Ask Steph

Sheesh ! Lesson number one of personal training - when your trainer asks you if anything is especially sore or stiff -- you should say everything. In a clear , unpractised and convincing voice. Like you were definitely not rehearsing it all the way to gym. Silly me , I mentioned that my core and ribs and side muscles were particularly stiff and sore yesterday. My arms and legs have been periodically failing on me since that point in time. I think it's deliberate, because they have connected the dots. They realise that immediately following that really stupid statement, they were made to suffer like they suffered when I was training for the 94.7 a few years back. I wish I could get my legs to understand that I have about as much control over what comes out of my mouth when I'm in the gym,  as a dung beetle in a flash flood. I just have to ride that sh*t out and see where I end up.

So I never made it to that Body Balance class I was talking about the other day. But that's fine - because I skipped it for a very good reason. I went to a Personal Training session. Lovely young chap called Cory took me for my first 'KickStart Session'. I must be honest , I don't think he's going to have an easy time with me. I have asthma, a family history of cholesterol, I'm currently on 2 different types of medication, I bruise easily , I get injured  easily , I get bored easily, I loathe just about every possible type of physical activity -except yoga ( and possibly now Pilates as well)  . My husband also says I have an attitude ( he's not wrong , it comes out when I'm severely tired or grumpy, or sore) . Oh yes, and I told Cory I want to lose 10 kilos over the next 3 months. 10 kilos. 3 Months. That's what I said. *Smack palm to head* DOH!  It's moments like those that make me wish I had some control over my brain and my mouth. Bec...

Pilates. That awesome mind-body-spirit exercise,  that conjures up images of serene beauties balanced oh so elegantly and effortlessly on big blue balls . People wandering around with headbands and flowers and perfect posture,  bending and contorting like yoga - but more hardcore,  in that special Zen kind of way. Meh -- not so much hey .... I just did a Pilates class - at a brand new gym , that I joined a week ago. My first Pilates class as a matter of fact. I love yoga. I don't get to do it as often as I'd like at the old gym ( they had 1 class a week, which I couldn't always get to because of work) ,  so when this new gym opened up with promises of Yoga, Pilates and the combo special "Body Balance" at least 7 different times a week - that was me , hooked. Today was the first Pilates class ever, for both me, and for this particular gym. I think it went well for the gym. I'll let you know how it went for me,  when my muscles start talking to me a...

This weekend has been dedicated to getting the final touches on my guest room , in preparation for my in-laws who arrive in a week's time to visit from South Africa. Part of that process has involved finally unpacking the last of the boxes that we brought with us from South Africa over 2 years ago. And putting all my curtains into the car to go and drop off at a charity somewhere during the week. So here's some things you don't think about when leaving South Africa. Getting rid of perfectly good things that you don't need any more, and finding someone to give them to. No problem in South Africa , something of a conundrum here in Oz.

Carrying on from my post about what I like about Australia - The chips  Oh. My. Word. Tiny little carbohydrate bombs made of heaven and rapturous wonderment. Almost every single take-away joint does an amazing packet of chips. I'm not sure what it is ;  my current working hypothesis is that Australians, through their own love of carbs, and fats have evolved a distinct set of genes that allows them to instinctively cook a perfect batch of chips time,  after time, after time. Not crisps , like Simba Chips, or Willards , or Smiths - but the hot chips in packets with a smattering of just the right amount of Salt or Aromat ( although Aromat is called Chicken Salt here in Australia - go figure) . Macca's french fries be damned, the home made jobbies are the best I have ever tasted without fail. Melbourne has awesome food and awesome coffee  I've been up north to Sydney, they have better weather. I've been up to the Gold Coast , and they have better beaches ...

I've been reading back some of my posts , and whilst none of them are untrue , I have realised that I only really blog about South Africa , when I am feeling a bit homesick. See, the thing is , when things are good, and when I am too busy to feel depressed, then nobody really get's to hear about it. I thought that it was probably a little unfair to Australia, so in this post, I will list all the reasons why I think Australia is a good place to live.