Trials and tribulations in the new Shire

[@mu]

Summary for the quick reader:

Likes: pull / push / bend

Tools: body weight, parallettes, (aerial silks), (ball)

Epic quest: complete GMB Parallettes 2 (P2)

 

This will be a settling down challenge after a big move (Iran → France).

We are staying at my parents' at the moment and hunting for flats & jobs (their house is 1h30 by train from the city where we want to move in so logistics are no super straightforward).

 

 

Epic quest is still on

Keep calm and P2 on. I managed well so far but I think the hardest is yet to come (when I get a new job / a new schedule + stress that goes along with a new job). My aerial rig and silks are still packed and will stay that way until we move in (if we can find a place where it fits...). I also have rings somewhere but no safe place to attach them really. So I guess I'll keep slacking on pull activities for a while. I'm not sure there is a gym in my parent's village... Will ask...But my main focus will definitely be P2 (my preciiiiiouuuuus!)

 

Plan:

P2 3x/week and HS 3x/week (deload: 5 mini workouts)
Stretching (hips, back bends) – 2x/week
Cirque Physio – 18 drills /week (deload: 12 drills /week)
Legs – 4 drills /week
Ball / flexed feet work – 4 drills /week

Pull => NA for now...

 

Here is a phase/cycle recap for P2 since I'm actually approaching a full year on it... honestly I wouldn't be surprised if I needed another year to complete it – if not more... I have been doing parallettes for less than 2 years, so I'm no longer noob noob but still, P2 final flow is still a pretty hot potato with respect to my current skills.

 

P2 Phase 3 - cycle 4 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [9 March 2019 – 29 March 2019] ← current

P2 Phase 3 - cycle 3 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [9 February 2019 – 1 March 2019]

P2 Phase 3 - cycle 2 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [12 January 2019 – 1 February 2019]

P2 Phase 3 - cycle 1 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [15 December 2018 – 4 January 2019]

P2 Phase 2 - cycle 4 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [17 November 2018 – 7 December 2018]

P2 Phase 2 - cycle 3 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [20 October 2018 – 9 November 2018]

P2 Phase 2 - cycle 2 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [22 September 2018 – 12 October 2018]

P2 Phase 2 - cycle 1 – 3x/week – 4 weeks [18 August 2018 – 14 September 2018]

P2 Phase 1 - cycle 3 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [21 July 2018 – 10 August 2018]

P2 Phase 1 - cycle 2 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [23 June 2018 – 13 July 2018]

P2 Phase 1 - cycle 1 – 3x/week – 3 weeks [ 26 May 2018 – 15 June 2018 ]

P2 Prep Phase – 3x/week – 4 weeks [ 21 April 2018 – 18 May 2018]

 

Drawing / painting

I started drawing last challenge, and I really enjoyed those moments although they were few. I don't want to constrain that goal too much by fear of losing the joy by “having to do it” + these days are still going to be very busy. But tentatively I'd say, take a pen 2x/week and draw whatever. I'm pretty keen on samovars these days and I'd like to learn how to get a brass or silver effect with acrylics. That would sort of be the direction. All my painting stuff is packed somewhere and I'm not sure what material I have left that I could use or need to buy. The painting bit will have to wait until we move in but in the meantime I can still draw with a pen.

 

Job interview prep

Pursue light prep upping to 10x per week (Java tests + reading / bits of coding will also count)

CV-related prep (finalize English, send to a friend who is a senior project manager, finalize for good, maybe do a French version which is not super necessary in IT but hey = 4 steps)

 

NB: My schedule is still aligned on the Iranian calendar so my week starts on Saturday. I might have to adjust that at some point...

 

[KB Girl]

Following the adventure! 

Hope you find a good place to live soon. 

How is your husband doing with all this? Have things improved since this first part is over or is stress still high? 

[@mu]

1 hour ago, KB Girl said:

Following the adventure! 

Hope you find a good place to live soon. 

How is your husband doing with all this? Have things improved since this first part is over or is stress still high? 

 

Thanks! He is much better, lower stress levels and breathing a bit better. Although in Montpellier, he had a bit of an asthma issue one evening, and I learned that inhalers here require a prescription! The pharmacist still gave me one (he had forgotten his own at my parents'). He still has some stress of course and has those "sea sickness" moments, as I call them, when you're not quite sure where you are / belong. But the epilepsy bit seems ok, no trembling / no absence / no seizure so far touching wood.

[Mad Hatter]

Your dedication to P2 is amazing, really inspiring!

Really glad hubs is doing better. 

