Spinning

Type 'spinning' into Google and you get all sorts of responses coming back at you.

I suppose some of you might be wondering why I was Googling spinning in the first place. Was I researching a new toy for our granddaughter? Interested in unusual cultural practices? Or thinking of taking up circus skills?

Actually, none of the above is true although if I'm honest as I started searching I was thinking how representative several of those images are of the chaos that has been the inside of my head the past few days. It's always the same for around a week before I go away on holiday. And there's a reason for that. I blame my Mum (it's allowed, that's what mums are for!)  If only she had never mentioned those proverbial clean knickers ("in case you get run over") maybe, just maybe, I'd be able to pack for a holiday without needing to defrost the freezer, sweep the garage and reorganise the airing cupboard! Arrgh! 

Of course the compulsion to force-fit whatever other theoretically unnecessary tasks into an already over stretched schedule is my weird way of avoiding dwelling on reality. The fact is I'm not prepared, and everso slightly panicking!

The reality was brought home a few days ago when our friends David and Amanda came to stay. 

Most of those who are reading this are well aware that we're about to head off round Lake Constance and you may remember that in my last blog the training process was about to begin. It wasn't long after D&A arrived on Friday evening than said training schedule came up in conversation. The LOOK on Amanda's face when we admitted that the programme had all but stalled pretty much before it had got going, that the most we had managed in the saddle is 15 miles and that having rather blown the timetable had resigned ourselves that we're just going to have to wing it, was a picture! Our apparent reputation for diligent planning, thorough preparation and a measured approach seems to have gone by the by where this cycling adventure is concerned. Most out of character.

But I digress ... For those of you who frequent the gym (Hellooooo - Is anybody still reading?) you'll know all about spinning. That's the class where a circle of fitness fanatics pedal like fury to loud music on static bikes while someone shouts instructions. I was Googling to try and see what the appeal was, wondering why anyone would do such a thing? Surely if you're going to have to pedal hard and get all sweaty you at least want a nice view, some fresh air and to be actually going somewhere? Fortunately where we're going there will be an abundance of scenery and by the time we arrive back at the start a week on Saturday we'll not only have covered 280km (give or take) but will also have inhaled loads and loads of luvverly therapeutic oxygen. 

In the mean time I've got another half-day at work, the packing to be done ... and a cat to Hoover!  Must dash.