16/5/13

So I rode my bike today. 

Cycling has become a little bit odd with me, I rode my mountain bike properly a couple of weeks ago with almost no pain, and then on the road bike the following week I really struggled in that respect (although thankfully the legs were still working ok).

I went out today to test the loop I've planned for our next shop ride, I wasn't sure how it was going to go as I'd never ridden that route before, and I was (and still am!) definitely feeling the effects of physio this morning, but ignoring a slight "funny turn" in the middle it was a really enjoyable ride. Just shy of 20 miles and I managed a 16mph average so not too slow.

I don't know where I'm going with it though, I miss racing - I never even got close to winning anything but it was always good fun ('cept the one time when I crashed!) but I'm definitely a way off doing that sort of thing again, both in body and mind. I wondered about road racing but I know I'm not quick enough yet, and that brings some of the same problems as XC racing 'cos I'm still a bit funny about riding in a group. Maybe I'll try a time trial if I get a bit faster...

Not that it really matters, I think it's enough to just enjoy riding bikes and if I go back to racing at some point then that's OK, and it's still OK if I don't. It might not be back to how it was yet, but I'm really quite glad that I've managed to get back to a level where I can ride a bike again at all, hopefully the improvement will continue! 

It's not just riding them either, I just like bikes in general I think. I was a bit indifferent about the whole thing when I started working at "the bike shop" 5 and a bit years ago, but I soon got into it - and now consider myself very lucky to be able to continue it. 

Sorry. Will stop waffling now. Combination of being really quite tired, but having had a good ride means I can't help it!

Until next time... 

13/5/13

Sorry - I know I've been rather quiet recently, but I have been quite busy!

Most notably I applied for teacher training, was invited for interview, got down to the final 2, so had another interview but then was unsuccessful. Bummocks was a friends reaction to the news. Didn't know how much I wanted to do it anyway, but I'd convinced myself during the application process and rejection when you've tried your best is never good!

I've been out on the bike a couple of times too. I had my first proper mountain bike ride in over 18 months thanks to a new splint type thing for my elbow, and apparently a fair amount of luck! It was great fun to be back. I say there was a fair amount of luck involved because I went back out on my road bike last week and really suffered. It was my only stupid fault, it was a ~20 mile loop (further than I'm supposed to be riding) and I got carried away, particularly on the final climb. That and perhaps more lifting of things than I should have done at the weekend and I'm still grumbling about it now! New physio exercises are still hurting too, back to see him this week after 3 weeks off so hopefully we can get things sorted!

Not much else to report. Currently watching the first series of Sherlock (I only started watching it on TV when the second series started!), am enjoying it so far! 

Catch you later...

15/4/13

Going through school it's expected that you decide what you want to "be" when you grow up. It's understood that this isn't set in stone, as a teenager you're not really equipped to choose what you want to do for the rest of your life, but you do have to choose your GCSE options, then your A-levels, and then where to go next - each of these must be done with a goal in mind, and each choice that you make will narrow the field that you can eventually end up in.

I currently find myself once again faced with a junction where I really ought to to choose a path that heads towards something. Having made the decision that I want to be a doctor, but then getting only rejections from the medical schools I applied to (not to mention several members of my family trying to push me in another, unspecified, direction because they don't think medicine for me) has left me back at square one. 

Having been struggling with a few other "issues" of late (those things that I'm still not going to talk about!) I have been trying to avoid thinking about it, my default response is I don't want to do anything...but that isn't an option! I have done a bit of thinking, and came up with 4 viable seeming options - one of these is to apply for medicine again. I put in a lot of thought when applying a few months ago and really had to persuade myself that it was what I wanted to do, getting only rejections leads me to thinking "well am I really the right person for it?", and at the moment I don't know. 

The other options I've come up with also go down the "career for life" approach. But whilst pondering what to do this morning, I came up with the question:

"Do I have to *be* anything?"

It's perfectly plausible to have a job as opposed to a career, earn enough money to support myself and have some fun along the way...

It seems almost appealing, probably because it's the "easy" option (although finding a way of getting enough money to support myself perhaps isn't that easy at the moment), but then I don't think that's really a long term solution for me.

 It goes round in circles doesn't it? This is why I've been avoiding it!

*Hides in corner playing with Lego* 

2/4/13

*raises head above the blogosphere parapet*

I rode my bike today.

That's 3 times in 3 weeks.

Today was the longest one of those 3.

