Well, this warm weather is certainly going to get me into practice for the heat in Namibia; although I don't think that sitting on my b*ckside on the sofa for most of Saturday will have helped much. We had a viewing on the house at 1pm which pretty much scuppered the day - but did result in a very tidy house. Just disappointed that the lady who visited hadn't looked at the particulars and realised the 3rd bedroom was just a single/study! It was nice to chill out though in a tidy house - even just for a few hours!
Unfortunately I did spend the weekend on edge, due to various building issues. I had the first call at 9pm on Friday night about an issue with our Edinburgh office, which was then followed with major issues in Croydon, our HQ at the Strand (always career limiting when something goes wrong there!!) and Camden. I was dreading Monday morning and the fall out! However, all went as well as it could but never a nice feeling.
We went out for a really nice ride on Sunday from Abingdon to Oxford and back, along the Sustrans route number 5. I can really recommend it! It was quite flat and almost entirely on proper cycle routes and very close to the Thames. The only problem was that there were also lots of walkers out too - I remember the days when I was a keen walker and hated cyclists - and now I've become one of them! It was probably about 14 miles in total and we stopped short of Oxford (due to pedestrians) at a lovely little lock where they were selling ice cream out of the lock keeper's cottage. It was really very pleasant. I hope all the work pays off for the "Big Bike Ride" next weekend!
The fundraising seems to have gone a bit quiet so I need to start emailing around a few more contacts. I need to remind myself that doing this trip was also meant to help the "work/life" balance get readjusted. Failing miserably at the moment on that one, but will get there one day. I'll send a few emails to contacts tonight before I go and see what comes from there!
TTFN!
Monday, 29 June 2009
Friday, 26 June 2009
The end of a long week!
Well, this week has been really busy and was punctuated with a trip to Shannon in the middle which completely wiped me out. A 3am start on Wednesday morning, followed by a full day of work and then dinner with colleagues before finally falling into bed at 10pm. Up again at 6 am the next morning for a flight back and I was in the office in Oxford by 12.30pm and didn't get away until 5.30pm. I was shattered when I got home - and was so pleased to get back to my own bed. I really enjoy those feelings of home comforts and they are made all the better for stretching yourself and going away! That's what I keep telling myself anyway.
Whilst in Shannon I met a lovely lady who had sponsored me on my trip. She told me about how her Grandfather had gone to Windhoek to set up a school 100 years ago - and that this year they were celebrating their 100th birthday. Her father had lived there until he was 12 and told her stories about how he always considered Namibia as home. She had also done quite a bit of research on the education system in Namibia and had found out that it's probably the best in Africa - having increased literacy rates from 40% to over 80%. It was really interesting to hear about all this.
I'm also thinking about doing a TEFL course via distance learning before I go. Whilst I've got a 7 year old niece, I really haven't got a clue how to communicate with children - particularly those that don't speak English. I'd love to learn some games or exercises that we can do with the kids whilst we are out there. More research required in this area!
I'm sure we'll be off out on the bikes again this weekend. I need to find a nice long, flat route away from any busy roads. Weather doesn't look great though - but skin is waterproof as they say!
Whilst in Shannon I met a lovely lady who had sponsored me on my trip. She told me about how her Grandfather had gone to Windhoek to set up a school 100 years ago - and that this year they were celebrating their 100th birthday. Her father had lived there until he was 12 and told her stories about how he always considered Namibia as home. She had also done quite a bit of research on the education system in Namibia and had found out that it's probably the best in Africa - having increased literacy rates from 40% to over 80%. It was really interesting to hear about all this.
I'm also thinking about doing a TEFL course via distance learning before I go. Whilst I've got a 7 year old niece, I really haven't got a clue how to communicate with children - particularly those that don't speak English. I'd love to learn some games or exercises that we can do with the kids whilst we are out there. More research required in this area!
I'm sure we'll be off out on the bikes again this weekend. I need to find a nice long, flat route away from any busy roads. Weather doesn't look great though - but skin is waterproof as they say!
Monday, 22 June 2009
Two injections - and seventeen miles!
So, you won't have heard from me for a few days. I've had a long weekend as it was John's Birthday. By the time Sunday afternoon arrived, I actually felt quite relaxed rather than being stressed that it the weekend was over already!
I had booked an appointment with the Nurse to find out what injections I needed for my trip - and she clearly wasn't messing around. When I was in the Army, I had every injection under the sun - and a few more for good measure, but my medical records were never passed over to my civilian GP. However, it is 10 years since I was in Bosnia now and had the last batch of jabs, so they were probably out of date (although I'm positive I had boosters to last me 20 years!). So I was swiftly dispatched with an injection to each arm and a shopping list of all the extras I could have at a price (£80 for Rabies anyone?!) It wasn't quite what I planned as I have clear memories of trying to do drill (i.e. marching around the parade ground) and having dead arms.
