Gym
Actually that is far too posh a word, what we have actually bought is an exercise bike. We have bought a second-hand bike from a friend, whose son no longer used it. It is just over a year old and as you can see, it is a good machine. Noel (husband) spent a long time looking up second hand machines of a similar design and functions and after some thought he felt that a fair second hand price was £80.00 however due to the fact we had no travelling or collection issues he decided that £100.00 was more than generous, especially as the friend wasn’t having to pay any advertising or PayPal charges. The offer was turned down, but we had said that this was what we were willing to pay; if we really wanted to we could buy off of eBay! However the next day we got a text and the £100.00 was accepted. Great, our friend got the bike out of her lounge and her son had some money ready for Christmas and we had got an exercise bike, everybody was happy. I have been looking on and off for approximately a year, hoping to find a free very basic bike to get me going. To have bought such a good one has far out reached my expectations.
Originally we placed the bike in the conservatory, but I knew it would soon annoy me as it was just there in the way but more importantly my neighbours if they so wished could watch me – not a pretty sight. So after a bit of jiggling and clearing the ironing pile out of the corner, it has fitted really well in the study. I can use the bike in peace and it is not in your face or more importantly not in toe stubbing floor space.
So far I have completed two lots of 15 minutes. I get out of bed and do 15 minutes before getting showered in the morning. I do hope that I can keep it up ........... I so want to lose weight.
Darts
When I use to live in my home village of Hamble-le-Rice, I played darts for Team ‘C’ at Hamble Social Club, we had a great time, however 5 years ago I left and moved to Swindon and 18 months later moved to Wroughton. Trying to find a darts team where everybody didn’t smoke was just not possible and I gave up. Suffering from asthma it just wasn’t worth the horrible effects of feeling so poorly. However as we all know the smoking rules have changed – best bit ever.
Then watching the darts championships on the television recently, I just got the bug, I asked Noel to get my dart board which was still unused in it’s original packaging down from the loft. We bought a 8’ x 4’ piece of board from Homebase to match the colour of our house bricks. Then my wonderful husband fitted everything up in our conservatory, it looked brilliant but we both agreed that we needed a board protector. However, ordering one off the internet was actually very expensive, not because of the cost of the protector but the postage rate due to the weight/size of the item. So we decided we would go without because, I could not find a sports shop in Swindon that specialised in Darts Equipment. *Jump 2 weeks forward.* On Saturday, while in town doing some christmas shopping, we walked past a cobblers shop and at the bottom of the window was the words 'Swindon Darts Centre' however their web address is ... ‘the cobblers shop’, no wonder it didn’t come up under a Google search for ‘darts’. Not the best darts site, however, they do sell a lot in the shop. So I asked if they had any protectors and low and behold, their rep. had just brought one in as an example, a little bit of haggling and we had a black ring. So I am sure you will agree the board looks very professional.
I just need to practise more ....... and then I can look for a new team.
Last but not least in this sporting edition
I thought I would mention I have my last bowls game of 2007 on Friday evening. I have been playing now for 18 months; my home club is Wroughton Bowls Club, however they only have an outside rink and so during the winter season I have to join and play at Westlecot Bowls Club. This is my second indoor season; I have decided that I actually prefer indoor bowls as the temperature stays pretty consistent. I hate playing in the very hot weather or very cold weather or even the rain. Also the other advantage of playing indoors, I do not make my trousers dirty when I need to sit down during the game!!
