For the last ten years we have gone to the Heybridge (not Henley) Regatta. A chance to soak up our island’s boating traditions. Apart from 2016 the weather has been kind to us and yesterday was no exception. It was glorious. Not that we ever see many boats. It is all about the contents of the cool box and getting together with friends.  Whilst we missed the main races we did cheer on the rowing events including a shovel race where competitors (to the Hawaii five-0 tune) use shovels to get their rowing boats past the finish line. Rowing is a great upper body and core workout. Something to think about in my future fitness aspirations.

The highlight of the day (apart from the cool box) is the greasy pole pillow fight. If only I was a few years younger and wasn’t warfarinised. Although the water temperature in the lock (I dipped my toe in) would make it a refreshing fall from grace.

We finished off dancing to a Motown tribute band. A great day. The only downside was the amount of calories I consumed. But there is always Monday to get back on track.

When I attended the Sweatlife Festival a few weeks ago one of the speakers ‘a wellness entrepreneur’ made reference to ‘The Slight Edge’, a self help book. A number of people in the audience had read it so (obviously) I visited Amazon on my way home. This was one of two books I purchased. I can’t tell you how many fitness and nutrition books I own. And now I have added a self help book to the pile. I just hope I never get trapped if they topple over. Death by health and wellness literature.

Anyway I am working my way through it, although I should be reading Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park for the next book club meeting. The slight edge refers to those little things that you can do on a daily basis that will over time accumulate to become great things. I’m unsure what it is about self help books but it always feels as if they take a huge amount of time explaining why they are going to ‘help’ you. You have turn a good few pages to get to the nitty gritty. But I’m getting there. The philosophy can be applied to all aspects of your life including finances fitness and relationships. It is not rocket science. The challenging part is turning these small changes into habits. We all know that a little, regular exercise is going to improve your fitness and that saving money each month is good for your financial health. But doing it consistently is the challenge.

One thing I started doing a year or so ago was to run up the (rather high) escalator coming out of the underground. When I first started doing it a year or so ago I struggled. I was really tempted to slot myself back with the sensible commuters enjoying a leisurely assent. But I persevered. It became a habit. And it is now easy. I wouldn’t think about joining the ‘stand on the left’ crew.

The obstacle to having a slight edge is procrastination. Something I am guilty of. Where I am currently procrastinating is in the completion of a course I am doing on Exercise and the Older Adult. Unfortunately so many qualifications for fitness professionals (I have a Diploma in Personal Training) are completed through distance learning with telephone  support, if required, from a twelve year old with limited vocabulary. Probably a little harsh and a tiny bit ageist but my reality. You pay your money then don’t hear from them until they want more money as you have not completed it in the given time. I’m now approaching that time so I need to get my head down

Fourteen weeks into my sixtieth year and 14 ticks on my 60 for 60 list. It is going well.