It's almost like the before & after shots...

Someone had her first experience of the beach this morning. She bristled at the sight of a charred piece of wood as she wasn't quite sure what it was - but she figured she better get her hackles up and stay well clear just in case... until I walked over to it and patted it, then she realised it was okay.

The sand was fun - but the water was scary!

Here she is enjoying the sun - the heater's not on, just holding her up.

It's Monday and I'm exhausted....

Well, I think we packed as much as we possibly could into our weekend. First up was a night with friends on Friday night, and we stayed overnight and headed out from there to go and visit young Keith, who is now 4 weeks old and mobile, gorgeous and growing rapidly.

Then we went over to Staffy Rescue and met and picked up Rosa, our new addition to the family.

She had baptism by fire in relation to meeting her 'extended family' ie, our friends who all came over at various times of the weekend to meet her. Some of our close friends decided to bring her a gift of a squeaky Pumba toy. Unfortunately, they forgot it is their daughter's 1st birthday in a week's time... revenge is sweet. She might become 'little drummer girl' }-) - but I digress.

Rosa was described as being an outdoor dog who only came indoors if/when invited... the way she reacts to the indoors you may be forgiven they got that all round the wrong way! Because our friends stayed on the Saturday night, Rosa got to sleep in her basket next to my bed...however, she kept trying to sneak up on the bed during the night (which is a no-no for my husband!!), so we kept telling her to get in her basket.. which she did, and she remained there for a few hours, then tried again! It's hard to be stern when you're giggling because you have this cute staffy snuffling you during the night. Not to mention her snoring. At one stage i thought it was my husband and was thinking about poking him in the ribs, then I realised it was her!!!

Then come Sunday we had more visitors to see Rosa - and last night we attempted to move Rosa's basket to the laundry, so we had more nocturnal visits during the night. But... when I got up she was in her basket, and stayed there until I popped my head in and said hello. Then it was all waggy tails and snufflings.

This morning I took her out for a walk, then we played chasey in the backyard - then I tried to do some of my workout in between more chase the ball.

I have four weeks to get Rosa settled in and some obedience training and socialisation training before we introduce Keith the gorgeous ridgeback puppy to her. (Blame my husband on the Keith thing...) Hopefully it will go well and she won't attempt to eat him....

Myer in Wollongong show a complete lack of wisdom....

Ha! Well, I just went in to Wollongong at lunchtime, thought I'd pop in to the perfume counter at Myer to see if I could try some new perfume. I've been using the same perfume, Fragile by Jean Paul Gaultier for a couple of years now and thought I'd like to 'trial' some others with a view to purchasing my new perfume.
Well, if you want to do that in Myer Wollongong, it's pretty difficult unless you know exactly what perfumes you want to try. Why? They are all behind the counter, so you have to ask the assistant to try each one. How goddamn ridiculous.
Buying perfume is an experience. You have to experience the smells before you know what you want to actually put on your skin - especially when such a huge proportion of them I just don't like! Anyhow, I expressed my indignation and said I'd go elsewhere.
At least in David Jones, you can try what you like at your own leisure. So I purchased my new perfume, Chance by Chanel. Yummo!

Workouts and stuff..

This morning went down to the beach where it just happened to be howling a gale! The beach was littered with a mixture of blue bottles (North Easterly!) and cuttlefish. One that had washed up honestly looked like a hand - until you got a bit closer and realised what it was. Eeuw.

Anyway, we got through our jog and sprint sessions - just in a very wind blown way.

My legs were really fatigued throughout though - probably due to the gruelling sessions I had the previous two days - the workouts in weeks 5-8 are fairly heavy on the legs! Squat jumps with a barbell are not for the faint of heart at all. Last night I also did a kickboxing class, which was equally punishing, just in a different way.

Two more sleeps until we get our staffy. Then the house will feel like a home again. Yes, I'm excited.

What a weekend.

Well, since we are picking up our new addition to the family on Saturday, we had to work double time to get our new fencing & gates built....
I spent Saturday applying timber decking oil to the timber slats, and painting the metal posts (back breaking stuff). It will look fabulous, but is only about half way finished after all that time.

I also decided that I best give the dog kennel (it looks like a mini house complete with bullnosed verandah) a spring clean also - since it hadn't really seen any doggy activity for quite some time - the dogs had moved to sleeping indoors due to having old dog privileges.
What a dusty/cobwebby job that was!! eeeuwww. I had to keep emerging to breathe & sneeze.
Still, all better and cleaned out in readiness for the new children when they eventually want to use it. Just need to go out and buy some new large cushions to fill it with and then it will be snuffle heaven again.

