September 15, 2019 

Traveling Round Europe

As we are spending three months traveling, this blog gets resurrected as my own personal diary.  I have a terrible feeling I will forget what we have done over time, and I want to be able to provide recommendations or tips if I have to, so here we go.

The flights were relatively easy.  The only thing I would say to Singapore airlines is that your snacks during the 10 hour lights out period need to be improved - poor Dara was starving by the end of it, and whilst he's not fussy, dried peas are not his thing, nor are tuna sandwiches.  He struggled to survive on one packet of pretzels.

We landed and got our luggage relatively easily.  The process at Heathrow is far more pleasant than the last time we endured that airport!  The only issue was trying to get a lift down to the bus transfer level.  What a nightmare.  Tip for next time - use the lifts inside the terminal that go between departures and arrivals and "group travel", the same level as bus transfers - no queues, and no stress.

The Ibis at Heathrow is fine, for what it is.  The room is very small but okay for the couple of nights we are here. I will say that I think we timed breakfast very badly this morning - there were no clean glasses or spoons.  I initially thought the cold bacon and hash browns were due to that as well, but when I saw the chef bring a fresh bowl of bacon out and went to get some fresh, that was cold as well.  Now that is a skill, but not one I'm sure I'd celebrate!

Yesterday's trip to the Botanical Gardens at Kew was a great idea though.  It got us out into the fresh air, picking up our Vitamin D levels, and increasing our steps after 24 hours of immobility.  I especially enjoyed the blown glass sculptures that are there at the moment - absolutely beautiful and well integrated with the plants.  The boys enjoyed the freedom to run, and the sky level walks in the hot houses.

It was great to go from there to seeing some good friends at a running festival.  By the time we got back to the hotel, Dara was well past needing dinner, and slept the 12 hours through until about 5am.  Today we are heading out to re-visit the running festival and get a pub lunch.  A real pub.

June 09, 2016 

A Week of Firsts

I did my first Pilates class on Tuesday. Thanks to the instructor, Courtney, and to the class members for making it painless and not at all humiliating. Best of all, absolutely nobody was wearing Lycra! I felt great afterwards, no Achilles or calf pain, and just some "good" aches on Wednesday. I'll definitely be going back.
I've also had a week of missing running - I just haven't managed to coordinate my life properly and the week has got away from me. I have managed to do my long overdue tax return, have my hair cut, look after a vomity child, start packing the house up, meet a garden planner, and get to work mostly on time, so I guess I managed to adult!
Finally, I had my first significant near miss on the bike this morning. I managed to get my back wheel stuck in the tram tracks and ended up wobbling it out but taking me over to the other side of the road. Thankfully the oncoming car was far enough away and going slow enough that it didn't matter, but it certainly have me a fright. Probably the driver too!

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June 03, 2016 

Amother Step Forward

This week I was given the full okay not to bother seeing my physio any more. He's got me started on clinical Pilates, and I'll do a class or two a week of that. I'm also continuing with the C25K, and on week 3. I managed to run a whole kilometre for global running day.
Now I'm full speed ahead on the running I need to get my diet in check and drop this weight. I've worked out that I should be able to lose 10kg before I turn 40... I just need to get my head straight!

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May 23, 2016 

Couch to 5k

A quick update - I started run training with the C25K app again. The cardio is ridiculously easy but I need to be gentle with the Achilles. The programme has me doing the 5km by the end of July. Fingers crossed for no more set backs.

Edit: if you're interested the run is here: https://www.strava.com/activities/585234170

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May 19, 2016 

The Best Laid Plans...

Earlier this year I had a conversation with some folks at parkrun. We were talking about our running goals. At the time I was feeling optimistic about my Achilles healing, and I said I wanted to to do the Hoka One One trail running series. Just the short distances, worst case, but ideally the middle runs. 

 The realisation that I'm currently allowed to run for 10 minutes max, no trails, and that the first race is on 5th June, so 2.5 weeks away, and there's no chance of me being there has just hit. Like a sledge hammer. 

 I don't think I've ever blown a goal so badly. I now have a constricted feeling in my chest and I'm not sure what to do about it. Mostly what I want to do about it is curl up with Netflix, The Arrow, and a packet or two of Oreos, but I doubt that would help. 

 If anyone has any smart thinking around coming back from this, feel free to let me know. Otherwise I guess I just pick myself up and drag my body towards 40, instead of sprinting there with a grin on my face.

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May 02, 2016 

New start

Hello? Is this thing on?

3:20am. I'm wide awake next to a (hopefully)almost asleep toddler. I haven't had a full nights sleep since D was born. I still have the heartburn his pregnancy brought me. I still have the weight too. It's been a year since I damaged my Achilles and it's not better because I'm terrible at following instructions. I'm exhausted.

So what next?

I need to take control. Calories down, Achilles work up. Accountability through this blog...

November 20, 2013 

An open letter to Metro Trains


I arrived at Flinders Street to get the 1722 to obvious delays. The upfield line was advertised as next on platform 4. I waited. A Craigieburn line came and went. An Alamein. A Sunbury. Another Craigieburn. I asked the customer service rep when an upfield would arrive. Whilst talking to him the 1722 was cancelled, at around 1735, with an announcement that the 1742 would be delayed. When I complained he helpfully said to contact 'them' via 'their' website.

I got a tram and narrowly met (by 5 minutes) the deadline at daycare to pick my son up. 
My complaints are as follows:
1. That Metro Trains consistently fail to update passengers with issues and explanations in a timely fashion, preventing us from making informed choices. This evening was no exception, with the cancellation being announced almost 15 minutes after the train was due.
2. That Metro Trains consistently treat the Upfield line as a optional service, running only 3 trains an hour at peak times and cancelling these to give priority to other lines.
3. That Metro Trains customer service representatives do not appear to realise that they work for Metro, referring to them as 'they', and that they are not even capable of (or empowered to make) an apology.

I would like:
1. A full, written apology for unacceptable service.
2. Written assurances that the Upfield line will be prioritised appropriately, considering the already woeful time tabling.
3. A written commitment to review peak hour time tabling for the Upfield line.

Yours

Disgruntled of Coburg