A small change!

The blog has moved from Blogspot to WordPress, basically because WordPress is a better platform. Other than that, there are no major changes!
Please be a bit patient with us over the next few days when two sisters need to agree on theme, color etc!

Should have done this a week ago but...

...something got in the way.

And though still in some weird state of chock and grief. I'm not good at loosing someone so close to me, one way of dealing with it is training, body and mind. The mind got its work out because for some strange reason I suddenly couldn't upload the picture proof of my biking.
I'm fortunate enough to have  a small gym in the basement, where a simple but good enough exercise bike lives. Just look at the cutie. And I've managed two training sessions!! And there will be more where that came from...

Game on Sister!

Yesterday our dad passed away after little more than two years of struggling with Amylodosis and the follow-on diseases that he got.

Today I'm saying Game on Sister!

Since I am in Gothenburg and not at home I don't have access to my gym and the exercise bikes they have there, what I do have access to is this (don't ask me what century it's from!);

I planted it in front of the TV so I could watch an action movie while biking, not that bad! The bikes at my gym also have TVs in front of them, I just can't choose what's shown on there.

I didn't get that much biking done, as the laundry room was booked for 11am, and I am staying at mum's a bit longer than expected so I had to make a trip down there to clean some things, if you know what I mean. I did make a soft start with 12k biked;

I know that my sister have been on the bike, however since she hasn't made any update this means that I am in the lead! Hahahehehoho!

No excuses

Since the time from thought to action in my normal life usually is about two months, I've really tried to shorten that span when it comes to this blog. But somehow I never seem to have enough time for the things I plan to do. Including winning over my sister in these challenges or donating the money (I just now remembered, have to do something about that)

At the moment our dad has one of his more sick periods so the time that could be spent on an exercise-bike is actually spent visiting him, which at least I feel is a good excuse. And I really need good excuses.

Or not.

Put i promise I will get on that bike this weekend. I will, in spite of the fact that i have class on Saturday, we need to clean out all the Christmas stuff, mother in law comes to visit, and youngest daughter turns two on Sunday. No excuses this time, none at all. I will Bike and win this challenge!!
 

It's time for another challenge!

It's 2013, a new year and the perfect time to start fresh, something these two sisters need after completely failing the last challenge. We both still live in Scandinavia, it is still winter in Scandinavia and thus a new outdoor challenge would be a big fail. So lets go inside!

I have a gym membership that has been poorly used over the past few months, and I happen to know that my sister has easy access to a gym as well!

Endomondo doesn't work when sitting still on an excercise bike, however the same bike do have displays that shows how far one has biked - and that can be immortalized with a simple picture!

Dear sister, here is the very basic challenge,

Who can bike the most kilometers in the month of January, starting today!

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.