Complete Humour Bypass Update

A much needed injection of cuteness and fun after yesterday's melodrama!

These guys don't take themselves too seriously.

Note to self

Well 24 hours later the tears and the epic bout of self-indulgent moping have ceased as I finally chuckled and then fell into helpless giggles. For thirty minutes I sat on my little wooden stool in the travel writing section of Barnes and Noble and giggled away in fits. Just what I needed.

I love travel writing. It always, always reminds me that there are way worse scrapes I still have to find myself in, then extricate myself from with a scrap of dignity intact. But most of all it reminded me that nothing is really that bad if I just remember to keep my sense of humour.

Thank you Mr Bill Bryson and your dire Oslo escapade. I needed that lesson today.

Plus pummelling a punch bag for an hour this evening didn't harm either, until that was, someone punched me. I didn't wait to hear how he mistook me for the bag. My good humour has returned but only just. The cheek.......

Anyway onwards and upwards and I am so, so grateful to be able to say that with a big authentic smile on my face. As maddening as it is the pounds will come off again - even if it takes a while - but they will, especially if I manage to keep up with the run markers tomorrow - yup it's running club session number two and to celebrate - ok bribe myself - I bought myself a brand new pair of head phones. The difference in the sound quality is astonishing. Then again on my old headphones the wires were completely exposed and the ear pieces were hanging by a thread so it's probably not all that surprising.

Anyways off to bed in preparation for another 5.30am wake up call and another 10km attempt before the sun comes up! The things Texans have to do to negotiate the heat!

Big Smile :-)) xx

Staring Failure in the Face

I failed.

I want to say this kindly (for my own ego's sake) but there is really is no nice way to admit you failed.

I haven't just failed to get bikini fit - only a two year goal - I have gotten really fat over the last couple of months. Disgustingly fat to boot. I am almost glad I have no scales right now. I'm not sure I could bear seeing 12 stone anything flashing up at me between my toes.  But I did check my waist measurement tonight: 41 inches i.e. me at my fattest. Worse the chest pains are back. I can't believe I am saying this but I am right back where I started all that miserable time ago.

There goes my dream of wearing a bikini on the beach (I fear that will always be a pipe dream)

There goes my dream of buying a couple of nice work outfits when I go to New York this week to wear when I get home and magically transform from major frump to scrump-dilly-umptious.

Instead of wowing people when I get back, I will be reverting back to hiding my humiliation at putting all the weight back on. Except weight gain isn't something you can hide very easily, especially when people haven't seen you in a while.

God I just hope I didn't throw all my fat clothes out. I'm going to need them.

As fat as I am now, I'm scared of getting even fatter. Being out of my well-honed routine and in 100 degree heat just does not agree with me, at least my weight. You can't get out and about and actually enjoy the sunshine and the summer. You can't walk anywhere. Even crossing the car park is an issue. It's so scorchingly hot.

Today I finally lost my patience with the indescribably monotonous hotter than hot weather. Actually I have major weather RAGE. But really who can you get upset at - the Weather God?!

Everyone keeps telling me that October is lovely here and that's when everyone gets out and about again. Great except I'll have gone from being forced to spend my entire summer inside and ballooning up to a size 16 again just to return to the UK in time for the freezing cold, dark and wet winter when you just don't want to be outside. Except I'll be forced to spend hours in the dark miserable cold freezing my a$$ off again to lose the weight. Great. Just great.

Can you tell I've have a major sense of humour failure today?

As much as I'm enjoying being in the US
I wish it would have been a weight neutral experience.

Today I missed spending my Sunday wandering the London parks.
I miss just being outside and seeing people enjoy themselves.
I miss walking down the avenue in Hyde Park and staring up at the enormous trees.
I miss walking for miles.
I miss looking down and not being confronted by an enormous belly.
I miss being able to burn off what I eat.

I'm tired of pretending to myself that I'll ever be able to do a pull up and that I don't absolutely HATE wall balls- God whoever wants to throw a medicine ball 15 feet in the air and squat simultaneously? I wouldn't mind so much if the 20 min weight routines worked but clearly all my Leanfit sessions dying in the heat haven't made a jot of difference.

I am enormously, hideously, self-loathening F.A.T. 

There's just no denying it.

Chalk and Cheese (and Cheesy Feet!)

Yesterday's Leanfit workout was short, sweet and enjoyable; today's was relentless, a tad intimidating (800m run, 1000m row, 50 burpies, 300 skips and 1000m row) and seemed to last forever. If it wasn't for Kirstin and the other ladies cheering me on on the last row section and encouraging me to actually 'pull' on the rower thingy I'd have just stopped. DEAD. Actually today's workout only lasted 28 mins 23 seconds but I felt sick by the end. I came home and despite being a completely sweaty, hideous mess I just crawled into bed exactly as I was and stayed there for an hour to regroup.

I could mention:

• how my first attempt at spin yesterday evening broke me in under four minutes and I'm still in pain. Sitting on the rower today for 10 minutes probably wasn't the best recovery option. (N.B. I didn't think it was possible but I've found something even more impossible than running. I am in awe of anyone who can spin)


• how my arms are still feeling the effects of a run-in with a punching bag on Monday and still resemble lead balloons 


• or how worrying about highly functioning psychopaths (I didn't realise I was watching the Murder 24 channel last night until it was too late to unsee what I saw. They really should warn you.) and seeing the image on last night's news of the 2 month old baby struggling just to breathe in the heat as it's mum can't afford to keep the wall-mounted air conditioning unit going is making me feel sooooo guilty for being in such a nice and chilled environment, that I just couldn't sleep last night.

But instead, I'm simply going to:

1. take a shower (eek my first in three days - I haven't been bothering of late as a) the second I leave the house I'm a sweaty mess again and I've only been going out to go workout and become a sweaty mess and b) there's no-one around to tell me I smell bad ;-)) and c) I basically have no sense of smell anyway BUT even I think I've reached the point of acute repulsiveness ;-)) so I'm taking myself in hand again)


2. tuck myself into bed (likely the other side of the bed to the one I climbed into when I was on the verge of sweaty death this morning. Laundry is a must do for tomorrow ;-))


3. turn my mind to my upcoming travels and adventures - NYC, Phili, THE BEACH, WAVES!!!!!, SOME COOLER WEATHER!!, a 5km run along the BoardWalk with my friend to fulfil her personal get-back-into-running challenge, Sea Kyaking, Trapeezing, a night out in Atlantic City and mooooooooooore all just a few days away. Me and my new POP-UP NYC map cannot wait. I HEART pop-up maps!!

