to be so big!!!!!  Still have a long long long way to go weight wise but it made me happy that I could pick a size 20 dress up in BHS/Debenhams/Dorothy Perkins and get in it.

Im also feeling a lot more positive today now. I didn't manage to do anything with someone last night to take my mind off stuff, so was sat there getting miserable about that friend not giving a shit about me. Had a little cry and I wrote my first poem. Im not going to put it up on here as it was depressing but I guess I needed to get that emotion out.

DFTBA

"Why are pirates pirates?" Because they failed at Ninja school - LOL

"All books sound better if you add the words "in your pants" at the end of the title - this it true. I tryed it with 3 books randomly this morning. "Synthesis "in your pants", "Yorkshire Dialect classics "in your pants" and "Research methods "in your pants!!!!"

What happens inside a blackhole? We don't really know but Scientists believe that being inside a blackhole is a great way to feel special as your guarenteed to be a singularity. - Physics humour !!!

I never thought I would say this but I may have found two people who are almost at Wheaton stature.  Yes this morning I subscribed to another youtube channel. It doesn't happen very often. Im quite selective of who I come back and watch regually but these two blokes appealled to me immediatly from the Pirate/Ninja comment alone. Question fridays, song tuesdays - I'm there. So check out Vlogbrothers channel.



I woke up with a total hankering to be geeky. To connect with my nerd roots. Queue the arrival of my monthly SFX magazine most awesomely featuring the delicous Ryan Reynolds as the green lantern on the front cover. Naturally that prompted me just having to wear my pink lantern ring.

I did my usual flick to the development hell page and see what movies might be coming out. Bill and Ted 3 - how awesome would that be? Then I went to the page where people write in and ask what something they can vagually remember reading or watching is and try to guess it before reading the mags answers. Failed miserably today . . . . and then stumbled upon the vidolink best of youtube. That led to me checking out the Doctor the Vampire Slayer effort and then I stumbled upon the vlogbrothers. Consquently its making me want to learn guitar again but I gave mine to my brother for Sophie for xmas. So that means I would have to buy one again.

Anyway this got me to thinking I really need to do something geeky. I haven't been to a geekfest in years or a memorbillia or ought like that. Its needs rectifying. So I will have to look around for something to attend.

I also have to go see Thor. Going to try talk Amy into it today or tommorow. Today would work better as I know I need something to take my mind off the fact someone who doesn't give a shit about me would have been coming round to watch DVD's tonight.

That aside the plan is to attempt week 6 day 2 tommorow. Two intervals of 10 minutes jogging. It can't go any worse that day 1. I think my legs are pretty much back to normal again now. Allowed myself an extra days rest. And I can try channel all my upset and pissedoffness at sed mentioned person earlier into the run. Fingers crossed.

Anyway Im going to sign off now but theres one last thing I have to do for my sister.


Peace out folks.

Hungover musings

So I felt pretty wretched this morning. That dam home made apple wine. When will I ever learn???? I was fine on the rose stuff but as soon as I had some of the apple it made me loopy. However muchos water, a huge cup of tea and a hearty breakfast ( I actually used my pamperchef tray bake and did the breakfast - 2 sausage, 2 bacon and eggs all in one go in the oven). Im starting to feel human again. May need another cuppa.

So Sahra did a good job last night and the Ann Summers was fun, except the getting drunk part and reverting to my usual form - sending naughty texts to someone I shouldn't (but in my defence . . .he sends them back. It takes two!!) and getting upset about another man who I really need to learn not to be bothered about at all as clearly from his silence over the last 10 days he doesn't give a shit about me. Actually in all honesty he doesn't give a shit about me as a friend even and the last two years I really shouldn't have bothered at all. So this is my new thing now, Im only making an effort with people who make an effort back.

The good news is that my cheesecake and buns went down very well both with the girls last night and Becks and the rest of the office yesterday. Stupidly I didn't get a photo of the buns or sample them - but Sahra took several home with her so they must have been okay. Heres the cheesecake though:

It was lush. The best thing I have ever managed to successfully create and something I would definitely make again.

