Back in September 2013, in one of my crazy and impulsive moments, when I shook hands with a friend and sealed the agreement that I would start going to karate with her in January 2014, it seemed such a long time in the future. I didn't want to start straight away as I needed to lose some weight before I felt confident enough to get up there in front of other people. Since then, I have lost 2 stone and I have gradually begun to feel more positive and self-confident. Now only days away from our first class, I am feeling rather less confident and a lot more nervous.
Having sat on the sidelines for over 3 years watching James progress, itching to have a go myself, but not quite daring to take the plunge, I am looking forward to it, despite regularly asking myself, "What the hell was I thinking?"
Once we had agreed to start, I made sure I told as many people as I could that I was going to do it. In general, I'm not someone to go back on my word or give up on something before I have given it my best shot, but I also knew that I would rather do something I was feeling nervous about rather than back out and have to make excuses to everyone.
So, I will be spending much of today altering my Karate Gi so that it will fit me... for now.
It's been a busy weekend, with one thing and another...
After a busy Friday, during which I had an early appointment in Salisbury, followed by a visit to Upper Shirley High to watch Little Z play in the Woodwind Festival (she was fab! All that practice is really paying off.) and then work in the afternoon, I would have welcomed a lie-in on Saturday. I had, however, in some moment of madness earlier in the week, booked a doctor's appointment for 9.10 Saturday morning. I was glad I did though as it reassured me that the pain I have had in my foot for about 3 weeks is nothing serious and will sort itself out. Apparently I have Plantar Fasciitis. I have to rest it as much as I can and wear supportive footwear: so trainers to school and sit about all day! I think I can manage that!
Having recently researched the Spitfire with some year 6 pupils, I was very keen to go down to Mayflower Park in Southampton to see it fly past as a celebration of 75 years since its maiden flight from Eastleigh Aerodrome. We were lucky enough to park at Mayflower Park and had a cold but lovely couple of hours down there, mostly waiting and around looking at the sky, but the children got to speak to some interesting people like the town cryer, a lady from a radio station (what's that tall pole sticking out the top of your van? - little Z) and a man with a lovely... erm... dog, yes, he did indeed have a lovely dog! I have not included photos and video of the Spitfire event as Little Z has blogged about it herself and has included the video and photos we took. Go and take look. 
Today was Big J's Karate grading day. He has worked very hard to learn his kata, after learning it over half term, getting it slightly wrong and having then to un-learn the one he knew and learn it the right way. Having only found out on Wednesday that the kata he had learned was not quite right, he only had 3 days to correct it before grading. But he did it! He is now what Sama Karate call a 2nd Orange Belt, which is an orange belt with a white stripe. I'm very proud of him.
Back in September 2013, in one of my crazy and impulsive moments, when I shook hands with a friend and sealed the agreement that I would start going to karate with her in January 2014, it seemed such a long time in the future. I didn't want to start straight away as I needed to lose some weight before I felt confident enough to get up there in front of other people. Since then, I have lost 2 stone and I have gradually begun to feel more positive and self-confident. Now only days away from our first class, I am feeling rather less confident and a lot more nervous. 
