Level 3 Cycle Coaching and other stuff....

Sometimes I cannot believe how lucky I am. I have a wonderful family, great friends and a dream job.

For quite some time I've wanted to become a level 3 coach. this would enable me to do prescriptive training on a 1-1 basis. It's a pretty tough course, very expensive and time consuming.

About 3 months ago I received an email from British Cycling offering the level 3 course over a 5 day period (it's normally run over 3 weekends over a 6 month period). The hubster was off work the same week it was being held, the only problem was it was being held in London. We talked about it and decided it was too good an opportunity to miss so I booked it.
The course was to run from the 8th to the 12th April. From where I live its about a 5hr drive so we decided that I would go down ob the 6th and stay with an auntie and then on the Sunday make the 1 1/2 hr journey to my accommodation.

The most beautiful Auntie in the world.

And my beautiful cousin burning bagels...

On the Sunday we visited Henley On Thames which is where the GB Olympic Rowers train. It is the most gorgeous little village and people who live there are very wealthy.

A very famous singer is buried there.

On the Sunday night I moved to Croyden which is where the first section of the course was held. I had decided to take my bike and cycle into the venue, it seemed easier than going via car. I got there no problem but managed to get myself lost on the way home. After a hard day in the classroom, little food, lots of men with ego's and an extra 25 miles on my route I cried on the phone to my husband.
But I gave myself a good talking to and the week improved from there.
I met 2 pro cyclists. Julian Dean who is now Directeur Sportif with Orica Greenedge but is renowned for the DQ of Mark Renshaw in the 2010 Tour de France. Lovely lovely guy. I also met Matteo Cararra who has recently retired from  Vacansoliel.

And little me with them :)

More to follow xx

Pouffee Cover.... Ta Dah !!!!!

You may remember a few posts ago I had an idea to cover my old and battered pouffee with a crocheted cover. I did a quick search via Ravelry and noticed they were all circular. Then I had an oooOOOOOOO moment and came up with a plan.

So here is my old and battered Pouffee, with just a fraction of my wool stash in it.

It is a tired tired old thing. So here it is now.... TA DAH !!!!!!

Doesn't it look fab?! Really really simple to do.. heres how.

Basic square, then extended each end. Sew each side together, then once sewn together crocheted in the round, decreasing on each round, first every 15 stitches, then every 10 stitches, every 5 stitches and then on the last round every 4 stitches. This means that the cover fits snuggly round the top.

Love it love it love it !! :D

Football Tournament.

Blooming heck it was cold today. The boy was participating in a football tournament in Fleetwood. The weather wasn't great. A balmy 4 degrees !!!

We put the tent up and settled in for 4 hours of football. BBBBbbrrrrrrrrrr.............

The boys played well and us mum's had a great chat and gossip.

So after 4 football matches the boys received their medals. Don't they look chuffed :)

ooo ooo OOOOOoooo

I have seen quite a few stool covers that have been crocheted over the last few months. i have a pouffe that is square. It is so old that the lift up lid on it is thread bare and disintegrating in places. i have been wanting to cover it but couldn't figure out how to. Anyway, tonight I have... so watch this space :)

Easter Bunnies

After reading Lucy's post over on Attic24 about an adapted version of the owl on Bunny mummy's blog that was a bunny, I couldn't help myself and had to make one, which then turned into 2 !!

The pattern is available here. 

I'll be honest they were fiddly and doing 2 did take me all day ! The kids were super excited about having an easter bunny each.
The only thing I would change would be the pom pom tail. The second one fell apart as it was so small, so looking for something else to use as a tail.

Anyway here they are :)

Well....

The diet soon went out of the window!! Haha, yep the old restriction reared it's ugly head. I think I'll just go back to trying to calorie count !! It's a shame as the health benefits of this diet are amazing !!!

I've had a busy few weeks and I've even found time to make some things :) Yay !!

First a friend of mine asked me to make her a heart, it was to hang on a wall of hearts her and her daughter are putting together. So here it is...

Another Bunny Mummy creation.very clever and talented lady !!

I was also asked by a friend to make a simple crocheted rosette flower. Finished article?... here :)

And I have been slowly working on a Attic24 ripple blanket...

I think I may be finished by Christmas!!

 

And if you look closely at Lucy's blog you will see she made on of Bunny Mummy's owls !! How cool is that :) I love blogland.

Dieting.

Isn't it a bore.

I've tried many diets over the years and whilst not vastly overweight I'm always longing to lose them few extra pounds and keep them off.
The problem I seem to have is I hate restriction. I am always wanting to eat what I can't have.
Don't get me wrong the diets work for a short whilee but inevitably I seem to put the pounds back on.

Anyway, I recently read a book called 5:2 The fast diet. Basically it means you have 2 fast days of 500 kcal and the rest of the time you can eat what you want. The health benefits of this diet seem to be amazing too.

Today is my first day and I thought I would share my experience with you. Today is a fast day. I've decided to save my 500 kcal till tea time. I figured if I do it this way I won't get hungry again during the day and I have my tea to look forward to.

It's 11.41 GMT and I am hungry. It's ok though, I am keeping myself occupied and I am about to go out to work. Bikeability will keep me focused on children and not on how hungry I am. I believe the trick is that I need to keep my fluids up to stave off the hunger. I am reliably assured that over time, with practice, I will feel less hungry on the fast days.

Wish me luck !!