I won't compromise

It was like a sign from somewhere when I got a couple of Christmas pressies that were  focusing on mindfulness, relaxation and body awareness. These pressies provoked my  thoughts and I started this year by quitting from the gym.

Instead I enrolled on yoga and Pilates courses. I realized that I need forms of exercises that are easier to integrate into my everyday life; no need to take the car and drive to the gym and fight for a  parking space ending up in a busy hall waiting for my turn on the equipment.


I wasn't getting any fitter, more relaxed or particularly enjoying my gym experiences; rather I got frustrated wasting both my money and time. Well at the end I didn't waste time because I didn't bother going ....

So now I have two excellent instructors Jody and Charlie who have a very different approach towards a healthy life style - one is a champagne   lady  and another is more geared to gin and tonic;  Ying and Yang - Moon and Sun - We need both.  I am motivated, excited and already have noticed a teeny weeny progress in my ability to get my head on the floor in the child pose.

Namaste! MerjaUK

What have I learnt from my dog

Peppy lives an active life and she seems to be able to make sensible choices for her life much better than I do. She likes her routines that help her to maintain her healthy lifestyle; it doesn't matter what kind of weather it is or day of the week, she follows the plot. Although she doesn't  get overly upset if due to changed circumstances e.g. her significant humans have an unpredictable influence on her everyday life, when things are again different than a day before. Peppy has a stoic or even Buddhist mind set; she is rather positively curious about things that she encounters and doesn't dwell on changes.

Peppy stretches many time during the day and always after waking up. She is always ready to have a walk outside and has a regular habit of exercising also indoors. Peppy doesn't overeat but enjoys her treats with moderation. She doesn't drink too much or eat chocolate. She visits her doctor (vet) regularly and has beautification  appointments for her nails and hair in her diary.  Peppy sleeps enough and takes herself to bed when tired even earlier that her humans if she feels like that.

Peppy makes a positive impact on the world around her. Peppy doesn't have a big bum.

Photo of the Month, UK

What a surprise it was today! '... I wasn't expecting that....'

Younger than tomorrow older than yesterday

We have two calendars, old fashioned 'write with a pen' calendars; one in Finland and one in the UK. They are empty at the moment. We'll see how they  look at the end of the year.

I will be happy if my calendar will be tatty and full of scribbles documenting my journey to my healthier life.

Happy New Year to all of us!

Walking up and down

What a beautiful day in London town we had today! We started our excursion by having  lunch in  the Crypt of  St Martin's in The Field Church , Trafalgar Square. Luuuuvly.

And then we walked and walked to Monmouth Street; popping into Gudrun's world , stopping in Govent Garden to have Italian Ice cream in La Gelatina and eventually strolling slowly to Foyles in Charing Cross Road.

Although this wasn't a long walk I have blisters on my soles. Never mind; walking is good.

Now it's time for the 'Bridge'; the second series is just about to finish and we'll find out  today if the brother of the ill Viktoria is behind all  of the nasty incidents. I think that in Finland you  have already seen a third series of the 'Bridge'. I am looking forward to having it here soon  in the UK.  I will be disappointed though if today's episode will not include an unexpected twist....

Perpetual Help

It was a smashing surprise to find a big printed copy from the icon of "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" in  the corner of St Peter's Church in Berkhamsted.

I love this icon. A long time ago I painted a copy of it in  High School in Oulu. I have found copies of this dear Lady in many churches in Europe but never before found it in  such a significant place in an Anglican  Church as I encoutered on Sunday .

Her eyes are gentle and it is if she is smiling at me quietly and encouragingly.

I do not mind a bit of perpetual help whilst continuing my exercise routine in the historic market town of Berkhamsted. This temporary location provides many opportunities to get natural exercise; the roads are steep, our house is on the top of the hill and the most interesting coffee shop is in the fourth floor (no lift provided).

Viikon kuva, Picture of the week

Week 1 / viikko 1

UK, Midlands  + 5C
A mainly dry start, any fog patches lifting then bright spells, but becoming cloudy with rain moving across this afternoon, perhaps heavy at times later. Southerly winds picking up, becoming strong this afternoon with gales over hills.
(And yes - I have taken this text from BBC weather page, just to clarify that I am not a meteorologist. )


This road is my favourite one in Leicester. It is beautiful throughout the year.
It is pretty dull weather everywhere in the UK - but HEEEYYY there are signs of a new spring around  already. 

Oulu, Finland +/- 0 C

Talvi on ollut todella tylsä tähän mennessä: pimeää, sateista ja lunta tuskin lainkaan. Vaan arvaa mitä - tähän voisi jopa tottua :-)
It has been a very dull winter so far: dark, rainy and hardly any snow. But guess what - you cold get used to this :-)

Maintenance

Today it was time to polish myself ready for action; nails, hair, neck and back massage followed by a  facial.


Hello work - here I come!

 

 

  Time has changed and the world gets smaller. Now we can get quorn in Finland and 'Rahka' in England. Happy days!