Anyway - I got home and John was ready for a bike ride! Never one to say no, off we went.....for 17 miles! Two hours, twenty minutes later and with numb hands and painful arms...I was pleased to be home. It reminded me of being back in basic training! I think the contents of the jabs was rapidly working its way around my body, as I didn't fell 100% - so enjoyed chilling out for the rest of the afternoon - and for once, didn't have the urge to keep checking my blackberry every 5 minutes. I'm definitely going to have withdrawl problems when I'm away!
Apart from that, we had a very relaxed weekend. We didn't go cycling on Saturday; I was surprisingly quite tires. I went shopping to Sainsbury's - reaching for items high on the shelves was a bit painful - I'm sure my fellow shoppers thought I was mad...wincing when reaching for a pint of milk which was at the back of the shelf! We did go for what we now concider a short ride on Sunday - approx 8 miles in 50 mins and then jumped into the jacuzzi aftewards which is so nice, if not a little too hot for me.
Just tweaked the press article and sent it back. Dreading when that goes out!!
Definitely not doing any exercise tonight. If John's playing golf on Tuesday - I may go for a run and then off to Shannon (3am start) on Wednesday, so definitely no exercise for me then!
Also - just noticed that "Just Giving" have changed their website format. Not sure I like the new one - old version was so much better. Hope it doesn't affect my fundraising!
TTFN!
I had booked an appointment with the Nurse to find out what injections I needed for my trip - and she clearly wasn't messing around. When I was in the Army, I had every injection under the sun - and a few more for good measure, but my medical records were never passed over to my civilian GP. However, it is 10 years since I was in Bosnia now and had the last batch of jabs, so they were probably out of date (although I'm positive I had boosters to last me 20 years!). So I was swiftly dispatched with an injection to each arm and a shopping list of all the extras I could have at a price (£80 for Rabies anyone?!) It wasn't quite what I planned as I have clear memories of trying to do drill (i.e. marching around the parade ground) and having dead arms.
Anyway - I got home and John was ready for a bike ride! Never one to say no, off we went.....for 17 miles! Two hours, twenty minutes later and with numb hands and painful arms...I was pleased to be home. It reminded me of being back in basic training! I think the contents of the jabs was rapidly working its way around my body, as I didn't fell 100% - so enjoyed chilling out for the rest of the afternoon - and for once, didn't have the urge to keep checking my blackberry every 5 minutes. I'm definitely going to have withdrawl problems when I'm away!
Apart from that, we had a very relaxed weekend. We didn't go cycling on Saturday; I was surprisingly quite tires. I went shopping to Sainsbury's - reaching for items high on the shelves was a bit painful - I'm sure my fellow shoppers thought I was mad...wincing when reaching for a pint of milk which was at the back of the shelf! We did go for what we now concider a short ride on Sunday - approx 8 miles in 50 mins and then jumped into the jacuzzi aftewards which is so nice, if not a little too hot for me.
Just tweaked the press article and sent it back. Dreading when that goes out!!
Definitely not doing any exercise tonight. If John's playing golf on Tuesday - I may go for a run and then off to Shannon (3am start) on Wednesday, so definitely no exercise for me then!
Also - just noticed that "Just Giving" have changed their website format. Not sure I like the new one - old version was so much better. Hope it doesn't affect my fundraising!
TTFN!
Thursday, 18 June 2009
I walked up the escalater instead!
Just a quick note to say that after a long and busy day in London (Camden in the morning, Chancery Lane in the afternoon) I was simply too pooped to go for a run! In my defence, I walked up nearly all of the escalators instead. Does that count??
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
I made it up the hill!
Having declared that I was off out on my bike last night - I thought I'd better be good and get out there. Despite the cold can of cider with my name on it in the fridge, I did indeed get on my bike and go out for an hour. I was sorely tempted to jump on John's new bike - but though better of it and went out my my cheap and squeaky Halford's number!
We live in a very small village which has an extremely quiet, minor road leading from the back which goes for approx 3 or 4 miles, down a very steep hill towards the Thames. It's fantastic on the way out - wizzing down, with the rolling Oxfordshire countryside in front of you - but pure hell on the way back. The hill steps up in 3 different tiers, which gives some respite but the last bit is an absolute killer and I've never made it up yet. I normally have to practically fall off the bike, with heavy legs and walk up the last bit. However, last night - I made it the whole way! The odd weekend on the bike is clearly making a difference.
