BBQ at T & Mash's

T is off to London to train as a paramedic- So she had a leaving Bbq in her honour. It all started pretty classy. We made BBQ skewers with haloumi and vegetables on (The sweet potato was a slight error though) and took just enough alcohol to remain cheerfully on it.
The bar in the kitchen ended that.

So good tunes, alcohol on top, more BBQ food than you can shake a stick at, 3 kinds of desert and a trampoline equated to a very good night out.

Babymetal

Traff's new favourite thing- Japanese metal music- These are my favourite, I love this video!

Phil's last day

Tina and i spent thursday evening sourcing, wrapping and annotating Phil's leaving presents.

We decided to make him 2 boxes- a "going out box" and a "new teacher kit" for when he starts his new job on Monday.

The "going out box" had wine, paracetamol, lipstick, biscuits (for lining the stomach), and Lynx.
The "new teacher box" had 4 main presents- lego memory sticks, a thermos mug made from a camera lens, a metal conversion ruler and a cookery book. It then had a pencil cad, post it,s pens, pencils, highlighters, a lanyard for his work pass, fruit shaped rubbers, a rub out able green pen and a "star" stamp.

We wrapped them all in leopard print paper.
:)
epic.

In return he gave me a street map of swindon.

Gigity & Florence the machine from the England roller derby team @ BRG training

Winner!

leaving pranks

Roller skating

ExPresSO Medical study

I have been invited to take part in a research study in Oxford, they're looking for volunteers who were born at term or premature to take part. It's just a shame they're looking at my exercise habits when I can't do much exercise! dammit!

Exercise and Blood Pressure Study Oxfordshire

Study Background

High Blood Pressure is a common problem with 1 in 4 of the adult population developing high blood pressure. The likelihood of developing high blood pressure increases with age but for some people high blood pressure develops early during their 20’s and 30’s.

Understanding the factors contributing to high blood pressure and identifying individuals at risk is important so that we can reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke in later life. 

The Exercise and Blood Pressure Study Oxfordshire is inviting young adults (18-40 years old) born at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford to provide measures of blood pressure, physical activity and give details on their lifestyle. The unique recruitment method, using historical birth and maternity records to identify potential participants will allow our research team to explore the relationships between birth history and future blood pressure.  

 Study Objectives

We are specifically interested in understanding more about the influence of preterm birth, being born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, on future blood pressure.  A number of European and North American research studies report that blood pressure is higher in young people who were born prematurely compared to those delivered following uncomplicated pregnancies after 37 weeks.

Using the results from ExPresSO we hope to be able to contribute to improving cardiovascular risk reduction in young adult populations including strategies to increase physical activity and reduce blood pressure.

 Study Recruitment

We aim to recruit 600 participants aged between 18 and 40 years old.  Potential participants identified from the John Radcliffe Hospital records will be sent a study letter inviting them to take part in the study. The study team will then contact interested individuals to check eligibility for the study and arrange a study visit.

 Study Visits

Study visits will take place in the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, John Radcliffe Hospital. We estimate that the full study visit will take approximately 60 minutes. During this time participants will complete the study consent process, complete the study questionnaire which includes questions on alcohol consumption, diet, smoking, family medical history and factors influencing physical activity choices. Recordings of participant blood pressure will be made and participants will be asked to provide a sample of blood. The study visit will finish with participants being provided with a wrist worn activity tracker to wear for 9 days. Similar to a wrist watch the device uses an accelerometer to provide a measure of daily physical activity.

Picnic

Traff's wrestling promo work of art (& wishful thinking..)

Traff & Jenni Wrestling in Bedford

New skates for outdoors

My new outdoor skates have arrived! only 8 weeks to wait until I get to try them!

The new black butler book is out!

I preordered this so it came on the day of release... I read it in 20 minutes and now I NEED the next one!

More please

New Hair

Traffic island tea break :)

Juke boxx @ training & she was lovely

Roller derby Skills assessment ...9/42... Progress takes time :P

Skating Posture	2
Stride	2.5
Crossovers	0
Reverse Crossovers	0
Speed (Acceleration)
Endurance (27:5)
T Stops	1.5
Plow Stops
One foot glides	1
Sticky Skating	2
Lateral Cuts
Backwards Skating
Knee Taps (Left)
Knee Taps (Right)
Double Knee Slides
Forward and Backwards stepping
Side to side
Grapevine
Shuffle
Quick Steps
30 sec one leg
Hopping
Jumping
Lateral hops
Focus
Weaving - cones
Weaving - pack
180 transitions
360 transitions
G Inside whip
G Outside whip
Taking hip whip
Providing hip whip
Give push
Receive push
Pacing
Weaving - Paceline
Unexpected obstacles
Taking hits
Positional blocking
Hip checks
Body checks
Overall Score	9

