What I Digg in 2010

I read a blog the other day about things a guy was liking in 2010. His was mostly iPhone apps and Google calendars etc and so I thought i'd do my own post about Things I Digg in 2010.

ONE
My iPhone. Ok so I got it late 2009 but that's a year I've had it now and I'm sorry to the Apple-phobes but i just could not live without it. It's a constant companion to me holding a compendium of info and apps and music and podcasts and photos.  Love it.

TWO
Hipstamatic, Camerabag, Instagr.am and lots of other photography/camera apps for the iPhone. I love taking photos, of anything. I've got a pretty decent digital camera (Panasonic Lumix) but for convenience and time-saving I use these apps.

THREE
Spin class at The Peak sports village, Stirling. I love it. It keeps me sane. I get a buzz when I'm done and if I haven't been feeling that great I always come out feeling much better about things. It's the combination of the loud music, the pushing yourself to the limits and the nice folk there. Andy is a brilliant instructor and motivator.

FOUR
Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam keeps my curly hair in check. And the delicious coconut scent makes sure my hair smells lovely. A spritz of water in the morning brings it back to life. Curly hair rocks.

FIVE
My lovely CUBE Access SL mountain bike!! It's the best and biggest purchase i've made in a while. It looks great and does exactly what i need it to.

SIX
The shop All Saints. Yes it's a bit expensive but i've ordered a few things online and each time I'm thrilled with the service and free delivery. I get an email when the items were dispatched, a text with a hour long time slot of when the items will be dleivered and they are always beatifully packaged. My deliveries have always been bang on in the middle of the texted time slot. Plus in their end of summer sale I got 4 pairs of shoes for £110!! Bargain considering that one pair alone should have been £145.

SEVEN
Sending wee parcels of goodies to friends. I've sent a few of these this year to a small number of lucky people and they've been well received. So look out, you might get one in the post. A surprise mind, so i'm not telling you.

That's a few of the things i Digg in 2010.  I might update this post with more but since 2010 is nearly over and as 2011 approcahes at a pace so fast i'm slightly uneasy, then perhaps I'll wait until then to post on this subject.

Ange x

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My Two Dads (Loch Humphrey part II)

A text came in and it announced "bikes, Monday night, you fancy it?" or something along those lines.  Yes but I'm away to buy body armour after my recent fall was my response.  I packed up my stuff and shoved the bike in the back of the car and set off to work on Monday 21st June - Midsummers day, the longest day of the year. I was a bit worried about my wrist by now as it hadn't got any better over the weekend, in fact it was only on Saturday that the bruising started to appear and this was worrying.  I contemplated going to hospital but frankly I didn't want to waste their time if it was only bruised.  So a little after 4.15pm I set off along the Gargunnock Road again heading towards Bowling.  It was quite quiet but again i stopped off at McDonalds in Balloch to use the rest room (I'd been guzzling down my water that day).

I arrived to meet Petesy and Phil at the usual place.  We got the stuff ready but not before I got grilled on various matters and vairous people(!) and not before we eventually found a pack to fit me (sorta).  I can't remember which pack i had this time, maybe the OMM one?  Anyway we set off along a path then headed across the road and along the canal again, nearly the same route as the last time.  Back across the main road and then headed up the track gaining height.  It was hot and the midgies were out in full force.  A few Police cars and vans passed us on their was down the track, I hoped they weren't up there findng bodies!

About haflway up the really rough gravelly section we stopped and Petesy suggested we go through a gate and head up the grass.  Oh no I thought but it was ok.  It meant we had to get off and push the bikes a lot but it was fine.  I think he feels guilty for dragging us that quicker way...






The views were great so a few quick snaps were taken by me before the midges really took hold and we set off again.  Onwards and upwards.  This was turning out to be the first bit of hillwalking i'd done in quite a while.  We eventually got to a cairn where a well deserved rest was had, with some more photies being taken.