With the most climbing in it.

22 miles. 1191 feet of climbing. 1 hour 40 riding time. (Yes I know that's not particularly quick!)

My excuse shall be the permanent head/cross wind!

It was great to get out and ride in some sunshine, but it has proven to me that I still have a long way to go, and yet I am really lacking motivation to do physio exercises at the moment (there's a long list of things I'm lacking motivation for actually!), I know I need to do them, and I kind of know they're helping but I just can't bring myself to do them as much as I should. 

There's lots of other things I'd really like to write about, but as I'm not (yet) shouting about "the thing" I can't so I shall sit here and quietly mumble to myself instead. It seems to be growing inside me (and again, no I'm not pregnant or dying!), so I suspect it's only a matter of time before it gets "announced", but I'm not at the stage where I want everyone to know yet!

29/3/13

I realise I've been very quiet this month. Mainly because I don't have much to say, and things I do want to say I'm not sure I want to be entirely public!

The first thing to say is something that, whilst it was really disappointing, I don't mind everyone knowing. Despite being almost confident after my interview, I was unsuccessful in getting a place at Warwick Medical School, so that makes 4 rejections out of 4. I'm waiting for feedback as to what I did wrong, I'm waiting for this before I decide exactly what I'm doing next. Many options seem to be floating around and I just don't know!

Suspect you're about due for an arm update too. On the recommendation of the private consultant I saw I have been seeing a physiotherapist again. I'm not sure whether it's that or the increase in medication but my arm does seem to be feeling a little bit better, or at least it hurts slightly less of the time (but gets just as bad when it does). Either way it's positive, even if I forget that when it is hurting! I have been out on my bike a couple of times too, which is always a good sign. Shall keep up the stretches and exercises as physio says perseverance is all I need (although the consensus is still that I probably won't ever be pain free), having a few issues at the moment as some of the exercises (or something I haven't worked out yet) is making my "good elbow" sore. Should probably mention this when I see him again in a couple of weeks...

The other thing that I want to blog about, and in fact have drafted and deleted several times already is a bit more difficult to talk about, and so I'm going to have to keep it quiet for a while longer at least.

No I'm not pregnant, getting married or suffering from a fatal illness! 

5/3/13 - An Encounter of the Patient Kind

As part of an audit I'm involved in at my local hospital I spent yesterday afternoon on the wards collecting data directly from patients.

Got the survey filled out by the first patient without too many issues so I moved on to the next bed with an awake looking person in it. I introduced myself and asked if it was OK if I had a little chat with them  and the relatives. The patient said "Of course it is, but relax - you look frightened to death", this put me at ease so I got started quickly. I'd just started to introduce the formal survey questions when one of the people with the patient said "You do know she's confused don't you?"

Now, the answer to this question was no. I could approach patients based only on how they looked and had no knowledge of any of their medical problems so I was just having to hope I was picking the right people; but wanting to keep their confidence in me I said that I did, and it was OK if she just answered to the best of her ability.

So my second solo interaction with a patient turned out to be my first interaction with someone with Alzheimer's. Initially it was really frustrating, I knew I needed to see lots of people that afternoon so didn't have that much time to spend with each one, but I'd started the survey so I was keen to finish it. Each question I asked resulted in a lot of deviation from the topic, and she often got distracted and started talking to her relatives instead. As we slowly progressed through she started telling me more about her family, and she asked about me and my family too "Do you have a mum?" she said. I could see that this lady was enjoying someone taking the time to talk to her so I carried on, getting survey questions answered when I could but really just giving her someone different to chat to. A couple of times she asked my name because she'd forgotten, the 3rd time we settled on "Rebecca" because if I said "Becky" (which I did twice) she heard "Betty" which she thought was lovely because "that's not a name you hear very often any more". I helped her open her bottle of lemonade, and pour it into a cup because she couldn't manage (I'm sure her relatives would have done it, but I was closer) and we continued talking about her family, and how lovely kids are at age 1, as well as how hard all those poor doctors have to work! We finally reached the end of the survey but I hung around for a bit longer, before I left she asked if I was coming back another time, and if I did could I come back and see her again?  She recognised that if I did she probably wouldn't remember me, but she'd like it anyway. Just as I was leaving her bedside she said she'd quite like to adopt me...