Fit For Fifty Five e.g, 4F

It is time to agree with Oprah Winfrey who says "Cheers to a new year and  another change for us to get it right." Fit for Fifty - project got quickly berried deep under and  it is time to set a new goal for a next Big Milestone. I will call it 'Fit For Fifty Five' e.g. 4F.  I tell you guys it will be a bliming  miracle if this goal will become true.  But I will try and promise that I will buy a round of Mimosas for everybody around me  in March  2017 if I'm successful.

To keep this simple I start it simple and focus on my neck. It's killing me. I have bought a special pillow but I think it is actually time to do something also when I'm awake.

The last 'Fit' magazine introduced a simple short program for  getting a 'Good Posture'. I hope that this program will help me with my sore neck.

January %s

These lovely spring flowers are for all of us who have managed to take distance to  0% exercise level. 

Well done  us!

After I recovered from The Bad and Ugly Noro Visitor I did  every morning  (or sometimes later in the day) 100% of 5 minutes Pilates workout. You are right Petri Kokko; This little workout tunes me  into the day and makes me feel good. I'm telling  myself that it tunes my body as well but perhaps it is too early to say. To be continued.

 I have linked the Abdominal Challenge to my 5 minutes morning Pilates workout. I think I might be cheating with this one because I do not feel any pain. No gain if not pain... Isn't it true with abdominal exercises? Well- I'll continue this anyway as  I've past  half way to gain 100% success. To be continued.

15 minutes Pilates workout I managed to do 8 times in 26 days. That is 30% success rate. Can't be bothered. I'm not fit to this one. And the lady's voice in the DVD is bloody boring and she does all the movements far too quickly.  Binned.

1000 bonus points rewarded to myself for visiting the gym 5 times and having a walk 3 times in January. Both of these achievements represent 100% improvement compared to my 0% starting level. To be continued.

Happy February Everyone!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

It took us one hour to drive 1,2 kilometer journey on a  busy road last Friday; the road was choc-a- block top to toe packed with cars. Lovely. Would  I have driven a car in such weather in Finland without winter tyres amongst  fellow commuters who have no experience what so ever from driving a car on slippery icy roads? Never.  Luckily Britons can consider these extremely difficult driving conditions and the pace of the traffic slows down causing of course long delays. Never mind; better to be safe than sorry.

Since Friday weather reports have offered the continuous "Weather Thriller"; The whole nation is following changing yellow, amber and red weather alerts for ice, snow, sleet, low temperature and even avalanche followed by cancellations that cause disruption  in everyday life.  This morning the list of school closures was very very long indeed.

We have had a rare opportunity to practice the traditional Finnish Penguin Walk on icy paths, admire some winter art and see how long it will take to clear our car of snow and ice.

 

Sofa, Sheep and Noro

There are random things in life that with  the passage of time can become significant. These contingent things could be also described as a Murphy's law; just when you think that things can not get any worse they can.

We bought a new sofa last  August; waited for its delivery for 8 weeks and in the excitement of getting a new one, were very happy to get rid of our old uncomfortable settee a bit too early. Therefore we practiced lying on the floor and sitting on rather decorative little and low bedroom chairs for two weeks before the New Arrival. It was very good indeed  that we practiced to manage without the sofa because in a split second our New Arrival was proven to be faulty  and was due to go. "To Go" took  almost two months and it compliments our story of misery not been able to sit properly on the broken settee getting more and more annoyed with manufacturer,  retailer and delivery company...

So our sofa saga started in August 2012 and now in January 2013 we are happy owners of a new sofa that hasn't been born yet. You see, we need to wait for  8 more weeks  it to arrive not only to the world but to us as well. (If we are lucky and not fall out with a new delivery company that can organize evening or weekend slots only within four weeks timetable).  Getting a sofa is like getting  a baby; your back starts to hurt. And  it starts to hurt a lot. It is impossible to find a comfortable position and peace of mind; The Waiting of the Latest Arrival is long, boring and bloody painful. 

I haven't done lots of exercise during the Autumn. Actually to be honest I have visited the gym monthly meaning roughly once per month - or perhaps every second...   The time I have had because of not going to the gym or having a walk or whatever healthy, I have spent, perhaps rather surprisingly, on knitting and not so surprisingly working too late. 

I have found my inner knitter. I'm loving it. My Ravelry account has got quite a few finished projects. (In Particular I am happy with the little jumper that got a name "5 Years Later".) My inner knitter has taken a bit over though.  You see, that not only did I pack for the 10 hour flight from London Heathrow to Vancouver the usual accessories e.g. iPods and  iPads loaded with new videos, music and books but also my bamboo knitting needles,  Bluefaced Leicester yarn and pattern for a little toy sheep. Toy Sheep! I hate the idea of knitted cupcakes and carrots but got ever so excited of a cute little sheep. Well, I can not recommend knitting 10 hours on the plane. It is not only your back that is aching (because of  the sofa saga)  but you will have rock hard shoulders for rest of your Christmas holidays.

Right, the icing on the cake is of course that the Noro virus that has landed in  the UK. No comments. Apart from that it proves that you can get aching tummy muscles also by vomiting violently for  8 hours.

