Wednesday 31 December 2014

Look back

I know everyone says that we shouldn't look back because the past is the past for a reason, but sometimes it is good to look back.

I think as women we focus so hard on where we want to go, and what we want to acheive that we sometimes forget to look back at what we have already done.

We think, I haven't lost that stone I wanted to loose, I still haven't got a boyfriend, my job sucks, my house could be nicer, I want better hair, etc etc etc

We forget to see that every single step we take along that road gets us further than we were before.

Yes I didn't lose all the weight I wanted to this year, in fact I only lost about 1/2 stone, but I did get fitter.  I can lift more weight than I could at the start of the year and I can now do push ups and am getting much better at pull ups (assisted ones still at the minute, but I'm getting there!).

I have made some lovely new friends this year, and strengthened some relationships.I didn't fall out with anyone.  So thats GREAT!

I learned new skills.  I joined the Magnus Vikings, so I learnt how to row a viking longship, I am learning how to fight with a sword and sheild, I learnt some battle training, I learnt some self defense/fighting skills, I learnt how to make a sheild wall.






The Magnus Vikings out on Strangford Lough
 

I passed my archery leaders course, and can now teach archery.
Archery!  Look at me go!!
I travelled a lot this past year too.  I went to America, to Portugal, to Majorca, to Scotland.
DunCarron Village in Scotland







Portugal
   



Chicago
 



  
The Caves of Draque, Majorca

Portugal






Majorca

I celebrated my second wedding anniversary.

Cheers
I watched my daughter grow up and secure herself a permanent job, and thrive at that job.

I completed my first 5k race, then learned that I shouldn't run as I have problems with my knees.

I completed the Color Run.

I went to Sunflowerfest (the best festival in Ireland).

Facepainting at Sunflowerfest
 







Lets play dress up

I spent a weekend a few weeks ago in Scotland, playing dress up with a whole bunch of other people who like to dress up, play with swords and shields and shoot with bows and arrows.

And it was fun!!

Yes, there is an element of being embarrassed when the general public (the ones not in full kit) see you, but that gets old pretty quick.

The kids have so many questions, and its a blast to encourage them to think about the past, and why the world is the way it is now.

It was a Viking weekend and after passing my Archery leaders course last week I was finally teaching 'officially'.  I have been taking "have a go" archery for a few months now, but its only this past week that I have qualified!

There was camping for those who wanted it (but not for me, I stayed in a friends house) and plenty of socialising.

What do you do for fun?



Tuesday 11 November 2014

How do we chose our profile pictures

Checking through Social Media (Facebook) I see lots and lots of profile pics.  I have a mixed age range of friends from teenagers right through and it amazes me the pics that we chose to put forward for the world to see.

From the teenage girl with her "selfie" looking pouty and possible showing cleavage, to the twenty something with their "look at me I'm in a couple" pose, to the family person with pics of their kids, to the "I love my pet" person.  This is the image we chose to show the world, the first one they see when they see our name, and how much effort goes into picking it?

At the minute I have a cartoon up on my profile.  Usually I have a pic of myself, or a random collage of a few pics I really love.

What am I saying with this?

At the minute I am declaring my love of Christmas, and possibly trying to annoy those baa humbug people out there! That is why I picked my profile image.

When I put up a collage its because these things have happened recently and I want to share them with everyone.

Or a pic of my wedding day when my anniversary comes round.

In all of this though, I try to pick images when I look good, and anyone else in the pic looks good too.

But I wonder sometimes does anyone else care about that.  Look down the side of your facebook wall.  Look at all those pics, that the individual has personally chosen to have as their profile image, are they looking good?  Would you have chosen that image if you were them?

Just a thought.

Friday 5 September 2014

4th September

Food:

Breakfast:
Wholemeal bagel with jam
Lunch:
Cheese salad, two slices wheaten bread, chutney
Dinner:
Chilli, two slices wheaten bread

Exercise:
Half hour walk
Half hour weights
45 minute spin class

Thursday 4 September 2014

Yesterday

Food:
Sausage bap, can of sugar free energy drink
Tomato soup, 2 slices of wheaten bread
4 chicken goujons, 2 handfuls of chips, 2 slices of wholemeal bread, glass of wine

Exercise:
Half hour walk
Walked stairs instead of taking lift every time in work

Wednesday 3 September 2014

There is no time like now, no better day than today

Thats it!

