Back in the saddle - at last!

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This morning saw me return to my usual Tuesday 6:00am RPM class and believe me, it feels a LOT longer than three weeks since I last climbed into the saddle. I expected to find it quite a struggle, but was pleasantly surprised to find that I managed to keep up pretty well. I did dial back the resistance a couple of gears on the climbs, just so as not to have too much pressure through my foot - but other than that, it felt really...normal.

I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things now - and perhaps the permanently grumpy mood that's been hanging around for the past few weeks will bugger off too.

Fashion, fun...and a disclaimer

I'm having a bit of a love affair with Polyvore and Birdsnest at the moment. I've put together (or just found) some looks I love.

Like these two for the office, that could take you on to drinks, dinner or a show. Or all of the above if you're very, very lucky:

Source: polyvore.com via Kerryn on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Kerryn on Pinterest

Or how about a gorgeous vintage-inspired outfit to wear... hmm, out for a posh ladies' lunch or maybe to the races?

Source: birdsnest.com.au via Kerryn on Pinterest

Or a more casual look for shopping or coffee with the girls, perhaps?

Source: birdsnest.com.au via Kerryn on Pinterest

These websites are quite dangerous though, and should come with a warning: Enter at own risk! You may experience a massive hole in the space-time continuum. Entire afternoons can disappear in what seems like minutes.

Don't say I didn't tell you.

Hellooo!

Yes, I'm still alive. There's been a sad lack of blogging or any other social media activity this week. It's just been... you know... one of those weeks.

There's been nothing disastrous happen, no real dramas. Just work, exhausting extended trips to and from the office thanks to major roadworks everywhere I need to go, Bike Boy away for work again and general lack of enthusiasm for - well, anything at all, really.

To dispel the general crappy-moodiness of it all, I did a couple of things for myself this week. I outsourced the ironing (yay!), handing over a basket of wrinkled clothing one night and getting back a stack of crisp, freshly ironed lovelies the next, and all for the paltry sum of $20. I also booked in an osteopathic treatment for last night and feel way better for that too. Having a minor injury to one foot really screws up your whole body...

Things are looking up (huzzah!): It's Friday today and the weekend beckons; plus my toe is feeling significantly better. I think the swelling has even reduced a bit (about bloody time!), so I'm hoping to get my runners laced up and hop on the spin bike in a few days' time. Cross your fingers for me....

Manic March

The first week of this month has flown past and I feel as though I've achieved nothing. Let's break that down, shall we?

- I've so far failed to post a single photo in the March Photo-a-Day challenge.
- I have a blog giveaway to organise, but so far...haven't done a thing about it.
- Training is more than a little off-track, thanks to my fractured proximal phalanx (I had to consult Wikipedia to find out the singular of "phalanges". Hands up who knew that bone was a phalanx?)
- The house currently resembles something that might be featured on an episode of Hoarders. At least I got the bathrooms cleaned before breaking my toe.

If I think about it, things aren't all bad. I have achieved the following over the past week:

- Attended work for three out of the first five days of the new month. (Well, I left at 2:00pm today, but close enough.)
- Remembered to make an appointment and actually show up for my free "over 50" mammogram.
- Watched the whole of seasons 2 & 3 of The United States of Tara
- Read a Jodie Picoult novel
- Remembered why I hate Jodie Picoult novels
- Had a pre-dinner nap today

Phew. I've got to stop being so hard on myself. It's a wonder I haven't collapsed from exhaustion.

A slight flaw in the plan

You know how yesterday I said I'd be squeezing into my shoes and heading to the gym this morning? There's a small problem with that; I still can't get shoes on.

So, of course I implemented Plan B. Yep. I stayed in bed and sulked.

P.S. Don't worry, it was just a temporary setback. I've consulted with Liz and I haz a plan to follow. Some Pilates, some upper body stuff at home and do not eat my own weight in Kit Kats keep nutrition under control. Yeah, that should do the trick.

An unwelcome break in routine

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I can't say I've enjoyed my enforced rest over the past few days. Lying around on the couch watching DVDs, reading when you get sick of the TV and snoozing when you feel like it sounds like a whole lot of fun. And it is, when it's something you choose to do. I suppose it feels a bit naughty - after all, there's always housework needing to be done or something that you feel you "should" be doing.

But when you have no choice, it's never actually as enjoyable as you think it will be. At least this time I'm only out of action for a short while - not like the couple of major surgeries I've had where I was stuck in the house and unable to drive or do anything interesting for weeks.

Tomorrow I'll be attempting to squeeze my shoes on and will head down to the gym before work. My plan is to do whatever weights exercises I can manage - which I suspect will be upper body only at this point. I'll test out some cardio equipment as well, see what's manageable, but I expect I'll have to be a little patient in that respect...

It's very tempting to just jump back into training in my usual fashion. After all, things were going so well, and I hate to see my hard-earned fitness or strength decline. But I really want this bone to heal properly,  so I won't be doing anything that might hamper progress.

The next four weeks are going to drag, I just know it.

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I wish I had a digital copy of my x-rays that I could upload, because they're pretty interesting. Apparently, a dislocated fracture of the little toe is a pretty common injury, which says a lot about the stupid design of the human foot...

5 things I learned today

1. Both breaking and dislocating a toe at the same time is a special talent, but it hurts like a bastard. And by the way, toenails are not meant to point to the side.

2.  Emergency waiting rooms are full of really interesting people. If, by interesting, you mean crazy, disturbing or downright disgusting.

3. If your doctor sends you off to the hospital, make sure you steal some reading material from said doc's waiting room on your way out. Enough for at least three or four hours.

4. Local anaesthetic injected into feet really, really hurts. About the same as injections into your gums, in case you're wondering.

5. Doctors in public hospitals all appear to be about fifteen years old. They must start uni before they're out of nappies.


My toe is now "buddy taped" and will be for the next four weeks. I'm feeling no pain, but judging by the force the doc used to push and pull the toe back into place, I suspect that when the local wears off, it's going to REALLY hurt.

Training is on hold until I can get shoes on. I don't want to drop a dumbbell on my foot....

Keeping the camera clicking.

I'm continuing the photography obsession, with Fat Mum Slim's March Photo-a-Day challenge. But this time I've decided to post the pics only on Twitter & Facebook. I've enjoyed the Feb challenge, but I feel as though my "real" posts kind of got lost amongst all the challenge posts.

I may create a Photobucket album as well, and share it here weekly...Hmm. Anyway, this here's the deal:

I'll try not to miss any days this time. If anyone else would like to join in, hop over to Fat Mum Slim's site and post your blog link. If you want to keep up with my very average amazing photography, go click on the Twitter button up there on the sidebar and follow me...



Oh, yeah. I do have the final three photos for February; Just haven't got around to uploading them. I'll get there. I never said I was good at this blog challenge stuff.