Ooooh! It tastes so good................

Success, that is!

After a very busy weekend taking the boys biking, collecting my fog-stranded husband from Inverness airport, socializing with friends on Saturday, then Orienteering with my daughter and buying a Chrismas tree on Sunday, I spent Monday back in Inverness doing the final bits of my Christmas shopping (that feels good!), so no chance to get to the gym. I was rushing around, so at least feel I have been active.

I made it back to the gym today and did yesterday's programme (Tuesday should be a bike ride, but the weather's not too brilliant!). 25 minutes on the treadmill on rolling hills, 15 on the X-trainer (I hated this when I started, but am finding it easier now), then exercises on the fitness ball (abdominal curls, obliques, back extensions, lifting opposite arms and legs and some press-ups to tone up the biceps and triceps). I remembered my need to get that new exercise on the ball cracked, so gave it a go. I did it! I could only manage three at a time, but I did it! I was so excited! Eric was in the lobby waiting for a client, so I had to rush out and tell him. I felt like a small child who'd just done something for the first time! (Instead of a more mature woman who probably should know better.)

Later, in a telephone discussion group I belong to (Anne Duncan's High Impact Habits - see http://anneduncan.typepad.com/high_impact_habits/) we were talking about what successes we had achieved over 2005 - and the challenges which we had faced and learned from. Anne quite rightly pointed out that many of us tend to only look at the big successes and we often forget about the little achievements that contribute to our overall accomplishments. Well, today I am enjoying my very little success with the fitness ball! I know I can build on that one little exercise by doing more, reaching further and getting stronger and fitter.

On a different note, it is beginning to look more festive in the Harper household. I managed to get the lights on the tree just in time for the children's home-coming. They then had a great time decorating it with as many things as they could find a place for. It won't win a prize for tastefulness, but it will for colour and exuberance! My favourite decorations are the lights on the tree and I really love that time at the end of the day, when everyone else in the house is sleeping, and I can go in and quietly enjoy the twinkle for a few moments before it is time to switch them off.

Tomorrow's plans involve a fast two-hour walk out in the fresh air with my friend, then I shall attempt to create a bit of order in the house before carrying on with the decorations. It will be a bit here, a bit there, until I've either used everything up or it is Christmas Eve and time to put away the boxes! I would love to be able to create a scene out of 'Country Living', all cosiness and charm, but somehow the mess that exists around three children and their mother rather spoils that. Maybe next year..........