But most of all I am just praying I actually sleep tonight and not dream of dead/ decimated/ decapitated/ suffocating anythings as tomorrow at 6am I have my first run with the local running club - likely 6 miles and will likely include some big inclines (well big for me) - I AM SO FREAKING SCARED and it would really help if I didn't feel like a Zombie. I haven't run long distance since the Ben does Life Dallas 5km over three weeks ago. I don't anticipate it will go exceptionally but I'd settle for just keeping up and not getting lost. I have to start somewhere and I really have to take the plunge now or I'll never make the distance up to a half-marathon in just a few weeks. So tomorrow is half marathon training commencement day.

Right now fear can wait, for now showering and sleep are the urgent priorities. Can you even believe I used to hold down a full time job!! ;-)) xx

Heatwave's getting critical

It's 10pm here and it's still 97 degrees outside (32 celsius), it was 110 (43 celsius) earlier. For as long as I've been in the States it's been hot (95 degrees plus in both Nashville, TN and Texas) I just thought that's just how it gets here in the summer, but today it finally sunk in this extreme heat isn't quite normal even for Texas and even for Texas in August.

Today was actually the hottest day in Texas for a decade. There have only been 12 occasions since records began in 1890 that the temp has been over 110 degrees. Today was occasion number twelve in 131 years!!! Global warming's just a myth?!

They are starting to talk about initiating rolling blackouts here as the local Power Stations are being pushed to extremes due to the air conditioning electricity demands as everyone attempts to keep cool. I am so lucky as my temporary home comes with brill air conditioning, I can't even imagine how people are coping who cannot afford air conditioning here. A couple of parents were arrested earlier this week for abandoning their young kids in the car for 3 hours while they were keeping cool inside. 3 HOURS. THAT MAKES ME SO MAD. To compare, I was speaking to my Dad whilst waiting in my car before an appointment this week and turned my air con off for 5 mins to hear him better and I was sweating like crazy after 5 minutes and HAD to turn the engine back on. 3 hours in this heat must have been torture. Those kids are unbelievably lucky to be alive despite having criminal imbeciles for supposed parents.

The lakes are also drying up dropping FEET in a day!!! (and these are not small bodies of water) and the fish are suffocating as the remaining lake water is too hot/ too shallow. People are also dying from the heat; crazily summer football training camps are continuing and yesterday a Football Coach died. The primary reason I Crossfit in the morning and won't even consider the afternoon classes is because the heat is just too insane in the afternoon and running on the sun soaked concrete even despite wearing trainers feels as though your feet could combust any second.

Medics say that a heat index (i.e. not the temperature outside, but the temperature your body feels) of 105 is the max you should workout to, even if you are a pro athlete in really great shape. (I think I hit my own personal body's max heat index this morning but thankfully this morning's Leanfit routine only took me 15 mins - I was a speed demon!! - but I felt it; I had drunk half my normal water rations just doing the warm up!!)

32 straight days of triple figure heat.  And it doesn't look like it's ending soon according to the heat map above. We're just 12 days from breaking the longest ever heat wave here since 1980. I so chose the best time to come here!! xx

Personal Trainer Consult

Well I have just been offered a FREE!! Personal Training Consult. Clearly things have gotten more out of hand than I was hoping ;-)) either that or the legend of the flying walenda is getting around.

Anyway to prep for the inevitable 'what are you looking to achieve' PT question I decided a pictogram might work best - like so:

The 'Active, Athletic Bikini Body Type' Please

Whilst I simultaneously explain that in order to achieve a bikini body and some enviable ab definition, I completely appreciate that there are no quick fixes and so I have actually given myself a lead in time of 18 months. What you see before you is actually me miniaturised - sort of - plus a little recent weight gain. In summary the culmination of about 400 hours of circuit training - really! But now my bikini deadline is looming fast - 14 days to be exact - and so I need to step it up a knotch, ok maybe two three and ideally lose 10 pounds.

In answer to 'what's my training history': Back home I used to walk 3 hours a day (c.9-12 miles) with a daily circuit training/ max 10km run thrown in but since arriving in the US I have been indulging in Crossfit. Check out these babies (I will be giving him my gun show/ showing off my sparkly monkey feet/ maybe add in a cheerleading jump for extra effect?!)

'What are my goals?': Actually this consult is perfectly timed as I am kicking off my half-marathon training this week (never run further than a 10km before) in celebration of the fact that it's 109 degrees outside. WAHOO! The temp here is crazy. No, no the UK never gets this hot. Anyways I aim to run three times a week c. 15-25km total in the run up to a half marathon race on the 18th September - yes I'm just starting now. Better late than never right ;-) Long distance running is a little snoozy so I am also aiming to maintain my 5-6 Crossfit/ Leanfit sessions weekly average to preserve some variety AND newly developed muscules (miniature muscles) since I also have a challenge to hold myself for 60 seconds in the rings by the 31st August. BUT since I am unable to lay off the chocolate and cheese, I need a calorie burning, mind-off-food distracting evening activity that will get me lean, toned and bikini fit in 14 days (so don't take me near the crossfitter) BUT VERY IMPORTANTLY it must ensure that a) I don't die of boredom in this rather sparce gym environment (JJB London has ruined me!) and b) that I DO NOT overtrain and injure myself. Capisce.

'Is there anything else you'd like to add?': As an added bonus if you could teach me how to decode my recent purchase of the Jet Set Body Training Manual (BIGGEST waste of money EVER) as a) I fall asleep trying to decode the way OVERCOMPLICATED training plan and b) I had such high expectations after watching an interview (OK interview/informercial) with Mr and Mrs JSB. They do really know their stuff and they sure do look the part but unfortunately they haven't figured out how to get it down in an exciting non-pro-weight lifter useable format, (JSB are so going to run to me for a testimonial for certain!) then that would be EXTRA groovy!

'Do you have any medical conditions I should be aware of?': Acute laziness, a very low boredom threshold and a little lung thing - no biggie - but I have half adult lung capacity so I look & sound like I'm having an asthma/ mild heart attack when I exercise. But don't panic - that's just me. (Cue give PT big reassuring smile)

Well I think that's the important things covered. Anyway I am now feeling prepped and psyched about my Personal Trainer Consult tomorrow.

PT on the other hand is going to want to quit on the spot in less than 2 minutes. I guarantee it. xx

No news is good news??