I could see the track we took the last time and was told we were heading that way but not before some tricksy manouvering down quite a steep grassy section.  By now my wrist was kinda throbbing and each time I took my glove off and could hardly get it back on.  But we were now heading onto ground that looked familiar from my last time up here with these guys.

Next we headed into the forrest area where more photies were taken.  I think Petesy kept the best ones for himself cos the ones he took on my camera are blurry!  Or maybe i was just going to fast...



Through the dark section of the forrest was really difficult for me as i didn't want to risk it and I my wrist was painful so whilst they hopped and skipped their way down through big ruts and massive tree roots i decided to get off the bike and shove it down.  Aah much safer for the moment.  The next seciton was downhill mostly on grass with a few bumps and ruts along the way.  It was good and there was a wee sectin at the bottom near the gate where i almost lost the back end of the bike but managed to recover in a expert way - yay me!!  We headed down past an old house (I will remember the names of these places instead of forrest, old house, up a track...), anyway past the old houe and down a gritty road and into Dumbarton? through some streets and down the the waters edge.  Having safely negotiated the various items that had been dumped by folks the waters edge was quiet and peaceful and the views were good.  The sun was just nearly going down in the midsummer sky casting an orangey glow on everything around.  Lovely. 





It was time for something to eat (I hadn't had any dinner!) so we headed back along another path and into the BP garage at Milton.  Tea and sandwiches for me, coffe and cake for those two.  Another great night out with good company.  I do enjoy these bike rides.  And they never left me once to get lost!  The midgies were really taking hold now so we headed back to the cars and packed up.



I headed back along the road to Stirling with a wonderful light show happening in the sky.  It was awesome, so much so that I stopped a few times to take pictures. 



Once again thanks Petesy and Phil for taking me out, for not riding away and leaving me on my own, for the kit and the chat.  Loved it.

Ange x

1 Country Park, 2 falls - further adventures on a bike

Part I:

Aside from the wee jaunts around the village on my bike, I have been out on a few rides since my first proper MTB ride with PTC et al.  The first one was on Tuesday 1st June around Mugdock Country Park with Ross, Paul and a few other members of the Glasgow MTB group.  I set off from work early and made my way to Milngavie train station car park via Kilsyth and the all the while with the Campsie's on my right hand side.  It really was a pleasant drive and I'd never been out that way for years and years.  The day had been dull and wet in the morning and I was swithering whether to go or not but by the time I got to the train station car park the sun was out in a blue sky.


After everyone got their gear and bikes ready we set off on the route.  I have to say my wee bike looked pretty good amongst the ones that were on show.  I'd even go as far as to say it was better than some!  I hung around the back of the group until I found my feet.  Then at a point the group split and I elected to stay on safe ground around the tracks instead of going uphill just yet.  We headed around the track (probably following the WHW route) and then headed up a steep gravelly section.  I managed to get nearly all the way up before getting off to push.  Well it was quite steep!  When we reached the top we waited on the rest of the group to catch up (since they had been off adventuring through the forest).  Then we headed off again, this time the big boys were off to play on a downhill section(?) whilst again me a few others elected to stick to the trails.  We were instructed to meet them at a 'big satellite/aerial' next to a gate(!).  After only about 10 minutes we reached a smallish aerial and a gate... but then decided this wasn't the correct one so we kept going until we came to the correct one.  (At this point I've totally lost all sense of direction and know that we are above Strathblane and could hear kids playing in a park).  We waited about 10 minutes and chatted (mostly about Apple products) and then a phone call came in that the group were stopped as a few had got punctures.  10 minutes later they arrived and we headed through the gate and across the moors.  It was good and the views were great.  Until we came to a wooded area where I got lost.  The guy who was with me headed in front and before I knew it he was gone, quick as a flash.  I decided to head along the track and waited at a little sign in track which pointed towards Car Park, Country house and something else where I had just come from.  A few minutes later he came buzzing along apologising and saying he thought I was behind him!  anyway we rode along and caught back up with the group.  We were nearly back to where we started after one last big downhill.  They all flew down the 'jump' bit and i went down the path, which had stairs, which were made of slippy bark and wood!!!  So you can imagine what happened next...


