Tuesday, 2 January 2018

Really useful pressies, and notes for the walkers

Hello. I'm back. I had a lovely day yesterday with my family at Nottingham. Auntie and cousins and partners gave me some lovely gifts. They are so clever at choosing the right things, unlike me who is pretty hopeless and give money and say get your own, ha ha. Look what I brought home. A big bag of pompoms, red fluffy wool, a candle making kit, glittery thread, a Dove bath pamper set, some pink crafting wire, and a wirey thing that I am supposed to massage my head with. Wonder if I should use that while relaxing in the bath. 
So, I didn't do a walk yesterday, I was busy scoffing and socializing, and it was late when I got back. Today it's raining, I hope it stops so I can get out. Going to the library soon, books to change. Think I might get some painting books out.

This morning I took Heidi for her half yearly check up, and saw a locum vet who has been working in Barnsley. He is originally from the USA and has been in the UK for many years. He had a long beard, as long as his long hair which was tied in a pony tail. He checked Heidi over and said she didn't need to have a blood test because she seems to be doing well on the medication, and so another six weeks of tablets were dispensed.

Thank you all for checking in with your walking miles, some great results there. It's good to see some new members joining in. When I have got a minute I will make up a full list so everyone knows who is taking part in 2018. Someone asked about measuring distance. I use this web site bikehike.co.uk. For my two and three mile walks I found my house on the OS map, and plotted out two routes with my mouse, which totals up the distance automatically. When I do a walk in an unfamiliar area I mark it out with a felt tip pen on a paper map and check the distance when I get back home. If you use this site, you need the course creator page, and toggle the map sizes so the bigger map is on the right hand side.

You can use a fitbit, or a pedometer, or a GPS app on your smart phone. Do whichever suits you best and which you can afford. Bikehike is free to use, there are other sites which do more or less the same thing. You can count in miles or kilometers, you can do it on a treadmill, walk, run, cycle, or even swim if you want to. The main aim is to get active, set yourself targets, if you feel you can't do the 1000 miles, aim for something a bit lower. It's best to have some kind of target because you need it to be a challenge, not just oh, I'll do it today but can't be bothered tomorrow, maybe I'll do it the day after. The aim is to get into a regular routine to get your body moving.

I'm off to the library now, Stan leaves at 3pm. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

12 comments:

  1. It would have been really easy to stay home but I made myself put my coat on and walk in the rain. It is dreary, damp and grey but I felt much better after the walk.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such thoughtful gifts.My cousin gave me an album of very old family photos-some over 80 years old,some I never knew existed.The Indian head massager looks great-I've had human hands do it but you can have it anytime now x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Some good gifts for you. I think you are easy to buy for as you like all sorts of crafts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. sounds like you had a great day.

    I have seen folks on t.v. shows wax poetic about that wire thingy to massage your head. Please let us know what you think of it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello I have been visiting your blog for some time now. Like your zipper craft picture. I quilt. I have a fitbit and intend to do a lot more walking in 2018. The weather here in London, Ontario Canada, is cold and snowy, when out for a half hour walk this a.m. it was -10*C but felt a lot colder due to the wind. I will be doing another half hour during the afternoon. I will tally up the distance when I am done. It is difficult walking slipping and sliding all over the place, snow has been packed down so it is like ice, trying not to fall, no a good idea at 76 years. I was born in Sussex and have been in Canada since 1954. Happy New Year. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  6. i use ridewithGPS.com. Its an app on a smart phone and you switch it on at the start of your journey and it maps where you have gone. you can also use it to plan a route. Its easy to use and free unless you want to add bells ad whistles which we haven't done. Got out yesterday but too wet and windy today in the time I had available. Love the crafty pressies you got.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can see something special and crafty coming out of that head massagine thingy. lol
    Briony
    x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tried twice and it’s gone wrong again google account won’t add my comment thought I’d fixed it .
    Sounds like a lovely visit and looking forward to my walks-tips for measuring useful as my pedometer battery is flat not showing any miles. Look forward to tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So, as one of your 'newbie-walkers', I felt that i had to make the effort to get started - 2.8miles, mostly in sleet, but i saw the most fantastic rainbow when the sleet stopped for a while - i was really chuffed and felt great when I got home. Thanks for the kick up the bum to get out, instead of slothing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello Ilona,
    I did post the 2017 walking total, thank you again. Count me in for 2018 as well please,
    Thanks
    Hilogene in Arizona.

    ReplyDelete
  11. hello I would like to sign up for the 1000 mile challenge. How on earth do you use bikehike? I have a degree in engineering plus another degree. I am computer literate and all I can say is that I have tried and failed.

    All the best

    Charles

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello I have got it to work, it appears that bike hike does not like iPads, when I got the laptop onto it things started to work. Anyway it’s day 3 and I have done two 2.5 mile walks so that means I am now 4 miles down. It’s quite exciting because to get back on track I need to do 7 miles tomorrow, so I am planning an 11 mike bike ride if the weather permits. Trouble with rural Somerset is that it’s under water, the farmers think they own the roads and so you need to work out where you can walk run jog or cycle without getting run over. Some of the local driving is eccentric and apparently the South West heads the country league tables for cycling casualties.

    All the best

    Charles

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be published after my approval.