arup’s blog

Not only is this a progress report for June but for the first half of the year. So first a word about June.

I did the London to Brighton bike ride which I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I had my first proper break this year. And really felt that I’m making a career of website design. I’ve discovered Pilates and set some records in my life as a wheel builder. The weather has been pretty shite but nonetheless a very nice month.

And what about the first half of the year? I think it’s been going pretty well. Looking at my list of goals I can see that I have been focusing on some more than others. So the plan for the rest of the year is to continue or ease back on the things that have been going back and put a bit more emphasis on the ones that need a bit more attention and energy.

Generally I feel that I have been achieving that sense of ‘tempo guisto’ or the right pace. I have felt that I am neither ahead of myself nor am I slacking. And all largely due to blog. Even though I know that only the odd person is reading it, it is still public. So it means that I have to check in with myself and practice what I write. If I say that I’m going to do something then I feel kind of obliged to do it. And if not, then state the reason why. I know it’s my blog and I can pull the plug at any time, but I’m enjoying how it is helping me to organise my life and achieve my goals and keep an eye on them.

Fixed Gear Exercises

There are a whole list that I want to do, but I’ve only been working on the slowing down with the legs and pulling up. But then there’s the going in small circles exercise, skids and trackstands. But I’m easy. Still enjoying riding fixed and even more so every time I ride.

Mula bandha at the traffic lights

Well now that I’ve discovered Pilates, as well as the pelvic floor I work the TA (transverse abdominals) too. On my ride down to Brighton the thing that ached the most was my core muscles.

Minimum of a 100 miles a week on my bike

Hanging in there just about.

Press-ups and sit-ups upon rising

Well it’s Pilates now. I do a couple of movements before doing the morning pages. I’ve been having one to one sessions so I have some things to work on. And that stays with me all day. So it’s not just in the morning but all day in various positions.

Meditation

Not happening at all in June although I’d like to think that it did. I have been doing a short 5 minute sit after my morning pages but that hardly counts. Like I’ve said before, I need to have a regular slot.

My own yoga practice – one class, one alone

Well I have actually been doing this. Even though it’s only been once a week, it’s still something. I met up with a friend to do some practice as I think my days of self-motivation are over. It is really nice to do my own practice. Now of course I’m incorporating Pilates principles into the postures and that is making them a bit more alive and fresh.

Diet – 5 a day, etc

Now that I’ve reached my target weight it’s all about maintaining it. I did kind of let myself go a little bit so I have put on a kilo or two. So I need to keep an eye on it and also the health aspect. So more smoothies and soups etc. As long as I keep an eye on it I think I’ll be ok.

Bike rides eg London to Brighton etc

I finally did the London to Brighton this year. I’m going to write something about it, I just haven’t yet. It was a beautiful day and there were many cyclists. About 30,000 I think. And I raised some money for the British Heart Foundation. On fixed gear of course.

Reading

This is about novels and not about reading text books or php manuals or whatever. I finished the Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini. But I have left it too long to start another book so the gap could easily end up being longer. It’s good to have that perspective of that author’s world and seeing the world through their eyes. I have Brothers Karamazov sitting on my bedside table. Colud be the next one.

Trips to visit friends

I went to Brighton to see my friends there and I went to Geneva too. My trip to Geneva was my first proper break this year as the trip to Sweden earlier this year was only a weekend and didn’t feel like much of a break. It’s so important to keep in touch with your friends. They could pop their clogs at any time and I’d be kicking myself if I’d had the chance and missed it.

Selling things on Ebay and having a clear out

Finally got round to doing some ebay this month. Sold my whole CD collection now that they are all on the computer as mp3’s. And any more music coming into my home will end up the same way. Sold some other things too. It’s good to unload stuff that you don’t need.

Pampering and ‘me’ time

Oh yes. Massages and napping. And more to come. I have now sold two websites for massages and so I have massages lined up for the next few months. I just have to make sure that I booke them.

Reviews in the blog – films, books, exhibitions etc

I am reading and I am watching movies, but I’m not writing about them. What happened to the one liner idea? I guess I don’t believe that I’m much of a critic so I shouldn’t put in my two pennies worth. Well, you don’t have to you know. It was meant to be for fun rather than a chore. But then don’t all fun things end up as chores? I hope not.

Selling more wheels on ebay

I had a record high in June. The spot behind my sofa where I normally store my wheels and parts was completely choc a bloc and more orders and enquiries were coming in. It was getting borderline hobby to business. But it has all calmed down now and there is space behind the sofa, empty space. Good experience and I enjoyed it very much. I won’t be putting any more ads into ebay for at least another month.

arup’s wheel building pages

Checking out the Herne Hill velodrome

After that first trip I’m not really inspired to go again.

Working on my Svenska

Nope, not at all. But another trip to Sweden is coming up next month and that should get my Swedish juices flowing again. Hope so anyway.

Contributing to Songfight

There was no music happening in June. But I discovered Garageband. I installed it for a friend have been showing him how to use it. I have a couple of remixes to do which should get me into the swing of things. This is something that I want to focus on in the latter part of the year.
Songfight

Songfight entries of Bell Green

Business Plan

I’m kinda on track but it’s going slowly. I would like some help I think.

Ruby on Rails

I think it’s going to be php for now. I have been doing lots of Wordpress sites which are all written in php. So far I have editing scripts and mainly copying and pasting code. But I would like to learn it in a bit more depth. I have also discovered MAMP and perhaps it could be a way for me to install Rails on my machine. I tried that before and couldn’t get it working. So perhaps I could do php and rails at the same time.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 2nd, 2007 at 10:33 pm and is filed under progress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.