Wasting time

Saturday, June 08, 2013

Today's task on Spark Coach is to identify ways in which I waste time during the day and to fill at least some of that wasted time with activity. Should be an interesting exercise - I am either running about madly getting things done or lounging around Nothing much in between those two points.
I realised a long time ago that the lounging needs to stop and am happy to find myself focused on keeping myself moving during the day in a more consistent way than I do now

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

Focus needed - Part 2

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Well –yesterday I said I was looking for focus. Today it arrived in the form of The Spark Solution, ordered so long ago that I had forgotten about it – Spark DVDs and books seem to take a long time to be delivered here even from Amazon UK. Totally opportune though! A documented exercise in motivation and discipline – precisely what I need right now to get me back on track. I ordered it before I put back the five pounds mentioned previously - specifically to follow the two week programme prescribed – to help me with lifestyle and exercise habits almost more than food consumption. I don’t eat badly overall – certainly in terms of quality of ingredients because I always cook from scratch with the best I can afford. Exercise is the thing that I certainly need help with. Am hoping Spark Solution will supply a do-able programme and to get me into a better mindset.
I also got the book because it was so enthusiastically recommended by MOSTMOM1 (Thanks Shelli XXX). She plainly found it helpful to get rid of some pounds put back and I need that too. It’s not normally the sort of thing I buy (though I should because of the discipline thing mentioned above) I ordered it originally to help me stay on track but now that I am starting to read it I have hopes it will put me back on the path to losing my re-gained pounds before it all gets worse. Beyond that, help staying on track would be excellent.
Please watch this space Sparkfolk!
Oh – and any welcome!

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

Focus needed

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Almost a month since I blogged and a lot more than that since I weighed myself (April 30 – 191 pounds). I seem to have been beset by problems since then – family difficulties and domestic disasters (well – semi-disasters) that have needed dealing with. During that time I haven’t been much focused on Spark or Sparking. Apologies to my friends here whom I have neglected.
My elder son has just gone into de-tox for alcohol, obviously a trauma, and I promised myself that once that was settled I’d get back onto Spark and onto the scales. Some focus on myself, in fact. 190 pounds!! I was pretty delighted with that – having expected much worse.
Over the next few days I kept coming back to the fact that it was very little – considering what scant attention I’d been paying. SO . . . today I have bitten the bullet and bought a new battery for my scales. Sadly I find I was right – 196 pounds actually. So here I go again – aiming to lose 5 pounds that I had already lost. However – I know it could be worse – i.e. more pounds than this re-gained and so more pounds to re-lose. Hey Ho!! Gotta be done.

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

London - such a good time!

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

I’ve just spent few days working in central London. I used to live on the edge of London and visited often. These working trips are always hard work but there is also time to walk around my old haunts – visit a few restaurants (oh-oh!) that I know. Generally to enjoy being there in fact. I wouldn’t live in London again but I love the buzz and always come away feeling energized.

This particular restaurant is decorated to resemble an opera venue - it even has theatre boxes which you can eat in. It is full of all sorts of weird and wonderful opera memorabilia and later in the evening some of the students from Covent Garden Opera House come and sing arias to entertain the diners.



I spent some time in Covent Garden Market where there are some really talented craftspeople selling their wares and some excellent street entertainment.

Musicians playing some great classical music and responding to each other’s playing with little dances.



Some living statues – this golden man truly had no visible means of support as he sat – hour after hour apparently suspended in mid air. One tourist walked all round him taking a video and even took some film from underneath him in an attempt to solve the mystery. To no avail however. All the children thought it was magic and I began to think they might be right!



There are also beautiful green squares in central London – in particular this one just by our hotel – Russell Square. The square is named after the surname of the family of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford, who developed the family's London landholdings in the 17th and 18th centuries. Russell Square was formed when new streets were laid out by the Duke on the site of the gardens of his former home Bedford House, their London home. He apparently wished to provide a green space for Londoners to enjoy



It also includes a quaint green 'hut' originally established in the late 19th century where taxi drivers (and previously hansom cab and hackney cab drivers) can stop for a comfort break and to heat up food - a place where they know their cab will be safe. There is an attendant to watch out for their cab or indeed to provide food if required. The one in Russell Square is one of thirteen which remain to this day.



So – I walked my socks off along my personal Memory Lane – ate some delicious food which I hope has been compensated for by the walking – and feel much renewed.

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

Spoke too soon!

Thursday, May 02, 2013

Yesterday’s status:

*AKELAZ is very happy to be free of builders and their dust and to be back Sparking and re-connecting with friends*

WELL – the second part is true but my treat of the day yesterday was . . .

. . . washing thick black dust off about 3 dozen coat hangers which were locked INSIDE my wardrobe in a box on the floor.
Thing of it is – guess all my clothes need cleaning/washing too. Oh Goodie!!

Thought I was done but I fear there’s more lurking somewhere . . .

  Member Comments About This Blog Post: