This week I tried to escape from a nuclear bunker. Well a shack in the grounds of a nuclear bunker. And I was detonated. A big fail. But it was fun. Doing an Escape Room was on my 60 for 60 so on a warm, sunny afternoon that is what the Class of 75 did. I knew that I would be fairly useless at such an activity as it is not how my brain works. But I was confident that my school friends would pull it out of the bag. But it was not to be. So many combination locks and keys and the sixty minutes soon disappeared. After detonation we were told by the host that we were nearly there but I think she was just being kind. I’d still be there now if left to my own devices. Our host also told us that we were a lovely group to watch. Probably as we didn’t kill each other. I’m sure they must have witnessed some flared tempers in their time. 

But we will do it again. I’m sure that the more you do the better you become at working out the clues and even identifying what is a clue. You don’t unlock a torch halfway through the game to relieve your tired eyes. It is to pick out an ultraviolet clue. I’m also planning to do one with my team at work. They will be questioning my legitimacy as their manager by the end of it. But hey ho not long to retirement.

We followed our detonation with afternoon tea and Prosecco at a lovely hotel. Any calories expended trying to get out of a shack were soon replaced and more. But it was a great afternoon. And more importantly we agreed that such afternoons should not just be for birthday celebrations. They should be part of our life. So we are now planning to walk over the O2 followed by calories.

The last few weeks have not been as enjoyable as our afternoon out. The funeral for my father-in-law was a couple of days before. The end of a sad five weeks coming to terms of the death of a father and a grandfather. My husband and I have now lost both our parents and my children their grandparents. Although I never knew my husband’s mum. She died at the age of 53. And my father died four years before my daughter was born. But it feels like a significant milestone. We are the next generation to go.

The day of the funeral was also my final assessment of my Professional Coach qualification. I could have delayed it but I wanted to put it past me. It has been one of the most challenging courses I have ever done. A combination of ensuring that the technology was working to record the session, knowing that the session was being recorded and doing your best for the client was difficult. I’ve had some great assessment feedback so fingers crossed that this final one will result in being able to call myself an Approved ICF Coach. I’m so looking forward to having clients without the pressures of technology and assessment.

The pressures of the last few weeks have done very little for my aim to reduce my body fat. Even my training has taken a bit of a back seat. But for me that means getting to the gym three times per week not five. I still am feeling a little anxious. So it is now time to get back on track. I am going to Tenerife next week to celebrate my twenty-fifth wedding anniversary where I plan to eat, drink and relax. It is then just a few short weeks before my big birthday. I want to get there feeling and looking great.