So Matt suggested checking Scott Cunningham out in his blog the other day. As I have no money I think I might see if the library has some of his stuff for a read. I've never really been that into Wicca - I remember Matt telling me years ago I had energy and I should learn to harness it and all these people I have had readings off over the years all seem to say the same thing, that I can sense energy and need to work with it for healing. The bloke I saw at the last fair with Amy really stressed it. In fact he said he would be seeing me again and to get into tarot. However as he doesn't want to help me down that line (after being told to contact him with any questions - he replied to one email that he would get me some information and now is just not bothering to reply at all) I guess Im on my own.

Well lets face it in all aspects of my life I am always on my own. My sister told me last week I was the strong one - well this is why!  Nobody ever gives me the answers or sticks around. They bob into my life, give me a brief view of something brilliant, inpart some tiny seed of knowledge and then disappear again. The ones I think appear in my life to help me apparently are more lessons to be learnt - crystal skulls (Still trying to suss out that one), Angels, the american, the bloke I shouldn't have text last night, this keith bloke with the tarot. Im sure if I see him at the November fair I will be informed he didn't come back to me as its in my plan that I had to stumble upon it myself. He was only meant to plant a seed or something. I would meditate on it but I know that if my subconscious inner soul part hasn't revealed it to me in the last 10 years its not going to reveal any part of the life plan to me today. But yes diverting away here. I should check out Scott Cunningham.

You know what thinking about it thats probably why this song resonates with me, torments me and gets under my skin so much.


So Im being really sad and cruel today. Sad as I have bbc news on and am following the ongoing coverage of the royal wedding. I don't need to do that, could just watch the wedding when thats aired at 11.30am not all the interviews with the crowds and stuff. I want to say congrats to Prince William and Catherine. Ive always had a soft spot for him. He was one of my first crushes and to some extent still is. I think he's turned out very down to earth, caring and decent which in todays world its very easy to let things go to your head and not listen to or care about people. Instead from everything Ive seen he makes time for people, raises money for charities, and actually does a decent job - helicopter rescue. So the best of luck to you both.

I'm feeling cruel as Im considering some radical character development for the Trill character I write on USS Voltaire. I may kill her husband off. Purely to make it easier to interact with some of the other players. Neil - the captain bloke awhile ago suggested having the husband ordered to another ship as it would allow my character to develop and interact better and I didn't want too but now a couple of months down the line and getting to know the players better maybe I should have done it.

I think, in all honesty I wanted to keep my character Mel as close to the Mel I had on the USS Dark Phoenix when I went back into simming. As the phoenix doesn't seem to be any nearer to getting resurrected at all and now her last remaining link to the Phoenix (Naois and Valeia - who were on the Voltaire and one of the reasons I decided to get back into simming as I love working with Judy. Hell we simmed together on the Phoenix for a 5 year block) have also gone its time to fly solo properly. Judy is still there anyway just playing a different character.

Anyway Prince Williams just arriving so Im going to be patriotic and stop trying to suss out the meaning of life and watch him get married.

Ch ch ch changes . . . . and c25k update

So those of you returning back you may notice I have changed the design. This is purely as I discovered from my friend Matt last night that the template I was using from Pyzam didn't seem to allow comments. So I feel like a total idiot as I have been writing on here for ages - Please comment and no one actually could. So sorry about that. Its all fixed now.

Anyway, I feel awful this morning. Really struggled on my C25K session. Theres a number of reasons why I suppose. First up I didn't sleep to well. I kept waking up most of the night. Also it was cold. There was a frost. Seriously after all the nice weather we have had lately this morning a frost.

Boys look away . . . . . .

 Also its that time of the month so I had that pain on top . . . . .

Guys its safe again!!!!! and I think I was dehydrated abit too if I think about it. Todays session was to run 5 mins, walk 3, run 8, walk 3 and run 5. Perhaps I was alittle cocky as having nailed the 20 mins 2 days ago I thought it would be easy but no it wasn't. The first 5 weren't too bad. The 8 mins, my calfs were aching like mad and the last 5 mins I think have got to be the slowest Ive ever jogged. So yeah after a few really great sessions a not so brilliant one this morning.