It was definitely a useful experience for me, I left her feeling a bit warm inside, like I'd achieved something (even if it was quite small). I think it was helpful that whilst she was clearly confused, and struggling with memory she was at a stage where, at least for some of the time, she recognised it; she apologised numerous times "I'm sorry, I bet you were hoping not to get with someone like me", each time she did I reassured her that it was fine, and I really was happy to stay and chat!  

It gave me a bit more confidence in my choice to apply for medicine too - I've been open about it being the science that fascinates me, but having experienced the human side of it first hand (I'd previously only been a silent observer!) I feel happier about the patient bit too (which after all is why medicine exists as an "industry").

The next patient I saw could also be described as a challenge, they spoke no English, but had a family member present who could just about act as a translator. I expect this is a situation experienced fairly commonly by doctors on the ward, and as I learnt, isn't always dealt with in the best way...

But that's another story...

21/2/13

I shall revert to tradition and start at the beginning this time!  I had a lovely few days following the interview at Warwick; I know that it could go either way, but at the same time I know I've done everything that I can do so there's no point worrying about it (yet!). It's the first time since well before Christmas that I haven't had an interview to prepare for and it's a nice feeling! Combine that with the few days of sunshine we had and I was bouncing.

It got busy at times at work over the weekend, people making the most of the weather and hiring bikes. Actually enjoyed the weekend (is liking your work allowed?) - bring on the summer! The sunniness continued into Monday and Tuesday, didn't make the most of it on Monday - with an hour on the turbo being my main activity...but I was still feeling good. Getting to the hour mark still feels like an achievement and my legs were feeling good - felt I was pedaling harder, faster and for longer than usual and yet they were fine afterwards. Training paying off then?

Tuesday I ended up going out with Dobby for a couple of hours. So tempting to stay out for longer...such a lovely day!

Had to return home though as I was heading out to see my GP again. She was once again very smiley, whilst this is perhaps a tad irritating I think I like her. She seems quite understanding and like she actually wants to help (which doesn't seem to be a universal trait of GPs). We had a bit of a chat and decided that I should start the medication my consultant had suggested. She said "When you first asked about it, I was reluctant, I thought you were very young to be starting them, but then you showed me your arm and I though 'ah'."

We seemed to decide that the best way to start these would be to stop the previous tablets (which had been helping, especially at night), and then, as protocol dictates, slowly build the new ones up until they become effective, but with the side effects becoming manageable. This does mean for the time being they're not that effective (which is making me a bit grumpy!), and there is probably an element of "withdrawal" from the other ones which won't help matters. Hopefully we're on the right track now and things will settle down...

I'm afraid the "less than happy" shall become the dominating factor now. Saw new consultant yesterday, somehow my notes hadn't made it over the road to the "posh" hospital but I managed to give him all the information he needed and he decided that the notes wouldn't make any difference to his opinion. His opinion was unfortunately, as expected, that there isn't any magic treatment or test and there isn't anything more to be done for me. He did say that he couldn't even be 100% sure that it was nerve damage, and that it might be something subtle going on with a tendon/muscle so has given me the name of a physiotherapist who I hope to see soon, just in case he can help me. This does raise a couple of issues, at least when they were confident of nerve damage whilst a lot of activities were more than a little uncomfortable they probably weren't doing any damage, if it's a tendon/muscle thing then there's a good chance that they are...but we'll just have to see how it goes!

Generally looks like the outlook is poor though. A combination of this news, and the effects of painkiller swapping mean I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Despite my efforts it took me until around 2am to finally drift off after much tossing, turning and contemplating. Some of the things that came to mind were quite worrying, especially in the detail that they came with.

I'm sure everything will settle back down soon, it just might take a couple of days. After all, nothing has *really* changed has it? There's a lot of people out there with far bigger problems that just get on with things without complaining, whilst I may complain a bit "getting on with things" is exactly what I intend to do. Just allow me a bit of wallowing first?

Plans for the day include the purchase of special offer Easter eggs to cheer me up. And possibly socks too if I can find anything appropriate. Definitely let down by the lucky socks yesterday. Some sort of run/bike activity will also be required...got to see how the legs fair with 3 sessions in a week! 

12/2/13

Suppose I'm about due a blog post!

Thankfully there haven't been any more big disasters since the last post, although there still seems to have been a disproportionate amount of grumpiness, but I shan't hold that against the world!

