Pucker Up!

Pappy

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:20:54 GMT

My grandfather died this morning. After years of discomfort, and a week of immense pain, his heart finally gave out. He died in his sleep with my grandmother lying next to him in the hospital.
The only person from the family who doesn't know is my mum, who is at this minute in a plane and about to land in Atlanta within the next hour.

Going Spare for Family

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:09:18 GMT

After years of having it so good with my grandad and great-grandma always perilously close to the edge of life and the after, it seems to be collapsing.
My grandfather has always had a weak heart and had his 4th open heart surgery in May 1985 (2 months before I was born). Unbeknownst to all, one of the blood transfusions he required, contained dodgy blood, and 3 years ago the 1st signs of Hepatitis C started to show. As a result, his liver started to fail and, subsequently, his kidneys from the necessary treatment and he started dialysis. He has been basically immobile since.
Last week, he was home alone for only 30 minutes when my grandmother came home to find him lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen. Due to the blood thinners, he lost a large amount of blood and they found significant internal bleeding in his head. Also, due to the blood thinners, they couldn't give him any painkillers until Saturday. As a result of being in so much pain, he is still refusing to eat, at most 1 mouthful a day.
It is a miracle that he has lasted this long with these ailments, and this fall has only shown us this even more. He looks like he has been in the ring with Mike Tyson and we fear he will never come close again to what he was before.
My grandmother is now going spare because she cannot be in two places at once.
Today, my 95 year old great grandma, who has been convinced she is dying for the last 50 odd years, was told she has diabetes. She is petrified of death. At my parents wedding 26 years ago, she told my dad she would be at his daughters wedding, which prompted to stare wide eyed and ask "do you know something I don't?" She phoned my mother in a state and is now telling all relatives she is at the final hurdle. We are all in two minds about this -she has suffered a HUGE amount in her life, including capture by the Russian army, being taken to Siberia and subjected to an almost lethal amount of radiation. She has been telling my mum and uncle for the last 3 hours that we must all pray to Allah (I should point out she is a Muslim, if it's not already obvious) so that she does not die.

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:28:08 GMT

I want to do a body language course. I need to understand how to interpret Ruperts actions towards me, because it's driving me insane. Usually, I choose to ignore but still notice the signs that guys are somewhat repelled by me. But I'm seeing changes, and I don't know wht to do!!! It scares me...I need some advice or something...

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:33:09 GMT

Duncan and I were writing out an order and he took the pen I was holding coz his wasn't working. He has seen me chewing on this pen everytime he sees me, so I'm expecting him to give it back. But he doesn't. Instead, he puts it behind his ear... I smile at him and, obviously, he asks me what's up. "I've had that in my mouth!" He shrugs his shoulders. I go back and tell Claire (other girl on reception) and she cracks up. When Duncan next comes over, she says to him "you realise you have Stephs spit on you?" "This was my pen yesterday and I won't tell you what I was doing with it." The only thing is, it never was his pen...

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:26:05 GMT

And I have started flirting properly with Rupert. After 18 months, I can handle it by text, and he's responding, just not flirting. But we've been giving each other grief for cancelling on each other no less than 10 times in the last 5 weeks. First I was sick, then he was sick, then he was stuck between two trucks on the motorway back from Cardiff...actually that one was good -he has a good 2 hours to kill before the AA can get there to tow the broken down truck in front of him, so what does he do? Call me. Before anyone else. This would've been seen as a good sign, except for the fact that he is seriously not attracted to me, even if we talked for ages about STUFF...our Christmases, New Years, the rugby, work...I'll just have to comfort myself with the fact that it was HIM who came up to ME at the Christmas party, ME who he talks to about things like rugby, which he loves -he's never talked to any of the other girls there about things like that (because one of them told me). This is supposed to fill me with confidence, but it really doesn't. He lives a 5 minute walk away and yet I haven't seen him in 2 months tomorrow. There is the fact that for the first 9-10 months I knew him he was quite distant, but then all of a sudden changed.
I hate guys. They think we're complicated, but they're just as bad!! I don't know what to do about Rupert (I feel like the only way to get a response from him is to go up and kiss him) and Duncan (at work) is adding more complications. I'll just remind myself that the only purpose guys have is to aid us in reproducing. That is it.

