First group outdoor group training session

So this morning I was let loose on a group (well actually only two, but I think more than one counts as a group) of ladies to train them. This is part of the work experience I am doing to the trainer was putting his faith in me not to spoil his reputation with his clients.

I wrote the program yesterday and then this morning I got into it. I had met the ladies a couple of times before so I knew them a little. It was fun, I really enjoyed it and didn't feel nervous at all. I am taking that as a sign that this is obviously what I am destined to do.

I got some really good constructive feedback that I can use to make me a better trainer and a lot of pleasing positive feedback, both from the trainer and the clients.

The trainer even talked about me taking some of his classes so he can have a lie in. All good. So far I am loving my new career choice.

Astronauts

I read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald about a new ride that has opened at the Kennedy Space Center and was intrigued by how many grey haired astronauts there were on the ride. My curious nature took over and I googled to see how many astronauts there had actually been to date.

Wikipedia has a list in alphabetical order of all the astronauts. I was amazed to find that "As of 2007, a total of 450 people had travelled to space."

I guess I still think as space travel as being a new thing, but it has been 46 years since Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space on 12 April 1961.

Some things you might not know about me

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!


1. I was born in Cumbria in the UK.


2. Before I moved to Australia, I lived in Auckland, New Zealand for 3 years.

3. I have no sense of smell.


4. I need to have 20 minutes of me time before everyone gets up. I like to have a cup of green tea and read the news online.


5. I hate being able to hear people eating (especially chippies and other crunchy food)


6. My new runners have an annoying and embarrasing squeak.


7. I am saving up to buy a swimming pool.


I am tagging

1. Drea
2. Kerryn
3. Shan
4. Caroline


Sorry guys ran out of people who have not already been tagged.

Deja vu

As I was hanging out the washing this morning, my youngest daughter (aged 2) managed to lock the door and locked me and my other daughter outside. It's ok stay calm, she can open it again. But she couldn't. I ran around the front to go in the front door. Oh dear, in the interests of security and safety, I locked that so that my kids couldn't get out, while I was hanging out the washing. Never mind, a few neighbours have a spare key, hmmm but they are at work on Monday mornings, another neighbour has a key for my house hidden in their garden (as you might guess, due to a similar past experience, but not the deja vu experience, this has happened too many times) so off I went. The key didn't fit in my lock. I don't know whose key I have but it is not mine.

Try ringing the front door bell, see if I can get her to unlock and open that one. No trained them too well - never open the door to anyone. Tried to coax the unlocking of the back door, now she is refusing, she saw a kiwi fruit, got it sat down in front of the door and starting eating it. I'm thinking what is next, the chocolate, or maybe even the vodka, left free in a house of rules with no mum, how drunk will she be before she finally agrees to open the door? I had visions....

Tried to say daddy is coming go open the door, she had no idea which door I was talking about. Eventually she understood. I went to the front to encourage her. She said, "mam, it's locked" I tried to calmly say I know unlock it, she didn't know how. Eventually the door opened and we got inside. I have now taught her to unlock the door so should it happen again, she can. Not sure from a safety point of view that was wise. Maybe I need to keep a key around my neck the whole time. Shame we don't have letter boxes in the door like in the UK. I could have my key attached to a piece of string on the inside.

The deja vu part. All am I going to say is it happened nearly 6 years ago with my son, after moving in to a new neighbourhood and not knowing many neighbours. Same situation, hanging out washing. At least this time I was dressed. I knew my neighbours a little too well after that.

Nutrimetics - or is it?

On Thursday I was invited to a Nutrimetics party by a friend. (obviously a friend, why would someone who didn't know me invite me?) I wasn't sure I wanted to go as today, Sunday, is my first Sunday off in months and I wanted to stay home Saturday night with my husband and be able to watch a movie til late without worrying about going to college the next day.