Yes! I had my first face plant.  It wasn't quite a face-plant as a loss of control.  The upshot is i let the bike go and landed on my hands whilst the pedals dug into the back of my legs.  I got up as quick as i fell and luckily no-one saw.  I rode on and met up with them on the path back.  10 minutes later we were headed back to the car park.  It was a good night.  I headed off back home, slightly achey but happy none-the-less.


It took a few days but after that night i had the biggest bruises on my legs i've ever had.  And two pedal marks of the backs of my thighs.  They're nearly away...  


the now dirty bike

the bruise on my hand


Part II:


Last week I was on a much needed holiday from work and on Wednesday 16th June I headed back to Mugdock Country park with Nicola.  We met up at the train station car park and set off on our merry way in the sunshine.  We headed the now familiar track to the park and headed along the WHW.  I wasn't sure of a few turns but we managed to find our way along the route I'd taken the week before.  This was a good day for it.  We chatted and stopped for drink and sweetie breaks.  We even found this strange hut cabin thing where these two pictures were taken...  A Spiderman up a tree and a very amusing piece of wood sticking out of the ground....   

We headed along the tracks on the same route except we didn't cut through the field and head over the moors, we carried on with the track and arrived at Mugdock visitors centre where we had a toilet break and an ice cream.  A little while later we headed off again, this time downwards.  But not before we had to go slightly up again along a narrow track up a small incline where i was in the wrong gear and tried to change it halfway up and.... aarrghhh...... I fell to my left and into a pile of jaggy nettles.  Ouch ouch...  I lay there and Nicola came to pull me out.  We were laughing about it and i realised I hurt my hand trying to break my fall.  I cold feel that the bike hit me so I expected more bruises but otherwise I was fine.  It was even better that she didn't manage to get a photo of me lying in the nettles.  And do you know this, there wasn't a dock leaf to be found anywhere!!  Typical.

the mark of me in the nettles

me after the fall - photo courtesy of Nicola (@LilacSwizzle)

Once I composed myself we headed back down the track and made it back to Milngavie just after 2pm.  It was a great wee run out on the bikes.  We sat there in the sun with big black clouds in the sky too and chatted and ate lunch from M&S. 


Despite having to visit the hospital for fear of a broken wrist, I can confirm it is only sprained but is still pretty sore.  I've to rest it for a week.  Regardless of that it was a thoroughly grand day out and the first of many adventures to come.


Ange xx   


Here's a link to our route....
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/detail/18510360/ 
 

To-Do, To-Don't: my head is spinning

Spinning has been all the exercise I've been doing of late.  For about the last 3 months actually.  I go with my friend Elaine who has been motivator-in-chief over that last wee while and long-term confidante extraordinaire (along with Linda!).  Before Christmas we stepped it up to 2 classes a week.  For me there are 5 stages of spin.  1) the dread an hour before you go.  2) the excitement of getting there.  3) the high of starting off on the warm up and getting going.  4) the absolute horror halfway through when it gets tougher and tougher you're dripping with sweat and you're quads are burning!  5) the final 10 minutes when the instructor announces "only 2 more hard-working tracks left team" and then the exhiliration when you finish.  You just feel great, you're face is bright red, but you feel great and that's the reason I go back.  But it's time to get serious again because you never know what come up in the future!...

Spin classes take place at The Peak which is a new fitness and sports centre that opened in Stirling in April / May 2009.  It's a good place and I really like the atmosphere when you go in.  There's an ice rink, swimming pool, gym, fitness studios, sports hall and a couple of 12m climbing walls.