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:14:52 GMT

It happened again. It's nice to know that I am definitely not completely asexual, even if I am close. Happened again, definitely not the first -or 100th- time and definitely not the last.
But this one is different by far. After 5 weeks, I have still not opened up any sign that I actually have feelings and he's now asking my colleague if I've told her anything. Excellent -I have clearly mastered the art of shutting up.
4 days to go, we shall see very shortly what happens.
He's 6"6 so turns out there may have been a little untruth when I said I don't want a guy anything like my Dad.

Rose

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:25:55 GMT

You Are an Orange Rose

You represent desire and enthusiasm

Your vibe: Sexy yet familiar

Falling in love with you: happens instantly - it's a fast ride

What Color Rose Are You?

A rant I NEED you to listen to please

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:54:58 GMT

Right, I've had enough. I have come to the final conclusion that social situations and myself DO NOT go together. I have also decided that, as we all have a book inside of us, I have mine. It's a little autobiographical, but it's about a girl who starts to go insane as she becomes paranoid that she does not belong anywhere and that people try to avoid her and just plain do not like her. I've had this story in me for a long while now and the next step is to expand it. I have gotten to the point where I start crying at the thought that the only times I have something written in my calender apart from work is when I have to go to another city/country/continent, and doing that makes me excited.
It depresses me that people will talk to me regarding work if they HAVE to, but other than that, I am invisible. And I DO make a goddamn huge effort -well, for someone who is a sociophobe.
I want a Harry Potter style invisibility cloak or polyjuice potion. Something which will guarantee me unbiased, clear cut information on where I have fucked up as a person. I would be fine asking people what the problem is, and I have, but knowing the reply would be flimsy and they would think I'm nuts and paranoid (both of which are at least little true) doesn't fill me with enough confidence to do so. If I knew I the answers would be worth it, I would have asked everyone I have ever known by now.
So, PLEASE, offer some insight for me so that I can start acting the right way. I'm doing something massively wrong and I desperately want/need to know what it is. Plus, it could be used as research for my book, which, if published, would get certain acknowledgments -if you actually wanted to be associated with it of course...
Thanks

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:39:44 GMT

Predictably, my Palm thingy went dead and lost all addresses etc. If you trust me, please provide me with something. I only have lots of mobile numbers (and a couple of addresses).
Ta
x

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:07:35 GMT

I must say, today was fabulous. Many wonderful things happened today!! (this was written in no particular order)

1. Alex and I have forgiven each other
2. I've lost some weight
3. My hair looks fab
4. I love Mike
5. Mike did sweet things today
6. The ball is tomorrow night
7. The weekend is almost here
8. I've got the Dirty Dancing soundtrack on
9. Never Mind the Buzzcocks has just finished
10. My family have buggered off
11. I have money for once
12. I showed everyone how intelligent I am at the quiz
13. Gorgeous sunrise in front of me the whole walk to work this morning
14. Everyone's been making sex jokes at me all day =)
15. I realised who my real friends are and bugger everyone else -gives good satisfaction

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:40:08 GMT

I am concerned.

My deputy, Alex, has continued telling people in the office that Will and I are having an affair. Now he is also telling his buddies that Will and I are so serious we're having kids together -apparently I'm pregnant...

And the fact that Will is now giving me lifts into work and back is not not helping. Nor is that I will now be playing badminton with him, amongst others, Wednesday nights.

I do love him, and having him so close to me both at home and work is really nice. He apparently doesn't suspect anything because I have been informed by his mates that IF I have feelings for him (they don't actually realise Alex is telling the truth about me liking him) then I am hiding them well but he has apparently commented that I'm a nice girl and a lot more considerate than most of the others in the office. That has to be good right?

Alex told me today that Will and I will have freaky children coz I'm naughty and Will's scary.

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 11:54:12 GMT

Will lives on the road below mine and walked me home on Friday afternoon after taking the bus with me. I feel like a giddy teenager again...

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:19:08 GMT

Ok, funny story - as always, me trying to be funny.

I'm not sure if I have regailed you with my latest crush, Will, with whom I work. If I have, I apologise for another silly story; if not, then you get the horror of listening to the next unfortunate guy to pass my way...

