Goal + Action = Reality

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Sit Challenge Day 29
Daily Walk Challenge Day 25
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 18
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 16
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 14
Iron Arms Challenge Day 13
1-Minute Mediation Day 3
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 2
Lat pull-downs 3 x 10
Biceps curls 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Giving my hands and forearms a break from painting. Got stuck into the garden. Removed the four wooden trellis panels from in front of the Colorbond panels, then unscrewed and removed the panels. Seven 150cm high panels, 80cm wide. I stacked them up against a side fence. They'll probably come in useful sometime. And then, I now had access to the tree part of my back yard. Sure, I still have to take down all the wire mesh across about an 8m length, but at least I'm starting to see what's there. Looks like a little forest of privet and maple saplings. Don't know where the privet came from, but I do have a very large old maple. Found that there's also a crab apple, but I don't know if it's been fruiting at all. I found no evidence of it. Anyway, I'll clear away the saplings and then see what's left. There are 1m lengths of concrete kerb edging that need moving. I intend to put them against the bottom of the new back fence as the neighbour hadn't blocked the gap between the bottom of the fence and the ground. Not a big gap, but I'd rather it weren't there. Besides, got to put these chunks of concrete somewhere!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Daily Walk Challenge Day 26
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 19
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 17
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 15
Iron Arms Challenge Day 14
1-Minute Mediation Day 4
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 3
Chest press 3 x 8
Shoulder press 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

My builder came by this morning to get rid of the rubbish. I pointed out the gaps between the brickwork and the new planking and said they needed to be filled. So he's going to glue some thin bits of quad there on Friday. Which means I have to do more painting outside. Only little bits, but they'll be a touch fiddly.

Pulled up a few of the smaller saplings. Others were too firmly in the ground so I'll have to dig them out. But we are forecast to have some rain on Sunday which will be nice. We haven't had any for the last three weeks - April is usually a fairly dry month. I'll also loosen up a few more of the star pickets so that the rain can (fingers crossed) loosen them further. I did cut down a couple of the taller saplings, the ones about 3 or so metres tall. My green waste bin is pretty full right now. I'd shove something in and then saw it off near the top of the bin and then shove in again. It was very satisfying seeing that bin fill up. Didn't see much difference in the yard yet, though. Got bored of that after a while so decided to pull some fencing away instead. Removed the other panel of solid fencing, being very careful with my footing this time, and then I started removing the wire mesh. Wire had been cut and twisted to keep the top and bottom pieces together so it was a bit of a drag untwisting. And then the wire had been there so long, the trees had grown through them. Most I could prune away, but I'm going to have to go and saw away a good chunk, but that's a task for another day.

 

[agc]

Wire had been cut and twisted to keep the top and bottom pieces together so it was a bit of a drag untwisting. And then the wire had been there so long, the trees had grown through them. Most I could prune away, but I'm going to have to go and saw away a good chunk, but that's a task for another day.

Had to remove a criss cross wire trellis around a pole to get rid of a wisteria a few months ago - same thing, the thick wisteria trunk had grown in and around the wire. Such a pain to get rid of but satisfying too!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Daily Walk Challenge Day 27
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 20
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 18
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 16
Iron Arms Challenge Day 15
1-Minute Mediation Day 5
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 4
Better Legs Challenge Day 1
Lat Pull-downs 3 x 10
Single-Arm Rows 3 x 10 - I can't really say this was a PB for me since I've never before tried this weight. I'm a terrible slacker and stick with what I think I can manage rather than actually try things to see what I actually can manage. So anyway, that's all good.
Banded Pull-Aparts 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Had to go shopping but went relatively early in the morning so I was home in plenty of time to get my lunch. That's nine consecutive days with three decent meals a day. I've got this.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Daily Walk Challenge Day 28
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 21
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 19
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 17
Iron Arms Challenge Day 16
1-Minute Mediation Day 6
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 5
Better Legs Challenge Day 2
Chest press 3 x 10 (that last rep was hard!)
Shoulder press 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