I'll start at the end, rather than the beginning, because that's the best "news" I suppose. I had my interview at Warwick today. Can't go into the specifics 'cos they frown upon that, and besides I wouldn't want to give any hints to the competition that are still to be interviewed! I came away from it feeling like I'd given them my best, and with a ~3:1 ratio of interviewees to places I think I've at least got a chance (compared to King's College where I knew I'd not done brilliants in the interview and the ratio was closer to 6:1). The environment was a lot more relaxed than at King's, and I almost enjoyed certain parts of the selection process which can't be a bad thing. I'd never seen that part of the campus before either, I was impressed!  Much better than the bits I remember seeing when I was looking there a few years ago for chemistry! I have no idea if I did well enough to get in or not, but I came out of it knowing I'd given it my best shot and I don't think there's anything I'd have done differently... and now we wait!  Decision expected mid-March!

Much of my recent grumpiness has been due to catching the lurgy. I spent much of last week in bed, when I wasn't asleep I was watching DVDs because getting up made my head hurt to much, and made me feel like I was going to fall over. Thankfully I am now feeling much better (although I'm still not 100%). 

The rest of my grumpiness has been, as usual, arm related. I'm seeing a new consultant next week (the one I mentioned being referred to in my last post, 'cept I'm paying to see him so I don't have to wait 2 more months!), I'm trying to keep in mind that there probably isn't anything he can do, and even if there is I'm probably not going to like it very much. Despite that I have some kind of strange optimism going on that everything *will* be fine and dandy. 

In the mean time it was deemed best that I began working out a pain management plan with "my" GP. I can see where's she was coming from but she has opted to pretty much ignore the request of my consultant and follow another avenue instead. 2 weeks on I don't think this particular avenue has agreed with me very much!  Even what it considered a fairly high dose doesn't help me as much as I'd like and it added to me lurgy woes by making me more than a little bit groggy, and I'm fairly certain it's been responsible for most of the headachey-ness! With this in hand I decided to continue taking my GP's advice "come back in 2 weeks if you're not getting on with them...". She's on holiday this week!

I shall have to self medicate with pancakes instead.

I should probably try and end on something positive. TV has been cheering me up.  If you haven't watched the program about the bionic man yet, you definitely should (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-build-a-bionic-man/4od). Penguins have been on the tele too - that's always good! 

Aaaaand finally...

Nothing like a nice sunset view!

25/1/13

The following statement comes with the caveat that perspective is important and everything is relative (all will become clear by the end I hope).

This week has been really quite rubbish.

Monday set the scene. I left nice and early for physio (finally getting my NHS appointment!), was supposed to be there by 8.50 so I left at 7.45 seen as it had snowed. My phone rang on the way, didn't answer it (obviously!), when I parked for physio I had a message telling me that the clinic had been cancelled. Had to be in town (very close to physio!) to sort out paperwork for new job), but I was way too early so I turned straight round and went home again. That took more doing than it should have done 'cos I managed to get stuck in the snow... Anyway. Wasted journey and no physio. This made me grumbly.

Tuesday. New job day. This got off to an equally bad start. A journey that would take 10-15 minutes for most of the day took me almost an hour (which I am reliably informed is excessive, even for rush hour!) so I was late. Turned out not to be a big issue 'cos I had to wait around for a health and safety talk and tour of the fire exits etc. In principle the job was OK. I was conscious that I was involved in work that was actually important (unlike work in the teaching labs where if it went wrong you lost a few marks or started again!) and I didn't want to mess up so I was happy to be given a straight forward (if not tedious) job to do for most of the day. It mainly involved transferring things from one vessel to another, lots and lots of times. Unfortunately, whilst my brain was perfectly happy with this (I was actually starting to enjoy it more than I thought I would!), my arm was not so happy. At the time it was starting to get a bit sore but it wasn't too bad, I was happy to put up with it...but alas things weren't to be - my day of excessive pipetting clearly aggravated something because it has been extra sore since. To the point that I had to speak to my employer about it, and it was decided it was for the best that I didn't go back. So I don't have a new job any more (but still have an annoyingly grumbly arm!).

Wednesday. I'd been waiting for this one for a while - time to see the consultant about my arm! Very impressed with how my consultant dealt with me, I managed to ask everything I wanted to (instead of sitting and nodding when required!), and he gave me answers so it was a productive appointment, even if it didn't have the outcome I was hoping for. It would appear there is nothing more to be done for me so consultant is writing to GP to get me sorted with new painkillers, and although he is not optimistic, he's going to refer me to another consultant, just on the off chance he comes up with something because he knows how much it bothers me, and the impact it may have on the future and stuff...  So yeah. Can't say as I'm thrilled at the prospect of this being as good as it gets! Just have to hope that my new consultant can come up with something, probably won't see him for 2-3 months, but I have met him before (on work experience) so I have faith having seen him in action! 