Anyway, Will and I are on the social commitee and are responsible for collecting the money for the ticket sales for the Summer Ball in a month from now. People have had 2 months to pay and we had to pay costs this week so any money not collected is our loss. Funnily enough, of the 85 people on our list, we only had full payment from a 1/4 of these. Yesterday in a meeting Will starts to vent his annoyance at this people who haven't paid and sets the deadline for Friday when heads will start to roll. I joke "it's ok Will, we can go around threatening them." "Don't tempt me Steph -you are making an offer I am prepared to take."

I go back to my desk and notice the plastic Bam-Bam (of the Flintstones) bat that's been lying around our desks for ages and email Will: "I've got a bat if you want to go threatening people."

Reply 30 secs later: "that sounds very tempting -ask me tomorrow."

Tomorrow (Tuesday): "Wanna go threaten?"

Will: "Yes, let's go."

So we traipse around the whole building for an hour, me with list and purse, him with bat and it was truly hysterical. I stood there at each desk demanding money and he stood there with a bat in his hand looking pissed and menacing.

And now I have been informed by my deputy, who is mates with him, that he (deputy) is onto the fact that I like Will and is doing everything to make Will notice without actually saying it.

On Thursday last week Will and I were at the drinks machine getting drinks for our teams and I was trying to fill my water bottle. He starts saying something about the jug setting but I hear him saying drug and I don't know what he's talking about...so you can imagine how that conversation is going. Alex (deputy) finally comes up and whacks Will with a book or something and explains how I have hearing problems (!) and proceeds to explain to the 2 of us what was wrong with the conversation. We were in fits.

The three of us have an amusing relationship: Will and I tease Alex, Alex and I tease Will and they both tease me.

Alex signed me up to play on the Computershare Plans (that's our department) Badminton team purely coz Will asked if I could or would and Alex knows that I would -for a number of reasons...should be entertaining.

Got drunk

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:40:56 GMT

It finally happened! It's been a long time coming but I have finally drunken alcohol.

I'm up in Liverpool visiting as my year and friends have graduated today and tonight a bunch of us went out to celebrate. I decided 3 weeks ago enough was enough and I would drink sometime in the future.

Tonight I did and it was strange. I had a cocktail and when I finished mine I drunk the remaining half of Rachel's as she didn't want to finish it as she was feeling dizzy. I, however, seemed to be having an out of body experience as I didn't FEEL drunk but was def acting like it...although I could walk in a straight line so maybe it wasn't that bad...

Anyway, am supposed to go back to Bristol tomorrow and go into the office Friday but I think I'm going to stay in Liverpool tomorrow night and then catch an early train back so that I least spend the afternoon at the office...I'm not sure...anyways, I think I need to go to bed...

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:39:17 GMT

Ok, now how come there's no birthday wishes for me on my 21st on Saturday!? I (mostly) remember your birthdays!

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 23:05:27 GMT

Today was a good day. Work should've been awful but my colleagues on this team are so much better than the last team! Somewhat strangely, one of my colleagues today compared me to the Borg and then reconsidered and decided I had more in common with Milosevic...and just because when fixing his computer mouse, I said "It's not broken, I'm just fixing it." Though I did find it funny...
And then after work, there was a session with Rupert. And it was fab - on both his and my parts. He was shocked when I achieved one part of the workout which I've never been able to complete non-stop before. And his smile! He kept smiling and he was joking around the whole time. And I do love it when he puts his hand on my back. And when we were stretching and my leg was resting up on his shoulder...oh god. I love him, then I'm indifferent, then I love him again. But there was definitely a change in him -and me- today.

Wed, 24 May 2006 20:02:45 GMT

On the 5th of June I will celebrate having been in my job for 3 months - which is a record.
And the on the 6th I will celebrate for maintaining it.

I enjoy my job; it's challenging but not over the top, I get on well with most of my colleagues (there are definitely a couple of exceptions) and I am being paid a damn lot for a job which I find incredible they actually trust me to do.

Paul and Dave agree that it is strange that the guys treat me like one of the guys and automatically include me in conversations and office games about football but there are other girls who are also interested but get ignored...

