February 2009 Archives

So, it's the morning after the Step class at Highgrove and I'm shattered. I had a really big lunch yesterday as well so I was shattered even before I got to the class. I probably wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for this blog and the fact I had already paid for the class.

For some reason I thought the class would be similar to the Legs, bums and tums and Aerobics class. It never actually occurred to me that it would be based around an actual step. Why I thought that I do not know.

As I was setting up my step (I used two rather than one because I obviously thought I could take it) the instructor came over to me and asked if I had ever been to the class before. I of course said I hadn't and when I said I had never even been to any sort of step class before she looked quite shocked. She told me the class was in week six out of eight and so it was quite advanced. My heart sank. She then took my extra step off of me. Embarrassing!

As I have said in a previous blog, I am not very good at choreographed dances - especially the advanced type.

However, reassuringly, she told me to go at my own pace and not to worry about what everyone else was doing. She also said no one else would be looking at what I was doing. I didn't believe that though.

We started off with some basic steps on and off the step and also on the floor, and I found this confusing enough. I had a huge mirror in front of me but I tried not to look in it because I didn't want to look at myself making a fool of myself - I left that up to everyone else.

After a little bit of stretching we really started to get into the swing of things. We started with one move and carried on adding another until there was a long sequence of moves.

I managed to get the hang of it (a bit) towards the end but there were still a few moves I just couldn't get. Considering I started in week six, rather than week one like any other normal person would do, I think I did okay.

It was really quite fun actually and I did work up a bit of a sweat. My calves were killing me for two days after the class. I'd definitely consider going back, even if it was just to better my coordination.

It was also the first fitness class I had seen two men in. Amazing.

My next challenge is Stretch and tone at Highgrove.

TESCO Express store is opening in Eastcote on Monday (2).

The shop will open at the old Woolworths site in Field End Road, which closed on November 1 last year.

As a kind gesture, Tesco has already donated a £500 cheque to Barnardo's in Field End Road, Eastcote, and the volunteers there are planning to spend the money on tea and refreshments.

Janet Constable, the shop manager, said: "We're very grateful to Tesco for the money to buy tea and coffee for our volunteers.

"These shops could not run without these people who give their time generously. It's nice that we'll now be able to treat them on their break time without worrying about budgets."

Michele Matoni, from Tesco, said: "We are delighted to make this gesture and hope that Barnardo's great work can continue in the local community for as long as possible."

SAFER Neighbourhoods Teams are holding events to meet the public and discuss problems in their area.

The Cavendish team will be on hand at Once Upon a Time Nursery, Cavendish Sports Pavillion, Field End Road, Eastcote, on Wednesday (25) from 10am to 11am and at Boleyn Drive, Eastcote, from 1pm to 3pm.

The Eastcote and East Ruislip Team will be outside Budgens, in Field End Road, Eastcote, in their community bus on Thursday (26) from noon until 2pm.

A STATIONERY shop has finally reopened after being destroyed by a fire almost six months ago.

Hammond Roberts, in Field End Road, Eastcote, reopened at its original premises today (Mon) after it was completed gutted by a fire on September 7 last year.

A temporary shop was opened a bit further down the road in October.

Speaking on Monday, the owner, Anil Patel, said: "The temporary shop was okay because we had a lot of support from our customers but they are happy we are back and I'm glad to be back.

"We would like to thank all our customers and staff who have supported us through this difficult time.

"We haven't got all our stock in yet and it looks quite empty but we will have it all by next week.

"Our newly fitted shop has got access for wheelchair users as well."

A CHURCH is taking part in a world record attempt for the most number of people eating Fairtrade bananas during a 24-hour period.

Members of St Lawrence Church, in Bridle Road, Eastcote, are taking part in the national attempt between 9.30am and noon on March 7 - marking the end of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Go to www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas for more information.

So, unsurprisingly, studio cycling was very different to my previous two classes.

It took me a while just to work out how to use the bike, but luckily the other people in the class were very friendly so I didn't have to make a fool of myself for too long.

After lowering my seat to the right level and adjusting the resistance to what I thought it should be I jumped on. That first second on the bike made me realised how much pain I was going to be in the next day....and I was.

It wasn't like any other moving or stationary bike I had ever been on. There were no buttons to press and the seat was a lot more painful. Fortunately I bumped into a friend (she does five fitness classes a week!) so I got to have a little chat in the breaks.

