It’s a sunny Saturday in September. The perfect opportunity to relax in the garden and reflect on my experience at the British Cycling talent ID weekend I attended last month.
We all know I am athletics obsessed. You only have to check who I follow on Twitter to learn I am an avid fan. Whilst injury has prevented me from competing in over 3 years, my commitment to the sport still remains.
Thus when British Cycling advertised their search for a female visually impaired stoker for the Tokyo Paralympics back in June, my immediate response was dismissive. For years people have been encouraging me to try cycling and for years I have whistled the same tune, ‘no I love athletics.’
Although initially reluctant to put myself forward, the amount of messages I received from different people urging me to go for it started to get my cogs whirling. I had nothing to lose, it didn’t mean I had to quit athletics, wouldn’t it be worth finally finding out if it was a sport that I could excel at. After all I have seen multiple athletes transition from athletics to cycling. There must be something good about it.
With gyms closed and no access to a bike it wasn’t as if I could prepare myself for the weekend as I would have liked. In truth during lockdown my motivation and ability to train was proving a challenge. Nevertheless, the prospect of the weekend marginally improved my drive to exercise.
Prior to the weekend I was informed there would be 3 bike tests. 3 x 6 second sprints, a 1 minute effort and a 3 minute effort. Being a sprinter I was looking forward to the 6 second sprints and the others not so much. Based on the results from the tests on the Sunday we would be split into 3 groups that would indicate if we had Tokyo potential, Paris potential or currently lacked potential. The thought of being placed in the final group somewhat terrified me. Despite having nothing to lose that result would be a slap in the face.
The talent ID weekend was being held in Manchester. Thankfully I didn’t need to arrive until the afternoon meaning it wasn’t a too early start. To give you some context, I have never been to a velodrome, never worn cycling shoes or ridden a turbo bike. This caused some apprehension. My mum travelled up with me and was soon ushered away to the stands leaving me alone with the British Cycling staff and the other hopefuls. Being left without direct support also unnerved me.
Various British Cycling people came over to chat and help me set up. However, as soon as they came over it wasn’t long before they disappeared again. I didn’t fully understand how the gears worked on the bike, the person helping me didn’t fully understand I couldn’t see when they told me to push the black leaver. I asked if they could sort the gears for me, I assumed they needed to be set on a specific setting anyway. I was left to warm up and was told after 5 minutes had past to pick up the speed. Not being able to see the timer of course I had no idea when it was time to change up and so just turned over gently.
For the actual test part we were all allocated an individual. For the 6 second sprints we had to go from a static start. I had no clue what position my pedals should be in to get the best start. On my first sprint the bike moved everywhere to my surprise. That kind of thing never happens with the bikes in the gym. My second sprint felt better and the power output reflected this. My final sprint was better again and my competitiveness that had been lying dormant for so long began to trigger. I vocalised that I could do so much more. This led them to letting me have a fourth attempt where I added another 40 odd to my power output. I could see my potential, I hoped they could too.
The person helping me with my bike clicked the gears for me before the 1 minute effort began. Fuelled up from the sprints I was ready to go all out. I was then stunned when I pushed down on the pedals to discover I could hardly turnover. The resistance was stupidly tough. I assumed everyone was on the same resistance and pushed on as best I could. The desire to stop was overwhelming. However, I knew not finishing the effort would be embarrassing. So I kept repeating to myself ‘don’t’ stop’. When I got off the bike my left knee was throbbing and I had some soreness near my right knee that when I got home I found was swollen. The effort had flared up an old injury and caused another with the 3 minute effort still to go.
I made it clear for the 3 minute attempt that I would not be having the resistance that high. Feelings of frustration flooded me. My legs were on fire. The 3 minute effort actually turned out to be a 3 minute 30 second effort. They take your best 3 minutes from the set time. I managed it relatively well but all things considered knew it wouldn’t be amazing. After the tests had been completed I learnt that the gears could have been set to whatever you wished. This infuriated me even more. As a totally blind person who had never used a turbo bike before it wasn’t explained to me enough how to set the gears and know what they were set on. It wasn’t made apparent before the tests that we could choose the setting. I thought for it to be fair everyone would have to be on the same setting.
I returned home that night and wasn’t enthusiastic about returning in the morning. I knew my ability hadn’t been showcased. My visual impairment hadn’t been understood. All of the females attending the talent ID weekend had a visual impairment but having no useful vision left me in a minority. In athletics there are 3 classifications for the visually impaired, in cycling the visually impaired are altogether.
