Is Horseriding Just for the Rich?

Posted by Mari Jones on February 22, 2008 9:36 AM

In my quest to get fit and wanting to try something new, I thought I'd try some horseriding.

What could be better than getting out into the mountains with the glorious weather we've just had?

The last time I was one a horse was at Pinewood Stables in about 1991, most children in the Conwy area will bound have been on a horse at Pinewood sometime when they were growing up.

Off we'd go up the mountain in a long line, and the better riders would be taken off for a bit of a trot or canter. I loved it, and it was great for the thighs as they ached for days afterwards.

So I Googled riding stables in the Conwy area and was surprised to see that hardly anything came up.

I knew Pinewood had closed long ago but surely there must be others in the area, especially with amount of glorious scenery we have. How wrong I was.

One place I called said they'd been closed two years, another said they run riding holidays but can't have local people coming in because the insurance would be too great.

The owner said because of insurance problems, if people want to ride they now have to really buy their own horse and go to pony club meetings!

I did find one riding stable who did take beginners but the waiting list is so long, I didn't have a chance.

It's an incredible shame that in this health and safety obsessed country of ours, and our increasing suing culture, things like riding stables are disappearing fast.

Where is this all going to end?

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Having a rant

Posted by Mari Jones on February 15, 2008 3:29 PM

I've just been writing the Weekly News Issue on the cheery subject of childhood obesity.

During my research I've discovered health experts are predicting that 50% of children in Wales will be obese by 2020!

I'm still in shock and after talking to health professionals in Conwy, it seems they are fighting a losing battle.

I was having a swim the other day and there was a little girl in the pool, who quite obviously couldn't swim very well.

She was just sort of floating around in the shallow end, not quite sure what to do, whilst her mother was lying on a fold down chair busily reading a magazine.

The mother seemed oblivious to her daughter and hardly even looked up.

Now as a mother myself I know how important a little bit of 'me time' is but wouldn't it have been better if she was in the pool having a splash around with her daughter?

The little girl was also quite overweight but obviously wasn't getting anything out of being in the pool.

One of the big problems health workers has is to get young people to exercise because many don't want to be laughed at if they are overweight, whilst others just don't think it's 'cool'.

Anyway, rant over. I just think some parents need to be more proactive if we are going to avert this national health disaster.

Note to Louisa, who seems fed-up of reading about me doing things at the Quay. How about giving me some ideas about what else I can do to get fit or don't read my blog!

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An Uncomfortable Silence

Posted by Mari Jones on February 6, 2008 4:07 PM

IS it just me or do most people feel slightly uncomfortable when you're there relaxing by yourself in a sauna or steam room, daydreaming about something and then when someone else walks in you immediately tense up?

I always feel compelled to say something, usually idiotically about the heat. "Gosh, isn't it hot in here!" The other person invariably nods and gives a polite little laugh and the ice is broken.

I'm also one of those typically British people who will never even go into a sauna if someone else is in there.

I'm just the same if I travel on the train, I'll do anything to avoid sitting next to someone else, it's that British reserve thing.

Anyway, there I was praying no one was going to come into the steam room at the Deganwy Quay Hotel, and in fact was praying quite hard as I had a chipped pedicure circa December 2007, and even worse hairy legs that badly needed waxing.

Then in walks in this Adonis of a man. Great hair, voice and perfect six pack. Now, I'm a very happily married woman but one couldn't help but admire this perfect form.

I cringed and was grateful the steam hid my blushes. I lay there staring at the hairy legs (mine) mortified and then he started chatting away saying that he had come to live in the area after falling in love with Snowdonia (bless), and it turned out he was mad on climbing (which explained the bod)

In the end I was about to pass out with the heat and lust, and got up as gracefully as possible and cooled down in the shower.

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My Inner Britney Comes to Life

Posted by Mari Jones on February 1, 2008 9:42 AM

Cheerleading? CHEERLEADING?! Would I like to do a class in something that only nubile 16-year-olds with long blonde hair and fake tan should do? You betcha!

It would make a change from the gym anyway, so off I went to the new dance studio Break-n-Spin, in Builders Street, Llandudno.

A place where all sorts of dance have come together under one roof, including street dance, salsa and ballroom.

I even wore plaits for the occasion to try and look more Britney like, but since I'm pushing 35 it was a little ambitious.

I was as usual late and I was confronted with a packed out class already making a few moves reminiscent of the legendary Laker Girls.

I suddenly felt nervous and memories of my PE teacher complaining about my lack of coordination skills came flooding back.

Whilst everybody else was waving their arms one way I was doing it the opposite way, and this went on throughout the class.

Having Gwyn, our Weekly News photographer pointing his camera at me throughout the hour didn't help. Whilst I was trying not to look ridiculous Gwyn was shouting things like 'smile' or rather oddly 'jump higher'.

I comforted myself with the thought that it must be everybody's fourth or fifth class but I was mortified to discover it was their first.

Although I had a blast and it looked everybody else did too, I shuffled away into the dark night thinking perhaps I should stick to the gym after all.

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