My builder came by, glued some quad over the gaps I pointed out to him between the new planking and the brickwork, so I've got a touch more exterior painting to do. Handed him his envelope of cash and bid him farewell. Until next time. He keeps asking me when I'm going to build a granny flat in my back yard. Easy answer - never! I have enough trouble living this close to the neighbours. Imagine someone within spitting distance! *shudder*

The rest of the "easy" wire fencing has now been removed. Just the bit that the tree has grown around to go. Loosened up another couple of star pickets. I'm expecting a lot from the rain due on Sunday!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Daily Walk Challenge Day 29
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 22
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 20
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 18
Iron Arms Challenge Day 17
1-Minute Mediation Day 7
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 6
Better Legs Challenge Day 3
Lat pull-down 3 x 10
Single-arm DB row 3 x 10es
Biceps curl 3 x 10es
Single-arm lat pull-down 3 x 10es

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 23
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 21
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 19
Iron Arms Challenge Day 18
1-Minute Mediation Day 8
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 7
Better Legs Challenge Day 4
Chest press 3 x 8
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Told myself to stop being so lazy, and actually painted the first coat on last remaining wall. I'd been putting it off because I had decided that this wall would be a darker colour than the other walls and that meant I had to cut in, but I finally did it today. I thought it looked okay. When it had dried, I thought, well, I'm sure I can fix that... Also painted first coat on the coving of the room that's going to be my bedroom. So I've finally got things moving. About ten days before I can seal the floors. Even at this glacial speed, I should have the painting all done by then.

 

[agc]

Told myself to stop being so lazy, and actually painted the first coat on last remaining wall.

Mate your house sounds like it's been one big construction zone since I've been here on Darebee! Definitely not lazy; it seems like you've always got some kind of DIY thing going on, it's impressive! Give yourself a pat on the back.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 24
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 22
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 20
Iron Arms Challenge Day 19
1-Minute Mediation Day 9
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 8
Better Legs Challenge Day 5
Walking Challenge Day 1
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-downs 3 x 10
Single-arm Rows 3 x 10
Biceps Curls 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

I awoke this morning to the absolutely blissful sound of rain. And it was greyer than usual for this time of morning. It was so tempting to lie longer in bed but I am an adult now and I got myself up and doing. When I went to feed the chooks, the rain had stopped so I thought to see if any of the star pickets were looser. I pulled up a couple of the shorter ones and managed to wriggle out a longer one. I hadn't loosened them all so I whacked away with my mallet for a bit. Had a go at pulling out some of the self-seeded pests but the rain hadn't penetrated far and few came up. Then it began raining again so after a bit I went back inside and hung up my wet fleece. A little later, the rain stopped again so I went out. This time I pulled up the rest of the shorter pickets and two more of the long ones. Pulled up a lot more of the pests. The rain, which had been light, increased its intensity, so I returned indoors. Around mid-afternoon it seemed to clear a little. The sun even came out for a while, and I went out again. Working under the trees got me dripping again. I think I was all pulled out by now, but I managed to get up another long star picket and another few pests. And despite the pretence of clearing, the rain returned. Some of the seedling pests that were as thick as my thumb came out, some didn't. The ones as thick as my big toe did not want to budge, and there's one about as thick as my wrist which will need cutting down and digging up. But not today. I pulled up all but three long star pickets and felt as though I had achieved a lot today.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 25
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 23
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 21
Iron Arms Challenge Day 20
1-Minute Mediation Day 10
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 9
Better Legs Challenge Day 6
Walking Challenge Day 2
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 8 (though I did manage to tack 2 on the end of the last set)
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Ground is drying pretty quickly, but I managed to hoik up a few little 'uns I'd missed yesterday. Gathered everything into a big pile so I can see what I've got. Mostly, it seems to be a big pile of green waste... Shifted the first chunk of concrete before I got bored.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 26
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 24
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 22
Iron Arms Challenge Day 21
1-Minute Mediation Day 11
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 10
Better Legs Challenge Day 7
Walking Challenge Day 3
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-downs 3 x 10
Single-arm Rows 3 x 10
Biceps Curls 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Second (and final) coats on the last wall and the coving of my bedroom-to-be. Certain individuals did not seem to appreciate that I was busy...