I have been FAR TOO LAX this summer.  I looked back at pics from last year and I haven't changed a bit.

NO MORE.

I want to be fitter, be stronger, be healthier.

So I am commiting to exercising every day at least a half hour.  Whether that is a class at the gym, a workout with weights or a run/walk I will be doing something every day.

I am committing to eating better.  My diet has been terrible since the start of the summer and I can feel my clothes starting to get tight again.

I do not want that.

So from today I will be posting everything I eat and the exercise I do for the next four weeks.

It will be the kick up the ass I need to get me back on track.

Feel free to shout at me to encourage me, and to kick me when I slip.

Tuesday 2 September 2014

A year ago, tomorrow



http://onegoodth1ngaday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/why-am-i-who-i-am.html


This is what I was feeling this time last year.  Is it a good or a bad thing to have a blog where you can look back and see how you felt, what you were thinking?

I'm still not sure, but either way, here it is.

You know, in case you want to check it out.

Monday 4 August 2014

What a weekend

Every week I have plans for what is happening at the weekend, whether they are plans to clean my house, or plans to party I know what I am going to do.

This past weekend was no different.

What I didn't know was how much fun I was going to have.

I was helping out with the Vikings, taking "Have A Go Archery".

Basically I spent the weekend with bows and arrows and taught kids, adults and everyone in b etween how to shoot a target.

And I rocked at it.

I had little tiny kids who could barely hold the bow, I had grown woman who had tried before and couldn't be taught how to do it, I had teenage boys who thought they knew better than I did.  But every single one that came to me left with a smile on their face after hitting the target at least once.

I got soaked through when it rained and I got sunburnt when it was hot.

This was part of my do something to change someone's life challenge I set myself.

I taught people something.  I gave kids (and adults) a great experience trying something new.  I made people smile.

It was GREAT :-)

Thursday 31 July 2014

31 July 2014

Its another month over, and have you actually done anything?

I know you have went to work, or school, you have ate dinner, slept, saw a few people, went to a few places, but have you actually completed anything?

Have you changed a life?

Have you made the world a better place?

No, me either!

I was thinking about this today.  Are we here to simply get through life, to do the day to day everything stays the sameness of life?  Or are we here to make a difference?

Could you change a life?  Step outside of your life and make someone else's life better?

I don't know if I am brave enough, smart enough, caring enough.  But this month I want to try.

In August I am going to wrack my brain and see what I can do to change some one else's life.  I can't imagine I will make a big difference, but maybe I can make a small change.

I would appreciate ideas.

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Three Pictures


Three pictures......sounds ominous, but as I have gotten out of the way of blogging I decided to jump on this bandwagon and linkup...mainly cos it gave me an idea of what I should blog about today.  Smart, yes :-)

For the past few months I have been involved with a group called the Magnus Vikings.  We have a LOT of fun, and if you are anywhere nearby why not come by some day and try it out for yourself?


The girls' boat out on Strangford Lough

The above pic was taken on Sunday past out on Strangford Lough.  The girls and the guys went out on the boats, and then a storm blew in, the girls just turned that boat about and rowed to shore.  The guys, well, lets say they may have needed a hand from a passing speedboat to get back to shore.  :-)

The Magnus Vikings

This was one of the promo shots done a couple of months back.  (Along with the one below).  It shows some of the guys with their swords and sheilds and the girls with their bows.  We know how to defend ourselves!!

The Vikings are coming to get your children

This was another promo shot, which shows some of our guys chasing the kids...you can tell by the smiles on the kids faces just how much fun they were having!!  (And how scary our guys are!!)

Allieology





Thursday 24 July 2014

Its been too long

Its been too long from I did this.

Its been too long since I cared.

Its been too long since I even thought about this.

Is anyone still out there?

I will try harder.

I promise.

;-)