Friday, 18 January 2008

Art Club - Tatooed Dave

Pretty interesting class. We are looking at tatooed Dave for 3 weeks. So taking one section and based on Matisse - it's all collage work.

Week 1


Wednesday, 16 January 2008

Art Club - A lesson in Anatomy

So back I go as part of me focussing on me again this year and I expected this to be a real chore as the things that generally bring me the most reward I resist. Art makes me feel better. I need this tatooed in my eye lids.

Yannis was back and we had an exericise to use only lines. Caron was getting frustrated and kept saying use a minimum of 10 lines. Straight lines only. So I am thinking what's your problem lady then realised she meant maximum, but was actually saying something else. Glad we got that sorted out. So that makes one stop and think. How to show the shape in front of you with only ten lines.

Oh I see. On the left is Yannis kneeling o the floor and leaning on a box. Canyaseewhaditisyet?


Then we had a longer pose. 20 mins I think. I carried on with the only using straight lines. Really enjoyed this one. Apologies for the poor quality of the images. It was a bit dark in the room and my digital camera needs recharging. These are off of the phone.

and one more:


Cool eh? I like this. I might do something with this one

Triathlon - Week Two

Monday - Run Club - Easy

Short one over London Bridge and back over Southwark Bridge.....easy easy easy after last week with John. He can't help but speed up can he on the second bit....oi oi. It's easy easy easy.

Tuesday - Swim Club
300m warm up
x4 25m Backstroke, Breaststroke, Front Crawl
x5 100m with 20sec rest
x2 25m skulling front of catch and first bit of pull with flippers
x2 25m doggy paddle (the above together sort of). Make sure quick change over and rotate
x8 25m with rest full stroke
25m race with partner - I win, still she had a bad ankle.

Still not sure about it, but think I am improving. Quite busy today. Nice crowd. Everyone asked if I made it back okay on Sunday. Oh the shame of it.

Wednesday - Run Club
Wow I surprised myself by actually going. As usual bit tired and nervous at the prospect of the possible 12k long run out. It was freeeeeeeeezing out there on Wednesday, but there were loads of us! The pace was quite fast and I was surprised that I kept up and felt pretty comfortable. So excellent run for me. We did quite a few hills round the back of CP Park and Sydenham. Ran past a house that me and the ex had looked at to buy last year which felt strange but okay.

There were some slow steep ups and fun fast downs - the others did some speed work whilst us less experienced runners kept up the back so they had somewhere to run back to. The knees held out, but now on Friday morning the hip is a bit sore. Still very excited about cycling with the legendary Fruitcake next Wednesday

Turned out that we ran either 7.3 miles in 1hr 7 or 8.3 in 1hr 13. either way I was on top of the world, well Anerley Hill, by the end of it.

Thursday - Day off

Friday - Cycling
It's pissing down! and have to go to the doctors about dodgy mole and hip pain. It woke me up last night (the hip not the mole). Scrabbled about in the dark and found some painkillers thankfully. Oh well. I think it'll dry up a bit later so I can go out at least on the mountain bike after lunch....hmmm foood.

Week 1 - Its the taking part that counts

Crystal Palace Triathlon Club - Week One

Well thankfully it is the taking part that counts when you start training as I pretty much guarunteed to be at the back no matter what activity I'm taking part in. Cycling especially, see be low oh oh dear - what gear?

So given the recent split and not wanting to mope at home or go out and spend loads of money on fripperies now I am going to have to get back on housing ladder again at rung one. I have been very enthusiastic and joined the Crystal Palace Triathlete Club again this year and have been to all the sessions I can to get fit, remain focussed on me and get some structure into my life.

Week One

Monday - Run at work
25 mins lunchtime - quite spritely with Emma. Pretty good first half - then tough second half. Speedy - 3 bridges.

Tuesday - Swim with club - drills etc.
Feels funny to be back in the water. Glad it's not 50m, not really

Wednesday - Run with club
Fartlek. Pardon me? No it's a type of training where you train a bit faster that your race pace for short bursts then recover then off you go again...well something like that. It was invented by some Swedish bloke after a crushing defeat in the cross country olympics some time last century. . . . I think.