Anyway the hermit in me decided to break free and go out with friends and socialise. Actually I have done that a lot this week, which is why I felt a bit guilty (maybe not guilty( but why I wanted to stay home.

OK so I went, I picked up another friend on the way so she could have a drink. How nice am I?

Most will know what a Nutrimetics party is like so I won't go into details, but this one was weird. It was a spa party so we did relaxation - two of us (not me) went so deep that it was quite difficult to bring them back, but we did.

I, then had an allergic reaction to the soothing (or not so soothing) eye pads and felt like I was having pins stuck in my eyes.

Then ,the party person held onto my girlfriends hand and starting talking to her about her brother that had passed many years ago, who was trying to talk to her through the party person. This totally spooked and upset my friend. So after party person left we stayed up til very late talking, as you do (and might I add all without alcohol for me).

A couple of the girls are having parties in the coming weeks. I am very curious about the medium side of it, but will be very wary of using any soothing eye pads.

I need new clothes

But first I need some income, that might not be too far off. Yesterday I went for a job interview. I was quite sceptical about the whole thing, thinking that there was very little chance of it fitting in with my children and then the cost of child care to consider also. I was pleasantly surprised.

It felt more like they were selling the place to me rather than me selling myself and then they were talking more like when I start rather than if. Which is good for me. What is better is that I only need to do one shift a week. Why would you bother? I hear you ask. I want to work in a gym to gain experience. I believe you learn more from experience than you ever can in a classroom. Anyhow I do a shift next week. I will keep you updated.

So to the clothes. I went out for dinner twice last week. Both on rather cold Sydney evenings, on Thursday it was the Zaaffran Indian restaurant in Darling Harbour, we sat outside and enjoyed a beautiful dinner and wonderful company. You would never know that I had last seen them about 3 years ago. Anyway, I realised I do not have a jacket, at least not one that I would wear to a restaurant. So I wore a sports jacket in the car and took it off to go to the restaurant. I didn't have one last year but as the kids were so young, I can only imagine, I didn't go anywhere to need one otherwise I would have known this earlier.

To the happier point of this story, over with the doom and gloom of no money and a young family, oh woah is me!!! I found in my wardrobe a nice jacket I had bought years ago and tried it on. Well, it was huge, there was no way I could have worn it. I had forgotten but got a nice reminder of how much weight I have lost. Most of my old clothes have been given away but one or two items linger.

Anyway for the sake of preventing hypothermia, I don't think the purchase of a new jacket is extravagant so hopefully this afternoon I am off to the shops. (Does this mean I will need more dinners out to make the purchase of a new jacket worthwhile?)

...................................

In addition to the jacket, I have just found out the that dress code for my graduation party next month is ...cocktail........ now there is a whole other story......... and possibly a dress.

Get used to it!

I am exhausted, I am desperately trying to stay up later than my 2 & 3 year olds. I really have no choice as I am the only one looking after them. I should get them ready for bed and take them up but it is so much easier to sit here and just move my fingers.

I qualified on Sunday which means no more evenings of study and lectures and no more Sundays. Most would expect that now I could sit back and rest for a little while, but oh no not me I (in my wisdom or maybe stupidity) arranged to do some work experience with a local trainer. Did I arrange for a nice leisurely afternoon session - no, I started just before 6am on Monday morning so no time for celebration or relaxation. On top of that with my first Tuesday off, I had arranged to go out to a dinner with my daughters pre-school parent group. So up early Monday, out late Tuesday, can I rest today, no I was up again at 5.15am and training at 6am.

You would think from the way I am going on that I am used to sleeping in until oh after 9am - no I am usually up by 6am - 6.30am at the latest but that little bit earlier makes all the difference. As the title says, get used to it. This is what I signed up for, this is what I love to do and to be honest I can't wait to get my own clients and at least be earning a little bit of money for my efforts. It's not that bad, I really couldn't pay for the experience I am getting.

Man, when did I get older and wiser? Obviously after I arranged the 6am Monday morning training sessions!