The solitary post it on my fridge - surprisingly effective (at guilting me) although I can't pretend I am anything close to bikini ready. Tis hideous.

Four days and no update - shocking. if. I. do. say. so. myself!! Not sure where the time has gone except I plundered my friend's DVD collection recently plus I now have TV!! (fitness products infomercials are a revelation!!) and I am currently engaged in honing a new work related skill - specifically how to upload products for sale onto a website. Quite a nice turn of events considering the amount of time I routinely spend buying stuff off websites ;-))

Fortunately my blog silence doesn't mean I have been slacking completely training wise. Quite the reverse. I was even up at 5.30am this morning just to ensure I made a workout class today. My perfect attendance record continues without a dent. My imperfect ability to crossfit also continues with many, many dents.

Saturday's challenge was learning to lift a bar from the ground to outstretched arm height in one movement (no idea what the move is officially called) from a very kind man but one who currently only has use of one arm. Monday's challenge was kettlebelling with the smallest kettlebell possible, really just a weighted golfball ;-)) without throwing my back out and today's challenge was handstand pushups. In my defence I was feeling nauseous just from being awake this morning at 6am (it's been a while) and that mixed with the space constraints and my desire not to concuss anyone by falling sideways into them meant I wasn't brave enough to actually attempt this in front of people (mostly former gymnasts from what I gathered too) at the gym. However I did attempt these this afternoon home alone and discovered that:

a) I can actually do a headstand but not a handstand
b) Standing on your head really hurts
c) Getting my arms to raise my body up and thus my head off the ground was a COMPLETE no-go.
d) I still feel nauseous

So I will stick to just mastering the Rings for now.  That at least is going ok I think. In any case I have completely solid shoulders not to mention bulging biceps which I feel inclined to prod anytime I am driving (so weird but involuntary) plus I stayed in the Rings for a whole 5 seconds on Saturday. A feat or miraculous proportions which didn't go unnoticed!!

However at the same time my waistline is giving me massive cause for concern - I seem to be expanding exponentially with the heat or something. Clothes that I nearly didn't bring with me as they were actually too big when I was packing for this trip are now getting uncomfortably tight. Definitive proof that every day that goes by there seems to be even more or me to lift. (Heeeeeelp: I honestly don't think I'm eating that differently to how I eat at home. OK less/ no sushi but other than I'm drawing a blank)

WHATEVER IT IS (NOOOOOOO 12 MILES OF WALKING A DAY!!) IT'S NOT GOOD. I'M NOT HAPPY. IT'S SUCH A MASSIVE STEP BACK AFTER 18 MONTHS OF RIDUNKOUSLY HARD SLOG, OTHER'S ENCOURAGEMENT, 5AM WAKE UPS AND FREEZING MY BUTT OFF MOST DAYS. I AM MORTIFIED. I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW PUTTING WEIGHT ON IS MAGICALLY FAST AND INEXPLICABLY EASY BUT TAKING IT OFF IS A TEDIOUS, DRAWN OUT, RELENTLESS BATTLE AND ONE WHICH I AM HOPELESS AT.

Drastic action is called for to stall any further expansion - especially given the post it reminder on my fridge: Most effective would be instigating a two month famine - but I prefer to take the fitness route. Ergo I'm thinking of taking up the invite to join the local running group who run 10km twice a week departing 6am Tuesdays and Thursdays. At 6am it is only 85 degrees here! I'm pretending that helps. Currently I am just trying to muster the courage to go. The lady who invited me has just qualified for the Boston Marathon!

xx

Five Fabulous Friday Updates

1. My sparkly babies have arrived!!!!! The year of wanting and swooning has paid off. Now all thanks to my Dad haggling with customs, I'm currently getting high off the fresh odour of fantastic plastic!!


2. I am embarking on a virtual Route 66 Trip for the next 7 weeks - courtesy of the Fitbug and my feet!! I am actually a week behind on completing the 620,000 step race to the finish line as I'm waiting for a replacement part for my Fitbug - yup I have worn it out! Fingers crossed it arrives soon. There is a league and I don't want to fall too far behind. Competitive? Moi?! ;-))


3. So far I have TWO brilliant recruits for my 60 seconds 6 weeks Rings challenge woop-de-doop!! (I think the accent confused them into saying yes!!) Leah (as above) can currently stay in the rings for 11 seconds, one of my incredible Friday Leanfit comrades (who just cannot wait to tell her son that she is doing her first Crossfit Challenge and who like me cannot even hold the ring position yet) and I will be battling it out. Place your bets!!


4. My brain is embarking on it's own daily workout programme to improve its speed, stamina and strength. I read some research this week that demonstrated that serial multi-taskers (ummm moi for like the last 6 years) are actually damaging and lowering their IQ MORE than frequent marijurana users - WHATTTTT? So whilst I try to train myself to do just one thing at a time, OK realisitically limit myself to doing max two things at a time and so limit any further loss of the remaining IQ I have, I have also decided that just as I start each day with a workout to get my body moving and grooving (warned you I'm high on 5finger plastic fumes ;-), so I will spend 30 minutes each morning attempting a crossword. Crosswords are the cerebral equivalent of the TRX - they don't look like much but they're tricky to master! Check out today's inaugural (disaster) attempt. N.B. This is me trying to cultivate a skill that I have never EVEN possessed back when I had a relatively good IQ and before my addiction for multi-tasking took over. Crosswords are my nemesis - I just don't get them - why not just use google?! It's fair to say my brain is struggling more a tad. (I even selected a book of easier crosswords to kick things off with!)


5. I have nearly completed a personal crossfitting hat trick - all six sessions in a week (so long as I drag my bootie out of bed tomorrow)!!!!!! As a reward for this effort and persistence I'm losing chunks of skin from my hands - my pinky has no upper layer of skin left on it - so gross. Barwork - not the alcoholic kind - is completely to blame. Will be requesting urgent skin grafts ;-)).Yesterday we were attempting to get our toes to the bar from a hanging off the bar starting position - just using our abs. And to kick off we had to do 21 repeats then 15 then 9. Hmmmm perhaps we could start with two? SO IMPOSSIBLE yet I used to hang upside down off the monkey bars all the time as a kid so I must have been able to get my toes to the bar at some point. I just need to remember how. Plus is it just me or is crossfit really just rebranded rough and ready gymnastics so that it appeals more to men? I'm just irked as today I was feeling like a champ for completing 3 rounds of 800 meter runs, 30 back lifts (again on the instrument of torture) and 20 sit ups in 21.59 but then checking out the times for the other leanfitters, the typical times were around the 16 minute mark. 

