We both failed big time!

So, neither me or my sister managed to complete the last challenge - a bit embarrassing if you ask me. I'm sure that we both have tons of excuses as to why, I just think that none of them are good enough. If we want to raise money then we need to make an effort and take the time to do it, so shame on us!

Since both of us lost we both need to put €20 into the collection!

The next challenge is under consideration, we have agreed that it need to be an indoor one due to the snow, cold and general Scandinavian weather. The final details need to be ironed out before it is published to the general population, watch this space!

A nice little snowstorm got in the way!

Yesterday I had a date with one of my friends to Christmas decorate my bike and go for a ride, anything to win over my sister!

Yesterday the weather gods thought that it would be nice with a little snowstorm! Needless to say that the decorations have to wait

We did get another donation though, which is amazing!

What was I thinking?

Usually in December the weather in the South-western parts of Sweden is perhaps cold, rainy and windy. Occasionally there is also snow, a centimeter or two that usually disappears after a day or two. So the nice little Christmas-challenge would be very do-able. This year however it started snowing on the second of December and it hasn't stopped. Today is a beautiful day, clear skies, fresh air, ten centimeters of snow glowing and sparkling in the sun, and minus 18 degrees Celsius. To be able to bike in this weather you need dubs on your bike (which I don't have), a good balance (nope, don't got that either), clothes that you are able to bike in (my winter clothes makes me feel like the Micheline-man, so no, they don't work).
And first of all I need to dig out my bike, since i forgot to take it down to the garage.
No, this challenge is not going well, wonder how sister is doing?

A beautiful Sunday Morning

This Sunday morning I woke up to a heavy snowfall and another donation for our collection, this far we have managed to raise €240 which is absolutely amazing!

Looking at how the snow just keep falling I am happy that it is next Sunday that I have a date with my friend to decorate the bike and go for a long ride, as per sisters latest challenge. I already have the Christmas lights ready, all I need is to buy batteries. Not sure what else I should use for decoration, that is why I have called in the experts!

My sister doesn't make it easy for me!

She might love Christmas time and have tons of things available at home to decorate a bike to look all Christmasy, I don't feel the same about Christmas or Christmas decorations! I might have to call in some favors from friends on this one. What I need is one day during December where a friend or two are available to help me decorate the bike and maybe even come with me on the bike ride. I promise anyone that help me out an amazing dinner afterwards! Any takers?

New Challenge for you sister!!

Someone suggested that I should come up with the next challenge, because I won the first one. So here it is. We´re entering the dark times of December (which I LOVE) which lead me to think that a cheering up Christmas challenge would be in place.

So sister I want to see who of us can bike the longest distance in one go, on a Christmas-decorated bike (lights, santas, Christmas tree-decorations of all kind, snow, take your pick) Endomondo and picture proof required. It will start on the First of  December and finish on the 21st (so we will have time and prepare for Christmas-celebrations, you know hanging with family, singing, cleaning, baking, decorating, that kind of stuff.)

The looser will donate 20 euros and the winner 10. All in the giving spirit of Christmas.
Are you in sister dearest??

It's alright!

Fine, my sister and all her excuses will be awarded the win in the challenge since it is obvious that the only way she could win was a free 10 kilometers and an extra week where she was un-contested. I have transferred the €10 and am now trying to think up yet another challenge that I can win and some higher stakes. Any good ideas?

Actually I won!

But it all depends on how your counting. I did the biking before the challenge ended but due to circumstances such as my illness, husbands illness and youngest daughters illness, the grade of updating the blog has been beyond low.
Anyway sister wanted proof, here it is. (only for the sake of honour) But I can gladly donate the 10 euros for being late with the proof.

What a joyous Friday morning

The biking challenge might be over and my brain working overtime in order to come up with a new challenge  (ideas are more than welcome) that I can win! However, while eating breakfast this morning my phone pinged as a new e-mail was received and guess what! We received another donation, very appreciated Susanne! We are now up to €180 and there are still months to go before the bike race, think we are doing good this far.

Darn, darn, darn!

My sneaky sister seriously took advantage of the fact that I went out of town, and went on a biking streak on Monday! However, have any of you seen any proof of the same? I haven't! Does that mean I won then?

There are eight minutes left before this challenge is over, should I be kind enough to accept late entrances? Though choice, we are talking about €10 here - and the honor of beating your sister in a competition that wasn't really that fair!

Ouch what a bad ending!

It has been quiet the last week, this is due to me being sick (again, autumn is no fun!) and an unforeseen last minute trip to the parents since my dad's body needed  a visit to the hospital again. It feels good to be able to drop everything and go and be close to my parents and sister when this happens, and I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to work from home so that work doesn't suffer too much.

