I am such a failier I even fail at failing.

So at the start of a very long weekend phyically ending by comming home to take the dog for a walk at 5:30 Sunday and beginning 8:10am Saturday when I set off for Bishop to do my 100 lengths.

There were 4 of us ready to swim two other middle aged women and a man. The women were doing 60 lenths and the man was doing 5k in two hours. I choose the lane with the man. So I set off to swim and after an hour I wanted a wee and convinced myself that I was going to be in the pool untill 10:05. So at about 9:50 I looked up to find out I only had to do 2 more lengths. My time was 1 hour 18 minutes and 20 seconds, the counter though it was impressive. So one would expect that I would then go home and rest.

I got changed and walked the 1.7 miles to the Rugby club, disapointingly I wasn't sore. I walked past a wool shop and bought some dk for socks. I should have bought some food on the way but didn't seem to pass any food shops, I am sure the stomack pains were hunger. I got to the club had a burger, some water and a mars.

Then took some pictures of the U13s playing a touring side, it was a good side which was good for our much improved side to be playing a better team. My partner refereed, when looking at the pictures I realised he had he was wearing a Gaycliffe shirt. I uploaded the pictures and showed to the opposition. Ok now go home and rest.

I managed to get a lift to "watch" the 2nds play Durham III I particualy wanted to visit Durham as I have connections there. This included a 2/3 mile walk to the pitch at Shincliffe. I took pictures of Durham III beating Bishop IIs for both sides. The day had a hot sun with a cold wind. It turns out the hot sun turned be bright red.

Soon after getting back was Charlotts 18th party a prominant character in the club. Stuart picked me up about 10:30, it was only then I told him how I did on the swim as I was annoyed he didn't pick me up or arange for me to be picked up. I had two matched to watch the next day. It turned out only the U17s county Final. Stuart left me at about 4pm to get the bus home. There is a walk up a steep hill from the club to the bus station. Home walk the dogand process the 600+ pictures I took.

I didn't feel well on Sunday morning hangover and premenstual stuff. So I didn't work hard enough

This morning (Tuesday) I went swimming again, only to be asked by my son "You said you would never do it again". Well I am fitter, thinner and can eat more chocolate and have got to do better next year.

5 more swims before the big one. Today I swam somewhere between 60 and 66 lengths in 55 minutes. 2 lenghts in 15 minutes and 6 length in 5 minutes after that between 8:20 and 9:15. So judging by that I am on target to swim 100 lenghts less than 1.5 hours all 70k of me. I also know I have a body mas index of just over 25 which make me nearly obese. Not that Body mas Index is anything to go by.

Last weekend I had a nearly rugby free weekend going to barcamp and learning two new games. Powerpoint Carokee. Download a random power point you have never seen before and talk yourself though it. A Warewolf a mind game thingy. One of the lectures was titiled something like Jsritpt and how to impress girls, so of course all the girls attended. I think we all agreed that boys would be more impressed by girls knowing jscript that the other way round. Anyway I have been introduced to Jscript and CSS3. I think I am going to be be a stubbon bitch and use css3 knowing that the majority of poeple who use internet explorer will never see the improvements I have made.

The barcamp was held in the Life Centre which had no windows at eye height which meant that I didn't see the horizon for 26 hours a really strange experience. Got home via the rugby club to find the front door unlocked and my eldest upstairs on Samuel Xbox. Nice to know I am apprciated for something. I haven't seen or heard from him since.

So 9 swims left. I have rearranged to do the swim on Saturaday the 17th of April between 8:30 and 10:30. The Under 13s, my sons team, has a touring side to play against on that moring which I Should imagine I will be expected to take pictures. The kick off will be 11am. I have also found out that I do not need my partner to count they have staff that can do that. In the afternoon the firsts are playing at home the following morning the 16s have a home game.

My swimming this week hasn't gone that well because I am beginning to talk to people and waste time that way. So I probably only did 30 lenths on Tuesday and swam for 40 minutes today. I think the swimming is doing me good apart from being hungry all of the time I seem to be firmer. I have been told the best time to go swimming is 8am Tuesday and Thursday.

This weekend I am not doing any rugby because I am going to barcamp north east in Newcastle. Should at least be a break from the politics of the u13s team. Even if I chose not to be involved one can't help but experience the tensions that others are experiencing. Apart from creating my own, I am very good at that.

So am hoping that this weekend will give me a break. Trouble is I need to find something to talk about soap making maybe or knitting socks anyway that is for tomorrow.

There are 11 swims left before the big one. This week I have swam 30 and 40 minutes. I reckon I am doing 4 lengths in 3 minutes. So today based on that I did about 50 lenths. So as a rough estimate I would be doing the swim in 75 to 90 minutes.