Oh. Just. Kill. Me. Now. TGI Fabulous Friday!! xx

The end to a great day

Texan Sky - this could be anywhere except 

even at 8.45pm it is still a balmy 90 degrees

Tonight I go to bed with a smile on my face.

1. 

I survived this morning's workout.

Three of us started:

4 rounds for time of

15 Back Extensions (on something akin to a torture device!)

25 Sit-ups

10 Box jumps

400m run

But only two of us made it to the finish line. 

Leanfitter numero trois, I'm fairly sure, bailed after three sets. Tsk, tsk! 

Well it did take me 21:49 to complete it BUT I jumped EVERY single BOX JUMP. 

I really pushed myself. Running with jelly legs is no joke!

My body is happy.

2. 

I mastered some fun new work-related skills and I was productive all day!!! 

Pish tosh that rule that says most people are only productive 90 mins of each day.

I was definitely productive for a whole 120 mins today!! AT LEAST!

My brain is happy. (Better still the boss is happy! ;-))

3. 

As a reward for my excellent (if atypical) productivity of late, 

I finally treated myself to a trip to the cinema. 

SO GOOD. SO CATHARTIC (understand *cried a bucket load*)

Plus I've finally committed myself to A REALLY BIG fitness challenge for 2012 

My soul is happy.

Now off to bed - my 4 month sabbatical is reacquainting me with a LOVE FOR SLEEPING.

That and I need to be well rested for tomorrow

 I've just seem the proposed Leanfit session

Oh. DEAR. GOD. 

Only one of us may survive tomorrow. Sadly I'm not convinced it will be me! xx

Have to laugh

An hour ago I looked at my watch. Time was 1.30 and my stomach growled appreciatively. Lunch Time it is.

Yum Yum. Yummmmmmm.

Twenty minutes ago I checked my phone and the time said 11.57am - CONFUZZLED.

I checked my watch again, which was now saying 2.35

Hmmmm.

I then realised that my stopwatch was still running from this morning's Crossfit session and that I'd eaten lunch at the time I normally eat breakfast.

%*$*

So only 7 hours until I can legitimately think about Dinner.  It's going to be a looooong afternoon.

BUT

The mailman has just delivered me a coffee mug telling me 'I'm Rich, Happy and Hot'. OK. Slightly random and totally unexpected but hopefully it's a prophetic coffee mug so, I ACCEPT.

Coffee mug now has pride of place on my desk. And on that note I've decided to extend my tough love principles to my work/play life as well as my eating sooooo I somewhat rashly decided that I don't get to go see Harry Potter UNTIL I complete seven dastardly to dos that have been hanging half completed on my action list for an unacceptable amount of time.

So far I'm on number 2 (posting on my blog doesn't count ;-(( unfortunately) but I have an unexpected long afternoon stretching ahead of me and I am apparently Rich, Happy and Hot!! xx

p.s. The reason I was so ravernous at 10am is clearly due to all the energy I'm burning ;-)) This morning was another 'how many circuits can you complete in a set time' type of session. This time though we had partners with whom to alternate circuits with - hallelulia rest and recovery circuits.

Nancy - My partner-in-calorie-burning-muscle-pumping-crime this morning who incidentally was asking whether I blogged - mwahahahah xx

Guessing 'AMRAP' means something like 'as many repeats as possible'?? 

'Run' meant run to the sewer located behind SuperTarget and back - SEXY!!

Well Nancy and I rocked this morning. The boy duos completed in the region of 9 circuits total. We did just over 7 circuits. Not too shabby!!

DEFCON 152 :: Project Bikini Commenceth

I hope you are all sitting down. I finally discovered a set of scales lurking in my friend's bathroom today and the news isn't great. To be honest I was expecting it. There have been a few clues:

1. The 18 babybels I inhaled this week. I love these mini cheeses. But 18. SHAMEFUL Adding babybels to the banned substances list right now.


2. The elastic of my PJs digging into me is waking me up in the morning. 


3. I have free rein to an American sized fridge and there's no-one around to count how many visits I make in an evening. *Major Disaster Zone*


4. I feel permanently PMS bloated and my kidneys are hurting from processing way too much protein - alright, alright cheese and I'm tired all the time.


5. I know where I can source some european tasting i.e. palatable chocolate in American surburbia: You can put an ocean between the chocolate and the chocoholic but the chocoholic just gets resourceful  ;-))


6. I haven't gone for a run in about a week maybe more.


7. I've noticed and counted the ways the redesigned google altered over the weekend.


8. I've discovered the settee has a LA-Z-BOY reclining function: Cue weekend mara-DVD-athon: These are my current recommendations:

• 'How do you know' with the always amazing Reese Witherspoon - pretty good plot and characters for a fairly stock one woman two guys decision rom com 


• 'The Switch' with Jen Aniston - a story that's a bit too close to Jen's 'no man but wants a baby' current life situation for comfort BUT an incredible script with one liners that resonated so much. I will be quoting from this film for months - warning you now ;-))


• 'The Blind Side' - great film and a tear jerker - but a film you can really only watch once.


• 'I am Number Four' - you probably need to be a 15 year old boy to truly enjoy this


• 'Country Strong' - that slightly irritating Leigh girl from Gossip Girl unexpectingly sings A LOT in this aka ruining this for  me

Enough DVD chat - back to the exploding waistband crisis: Whilst I knew I'd been heading in the wrong direction - converting 152 into metric to get a true picture of the damage has been tricker than I expected: My phone calculator and I are now at war.

152 is 10 stone 8lbs according to my phone. (I like to check my maths as mental arithmetic is not my strongpoint) 10stone 8lbs... the left side of my brain was immediately relieved that the damage wasn't as bad as I and my too tight waistband expected BUT then the right lobe kicked the left lobe's butt for being such a gullible idiot. 152 = 10 stone 12lbs. My phone is tripping. My maths isn't THAT bad.

10lb gain in a month. Pregnant people don't gain that much. CR........

.....AP doesn't even come close. Especially as I have a photographic date with my bikini on the beach in exactly 6 weeks. Thanks Hannah for that final challenge. Remind me to hex you sometime ;-)) It's going to be horrendous. Warning you now.