I was pretty pleased with myself because I even made my traybake which gives me four lunches. Pleased, that is, until I realised I hadn't taken anything out for dinner... Good thing I'd already formed some meatballs and they could go straight from the freezer into the air-fryer. Okay, not as balanced a dinner as usual, but still a home-made thing - and I still got my macros.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 27
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 25
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 23
Iron Arms Challenge Day 22
1-Minute Mediation Day 12
Groundwork Abs Challenge Day 11
Better Legs Challenge Day 8
Walking Challenge Day 4
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10 (those last 2 per set were hard)
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

12 degrees in early May? What's going on? And the "feel" temp apparently wasn't over 6. Fortunately it's warming up again. I should have planned better when packing all my stuff into the Big Shed. You know, kept out blankets and winter pyjamas, and other exercise gear. I'm shivering now when I get into my shorts and singlet, but at least that's impetus to warm up quickly!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 28
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 26
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 24
Iron Arms Challenge Day 23
1-Minute Mediation Day 13
Better Legs Challenge Day 9
Walking Challenge Day 5
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 8 (finally back to pre-inertia-period weight!)
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 8

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

The Lad called this afternoon, wanting to stay over tomorrow. Of course, I have no bedrooms, only cold empty curtainless rooms. Still, he's happy with that, and I was easily able to grab the camp bed from the Big Shed. Told him to bring warm clothes. We did have about 15 degrees today and it went up to 17 in here. I haven't bothered to turn on the heater, but he's a precious little hothouse flower and will probably complain if he gets chilly. He asked what we could do because he wants to do something with me, so I suggested building a new henhouse. That should be fun and he'll get to use the power drill again. If I'm lucky, I might also be able to get him to saw down those young saplings... Of course, I still have to dig up the roots but it would be a start. There's always something to do around here. Even after all the painting is done, and the trees are either removed or trimmed, we could build some brick veg beds, or make compost bays, or build a potting bench, or - so many projects!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Wall Push-up Challenge Day 29
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 27
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 25
Iron Arms Challenge Day 24
1-Minute Mediation Day 14
Better Legs Challenge Day 10
Walking Challenge Day 6
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

The Lad arrived this morning about an hour later than expected. The Other Parent has bought another car, an electric Jeep. So that's three cars altogether, two in the last year. My 2017 5-door hatch still works fine.
We had lunch before we went out to Ikea. I had wanted to check out a few things but two of the three things were nowhere to be seen, and the third thing I ended up not liking as much as something that was $200 more expensive! I'll be thinking on that a little more. I needed some candles (tea lights and long plain candles) but then we found ourselves sniffing at the scented candles, little ones about the diameter of tea lights but taller and in little glass jars, so we bought some. The Lad particularly liked the strawberry scented ones so got two of them.
He had forgotten to bring his pjyamas with him (and his pillow. What did he bring?) and said he didn't have any winter pjyamas anyway. I bought him some flannel pjs. He's been flapping around in a pair of slip-on shoes that were only slightly too small for me, so we also went to get him shoes. He said he wanted boots, so he got a pair of black leather pull-on ankle boots. He's doing a cross country on Tuesday (really just three times around the school) and had no runners, so now he's also got some runners. Socks and jocks to round everything off. And a pair of gloves. It doesn't sound like the washing ever gets done over there. Last time he came, he was too embarrassed to bring his doona - because the last time the cover was changed, I had changed it! So I sent a text to the Other Parent requesting the Lad's bedding be changed and washed. It hasn't been, which was why he didn't bring it today. Surely things get washed some time...
Then food shopping. We saw some apples that we'd never had before, that promised to taste like honey. They didn't, but they were quite sweet and delicious. I'm glad the autumn apples are back - summer apples are too soft. The Lad also claimed he'd never eaten a honeydew before so we bought one and had a quarter of it for dessert.
He's asking for my recipes and typing them up. Thing is, when I cook, I just put in this much of whatever spice is to hand, or some of this one time but not the next. It's hard trying to give him real amounts. Now I understand what my mother went through when I was asking her!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 28
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 26
Iron Arms Challenge Day 25
1-Minute Mediation Day 15
Better Legs Challenge Day 11
Walking Challenge Day 7
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 8
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Feeling rather mentally, emotionally and physically depleted tonight. This morning I did my usual cardio and weights, then we had breakfast. I set the Lad to filling in the nail and screw holes in the window frame of the library (where he sleeps) and apart from a top one that he couldn't reach, that's done. It was a beautiful day so we went for a hike. 5.5km.
View attachment 9350