Todays agenda - bake some lemon buns and frost all the chocolate ones ready for tonight. I also promised to bob into work and take some yummies in. Becks bless her always brings baking in, so it will be nice to treat her for a change. I might walk back from Lindley get that extra 3 miles in, depending on how my legs hold out hehe

Then tonight its Cheles Ann Summers Party. I haven't been to one of these in a long time and its my mate Sahra who's the consultant. Good luck Sahra! I know shes feeling alittle nervous as she put something up on Facebook. But your going to be fine honey. 

Baking

So first up a big hello to my third follower - my old friend from Uni. Love ya. Big hugs

So today I had a mass bakeathon for my friend Cheles Ann Summers party tommorow. Using my fabulous Hummingbird bakery book I made a caramel hazelnut cheesecake and some chocolate fondant cupcakes.

These aren't decorated. Also I the cheesecake isn't burnt. It has a layer of chocolate on top but I didn't manage to spread it well. I'll try get some pics of the decorated ones tommorow.

Starting couch to 5 k week 6 tommorow. Fingers crossed it will go as well as tuesday. I used a map site and worked out the playing fields are 0.7 miles a lap round. I made it 1 and half times round so Im jogging roughly 1 mile every 14 mins. I defintely need to work on that.

I did it!!!!!!!

I just jogged for 20 mins solid and I feel AMAZING. Got my pace and my breathing right. Didn't think of the time, I just got on with it. When Laura said I have 2 mins left I just smiled as I knew I was going to finish.

So four months of getting fitter and training and now I can jog for 20 mins. BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!

Couch to 5k Week 5 day 2

I just kicked its arse. Excellent session. I was slightly worried about jogging 8 mins straight. Would I manage it? Especially after the last 5 in my session on Friday was a struggle but no it went fine. Got my breathing right, got into a rythum. Okay it was slow but steady. And I got round twice. The second time was fine. I just took it in my stride like the first one. So I am beginning to believe I actually can do 20 mins with no walk breaks on Tues morning.

Also yesterday I finished all my ILM assignments. They are in the post to college. I don't have to think about that any more. Four months of my life over. It was a worthwhile course and I did really enjoy it and learn a lot but I really won't miss all the homework!!!! Just awaiting my final grade now.

So I have one week off work. Some me me me time. I have no money till weds lol and the only thing planned is baking for Chele ann summers party thursday night. I envision a lot of time spent on the Sims mediveal. Well I am going to try for a walk / swim as well.

Couch to 5K Week 5 Day 1

Wow apparently I had 36 visitors yesterday. I guess a lot of sims fans found me hehe. Great stuff. I just wish I knew how to get people to comment and follow me. If your reading this click the link! give me your thoughts, have a go at the poll - yes I figured out how to put one on!

So another fantastic run this morning. I got up at the crack of dawn again - Im definitely a morning runner. I never thought I would say that but I am. Wore my brand new pink Nike drywik top. And wow. Okay its a bit clingy around my belly tyre but I also had a hoodie top over it so no one will know and the plan is to wear that for the race for life. Its pink!!!!! And I love it. Yes it does keep you cool and dry. Excellent piece of kit for a bargainess £12.99 in TK Max yesterday.

Today I tryed a new place to jog and I liked it a lot more than the park I had been going too. There are some playing fields not to far to me, so I went round there instead. A little more uphill stuff than ravensknowle but a bigger area.

The session went as follows:

• Warm up walk 5 mins - Pro at it and found a snicket from the road off of mine that took me straight down to the playing fields. Unbelievable Ive been here over 3 years and never knew it was there.
• Jogged 5 mins. Was a struggle to get my breathing right the first interval but made it through.
• Walked 3 mins. This went incredibly fast but I got my breath back.
• Jogged 5 mins - Breathing was much better and I think this was my best run to date. I seemed to get into a nice stride.
• Walked 3 mins, noticed a ton of mist had appeared lol. It was pretty cool. No on except 1 dog walker at the opposite end of the huge playing field around.
• Jogged 5 mins - was starting to lose my earlier speed and moment but I pushed through. Again got my breathing okay. The last stretch was uphill as well. I was aching all over but I did it. 
• The usual victory punch once "Laura" announced we were done!