It was an early start on Sunday to get back to Manchester. The only real reason I was returning was to cycle on the velodrome to say I have done it. It was becoming apparent that I was unlikely to continue with cycling in the future. All of the hopefuls were grouped together to find out which group they would be in. it was like waiting for the X Factor results. They decided to read out group A and B together first then we would be split again. Names started to be read out and I was relieved to hear mine. They had thankfully acknowledged I have some kind of potential.
For a moment I dared to believe that I would be put in group A. it quickly became obvious I hadn’t. in fact my name was bottom of the group B list. I don’t know if names were in any particular order yet it appeared I had just scraped through. I then had to sit and wait for hours before I was given 10 minutes on the velodrome with a pilot. I’m not going to lie I did enjoy my brief time on the back of the tandem. However, the vibes I was getting from the British Cycling staff told me blatantly that I was not on their radar for the future.
The following week I received a call from British Cycling confirming that they were not interested in me at this time. It was no surprise. I didn’t hesitate in providing my feedback when prompted. They did comment that my 6 second sprints ranked me quite highly. Initially following the weekend I was of the firm belief that me and cycling were done. Having time to think about it all the experience was extremely beneficial. It has reignited my competitive spirit. My heart still lies with athletics. Yet I am struggling to accept that British Cycling didn’t get to witness my capability. I want to prove I have potential, prove I can, prove them wrong.
18 visually impaired females attended the talent ID weekend. British Cycling have chosen 3 to progress to the next stage. It was brilliant to see so many visually impaired females participating in sport.
Saturday, 12 September 2020
Monday, 31 August 2020
I'm Back
I just don’t understand myself sometimes. I set myself a challenge of writing 26 blog posts over 26 days and have no trouble in completing the task. In fact it reminds me how much I enjoy blogging and how beneficial I find it. So why have I failed to blog in over 3 months? I am a mystery to myself.
The last 3 months feel like a bit of a blur. The whole year is drifting by. Last month I celebrated my 32nd birthday. There is something reassuring about being an even number once more. We went for a family walk around Burbage Common in the morning. This was then followed by a trip to Fosse Shopping Park. It was the first day it had reopened after we had been put back in lockdown for a second time. It was my first visit to any kind of retail provider in months. Riley squealed with delight when we pulled up. The boy adores shopping. I didn’t actually buy anything and found I was afraid to touch items to inspect them. Continuing the first in a few months theme, I had a Chinese takeaway for dinner. In normal circumstances the day would have been classed as ordinary. However, we all know the new normal is so far removed from what was everyday life.
I am not going to ramble on too much in this post. I know what I want my next blog to be about and hope to bring it to you in less than 3 months’ time! I promise it will be more interesting than this post.
The last 3 months feel like a bit of a blur. The whole year is drifting by. Last month I celebrated my 32nd birthday. There is something reassuring about being an even number once more. We went for a family walk around Burbage Common in the morning. This was then followed by a trip to Fosse Shopping Park. It was the first day it had reopened after we had been put back in lockdown for a second time. It was my first visit to any kind of retail provider in months. Riley squealed with delight when we pulled up. The boy adores shopping. I didn’t actually buy anything and found I was afraid to touch items to inspect them. Continuing the first in a few months theme, I had a Chinese takeaway for dinner. In normal circumstances the day would have been classed as ordinary. However, we all know the new normal is so far removed from what was everyday life.
I am not going to ramble on too much in this post. I know what I want my next blog to be about and hope to bring it to you in less than 3 months’ time! I promise it will be more interesting than this post.
Thursday, 21 May 2020
The Finish Line
Blog 26 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
Hooray this is my final post for the 2.6 Challenge. The writing marathon has come to an end. It has been a good experience overall. I have managed to write about a lot of subjects that I have been meaning to for a long time. It has been interesting how on some days I planned to write about one topic but then the blog has evolved into something else. There were a few late nights that displeased me. However, it has proved to me that if I really want to blog about something I am able to make the time.
I am not sure how many people have actually read my posts. Though the one great thing about written text is that it is there to access at any point. I hope people have found the content varied and interesting. I mainly write for myself and if someone finds a post useful or entertaining it is a bonus. On some days I wasn’t sure what to write about, on others I found it hard to find the right words. Having a daily deadline meant I couldn’t keep redrafting and posts weren’t always as polished as I would have liked. Nevertheless, I made a commitment and stuck to it. I’m pretty proud of that. It has been some years since my blog was filled with so much content. Funnily there are still posts I wish to write.