The under 9s team at bishop are organising a mile run for sport relife the adults can pay £1 and walk round if they wish especially if they are bald and over 40. My cop out is I am needed to take the pictures so therefore I cannot do the run. So I paid my pound and am going to swim it 64 lengths is on the way to 100. People can not come and watch me do the swim as I am doing it on a Friday morning. hopefully Stuart is taking the day off to count my lengths. Anyway there is time for things to change.

My youngest(13) has beed excluded from school for setting up a facebook group against a teacher he doesn't like. To his credit it did get 97 memebers. He is being very mature about it accepting his punishment. He knows that it was wrong and he will not do it again. however, I think we both see the other side of this.

As for next week 30 minutes and 45 minutes 40 + 60 getting there although it doesn't fell like it at the moment and in the meantime knitting socks and doing websites,

This is the first week I have swam 2 1/2 hour sessions. And today I had to make my own way to the swimming pool as Stuart has to go to Rotherham for a meeting. It was a beautifill morning, cold and clear. I was lazy and got the bus back, but I could still end up walking 4.7 miles today.

As for the swimming I think my stammina is increasing I am now swimming 2 backstoke 1 breaststoke and 1 back paddle I say paddle I rarely use my hands. The trouble with swimming on your back is that you can't see where you are going and it annoys people. Ladies who manage not to get there hair wet untill they get in the shower. I think I am fitter in myself as well although I think I need a bit more stamina for the big day.

So Other than the rugby club by that I mean Bishop Auckland not Aycliffe. I have been commisioned to knit for my grandchild. They asked for a blanket and a toucan. The blanket will consist of 100 10cm square so far I have knitted 4 along with 1 pair of baby socks and mits and a hat. I suppose this is one of the qualifications for being a granny.

I am really proud that the County website (www.durhamrugby.com) have put a link to the county pictures I took last Sunday at Bishop Auckland. The wheather was terrible dark and rainy.

Now I am thinking will I continue after the big day, I really don't know, but if I didn't it would be as stupid as a rugby club running out of beer

I am dyslexic which explains why I haven't seen any weighing matching or been given any dietry advice. So I have no idea whether I am loosing wieght or not I am certainly eating more, I suspect that I am fitter. Last Thursday I walked to the sports club a two mile walk and did it in half an hour. I may walk there today after walking home and walking the dog today a distance of 4.7 miles in total.

As of next week I will be going slimming twice a week maybe 2 1/2 hours we shall see. This week I have had a bad cold probably doing to much trying to beat Stuart last week. When I have a cold everybody suffers

I don't know how many length I swam this week more than 20 and possibly more than 40 spending 40/45 minutes in the pool. Walking home my legs hurt we shall see what I am like tomorrow.

As for rugby who know the weather is a still a bit changable at the moment it is amazing how obsessed you can become with the weather when if affects what you do. Most people talk about the weather for something to talk about the same way most men talk about football even if they are not that interested.

So next week 2 half hour sessions

Today was the first day of the Falcons Training camp at bishop auckland rugby club. Stuart had decided to take two days off as he has plenty of holiday left. So I decided that he should come swimming with me at Bishop at lunch time as that is when they do lane swimming.

So Stuart dropped Samuel off, I purchased some picture frames for a picture I was asked to print for the club. We hung around for a bit, had a cup of tea. Whist chatting someone Steve came out with a brilliant line he said that Bob wasn't a very good geologist as he never made the earth move for his wife. Then went swimming, we were early so I looked round the place for at bit. The 3m high diving board had gone and the pool was shorter and the deepend was only 2m not 12 feet.

So how did Stuart do? Well he swam 40 lenghts breast stoke in 45 minutes. Me, I was better I did 40 and some more waiting for Stuart to do his forty possilby 54ish. 15 minutes to do the first and worst 20. Swimming with someone is better because you have to at least keep up with them if not beat them and you can talk to them.

There was in the pool a big hairy tatooed man who swam faster than me but really smoothly.

So I am thinking at the moment yes I will be able to do it about 90 minutes. And as from the 1st of March I will be swimming twice a week.

I have walked the dog and am thinking of walking 2 miles to the club tonight and yes I am mad.

As the week draws towards Thursday I am thinking do I really want to do this. Do I really want to remove my body hair again. Funny thing is, walking back with my legs hurting it all seems worth while.

For the lads; I swam for 40 minutes one backstroke, back paddle, breaststoke, back paddle. The back paddle lengths took 50-55 seconds the breast stroke was faster and and the backstoke faster still. So I probably swam more than 40 lenths. My plan of action is to go once a week untill March and then twice a week untill the sponsored swim excpt the last thursday. I should probably swim at Bishop, where I intaily learnt to swim, at least once before the sponsorhip.