The horse's leg is looking decidedly good and healing nicely... I have a feeling his retirement may not happen just yet ...but let's not speak too soon. Still no flu emerging around our properties. Although there has been an outbreak in Picton, about a 15 minute drive away, so we'll see if the wind carries it over our way or not. Fingers crossed it doesn't. Someone at work foolishly asked me what the big deal was - I said, you've seen the size of a horse's nose haven't you? Can you imagine the size of the snot globs? That stopped 'em! Hehe.

Since my c/v fitness has suffered a little I decided that a good beach workout session was in order this morning. It's lovely having the sun starting to rise at 6ish again - so much more pleasant than darkness! So, I did a light walk, then jog warmup, then just did about 12 x 60 m sprints, and did a longer fast run. Tonight I should be able to go to kickboxing for the first time in a week - can't wait!!

I will start my week 5 Afterburn workout tomorrow morning.
I think when our girl arrives next week will see me heading down the beach with her for my workouts, and I'll just have to reshuffle the Afterburn workouts in amongst those somehow.

another day..another dog...

Yes, I realise I had said..no more searching...but again. I found my fingers scrolling to the staffyrescue site.. Just for a look..HONEST..

And then I found her.

Rosa. A beautiful 18 month old staffy girl who sadly had to be surrendered by her family due to changes in circumstances.

She will be coming home to live with us on 8 September and I can't wait to get her.

Back to the beach again!!

Well, after being locked away in meeting rooms for three days I was going a bit stir crazy... and literally feeling overly energetic (which is really unusual for me at the end of a long one day meeting!) which just happened to go overtime and mean I missed kickboxing class..
God forbid.
Husband went into overdrive to put my punching bag up in the garage for me because I was desperate to punch and kick something... hehe. Oh the power.

Met up with my beach workout partner this morning nice and early at 6am at Sandon Point and we did a nice jog then several sprints interspersed with walks & jogs - we're not as fit c/v wise as we were last summer - me thanks to injuries and refocusing more on weights, and her thanks to new job, but... we're back into it so we can be jumping out of our skins in no time again.

I am looking forward to kickboxing on Saturday morning though - it's such a great workout and the only time I am not in control of the workout.

All hell breaks loose in the horse world...

Wow. What a difference a weekend can make!! One minute I'm feeling all sorry for myself and my pony with his leg....then people are in lockdown unable to go anywhere with their horses....Some people can't go and see their horses for 30 days as they are in the flu zone... People who have travelled to Parkes to compete with their horses are stuck there now for at least 40 days until the last horse gets rid of its flu...
Hopefully our ponies will remain uninfected. Maybe that's the reason I've not been able to compete this year...
Or maybe not!
Still.
Well, exercise for the past two days has been a very short sharp 20 minute burst of circuit work... since I've had to be in the city for a course by 8.30am. Sleep...that'd be nice.

Have decided to wait until our dear little ridgeback boy comes home before pursuing his potential partner.... Common sense has prevailed. I must be getting old or something.
I was far too emotionally overwrought last week ...

How beautiful the weather has been here too, the past two days... it reached about 27 degrees today... too bad I was stuck inside...

Sore Glutes

Well, I think the combo of Deadlifts, Bulgarian Split Squats and the supine hip / leg extension thingy have really killed my glutes.... of course followed that evening by kickboxing.. then a beach session this morning.

I think I have come to a (difficult) decision regarding my horse. It's time he went out into the big green retirement paddock and played out the rest of his days, without me desperately trying to get him sound again for one thing or another...or simply just to ride. I can honestly say I could count the number of times I've ridden on both hands since October last year....so just shy of a year... if it was just an abberation I could cope...but it's not..it's been more the norm. I think in the 9 years I've had him, probably had about 2-3 good years.... the rest have all been downtime/injuries/recovering....and now he's rising 16.... no spring chicken!

Still, on the bright side, I'll have more money for the time being...and more time to get my business up and running (and time for me to finish my practical side of the course)...and of course, time for our new babies.

Now, I was supposed to stop looking for a second 'child' for the time being. I did promise...but how can you, when you know there are thousands of poor unwanted dogs out there just looking for someone to love them for the rest of their doggie days...
..enter Flick
http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/13275#pic.
who is:
(a) Alive
(b) Available
(c) Has been looking for someone to love her since February..
(d) In the same town as me with her foster carer

Now... I just have to chat to the husband.

I'm not superstitious...but.....

I can't help feeling as though I must have broken a mirror some time ago.