Skaters are required to score a 2.5 total average score to pass Minimum Skills

There are 42 eligible skills to be assessed on, 20 of which are Scrimmaging Skills which must be performed at a 3 or above, the remaining 22 are Minimum Skills that must be performed at a minimum score of 2. All 42 skills must be attempted before total average score is determined.  Any skills with a score below 2 will not be counted towards your total average score and will need to be reassessed in order for you to pass Minimum Skills.


Scrimmaging Skills

To ensure safety to yourself and others on track when playing full contact, you must meet requirements by passing the following Scrimmaging Skills set out by Bedfordshire Roller Girls.

1.     Skating Posture

2.     Stride

3.     Crossovers

4.     T Stops

5.     Plow Stops

6.     One Foot Glides

7.     Sticky Skating

8.     Knee Taps (Left)

9.     Knee Taps (Right)

10.  Double Knee Slides

11.  Hopping

12.  Focus

13.  Weaving – pack

14.  180 Transition

15.  Pacing

16.  Unexpected Obstacles

17.  Taking Hits

18.  Positional Blocking

19.  Hip Checks

20.  Body Checks

These skills are highlighted on the Minimum Skills Sign Off Sheet with an asterisk. Each of these skills must be performed at a minimum score of 3 in order to pass Scrimmaging Skills.

The exception to this are:-

·       T Stops & Plow Stops – Skater can perform either a T stop or Plow stop at a 3 or above

Left and Right Knee taps – Skater can perform either a Left or Right knee tap at a 3 or above

It is not necessary to score a 3 for all Scrimmaging Skills and Minimum Skills but it is advised that all skaters aim for a 3 and above

Traff's First poster spot

Can you identify my wife from the line up?
:P

So many buns!

One of my best friends has just announced her pregnancy- She's expecting twins in November, which is extremely exciting.

:)

Juke Boxx @ BRG training

On Wednesday night Juke BOXX from the London roller girls- And team USA- will be coming to run a session and give us lots of new skills.
Obviously, I won't be staking, but I'm excited to meet her and see her in action.

I wonder if she'll sign my cast...

Style for when your arm is in a cast

So, When I fell on my wrist on Tuesday it turns out that i fractured it. I was adamant that it was a sprain, so I carried on as normal all week- including the spa, swimming, paddle boarding and carrying stuff about.

On saturday Traff decided enough was enough and took me to A&E. he went off to his wrestling show and i spent 5 hours being told off. My arm is now in a temporary cast, I have to go back to the fracture clinic on monday and either get a solid cast or a blue velcro support. Fingers crossed for the latter, but i am mentally prepared for the former. 6 weeks is a very long time to be unable to brush your own hair.

Fashion:

The cast on my are is 30cm around at the widest part. Go measure your "office appropriate" workwear. Not 30cm? no, neither were mine.

I have been wearing stretchy stroppy tops under the blue lacy M&S number in the photo above. I measured the arm holes in the shop and bought it a size too big. Still cute though, and hides my unprofessional under tops.

I also can't do zips, laces or buttons, so i had to go and buy a stretchy pencil skirt and some pull on daps. It's not my finest look, but it's (fingers crossed) only until Monday.

The hardest part has been that Traff has to help me to get dressed. He's really quite oblivious to how i usually dress. He tried to put my skirt on over my head.

Hair:

We established very early on that my hair is Traff's nemesis. I ended up wearing my brush as a fascinator on Saturday night. On sunday night Tina's daughter french braided my hair for work, which was a godsend. On Monday night Kelly french braided my hair again for me. Tomorrow I have a late start so Traff will have to do his best. I'm hoping one of the roller derby girls will braid it for me on Wednesday night at training.

Food:

I currently cannot use cutlery in a way that would be acceptable in any polite society. It's all slim fast and potato waffles right now.

I did eat an awful lot of samosas and cupcakes at the weekend too.

I'll get back on my higher protein cleaner eating once my arm is back in action. For now, I'm just eating whatever I can access and eat within a set timeframe (like work breaks... ) On the flip side I figure all that calcium can only be handy right now.

Travel:

Shoelace express.