According to my fundraising page I have raised £72.86 to date. I know when split 5 ways that isn’t much per charity. However, I have tried to do my bit. I’m super grateful to everyone who has supported this challenge and donated. If you are stumbling across this post a few weeks or few months on, there might still be time to donate as fundraising pages stay open for a while afterwards. Every donation I receive makes me smile and means a lot to my chosen charities.
I took part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog posts or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Hooray this is my final post for the 2.6 Challenge. The writing marathon has come to an end. It has been a good experience overall. I have managed to write about a lot of subjects that I have been meaning to for a long time. It has been interesting how on some days I planned to write about one topic but then the blog has evolved into something else. There were a few late nights that displeased me. However, it has proved to me that if I really want to blog about something I am able to make the time.
I am not sure how many people have actually read my posts. Though the one great thing about written text is that it is there to access at any point. I hope people have found the content varied and interesting. I mainly write for myself and if someone finds a post useful or entertaining it is a bonus. On some days I wasn’t sure what to write about, on others I found it hard to find the right words. Having a daily deadline meant I couldn’t keep redrafting and posts weren’t always as polished as I would have liked. Nevertheless, I made a commitment and stuck to it. I’m pretty proud of that. It has been some years since my blog was filled with so much content. Funnily there are still posts I wish to write.
According to my fundraising page I have raised £72.86 to date. I know when split 5 ways that isn’t much per charity. However, I have tried to do my bit. I’m super grateful to everyone who has supported this challenge and donated. If you are stumbling across this post a few weeks or few months on, there might still be time to donate as fundraising pages stay open for a while afterwards. Every donation I receive makes me smile and means a lot to my chosen charities.
I took part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog posts or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Wednesday, 20 May 2020
I See
Blog 25 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
Even though I can’t see, I can see. I can see the past so vividly. It astonishes me how clearly I can recollect the past. I don’t just recall the basics like colours, I know details. For example, I can remember certain images and patterns on my clothes. I can picture characters from cartoons, such as Gus from Recess and Tommy from the Rugrats. I can see the shape of Gus’s glasses and how his trousers are too short thus exposing his socks. My mind’s eye can view Tommy’s bald head, the blue of his t-shirt and how he stands with bowed legs. As a child I never consciously stored these images, yet they are there for me to access on demand.
In the present I can see. I imagine my surroundings constantly. When I go for a walk and a car passes me by I give it a make and a colour. When I use a controlled crossing I picture the capital letters of ‘wait’ highlight itself after I have pressed the button. At home in my kitchen I envisage my red appliances; kettle, microwave and toaster. I still look at myself in the mirror. I visualise my reflection, how my hair falls, how my facial features look.
In my dreams I can see. Rarely am I blind and if I am I can still watch the dream play out in pictures. Every night my brain constructs lavish landscapes and intricate scenes. I have the ability to freely access my dream world. I wander around oblivious to my visual impairment.
In reality I cannot see. Wave your hand in front of my face and I will just feel the breeze it creates. Exit a room without a word and I will believe you are still sharing my space. Many people assume that the blind live in darkness. I can confirm that we live in pictures.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Even though I can’t see, I can see. I can see the past so vividly. It astonishes me how clearly I can recollect the past. I don’t just recall the basics like colours, I know details. For example, I can remember certain images and patterns on my clothes. I can picture characters from cartoons, such as Gus from Recess and Tommy from the Rugrats. I can see the shape of Gus’s glasses and how his trousers are too short thus exposing his socks. My mind’s eye can view Tommy’s bald head, the blue of his t-shirt and how he stands with bowed legs. As a child I never consciously stored these images, yet they are there for me to access on demand.
In the present I can see. I imagine my surroundings constantly. When I go for a walk and a car passes me by I give it a make and a colour. When I use a controlled crossing I picture the capital letters of ‘wait’ highlight itself after I have pressed the button. At home in my kitchen I envisage my red appliances; kettle, microwave and toaster. I still look at myself in the mirror. I visualise my reflection, how my hair falls, how my facial features look.
In my dreams I can see. Rarely am I blind and if I am I can still watch the dream play out in pictures. Every night my brain constructs lavish landscapes and intricate scenes. I have the ability to freely access my dream world. I wander around oblivious to my visual impairment.