Now, did I foolishly say I was going to ride my horse on Saturday? Silly me...
Saturday morning dawns and I had a phone call from the agistment property... 'Kado has cut his leg'..
When I get there, it appears that Kado has spiked himself on a stick - obviously a very sturdy one as it has left a nice puncture in his front leg - and also chipped a small piece of bone off with it. Excellent.
Faster than you can say, vet bill, the vet's there and it is all bandaged up. (after he'd fossicked in the wound to see if there was any more broken bits...eeeuuuuww).
$Kerching $Kerching.
Hopefully it will heal up nicely, otherwise it may get an infection in the bone.
$Kerching $Kerching.
Which would mean an operation. Hear that cash register ring!
Still... all was not lost on Saturday. I met our gorgeous little tiny bear boy - his eyes were still closed. So cute.
His Mum is divine. I had forgotten just how seriously beautiful ridgeback girls can be. So serene and majestic.
I would have missed my flight on Sunday morning too, had it not been for my friend who was driving me up waking me up with her knocking at the door..... Unbelievable!! I never sleep that late..... a mad race then ensued showering and getting dressed to still get to the airport on time!
Enjoyed the birthday party, then on Monday got up and did the big drive home from BrisVegas to the Gong.
Finally got in at 9.30pm...knackered!
Yesterday I made the mistake of googling to see if I could find the breeder who owns our little boy's dad. Came across a 4 year old Ridgeback girl who had been rescued from euthanasia.
Did some quick grovelling with dear other half and he said yes, happy to save her. Only to call the foster carer and find out she had died after being desexed.
Poor little angel. So I have promised to not do any more searching for our second 'child' yet...
Too much of an emotional roller coaster ride.
Off to kickboxing tonight...had to miss out on weekend and Monday sessions!

BrisVegas or Bust

Well, life has been pretty hectic since we returned from holidays.
Our Bali trip was just exactly what we needed - total relaxation (the Balinese are keen to tell you constantly to just relack!)
We knew our little beloved girl was being looked after at home by our good friends, so we knew she was in good hands, so we enjoyed ourselves totally - cocktails, swimming, sunning, even went running each morning on the beach - saw Michael Klim going for his run too.
Husband got in 19 surfs - so he was pretty happy too.
Oh....did I mention the shopping? hehe. What would a Bali trip be without some good old retail therapy? Got some fabulous silver jewellery too.

Our house is so empty with no 'puppy' love in the home at the moment.... we're quite lost without our little girl.

Well, my calf muscle has well and truly healed, thank goodness, and I am nearly completed week 2 of my Afterburn program. This morning met up for the first time in aaaages with my beach training partner, and we recommenced our weekly beach session.

This weekend I will be:

Saturday: am/ Afternburn workout mid am/ ride horse lunch: drive to see newborn 'son' - a little Rhodesian Ridgeback boy that we will have in 7 weeks time :-)
Sunday: am/ Fly to BrisVegas for Brother in Law's 50th birthday, then drive back with husband (who has left towing the snotmobile for a surprise racetrack day already) on the Monday.

RIP Suki

The little dog with a heart of gold, and too many names passed away last thursday.

Is sorely missed...

Last sleep

Finally the last sleep has arrived!!
This morning I thought I'd best weigh in just to see what I am before holiday mode!! I am sure it will shift a bit - hopefully not too much, I will remain in control, have packed protein bars & taking my yoghurt maker.... sad but true! But at least I'll get my acidophilus to fight the old Bali belly!
It appears that somehow I've lost 2 kilos - must be due to the fact that I've had to change my morning beach workouts to something less cardiovascular! Just goes to show - too much cardio is a negative thing!
Slathered on the old St Tropez fake tan last night - will be so much better when the real thing takes over in the next few days!
See you all in blogland in a couple of weeks.

Final days!

How exciting, in just a couple of days I'll not only have another new hair colour to get used to, but ...will be sunning myself on the beach at Legian.
Fab.

And ...relaxed in the knowledge that all of my exams are now complete...with just the practical to take care of.


My last physio session before holidays went well, he's pleased with my calf..not pleased with my toe which is still twice the size of the other one.... so he's put a new strapping on it. He feels, as I do that two weeks of no kickboxing will probably do it the world of good (there was no sympathy there from him!). The funny thing will be me trying to only run on every third day of my holiday... I had planned on a run each morning. Hmmmm.... will have to get creative - may pack my focus mitts & gloves for my friend & I to punch each other on the other days.

Exams...Bali....

My final exam is tonight! It will be a great relief to have that part of the course all over ..done and dusted!