Hard as Nails Me
It's bloody freezing standing around in your running kit in January at 7.30 in the evening for your run to start. Especially when you park a walk away. I was very nervous of this session as it was supposed to be between 10 and 12k. Would I keep up, would I be able to last that far? I was tired and and did not feel like going out so proud of myself for just doing it. Warm up was round Crystal Palace for a bit - 2miles(?) to warm up then did some stretches and ended up running round the rec x2 took 13mins 40. I have to beat this next time. We were supposed to be going at 10k pace, but am not sure still about all that and had no HRM. Silly Angel.

Quite funny as one of the reasons for joining was to get a different route to running round the park or the rec. Wanted to text the ex. Leave it!

1hr 7 mins. (including haning about time) 5.8miles

Realised I was cold as I had put the wrong top on.

Thursday - Day off (art club in the evening)
Rest

Friday - Swim with club
Drills and some hysterical tumble turn training, made me think of ex. sad.

Saturday - Run with club - track training.

Warm Up, Drills then x2 1000m at 10k pace. We kept going too fast. When I say we I mean them. We were supposed to be doing 1000m in 5mins 30. We did the first one in 4mins 50. Thank goodness as it felt like it. I think my 5k PB (pfff pb get me!) is about 27 or 28mins. I think. Second 1000m was still a bit fast then we did the video analysis. Quite cool. After that another x2 1000m. It was quite knackering, but at least my posture is pretty good and we managed the last 2 1000m on target. I imagine that is useful so you know what you can do and for how long. I am such an amateur!

I was glad for the girls being quite a laugh, but focussed and knew what they were doing. It was good to be with focussed people. I have done all my training on my own up until now and think this will be much better for motivation and consistency.

Flaying
Video says I need to work on balance in the arms and I am looking up! Took ages training myself not to look down at my feet and now I look like I am cloud busting.....mad.

Sunday - Cycle with club
Ooooh. Legs a bit sore. Very excited and nervous about this as I know I am slow, but once I am on my bike I love being on it. I got all my kit ready the night before, pumped up my tyres best I could, but a bit squidgy and tried not to think about the fact that the last time I rode Eduardo was er...September/October!

Obviously I opted for the slow ride. How hard could that be. I arrived at Elmers End with my nearly flat tyre. Dont buy a Blackburn Pump, buy a Pocket Rocket! I borrowed Karen's and it was fab. Charles had my tyres pumped up by the time I had realised that everyone else had cycling glasses on and overshoes - and I did not. Cheers Charles. I am such a girl! Well at least I did not put make up on.

CPT advertise the pace at 14-16mph for the slow ride. I already knew that was quite fast for me. (dont laugh!) Oh dear you'd think I could manage that....er no. I was that irritating person you are waiting for on every corner not actually puffing at the back...just slooooooooooow. My legs are weak, Luke. I just could not keep up. Was it all the exercise in the week? No Angel it was all the training you have not been doing in October, November and December and you have not got a clue how your bike works. Uh oh. So I had Phil with a hand on my back actually pushing me up the road. Humiliating.

I tried to keep on the wheel in front - Charles again, thank you, but we got cut off by traffic so slipped back again as Charles sped up to catch the others. All this and we had not even reached the start of the look we were doing. Ho hum.

By the time I got there Phil suggested I go right whilst they go left. I thought it was a shorter loop, but was in fact the way home. Oh no. They actually sent me home! Still it turned out to be a blessing in disguise and even after that I was out for an hour and half so pretty good start.

The good thing is I have started and you have to start somewhere. Did I really book a half ironman in June. I am sure triathlon is all about the bike...think the ex told me that.

Collapsed on Sofa and slept for 2 hours on Sunday afternoon. Karen G. Now I know how you feel.

Dust yourself off...

Hello

Where have I been, well September had bad pain in hip again so started the NHS route of checking it out. Then October was busy busy busy with the boyfriend's birthday preparations, going out and about and taking it easy with the pain being really bad. Had x-rays, scans, MRIs and all sorts over the last 3 months - in amongst which right at the end of October I split up with the boyfriend so as it was his flat have had to find a new place to live, job and normallity again. Friends rallied round and although Christmas was cancelled/odd and who did not have the lurgy - great what next? Still made fab new friend Annette who made a great dinner and Clare tried to keep me company. Thanks for trying. NYE was excellent - I think, found out ex husband is remarrying. Good for him. So the New Year starts here. Single me. First time in 20 years.

So last year has been really emotionally tough - divorce and split from the other one, but am getting there.

So thank you Jules for encouraging me to start this again. Here I am! and bigger thanks to everyone who has looked after me and made me feel loved and wanted again.