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A normal Saturday
Hmm... a Saturday where I do stuff round Oxford. They don't happen very often.
In the morning I went off to my first Pilates lesson. Though my neck is now mostly better from the carcrash last August, it's still a bit weak and feeble. My physio recommended taking up Pilates to try and strengthen it, and also to try and alleviate all the neck problems I had anyway.
I like the sound of Pilates, though I'll have to wait and see whether it lives up to its reputation. I've always had joints prone to spraining and straining and so on, so the idea of building up muscles "properly" to prevent this really appeals. I also like the idea of generally gaining more flexibility and control over muscles - might help with the clumsiness, if nothing else.
Predictably, the Nice Instructor Lady tells me I lie down wrongly and stand up wrongly. What's most annoying is that the problem with my posture is the same thing my Mum's been telling me to correct pretty much all my life. How the hell am I supposed to foster a correct spirit of rebellion if my parents are consistently proved to be right ?
The NIL teaches in a studio in Kennington, a pleasantly rural area just outside of Oxford. Driving out there yesterday was all spring-y and sunny, and remarkably pleasant. And, just after I drove past the "watch out for deer" sign, a doe ran across the road. How often does that happen ? (Disclaimer: I don't really know it was a doe. It was smallish, and antler-free, and that's as good as my deer-classifiation gets).
Once I got back, it was time to help the Oxford Urban Small Forestry Commission, or![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
leathellin, as she's better known, move some trees around.
The OUSFC used to live in our house, and had some smallish trees growing in pots in the garden. These trees are around 20 years old, apparently, so have got quite used to being shipped round the country...
Sadly, our garden doesn't seem to agree with them, and the little conifers were looking distinctly ill. Something appears to have been digging them up, and gnawing on them, for a start. I wonder if foxes like fir trees? The conker tree has coped, though, and grown to a healthy six feet - fortunately remaining bendy, or it wouldn't have gone in the car.
Once at the OUSFC's house, we repotted the trees, and distributed them round her garden. It's so long since I've done anything remotely gardening-related, it felt strange to be mucking about with big bags of potting compound and the like.
In return, she cooked dinner for me,metame, onebyone, and John. And Matthew N, who showed up unexpectedly. Filet of plaice with pecorino and pesto - though it was more goujon than filet by the time metame and I had cocked up getting it off the baking tray - which was very fine indeed.
Partly on account of hardly ever spending weekends in Oxford, I rarely get to idle around of an evening with a group of people like that. And it was really remarkably enjoyable; they're all very entertaining company. I should invite bunches of people, instead of ones and twos, round for dinner when I get the chance. Though I need a phrase other than "dinner party" for this, oronebyone will insist everyone talks about schools...
Anyway, I have a certain amount of headlesschickening pencilled in for today, so I think I'd better get up and get on with it.
In the morning I went off to my first Pilates lesson. Though my neck is now mostly better from the carcrash last August, it's still a bit weak and feeble. My physio recommended taking up Pilates to try and strengthen it, and also to try and alleviate all the neck problems I had anyway.
I like the sound of Pilates, though I'll have to wait and see whether it lives up to its reputation. I've always had joints prone to spraining and straining and so on, so the idea of building up muscles "properly" to prevent this really appeals. I also like the idea of generally gaining more flexibility and control over muscles - might help with the clumsiness, if nothing else.
Predictably, the Nice Instructor Lady tells me I lie down wrongly and stand up wrongly. What's most annoying is that the problem with my posture is the same thing my Mum's been telling me to correct pretty much all my life. How the hell am I supposed to foster a correct spirit of rebellion if my parents are consistently proved to be right ?
The NIL teaches in a studio in Kennington, a pleasantly rural area just outside of Oxford. Driving out there yesterday was all spring-y and sunny, and remarkably pleasant. And, just after I drove past the "watch out for deer" sign, a doe ran across the road. How often does that happen ? (Disclaimer: I don't really know it was a doe. It was smallish, and antler-free, and that's as good as my deer-classifiation gets).
Once I got back, it was time to help the Oxford Urban Small Forestry Commission, or
leathellin, as she's better known, move some trees around.The OUSFC used to live in our house, and had some smallish trees growing in pots in the garden. These trees are around 20 years old, apparently, so have got quite used to being shipped round the country...
Sadly, our garden doesn't seem to agree with them, and the little conifers were looking distinctly ill. Something appears to have been digging them up, and gnawing on them, for a start. I wonder if foxes like fir trees? The conker tree has coped, though, and grown to a healthy six feet - fortunately remaining bendy, or it wouldn't have gone in the car.
Once at the OUSFC's house, we repotted the trees, and distributed them round her garden. It's so long since I've done anything remotely gardening-related, it felt strange to be mucking about with big bags of potting compound and the like.
In return, she cooked dinner for me,
metame, onebyone, and John. And Matthew N, who showed up unexpectedly. Filet of plaice with pecorino and pesto - though it was more goujon than filet by the time metame and I had cocked up getting it off the baking tray - which was very fine indeed.Partly on account of hardly ever spending weekends in Oxford, I rarely get to idle around of an evening with a group of people like that. And it was really remarkably enjoyable; they're all very entertaining company. I should invite bunches of people, instead of ones and twos, round for dinner when I get the chance. Though I need a phrase other than "dinner party" for this, or
onebyone will insist everyone talks about schools... Anyway, I have a certain amount of headlesschickening pencilled in for today, so I think I'd better get up and get on with it.
Oxford Urban Small Forestry Commission
Re: Oxford Urban Small Forestry Commission
If you let the trees grow to over 15ft, I shall up grade you to the Oxford Urban Middling Forestry Commission
Re: Oxford Urban Small Forestry Commission
The Horse Chestnut is difficult enough to manage as it is...
Re: Oxford Urban Small Forestry Commission