Then I can just focus on the practical - poor long suffering husband has been my guinea pig for 'body fat' testing - hmmm he's as lean as can be, so this has been interesting!
..Then there's the blood pressure - which, according to moi, was normal! Fun.

Just really have to find somewhere I want to go and do my 20 hours practical - that will be my post holiday challenge!

3 more sleeps to Bali.


Oh, the rebounder is getting the biggest workout - from doing pop squats on it, to sprint intervals.... it's amazing what you can do on a mini tramp LOL.

Success or failure?

I was thinking a lot the other day about the things that make people succeed in long term weight loss, and the high amount of failure rates and the reasons behind those.

I know that when I first did Body for Life, it was all about the 12 weeks. Well, of course, once the 12 weeks finished, old habits started to creep back in, and before you knew it the scales were creeping up and the clothes were getting tighter again.

You see it all the time with others as well, after all, it takes a great deal of planning & dedication to ensure that you have enough good food choices on hand for each day, and sometimes it all gets quite hard - and that's okay..occasionally. People tend to forget that by resuming those old eating habits after a 12 week regime is going to eventually spell disaster.

It's been quite some time now since I've just accepted that this way of eating is the only way I can live in the body I want, to make sure it's as healthy as possible.

Of course, the other factor in the equation is exercise, and like with the food, it does require a little forethought and planning - and of course, the most important success factor with both is that they must be enjoyable.

Enough of my rant today!

travel warnings...

Okay,
there have been car bombs diffused, and car bombs going off in the UK, yet smartraveller.gov.au still lists the UK as only a minor grade - be aware type of warning...
yet Bali has been upgraded to 'avoid travel' if possible type warning...
sorry... I'm still going on my holiday - I figure, I have more chance of being killed/injured in a car each day, then I do of a terrorist attack.

**************************************************************************************
Workouts at the moment are consisting ONLY of trying to strengthen, rehab the calf muscles, with lots of intervals now on the rebounder, followed by modified calf raises on a step, which then lower down to bent heel stretches which stretch through into the gastroc.
Added in a few barbell deadlifts and VMO squats too....
tonight is kickboxing..! yay.

*************************************************************************************

Apparently dengue fever is rife in Bali at the moment... (terrorist mosquitoes?)..so off to buy all the necessary "bushmans" stuff today...

bouncey bouncey...

Well, I purchased the rebounder... it really is a great way to rehab the old torn gastroc, the bouncer combined with a good calf raise down to a stretch off a step...
add that in with my swiss ball half squats with medicine ball between my knees to activate my VMO... sound like a right crock!
then a nice additional circuit of swiss ball upper body russian twists, dumbbell walking lunges, dumbbell deadlift with a shoulder press, T pushups then back around!

Back to kickboxing tonight.... and ugh... all day meetings in the city tomorrow...
10 sleeps to Bali

Super Ras el Hanout

Don't you just love getting freebies in the mail? The shop where I get my spices (www.herbies.com.au) sent me out their latest and greatest invention, it's called Super Ras el Hanout, it has just a whole heap more spices added in then their standard Ras el Hanout.
Now...to make it into one divine meal, all you need is:

1 Lamb loin fillet.
Rub some good virgin olive oil into the lamb fillet, then rub in a good rub of the spice mix.
Sear on a super hot sizzley hot plate, so fillet is brown all over, and then transfer to oven for 10 minutes.
Serve on a bed of wilted spinach leaves & some green beans with some couscous on the side.

not a soul in sight...

well, actually managed to drag myself back out of bed to recommence a (somewhat) normal routine... this morning I went down to the bike path which runs adjacent to the beach - in Wollongong we have around 30km of bike path that runs parallel to the beaches - to do my 2min walk, 2 min jog x 5 as prescribed by physio. HOWEVER. This was prescribed when my calf was in use and starting to respond to rehab... doh.
Didn't really think about that part... first jog...all felt fine.... second jog...ouch... bit painful...push through it (doh again).... feels pretty rough ...
Think I might go out and buy myself a rebounder to do that rebound / calf stretch circuit that he made me do...
that'll help!
Toe's starting to look and feel almost normal again though...
anyhow, back to the bike path - it was dark, but there was some light starting to emanate on the horizon - but there was not a soul in sight.... quite bizarre. Up until a couple of weeks ago (the last time I got down there for a normal morning workout) there was always people starting to get out for their runs/walks/bike rides.... not this morning... very unusual.
Perhaps everyone's got the flu!
I started my first Afterburn workout yesterday morning - amazing how just a few exercises can actually exhaust you, when prescribed in a certain way!
12 sleeps to Bali.