When we got home, I set him to making cottage pie. He'd asked for my recipe but I don't really follow one so by making it now, I could try to work out how much of what I usually threw in. He was the one cooking. We ended up with a pretty decent lunch.
Then he wanted to build the new chicken coop. He did not want to use the electric screwdriver but screw it all by hand. Okay, I'm game. I had to step in to tighten the last turns on most of the screws but he did much of the construction. Not impressed when the chickens slept next to it!
Took him back to his place and then felt flat for the rest of the evening.
View attachment 9351

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Only Homemade Challenge (30) Day 29
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 27
Iron Arms Challenge Day 26
1-Minute Mediation Day 16
Better Legs Challenge Day 12
Walking Challenge Day 8
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 1
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 28
Iron Arms Challenge Day 27
1-Minute Mediation Day 17
Better Legs Challenge Day 13
Walking Challenge Day 9
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 2
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 10 - Oof!
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Apparently, when I am on hands and knees, my back is the perfect height for my dog to rest his heavy head on and go to sleep. Who knew?

 

[LiteraryMatcha]

Apparently, when I am on hands and knees, my back is the perfect height for my dog to rest his heavy head on and go to sleep. Who knew?

Like this but on your back?
That's so precious.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Plank Challenge Day 29
Iron Arms Challenge Day 28
1-Minute Mediation Day 18
Better Legs Challenge Day 14
Walking Challenge Day 10
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 3
Stationary bike 20mins

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Decided to try having a rest day after my weight rotations. See if that makes any difference.

@LiteraryMatcha Not quite so cute and probably involving a lot more snoring, but essentially...

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Iron Arms Challenge Day 29
1-Minute Mediation Day 19
Better Legs Challenge Day 15
Walking Challenge Day 11
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 4
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab (Day 101):
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Who ever runs out of dish-washing liquid? Dammit, I was sure I had a couple of bottles in the laundry...

 

[graoumia]

Who ever runs out of dish-washing liquid? Dammit, I was sure I had a couple of bottles in the laundry...

I did once, such a mess

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 20
Better Legs Challenge Day 16
Walking Challenge Day 12
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 5
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 1
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 10 + 1 x 5 with heavier weight
Single-arm row 3 x 10 - increased weight
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Bought four bottles of dishwashing liquid. That should last me a bit.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 21
Better Legs Challenge Day 17
Walking Challenge Day 13
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 6
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 2
Epic Arms Challenge Day 1
Stationary bike 20mins

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 22
Better Legs Challenge Day 18
Walking Challenge Day 14
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 7
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 3
Epic Arms Challenge Day 2
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10 + 1 x 5 with heavier weight
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Wanted an egg white to bind my patties but the only chook that's laying right now is Rafa, and she's a pullet so the eggs are small. Anyway, one seemed quite a bit larger so I grabbed that one, figuring I'd get a decent amount of white. She tricked me - sticking two yolks in that shell!

