Arnold - Class of (Nov) 2010

[caption id="attachment_308" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="See me 'Sit'!"][/caption]

Well, that's it, Puppy socialisation class is now over - wow that 4 weeks went fast!

I think the opportunity to meet and play with the

other puppies has been invaluable.  He's learned a few important tricks along the way such as sit, down, roll over but I think just the chance to interact with other similar dogs has been the most important part of puppy class and I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

 

I don't think we're planning to take him to dog training as we're happy to keep up the practice at home.  He has plenty of other doggy mates he can interact with too to show him the ways of the canine world.

[caption id="attachment_307" align="alignright" width="225" caption="See me 'Lie Down'!"][/caption]

I can't believe the change in him just over the last 3 or 4 weeks.  He listens (most of the time!) to what we say and seems eager to please us.  Hearing some of the other owners tell their stories at puppy class I actually consider us to be very lucky as he's picked things up (especially house training) so fast! 9 or 10 wks ago when he was a little ankle biting monster I often wondered what the hell we were doing wrong!  Thanks to everyone who said "it will get easier" as it has and we really do have a lovely puppy :).

How the couch potato became a runner

When I think back to school PE lessons, I was.......OK.  Not Paula Radcliffe but not a snail either!  I often competed in sports day events such as the 200m and did 'OK' - 2nd or 3rd place maybe, but never won anything.  In high school I competed in the 15oom a couple of times more out of peer pressure than an actual love of the distance and always did terribly!  After leaving school I was more interested in alcohol, boys and then later on married life, children, work etc!  I don't think I really considered the fact that I needed to do some exercise until just after I hit the big 3-0.  I suddenly realised that I couldn't keep shovelling chocolate, wine and all things unhealthy into my body without noticing the physical effects.........in effect I was getting fat!

P was already into running and did the odd race here and there.  He subscribed to the 'Runners World' magazine and on odd occasions I'd pick one up and have a read.  I was surprised to find that it wasn't all about super svelte ultra marathon runners but there were also a lot of articles for novice runners or complete beginners.  From reading the magazines I then found the 'Runners World' website which was not only packed with really useful info but also the most fantastic forum.

The most important advice I could give to anyone new to running would be :

1. Make sure you're physically fit and get a check-up with the Doctor

2. Get fitted with the correct running shoes

3. Take it slowly!

When I say take it slowly, I mean TAKE IT SLOWLY!  It's so tempting once you're all kitted out with your brand new running trainers, gps watch, bright yellow lycra bodysuit etc etc to think you have the physical ability to match your new gear!  Unfortunately, stamina and strength can't be purchased at the nearest sports store ............. you have to work at it!

Remembering back, for my first attempt I intended to follow a plan I'd found through Runners World which was basically to Walk 1 min / Jog 1 min repeated 5 times.  Believe me at this point in my running career I could barely manage that 1 min jog!  Although not overweight, I couldn't believe how physically unfit I had become.  This was going to be hard!  I felt I looked such a fool to the general passer-by, never-the-less, I stuck with it, gradually increasing the length of time I jogged rather than walked and before I knew it I could jog constantly for 10 minutes without any sign of a walk!

Since then my running has continued, although I do have the occasional break (which I know I shouldn't!).  Unfortunately, I do find that when I have even the shortest break of a few weeks my fitness plummets in no time at all and then I have to work back up to the level I'd got to.  I've done a few races such as the 5k Race for Life series, the 5k Hydro Active Challenge in Birmingham, the Great Manchester Run (10k) and also the Evesham 10k.  At my best I could run for an hour without stopping.  You cannot explain to a non-runner the sense of acheivement you get from completing a race such as these, especially when you know the work you've put in to get you there.

[caption id="attachment_298" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Race for Life - Sutton Park"][/caption]

Even now, I know I'm not what you'd call 'a natural born runner' but I do the best I can with what I've been given :).  In fact, in runner's terms I'm what you'd call a 'plodder'!  All I have to keep in mind is even the slightest amount of 'plodding' is better for me than sitting on my bum watching TV!