But I don't like to enter 'my life is ruined' zone without a fight and since I have a good exercise going with Crossfit - I am already planning to up that to 4/5 sessions a week now that my muscles are emerging from the shock and adding 2 x 5-7km runs a week with one complete rest day a week - SO my main focus is kerbing all the unnecessary eating - especially in the evening. That's like 80% of my daily calories! Since there is no-one here to actually shame me - you are all going to have to do that for me and keep me accountable. For the next week to kick the snacking habit of late I will post a photo EVERY time I visit the kitchen after 6pm - the threat of public shame should be enough BUT you have to tell me off for any unnecessary trips. You promise? Thank you.

Plus I have come up with a couple of food distracting evening activities guaranteed to keep me from overeating. Firstly the Crossfit gym have a self-appointed Social Coordinator and I have ensured that I am on speed dial anytime there is annnnnnything going on. (I am always very well behaved (eating wise) when I am with other people). Then for the evenings when I am home alone with only the fridge calling my name - I have discovered a new diverting and crucially hilarious past-time which I will share soon. No TV AND no chocolate makes you uber inventive. Guaranteed! Plus I'm initiating a 9.30pm curfew for when I am home alone. Sleep apparently dissolves fat and I need allllllll the help I can get for the next six weeks ;-))

That's enough oversharing for one evening! Plus it's 9.30pm xx

p.s. I have an All-American 4th July Extravaganza post I'm desperate to share but the 17 photos I just tried to upload killed the mobile internet hub.  I will hijack Starbucks' wifi tomorrow and share with y'all - pinky swear.

Feeling Rejuvenated.....at last!!

It might have something to do with swapping cocktails for this:

Or it might be that nearly four weeks into my four month holiday I am finally starting to chill out and just enjoy the moment.

Or it could be the after effects of a great weekend.

Whatever it is I FEEL INSPIRED and rejuvenated again.

However I don't LOOK rejuvenated.  I got home last night - drove myself home in Dallas rush hour traffic!!! - so I was feeling like a champ but when I looked in the mirror I resembled more puffy tramp than champ.

Seriously I am well aware that I am no Mona Lisa but honestly if I could resemble a little less of a train wreck every now and again I would be over-the-moon happy.

Before I left for my mini trip I spotted that the double chin was reappearing. Nooooooooo!! If I'm honest too, the belly is definitely making it's presence known in a much bigger way than is decent (I don't have scales here but I guessing that I've put on 6-8lbs *insert swear word of your choice*).  Plus even after four weeks of no discernible work stress my skin is still 'H' to the orrendous. The icing on this big beauty bonanza has to be the blistered skin on my shoulders from catching a few too many rays by the pool this weekend.

I am seriously SEXY right now. No man can possibly resist. ;-)) I read somewhere that fugly is the new pretty. I am NOT convinced!

As shocking as my fugly reflection was last night. My head is finally in the right space to seriously do something about it.  The junk food has been banned - it's PALEO to a P from here on in and Fitness is top of the agenda again:

There's no time like the present (it's a gift you know - hahaha!!). So this morning was round two of Crossfit and 'Dorothy' was the name of the game - aka:

• 10 pull ups (with the green band)


• 20 press ups


• 30 sit ups 


• 40 air squats 


• 3 minute rest then repeat 3 times and collapse

By round three of pull ups I no longer had the strength to even pull the band down enough to hook my foot in it, let alone pull myself up to the bar so the last 10 reps were 'interesting'!  Plus did I mention that the skin on my shoulders is blistered? Well this adds a special dimension to pull ups as burnt skin fiercely resists any movement.  Now you know.

Plus I also got around to downloading my Fitbug steps at long last and for a power walker extraordinaire like me, the results are a bit shocking:

These is my average daily step total each month since I got my FitBug mid Feb:

No facts don't lie: June has been a MASSIVE fail.

Since I've been in the US I've only hit my step target three times.

Fortunately the weekend just gone is starting to show a bit of an improvement.

And I really know it cos I feel so much better, mentally and physically.

Want to know the main reason why Sunday was so good step wise?

2km run on the treadmill at the Hilton Gym at a 10km hour pace!!!!

Although maddeningly this profile doesn't show it, I was running consistently fast (I had to - I was on a treadmill!!) and I ran over 2km WITHOUT stopping.  

Well I'm EXCITED!! xx

Q&A Time!!!

Q: WarriorWoman recently sent me a question about how often I maintain my Running School learnt running form? (Thanks WarriorWoman I heart questions ergo I heart you!!) 

A: Anytime I run on a treadmill, which admittedly is almost NEVER, I feel obliged to keep consistently good form as I instantly feel like I'm back in my running lessons ;-)) But seriously running on a treadmill does make concentrating on your form more seamless as you don't have to worry about uneven surfaces, pedestrians, traffic or battling the weather etc.  Keeping consistent form 100% of the time is impossible, unless you possess a mind not full of it's own musings or with a constant stream of inane questions and wandering thoughts like mine. So the best thing to do is pick a visual cue - like silver cars, lamp posts, fire hydrants or dog walkers - something you see regularly when you're running and every time you see your selected visual cue that's your own mental cue to check your running form and whether you are driving your arms enough and picking up your heels etc? Eventually, and as with anything, good technique becomes more seamless with practise especially as your previously underused running muscles get stronger. Another trick I learnt is to find a slightly slower running buddy - almost an impossibility as I am ridiculously slow as it is!! - but while you are running alongside you can take your time to concentrate more on your running technique. 

So to answer your question!! I feel like I am running well if I am a mindful runner c. 40-60%  of my run. But most importantly remember running perfection is not the aim of the game, just injury free running and above all some ENJOYMENT. Even if the feeling of enjoyment comes post run when you can sit down again!! Good luck on your Learn to Run Journey - I'll be checking up on you. xx

Gecko on the Garage Door

Today I spotted a gecko on the garage door (alas there is no photo as this particular gecko was incredibly camera shy). Just when I think I'm getting used to my surroundings something happens to remind me that I am actually in unchartered waters (metaphorically speaking mind as despite two nights of epic lightening storms, Texas is still land locked. N.B. Texan rain is torrential and Texan lightening is akin to being strobed non-stop for 60 mins minimum. I will never understand weather.)

Did you know geckos are considered to a sign of good luck as well as a symbol of keeping one eye on the past while focusing the other on the future?