So yes feeling pretty dam good right now and ready to have a crack at the 2 8 mins ones on Day 2 on sunday morning.

Also the most amazing thing yesterday  - I spent the day with my sister and we went over to Wakey shopping and called in on our cousins on the way back and had scones and cream. My sis yesterday actually told me I was the strong one in the family and she was impressed and that the family are actually all behind me with the running lark now. Even more motivation to get the 20 min solid jog in the bag. I want to be able to tell them I did it!!!!!

Sims Medieval review

I know I mainly write about C25K or the occasion this has happened in my life post but I decided this morning to do a review of the game I have recently bought and been playing sparodically. I have loved every sims game going. I had generation 1, generation 2 and currently own generation 3 plus the world adventures add on. The only thing stopping me further is my rig is so chuffing old and slow that I fear putting it through much more. I am going to have to figure out a way to be able to afford a new PC. That aside . . . . onto Sims Medieval.

As soon as I saw the trailer I knew I had to have this. Yes it forfills both my sims addiction and love of medieval. Have I mentioned robin hood prince of thieves is my fav film? How much I love the TV series Merlin . . .  . .  Anyway heres the trailer.


The character classes the ones I have played so far seem fair enough. Im mainly playing with the King, Knight, Blacksmith and Spy. I have done a few quests and am currently trying to expand my kingdom. Im on the 2nd game it opens up.

The graphics are stunning. I love the buildings, I love the clothes, I love the little details i.e. cooking pots, scribe tables etc. But what sucks is your limited to how much space you can place things, you can't place your own buildings where you want too, the camera's don't let you spin round,  you can't see things for as many angles as other games and theres no cinemations, just pictures pop up with some text. I much prefer the cheesy vids you used to get in the other games lol. Also the children don't grow up and you can't control them or your spouse like in the other games.

Some of the quests are also a little bizzare and the needs as well. Like the Knight keeps getting Feed the beast. In the judgement pit theres a purple long armed monster and I have to keep sending him to throw some food in his pit. But to say I have picked expanding the kingdom as my current goal none of the quests that have openned up seem to be leading me towards that goal yet. I guess I will have to keep playing and see if that changes. Or maybe Im not playing the right hero's yet.

Let them eat cake . . . .

Absolutely amazing Rebecca Heywood Easter cake to be exact.

Infact Bex provided most of lunch. Big thanks for the delicious carribean chicken soup too! How gorgeous does her cake look though? Its offical Rebecca Heywood makes AMAZING cakes!

By the way that is my messy desk in the first pic or as I like to say organised chaos . . .

Today we also had a rather intense discussion (fuelled no doubt by our increased narkiness of the database system we use running slowly), about how much we thought we knew about Mr Russell Brand and Mr Gok Wan and who would have the bigger personality. Mr Brand came out on top, not cause his personality was better than Mr Wan, purely because we figured he couldn't survive without more spotlight.

I have to say though, I have never seen any of Russells comedy before. In fact in the past I was just kind of aware of a skinny long haired comedian who got into a lot of trouble with Wossy over a phone call. On radio 2 today that skinny long haired comedian made me laugh and laugh and laugh - so I feel I have over looked the man and will be taking steps to rectify that.

One big fat sweaty make up run in the bag!

So after the mother of all unhealthy weekends, not to mention subcrumbing to and munching my way through a 180g bar of chocolate last night (I know I know - but I was worried about someone and stress eating), I got my fat arse up at the crack of dawn and out jogging again.

I decided to repeat week 4 again. This might be the 3rd time Im not sure now, I can't remember. Everything went pretty okay. Last 5 mins I flagged again but got through it. 16 full mins of jogging. I did get some jip from my right calf. Think I probably needed to stretch a bit better. It doesn't feel too bad now.

No dogs today, just the one walker. She was a skinny rake who looked at me like I was mental. So as I am getting used to now, I just flashed her the mother of all smiles. I kept reminding myself of the 80 quid I have raised so far for race for life and that Im getting fitter, healthier and losing inches. Roll on Thursday to have a bash at run 2.