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Too funny, I looked up "Pullet", saw "young hen", and then I remember, in French a hen is "une poule", so a young hen is ... " une poulette". Yep. Fron one language to the other!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 23
Better Legs Challenge Day 19
Walking Challenge Day 15
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 8
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 4
Epic Arms Challenge Day 3
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 10
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

It seems to be getting quieter and quieter around here...

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 24
Better Legs Challenge Day 20
Walking Challenge Day 16
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 9
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 5
Epic Arms Challenge Day 4
Stationary bike 20mins
Rest Day

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Grey, quiet day. Such a light rain coming straight down until mid afternoon. I make 5 different herb and spice mixes to go on my chips. Peeled, cut and parboiled the potatoes, laid them out to dry, then sprinkled them with flavouring, put them on a tray in the freezer, and when they were frozen, bagged them up in meal portions. Then, when I want chips for dinner (which is every night), I just grab a bag (selecting the seasoning) and toss the contents in the airfryer. Easy. And my potatoes don't get to sprout in the cupboard. Also cooked my traybake, so that's four lunches dealt with, too. I was a domestic goddess today!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 25
Better Legs Challenge Day 21
Walking Challenge Day 17
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 10
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 6
Epic Arms Challenge Day 5
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Spent much of the day dealing with finances. Realised I spend more time per day playing a game than I do per week ensuring my financial health!

Had a batch of yesterday's prepared chips - kebab shop blend. Delicious. Added the pub herb blend to my patties and that was also a winner.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 26
Better Legs Challenge Day 22
Walking Challenge Day 18
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 11
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 7
Epic Arms Challenge Day 6
Stationary bike 30mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 10 + 1 x 5 with heavier weight
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

I don't follow the Meditation Challenge instructions quite as written. I use a metronome app on my phone. Breathe in for 4, hold for 8 (without pressure, just not breathing), breathe out for 8, hold for 8, breathe in for 4, etc. At the moment I'm on 76bpm. It's still a little fast but it's good.

Speaking of things that are good, having seasoned chips in the freezer is a very good thing. Tonight's selection was smoky bbq, and the patties were chip shop blend. I have to make up more of these flavour blends. I only did a small batch to try them out, but they seem pretty good so far. I've got to get many more packs of seasoned chips in my freezer!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 27
Better Legs Challenge Day 23
Walking Challenge Day 19
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 12
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 8
Epic Arms Challenge Day 7
Stationary bike 30mins

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Perhaps I should plan my weekends meticulously as a matter of course, because the Lad texted me this afternoon asking if he could come over tomorrow, so all those plans are now up in smoke. He was here only a fortnight ago! Wow. Was it because I had everything planned...?

Most morning I wake up with a song running through my head. Like I'm constantly tuned to some radio frequency that plays only my favourite songs. Anyway, this morning's was:

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 28
Better Legs Challenge Day 24
Walking Challenge Day 20
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 13
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 9
Epic Arms Challenge Day 8
Stationary bike 30mins
Chest press 3 x 10 + 1 x 5 heavier weight
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

So the Lad arrived this morning. We didn't go out anywhere. I got him to help me make more herb and spice mixes. I'd made some to try them out but they were all pretty good so I wanted more. So we made some for the chips and chicken patties. I said we could have pork meatballs for lunch and he could choose the flavouring, so he went with smoky bbq and they were delicious. I got him to mix it up (showing him how) and then had him weigh out and roll each little meatball. After lunch, while he played on Marcy, I made five flavour blends for pork meatballs, but called him over to mix them up. The different coloured layers in the jars looked rather attractive before they were all combined. I'm really working on automating and simplifying my meal preparations, and having ready-made flavour blends contributes to that. The blend I used in tonight's chicken patties he'd put second-last in likes when he smelt it, but once it was cooked with stuff, he revised his opinion. He was nicely complimentary about my dinner.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
1-Minute Mediation Day 29
Better Legs Challenge Day 25
Walking Challenge Day 21
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 14
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 10
Epic Arms Challenge Day 9
Stationary bike 30mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 10
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Drop the Lad back at his place this afternoon.