In other news, Matt (my manager) saw me have a seizure today (and it was one of the bad ones which wipe me out) and discovered my little secret. And then, when I suggested maybe going home early, he said yes instantly and then when one of the others protested, saying it increased her workload, he said I had an appointment. I didn't think I could trust him that much...maybe I was wrong. The 2nd in command on my team, Alex, has decided that you can tease me and I don't take it personally...he's taken to calling me "Trouble", amongst a whole bunch of other strange jokes...

What I really like about this job actually, is that it is an Australian company and the odds of being transfered to the land of Oz in the next 10 years are quite high - there's no less than 8 Aussies in my particular office (out of like 200 people) and I know our boss here, Chris something, is an Aussie. Not sure why they transfer people from here there and people from there here...

And there are at least 25 Brits in the Melbourne office.

Come the 17th of June I will be in Dave's back garden in High Wycombe (that's just north of London for you ignorent ones...) with approx. 100 of Dave and Suz's friends...and a whole bunch of us have been swapping notes on how we should have soooo seen this coming - it will definitely be an annual thing. Which is fine, except that Dave appears hell bent on setting me up with one of his friends! He's now trying to coax another one I met at his wedding...this guy is unbelivable! I can't believe I'm related to him...

Anyway, tomorrow the people from Currys are FINALLY coming to install my washing machine after dumping it in my kitchen 3 weeks ago. My dad threatened them saying if they didn't, we'd return it. I'd spent two weeks on the phone to them, trying to get them to come out but they are useless twats(like BT) and when my dad tried, they said no one had contacted them for three weeks so they weren't going to do it! Yeah, and we've defected from BT to Telewest coz after a month, BT are still refusing to take any responsibility for my internet problems.

Right, I'm off to get something to eat.

Tue, 23 May 2006 21:02:12 GMT

Shit. Dave's been getting my hopes up recently about one of his mates who I've liked for awhile but have known to be off limits as has girlfriend of two years. Dave's been giving the very clear impression that he's now single and interested.
And now I find out he is still very much with his girlfriend. But he considers me a good mate. That wasn't what I was looking for!

Mon, 08 May 2006 13:45:23 GMT

Urgh, it's Monday lunchtime and I'm sitting at my works internet cafe coz I have no internet access at home. I moved in last Tuesday, plugged in my computer having been told my broadband would've been activated and, sure enough, it wasn't. I have made 4 calls to BT asking them WTF!? and each time they go through the same thing:
Q. Is computer plugged in? A. yes
Q. Is it turned on? A. Duh
Q. Have you plugged the internet cable in? er, yeah!
Q. Have you tried to connect? A. YES!
"Ok, well I'm afraid that's all I'm trained to do, I will pass you through to the Broadband Support Group now."
And they aren't very helpful either.
On Friday the guy said he'd phone me at 8pm after they'd done a line scan. And, of course, he didn't. And the line's only open Monday-Friday 8-8. Bloody twits.

They delivered my fridge and washing machine but the wm is still sitting in my kitchen unwrapped coz the back counter is to small to fit it and it's the only slot in the kitchen which has plumbing. So I phone my parents who tell me to find someone who could possibly remove the back counter, which I do -in fact he's a an old friend of my grandma and is willing to do it for free. My grandma informs my mum this morning and I received an email at work now saying to cancel the appointment with this guy and I now need to wait til they come over - which is at the end of June! I need a washing machine and the nearest laundrette is a 20 minute bus ride away! This is ridiculous!

Btw, if you really want my address, let me know and I will deliver.

And I am extremely angry with the Premier League. Spurs maintained 4th place for 6 months - 4th place is the last qualifying place for the Champions League which is the highest honour in European football. (I sense a number of people deserting this now). Anyway, Arsenal were in 5th, 6th and 7th places over this time period and yesterday were 1 point behind Spurs. All Spurs needed to do was beat West Ham yesterday afternoon and they stood to get £10 million next season in the CL, provided Arsenal lose the Final in Paris in 2 weeks -winner gets automatic qualification regardless of finishing position. Saturday night Spurs players book into Marriott near West Ham and a number of players eat the lasagne. And at 3am, the manager is awoken by the team doctor to say that 8 of his players have food poisoning.
Spurs try to get the Premier League to postpone the match by a day to allow his players to recover. They refuse. So Spurs play against a fully fit West Ham side with 8 players constantly being given large doses of anti-diarrhoea drugs. The point of the playing a game is that it is supposed to be a fair fight and if there is an obvious disadvantage, like this, then you need to reconsider the options. What harm would it have done to postpone the match by 24 hours so that it was a fair fight!? Spurs could've beaten West Ham and if they had they would be £10 million richer, which can make a big difference in football. So now Spurs are looking to sue the Premier League and the Marriott Hotel Group to recoup some of that lost funds. If anything, Spurs deserve it. I hope Barca slaughter Arsenal in two weeks. The gits at the PL should not have let them play yesterday, I'd like to see the fat cats who made that decision try and play 90 minutes of top notch football with food poisoning.

