First Impressions of Green Mountain at Fox Run

Today is the first day of  what I hope will be a really life - enhancing experience.  I was up at 6 and watched a beautiful sunrise over the mountain - not completely snow covered at the moment due, apparently, to unseasonably warm weather.  Today is not warm, although it is very cosy inside.  The building is wooden and looks like a much - extended ski lodge.
Everyone is extremely friendly and the staff are completely none - judgemental and willing to make alterations to the exercise programmes so that even arthritic grandmothers, like me, can join in everything and make real adjustments to their lives.

I guess to the English psyche the motivational talks might be a little strange but I have resolved to completely buy into the whole thing and am finding that much of what I hear resounds with me. I even jotted down the pithy little motivational saying for the day and have thought about it! Today I have heard talks about how diet is managed here (it's a diets don't work approach, although healthy eating is the mainstay of the system). No food is banned but you are not supposed to eat anywhere except the dining room, to encourage thoughtful eating and an awareness and enjoyment of the food. I also went to a class where we learned the importance of pre - exercise stretches and practised doing them.  Several people had issues with joints or other injuries and we were given loads of ideas for successful modifications to the exercises.  I have not exercised for years so am a bit stiff tonight but the lady who did my health check this morning came to find me tonight with a laminated sheet of exercises to do in the shower tomorrow to loosen me up. My daylight hours wound up with a meditation session and seated stretch and relax.  I am expecting to eat well tonight!!

I am a little late blogging about another trip to the cinema to see The Impossible, a film based on the true story of a Spanish family's experiences in the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.It was beautifully filmed and acted and I thought it excellent avoided the temptation of wallowing in the horror but just got on and told the story honestly. 

On Friday I went with my daughter- in- law and little granddaughters to the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield.  I would  highly recommended this outing. As it was lunchtime we went to the very pleasant cafe which, while being child friendly, was also great for those without children.  After this we wandered the gallery, enjoying the sculptures which showed to great advantage in the light and airy exhibition spaces.  It is free to go to the gallery and I took great delight in watching the interest my 3 year old granddaughter took in talking about the exhibits.  We only stayed about an hour in the galleries so as not to put her off wanting to go again  but, for an adult, it deserves a much longer viewing! 

Hepworth Wakefield

www.hepworthwakefield.org/

I had a bit of fun yesterday planning and cutting a new quilt to celebrate the year 2012.  I found some marvellous fabrics depicting London scenes and also some I sent off for from the USA with pictures of athletes and gymnasts. I've chosen a very simple patchwork style as the fabric is very busy and I have deliberately avoided making it highly tasteful and muted with plain fabrics. I want the vibrancy of the Olympics to come through my work.
Will post a photo when it is done.