Tuesday 30 December 2008

Weekly training 22Dec- 28Dec

Swim
total: 2850 only one pool swim because of xmas and one open water swim.
Bike
total:74.3miles - Two trainer sessions and 40mile Sunday ride on Middle Rd past Camp David for the first time , no scary climbs and I was sort of disappointed.
Run
total:29miles - 1x9, 2x10 now I have reached an area with hills I have much greater variety. Closer to my house it is flat and I refuse to drive somewhere to run - that partly defeats one of the benefits of running - just go out your door.

Other news: Yesterday I wanted to plug up the old chimney (no longer used) so I can board up the disused fireplace. I mixed the concrete, had the ladder ready and it hasn't stopped raining since.

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Sunday 28 December 2008

Kayaking at the pond

Yesterday we hired a kayak for an hour at Pandora's pond and took turns at taking the children around. I swam in the pond first, more practice at starts and gradually increasing the distance. It was a great day out and then we went home for lunch read a bit and then worked in the garden for an hour. I must post a garden update soon as things are really happening.





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More Christmas photos

Home made Christmas crackers complete with banger, chocolate as a gift and party hats. We bought the children Twister with money from Linda and Dave, Teresa's aunt and uncle. I had never played this before and I was in hysterics and nearly farted in Teresa's face as we played because I was laughing so hard.






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New fruit alert

Teresa asked if I could buy a berry plant for Cameron to give her for Christmas. I had seen these in the garden centre and I thought it was a bit different plus it said that it was good in pots on the deck which is exactly what Teresa wanted. It is a Pepino incredible Ruby. They also had another version which is has a skin sort of the colour of the inside of this purple one.


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Thursday 25 December 2008

Christmas

We are having great Christmas Day. We have a small budget that we add to all year about $10 NZ a week and then everything we do for Christmas comes out of this budget. This includes close family members presents in the UK, Teresa's staff Christmas meal at the Mission Winery(we only had to pay for mine) and our presents.
For ourselves we limit mine and Teresa's presents to $20 each - I put it towards new racing tyres I'd been saving for and Teresa put hers towards the cost of a party dress. The children's presents for us are $10 or less. The children get larger presents from Grand parents and relatives.

This year we made mince pies (as always),Christmas crackers and we have meringue, berries and ice cream for dessert (it is hot in NZ at Christmas) and this year I made the meringues from our own eggs. I found some vegan ice cream. Next year I am going make the Christmas cake (a vegan one).


Cameron's Christmas party at Kindergarten. Our Christmas tree with the presents . Cameron's big wooden digger and Emily's new scooter.












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Wednesday 24 December 2008

I enjoyed this on youtube about youtube


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Monday 22 December 2008

Weekly training 15Dec- 21Dec

Very good week of training. Swim training was down on distance because I had my first open water swin since last summer and I had the family with me, so I just did some practice starts into oncoming waves. This is a particular weakness of mine because it is very different to pool swimming once I'm out of waves or crowds of other swimmers I swim much better.
Swim
Total: 4200m

Bike
Total: 73.3milesChanged my seat position in an effort to find more comfort on long flat roads. I have always preferred riding hills it is just more interesting. I was always fascinated by climbers in the pro-peloton they just seemed a breed apart.

Run
Total: 28 miles This week saw the last of my 5am runs for a long time (maybe even forever). I have been doing it for a number of years and I won't miss them.

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Monday 15 December 2008

Weekly training 8Dec-14Dec

Woke up Monday feeling really tired from the weekend. I usually go swimming but wasn't really in the mood so when Cameron fell asleep an hour before we were due to go to Kindergarten I realised it just wasn't meant to be.

Woke Tuesday at 4.30am for my run at 5am listened to torrential rain decided to go back to sleep.


I decided to complete things by missing Wednesday evening bike trainer session. So I missed one session of each discipline.

The good news is missing those sessions was the right thing to do and I trained really well for all my other sessions. Swimming was fantastic.


Swim
total: 3500m
Bike
total: 54.41 miles
Run
total: 18 miles

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Thursday 11 December 2008

Fruit update

This is the latest fruit tree in the garden.

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Tuesday 9 December 2008

Weekly training 1Dec- 7Dec

Swim
total: 4200m
Another fistgloves ripped so I started to use some small plastic balls to do the same job. Only they are even more difficult to use, using the fistgloves there was a slight flat spot. The balls take even that flat surface away, so I went back to doing 100s and 30sec rest with balls and band aound my legs
Bike
total: 67.35 miles
This week the computer stopped completely on m y ride (Raukawa Rd towards Waipawa). I turned around after 18miles (after one of longest climbs I've done for years so the return would bring me to 36miles. But because of the computer I don't know how accurate it is. I know I was out for a long time and I felt very tired at the end but that might simply be the doing harder hills. I spent some time on Sunday trying to diagnose the computer problem and it turns out that the magnet that attachs to the rear wheel had died. So I found another one and it worked.
Run
total: 26 miles
1x8, 2x9 feeling very comfortable. Used a new pair Brooks adrenalin shoes I had stored away, to see if it helped my plantar problem. I have been using my current pair of adrenalin for quite a while and they are some of the best I've used, a really long lasting sole.

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Tuesday 2 December 2008

Garden update

Gardens going well black raspberries are really amazing and we have had some red. I've had a battle with some birds that have nested in one of the trees, I have to seal the raspbeirries in a bird netting cocoon. Strawberries are providing 2- 4 fruit a day. Feijoa tree almost died through a lack of water, I honestly thought it was drought resistant. We have started buying a different variety of feijoa (it has a beautiful red flower) to grow into a hedge at out front fence to replace the trees I have been slowly cutting down. I just don't see the point of keeping trees pruned if they don't provide yummy treats.
Harvested the second half of the garlic crop 23 bulbs of proper garlic. We have planted two types of runner beans (one is purple until it is cooked) and after the success of the broadbeans I insisted on another so we found some butter bean seedlings. We also planted courgettes and cucumbers as seedling as the hens had messed with our seeds before I hen proofed the veggie beds.

Garlic (second batch)


The best garlic bulb from first batch


Cameron wearing my beaten up sunhat (its the hat or skin cancer) the hole in the ozone layer is directly above New Zealand


Winning the raspberry battle

Final note..

New Bertha is broody, my friend Shelly who gave us new Bertha asked the other day did we want chicks and if so let them know when we have a broody hen. We're undecided, Ill probably see Shelly at her stall at the farmers' market on Sunday and ask her for a fertilised egg.


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Monday 1 December 2008

Weekly training 24Nov-30Nov

Swim
total: 4800

Monday I did 3x500 wearing the fistgloves and band and I was amazed then I did 100 with no band and the feeling was amazing it was a religious, magical feeling. I felt like a cork -so bouyant. Tuesday I challenged myself to do 2x750 with the gloves and band which I did and very proud of myself I was do. I backed down from doing the 1500m with gloves and band on Thursday.


Bike
total: 64.17 miles - still having computer problems.
Run
25 miles (2x8mile)1x9mile

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