I get so frustrated when websites are poorly designed. Especially the search function. I went to a furniture shop website, put in the term "sofa", and got lots of results (apparently). The first four were actually sofas. Then there were Apple iPhones, a Garmin, security systems, a kettle - in short, pretty much everything else they had in the shop. Waste of time.

 

[NancyTree]

I get so frustrated when websites are poorly designed. Especially the search function. I went to a furniture shop website, put in the term "sofa", and got lots of results (apparently). The first four were actually sofas. Then there were Apple iPhones, a Garmin, security systems, a kettle - in short, pretty much everything else they had in the shop. Waste of time.

I feel you on this one, so annoying (and unnecessary).

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Better Legs Challenge Day 26
Walking Challenge Day 22
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 15
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 11
Epic Arms Challenge Day 10
Stationary bike 30mins

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

I seem to have inflamed the bottom of my foot, so I'll be cutting the cycling back a little and maybe hold off on the walking challenge for a day or so while things calm down.

 

[Lady Celerity]

for your foot.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Better Legs Challenge Day 27
Walking Challenge Paused
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 16
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 12
Epic Arms Challenge Day 11
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

A beautifully rainy day all day and I was wonderfully productive.

I'm going to have to get around to doing something about this flooding soon. I have chickens, not ducks.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Better Legs Challenge Day 28
Walking Challenge Paused
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 17
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 13
Epic Arms Challenge Day 12
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 10 + 1 x 6 with heavier weight
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Finally have got to the floors! First coat applied this morning, second coat applied just now, after dinner and rehab. After doing the first coat, I looked outside and saw that bit of a stump that has been annoying me for ages. We had a decent rain yesterday so I reckoned the ground would be relatively soft, so I took my trusty old mattock and attacked the stump. It came up easily enough - but the ginormous root that would about 2m across the garden was a bitch. The chicken enjoyed scratching in the loosened soil. With that victory under my belt, I turned my attention to the remaining self-seeded pests. Some I could pull out, some I had to lever out, some I had to attack with the mattock. Interesting how privet grows... The biggest was about 3m tall with a diameter greater than my wrist. After about an hour's solid work, every last pest tree had been removed. I still have to prune the fruit trees. The three remaining star pickets got a reprieve today, though one is wobbling most satisfactorily. Even managed to move two chunks of concrete before I simply had enough. Inside, I peeled, chipped and parboiled potatoes, seasoned and froze them in 8 portions. Final coat on the floors tomorrow morning, and then it's simply a matter of waiting another week before I can move stuff back. Finally.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Better Legs Challenge Day 29
Walking Challenge Day 23
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 18
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 14
Epic Arms Challenge Day 13
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 1
Stationary bike 20mins

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Walking Challenge Day 24
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 19
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 15
Epic Arms Challenge Day 14
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 2
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 10
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Beautiful, sunny day today. The floors should be drying nicely. Decided to tackle a bit of the elder tree. There was something next to it that looked like a dead sapling, but it turned out to be a really big branch that had jammed itself into the ground and was a ... challenge to pull back from over the neighbour's fence. Got rid of a few more chunks of deadwood so that corner's pretty clear now. Upwards and onwards in this garden adventure!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Walking Challenge Day 25
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 20
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 16
Epic Arms Challenge Day 15
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 3
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 1 - too excited to try it to wait until Monday!
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 6 (increased weight)
Single-arm row 3 x 10 (increased weight)
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Day 2 of curing, but who's counting. I am!

