Is a pert bottom a pre-requisite?

This week I haven't done as much practice as my training schedule says I should have! Oop! Two steps forward...... However on Sunday - Mother's Day - whilst not out riding - was enjoying lots of lovely R&R with the girls and family, whilst not exercise, must be a good compliment to training!

Consumed rather a lot of chocolate though, so training this week required for more reasons that one.

Now whilst I wasn't training on the GasGas last week, I did do a Lotte Berke session at Esse with Karen Taylor. I decided some time back that some overall fitness and stamina/ endurance would be necessary if I'm to have any chance of keeping up in the Pyrenees. So, Lotte Berke for those of you not familiar with it, is a combination of ballet/ modern dance, yoga and physiotherapy designed to help one achieve a lean, supple and toned body along with a 'pert bottom' I'm led to believe! The session was an hour long and I must admit that after 10 minutes I was beginning to wonder if I'd last the next 10 minutes! I did ache rather the following morning!

As some of you know of course, the boys, including Mr T did his bit for Comic Relief and the opening of the new scrumptious studio at Esse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV6nDPn3SFY if you fancy a giggle and a Lotte Berke taster??!!?

So, on with the serious stuff. I'm going on a trail ride this week and am also going to an Enduro Event (my first ever) with my bike on Saturday - eek!

And if the pleasant added extra is a 'pert bottom' too, that's okay with me!

'Decals' aren't something with which to descale the kettle!

What a learning experience the last few days has been!

Aside from everything aching that can ache - not sure that a fluffy cushion strapped to my GasGas would be that cool not to mention safe! Would be more comfy though. For those of you reading with heaps of Enduro and Off-road experience - yes I know - I should be standing up!

Met a lovely guy at the weekend, he in fact came to give us a quote on a kitchen extension but that's another story. John Kettley is a top sales trainer and also an experienced off-road and enduro rider. When he arrived I had just stalled the bike in the drive - a regular occurence!

Turns out John knows lots of people in the know and has been extremely kind in making introductions.

We have our first donation come in, which is fantastic and also our first 'corporate' (if that is the right term) sponsor is Special Little People (www.speciallittlepeople.co.uk) - a great little company that produces wonderful aromatherapy oils to help all sorts of niggles for children. I might put some of the oil to help with anxiety on the inside of my helmet !

This is where the 'decals' come in. In return for a charity donation we will put logos on helmets and/or bikes and some PR. It transpires that decals are not something with which to descale the kettle but the 'stickers' on your bike or helmet with said logo or image on - helmet ones are apparently a bit more tricky. Learning lots this week and the 'jargon' is evidently yet to come....

Practice this week has involved a little tiny bit of expleting, lots of hurting - well aching and nearly (!) crying -don't do that very often - so experience tells me I'm learning.........and still have a lot to learn........

Looks like this afternoon's session will be in the rain! Arghhhh!

Helmet hair & two stroke fumes!

210 days to go and the training has started. It appears I've chosen a good day for it - glorious blue skies and sunshine. As some of you know, I'm meant to be finishing my book this week. Hmm - distraction and inspiration combined!

Having not been on the bike since August, it has to be said I'm a bit rusty! However, I only stalled twice and didn't fall off !

As with any new skill, one has to do it (or think about it) at least 21 times to create a new neural pathway (hard and soft skills) - it seems I've mastered the kick start - practice really does make perfect however tough.

For those of you that have come across Ken Blanchard and Situational Leadership, I'm very firmly at the 'Conscious Incompetence' stage, with hugely wavering confidence.

One hour in the saddle today, however with helmet hair and the indisputable smell of two stroke fumes - best deal with that before client meeting in an hour!

With renewed vigor got the blog and charity pages up today too.