Right, Thursday. Here's where the perspective comes. I had arranged to spend a morning on ITU with one of the consultant anaesthetists. Obviously can't go into the details because of confidentiality and stuff but it's fair to say I've had a lot more luck than the people who are currently patients there... I was only there for a short time but it was really quite intense. Feel like once again I learnt a lot (and was called a "legend" for finally remembering the percentage of oxygen in air...), patient communication being high up on the list...particularly when discussing end of life type stuff. So this was not a bad morning, in fact it was quite enjoyable for the most part (although I was closer to tears than I'd expected to get at one point!). The rest of Thursday was sorting out the job stuff, which meant some unpleasant conversations.  Oh, and I got a rejection from Southampton so that's one less option for studying medicine!

I thought today (Friday) was going OK, didn't really do much, but then I got a rejection from King's so there we go. What a week. Back to work at the shop over the weekend. I'm looking forward to it - shall be putting this week firmly behind me if I can and trying to get back to "normal".

Having made it through these last few days tonight shall definitely be involving some sort of chocolate. That's definitely allowed because I've been on the turbo trainer today! (Still keeping up my 2 sessions a week, despite little prospect of getting back on a bike properly in the near future!).

Suspect that's enough whinging from me for one week!  

19/1/13

I'm afraid this is going to be another one of those "wow an awful lot has happened in the last week or so" type of posts...

Firstly - last weeks job interview. That one I said I really wanted. Well I didn't think the interview went badly, although it was very short so I'm not sure I had the chance to get across everything I wanted to, but 2 days later I found out I didn't get the job. Rats.

It'll be OK though right?  Offered 2 more job interviews since (more on those later). I also had my first med school interview. If I end up being lucky enough to get more than 1 offer (and one would definitely be enough to make me very happy!) then this isn't my first choice of uni, so whilst I wanted to give it everything to try and secure myself a place I know it's not the end of the world if I don't get an offer here (especially as there were apparently 1600 applicants, 160 people invited to interview and only 28 places....). It was nearly over before it started though. The small amount of snow wasn't going to cause any problems with the trains but a broken down train on our line did. We were held up for almost an hour in total, which was more time than I had allowed in my journey planning.  Couldn't get through to any one helpful at the uni so just had to turn up and hope for the best.  I'd over allowed time for other parts of the journey, so with a bit of running I was only 20 minutes late. But too late for my interview slot.  Thankfully they had a space in the group an hour later so I still got my interview! I signed something to say I wouldn't go into the details, but it was a very stressful process (8 5 minute interviews...timed with buzzers!), I know a couple of stations went badly but the rest were OK. Don't want to speculate as to whether I'll be in or not.  Just have to wait 4-6 weeks to find out!

Onto Tuesday....I was very excited. Having been volunteering with audits for one consultant anaesthetist in particular I was allowed to go into theatres with him. Despite the fact I didn't see any of the actual surgery going on I feel like I learnt loads being at the anaesthetic end! Whilst some of it was described as useless information I'm trying to remember as much of it as I can as I'm sure a lot of it will come in handy.  Most of the things I was "taught" came from questions, it was really good to feel challenged by something again.

"How do we know this patient's airway isn't obstructed?"

-You can see his chest moving up and down

"Yes, how else?"

-His oxygen saturation hasn't started going down
"Anything else?"
-The mask has a good seal?
"OK, what else can you see that shows us he's breathing?"

-You can see condensation on the mask

There were lots of questions, throughout the whole morning - mainly physiology related. Generally things that could be worked out if you thought about it in the right way as he knows I'm not even a med student yet so haven't actually been taught anything, but it was good nonetheless!  Back next week to see what they do on intensive care...! :)

I had a bit of a wobble after that.  Cancelled the 2 job interviews that I was given. Not entirely sure why - fear of the unknown I suppose! Turns out that wasn't such a bad idea. Been offered a job as an analytical chemist for a month. I nearly didn't take it, but couldn't come up with a good reason why I shouldn't so I start on Tuesday! (I was hoping for a week or so to get myself together and "back in the game" but I'll have to make do with a couple of days!)