Sofa, Sheep and Noro have inspired or even forced me to realize that if I do not want to become as stiff as my knitting needle I'd better do something. And this is  what I haven't tried before on my colorful and curley path of healthy choices: DAILY STRETCHES. I have dedicated every morning 5 minutes for a little stretching programme that  will according to Petri Kokko "change your life": TASSAPA AAMU OHJELMANI  I'm  completing this 5 minutes programme whilst waiting for the peculator to complete its task. 

So far so good. If Petri is right, this little step might change my life on its own, but I feel I might need a bit more of a push. 

Therefore I have challenged myself during January to do a 15 minutes daily Pilates programme.  I know that this is a bit ambiguous. However I know that inside me lives not only a little knitter but also a little competitor. 

 Can I beat myself and keep this daily routine or not? Time will tell - I will keep you posted.

And if anyone wants to be my friend in Ravelry I'm "mertuuli".

Taking trainers for a walk!

It is hard to accept the bitter truth: None of my plans to get fitter, slimmer or healthier that I have set myself since the beginning of this blog have come true.

The moments of determination, excitement and discipline have been passionate but haven't been carried far or lasted long. 

I admire all those bloggers that have stamina to stick to their plans and share their rigorous health plans and success stories. Good for you. I keep reading your stories.

Maybe I am particularly thick and  silly because despite  very little evidence I still nurture my dream to be able  be a success.  Therefore I'm again trying to take off and rise like the Phoenix  from the ashes.  I am going to take my trainers to have a walk -  during my lunch break.

Olympics 2012 in London, Cardiff and Segovia

I am just wondering how long it will take to take down all those Olympics signs  from the underground, road side, public buildings etc. What a massive infrastructural effort the Olympics has been!   Where do they put all those "London Live" screens from Hyde Park and other parks all around the country - and flat screen TVs, flags, mascots, bunting that  are everywhere and  the huge knitted  "Lions Heart Project" lions in front of natural History Museum?

 It took two hours to drive through London on our way to the men's bronze medal football game in Cardiff. No comments! Even our teddies who have travelled around the country looked fed up.

Not that I want to be rude but I didn't know that they play football in South Korea or Japan. And that they are good. Very good.

I missed the Olympics Opening Ceremony when we were in Oulu but was lucky enough to arrive just in time to my God Daughters' house in  Segovia to see the Closing Ceremony.  WOW. It was amazing. How did they manage to get Freddy Mercury to lead the Sing-Along Session? And the madness of the medley led by Monty Python's Eric Idle that combined Naughty Nuns, Morris dancing, Bollywood Bling   under the umbrella of  "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life". As mad as  Great Britain can be on its best. Veeeeeeery enjoyable indeed!

And my holiday continues in an appropriate Olympic Theme as my lovely God Daughters dive into the pool for their 'Moment of Shine': 27 meter's free style swim. 

It is difficult to say which one shines brighter under the burning Sun; girls faces or their medals?

Olympic Torch Relay

   The cyclist had never before had such a straight forward ride along London Road than on the Olympic Torch Relay Day. No cars, nor buses just happy crowds on both sides of the road waiting for the Torch to arrive. 

 By the way we got our tickets for Olympic the other day: half past seven  in the morning it was - a special delivery. Gardiff here we were come! How exciting it would be if Spanish men football team  would be playing against England.  I do not know anything about football. Just that the idea is to kick the ball to the goal. Never mind I'm happy to experience the atmosphere.

A taster from it  it was on last Monday when the Torch arrived to our town with applauding and cheering.

                                     

    

                                     

Jubilant Jubilee 2012

 We were looking forward SO much; the Sun, bunting, flags and a Picnic for the Queens Diamond Jubilee. We still have Jubilee, bunting and flags but  no Sun and therefore this is as close as we get to our Picnic.

It is pouring with rain but the spirit is high. Let's sing with our Gary to the Queen!

Nähdään. See You.

Eipä olisi maanantaina uskonut, että ne jäät, joilla silloin kävelimme, ovat nyt poissa. Siihen tarvittiin vain pari sadepäivää. Avannotkin olivat risumerkkeineen seilanneet Kuusisaaren rannasta keskelle Hartaanselkää - onneksi ilman pilkkijöitä :-)





Tämän päivän lenkkimme kiersi Hartaanselän ympäri. Tuiran puolella on kuntoilupuisto, jossa voi treenata lenkin välissä. Nyt emme malttaneet. Sen sijaan mietimme, onko kuvassa taka-alalla näkyvä sininen jäätelökioski ollut paikalla läpi talven vai onko se tuotu siihen äskettäin... Vappuna viimeistään ne putkahtavat katujen varsille.

Tämä olikin sitten M-Power-duon viimeinen yhteislenkki tällä erää, sillä MerjaUK suuntaa kohtsillään kohti UK:ta. Hyvää matkaa!

Toivottaa MerjaFIN

Thank you MerjaFin for your  companionship during the week. I feel that we both took these last eight days as an  opportunity to get back on track on our bumpy road to get fit. It has been ever so nice to have a schedule to do exersice routine with a good friend. This week has encouraged and inspired me to carry on my fitnesss programme at home. See you dear friend. MerjaUK