Have been ill with a filthy bout of Freshers’ Flu this past week - getting better now but it’s still clinging on :/ I foolishly attended the TKD demo last week despite feeling like death warmed up - completely failed my destruction technique which wasn’t that much of a surprise and was very glad to get home and not to leave the house again til the weekend. Would still rather be flopped on the sofa watching daytime tv, but you can’t stay off work forever so back to work this week.

Have also now had 3 driving lessons with my instructor, Amy, who’s lovely It’s going ok I think - need to work on braking more gently, but my steering, gear changing, general observation and, most importantly, my confidence are all coming on in leaps and bounds Have another 16 hours paid for, taking me up to early December, and then we’ll see how it goes - I think I’ll need another 10 at least but am hoping to get it sorted not too far into next year. Hoping to go for the theory test in not very long anyways, once I’m happy with it.

Categories: Diet and fitness, Driving, TKD
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It’s official - I am now an 8th gup, or Yellow Belt in TKD. I’m obviously pleased to have passed but I don’t feel I did as well as in my last one and am starting to feel like a blimp in a dobok struggling through at the bottom of the class. Some of my techniques just seem to be so bad compared to everyone else’s, especially where balance is required, which is becoming more and more frustrating :/ Really want to get a lot lot better for my next grading if I can.

In other news, spent a very pleasant time with Kev’s family last weekend (once the grading was over) to celebrate his dad’s 50th - the Ashoka and homemade Beef Wellington, what more could you want?

On a sadder note, RIP Uncle Dave who passed away recently…

Categories: Family, Important events, TKD
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Last night, whilst at Starz - the home of the best barbeque ribs in Exeter - I had…. a salad!! I consider this to be my biggest achievement to date in my quest to lose weight and become fit It did have steak in it, but I figure it still counts as everything else was a fruit or a vegetable.

In other news, my next grading is on Saturday 4th March - why on a weekend?? Why?? I like my lie-ins dammit!

Categories: Diet and fitness, TKD
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Last night in training I had to make my first attempt at breaking and go through a board with a side kick. I was feeling somewhat apprehensive about this until it got to the point when I was facing the board, at which juncture my stomach evacuated completely and whatever it is that holds my legs up normally went on strike. Anyway, turns out, breaking boards isn’t all that bad, and it broke on my 4th attempt And most satisfying the resounding “thwack” was too.

Categories: TKD
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This evening in TKD I got my dobok which not only makes me an official TKD person but also means I no longer have to think much about what to wear to training It does mean I have to get better at folding clothes quite quickly tho :p

I tried it on earlier and it’s really odd to wear - it feels very heavy and I think is going to take some getting used to. I’m also going to have double my efforts (currently standing at the gym 3 times a week and tkd twice a week so not quite sure how unless the week is extended a bit) to get thin as being completely white I can no longer hide my wobbly bits behind dark baggy clothing :S I suspect Marks and Spencer ludicrously expensive tummy and thigh holding in underwear may be called for.

Categories: TKD
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Well, here we are in 2006, having had a fantastic end of 2005 including such highlights as the biggest Xmas Dinner I’ve ever seen in my life on Boxing Day (compared to the only merely quite substantial one I enjoyed on Xmas Day itself), sackfuls of pressies, fun and games, and finally Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny (HOOTENANNY!!). A lot of last year was marred somewhat by increasing work crappiness but looking back (and staying out of work!) there were some very good times indeed: Kev <3, Florida and Disney World, The Off Wedding, seeing Steve Harley in St David’s Hall, taking up Taekwondo and passing my first grading, the best Xmas ever to date, and of course discovering the gem that is Babylon 5

So what’s the game plan for this year? Gaining a few more belts in TKD would be nice, and I plan on actually really finally losing all my excess flab this year and getting back to the size 12 I was when I first arrived in Exeter - gym starts Monday. I’ve started tinkering around with the guitar again so hopefully I’ll get further with that this time and not give up in frustration at barre chords which are the most evil invention ever. I hope to be able to leave this “job” and find one that I like, and to really work on saving for the future Got my birthday and Kev’s to look forward to as well as a few others, got two weddings and a hen do to go to, as well as the challenge of topping last Xmas! More cooking, movies, chatting, food with friends and snuggles are also very much on the game plan

Now…lunch!

Categories: General, TKD
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work == boring and non-existent
taekwondo == hard but fun
life outside work == pretty cool really
foot == sore after incident involving muddy grass
wish == to go home
hitchhikers guide to the galaxy == very good, mostly harmless

That is all.

Categories: General, TKD
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Last night I went to my first Taekwondo session, having finally been persuaded to give it a go by Kev. I have to say, despite the terror that flowed through me at the sight of women breaking wooden boards and sparring, knowing that I would one day be expected to do such things, I enjoyed myself, and am looking forward to starting it properly next week

In other news, I have been invited to a friend of mine’s hen party/weekend at the end of January, which I am looking forward to as she was my very first friend at Uni. My plan is to use Taekwondo, Pilates and Sunday gym sessions to get fit in time to get a stonkingly gorgeous outfit for the wedding in February

In other good news, I finally have savings!! That’s right - after going to Florida for a fortnight I have been able to put almost £600 in my ISA….I think this is due to a combination of having had to save for the holiday and saving too much, getting a tax rebate, and not spending any of my salary for half of September as I was spending what I had saved before hand. Anyways, it should be make upcoming weddings, xmases and birthdays a lot easier

Categories: Friends, General, TKD
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