Volunteer Work

I recently saw a statistic that in 2010, just over 2 million people participated in some form of volunteer work in NSW. 

To me, that is a pretty impressive statistic, especially considering that the estimated population of NSW in 2010 was 7.2 million.

Perhaps society isn't that bad after all. Despite what the media tells us, there are some good people out there.


To date my volunteering has been quite minimal and based mostly around helping out at the kids schools or coaching/training their sports teams.

Do you or have you volunteered? Have you been on the receiving end of a volunteer?

Is the number of volunteers higher or lower than you imagined?

Turning 40

OMG, I just updated the little bio on this blog and realised that I am turning 40 next year?

Will I feel different?
Will my kids respect me more, less or just the same?
Will my ear hair get longer or is that just men?
Will I get to the UK next year?
Will I pay my mortgage off before I retire?
Will I get more time for myself?

What happened when you turned 40? Or, if you're not 40 yet, what do you think it will be like?

Ripping strapping tape from my butt

Ripping strapping tape from my butt and lower back is not my usual nor preferred start to the day.

After a 5 month break from running due to various injuries I ran the 4km Mothers Day Classic. It was the perfect day for a run and I am delighted to say that the run was a slow effortless jog. Those months of hill running and hill sprints had paid off - kinda, apart from the injuries!

However, I was a little tight in the glutes and hamstrings the following day and as such I really shouldn't have gone to an Ultimate gym class.

I got through the warm up and 2 sets of tabata workouts, alternate lunges and push ups, we did a little more running and then into the 3rd tabata session which was full abdominal sit ups, hands above the head to touching toes alternating those with body weight squats. Into the second round of squats I heard and felt a ripping/popping in my lower back, the pain referring right down into my coccyx.

A trip to the physio, some ultra sound and dry needling and a very attractive taping of my lower back and butt and I am now exercise free until at least the end of this week.

I have definitely learnt my lesson this time. It was also quite timely that Liz N wrote about leaving your ego at the door recently.

I need to and will start listening to my body and not to my head. My head wants to go faster, lift heavier, burn more calories, lose more weight. My body is quite clearly saying no, stop, listen to me.

Slack blogger

I always seem to rock up to blog and start with an apology for not being around. Guess what? This is no different.

I will start by saying "Happy New Year"!! I have not blogged at all this year. Well let's look on the bright side (cos I'm all for that these days, not that you'd know cos I don't blog!!) at least we're still in the first half of the year.

Why have I been away? Have I won the lottery and spent the last 6 months travelling the world? Sadly no. What am I saying? Not sadly. I have a great life, seriously I do, it's just very busy. Not that I'm complaining too much, just a little.

I am going to try and use this blog to find the 'real me'. Can you cope with that? I'm not sure how it will go, I could disappear again for 6 months but I hope not.

I'm also using it to try and get back into writing. I am trying to write for my business blog and the main issue I have with that is that sometimes I doubt my ability.

I see so many fantastic writers out there that I consider to be so much better at it than me. Why would anyone want my opinion?

But then I sometimes feel that way about my PT skills and business skills and other times I 'know' that I am really really good at what I do. I'm just different. Especially in relation to the fitness industry, I don't fit the norm, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a place for me. Does it.

OK, I have a client now and will have to sign off. I have not proofed this but I am just going to post anyway, this is practice right and if I don't post now I'll procrastinate and try and make it perfect and it will definitely be 6 months before you hear from me again.

So here goes. Have a great day and I hope to be back very soon. xx

It's quiet at home today

It's strangely quiet at home today. The kids are back at school and Jon has gone away for business. I've not been in much today but it already feels much too quiet.

freedigitalphotos.net

Darling Harbour Dancing

We're off to Darling Harbour today, TJ is dancing again. Unfortunately this time we can't all go. The little one has her soccer presentation day and CJ (not all my kids have J as their middle initial) is playing in the Orange Blossom Festival this afternoon.

So last night we did the curlers again. I put in her hair 50 or the wiggly worm curlers and she tried to sleep on them last night. I hope next year her hairstyle calls for straight.

I did buy a curling wand but I'm not having much success with the curls staying in. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I can get the curls in but they fall after an hour. Not good enough when they need to be in for about 4 - 5 hours.

Here are the before and after shots taken for performances a few weeks ago.

Not happy

If your child played an instrument in a school band and the band was using music that was written by a convicted pedophile, would you be concerned?

What response would you expect from the school when you raised your concerns?

Would you expect that a parallel could be drawn between the "lifestyle choices" of someone who is gay and a convicted pedophile?