The Other End of 2021

 Hey Friends,

It's November! I just checked and my last post was in January.
Funny to think I didn't have a clue what might occur.

I was working as a Lifeguard at the new Rec Centre, that much is true.
I remembered the things I hadn't been keen on last time I did that job, 20+yrs ago!

We were advised the Fitness Centre (gym) needed 'Assistant Floor Staff', so I and a couple of other lifeguards volunteered.

I soon remembered what I loved about fitness; the supervisor of the fitness centre is European and could envision me teaching classes again etc. It was so uplifting!

When we closed again in March, I used the time to study for my Personal Trainer Specialist certification and started training a couple of friends for practice. When we returned to the Rec Centre in July, I was on personal trainer rate instead of AFF. I have covered a HIIT class when someone was unwell, which was fun! I have also taught 2 of 4 of my practice classes for my current course and am already being lined up for future classes.

Sadly, my lovely, supportive German supervisor isn't staying (we are having to be vaccinated against Covid and it isn't in her beliefs), but I intend to keep her as my mentor. Her replacement, Thomas, is someone I have enjoyed working evenings with and will do a most excellent job.

I also started a 6 months Fitness & Nutrition Expert Certification(s) course.
My deadline is January, but I would love to have it done by Christmas!

At the same time as starting the course, I started the Fit Chicks Transformation Challenge!
28 days - although we went away on the 26th day so wasn't as rigid, but didn't have treats until the challenge was officially over!  This has helped me find a routine and better understanding of working out. Also learning and working with experienced PTs is the best thing ever!!  I am feeling good and getting stronger!

We had a fantastic holiday road trip up to Wawa and back to Manitoulin Island, our magical happy place! 

Floor Staff

  

In other news, we acquired a kitty - one I had spotted in someone's back garden; I knocked on the front door and the man handed me a wee Pud'n. So that's her name.

Midnight was living in the scrapyard of our upstairs neighbour a month or so after Pud'n arrived. He is still quite skittish but soooo affectionate! He had parasites from eating the crap from the garbage.

All three cats have had a fair share of meds recently! Pud'n had her kitty hysterectomy on Monday. They have become such fantastic friends!
Poor Puss is just grumbled by their presence!

  

 

It has been 3yrs since I had chemotherapy!
My hair is doing well; nice and curly with bouce.
The chemo curl ringlets are slowly getting the snip!

Pud'n 

Jumping for Joy!

OK, my course is awaiting me. I will try to write again before 2022 is upon us!

But no promises! TTFN 

PS We also got a new car in May :) and my lil whip went to someone who loves her!

My Splashy Happy Place

Whilst swimming recently, I was thinking of what I love about swimming. I was lucky enough to receive regular swimming lessons as a child and went on to train and race as part of a club. I am not very competitive so was never very into racing; I often came fourth against females younger, faster and much more pressurised by their parents. I always wished there was a medal for fourth. I did earned numerous bronze medals too. I may have owned one silver.

Despite being less than keen on racing, I loved swimming as a sport and an all-body work-out. At 16yrs I left school and attended college. I was being encouraged, by the new swim club manager, to race and he regularly had the whole team practice their sprints and trials to improve their PBs. I became frustrated by this and said to my favourite instructor, with whom I was cheeky and had a good rapport. I requested a lane for those (my friend and I) who wanted to swim recreationally, for exercise, and didn't care for racing. I think there were a regular four of us who swam two or three times a week and paid a reduced club fee. After college, I left to work with Camp America (as a Lifeguard and Swim Instructor) and the recreational team/lane apparently dispersed.

I thoroughly enjoyed my most recent swim, as I do every time I swim after a long break and enjoy feeling my muscles ache over the following couple of days. This time, as I pounded through the water with smooth precision (haha I'm not that big-headed, I just though that sentence sounded cool!)... where was I?! Oh yeah, whilst swimming, I thought about the things I LOVE about swimming:

* It's a natural massage for your body as the water provides a gentle resistance
* No equipment necessary; all you need is your own body
* It can save your life or take it - knowing how to deal with and feeling comfortable in water can prevent drowning
* Adventure & Surprise - I was told after swimming laps in the Indian Ocean (whilst volunteering with dolphins at Monkey Mia, Western Australia) that a dolphin had been swimming beside me as I swam.
* Other reasons I thought of whilst swimming but forget now I can log them!
* It's my happy place - I feel so free when I swim

The time before this aforementioned swim sesh, I swam in Lake Simcoe, between two floating buoys on a final random blast of warmth which followed a cool period. Everybody flocked to the beach. I had to work at 6pm but massively enjoyed the swim; the lake was still warmer than the sea and less salty! Hold On.... the salty memory reminds me that I did actually have the pleasure of swimming in the sea at St Pete's in Florida in November. The other thing I love about swimming is that it can be cost-free.

I'm losing concentration (I have four started and unfinished blog posts >,<).
I've tried desperately to find some relevant photos of my own but without luck (or access to external hard-drive) as yet.

Thanks for stopping by.