The class wasn't too full - probably because it started at 6.15pm on a Friday - but don't let that fool you. It was still pretty hard.

I stupidly sat right next to the speaker so I had loud dance music pumping into my ears the whole way through the class, which was very annoying.

The 45-minute session basically involved everyone following the instructor and turning their resistance dials up, but occasionally down - fortunately.

We alternated between sitting, standing, hovering (basically that means standing but not moving your top half) and normal cycling but without actually having your bum on the seat. It was mainly two minutes of hard cycling - pretending you were cycling up a hill - and then a short water break. However, towards the end of the class we had to do eight minutes with no rest. That almost killed me.

Most of the time I ended up just watching my stomach hoping it would get smaller by the end of the class, but funnily enough, there was no change.

As I haven't exercised in a while I decided not to push myself too much because I was actually quite scared I would faint. Don't get me wrong, I did sweat a fair amount, but my legs weren't aching the next day - a clear sign I hadn't working hard enough.

I was horribly sweaty by the end of the class, but I didn't exactly find it fun.

I think my next challenge will be Step at Highgrove

A PUBLIC meeting is being held to give people the chance to speak to the police about any concerns they have in their area.

Cavendish Safer Neighbourhoods Team are holding the meeting at St Gregory the Great Catholic Church, in Victoria Road, Ruislip, from noon to 1.30pm on Sunday (22).

A TESCO Express store which was due to open on Thursday (19) is now opening on March 2.

The shop will open in Field End Road, Eastcote, at the old Woolworths site which closed on November 1 last year.

A WINE shop is closing after the owner has failed to make any profit from it in 13 years.

The Really Fine Wine Company, in High Road, Eastcote, is holding a 25 per cent sale before it closes its doors on Saturday (21).

The owner, Adrian Parker, said: "We are closing because we have been here for 13 years and we have never made any money.

"We had another shop for a while in Chesham and we opened this one but it never really worked. We had some great customers but just not enough of them.

"We do a third of our turnover in December but it's no good people spending loads of money in December and not the rest of the year. Too many people treat us like pets.

"There's plenty of money around this area but people just don't want to spend it.

"I wasn't very well last year and I realised I was working until 8pm every day and every other Saturday and not making any money and that's just daft.

"I had made the decision to close before the credit crunch started.

"In some ways I am sad to leave because if one enjoys wine then one enjoys selling it, but that isn't enough.

"The customers who are regulars are very sad but there are not enough of them."

Mr Parker has a wholesale business which he will continue to run from Watford.

So, here it goes, my second blog...

This week I chose the legs, bums and tums class at Queensmead.

I had already convinced myself the class would be almost, if not exactly the same as the aerobics class I did last week. I have never been to Queensmead Gym before so that was a new experience on its own.

Instead of a nice new studio room the class was in a school sports hall. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, it just meant the instructor had to use a microphone, but I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Therefore, I just tried my best to follow her moves, which seemed to be on fast forward compared to last week's class.

I managed to drag my mum along to the class with me again (I don't think this will last long though) and considering she hasn't exercised in about 15 years she does pretty well.

Like the aerobics class, there was not one man. But, then again, legs, bums and tums doesn't really conjure up thoughts of men in tight lycra pants bouncing around to dance music.

It was quite a good atmosphere in the class - everyone clearly had the same goal and were sticking to their New Years resolutions.

We did about 40 minutes standing. It was very fast paced and I did work up a little bit of a sweat. I tried not to show that I was getting warn out though (I still consider myself a fitness guru - yeah right).

My legs started to ache a tad but again I pushed myself, and even though I was convinced my shoulders would be aching the next day they weren't at all.

There were a lot of different moves involved in the leg exercises and, not being the most coordinated person at choreographed dances, I did feel a little stupid trying, but failing, to keep up.

At last we were allowed to lay down and do some 'tums' work. I was glad for the rest, but I soon realised my 'tum' wasn't.

After a huge amount of stretching the class finished and I felt pretty satisfied. It wasn't as challenging as I'm used to (back in my kickboxing days) but the work out did me good. I think my mum coped better than me, but I won't let her beat me.

So on to my next challenge at Highgrove: Studio cycling