I did manage to do some biking on Tuesday, then Wednesday morning I got on a train and completely forgot to post the evidence of the same, so here goes;

Today is Saturday, and even though I am getting on a plane relatively soon I still managed to squeeze some last K's in on the bike.

Note to one self, when challenging ones sister to do something, do check your calender if you have any plans for the time period. My sister will now be unchallenged for the reminder of the time, and does have a fair chance to beat me :( Technically, I think I should get a handicap for the three days I spent with my parents this week, what do you think?

I'm still winning - awesome!

Yes, I admit that I have been a tad bit lazy over the past few days. I'm still winning though, so good, my sister will never hear the end of it!

I'm on the bike again!

How far? To work this morning, and should probably take the long way home today. We will see.. I'm definitely going to win this!!

I am not competative!

Maybe a little bit, maybe! Since I'm working from home today I had the opportunity to take a little longer lunch break, this break was then used for a bike tour. Usually the biking is to take me from one point to another, if a longer one I will listen to the radio, if a short one I don't listen to anything really. For a lunch break ride I have a documentary from the Swedish state radio channel P3 as company, today I learned more about the Columbine shooting. It does put your life into perspective and thankful that you never been around crazy kids like that!

Catching up?

Thank you for donations and handicap!
Wohoo, seems like I might still have a chance in this. Especially since yesterday the Swedish autumn showed itself from it's best side, with blue skies, sun and no wind. So I managed to get up on the bike and bike to work. I have about 4 km to work which takes about15-20 minutes (depending on how awake I am).

There is a tiny difference between the cities where sister dearest and I live. Hers is flat, there is no hills in sight unless their man-made. Mine his, what should i call it, built on hills. This means that biking here is up and down and you and up all sweaty, flushed  and tired, while she can just tramp along and look as good as ever. Just so you now the conditions for this challenge.

Om my way home yesterday I took a detour to town (had some shopping to do) and for that you have to cross a bridge, where you almost always think that the wind will blow you of. I do think, however, that I live in one of the most beautiful cities on earth (and I have visited quite a few). And if you and your bike get tired biking, you can always take a free-ride with the boat across the river.

Just a regular Tuesday

I was a bit lazy with the biking yesterday taking the short routes to work, and I even forgot to start Endomondo for the last bit home from the station. Logging on to Endomondo this morning I can see that I'm in trouble and need to step up my act, since my sister of course choose the day she received 10 extra kilometers to bike another 10 - she is almost even with me now!

10k for my sister as promised

My sister wanted a handicap due to her stressful life as a working mother, and I agreed with a condition; when we reached €100 I would give her 10k. Well today due to an amazing person we hit €100 and then some and true to my word I have added 10k to my sister.

I'm still way ahead of her though!

A brr Monday

It is getting colder here in the Nordic countries, and today was also very windy. Due to some technical issues with my phone this morning, I missed out on measuring the first part of my biking, the issue was then solved during the train ride to Copenhagen. Sister dearest is in trouble, she doesn't have that many days left to catch up as we are now almost half way through the challenge and I am way ahead...

She is baaaaaack :)

After a week of illness and then a visit from the very sister I competing against, I finally got around to get back in to the saddle. The weather today was absolutely fantastic, a bit cold but still. Me and my friend took our bikes down to the seaside for a coffee and then the tad bit longer route home.

I mean, I really need those kilometers since it might happen that we do receive another €30 for the collection and then I owe my sister 10k handicap. Don't forget that you always can see the current status of our little challenge here!

It is fall afterall

You might have noticed that it has been a bit quiet around here. There is a very natural explanation for that, fall germs. After I so kindly gave my sisters 10 kilometers for free when we reached €100 in the collection, I of course became sick. I managed to drag myself to work Monday and Tuesday, with a minimum amount of biking and no thought to actually measure it.

I am trying to cure myself at the moment, there is soup, honey water and loads of sleep and doing nothing on the couch. Boring as it can be, nothing to do though then get better and back at it. Hopefully I feel better this weekend in combination with a sun peaking out and then I show you how it's done!

 

I'm not completly evil!

In need of a handicap

Since my lovely sister is of to a flying start in our challenge I realise that I have a problem. Last week it was the rain that kept my from biking , I finally ignored it on Friday and managed to put 7 km in the competition. This week started with sick kids, and a husband away on a business trip (his first one ever, typically). So no leaving home,  no trip to work, no biking. Gah! I don't have enough time. I need a clone or 36 hour days, Anyone have a solution? I was thinking maybe a handicap. Since my sister is free to spend her time as almost she like and I need to take care of, feed, clean up after and cuddle with kids, I must be in a position to ask for a handicap of about 10 km or so? No?

Here is the biking from Friday anyway.

And YEY!! We got donations, keep'em coming folks!!!