Isn't coincidence a funny thing? Yesterday I was reading a book in which the protagonist said he was reading a book and named the book and author. I went out today to my local charity shop. They didn't have anything like what I was after but I found myself by the books and there, right in front of my eyes, was the very book I had read about yesterday! The author isn't prolific, hasn't written anything since 2018. This appears to be the first book of three in the series. It sounded interesting so I bought it. I'm always looking for new authors. Odd, though.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Walking Challenge Day 26
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 21
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 17
Epic Arms Challenge Day 16
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 4
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 2
Epic Legs Challenge Day 2 - forgot to put this in yesterday
Stationary bike 20mins
Ab wheel 3 x 5

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Walking Challenge Day 27
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 22
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 18
Epic Arms Challenge Day 17
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 5
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 3
Epic Legs Challenge Day 3
Stationary bike 20mins - increased the tension
Chest press 2 x 6, 1 x 5 - increased the weight
Shoulder press 3 x 10 - increased the weight
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

This afternoon I got into the garden. Small stones have mysteriously been appeared, loads of them. A real hazard if I ever mowed. This didn't happen last year. I think the neighbours who have the hard surfaces that are higher than my property, brought in some stones. But the bottom of the fence isn't sufficient to hold them in, and when it rains (because they also don't have proper guttering and downpipes), all the water rushes onto my yard, creating that lovely swamp, and brings stones with it. Hope they didn't pay too much for them, because I must have about a quarter of them! Raked them up and shoved them in a corner but realised the same would keep happening if I didn't do anything about it. Up the top near the fruit trees were a couple of treated poles, about 3m long. I rolled and dragged and lifted one of them (aren't they heavy buggers!) to go along the bottom of the fence. But it couldn't lie flat on the ground due to a root, so I wedged another chunk of wood from up there under it, and finished it off with a few bricks. Not very pretty but I hardly see it where it is. Hope it works. Then I raked over leaves into that swampy area. Once it was nicely covered, I popped out with my barrow to the front and loaded up on the mulch from the ground-down stump. Came back to find the chickens (of course) had been happily digging around in my leafed area. Smoothed it down again and tossed on the mulch. Went for more. The chickens also got to work with that. After the second load, I started laying some terrazzo pavers where I wanted them right now for Saturday night's little event when the Lad's here. Three more loads of mulch and 18 more tiles later, I now have a space where I can position two plastic outdoor chairs and my... Saturday surprise. The chickens still scratched up and made the tiles messy, but I can sweep that off easily enough. Bit chilly out today. Was 12° but felt 6° while I was out there. Winter she is a-comin'. Another frost this morning. I expect frost in June. I don't mind them in May, but I cannot abide them in April. Fortunately this year we had no frosts in April.

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Aaaah, hope the surprise this Saturday goes well

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Walking Challenge Day 28
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 23
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 19
Epic Arms Challenge Day 18
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 6
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 4
Epic Legs Challenge Day 4
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 3 x 7
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Sometimes I wonder why I bother. It rained again today, as forecast (my goodness, they actually got it right!), and there was the usual flooding. The chicken scratched all my carefully-laid mulch into the leaves beneath and covered all the tiles, and the water helped a bit too. I mean - honestly. Then I remembered. Oh yeah, I'm some sort of masochist. Apparently...

Two more days, three more sleeps!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Walking Challenge Day 29
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 24
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 20
Epic Arms Challenge Day 19
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 7
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 5
Epic Legs Challenge Day 5
Stationary bike 20mins
Ab wheel 3 x 5

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

As it rained quite a bit yesterday, when I was out feeding the chickens this morning, I decided to have another crack at those last three star pickets. I began with the one I had already done a lot of work on. Pushed and pulled and heaved, and pushed again and pulled again. Bent my knees, gripped down low, straightened... and it came up! Turned my attention to the shorter picket. Hmm, ended up it wasn't actually shorter. It has just been hammered a lot further into the ground! But that one's up too. And the final one. This one barely shifted. I pushed and pulled but I was kind of out of oomph. After getting it to move a little, I left it for next time. At least I can't see it from my kitchen window!
Had a bash at making a compote out of some of the frozen fruit in my freezer. Ate some with cottage cheese for dessert. Not bad. I'll be adjusting the proportions though. Experimenting is fun.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 25
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 21
Epic Arms Challenge Day 20
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 8
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 6
Epic Legs Challenge Day 6
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 7
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 26
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 22
Epic Arms Challenge Day 21
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 9
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 7
Epic Legs Challenge Day 7
Stationary bike 20mins
Lat pull-down 10 - 8 - 7
Single-arm row 3 x 10
Rear delt fly 3 x 10