School Choir

As most of you know my friend Jo and I set up a choir at our daughter's primary school in 2007 as we felt this was something the school lacked.  The choir has gone from strength to strength ever since and we now have 38 members.  This number will no doubt grow in January when we have an intake of Year 3's.

In the run up to Christmas we keep to our Year 4, 5 and 6's. The children perform at the 'Young Voices' event in Birmingham and this can be a very tiring and long day, and would be especially so for Year 3.  We took part in Young Voices for the first time last year and the experience was amazing!  We always give Year 3 the opportunity to join in January when we start work on our Summer concert.

This year we will also be taking part in the Merry Hill Choir Competition for the very first time.  We're very excited about this as are the children!  We have to perform for 15 minutes and include at least 3 Christmas themed songs.  We've chosen to perform two of the Christmas songs I've written (one of which Jo and I jointly wrote lyrics to) and also our 'signature' tune, Now's the Time, as we felt these would be new and original and help to set us apart from the other choirs taking part!

I can't believe we only have 4 weeks to get the children to learn these new songs - what a challenge that's going to be!

Nan's 90th Party

Had a lovely time on Saturday night at Nan's 90th Birthday party.  She'd been told we were organising a bit of a tea but I think she was quite surprised to see her whole family there and was a little emotional :).



Lovely 90th Birthday cake made by Emma (thanks matey)!

My New Header

Have been having a little play around with photoshop, some lovely downloads from Shabby Princess and some great fonts from Kevin and Amanda have managed to come up with a new header...........what do you think?

Not sure whether I'll stick with it yet, but at least it's something new and original :)

2010's Pumpkin Creation

Hi all

Just a short post to show you this years pumpkin creation.  I didn't have time to go searching the web this year for inspiration so I decided to copy the design I came up with last year (as luckily I took a pic that was still on my phone!).

We've put a little more effort into our Halloween preparations this year which 'A' has loved.  We've decorated the hall with cobwebs and pumpkin garlands and of course you've already seen our super cool 'mini pumpkin treats'.  'A's gone off to get changed now and I'm all ready to don my nice new witch's hat!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL!

Fabulous Girlfriends - Part 2 - Jo

Thought I’d give you a little insight into the fab girls in my life and how our lives became intertwined in the first place.  So here’s the low down (in no particular order….before anyone gets upset lol).

Jo

I actually first met Jo quite a few years ago when I was around 16 as we were both in a production of West Side Story that was staged at Dudley Castle.  After completing this particular show I then joined Halesowen Musical Comedy Society which Jo was also a member of.  At the time we were probably more so 'acquaintances' rather than friends.  We saw each other at rehearsals and chatted but that was as far as things went, probably due to the fact that I was a little younger and we had very different lives.

A few years down the line I happened to bump into Jo on the school playground one afternoon and it also turned out that we had a mutual friend.  We got talking each afternoon and discovered we had daughters in the same class and also that she'd been tying 'S's shoelaces each week at football practice as his bad mother (me!) basically left him to get on with it :).  From then on we became closer and closer and our friendship bloomed!

Jo and I set up a school choir about 3 years ago which is still going strong so what with that, general school runs and the fact that Jo's also now in the Circuit Ladies Choir.........we pretty much see each other most days!  In fact it has been known for us to stand and talk for a good hour outside the school gates after everyone else has gone home (much to the caretaker's amusement!).

We've had so many good times and happy memories already, there are just too many to name them all.  We've shared family camping trips, drunken girlie nights out, drunken bonfire/new years and just general parties (noticing a theme here?), Tenby weekends and many, many cups of tea!  Jo is a really good friend and super listener and is always there when I need her. She's also now the fountain of knowledge regarding all things 'puppy' as she's already been there and done it all with lovely Airedale, Arthur.

Here's to many more cups of tea, drunken episodes and super times.

[caption id="attachment_237" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="Me and Jo"][/caption]