Monday, November 12, 2007



Courtesy of Lia's blog. I couldn't resist!!!!

A reunion of sorts

This morning I did something that I haven't done for 15 months. And while doing it I realised why I hadn't done this for 15 months. Yep, I got on my bike - literally. The bike was dragged out of the shed yesterday and what a sorry sight it was - covered in dust and cobwebs, and with 2 flat tyres. However once I cleaned it up and pumped up the tyres, it looked much better. Then I had to go searching for my helmet, bike gloves and shoes - also covered in a layer of dust.

The reason for resurrecting my bike was because I need to do something a little more substantial than run/walk sessions that are over before I really get started. I need to get my teeth into something other than chocolate! And it was either cycling or swimming so guess what won out.....for now.

I organised all my gear last night before going to bed so I wouldn't be running around in a flap this morning trying to find things (I'd forgotten how many bits and pieces are required for cycling). I was in the right mind set for a cycle this morning before breakfast.

So why was I lying in bed this morning thinking up all the reasons why I didn't need to get out on my bike? Honestly the time I waste in these fruitless exercises! I did get out on my bike eventually and cycled for about 18km - not far but plenty enough for my first foray. I have to admit I had to focus on clipping and unclipping my shoes, try to remember how the bike computer worked, and changing gears. I think it was all coming together nicely by the time I finished!

So that was my first cycle in 15 months. It won't be that long before my next ride!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

A few of my favourite things


I have found pizza in Canberra that is the closest to the real Roman pizza - Pizza-Arte in Kingston. It operates out the back of a house - its a home-based business. Their motto is "life is too short for bad pizza" and I so agree. I had been grumbling a few weeks ago about the lack of decent woodfired thin crust pizzas in Canberra when an Italian friend of mine told me about Pizza-Arte. So Mr CJ and I made the trip across town last night to try the pizzas and we weren't disappointed. I had the patate pizza (potato and rosemary) and Mr CJ had the napolitana pizza. You have to ask specifically for the Italian-style thin crust. The best thing is they don't pile on the toppings so it just becomes gloop on top. Later last night a Domino's pizza ad came on TV and they were advertising the meatlovers pizza with ingredients galore and 'tons of cheese' - in other words, pizza gloop.


Another favourite place is Costa Noosa is, unfortunately, in Noosa!!! They make the best coffee.



As their website states:

"Costa Noosa Espresso is the coast's specialty roaster, catering for lovers of exceptional, fresh coffee.

At Costa Noosa Espresso, we take the best available 100% Arabica beans from the Americas, Asia and Australia and precisely roast and blend them to produce coffee with passion. We invite you to share that passion with us.

Call into our roastery and espresso bar in Duke Street, Sunshine Beach and experience a little Costa Noosa magic. For the true coffee aficionado, sitting in the roastery experiencing the sights, and the intensity of the taste and aroma as the finest primo quality beans are being roasted, creates a special magic all of its own."

The highlight of my week in Noosa was going across the road to Costa Noosa for my morning albinocino. Beam me up Scotty...and take me back there!


My current favourite chocolate!!!


"Traditionally the Maya Indians in southern Belize flavoured their cocoa with spices. We recapture this by blending rich, dark chocolate with a refreshing twist of orange that is perfectly balanced by the warmth of cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of vanilla.

Ingredients
Organic Cocoa Mass*, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter*, Emulsifier: Soya Lecithin, Natural Fruit and Spice Extracts (0.1%), Organic Vanilla Extract. * = All the cocoa in this chocolate is Fairtrade. Cocoa represents 55% of the total product weight."

The long road back

Friday I was back at the physio's for more treatment. The good news is that since the cortisone injection seems to have done the trick *touch wood* I can increase the amount of running I can do to.......*wait for it*....2.30min for each interval, with a 3min walk after each one. Sigh......at this rate I might be ready for the 2009 Canberra marathon :-( If, after a week, everything is still hunky dory then I can decrease the walk intervals from 3min to 2min. Lucky I'm a patient person....NOT!

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Dust if You Must......

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.

(Author unknown)

TTOTM!

It was that time of the month again........KokoBlack time! This time I was having morning tea with some friends whom I hadn't seen for some time to exchange holiday stories and photos! I think I have been to Kokoblack three times since the end of September!!!!

As for the after effects of the cortisone injection - I had the injection last Tuesday afternoon, so Wednesday wasn't a lot of fun - in fact, it was very painful. The pain subsided about 4am Thursday morning and since then..........nothing! Now I won't get too excited just yet but *fingers crossed* I might have turned the corner. I have been for 2 short runs since the injection and there has been no soreness or achiness.

ACT has a public holiday on Tuesday (Melbourne Cup day) and so many of us, including moi, are taking Monday off as well - a 4 day long weekend. I haven't got anything special planned for the days off except study - I am currently studying a Certificate in Nutrition. This will be followed by a Cert 3 (Professional Fitness Instructor) and Cert 4 (Personal Trainer). Next year I have applied to do an Advanced Diploma In Naturopathy (part-time), specialising in nutrition. So life, no doubt, will become very hectic!