The only negative element of last nights ride was all the flys I ended up covered with. I looked like the windscreen of my 4x4 by the time I got back - I was covered in green fly! It's hard to exercise with your mouth shut (and for those who know me well, keeping my mouth shut is just something I can't do!) and I'm sure I swallowed a few on the way. Pure protein apparently!
Hey ho - it's all in a good cause and should improve my fitness. Thinking of a run tonight....just thinking of it though. I'll let you know if I make it!
We live in a very small village which has an extremely quiet, minor road leading from the back which goes for approx 3 or 4 miles, down a very steep hill towards the Thames. It's fantastic on the way out - wizzing down, with the rolling Oxfordshire countryside in front of you - but pure hell on the way back. The hill steps up in 3 different tiers, which gives some respite but the last bit is an absolute killer and I've never made it up yet. I normally have to practically fall off the bike, with heavy legs and walk up the last bit. However, last night - I made it the whole way! The odd weekend on the bike is clearly making a difference.
The only negative element of last nights ride was all the flys I ended up covered with. I looked like the windscreen of my 4x4 by the time I got back - I was covered in green fly! It's hard to exercise with your mouth shut (and for those who know me well, keeping my mouth shut is just something I can't do!) and I'm sure I swallowed a few on the way. Pure protein apparently!
Hey ho - it's all in a good cause and should improve my fitness. Thinking of a run tonight....just thinking of it though. I'll let you know if I make it!
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
24hrs Later...
So, it's 24hrs since I published an article via "My Elsevier News" on the intranet - and I can't believe the response I've had so far. Colleagues from the US, Amsterdam and Shannon who I've not met before have made donations. I'm really pleased and very touched. We've got £195 so far excluding gift aid - which is great!
I've also had a draft article come through for submission to the local press. It makes me feel really uncomfortable reading that stuff about myself - I must look through it tonight and make a couple of ammendments! Either that or I need to go and polish my halo!!
I've also got myself booked in to see the nurse on Friday morning (when I'm on leave) to find out what injections and malaria tables I need to take. I hate being ill - and the realisation of some of the bugs etc is starting to hit home. John (my partner) has a colleague at work who is originally from South Africa - she had the following words for me:
- Always wear something long sleeved as the sun in Africa is different to here, you really won’t feel you are burning till it’s too late.
- Always wear closed shoes in case you step on something that will not appreciate being stepped on and can be poisonous.
- Do not wear perfume coz it attracts flies & mosquito’s.
- Do not play with wild animals, they are dangerous. And don’t try to get too close to take pics, many tourists are stupid that way.
- Do not swim or go in any water holes or rivers, not only are there crocodiles but you would be prone for bilharzia if it is still water or snakes.
- Please take your malaria meds at least one week before you leave to go there and also take them a week after you get back.
- Keep well hydrated coz it is definitely not fun in an African hospital!!!
- Do not wonder around by yourself at night or any time really!!!
Mmmmmmmmmm....let's wait and see what happens!
Off home now to go out on the mountain bike for some exercise.
Cathy
I've also had a draft article come through for submission to the local press. It makes me feel really uncomfortable reading that stuff about myself - I must look through it tonight and make a couple of ammendments! Either that or I need to go and polish my halo!!
I've also got myself booked in to see the nurse on Friday morning (when I'm on leave) to find out what injections and malaria tables I need to take. I hate being ill - and the realisation of some of the bugs etc is starting to hit home. John (my partner) has a colleague at work who is originally from South Africa - she had the following words for me:
- Always wear something long sleeved as the sun in Africa is different to here, you really won’t feel you are burning till it’s too late.
- Always wear closed shoes in case you step on something that will not appreciate being stepped on and can be poisonous.
- Do not wear perfume coz it attracts flies & mosquito’s.
- Do not play with wild animals, they are dangerous. And don’t try to get too close to take pics, many tourists are stupid that way.
- Do not swim or go in any water holes or rivers, not only are there crocodiles but you would be prone for bilharzia if it is still water or snakes.
- Please take your malaria meds at least one week before you leave to go there and also take them a week after you get back.
- Keep well hydrated coz it is definitely not fun in an African hospital!!!
- Do not wonder around by yourself at night or any time really!!!
Mmmmmmmmmm....let's wait and see what happens!
Off home now to go out on the mountain bike for some exercise.
Cathy
Hello - and welcome to the first post on my blog! Never had one before and my forthcoming trip to Namibia made me think that this would be a good way to share news, updates and other info about this adventure - and maybe even future trips!
Watch this space for more news - as and when is happens ofcourse!
Watch this space for more news - as and when is happens ofcourse!
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