Birthday wishes and Wil Wheaton

First up today I would like to wish my friends twins Sahra and Sonia a really good happy 30th birthday. Welcome to the club you fabulous amazing girls you!!!!!!!!!

So I am sitting here completely hung over. All good intentions of not drinking last night and getting up at the crack of dawn and going jogging this morning evaporated as soon as the group I was with last night decided to do some birthday shots. I recall dancing to Katy Perrys firework, an intense discussion on why do men where their kecks so low down below the hips and still manage to get them to stay there and not fall all the way down and getting in - big thanks to Mr Kent for kindly ferrying a drunk babbling Debs and Lou home last night, and I think I promptly passed out. Not something that happens often as I haven't actually been out properly since Cheles birthday in Jan.

However I think the most shocking thing this morning despite my banging banging banging head, is the fact that Vern - one of my mates I look up too in geekiness shockingly does not follow Wil Wheaton. Ive said it before on this blog version 1 - yeah I deleted all that blog gold last year when I turned into the depressed whinny husk of the women I used to be. Im not that person now and hence forth a new more better blog and debs has materialised but Wil Wheaton is awesome. He's not on my fav links on here for nothing!!!! So please check the man out.

Im going to get back on the C25K wagon tommorow when my head is my own again LOL

Anyway I think this is my new feel good song:


"Boom boom boom, even brighter than the moon moon moon, its always been inside of you you you, and now its time to let it through"

Week 5 day 1 - another epic fail

So I tryed this on the treadmill at the gym last night and it did not go well. This is what happened.

• 5 min warm up
• Managed the first 5 min jog
• Walked 3 mins
• Managed 4 mins of jogging
• Walked 3 mins
• Jogged about a min and half. Legs went "no"
• Started walking for a couple of mins 
• Then got myself jogging again for about the last min and half

Everybody says that its easier on the treadmill. Now either Im still going too fast to sustain the longer jogs or they lied as I much prefer it outside and I would have managed that I think outside. I'm trying it in the park tommorow morning anyway. If I got any slower on the treadmill Im going to feel like an idiot next to the ones going 15.0 - yeah no shit a bloke last night was running at 15.0 next to me.

I bet myself up walking home as usual - then I remember that okay although I failed the full run, I did some of it and also burned off 500 calories on my gym visit. But then I wrecked it all and had chinese with my friend Chele. So Im probably back to square one.

If in doubt turn to Rocky!!!!

Keep watching this hoping to get my motivation back!!!


"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadiquate. Its that we are powerful beyond measure . . . . I'm going to show you how great I am!!!!! Somewhere along the line you changed, you stopped being you and let people put a finger in your face . . . . . the world ain't all sunshine and rainbows . . . . you fear nobody . . . . its not going to hit as far as life . .  . . . you keep moving forward . . . . thats how winning is done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Struggling with motivation

So yesterday was not the best day. My boss brought in mini eggs and hollow chocolate rabbit/chick things for easter. I thought I could manage just the one taste but no that was it. I was back and forth and nibbling all day with the rest of the office. Also my bread went moldy so I had to buy a breadroll to go with my soup and it was sainsburies. So I ate proper bread. Feeling guilty when my mum rang and said she was now working late I decided to walk all the way home from the hospital. 1 hour and 20 mins. Which is great and may have cancelled out the chocolate but no by the time I had got home all I could think about was having a fish butty from the chippy. So I did.

I ate it slowly and tryed to savour it. But yeah very very very bad day food wise. I endeaver to do better today. Also Im not feeling that longing to run like I have been doing. And I need to get that back by tommorow as its gym day. I don't know whats going on.

Chele my mate recons and boys close your ears here . . . . . but pershaps Im a week away from my period. Not sure I never was that good at keeping track. But I do tend to crave sugar and stuff usually before then. We'll see I guess. Anyway this morning theres a nice fat chicken breast defrosting in the fridge. Im having that with steamed veg today and will try not to touch any chocolate whatsoever at work.