Well my gecko was without a doubt looking out for me today. The car and I took three trips today to get acquainted. It's actually a ford escort like my first EVER car (I've had four in total. This doesn't mean I have totalled four cars!) - spooky!! Journey one and two went without a mishap (driving mistakenly through a red light at a six way junction on your first trip in a foreign country doesn't count ;-)). Plus my first journey took me to an ATM!! and my second resulted in the safe ownership of my replacement bank card -WAHOO. So my cash issues are now mercifully resolved.

All in all driving Stateside in an automatic hasn't been too hair raising although my navigation still sucks - I have basically now been down every back street possible in the locality including some of the areas where I was recommended to avoid. Whoops. I only had one notable 'I curse Automatics' moment when on my third trip I backed the car out of the drive and it ended up slap bang perpendicular across the road (despite braking but to no avail). I then realised that the engine wasn't turning over but try as I might the car refused to start. Traffic appeared on both sides wanting to get past but couldn't as, of course, I was blocking the way - cue minor meltdown and pondering life, the Universe and whether Texan heat was sufficient to overheat a car in less than 20 mins in the sun. Eventually we figured out le problem, le car started and the traffic was allowed to flow freely again. Sometimes my popularity knows no bounds ;-))

Plus today I finally unpacked!!! I even did some laundry AND I purchased a pink hairdryer - drying my hair outside, even in this heat is not the done thing apparently!!!!!!! and MOST IMPORTANTLY I established a snack cupboard with both Paleo options (for when I just need a sweet fix) and non Paleo options (for when I am a moment away from complete and utter despair OR for when things implode inexplicably like so:)

I was just eating dinner when KABOOM!

Pyrex appears to be more Justine-proof in the UK

SF - obvs I will purchase you a new dish. Soooooorrry xx

After pondering life, universe and the Texan heat, I decided only a cookie could provide a solution to the current imploding conumdrum so I headed to my 'snackus cupboardicus' (see my University grade Latin has so not gone to pot ;-))

And just cos I'm proud of finally unpacking - it only took me a fortnight - check out how much PINK clothing I own ;-))

Just remembered: I forgot to purchase some hangers whilst I was out. DOH!

Best development of them all: I can now fall asleep without a light on. Progress and a definite sign that my somewhat massive new abode is finally starting to feel like a home.

But like the gecko caught between the headlights, I once again have an eye on the future and I'm packing again, as tomorrow I depart to go a'travelling for a few days. So typical!! And yet so exciting!! xx

I'm revoking my genius credentials

Hubris my friends does not joke around. I may have been a tad too smug recently about surviving everyday activities despite being just decidedly averagino, so the Universe decided to throw me a curve ball. Well OK two - an extra one just for good measure.

Curveball Uno: I lost my US bank card on Sunday. Completely my fault so extra idiot points to me. The new card is ordered and takes 5-7 working days to arrive BUT on day 4, aka Thursday, I leave for a tour of Southern Texas with my uni friend Miss D. Best of all I currently have $41.75 cash to my name. This is probably just about enough to get me from the airport to a homeless shelter in downtown Houston and if I'm lucky a snack to keep the hunger gremlins away until dinnertime.

Universe, I promise to be ultra good for the next two weeks, at least, if you could find a way to get my replacement bank card to me tomorrow. Thank you. {This is how the Law of Attraction works right - you ask for what you need and it falls into your lap. Well it works for Tom Cruise}

Curveball Duo: I am now the proud recipient of four wheeled transportation which is simultaneously fab and ultra scary. In order to commence my tour of Southern Texas this weekend, I need to drive solo to the Dallas airport (an hour's drive) during rush hour (so make that two hours ;-)), on the Interstate, in an automatic, on the wrong side of the road, not knowing where I am going and not understanding half the road signs or even being cognisant of the speed limits here AND trying not to get killed by the multi-tasking drivers who have not heard of 'don't text and drive'. Seriously everyone here is on their phone when they drive. We may as well all just drive blindfolded and play bumper cars.

What can possibly go wrong?!

I know that in order to keep growing as a person, I should do the things that scare the pants off me. For me, despite driving a manual car very successfully for over a decade in the UK, driving solo to the airport here in Texas qualifies as wetting-my-pants-scary. In fact just reversing the car out of the garage, down the sloped driveway to run errands (without being able to tailgate my friend - which is how I got the car here) boggles my mind. Ergo so far I haven't even attempted it. But tomorrow I shall. I shall pretend to be brave and I shall pray that my constant chanting of 'drive on the right, drive on the right' has sunk in (although it's true I get more than a little left and right dyslexic under pressure).

{This experience actually takes me back to my 17 year old self and being told by my parents that I now had to drive myself to my weekly trampolining lessons (the first time driving the car completely unguided and unsupported). I remember thinking in my head: 'Wha............t OMG this is what it means to be an adult. Don't my parents realise that I'm secretly still 12 years old. OMG,' whilst outwardly saying, 'OK...see you later'}

Well most of the time I still feel like I'm 12 years old but now with wrinkles, but like my 17 year old self any bravery I exhibit tomorrow will be mostly out of necessity.  This time though it'll be to go rob a bank or the drive-through ATM!!!!! and a liqour store (to steady my nerves after robbing the bank ;-)) if my card doesn't appear tomorrow!

In a foreign place, accomplishing even the simple day to day things require genius attributes. Given my starting position, no wonder I am feeling knackered. xx

Panic Stations

Well you know how holidays, even extended travels, are meant to be exciting and a little relaxing - well I so don't fit the bill - It's Day 2 of my stay in Texas and I'm a little freaked out:

1. I found a panic button in my new bedroom last night. Panic is one of those words that does what it says on the tin - I started panicking..... Why would people need a panic button in their own home and in their bedroom for that matter? Is there a swarm on killer cockroaches on the rampage? The floor is full of air conditioning vents so I imagine that's where they'd swarm from. {N.B. I met what I can only assume was one of their cousins, hiding under the bed yesterday - big orange bugs with antennae that scuttle are now on my hit list and guaranteed to make my BP quadruple - eek}  Is there a prison, mental health establishment or an armoury in the locality and I need to be on full alert? The bedroom has four doors so hypothetically 'they' can come from anywhere. Typically I sleep facing the door as that's how I feel safe. Last night I discovered that was a tad impossible unless I want to become permanently contorted Girl on a Mission. Are the neighbours just really unfriendly? Is this just a safety precaution against the gun culture here? OMG what happens if I accidentally push the panic button - it is on the same control panel as the lights - heeeeeeeeelp.