In all honesty I haven't been to the gym at work since about October 2009, instead preferring to go to spin and yoga classes.  It's a pity too because It's quite a good gym but tended to get busy when I went straight after work.  Then I just sort of got fed up with it.  I mean I couldn't run and felt like I was just going and plodding away with not much happening.  Now I'm swithering about whether or not to join The Peak gym.  Currently I'm spending about £36 per month for spin bike classes and for an extra £3 (£39 per month) I could become a member and use all the facilities and go to any of the numerous classes they run.  But... I still pay my membership for the work gym at £13 per month which is a great price.  The only drawback here is the classes are limited in variety, there is no spin.  Hhmmm I shall have to think this one over for a bit before I commit one way or the other.

I've decided to try running again too.  I haven't tried this for about 5 months really.  I've stopped getting physio as the last one (NHS guy) told me after 4 appointments that I didn't need it any longer and my legs / knees would be ok (probably cos I hadn't been up a hill or ran to test them).  So after my expedition up Dumyat on 1st January 2010 I can confirm that the knee pain is still well and truly there.  It was a real downer as soon as I started to feel it coming back on.  But on the positive side, the next morning the pain had all but vanished.  So I decided I wasn't going back to a doctor/physio or any other thing like that.  It seems there's problems that even they cannot fix.  I will instead be trying to build strength into my muscles and will actually get my arse into gear and start using my TP Therapy roller kit properly too.  Oops.  Since I got the TP Therapy hip and lower back kit back in September it has kinda just lay there with the occassional use (sorry Kristian!!).  But no more.  It will be getting used as well as my big foam roller.  The thing is it's sore to begin with but once you've done it a few days you get used to it and you can feel where the pain (tight muscles) need loosened.  No pain no gain as they say.  For that is what the pain is afterall - tight muscles.  Calves, Hamstrings, Quads and IT bands - although technically the IT band is a tendon and not a muscle.  Trust me.  I have researched this until my brain bleeds.  Now the only question about running is whether or not to put the ortho insoles back into my gutties?  I'm thinking not.  Everything I've read seems to indicate that you should but then there's a few (including my last physio) who say NO!  And I would like a complete dork if I took my trainers off and ran bare foot!  The Nike uniformed brigade would turn and look with disgust because they've been programmed into thinking that £100 trainers ARE worth it.  I know they would, I used to be one of them.  But having tried different trainers I can testify that it doesn't really make one bit of difference to me.  I'd probably be just as good running in my Converse plimsoles.  Ach the dilemmas...

My shopping ban is going well.  Except I seem to still be spending money on food!  I mean I need to eat but it's the extras I pick up when I'm in the supermarket that needs to stop.  I've only bought three tops since my self imposed ban.  Two of those were in an online sale at £5 each and one is a new top for spin class/gym so it's useful and much-needed.  White is the new black for the gym I feel.  Other than that not much money is being spent at all - yay!  Which leads nicely into this...

BIKE NEWS:  There is no news!!  I'm really getting fed up now but an update from the bike shop indicates that Cube are being very slow.  As soon as it's delivered I will get an update on here going.

My book of 2010 is taking shape nicely.  

It is a lime green Moleskine soft backed notebook and is dedicated to 2010.  It is a list of to-do's.  It is a log of inspirational quotes.  It may even hold a few little short stories!  New to-do's are being added as and when they spring into my head.  Each one having a different colour.  There will also be a section when each to-do has been completed.  Hopefully it will be a reminder to actually do things during this year as with each new year we all usually say I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that but how much of these to-do's do we actually complete during the year?  Probably less than half.  Some of the to-do's are grand ideas indeed and others are just normal things we might take for granted.  Examples are: a trip to a beach on Skye and a visit to the cinema at least once a month.  

I feel we are all friends here now so lets share...  What are some of your to-do's for this year?

Ange x

Music:  Dogs Days by Florence and the Machine  An old song that's been about for ages but turn it up full blast in the car and it's even more fan-bloody-tastic!!