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

Your mate TN is one tired little puppy tonight. The floors were finally cured and I could move in the furniture. I started with rebuilding my bed, then moving the mattress out of the lounge. Once I had done that, I could shift the big bookshelf and put it in its new position in the library. When I'd moved the bookshelves, I'd had the brilliant idea of storing books on them in the lounge as I had nowhere else to put the books. Now I had to take off all the books, move the bookshelves to the library, and replace all the books. All six bookshelves are in position and most books are on shelves. Some are still in crates and boxes. I'm so going to have to reorganise those shelves! Then I set up the Lad's bed, and laid down the two runners I'd bought for the library. It looks good in there. Shifted my tallboy into the bedroom, and hauled out the blanket box that I've been keeping in the car since I bought it last week. Then off to the big shed to drag out boxes of bedroom stuff. Some boxes for the study came out too because they were in the pile. Found the blankets; filled the box. Found my warm pyjamas! I had been a bit chilly last night. Mum called so I had an hour off. Then it was dinner time, followed by rehab exercises. And there was no more putting it off - the dishes. And now it's 8:30pm, and I'm stuffed. I moved my lounge chair back into its proper position and finally got to turn on the heater. It's so nice. I'm looking forward to sleeping in a bed again.

I'd asked the Lad what I need to buy for him to eat while he was here. He said "condensed milk and oats for the great dish you make containing it." I had to pause and think, then I texted back "You mean porridge?" I always used to drizzle condensed milk over the porridge. I wish he had told me when I'd asked him because I've already been shopping and no, I have no condensed milk. Guess I'll have to pop out tomorrow.

 

[Anek]

Congrats on the house progress!!

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Knee Push-ups Challenge Not today
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 23
Epic Arms Challenge Not today
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 10
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 8
Epic Legs Challenge Day 8
Stationary bike 20mins

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es

So I moved the cupboard with all my jigsaw puzzles into the study and that was it for the moving today because the Lad came. We drilled holes in the bottom of paint tins I'd sanded and primed, and then painted them to make planters. (I have recoating to do later.) He wanted tuna mornay for dinner, so we had that and it was delicious. He saw that my television was now accessible and suggested watching something. I said maybe. After I did my rehab exercises, I popped outside for a bit, then came in, gave him a coat to wear (because he doesn't have one), told him to put on his shoes and come outside. It was about 4 degrees out there but it was still and only lightly cloudy. The clouds parted later and he marvelled at how clear the stars were. And this was my suprise for him. He was surprised!

When he saw my fire basket, he commented about roasting marshmallows. I was prepared! He even convinced me to have one. I need to cut the wood I have down to fit the basket better but we had enough for about a smoky hour. It was fun.

 

[TopNotch]

First Thing Water
Come Alive
GTBOT
Knee Push-ups Challenge Day 27
Lowerbody and Core Challenge Day 24
Epic Arms Challenge Day 22
1000 Calf Raises Challenge Day 11
Perfect Balance Challenge Day 9
Epic Legs Challenge Day 9
Stationary bike 20mins
Chest press 3 x 7
Shoulder press 3 x 10
Lateral raise 3 x 12

Rehab:
- Lying heel slides 2 x 10es
- Side-lying hip abduction and march 3 x 10es
- Glute bridge 3 x 15
- Quad sets 3 x 10es
- Step-downs 2 x 10es
- TKE 3 x 15es