*Deep breath* and a walk to quell my imagination/ check out the neighbourhood for any gun shops/ institutions/ unfriendly looking neighbours. I did get honked at and automatically started waving back as you do when someone does the friendly 'hey you honk' until I realised that waving at two strange men in a strange neighbourhood was probably not a good idea. Heeeeeeelp.

2. During my walk, I was nonchalantly enjoying the sidewalks - they have pavements here sooooooooooo freaking happy!! Safety first!! - when I tripped on the uneven concrete slabs, stubbed my toe and went flying and wrecked my sandals. Cue limping home along the now cursed sidewalk ;-)) So now a little freaked out as I realised that I was really lucky I didn't break my ankle or head on the concrete but that had I broken something I had no way of calling for official help as I don't know how to call the emergency services - I thought it was 911, Vodafone tells me it 122 or something and does that even work when calling from a UK mobile? P-A-N-.... Additionally with my sandals out of commission I am now down to two pairs of shoes - my trainers and my monkey shoes - my friend is so not going to be impressed when she picks me up to run some work errands and I resemble a tramp. Not a great second impression.... -I-C-K-E-D.

*Deep breath* and a gentle walk to the walk in closet to re-examine non-existant footware possibilities.

3. To lighten the tone of this post as this is really just me being a numpty and stoooopid, it was only as I went to make some dinner last night that I realised that there was not a scrap of cutlery or any cooking implements anywhere. Not a spoon, fork, NADA. Can you tell cooking is not a natural forte? I just don't think about these things EVER. Well fortunately I had a ready cooked chicken breast in the fridge, since dining out is not an option given my previous exploratory excursion into deepest surburbia, so I literally went caveman and chowed down on that (nom nom), some tomatoes and pistachio nuts - thankfully there was no-one around to see me eat with my paws *dignified!!*. For the record yoghurt isn't drinkable from the carton. It just gets messy! Cereal is also an interesting prospect.

*Deep breath* and a walk to the bathroom to clean up!

4. To take my mind off things and {try to} keep out of trouble - I turned to my favourite past-time: my email inbox - except Hotmail is on the fritz and will not allow me to open, file, delete or respond to emails without me logging in and out and refreshing the browser 20 times a minute or suggesting that someone has hacked my account. Nooooooooo and why would anyone want to hack me and my glitter newletter subscriptions ;-)) ?! As I am unable to open, read and action an email in 5 seconds the current state of affairs is just impossible. BUT I don't want to lose all the emails, my correspondence and my life for the past 10 years - full on PANIC. What to do?????????????

*Breathing isn't even an option at this stage*

5. So instead I turned my attention to the scary topic of transportation. Since I need to be more independent here - my dear friend has a full schedule with her babies and her own life *totally understandably* and I need to find ways to alleviate my hyperactive imagination and find actual not imaginary ;-)) people to interact with so I have been checking out my transport options for getting around. I know buses and public transport aren't the thing to do here but I'm a tad worried hiring a car will drain all my travel funds in a nanosecond and since I've been using buses happily since I was 7 years old, busing it is kind of second nature to me.  Well I checked out the bus timetable and there are 2 bus routes near me - wahooo, both go downtown and other places - wahooo and there are a total of seven buses a day - what...... wait. Seven buses a day. OMG.  My bus enforced curfew means that I will be home and waiting by the panic button ;-)) by 6.30pm every night. No late nights for me.

*Slow Deep breath* People really do take safety seriously around here! xx

Post Script: Potential Panic Station Numero 6: At what point should you start worrying whether you've been ripped off and that you are way too gullible/ trusting? I commissioned some work a couple of weeks ago, paid upfront and in full for it, as per the terms and conditions and the deadline for completion is just about to whistle by and I've not heard even a peep despite some friendly enquiries. *Starting to feel like I've been ripped off big time and that I am indeed a totally gullible sucker*

*Cue reaching for a brown paper bag and trying not to hyperventilate*

So Random

Warning - this is not a remotely exciting post today (are they ever?! ;-)) Been in a bit of a funk the last couple of days - technically known as 'overtired.' Going to bed at 3am, getting up at 9am, sitting out in baking heat all day has thrown me all off. Cue MAJOR GRUMPINESS. Bet your glad there's an ocean between us now!!

Things I don't love about my adventure so far:

• Calling people at home doesn't work well. Typically you are asleep when I'm about to dial/skype y'all ;-(


• Not hiring a car in the US also doesn't work. ALTHOUGH bus drivers here are so friendly: it's basically like having a private chauffeur and it's a great way to meet other tourists. Only tourists ride the bus and NONE of us have a clue how to work the crazy magnetic swipe/ ticket insert/ cash slot ticket machines ;-))


• Actually going places here will require me to drive BUT the prospect of driving a car in the US freaks me out - their traffic laws and lights are 'open to interpretation' and no-one signals as far as I can tell.


• I am so not adventurous. I like having some sort of routine. It's only been a week but it feels weird not having a job. I feel like a hobo. I hate to admit it but I have no real interest in touristy things - museums BOREEEEEEEEEE ME to death and they are like freezers. Today I had to go outside to defrost for 20 mins before heading back in. That's not right.


• Tipping drives me crazy plus tax gets added to everything at the till - cue major fumble trying to work out the money and typically dropping everything on the floor.


• Tried to get a pedicure yesterday but the nail bars are staffed by chinese/ mexican male nail technicians and not good looking ones. That freaks me out. Cue equally dodgy home pedicure.


• There's not a whole lot going on in Nashville now that the Country Music Fest has left town. In fact there's just a hay bale rolling down the street. ;-))

Well time to turn that frown upside down - things I'm loving about my adventure so far:

• I love the heat, the sun and seeing lightning bugs in the evening - so pretty. Though I still have my 'farmer's tan' as everyone calls it here.


• I have had the most amazing apartment all to myself for a week - indoor and outdoor dining room anyone!


• I have met some amazingly kind people this week - I got invited to my first tailgate BBQ pre-concert party in the parking lot. Not the classiest do but hilariously good fun.


• I have fallen in LOVE with Chris Powell of Extreme Makeover Weightloss Edition. He is a GOD - talks so much sense and is total eye candy. These programmes are amazing and UBERinspirational although I always have to rehydrate afterwards (from the hour of sobbing whilst watching the programme then from the run I feel compelled to do to prevent becoming 300lbs and ending up on Chris' programme)


• I have survived this far, despite having no real plan, no map or clue what I'm doing most of the time and despite encountering some of the most horrible taxi drivers on the planet. There's a reason I take the bus.