Anyway, I better get back to work before all the anger and frustration I'm feeling at the moment boils over - I've already sent a long email telling my mum she's being ridiculous to make me cancel the appointment about the wm. It's easy for her, she has a washing machine. And time on her hands that she could hand wash everything if she really wanted to. For a laundrette or using my neighbours I could only do it on Saturday coz I don't have the flipping time! Yeah, I feel a pain in my head.

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 21:32:21 GMT

Almost there! This weekend has seriously driven me nuts, but most of my stuff is in the new house and there's nothing left in the flat which will kill me to take by myself.
I agree with my dad - I have no idea how we got all my stuff down from Liverpool in one load! We've made 4 trips back and forth and then there's still stuff left!
The house is in a truly gawd-awful state - the first thought I had when I walked into my bedroom on Friday was "there's a bad smell in here." But yesterday we cleaned it and managed to get one of the three windows open and now there's no bad smell. But the kitchen requires a lot more work - we spent an hour cleaning it today along with the windows open and the smell is STILL there!
It's going to be at least a year until the house is ready to really live in, but when it's done it's going to be fabulous!
I just don't want to spend the nights alone there... :)

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:19:48 GMT

Got up at 5.30am today and at 5.55am went outside to meet Rupert and we went for a run before going back to the gym to do some weights and then ran back to my place.
What's driving me seriously round the bend is that I really really REALLY have fallen for him, but I don't have the guts to actually DO anything about it because I am too scared - I mean, he can run for an hour or two and not break a sweat and I was sweating like a pig. And I look like a pig.
The first half was quite good, I kept up with him quite easily, but running in the fresh air seems to be harder work than the gym. But I stuck to it, and he argued that because I'm getting over the flu, I can't be expected to run a marathon...well, that helped a little bit.
The slight problem with all of this is I am fairly convinced he doesn't feel the same...he should show a little bit more interest if he did.
And this is going to sound crazy...today for the first time ever in the 4 and half months I've been having sessions with him (OMG - its been 7 and half months since we met! Seriously, where does the time go!?) he touched me other than just shaking hands at the start and end. And the first time was quite amusing, since we were walking along the pier after having run for 10 minutes (I'm sweating like a pig) and he puts his hand on my shoulder, I jump a mile -why should I expect it!?- and he bursts out laughing. The next four times weren't as bad. And he did ask quite a few questions about my life. I asked him how his father is, because I know he's been going to visit him as much as possible since he's in hospital in South Wales, and, since it wasn't the first time I had asked him he didn't look as suprised as he did the first time I asked, he had no problem talking about it - which is a change from the first time when he gave a brief description. He asked where I was moving to, and then pointed out how he lives a 5 minute walkaway from there (as opposed to 15 minutes now...) and he seemed particularly interested on knowing how I was moving and if I had help. Should've said I didn't and paid close attention to the reaction...
You know when you just want to grab someone and you have to use every ounce of restraint in you? I appear uninterested in general and I think I look like I'm putting up my wall just because I have to keep my nerve...
Yeah, anyway...it's eating me alive.

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 23:56:09 GMT

Ok, I admit it.

I am more of a Trekkie than I was prepared to admit.

Normally I hate bank holiday weekend because it can be so boring and looonnngggg....

But this weekend has been brilliant because it's been full of sleep, football and Star Trek.

