The new treadmill

Oh yes, I some how managed to acquire another piece of exercise equipment (still want the bike trailer, but doubt that is ever going to happen) and it is a very flashy treadmill with a built in TV!

I never thought I would love exercising again, but before we purchased it I fell into a slump and only managed a jog a week with the dog, and may I also add that Deaf Dog is a hopeless border collie and gets tired after 20 minutes(I had to carry her up a hill one day). I was maintaining my weight and eating well enough but my fitness levels were dropping. But now that the treadmill is in the house, I'm up jogging nearly every day with gusto, I don't have to force myself to exercise I actually WANT too!

I am challenging myself to run 25km a week and hope to manage 5km in 30 minutes. I still hate long workouts, but with the access to increase speed and incline I should be able to continue on a great workout in 30 minutes. Once I can happily run 30 minutes non stop, I'll then aim at 10kms and maybe even try a fun run. Yes me, run on the road with heaps of other people for no other reason then to see if I can do it.

I think the TV makes it seem quicker and not so boring. I'm also hoping to get down to 55 kilo's by the time we head up to see mum and dad in QLD at the end of April, but that will also mean eating more cautiously and understand that several hot cross buns is not really a suitable breakfast.

Bookclub: What came before he shot her :(

Right off I was so pleased when I heard that my favourite author had released another book that followed on from her previous Inspector Lynley stories. As each of the Lynley books were released I purchased them, hard back and very expensive and for those of you who know me I don't generally buy books, that is what the library is for. But I always enjoyed Elizabeth George and I put down the book I had already started to start reading this once I got my hands on it.

Sadly I was greatly disappointed, I read it but I paused towards the middle, I just was not motivated to keep reading it, it was draining and negative, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Whilst looking for a pic on amazon to place here, a critique there completely sums what I too thought of the book:

"From Bookmarks Magazine
Scotland Yard detective Thomas Lynley is all but missing from this novel, and critics aren't sure what to make of his absence as well as that of most of the other popular series characters (only two of Lynley's police sidekicks appear—as minor walk-ons). The majority of critics cite this psychological crime novel as a deeply disturbing and unrelenting, yet illuminating, portrayal of a dysfunctional family and of the ways its members can go tragically astray. Two reviewers, however, cited a disconnected narrative, an overly complicated plot, too much detail, and a bleak, hopeless tone as major faults of the novel. There are, of course, no surprises about how the novel ends: Elizabeth George has already told that story in With No One As Witness.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

Very disappointed, first time ever one of her books gets a :( and I'm so glad that I never purchased it as it would have been a complete waste of money.

Bookclub: The Tales of the Orori

I have been currently reading Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn. There are 4 books in the series and I really enjoyed the books, they were recommended to me by my sister and I pass on the recommendation too!

Book 1: Across the nightingale floor
Book 2: Grass for his pillow
Book 3: Brillance of the moon
Book 4: Harsh cry of the Heron

http://www.theotori.com/

The stories are set in an imaginary ancient Japanese society dominated by warring clans, and the life journey of a boy to manhood, we see how he was saved and adopted, then he finds love and his true family origins which only seem to betray him and cause his life to turn in an unexpected way. Each book continues on with a chapter of his life, but we also met many other character's that also make the books what they are.

AWOL

I am bad, I have been thinking about my blog but just never got around to posting, and then one day flows into the next and into the next and before you know it months have past and still nothing.

I also think I never post as I don't think that anyone actually reads my boring blog, my life of kids and whines, but it seems someone out there does, Thank you!

I actually came back today to find out what books I had listed to read as I have finished reading my current collection. I really need to give a review of them as this helps me to finalise the book in my mind. So the man is out this evening watching our elite nephew play soccer and it means that I can come onto my little secret place and blog away.

Everyone in this house is down with one ailment or another, flu, coughs, strain wrist's, headaches and the weather with all it's humidity just makes days drag on. I shall now go and read my blog to recap where I left off so I can update later... also need to get big little man from school.

Thanks for listening.