Chokoreto to Yuki

It’s been a while

chokoyuki — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:09:23 +0000

So it’s been a while…

Had my driving test today, and I didn’t have a good night’s sleep – kept tossing and turning, and dreamt I missed my test. So as soon as the alarm went off this morning I made sure I was awake and didn’t fall asleep again. After the snow last week I was worried that the test was going to be cancelled as although temperatures have been increasing the past few days its now starting to get colder again. My driving test had already been cancelled cos of the weather once. I am glad it was just the rain.

Had a nice examiner which was good, especially compared to the lady I had last time, she didn’t seem very friendly and ran away quickly after giving me my test results. Well…I have finally passed my driving test!! I am still shocked, and am very pleased as I was hoping to be a driver by the end of the year – as my instructor put it – a nice Christmas present – and I agree, a nice one indeed. Although it took me several attempts, I am glad I finally nailed it. I did accumulate quite a few minor faults, but those can be corrected.

What next? Maybe pass plus…?

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, and wish you a very Happy 2010!

Rant rant rant!

chokoyuki — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:36:25 +0000

Today was test day – that rolled round really quick! Had a lesson beforehand and then arrived at the test centre. Sat down in the waiting area. Felt nervous. Laughed a bit with my ADI who was trying to put me at ease. The examiners came out, called people out one by one, and then it was quiet again. Kept waiting. Thinking, this isn’t a good sign – what if my test has been cancelled? What if I missed their message? Did they leave a voice message and I never checked? All these thoughts running through my head. In the end we found out my test was cancelled, due to some unknown reason as no examiners were off sick? However they had changed it to a date next week. But I can’t do next week!! Grrr! Was told that they had posted a letter out to me last week regarding the cancellation – I was like what letter??. On the way home I joked to my ADI, imagine I get home and the letter comes today…

Got home, and an hour later the post arrives… and guess what it brought? My cancellation later!! I was really annoyed because I used one of my days of my annual leave allowance to take the test today. And now I can’t even take the test on the changed date so I have rebooked it, and its almost another 2 months away. I have to claim back for the expenses now – I think I only get paid a certain amount, can’t even claim back for the lost day as I took it as paid leave.

Sigh.

Sore lips

chokoyuki — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:49:38 +0000

My lips have been feeling sore lately, quite dry and they get irritated easily as well. I think the culprit is the Carmex cherry lip balm – poo only bought it a few weeks ago and thought it was good with the added SPF. Gonna lay off it a while and see what happens – could be something else? But I never had a problem with the original formula (in a jar). Poor lips. But the colour of them look perfect now, haha. Usually I look sick with my pale, colourless lips.

Done!

chokoyuki — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:57:15 +0000

A week on…

The race is over – done and dusted. I have put away my running gear for next year.

I never achieved my target of 35 minutes or less – I managed in about 36:24, so I was pretty disappointed. Considering that at the start of the race I had to walk for about 5 minutes or so I guess it’s not too bad. People who were walking the race were meant to be walking on the sides, but they weren’t – so oh well! Also I had to keep weaving in and out throughout the race.

It’s here…

chokoyuki — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:47:53 +0000

The day is here – can’t believe it only seemed a little while ago when Z asked if I wanted to take part in the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge. Looks cloudy outside, I thought, perfect weather for running! (in my opinion). However! When I checked the forecast it looks like it’s going to be warm at around 10, the race starts at 11. So noooooooooooo!!

I am feeling so nervous now, shouldn’t have eaten anything either as I usually train early mornings and eat nothing and just drink water!! I hope its not gonna have a big effect on me now. Eek!

Uh oh

chokoyuki — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 08:06:57 +0000

Being worried about my thyroid medication being decreased recently and the fear of leaning towards hypothyroidism, it is not a good idea to take my iron supplements at the same time. Which is what I have been doing. One may argue that I could take my iron supplement at a different time of the day, but knowing me, if I don’t take it in the morning I will forget. Gonna stop taking the iron tablets now – just need to eat more spinach, and other greens. Maybe I should start making monster smoothies again? A great way to incorporate spinach – although I don’t mind eating the stuff. Yah.

Still training as usual, last two running sessions I have been running for distance rather than time. I aim to run my race in less than 35 minutes which I think is a generous goal. I will still push for 30 minutes, although I am worried about what the weather will be like on the day. I sweat like a pig in the heat. And I look like one with my bright red face. Gahhhhh!!! Only a week to go until the race! What should I do about the final week of training – carry on pushing myself, or take it easy and ease down the training before the big day?

