geocaching

I took Sarah and her friend Hannah geocaching over Great Wakering one lovely hot evening. We were gone for three hours. A bit longer than planned but it was all good. We went round a church, found a micro and then searched for clues for the cache. We managed to find eight of the nine that we were looking for. It was on the 8th Sept that we went - so that was pretty cool. The one that we couldnt find was really tricky. Apparently quite a few others have found it difficult too. It was a lovely walk and I think the girls enjoyed it.

Millie enjoyed the walk too!

geocaching

Had a great day out yesterday. First I went to Hanningfield Reservoir and met up with some other geocachers, some of the names I recognised from the caches. Kev had planned 14 caches altogether, 8 of them with lego pieces which made a little man next to a tree. Very clever idea. Here is a picture of all of us.

About eight teams did a race round the reservoir collecting the lego pieces. I didn't do it though, although I did get one cache near the meet. It was nice to meet people with the same hobby. I think some of them are going to Castle Hedingham at the end of the month so it will be cool to see them again.

I then went home and picked up Millie and took her to the Orsett Show. It was packed, there were loads and loads of people there. There were sheep and cows in pens and a little practice agility course set up that Millie and I bumbled our way around. She didn't understand the concept of going through the tunnels! Then we went on to watch some horses doing jumps - it was the novice round and they were very good. It was very enjoyable to watch. I wandered all around the outside of the display rings in the middle and had a good afternoon there. I bought some cheeses with strange additions like chocolate! One was cheese with chilli - which is very hot.

Then I took Millie home and went round to parents in law to pick up Andy. He had been there to help his brother spready out some topsoil and lay out some turf. We had fish and chips there before coming home late at night. So all in all a pretty full day.

It is now Sunday evening and Sarah is here for a few days. Always nice to have her home, I think she has a busy few days planned meeting up with friends.

I am having an MRI scan of my lumbar spine tomorrow to check out my back, in case I have hurt it really bad. Just to check if there is any cord compression. I think it will be alright, but just want to make sure really. I will get my boss to check it out as the is the expert. Then we are going to parents in law again as Sarah has not been to their new home yet. Hopefully Sarah and I will get a chance to do a little spot of geocaching. I am supposed to be giving blood tomorrow, but not sure if I will have time.

geocaching

Had a lovely day yesterday going out geocaching. Found four caches in a country park nearby. The views from the hill were amazing - right across the estuary. We went through some woods as well. Millie had a great time running around, even on sucha lovely dry day she managed to find a mud hole! So she needed a shower when we got home. She was covered in mud and grass seeds. Then we spent the evening watching films.

Today we went to see Richard for a birthday drink before he went back home to Australia. i didnt get up until 12.30 so we didnt have lunch at the pub as planned, just some nibbles. Just watching "The day the earth stood still" before going to bed. Got tomorrow off work as it is Bank Holiday. I plan to sort the fish tank out. I need to get a new light and some more fish and clean the tank out. Then I really MUST finish my assignment. It is the last one and is due in Friday next week.

physio

I saw the Consultant today about my knees. He says I have some arthritis and probable cartilage problems so I am going to have bilateral arthroscopies. After that i went to see the physio about my back. Yep, busy morning. He prodded and pocked and asked me loads of questions. He tells me I have facet neural irritation. He prodded my back and it helped a little. He has given me some exercises to do.

Went swimming again this afternoon with Alice. Already we are starting to improve. I did 25 lengths in 30 mins and Alice did 31 lengths.

She has her GCSE exam results tomorrow and is a little worried. I am sure she has done well. She is brainier than she gives herself credit.

I have thre ATCs that I really must get done tomorrow and in the post for facebook ATC group swap. I have had all month to do them. Typical of me to leave it to the last minute.

I also have the last assignment to do from the ILM 5 course that I am doing. Hopefully it will get a better result than my last couple of assignments. Cant believe it is nearly finished after all this time.

swimming classes

I phoned up my local swimming pool to see about classes to improve my swimming stroke. I was told that there was a class tonight for anyone aged 11+ for free. So I thought great. I will take Alice along with me as well. We were told it started at 6pm but after swimming for half an hour were told it actually started at 6.30pm and was in the baby pool. So I said to Alice "No way am I going in the baby pool" I spoke to the teacher and she offered me the 60+ non swimmers class! Cheek. I know she was being considerate but I CAN swim and I am NOT 60+ thank you very much.

So the only choice I have left is to pay £65 for a term of classes for improvers. Mmmmm, maybe not. Apparently there is a national initiate to get 16 and under and 60+ swimming so they are offering swimming lessons for free.

Ah well, we got to swim for half an hour for free.

101 in 1001

Just been reviewing my 101 in 1001 list of things to do. Not doing terribly well, considering 226 days have gone already. I have done 18 on my list with 4 in progress. Oh dear, need to step things up a bit. I actually only started with 68 on my list in January as I couldnt think of any more. But I have now had another think about and will be adding some more.

I see some people have finished their 1001 days and have made a new list of 101 things but have included those that they didn't get to do in the first list! LOL. That sounds like my lists. I am always carrying over unfunished items on my lists.

My family are all over the world on three different continents and over the next 750 days there will be some travelling going on. Hopefully we can get involved with some of it though of course finances will limit what we can do.

June 2010 – Andy and me and Alice ( and poss Sev) go to Scotland
June 2010 – Mum and dad travelling Europe for one month
September 2010 – Alyson visiting from US
Christmas 2010 – Stuart and Suzanne coming over from Australia for 3/5 weeks
- Mum is thinking of all of us staying in one place again for a weekend or so in early Jan
April/May 2011 – Kayleigh, Rebekkah and mum (and dad?) going to Australia

Definetly doing Scotland. Would love to go to Australia, but that will be a big expense but then we do have a few years to save. Save HUH, don't make me laugh. Will definetly be up for a get together when Stu and Suz come over. Lots of exciting things to look forward to over the next few years.

swimming

Went swimming with Alice today. Was very pleasant, I managed 20 lengths and she did 24. Will need to get another pair of goggles as we had to keep on sharing. The plan is to do the direct debit thing which is just £20 a month and I can swim whenever I want. So I plan to do do 5 days a week after work and at weekends go for a walk with Millie.
My knees really hurt when I was swimming though, so when I see the consultant on Wednesday i will check that it will be okay to continue swimming.
I think if I do do this I will need to get a swimming hat so I dont have to wash my hair everyday and I want a float as well so i can do the leg strengthening lengths that kill!