[WhiteGhost]

Here again and looking forward to following along for your adventures in your new Shire

[Mike Wazowski]

Glad to hear you and hubs are starting to settle into France! And like others have said, I'm in awe of your ability to stay focused on parallettes 2 work.

[Happienumber]

17 hours ago, @mu said:

I'm pretty keen on samovars these days and I'd like to learn how to get a brass or silver effect with acrylics.

[@mu]

Cheers guys!

 

I updated Saturday and Sunday on my previous thread.

 

Monday was rest training-wise.

I did do

• some light study (OCP certification study guide reading)

• some CV prep (English done, sent for check)

• and I did some samovar drawing, I struggled a bit with elaborated handles and front perspective...

I also called renting agencies to check our status but nothing new yet.

 

I chaperoned the cat in the garden an she jumped on a well-grown rose bush thinking she might get to a window that way, of course that hurt and she panicked, and then I spent some time checking her out for thorns... The day before she did the exact same thing on a big cactus... Will she learn something or is she thinking that she is getting randomly attacked by alien plants? Not sure what's going on in her brain. She's good otherwise, eating well, sleeping, away from the dog who thinks she's a rabbit or something.

 

Tuesday

 

Got a call from an agency and the flat we wanted does not have bike storage at all... so it will be a no. I called another agency to visit a flat we couldn't visit last week, we will be going to Montpellier again on Thursday. They actually have 2 flats that interest us, one that we visited last week, with a nice garden (unusual for that price) but I fear the cat might escape way too easily and end up on the road or something + it's not very central. The other one is a bit older (from the photos) but very big and central, no garden but some kind of courtyard.

 

This morning I also did P2 glutes and elbows, still chasing that lever spin. I did more sets of single bar lever switches because this is the key really. +Cirque Physio and some ball flex, my ball pumped itself to some kind of shape, it's still soft and I can't pump it fully but it was good enough for what I wanted to do.

 

And... I asked there is no gym in this little village but I will join my mother to her gym class which is held in a communal building. It's mostly elderly people (teacher is 80 yo) but it's a class and I haven't been to a class of any sort for a very long time + age is not a thing really, let's be clear: my mum at 72 can do splits – I can't

 

/* Challenge Log */

P2:            2/3
HS:            1/3
[deload]        _
 
Stretching:    1/2
Cirque-Physio: 7/18
Legs:          2/4
Ball-flex:     2/4
Pull:          NA
 
Job-prep:      1/10
CV:            2/4

Drawing:       1/2

 

[KB Girl]

1 hour ago, @mu said:

And... I asked there is no gym in this little village but I will join my mother to her gym class which is held in a communal building. It's mostly elderly people (teacher is 80 yo) but it's a class and I haven't been to a class of any sort for a very long time + age is not a thing really, let's be clear: my mum at 72 can do splits – I can't

That sounds awesome, I hope you like it

 

[Mad Hatter]

5 hours ago, @mu said:

I chaperoned the cat in the garden an she jumped on a well-grown rose bush thinking she might get to a window that way, of course that hurt and she panicked, and then I spent some time checking her out for thorns... The day before she did the exact same thing on a big cactus... Will she learn something or is she thinking that she is getting randomly attacked by alien plants? Not sure what's going on in her brain. She's good otherwise, eating well, sleeping, away from the dog who thinks she's a rabbit or something.

Didn't realize this challenge would be about the kitty's trials and tribulations. It's a tuff life.  

 

Also your mum's cool. I love that you're going to take class together!

[RogueLibrarian]

Oh my god, what a huge life change. Here for it!

[@mu]

4 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Oh my god, what a huge life change. Here for it!

 

Welcooome!!

 

On 3/12/2019 at 4:52 PM, Mad Hatter said:

Didn't realize this challenge would be about the kitty's trials and tribulations. It's a tuff life.  

 

She misses climbing I suppose, she had a go at several trees this morning and she managed to reach a branch, she was so PROUD and she stood there like she was on top of the world.

 

On 3/12/2019 at 12:48 PM, KB Girl said:

That sounds awesome, I hope you like it

 

 

The gym class was cool, I'm glad there was only 10 reps of each abs drills It was an hour long class, starting with dancing movements on disco tunes from the 60s-70s (daddy cool was first), then a variety of leg work with little arms/legs coordination flows, shoulder rotations, joints work, abs, push-ups and a relaxation/stretching section at the end. Pretty well rounded I thought and it went very quickly. Mean audience age was probably around 65-70? The teacher is indeed 80 yo and rocking it if I may say. 