They wanted a full week out of me next week, but I'm only doing 2 days (although as of Friday I'll be doing 31 days straight at work (cos of the bike shop too), well with one day off in the middle for a uni interview!) as I'm going to be at the hospital for the other 3 days. Once for my "work experience" on intensive care, once for physio and once to see my surgeon again. Mildly panicking about that, but also panicking about new job so maybe the panicking will cancel each other out!

Hopefully I'll be able to make the most of being given then chance to "break myself in gently" to work, had a fairly quiet day at work today and I'm more than a little bit tired so it's definitely going to be a challenge...

Shall keep you updated where I can!

7/1/13

It's been a bit of an odd week, good odd I should add...

My New Year's resolution was to stop being grumpy.  I realise this was a bit vague, and really setting myself up for failure.  In the first 7 days I think what I have achieved is at least being less grumpy.  I think I've done well - I had a couple of wobbles, because whilst it's been a good few days it has been quite stressful at times! It was commented on at the weekend though...someone who known me for almost 5 years, and therefore knows me pretty well said it was like having "the old Becky back", this someone didn't know that I was making an effort to be more cheerful about things so he wasn't just saying it either.  I class that as a win so far!

So what's been going on then?

Firstly, as I alluded to in my end of year post January is the month where things are changing and moving on for the better and even more things have happened since I wrote that!

I had a mock med school interview, this was in quite a different format to both the interviews I have been invited to (yes both...there has been a second invite!) but I think it was valuable nonetheless. I got to witness 2 other applicants being grilled (and they were an audience for my test-run) either side of my 15 minute questioning.  There quite a lot of questions asked which I hadn't considered before, so that was already helpful, but the general experience and the feedback were also good!  I was nervous, and I thought it had affected me - I felt I struggled to get answers out coherently or in enough detail but both interviewers said actually I did quite well, whilst I was visibly nervous I settled down into the interview and they thought I came across well nonetheless. 

OK, so the following morning I had a job interview (which I had only found out about the day before!).  The situation round this job is  a bit odd so I wasn't sure what to expect, but with my extra confidence from the previous night's practice I think I performed quite well - just remembering to breathe and think, then answer seemed to really help. They said they'll be in touch...

I have *another* job interview tomorrow. This is the one I really want. I think. I know I could do a good job here and hopefully I'll be able to get that across to the interviewer such that they think I am the best candidate!  My new found confidence means I'm actually more nervous about finding the right building than the interview itself (although I'm sure that will change tomorrow morning!).

There has been another interesting development too.  I can't go into the specifics as there is much still to be discussed and confirmed but it's just another option I have for the next 6-9 months. Who'd have thought I'd have so many offers on the table eh? (And it looks like I've got at least 1 more NHS jobs interview coming in my directions if everything else has gone pear shaped!).

OK. Med school interviews. My first one is at Kings, that's a week today. More excitingly I got my invite for Warwick today! It was sent out weeks ago apparently but got lost somewhere (presumably in the same place my Kings one did first time round!). I have been nervously waiting for an invite or a rejection from Warwick and I am very relieved now it's sorted.  That's not for a couple of weeks yet but it's in the diary which is all that matters!  I am very conscious that "the dream" is still quite some distance from being the reality, and there are more than a few hurdles to jump, but every step is important!

So everything really seems to be coming together at last!

That goes some way to explaining why I'm feeling more chirpy than I have been of late, the rest of the credit goes to someone (well not just "someone") on twitter. @ffolliet tweeted me a couple of weeks ago with "No one gets fit whining about it." it was (I think!) a slightly tongue in cheek comment as we were talking about "The Sufferfest" so suffering and pain are all part of the journey!  But it did provide the motivation for me to get up and do a session on the turbo trainer.  I am now aiming to do 2 a week (plus other stuff) and it is going well so far. The concept of a Twitter training partner is a bit odd but if it keeps up going then it can't be a bad thing! 

As well as the turbo training I finally went swimming today. It was "tough" but very glad I did it, and I seem to be putting in even more effort in to physio too (I was already working hard, and my improvements in strength were noted, but it still hurts so there's still work to be done!). So yes, I'm getting back on the exercise bandwagon...not in a New Year's resolution kind of way, just in a "it's about bloody time" kind of way!

I hope to keep "fun" things going to.  A cinema trip shall be required at some point this week!

Sorry. I've waffled on a bit haven't I?  Suppose that's what happens when I don't write anything for a week!  See you soon!