The bottom line; If you must break your wrist, do it in an epic way- people laugh when i tell them I was roller skating! You'll need a super supportive friendship group and at least one friend who can french plait. You'll also need to be prepared for everything to take you 5 times longer than normal.

I will be late.

For everything.

Wyboston lakes spa

On Friday night Suzi, May, Abida, Tina and I had a very well deserved break from the world and went to the spa.
It really was just what we all needed.
Work has been crazy busy. It was so good to spend a few hours just not thinking about anything.

And suzi treated us all to cookies and earl grey tea. not as sophisticated as a glass of fizz, but still very therapeutic.
:)

Paddle Boarding

Don't be a "flakey friend". You're better than that.

Since I am well and truly sat on my cactus today, I'm going to have a little rant.

As a child, I was always told that you honour your original engagements. It doesn't matter what other "offers" come along at a later date- if you've accepted an invitation (Formal or informal) then you're already busy.
No ifs, no buts, no coconuts.
If you don't want to do something, then you politely decline at the time of offer ("Sorry, it's not really my thing but let me know if you're doing something that isn't sky diving/bikini waxing/bog snorkelling etc") you don't agree (Or even worse say "Yeah maybe") and then just not turn up/ cancel on the day/ accept a different engagement and screw everyone else around.
It's rude.
And it's what you're basically saying to that person who originally offered you a social invitation is "Yeah, your friendship is worth so little to me that I don't feel bad for wasting your time".
Or worse, this is an assumption that I am so desperate for your friendship that I will tolerate being dropped like a hot potato. I am afraid that this is not the case.

Obviously I understand (Only too well) that sometimes things happen that are outside of your control. You can't help being sick (Although hangovers do not count, because you can help those), having a family emergency, having a flat car battery, the weather or the traffic.
If you know you can't make something just be honest. As soon as you realise you won't make it. That way you don't waste the other persons entire eventing/ weekend.

This is something that really frustrates me. And probably a good portion of the population. I'm a busy person. If I'm not doing X then I could be doing Y*. But if I have to wait for an hour for flakey friend to finally text me and tell me they're still in Liverpool (Or bed, or too sick, or they're out with so-and-so or they have a date so now they can't make it) Then I'll no longer have time to do Y.
I'm not flakey. If I say I'l be there, I'll be there. With bells on, 10 minutes early and I might even bring snacks.

(*Y is some kind of task or chore like going to the bank or getting my eyebrows waxed or hitting the gym- Y should not be another social engagement as X is already agreed to)

I would genuinely go to the end of the earth for my friends. I've flown all over Europe- even as far as Malaysia and will be going to Australia  to see friends working abroad. I've driven 100s of miles in the middle of the night because people have needed moral, emotional or physical support. I genuinely spend a fortune on postage of parcels and letters to cheer people up or to celebrate with them.  I really do expect that to be recipricated in that person's own little way.

I think that flakiness annoys me especially (It's a cardinal sin in my book) because I'm pretty introverted (I know, you'd never have guessed, right? All that Physics and passive aggressive blogging).  I choose my friends very very carefully so I feel it very keenly when they let me down by not meeting my high expectations of them.
That's not to say I don't like people.
I'm a bit socially retarded but if I was a SIM, When I meet someone new they always start out in the middle of the green "Like" bar.
I like to meet new people and have new experiences, but I am often let down by my new acquaintances (I guess they haven't figured out how many rules I have about al this "Going out and having fun with other people" stuff).
If I've gone to the effort of making plans with you it means that I like you enough to initiate you into my friendship group. Frankly that is quite an honour. The number of people who's opinions I'm bothered about I can count on my fingers- Not many people pass my initiation. I'm choosey, I won't just spend my free time with anyone.
But flake out on me a few times and you'll not be getting very many invitations as you've made your opinion of my value to you perfectly clear.

I'm not saying I have to be your number 1 person. I'm not saying you have to accept every social engagement I offer you. I'm saying- "If you told someone you'll be there, be there" Be honest. Be a better friend. Value the people around you, or they won't be there for very long.
They might not always be cool or sexy or super exciting. But they're constant, consistent and they care enough to invite you to spend their precious free time doing something that they think you'll enjoy.
Don't mess people around. They deserve better.

I'm pretty certain most people feel the same way!

Cake day

Today at work there was a charity cake sale, as you can see, the cakes were pretty professional looking!

I need to up my baking game.

This did brighten up my day- with one poorly wrist and a cold now I'm pretty grumpy. I need to remember my mantra:

"Life may give you a cactus, but you don't have to sit on it"