In reality I cannot see. Wave your hand in front of my face and I will just feel the breeze it creates. Exit a room without a word and I will believe you are still sharing my space. Many people assume that the blind live in darkness. I can confirm that we live in pictures.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Plant Power
Blog 24 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
After having writer’s block a couple of days ago I’m going to try writing about food again.
Food, it fuels the body. Without it survival is impossible. In the last few years my food habits have shifted. Due to being Muslim I have never eaten meat from a pig. In general I have never been a massive meat eater. This might sound silly but I don’t like chewing. I am certain I have weakened teeth from having a brace in my teens. Anyway, when I did eat meat I would tend to go for chicken. I found it less greasy. As an adult I have always been keen on fish. I’m quite the health addict and can’t ignore the benefits that fishy oils claim to have.
My partner is vegan and has been for many years. Before it got trendy. Since being together not once have I considered joining him despite him being the perfect advert. For those who have watched The Game Changers on Netflix you will know that veganism is meant to have a whole host of health benefits. My partner displays them all. For some reason it isn’t enough to convince me.
I can’t see myself eating meat again as my mind won’t disconnect from where it comes from. For now I am able to justify eating fish. I don’t know when it officially happened but I identify as being pescatarian. I eat seafood in what otherwise is a vegetarian diet.
Saying this I mainly eat a plant based diet as it is easier to eat the same lunch and dinner as my partner. Veganism is rapidly expanding and it is nice to try new foods. People often used to say what do vegans eat? The answer is that they eat practically everything only in vegan form. Vegan lasagne, vegan kebab and vegan chilli are some of our favourite dishes. A couple of weeks ago we created our own vegan afternoon tea complete with sweet scones with a choice of jam and cream, a variety of sandwiches and a selection of desserts. It was yummy.
I urge everyone to broaden their taste buds and give plant based food a go. Try something new, something different, something ethical. By all means still eat what you enjoy. I have no intention of committing to a vegan diet so I don’t expect anyone else to.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
After having writer’s block a couple of days ago I’m going to try writing about food again.
Food, it fuels the body. Without it survival is impossible. In the last few years my food habits have shifted. Due to being Muslim I have never eaten meat from a pig. In general I have never been a massive meat eater. This might sound silly but I don’t like chewing. I am certain I have weakened teeth from having a brace in my teens. Anyway, when I did eat meat I would tend to go for chicken. I found it less greasy. As an adult I have always been keen on fish. I’m quite the health addict and can’t ignore the benefits that fishy oils claim to have.
My partner is vegan and has been for many years. Before it got trendy. Since being together not once have I considered joining him despite him being the perfect advert. For those who have watched The Game Changers on Netflix you will know that veganism is meant to have a whole host of health benefits. My partner displays them all. For some reason it isn’t enough to convince me.
I can’t see myself eating meat again as my mind won’t disconnect from where it comes from. For now I am able to justify eating fish. I don’t know when it officially happened but I identify as being pescatarian. I eat seafood in what otherwise is a vegetarian diet.
Saying this I mainly eat a plant based diet as it is easier to eat the same lunch and dinner as my partner. Veganism is rapidly expanding and it is nice to try new foods. People often used to say what do vegans eat? The answer is that they eat practically everything only in vegan form. Vegan lasagne, vegan kebab and vegan chilli are some of our favourite dishes. A couple of weeks ago we created our own vegan afternoon tea complete with sweet scones with a choice of jam and cream, a variety of sandwiches and a selection of desserts. It was yummy.
I urge everyone to broaden their taste buds and give plant based food a go. Try something new, something different, something ethical. By all means still eat what you enjoy. I have no intention of committing to a vegan diet so I don’t expect anyone else to.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Monday, 18 May 2020
Sharing the Struggles
Blog 23 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
I have been visually impaired for as long as I can remember. It has been 13 years since I had useful vision. Useful vision being the ability to see shapes, colours and print with the aid of a CCTV magnifier. It has been even longer since I could read print unaided, play sports such as netball and tennis, function like a fully sighted person. Today marks the beginning of mental health week. Generally I don’t mind being blind. I have adapted and lead a fulfilling life. However, losing my vision throughout my childhood was hard. I didn’t just lose my sight, I lost my confidence, friendships and identity. If I still had good partial vision I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. My sight loss has caused me to become a version of myself that I never planned on being.
