7 Jan catch up.

Talking of feeling invigorated..Have you noticed a new attitude in articles about diet and fitness lately? I call it the Olympics effect.

Instead of gentle exercise, and detoxes, and taking it all gently with a bit of pampering thrown in, the new approach is typified by Ruth Field, The Grit Doctor, and Gabby Logan in today's Times.

It's up and at it, and don't be a wimp (Och Wheesht and Get Oan Wae It - see 1 Jan - I was on trend for 2012 there on the very first day!).

I have to say the language is invigorating, and there is a sense of humour in the writing which is very refreshing.

Here is Ruth Field, Grit Doctor :

Stop wanting things to be easy....This is going to be hard. But you are going to like hard.

Stop telling yourself you look great when you do not.

Simply have a look in a mirror and have an honest conversation about where you are fitness-wise.

(Her book on running has the hideous and blatantly publicity seeking title Run Fat Bitch Run.  It's working though - she's getting lots of publicity..)

I'm not planning to take up running, call myself names, or buy the book, but I'm planning to adopt some of the gritty attitude!


We still don't have a telephone connection - they say a few days yet, so I may not be able to post every day. Its a 30 mile round trip to the nearest internet cafe (the excellent Seasons in Dunoon), but not so far to my friend Liz's so.....(thank you Liz!)  Meanwhile I hope you are warm and dry and connected.

Nine year old Ross and I are just back from a fabulous swimming course.

I can really recommend  the Swimming Without Stress course at Croft Farm near the pretty town of Cardigan in Wales. Instructor Ian Cross was brilliant, and Granary Cottage was beautiful (though the glitch with internet access meant no blogs this week - sorry!)

The picture is of one of the other residents.


THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SWIMMING :-

I didn't know you could keep your mouth open

I didn't know my head floats

I didn't know you could swim so slowly and still move forward

I didn't realise how far one normal breath can take you - I thought you  had to take big gulps of air

I didn't know when to make less effort - I thought if I wasn't trying hard enough I'd drown

I didn't know how far one glide can take you

I didn't know how beautiful it feels to let the water support you

I didn't know I could do breast stroke, front crawl, old English stroke (so relaxing), roll onto my back, roll back onto my front, pick up something from the bottom, come up for air whenever I want, pause and have a chat, be a jellyfish, a sea snake, a crocodile or a mushroom!

I didn't know it could be easy

I didn't know it was such fun

Thank you Ian -    www.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk     www.croft-holiday-cottages.co.uk


Now, that novel I'm supposed to be writing....

I'm not doing too well in this department, see 17/18 August, but now that I have committed to a swimming course early next year I have a deadline for getting fitter (I seem to need deadlines - unfortunate word though).

For a mesmerising 7 minutes and 11 seconds Google  After Light pt1you tube    Click on full screen and turn the volume up.

Dancer, music and lighting come together in an exquisitely poetic dance..... enjoy!