C25K W9D3

chokoyuki — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:33:45 +0000

I have finally completed the C25K program! Its already been over 2 months since I first started running, and now I am able to run for 30 minutes straight. Now that I’ve finally finished I can work on my speed – just a month left until my 5K charity run now. I have slowly been improving my speed, was mapping the run I did today – about 2.7 miles in 30 minutes! The day before was about 2.5 miles. I am hoping, and looks like I will be able to achieve 3 miles in 30 mins or less – if I keep up my training. I have to say I have been struggling to get up the past week, it’s getting lighter later in the morning so when I wake up its pretty dark. I do get to see the sunrise though. Was chatting to L the other day about after our charity run, would I continue running? I would like to, but when summer is over, and the days get shorter it will be tough.

Been thinking lots lately, all these thoughts floating around in my head. I am now a big quarter-of-a-century old girl now… time to seriously think about where I am heading and to get my butt moving. When I was younger I would have these thoughts of where I would be at this age… hmmm no where near that!!!

C25K Week 7

chokoyuki — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:43:51 +0000

Well, I’ve completed week 7 now, this week was a struggle. Diet has been quite bad too, especially with the BBQ on the weekend and stuff, ended up with an upset stomach. So when I was doing my runs my stomach always felt like it was in a funny state, was very uncomfortable. Wonder how Week 8 will fare when the running time increases to 28 minutes? Doesn’t sound like much but I think it will be a struggle.

After many years of avoiding foods and having to deal with the consequences of eating forbidden foods – not forbidden as in unhealthy stuff, but foods I am allergic to, I finally asked my doctor to refer me to the hospital to get an allergy test done. After a few months, I finally got to visit the hospital this week. They confirmed what I knew already – allergic to eggs, and peanuts, but also confirmed that I was not allergic to some of the foods I thought I was – tree nuts except I usually ate hazelnutty praline type chocolates, and crabs? Ooh. I wonder if it was just crabs/lobsters that were not fully cooked I had when I was younger that caused me to be sick? And what about the prawns I ate before? Anyway, I thought I could have one of those Epipens for my allergic reactions, but my reactions are not severe enough to have one – although the doctor prescribed me one just for my peace of mind as I asked. The only thing I can do is avoid the foods, and even antihistamines don’t do much as my reactions are pretty much instant once I consume the food. It’s a bit poo, especially when I am on holiday. I was in so much pain one of the days in Portugal recently, even after throwing up everything my stomach was hurting so bad.

Been feeling down lately. Life is poo.

Under my umbrella…

chokoyuki — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:10:31 +0000

Heavy rain and thunder last night, was horrible but was cooped up at home at least.

This morning I have completed W6D3 of the C25K running programme – that’s a 25 minute run! Yay! 6 weeks ago I would have never thought I could run 25 minutes, although I am running slow I am getting there. Just 3 more weeks to go, and I will start training for distance rather than time. I really did not want to get up this morning, was feeling very tired as I got woken up on several occasions, arguments and what not. Anyway… I used my own podcast that I made, going to tweak it a bit to be used for next week’s training.

Was thinking about body shapes and I have a weird one – I never seem to fit into the ‘categories’ defined. A boyish figure, with broad shoulders and slightly defined waist, large hips and thighs. What do you think?

C25K W6D2

chokoyuki — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:15:55 +0000

So today was the last of my interval runs, from now on the rest of the training will involve one continous run. Robert Ullrey’s podcasts were really helpful, and now I feel its time to make my own playlists as I no longer need the prompts except for the warm up and cool down parts. I struggled so bad today, partly because my left knee has been hurting a little bit recently – don’t know if its because I did quite a bit of walking on the weekend? Also I snacked a lot last evening – I’ve been trying to cut down on unhealthy food and eating less, which I do successfully at work, but as the evening rolls round I am really hungry! Been looking at foods that will keep me satisfied for longer – low GI foods. I am not thinking of going on a GI diet – but just incorporating more low GI foods and snacks into my diet. So far there has been some conflicting information on the Glycemic Index of foods, what and who to trust??

I got myself a bag on the weekend, wanted a box but the store only had large boxes left so they instructed me to go to one of the other stores or concessions – sO I popped into the Selfridges concession. The sales people were rude and snobby!! I got eyed up and down, and ignored by one as she walked past. GRRR! I didn’t get a box in the end as they never give out boxes. What a waste of time.