I find the first 20 or so length the worst then there come to a point where I could go on for ever. I should have taken something to tie my hair up with.

Swimming is a bit like taking the dog for a walk, which I think keeps me sane in that your mind wonders and sorts the world problems out. Who is annoying you who isn't who is growing on you, and at the same time is infurriating, and who is just infuriating you.

The rugby club has two Seniro home games this weekend and two junior home games again with the un16 and u13s. Last weekend I got some pictures of my son beating Consett. The pictures from the under 16s match were lifted from the bishopaucklandrugby website and spread round facebook like a virus. Some of the lads using the pictures as profile pictures. So they are all helping to promote rugby and the club.

And so as next Thursday draws near the less I will want to go.

Walking now there's an interesting concept, it certainly seemed I had forgotton to do it when I had finished my 30ish lenghts. Then I had to (wasn't perpared to spend £1.20 on the bus) walk 1.2 miles home and will walk the dog later 1.5 miles and no doubt when I begin to feel fit walk to the sports club another 2 miles what would that be 4.7 miles, not this week though.

I can not count, it seems silly when I have an MSc in maths, but I can't so I cann't be accurate about the lengths I have beeen doing. I knit socks and it is a problem there as well. So I can't count but my the haze after the swim I am working out the change while shopping. The receptionist at the pool suggested that £32 as opposed to £23 is a saving of 10% --- not quite. I bet you reading this thinking she can't spell.

I wasn't keen to go this morning I am by nature a lazy person and the first 20 length were the worst then after that I got to feel I could go on for ever. I spent 35 minutes in the pool. I am acking that has to be good even my wrist hurts. I have also bought voucher for 10 swims for £23 so I am at least committed to 9 more swims. After next week I will start swimming twice a week.

I would be fitter if it weren't for the snow, I used to like snow but it is preventing me from seeing the people I like. Matches are being called off training cancelled. It would seem that taking pictures is phyical not only standing in the cold and trying to get the best shots but the hour or so afterwards sorting and getting a selection on the web. Oh well the bad weather can't last for ever. It will mean I will be busy between now and May

It turns out that I am not the only person from Bishop Auckland Rugby Club to be doing the swim at the same time for the same reason. I am doing it Friday so that it doesn't interfere with the rugby. I will of course support Butch in his 2.5k swim. His intention is to give to the rugby club with his swim. I don't have a problem with that if people would rather give to bish rugby that marie curie I am happy with that.

So let me see if I am fitter for next Thursday and possibly the following Tuesday at Aycliffe Rec

Today was the first swim. This will be the first swim since my recovery from throwing myself on a motorbike on Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland. I was a little anxious however I managed to swim 22 lengths. Mostly backstroke, backpaddle and breaststroke

If there is one thing that deters women from swiming it is shaving, I am the only woman in the universe to have body hair, I am sure of that. My size 14 swiming costume still fits, now that is amazing as someone suggested that I would have trouble getting down to 18 stone. Maybe it has expanded over the years.

I chose to go on Thursday morning so I can get a lift to the recreation Centre as Stuart(my partner) goes to work. It was called a shoppers swim it was mostly men though swimming in lanes. So I dived in. I don't believe in just getting in the water too much time to think. It took me a while to get used to the situation and no doubt them to me. I kept bumping into people because I can still swim quite well and overtook them quite easily.

The town centre is 1.2 miles away and the bus fare is £1.20, so better off putting it towards chocolate, so I walked home and will no doubt be walking the dog 1.5 miles later.

So next week let me see if I can loose count of the lengths I am swimming and not need to stop at the ends. 2.5k is 100 lengths of a 25 metre pool and that should take less than 100 minutes

The trouble with computers is they cause you to press buttons sometimes without fear of the consequenses and sometimes via paths that are unfathonable to others arround you. So today I ended up sighning up for a 2.5k swim at Bishop Auckland on 16 April 2010.

So there I was eding the code for the bishopaucklandrugby website I have discovered that using tinyurl has many advantages such as adding map locations from google maps to the rss file that makes up the front page of the website. This also has advantages updated twitter. So when I finished working on the code I looked up other rss feeds I am sighed up to from igoogle and found the Durham events feed from which I found the swim.

So why swim because I can and I could with getting fitter. I haven't swam since just after I broke my wrist. Anyway, it gives me something to look forward to and a challenge as for the charity if they benifit it is a bonus.

So I intend to dive in the pool sometime late next week. watch this space...