• US libraries are AMAZING and warmer than the museums and galleries - I did warn you that I'm not adventurous. Best reads so far: Marta Stewart's Rules and Meg Cabot's ENTIRE back catalogue for adults


• I have YET to consume my body weight in Chips Ahoy - the US equivalent to Maryland cookies but somehow better


• I still have weeks to perfect being a better and more daring traveller. Infact I want to set myself the challenge of doing a road trip through California in September either starting or ending in San Fran. I'm just not convinced I am brave enough yet. But I have three months.

Wait I still have three months left!!!!!! Tomorrow I head to Texas. CUE MASSIVE SMILE xx

My TV Appearance!!

I AM SO EMBARRASSED (Actually I take that back. You haven't seen my cowboy hat yet ;-)) !!)

The small screen and I will never be a match made in heaven. I have a terrible voice. Note to self: NEVER speak in public again. What I thought would be a five minute interview with me edited out of the frame for the end result, actually turned out to be a morning's filming with a mini concert happening in the living room of my apartment where I'm currently staying (note my bemused expression) followed by running all over Nashville (not literally running - it's too hot for that) but being filmed on the streets of Nashville (SUPERembarrassing). Unfortunately my fellow guest's interview seems to have been completely edited out - there goes my lifts downtown!!

Well check out the end result and my five minutes of fame for yourself, this segment was shown last night on News Channel 5. Feel free to snigger away. You'll see for yourself eradicating those tan lines is still a work in progress ;-)) xx

Je suis arrivée!!

It's now 3.30am UK time and I've been travelling for 20 hours. BUT I have seriously NO complaints as utterly unbelievably I was upgraded!!!! so I literally floated across the Atlantic in reclined super luxury being force fed yummy snacks. This once in a lifetime event was delish. I mostly can't believe I was upgraded EVEN despite the fact that I was wearing my comfy lycra getup and my rather bright monkey shoes!!!

Moi? World Traveller? Well if you insist. Take it from me the 'other half' have it so, so good sometimes!! However my new knowledge will most likely make flying standard class sadly traumatic by comparison in future. I've been way too spoilt!!

Well I made it to Nashville in one piece and although I am literally about to fall unconscious as the room is spinning in a rather disconcerting and nauseating fashion, I have ONE VERY IMPORTANT question:

When did America go nuts for paisley?

Here's to the land of the free and home of the VERY brave fabric choices!! xx

Time for a Vegucation

Umm - paleo has fallen a little by the wayside in recent days - chocolate and sushi are just too yummy to resist and I've been too tired to try to resist. (FYI: No I don't recommend eating sushi and chocolate together) 

Today however I stumbled on this and miraculously feel more inclined to stick to the veggie regime SO I just had to share. What an innovative way of enthusing kids into eating their veggies. Clearly I have no kids and therefore no idea whether this sort of pseudo-manipulation works on mini-people but IT WORKS FOR ME ;-))

Introducing the Veggie Ladies (think Beyonce!) - seriously entertaining:

The Super Sprowtz from Super Sprowtz on Vimeo.

Without further ado - go check out the phenomenon that is www.supersprowtz.com and discover your veggie SUPERhero or villain.  FYI: It's a close run thing but mine is Suzy Sweetpea (we like the same movies, she's a runner, has cool aspirations - we're ALMOST peas in a pod!)

Who's your veggie SUPERhero or villain?

p.s. Absolutely go check out the 1:1 veggie interviews - hearing 'which vegetable would you date and why?' cracks me up. That has got to be illegal in some/all countries!! xx

Rain Dance

Tipped off by my dad that thunderstorms were forecast for Saturday - Noooooooooooo, I decided it was time to bite the bull by the horns (wait that’s def not right – TAKE not BITE!! Never, ever attempt to bite a bull ;-0 ) and check the weather forecast myself:

NOT GOOD.

BBC weather forecast for West Sussex

Friday Night – heavy rain

Saturday – heavy rain

Saturday night – light rain

Perhaps I’d better pack my swimming costume, armbands and an emergency life raft.

My Dad’s sage counsel was to do as the SAS do and strip off – ie keep your clothes dry then when the rain stops you can put your dry clothes back on. Yup that’s definitely advice I’m going to follow, papa. You’d better get the bail money ready.

I’m not completely convinced that the SAS do go around naked in the rain in jungle settings etc shooting at people and I’m so not googling ‘naked SAS in rain’ to find out - at least not whilst at the office ;-))

Rain, rain – please go away and come back on another non-60km-walk-race-day. xx

Wait - good news - according to Metcheck it's only going to rain for EIGHT of the predicted THIRTEEN HOURS of the race. Smile Han. Smile. Think happy thoughts xx

Four Day Weekend FUN BONANZA : Dress Rehearsal

I (not so) secretly believe I was destined to be a lady of leisure or at least a part-time lady of leisure – my bank balance and my Dad heartedly disagree but I am a Class A* procrastinator who can fill up a delightful day doing basically nothing and loving it. That might also be the official definition of laziness but I’m just too busy doing nada to check. ;-)

Fortunately the Universe has aligned with my long-hoped-for-destiny and provided not one BUT two consecutive four day weekends for me to test out my lady of leisure credentials. WOOOO HOOOO. Today I feel as though it’s the last day of the Summer Term and I have weeeeeeeeeeks of blissful nothingness ahead of me: FYI: When you get old a day is a lifetime – I can barely remember what I ate this morning!!

My grand plans for this EPIC weekend ahead are both restorative and mission focused (well mostly):

1. Hours of sunbathing/ re-reading the forgotten principles of Paleo

2. Manning the BBQ/ channelling my inner cavegirl

3. Quaffing Pimms/ increasing my intake of fruit and veggies in preparation of Paleo

4. Preventing the killer ruffian from digging too many holes dans le jardin whilst supervising mon cavepapa landscaping holey jardin. Aka: Train the ruffian to catch fresh meat – tigers and antelope are indigenous to the suburbs of Southampton right?!

Killer Ruffian - don't let the cute pout fool you - she is 100% insane.

5. Photo shopping my face onto Kate’s on my Will and Kate Royal Wedding Commemorative Oyster Card – picked up first thing this morning. Since only 750,000 of these special edition cards went on sale today I didn’t want to risk missing out ;-)) Dum, dum,dum,dummmmmmmm, dum, dum, dum, dummmmmmmmm....

Fun times xx

p.s. Back situation is improving. Way toooo slowly though.