 

I did another samovar drawing and I need to work on those handles! It looked like a mixed breed between a dalek and a samovar. Time for details study  

 

And I have a very very sore throat, maybe a strep? E. also caught something and has chest pain / hard time breathing.

 

Wednesday

 

Java tests x2

Samovar drawing, a full one with noddle-like handles (so hard) and more handles...Practice is still needed! Work for the week below, I doubt I'll have time for more.

Spoiler

 

 

And then I got suddenly zombified... sore throat worsened pretty badly + various body aches + deep coughing. I had a nap, ibuprofen and lots of coffee and we managed to go to the bank for E. to open an account, and went straight to the doc. We are both under attack from viral infections it seems, blood pressure at 10-7 for both of us too and lots of medication. Which costs a fair amount since we can't join social security before 3 months of residency. The doc only charged one consultation which was nice of him really.

 

I haven't managed back-bending today so far, tomorrow we are off to Montpellier, not sure when we come back..

Maybe later this evening I can manage some light back stretches and Cirque Physio. Let's see... I am feeling a little better compared to earlier.

 

 

[WhiteGhost]

Oh no, hope you get feeling better soon

[Mad Hatter]

That class actually sounds really good.  I always get so inspired and impressed by people like that teacher!

 

Hope you feel better soon!!! 

[raptron]

Aw, yes, I love the sound of that class.   I went to my mom's swim class when I visited over Christmas. I love older adults staying active. And it seems like great socialization too. 

 

Sorry you guys both got some bug! Feel better soon. 

[@mu]

Thank you all!

 

Quick update and I have to run:

 

I did manage Cirque Physio + light back-bending yesterday (I did not do scorpion / back drops though). I'm counting it as a 0.5 stretching session. It was nice because the virus made me feel achy and that little session helped I think.

 

Thursday

 

Off to Montpellier.

So we have a flat it seems It's very central, very big but quite used. Landlord looks like one of those who expects tenants to renovate for them if you see what I mean …

The flat does tick most boxes (central location + compliant with cat security + height for aerial rig + space for P2 lever spins youhou). The annoying thing is that the previous tenants sealed holes they had made in the walls so while the paint on the walls would be okayish (after a clean-up), there are patches of white here and there and the landlord does not want to paint... She'd be ok if we paint it ourselves though (of course), she'd pay for the paint, but we are not that experienced and there is a lot of volume.  But so be it, we need to move forward. When we are properly settled we can afford to be a bit more picky. 

 

Anyway after a stop at the rental agency we came back early afternoon. They will send the lease soon and we should move in end of next week, touching wood.

 

E. is still fairly under. I'm still ill but better (he is having antiobiotics, I'm not, the doctor said I was robust enough to manage... ).

I should have done P2+HS consistency but it's a tough workout that takes usually 1h30-2h and I was not up for it so instead I did my Friday workout:

 

Cirque Physio x4

Ball flex x1

HS endurance – best at 38s, most between 20 and 30, a few below + some kick up fails

 

38s one with my usual zig zag shape:

 

 

 

I did a few HS moving legs as well - split legs LR and sideways. Since I'm piking, my straddle was also a bit piked – not feeling like something towards middle splits but rather more like the beginning of a press negative. It was interesting to feel it that way too, like I'm using a lot of abs against my will?

I also did HS with and without shoes

Fear is starting to dissipate a little bit after a few bails.

 

And in the train I did 3 Java tests.

 

/* Challenge Log */

P2:            2/3
HS:            2/3
[deload]        _
 
Stretching:    1.5/2
Cirque-Physio: 18/18
Legs:          2/4
Ball-flex:     3/4
Pull:          NA
 
Job-prep:      6/10
CV:            2/4

Drawing:       3/2

 

[KB Girl]

Ohh congratulations on finding the flat! It'll be nice to get settled in

Glad you're feeling well enough for a workout, hope the whole thing goes away soon. 

 

Your moms class does sound very very awesome. Are you going again?

[Happienumber]

On 3/13/2019 at 2:29 PM, @mu said:

She misses climbing I suppose, she had a go at several trees this morning and she managed to reach a branch, she was so PROUD and she stood there like she was on top of the world.

 

Awwww!!!

On 3/13/2019 at 2:29 PM, @mu said:

And then I got suddenly zombified... sore throat worsened pretty badly + various body aches + deep coughing. I had a nap, ibuprofen and lots of coffee and we managed to go to the bank for E. to open an account, and went straight to the doc. We are both under attack from viral infections it seems, blood pressure at 10-7 for both of us too and lots of medication.