Couch to 5k Week 4 run3

So yesterday I got myself up at the crack of dawn and went out before work. It went pretty well. Didn't really start to flag until the last 5 min run. Got chased by a Jack Russell half way through the first 5 min interval and I think that made me go faster lol. Not sure Im ready to start week 5 on friday at the gym. I might load it on the podcast and give it a whirl or repeat week 4 again and try week 5 sunday in the park. We'll see how I feel.

Just weighed myself and Im another 3lbs down!!!!

couch to 5k week 4 session 2

Much better but then it was outside again. Im going my own pace, slower than the treadmill and its cooler than the gym. Plus I don't need to count like I do on a treadmill to take my attention away from thinking "when is this going to end?" as it always ends a lot quicker than I think it will. I also feel less self conscious as the only people who see me are a couple of dog walkers. The session went like this:

• Warm up for 5 mins. As usual I had to stop the MP3 as it took longer than 5 mins to get to the park
• Jog 3 mins - took a while to get my breathing flowing right but was over pretty quickly
• walk 90 secs - flew by
• jog 5 mins - did it no probs. I know Im a slow jogger but at the moment its endurance not speed. Once I get some lard off me I know I can work on the speed.
• walk 2.5 mins - really flew only just got my breath back
• jog 3 mins - aching a tad but powered through
• walk 2.5 mins -seemed to go even faster than the last 2.5 mins
• jog 5 mins - I just got on with it. Okay it was a slow jog pace but I just focused on keeping going round the park. "Laura" popped up at 2.5 mins and said I was half way through, everything was aching but I kept telling myself not to give up like I had on friday on the treadmill. When she came up and said 1 min left I smiled a little and just kept going. And for the first time I jogged longer than I walked.

Came back home, feeling pretty good. My right knee feels a little jolted but I think a couple of days rest and it will straighten out. Made some porrige - very yummy, half water half SS milk. Ate the lot, Kurt would be proud. And had the nicest shower in the world.

Thought I would share this:

 How messy did my trainers get today? Took about 10 mins to clean off all the grass. Good job I do now have 2 pairs.



Im still enjoying outside jogging a lot more. Have some time off coming up between all the bank hols so I think Im going to try getting up at 5am and doing my session and then 5.30am and doing it. Then I can see if 1- I can cope with the early run starts and what its like at that time light wise and 2 - if I have enough time to get it in before getting ready for work and mum picking me up. Once I lose some weight I know I will get more confident and be able to switch to on an evening outside but at the mo its a I don't want to be seen thing.


I need to get some more work out clothes, so thats a google for me this morning. Honestly getting plus size clothing is not easy. If anyone knows anywhere tell me!!!!!!!

C25K Week 4 run 1 just kicked my fat arse

I didn't manage the whole thing. Im annoyed at myself but also happy to some extent as I did manage some of it.
Todays session went like so:

• 5 min warm up. Im an old pro now
• 3 mins jogging - did it on 6.7, was okay.
• 90 secs walking - managed to recover my breath
• 5 mins -I was dreading it, I really was but I did the counting thing again and somehow got through it. I think I put the speed down slightly to 6.5 about half way through. Everything was really starting to ache.
• 2.5 mins walking - bloody hell that went fast. I hadn't caught all my breath even on walking 4.5 instead of 5.0
• 3 mins jogging - managed it. Was starting to flag
• 90 secs walking - this seemed about 30 seconds in my head it went that fast
• 5 mins jogging - this is where I failed to complete - I really ached - I didn't seem to manage to get into a stride like I did my last session and as soon as Laura came on and said, well done your half way there it was like my legs just went "no more," so I went back to a walk but tryed to be good and walked on 5.5 until the cooldown kicked off. Then I was feeling guilty so I upped the incline and speed a little more in my cooldown trying to make up for my failure in some way.

I managed 10 mins on the exercise bike as a proper cool down but I was feeling rather knackered so did it on level 3 rather than 4 like I have been doing. Then I weighed myself and I had stayed exactly the same which was really irritating.

It was boiling hot outside and I looked like a fat ugly red tomato as usual but I walked home abeit slowly. My legs really didn't want to work. They ache so much right now and I predict will ache completely to buggery tommorow . . .. . .