Do I miss having sight? In all honesty I do every single day. There is always something I want a quick glimpse of from knowing what a tinned can is in the cupboard to watching the boys playing tug. I wish I knew what my partner looked like, I wish I could see all of those silly memes and gifs. I wish every second of everyday wasn’t so difficult. The level of concentration needed to pour a cup of tea or the extra effort needed to find something on a table can be draining. People don’t see the little struggles because I have learnt to get on with life, present myself as capable and confident. I believe human nature forces us to hide our weaknesses. Yet we shouldn’t be afraid to share our imperfections. Whilst I portray positivity within my blog posts, I hope people recognise and appreciate that I don’t shy away from writing about the difficulties of sight loss too.
For years I convinced myself that being blind wasn’t forever. There would be a cure. I would regain vision again. I lived in denial. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, when I started to accept my blindness. It was probably a combination of factors from taking athletics seriously where my sight loss was irrelevant to mixing with other visually impaired people. Other people who had experienced sight loss, visually impaired people that acted as sub-conscious role models to me who demonstrated that being blind doesn’t stop you from living.
I accept that I can’t see. I accept that the simplest of tasks can prove quite the challenge. Being blind causes me stress and anxiety on a daily basis. I can’t wave a magic wand to fix my vision. What I can do is not let my lack of vision control me. I control it. I take on the testing situations and applaud my achievements. Sometimes I fail and consider defeat. Then I take a deep breath and vow to try again.
If you are struggling with your mental health please don’t feel embarrassed or scared to seek support.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
I have been visually impaired for as long as I can remember. It has been 13 years since I had useful vision. Useful vision being the ability to see shapes, colours and print with the aid of a CCTV magnifier. It has been even longer since I could read print unaided, play sports such as netball and tennis, function like a fully sighted person. Today marks the beginning of mental health week. Generally I don’t mind being blind. I have adapted and lead a fulfilling life. However, losing my vision throughout my childhood was hard. I didn’t just lose my sight, I lost my confidence, friendships and identity. If I still had good partial vision I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. My sight loss has caused me to become a version of myself that I never planned on being.
Do I miss having sight? In all honesty I do every single day. There is always something I want a quick glimpse of from knowing what a tinned can is in the cupboard to watching the boys playing tug. I wish I knew what my partner looked like, I wish I could see all of those silly memes and gifs. I wish every second of everyday wasn’t so difficult. The level of concentration needed to pour a cup of tea or the extra effort needed to find something on a table can be draining. People don’t see the little struggles because I have learnt to get on with life, present myself as capable and confident. I believe human nature forces us to hide our weaknesses. Yet we shouldn’t be afraid to share our imperfections. Whilst I portray positivity within my blog posts, I hope people recognise and appreciate that I don’t shy away from writing about the difficulties of sight loss too.
For years I convinced myself that being blind wasn’t forever. There would be a cure. I would regain vision again. I lived in denial. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, when I started to accept my blindness. It was probably a combination of factors from taking athletics seriously where my sight loss was irrelevant to mixing with other visually impaired people. Other people who had experienced sight loss, visually impaired people that acted as sub-conscious role models to me who demonstrated that being blind doesn’t stop you from living.
I accept that I can’t see. I accept that the simplest of tasks can prove quite the challenge. Being blind causes me stress and anxiety on a daily basis. I can’t wave a magic wand to fix my vision. What I can do is not let my lack of vision control me. I control it. I take on the testing situations and applaud my achievements. Sometimes I fail and consider defeat. Then I take a deep breath and vow to try again.
If you are struggling with your mental health please don’t feel embarrassed or scared to seek support.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Sunday, 17 May 2020
A Day in the Life
Blog 22 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
I’m going to be honest, I don’t know what I want to blog about today. Well I do, the plan was to talk food. I just can’t figure out where to start with it. Writer’s block. Instead of torturing myself, I am going to leave that post for another day.
Since my mind isn’t firing on all cylinders I’m simply going to write about my day. I’m sitting in my garden absorbing the sunshine. This is one of my favourite pastimes and is making me crave a holiday. Without fail I go on at least one beach holiday per year. In fact last May I was in Majorca. I was due to go to Turkey last October, but the collapse of Thomas Cook meant our holiday was cancelled. I’m definitely ready to feel the sand between my toes and to listen to the soothing sounds of the waves lapping the shore. I wish I lived closer to the coast. Grumble, grumble.
