Half Prue Half Pizza

Whilst eating pizza and drinking wine at my bf's cousin's (who were putting us up for the night on route to our holiday in the Lakes) we got talking about Blogs, seems a lot of people have them but not many either a) keep them up to date or b) think they are very interesting and that no one will read it.

I think you have to be clear when you start out if either you are going to be a) yourself in this blog and therefore you don't want to write anything controversial / risk instults or shocking friends or family or b) be anomoyous.
Mine is clearly of the first category and therefore I am also at risk of having a boring blog that no one reads. However I am resolved in that as my purpose is really a bit like a log of evens that happen, it is also as I happen to have a lot of friends and family in Australia and there never is enough time to write / call / email / visit, this blog is to help bridge the gap in this modern world. I do love the modern world we live in.

So speaking about events and whilst eating pizza and drinking too much red wine, well it would be rude not to, Anastasia drew a picture. "What's that a picture of?" I ask, to which A replies is "Its a half Prue half pizza!" It was infact a picture of a pizza with the pepperoni arranged to make eyes, nose & mouth with blonde curly hair all around it. "Now there's a name for a Blog" cried the crowd!

And so I have changed the name of my blog to something more interesting!

William & I are planning to get Married!

William & I are planning to get married!
We talked about it last Tue and I was then kinda hoping we could get married while both our parents are in the country with a little civil ceremony, but alas the home office are not of the romantic mind and there are forms!! (Plus that would no doubt be a world record)

Anyway William bought the ring on Thursday and gave it to me. I love it!!
It is an antique, Victorian 1880's ring in Old gold and and old cut 1K diamond.

A Betrothal is a promise to marry and living together as married and both parents agreeing the marriage and then getting the paperwork sorted out at some point. So not a down on one knee asking for my hand engagement style, but as soon as dad arrived from Australia on Sat night William took him to the pub for his first pint and to do the traditional thing and ask permission.

We had told Rosie & Anastasia on Sat morning so that they would know before everyone started congratulating and carrying on, but as predicted the news didn't go down very well with poor Rosie. She is a deep thinker and will take time, but she just doesn't want her daddy to marry anyone. She did then ask to be my flower girl which is nice. Anastasia on the other hand is very excited and wants me in a big puffy dress with a pumpkin carriage and horses! (Oh to be 6)
We were having a BBQ on Sunday anyway so our parents could meet & we told everyone else then, or rather Anastasia did! I have been so busy with Mum & Dad over visiting so I am now in a bit of shock from it all and hoping to calm down a bit.

We haven't set a date, I am keen for something small and soon and William big and next year...

Mike and Kat on tour

Mike and Kat on tour

Keeping up to date with the Buckers as they travel around the world leaving their mark!

I fell off my horse

Last night I did my first Show Jumping comp. It was just our BBC Riding Club and very informal comp at Trent Park. I was really excited esp after last Sunday's X Country efforts and I was also jumping at intermediate level, 2' 3". I had never jumped a show jumping course before & I was worried about remembering which order to jump them in.

I went around the fisrt time ok, but there were a few scarry moments. You have just enough time to catch your breath (I forget to breath the whole way round) and the bell goes for you to start again.
On the second round I felt much more confident and stable plus was more familiar with the course. As I approach jump 6 I thought she was going to jump, but she put an extra short step in so I went over and fell off. I was fine just my ego was bruised and I was a little shacky. But I got back on and finished jumps 7 & 8 to come 2nd and win a rosette!

Trent Park where I ride every Thursday evening...
http://www.trentpark.com/TPEC/Content/About.asp

Cross Country Jumping

I did my first cross riding on Sunday and it was so exhilirating!!!
When I first got there I was so scarred and thinking I would cack my dacks as I am only new to jumping and haven't even jumped a double before so X Coutry is a bit of a step up!

I had a 1 hour lesson first with another friend Alison from my BBC Club, we were both pretty nervous, new yard, new horses, new instructor and we were just hoping they would give us nice calm horses. They did give us great horses and the instructor was great building up our confidence and skills, he was cute too. ( I promoise, I was concentrating!)

In the second hr we pick up a couple of more buddies for the X Coutry lesson, it had been pooring with rain so most of the area was closed but we made teh most of what we had, which I was perfectly happy with as I had done more jumping and learn't more than ever anyway so I was full of adrenilin.
I was jumping ditches and fences and squeeling with delight that I stay on!

I would totally recommend Wellington Riding and can't wait to go back on Sunday 24th Sept.
http://www.wellington-riding.co.uk/default.cfm

V02 max

Has anyone ever done one of these tests? It is pretty hard.
I have volunteered to do some Running testing for the Olympic Medical Institute (OMI) who are doing a series of tests for a new Polar watch, which is what I get at the end of the 8 weeks!
So they start with a series of tests, like an ECG, Coopers 12 min Run test and a Vo2 max. Then after 8 weeks of training 5 times a week, they repeat the tests again.

Basically this is what it is...

Fitness can be measured by the volume of oxygen you can consume while exercising at your maximum capacity. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen in milliliters, one can use in one minute per kilogram of body weight. Those who are fit have higher VO2 max values and can exercise more intensely than those who are not as well conditioned. Numerous studies show that you can increase your VO2 max by working out at an intensity that raises your heart rate to between 65 and 85% of its maximum for at least 20 minutes three to five times a week.

So mine is 42 and I have no idea what that means apart from the fact that I am pretty fit.
My max heart rate is 182 and resting is 52.

So now I'm in training!

I have also set a goal to do a sub 50 min 10K at the end of the 8 weeks to keep me motivated and hopefully have a great result to show for the hard work.

My 30th Birthday

I climbed Ben Nevis in Scotland on my 30th with 6 friends and had an absolute blast.
As you can see they are all a bit crazy on the kiddies ride in the park.

(My birthday was on the 2 July but I have enjoyed celebrating for the month)







William the navigator


My party in London. So many great friends

More photos @ http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2104119713

monday morning & I want to go camping

but I am at work and I got rained on cycling to work. Also my sunburn on my back is hurting and I my bra strap is rubbing it.
I am a recent convert to camping, even camping in a field, but in all the excitment we left the sleeping bags at home. I through a wobbly and went to bed using all the beach towels to keep cosy swearing never to camp again!
I loved my bed last night and of course didn't want to get out of it this morning but now I am at my desk all I want to do it go camping.

So next weekends plans are in the making...

Egypt

Kat took her mum Pam and myself to Cairo for a long weekend in March to see the Pyrmids.

They are totally amazing and here are some more photos of our trip to Egypt @ http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2105833229