However okay I didn jog for 16 mins total, I did manage 13.5 which is a 4.5 min inprovement on last week. I can't knock that. In 3 months I have come from 30 seconds killing me to managing to jog a total of 13.5 mins. Hopefully I will push through for the full 16 next session, if not then I keep repeating this level until my body adjusts and Im comfortable with it. Im not giving up.

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run."

Yes I ripped it from Fatgirlrunnings blog but its inspirational. I will have to get John Binghams book.

Fat girl slim meets Fat Girl running

Good day.

Ate well, okay pretty well. Bex brought some amazing birthday cake in and I had to indulge. But Salmon, spinach, steamed veg for tea. Im mentally trying to prepare for the 5 mins tommorow. I want to succeed. More jogging than walking tommorow.

Found another fantastic blog :

http://www.fatgirlrunning.co.uk/

Its so nice to see other people like me succeeding. Spurs me on. Its a really good read too. And yep I get stuck for blog titles too.

Couch to 5 K week 3 (Repeated) CLEARED!!!!!

Im on a major high right now. Excellent excellent gym session tonight. I ran on 6.7 the whole time, I walked on 5.0 the whole time, I wasn't too out of breathe. I did the counting thing and it really seemed to help. It took my mind away from going "Laura come on tell me its over." Also after the first 3 mins I actually felt like I could have carried on a bit more. I think its time to have a bash at week 4 on friday.

The thing is even if I can't do the whole thing, I can keep going at it until I do manage it. Thats my plan now. I'll stay on each week until I feel comfortable to move on and after tonight its definitely time to have a bash at week 4.

Anyway the search for running music continues. I discovered the following - dance -Starship. Awesome . .  . . . . I soooooo need this on the pod.

And the gym had this on . . . . . dance journey. Another i tunes download me feels.

Fatgirlslim and glee . . .

Slept loads, feel great. Looked in a full length mirror and I am starting to look smaller in the stomach area. Still a hell of a long way to go. My work trousers are again getting really loose. I may need to buy a size smaller soon. Oh and Cazza at work complimented me on friday. That was good.

Gym today and Im on the last run of week 3 again. Not apprehensive as I know I can do it. However Im going to try another trick tonight. Reading my zest book one of the other runners suggestions is to count to 300 while you are running. Keep your mind off it hurting and hopefully my mind off screaming "come on laura when are we done?" That runner can do a mile every time she counts 300. I will probably need 900 for that lol but will give it a go!

My lovely sister sponsored me last night - another £10.00. So Im at 36 I think percent of my target.

Glee - I love this show. Season 2 is just brilliant. I love the warblers, I love the pairings - Artie and Britney, Tina and Mike Chang (God how sexy is Harry Shum Jr?), puck and lauren but last night Sam broke up with Quinn for Santanna???????? wtf!!!!!!!!! mental . . . .Anyway it was bieber fever last night. Im really looking forward to next week for the rachel berry house party experience hehe.

Couch to 5k week 3 run 2 (repeated)

Well my euthorpia of losing a stone is gone as I was pretty bad yesterday. I thought I was on grandaughter duty so had walked up to Grans but before that, I slept in and realised I had nothing for breakfast as I had taken my porrige to work. Went to Patels no bread. As I was running out of time to get to Grans I had to grab a bacon sarnie from shaws. Not good. My sister turns up at Grans and we have all got our wires crossed. I was initally going to go with my sis but then she informs me it was steve-o (her boyfriends) 30th on thursday, so I decided to let her take gran alone and went into town to get him something.

I was supposed to be meeting my brothers girlfriend for a late lunch anyway so sorted out steve-o (spent ages trying to suss out what blue ray he might like - almost bought Machete but decided against it. I would probably have got it wrong) so I got him a HMV voucher instead and he can pick his own. Went and got myself a new pair of trainers. Half price at £25.00 from sports direct. Good soles for reducing joint inpact. So now I have one for outside running - the new ones and my addidas ones for the gym. Looked at some running kit. I want some 3/4 length trousers. However tryed them on. I could get into the 18's but they were tight, so didn't get ought. But thats good. Im in them even if they look terrible at the mo.

