Walking the Walk

It's that time of the year.  The TV is full of ads about weight-loss and finding the 'new you'.  I've been busy convincing myself that this year will be the year that I finally tackle some serious weight-loss.  I've got no real excuses now.  My training has finished, I've settled into my new job and love it. life is starting to settle down a little bit...so I've been talking the talk, but not walking the walk.  In fact, I've mostly been taking the lift!

In my mind's eye I've been busy imagining myself at various intervals during the year, doing different lovely things like camping holidays, summer holidays, weekends away, etc.  In my imaginings I'm always a slimmer version of myself.  Now what I need to do is work out what steps I'm going to take to get myself from where I am to my slimmer, better self!

I hate the gym.  I go for a couple of weeks then it takes me several months to cancel my direct debit.  I love cycling, but now that I'm working in Cheltenham I can no longer cycle to work (not that I did very often previously).  The only exercise I REALLY love is walking the dogs.  I'm bored of Crickley Hill, Harefield Beacon, Barnwood Arboretum, etc and feel that it's about time we broadened our walking horizons.  Both kids love a decent walk too, and it's a nice way to get some exercise as a family.  I found this book on amazon, and another one here too, but then google pointed me in the direction of this website, with a load of free, printable local walks.  I feel really excited about packing rucksacks with flasks of hot coffee (for Mark and I) and cold squash for the kids and heading off into the Cotswolds!  And the Forest of Dean is so beautiful and practically on our doorsteps, yet mostly undiscovered by us.  On the downside, I'm working every weekend until the first weekend in February, so these plans will have to wait a little while. 

I've very nearly finished my first ever crochet blanket, inspired by Attic 24.  It's very exciting and I'm desperate to get it finished but am having problems with the last bit of trim.  And I'm running out of some of the colours of yarn that I need.  Cue much panicking and wringing of hands.  I'll have to be patient until the online shop I order from gets more stock.   Aaargh. I've already made a good start on my second blanket.  I find it really relaxing.  Another think my Mum was right about!

It's back to school tomorrow.  Lily is fine with it but Patrick has been getting himself worked up.  I managed to swop tomorrow's early shift to a late but I think I'm probably going to have a battle on my hands getting him through the door.  I'm sure there'll be tears.