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 10:16:22 GMT

Excellent, my dad's sister has been telling my dad what his mother in law has been saying to me. I initially thought this was a very stupid idea because what would my dad care about it? I mean, she's like that to everyone. Interestingly, he asked her what to do about it and according to my aunt he's extremely pissed off with her (my grandma). So my dad does have feelings. Who knew?
She told him to talk to me. This should be amusing -he'll ask me what I think about it. And since I've inherited his inability to talk about feelings etc, I'm not sure I'm going to give a very good answer. Both my dad and uncle can't stand my grandma but my uncle takes it because there's not much you CAN do but my dad is not tactful. There are a pile of photos in my photobox from when I was a lot younger that my mum gave to me because it's my gran taking the family picture and my dad is posing stupidly.
Apparently the thing that pissed my dad off the most from what his sister told him was that my grandma had told me that I had clearly taken after him and he's not good enough for her daughter. I then asked her (through gritted teeth) if that meant if I wasn't good enough for her family. And she hesitated saying "there are moments when we question it." So I pointed out the general agreement was I took after her and my aunt with the Polish blood running thick through us while my mum and cousin took after my grandad, being typically reserved British. And she told me to shut up saying there is no way I take after her. Again, I pointed out the agreement that my dad and her are much more believable as mother and son than her and my mum as mother and daughter. She hung up on me.
What I find amusing is she can be a cow but if you manage to get in there, you can knock her off her pedastool. What should be interesting is how I react to a mother in law of mine who acts like her...

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 09:40:29 GMT

Have theory: Dan was using me.
Point 1: According to Dave, he only said to give me his number after he was told my family live in Switzerland. This is significant because there is the World Cup in Germany and the Euro n Switzerland/Austria in 2008 and having free accomodation would be really helpful for both.
Point 2: When he discovered in October last year that my family had left Switzerland he said (and I quote) "damn, I was going to crash at your place during the WC and Euro." But then he perked up when I pointed out my family have a flat in Klosters. I did find the initial comment strange, but I just gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Point 3: He has made a shit-all effort since then to be my friend whereas before then he would always make sure not too much time had passed before he made contact again. Funnily enough, in the 2 weeks since I sent that text, I still haven't heard anything from him. I didn't block him.
This might sound like a ridiclous theory, but take into account that on my birthday 2 years ago e didn't know it was my birthday when 1) Dave had invited him to "celebrate Steph's 19th birthday" and 2) we went out and Dave and Cathy gave me a present and cards and 3) there was a fucking cake that said "Happy Birthday Steph!" Still, ask him today roughly when my birthday is (spring, summer, autumn and winter) and he'll look at you blank. I think that this last one is what convinced Dave he'd made a big mistake thinking Dan and I would be good together. And the number of times he's said Cardiff-Bristol is too far to see each other even once a month! Right, a 40 minute train ride is too much. Wow, do I have such high expectations!
And the fact that I am now proper sick means that I will bash his head in if I see him.

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:40:19 GMT

It's official: NatWest have stepped way over the boundary this time. They cancelled my card by "accident" twice in a month and then yesterday I tried to use my card coz I had no money on me and it got declined. So I phone NatWest and they tell me all three of my accounts with them have been closed!! So I now have to go into work late coz I have to go withdraw the remaining monies. And one of the first things the girl on thehelpdesk said was to suggest me going and opening an account with another bank coz there seems to be some fault with mine. WHAT KIND OF BANK TELLS YOU TO GO TO ANOTHER ONE!?!?! It means that coz the 1st of April was on a Saturday and they closed the account on Friday none of my bills got paid by direct debit so now I'm going to have to pay a number of charges. Stupid fuckers.
Meanwhile, had first session with Rupert in 2 months this morning - and it was the 2nd time I'd been to the gym in that period (neuro in Liverpool really did something to me) and I was convinced I was going to die. But, while I survived since I'm writing this, I genuinely impressed him -facial expressions, body language and tone of voice can say a lot...he set up the rowing machine to do 30 secs rowing, 30 secs rest and repeat 4 times, each time extending the distance rowed in 30 secs and to keep the pace below 2.20mins/500m. 1st rep: 107m; 2nd rep: 112m; 3rd rep: 112m and 4th rep: 114m. Apparently I shouldn't have been able to do that, and for the first time in months (maybe a couple of years) I started to feel genuine emotion as I smiled. Breakthrough! This is my proof to my family why constant criticism is not the way to go, after all, they have been asking for it.