I have a very good internal clock and naturally wake up around 6.45 each morning. This is also the time my heating clicks on. I spend the boys, feed the boys and then sit down to BBC Breakfast with a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea. reading that back I sound very middle aged!
For the last few days I haven’t been getting out with Riley until the early evening. So I promised him a morning walk today. We tackled one of our new routes and I think it is the best we have done it. I didn’t have to remove too many slobbery sticks from Riley’s mouth and we didn’t drift off track too much. I have noticed morning walkers, joggers and cyclists are friendlier than the afternoon and evening folk. We received numerous greetings and people actively cleared the way for us to ensure social distancing was being observed. This makes a walk much more pleasant.
A 75 minute walk did nothing to tire Riley out and he was full of beans on our return. He played frantically with Calvin and did some crazy running around the garden. I’m not sure what Riley’s issue is but he rarely steps foot on to the grass in the garden. When I wanted to groom him on the grass the other day you would have thought I was trying to pull him off the edge of a cliff.
Before lunch I had my daily chat with my mum. She likes to tell me about every second of her day and night so our phone calls are often quite lengthy. When she takes a half breath I am able to get in and share the happenings from my end. She reads my blog and I know will laugh at the mentioning of her monologues. We have a very close relationship.
Since lunch I have been listening to The History of Bees by Maja Lunde. I only started it yesterday and need to finish it in time for book club on Wednesday night. We used to meet at a different pub each month to discuss the latest book choice. Now we are meeting via Zoom. There are 7 of us in the group and we take it in turns to choose a book. Last month was my choice and I chose The Friend by Dorothy Koomson. I am known for my harsh reviews. Whilst I don’t always love the book choice I like reading books I never would have picked.
After posting this blog I am going to work out in our home gym before dinner and Netflix. I am really hoping Riverdale has an exciting climax. The show is so bad that it is good.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
I’m going to be honest, I don’t know what I want to blog about today. Well I do, the plan was to talk food. I just can’t figure out where to start with it. Writer’s block. Instead of torturing myself, I am going to leave that post for another day.
Since my mind isn’t firing on all cylinders I’m simply going to write about my day. I’m sitting in my garden absorbing the sunshine. This is one of my favourite pastimes and is making me crave a holiday. Without fail I go on at least one beach holiday per year. In fact last May I was in Majorca. I was due to go to Turkey last October, but the collapse of Thomas Cook meant our holiday was cancelled. I’m definitely ready to feel the sand between my toes and to listen to the soothing sounds of the waves lapping the shore. I wish I lived closer to the coast. Grumble, grumble.
I have a very good internal clock and naturally wake up around 6.45 each morning. This is also the time my heating clicks on. I spend the boys, feed the boys and then sit down to BBC Breakfast with a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea. reading that back I sound very middle aged!
For the last few days I haven’t been getting out with Riley until the early evening. So I promised him a morning walk today. We tackled one of our new routes and I think it is the best we have done it. I didn’t have to remove too many slobbery sticks from Riley’s mouth and we didn’t drift off track too much. I have noticed morning walkers, joggers and cyclists are friendlier than the afternoon and evening folk. We received numerous greetings and people actively cleared the way for us to ensure social distancing was being observed. This makes a walk much more pleasant.
A 75 minute walk did nothing to tire Riley out and he was full of beans on our return. He played frantically with Calvin and did some crazy running around the garden. I’m not sure what Riley’s issue is but he rarely steps foot on to the grass in the garden. When I wanted to groom him on the grass the other day you would have thought I was trying to pull him off the edge of a cliff.
Before lunch I had my daily chat with my mum. She likes to tell me about every second of her day and night so our phone calls are often quite lengthy. When she takes a half breath I am able to get in and share the happenings from my end. She reads my blog and I know will laugh at the mentioning of her monologues. We have a very close relationship.
Since lunch I have been listening to The History of Bees by Maja Lunde. I only started it yesterday and need to finish it in time for book club on Wednesday night. We used to meet at a different pub each month to discuss the latest book choice. Now we are meeting via Zoom. There are 7 of us in the group and we take it in turns to choose a book. Last month was my choice and I chose The Friend by Dorothy Koomson. I am known for my harsh reviews. Whilst I don’t always love the book choice I like reading books I never would have picked.
After posting this blog I am going to work out in our home gym before dinner and Netflix. I am really hoping Riverdale has an exciting climax. The show is so bad that it is good.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