Had about an hour to wait for Claire and was starving so went to Nero and ended up getting a chocolate iced milk drink (I reasoned Im a jogger they drink choc milk!) and yeah I know Im bad - a piece of chocolate crunch. Admitably its not the worst snack in that place. Two men infront of me had massive hot chocolates with cream and marshmallows and 3, 3!!!!! I kid you not chocolate pastry twists EACH. Anyway I enjoyed it and killed about 40 mins there, went and met Claire and one the way down to kingsgate they were giving free pizza out and it smelt AMAZING. So that was it, we went to pizza hut. Diet deaded. We shared a large thin crust chicken bbq one.

Anyway this morning I was determined to put things right or at least on a more even keel again. Set my clock for 6.30am. Got up, ate a slice of wholemeal bread and a couple of spoonfuls of cottage cheese and pineapple. Yum!!!!!!!!!!!!! Slapped my clothes on and new trainers, really stretched well. Followed the suggested ones in my running book and set off to the park. It went like this:

• 5 min warm up walk. Again had to stop the mp3 as it took longer than 5 mins to reach the park
• 90 sec jog - not too bad. Again up hill but new trainers were nice.
• 90 sex walk - this seemed to be over in a flash 
• 3 min jog - I went on last time. No matter how slow the jog just jog. It went fine. Got into a pace, got my breathing under control
• 3 min walk - again went really quick. Got my breathing back
• 90 sec jog - again fine. Seemed to be over really quickly. Did what I did last week and mentally made a route round the park
• 90 sec walk - flew by, got my breath back
• 3 mins jog - not too bad, paced myself again. When "Laura" announced the last minute again tryed to dig alittle deeper and give it some more welly
• 3 mins cool down walk - got breath back. Gave another victory punch. Was feeling pretty darn good. My brain informed me "We will make a jogger of you yet Debs". Decided to jog out of the park. Lady with a dog appeared. Dog ran after me, she appologised and looked at me like I was mental. I flashed a smile. Crossed road to go home and to my surpise:
• found myself actually jogging abit more on the way home. I wanted to do more people - how bloody brilliant is that!!!!!! and I could. I just thought okay - to that lampost. I enjoyed it and wanted to jog more.

Clearly outside running suits me far more than the treadmill. I struggle more on the treadmill. Again it was cooler outside and just having fresh air in your face rather than stale recycled gym air is the way to go. And I must be a morning runner person. I mean I have enjoyed my sunday morning ones much more than any of the gym session ones. However I don't think Im at a point where I'll happily get out of bed at 5.30am on a tues and friday before work yet. So tuesday will be week 3 run 3 on the treadmill again and then friday Im going to have to man up and try the 5 mins again. This time with "Laura" and the podcast.

Anyway forgot to mention - I got one of the nursey bods at work to take my blood pressure. 138/81 - awesome. The exercise and eating fairly well is paying off.

Also this is currently my fav tune to exercise on the bike to at the gym.


Im still trying to put together a really rocking playlist - bex at work has lent me a ton of CD's so I can put some on next week when I get them home from the office.

Couch to 5 k week 3 run 1 (repeat)

This is a backdated post as I didn't manage to update friday. So I went to the gym and Mirror universe bearded tuff guy actually smiled at me and said hello when I entered.  So I had decided to repeat week 3 again as last time my attempt at jogging 5 mins failed miserably. It went like this:

• Warm up 5 min walk - I am a pro at this now
• jogged 90 secs at 6.5 - not too bad
• Walked 90 secs at 5.0 - okay, got my breath back
• jogged 3 mins at 6.5 - decided to go slower again as I need to get my stamina up and all the forums I keep reading everyone else on this programme seems to be going slower than I am.
• walked 3 mins at 5.0 - again nicely got my breath back
• jogged 90 secs at 6.5 - starting to ache but managed it
• walked 90 secs - at 5.0 got my breath back
• jogged 3 mins at 6.5 - felt log was starting to flag but once "laura" came on and said 1 min left I powered throu and tryed to give that last min a little more welly
• cool down walk at 5.0 for 3 mins - felt pretty darn good

Decided at that point to weigh myself and was pretty happy that I did as Im now down a stone in weight! So one happy bunny.