 

zomg. NOOOOOOO.  

 

4 hours ago, @mu said:

So we have a flat it seems  

The flat does tick most boxes (central location + compliant with cat security + height for aerial rig + space for P2 lever spins youhou).

 

YAY!!!!

 

4 hours ago, @mu said:

Landlord looks like one of those who expects tenants to renovate for them

 

Mrrrrr.....

 

4 hours ago, @mu said:

he is having antiobiotics, I'm not, the doctor said I was robust enough to manage...

 

Good for you! Sort of? You're sturdy.... like a lobster!

[Happienumber]

I'm so impressed with how much you're still capable of while sick. 

[WhiteGhost]

Yay for the flat!

 

12 hours ago, @mu said:

I should have done P2+HS consistency but it's a tough workout that takes usually 1h30-2h and I was not up for it

Rest and recovery are both very important, especially when you are sick.  Good job listening to your body

[Mad Hatter]

Hooray for finding a flat! It will be nice to finally settle down.

[raptron]

Yay, for a new flat! Even if it is going to be a bit do-it-yourself.

[@mu]

22 hours ago, KB Girl said:

Your moms class does sound very very awesome. Are you going again?

 

If I can yes I will! I'm not sure the soreness in my abs was just aches from the virus

But it depends on how move prep is going. I still have half packed stuff dating back from the time when I was living in Paris and then in Scotland. I need to sort all that. We are still missing 2 boxes from Iran our rice cooker and pressure pot among other things aaah. 

 

20 hours ago, Happienumber said:

Good for you! Sort of? You're sturdy.... like a lobster!

 

Yeah ah ah the way the doctor said it was a bit funny, but it's true I'm quite sturdy (may it last, touching wood). I grew up in West Africa in the 80s, so I got malaria, hepatitis A, worms, you name it (some of those when you get them as a kid are not too bad actually, my parents on the other had to go through medical evacuation once) ... it does not mean I'm immune to the average cold unfortunately but for sure, compared to E., my immune system is very responsive. The other things might be related to my pain threshold and ability for denial (when it's convenient in some way)  

 

Friday

 

Lots of paper work (lease, insurance, immigration). Not sure what's wrong with the on-line immigration form but the summary for E. said:

City of visa application: Tehran (OK)

Country of visa application: Haiti (???)

Expected border crossing: Eritrea (???)

Everything else looks ok though. And I cannot change those weird data anyway.

 

Still sneezing but overall better.

 

P2 hams

Straddle holds /ok

1-leg crow rotation LR /working it

Bent arm stand / the usual depth

Double elbow lever → straddle hold → double elbow lever => feet grazing ++

HS → crow → firefly => ok HS but still a lot of fear. It did not help that on one bail I slipped on the carpet and fell a bit harder on my back

HS → V-sit → seiza => fear... + I used grippy shoes which then added about 1cm of sole that I CANNOT afford...

HS lowers => mostly poop, under lowering because of fear mostly

 

HS consistency => 18/25 again like last time, I was feeling more confident not having to move around. And... using shoes seems to help with un-piking my legs, with a little weight on, I have a better sense of where my feet are exactly when I push from the shoulders. Not sure if it was the camera angle, but my shape looked a bit straighter too (sometimes)!

 

Here is a bunch of HS + a funny last one with the sound on (sausage dog mayhem – playing with a squeaky toy + radio full on because my father is getting deaf or something + he is interrupting every 10mn to ask if I did fill this or that paper, I took the whole session as a hardcore focus challenge, runny nose was almost nothing compared to the level of entropy seriously).

 

 

I did not do legs. I could have. I did not.

Now I do need to do a few Java quizz though. While checking the cat is doing ok in the garden and not teasing the neighborhood's doggies.

 

[WhiteGhost]

5 hours ago, @mu said:

the time when I was living in Paris and then in Scotland

 

boxes from Iran

 

I grew up in West Africa in the 80s

Can I just say how impressive and interesting it is that you have lived so many places?

[Mad Hatter]

8 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

Can I just say how impressive and interesting it is that you have lived so many places?

Well so have you! But I agree it's very cool.

 

14 hours ago, @mu said:

Here is a bunch of HS + a funny last one with the sound on (sausage dog mayhem – playing with a squeaky toy + radio full on because my father is getting deaf or something + he is interrupting every 10mn to ask if I did fill this or that paper, I took the whole session as a hardcore focus challenge, runny nose was almost nothing compared to the level of entropy seriously).

Haha that's an impressive level of focus and fighting for your HS.