March 2009 Archives

WHEN I booked the Energy kick class at Queensmead I had a feeling it might be similar to the Cardio kick class I did at Highgrove two weeks ago. Therefore, I was a little bit nervous.

I had a look at the other people waiting for the class to start, and they didn't look overly fit so I assumed the class wouldn't be that hard. However, that was before the really fit people started to arrive.

When there is men in the class it usually means it's going to be quite a tough one, and when the instructor turned out to be a man, I knew I was in for a strenuous hour.

Thankfully, the warm up was quite calm, unlike the warm up in the Cardio kick class.

There was no circuit workout like in Cardio kick but the exercises almost killed me because we worked out for about 30 minutes, with no break. It involved a lot of kicking and punching, and it was done at quite a fast pace. I felt shattered, but everyone around me seemed to be doing okay, so I thought I should at least try and persevere with it.

We then got the mats out and did exercises on the floor. They were mainly toning exercises for the legs and stomach. They were just as hard, but at least I got to lie down.

Like the warm up, we did a long cool down. The only bit I didn't like about this was when he told is to try and do the splits. I have never been able to do the splits, but I felt quite embarrassed that the male instructor could do them but I couldn't.

I really enjoyed the class because it was very challenging and I would definitely go back.
Surprisingly tough, I wasn't aching the next day or the day after that. I must be getting used to the exercise.

I am on holiday next week so I will upload my next blog on April 10.

A RUISLIP based charity is being supported at a special football club memorial dinner for a legendary footballer.

The British Polio Fellowship, based in The Runway, South Ruislip, will be supported by funds raised at the Birmingham City Football Club memorial dinner on April 3.

The dinner marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Birmingham City player, Jeff Hall, who died tragically in 1959 aged just 29, after contracting polio.

Money raised from a raffle and auction at the dinner will be presented to the British Polio Fellowship at half-time during the match against Wolves on April 6.

AN RAC employee has been nominated for a top honour.

Paul Oakley, 38, of Seaton Gardens, Ruislip Manor, has been nominated for RAC's Patrol Ambassador of the Year Award Ð a prestigious honour that marks him as an elite patrol.

The nomination is recognition of Mr Oakley's incredibly high standards in helping RAC members, fixing their cars and getting them on the road again.

Only a select few of RACÕs 2,000 patrols are nominated for the Ambassador of the Year Award, which will be announced on Saturday (28).

Mr Oakley, who has been an RAC Patrol in North London for 6 years, said: "One of the things I really enjoy is solving problems - no two breakdowns are the same, and sometimes it requires a bit of creative thinking.

"If I won I would be like a rabbit caught in headlights."

A RESTAURANT is looking for a volunteer to become an official 'chicken tester' for a year.

The George Harvester, in Bury Street, Ruislip, needs a volunteer to sample their chicken dishes over the coming year.

Manager Paul Thomas said: "We want to ensure our meals deliver the same mouth-watering and delicious taste that the Harvester is well known for.

"The winner and a partner of their choice will get to sample succulent chicken meals for a whole year with a complimentary visit to the restaurant each quarter."

For a chance to become the 'chicken tester' email your contact details and the name of the Harvester to testers@harvester.co.uk.

The names will be put into a draw and the winner will be announced after the closing date on Sunday (5).

A GIG night is being held at a football club in Ruislip.

None The Less, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Taken Advantage and Mary Jane Burning are all performing at The Vale, Wealdstone Football Club, in Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, on April 4.

Doors open at 7pm and entry is £7 or £6 if bought from www.wegottickets.com/event/44828.

Go to www.myspace.com/thevaleruislip for more information.

RUISLIP Central Horticultural Society is holding its spring show.

The show is being held at the Great Barn at the Manor Farm site, in Bury Street, Ruislip, on Saturday (28).

It starts at 2pm and prize giving will begin at 4.30pm.

THREE men used weapons concealed in bags to threaten staff at a betting shop before making off with money stolen from the tills.

The men entered Coral bookmakers, in Whitby Road, Ruislip, at about 8.30pm on Saturday (21) wearing balaclavas.

They threatened the two members of staff in the shop and stole a small amount of money from the tills before fleeing.

There was also one customer in the shop at the time but no one was harmed.

There have been no arrests but the CCTV footage of the armed robbery has been handed to the Flying Squad for further investigation.

The bookmakers was also robbed in November last year.

I was a little apprehensive about Aqua fit. I have never done anything like it before and I imagined the class would be full of old women, so I decided to bring an experienced friend along to show me the ropes.

When I was little I used to hate swimming. I remember my mum driving me to my swimming lessons at Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood and I think I used to cry the whole way there and begged her to take me home.

I have got over that fear now, but whenever I walk into public swimming pools it seems to come rushing back, so when I walked into the Highgrove pool I did start to feel a little nervous. I think it's that overpowering smell of chlorine.

I'm so glad I had someone with me!

We spotted a group of women sitting on the side of the pool and after checking we were in the right place we sat down and waited. Oh, I forgot to mention, I also hate swimming costumes. The only time I ever go swimming is on holidays and I always wear bikinis. Therefore, I had to borrow one of my mum's costumes that, by the looks of it, was bought back in the dark ages. Great start eh?

The instructor came along and a group of about 15 women all piled in to the shallow end of the pool. We did quite a few exercises to warm up. You forget just how hard it is to do perfectly normal and easy exercises in water. Firstly, it's hard to stand still because of all the waves everyone else is making and, secondly, because the water is pushing against you, you feel about three times your actual weight.

We then got given underwater dumbbells. This made the exercises even harder because we had to push against the water with a bigger surface area, continuously. It killed my triceps.

After a few exercises with those, we were given those foam tubes that help you float. We used them to do similar exercises to the first part of the class, and then finally some stretching off.

The class was only 45 minutes so I wouldn't say it was hard work. My triceps and quadriceps did take a bit of a beating though, but I can safely say I wasn't aching the next day.

It was a very fun class, full of laughs, and my friend seemed to enjoy it. However, I doubt I will go back because it's just not really challenging enough for me and I don't think I got that much out of it. It also means I don't have to wear a swimming costume again!

My next challenge is Energy kick at Queensmead.

STAFF at a jewellers had guns held to their heads in the third robbery in less than a year at the shop.

Rob Ungar, a director of CS Bedford, in High Street, Ruislip, was in the shop with his father, Tony, also a director, and two other members of staff when four thieves burst in with guns at 2pm yesterday (Mon).

He said: "They stole some watches and jewellery but we don't know the value yet. We weren't even allowed back in the shop until 11pm."

In May last year Tony Ungar had a gun held to his head by a gang who got away with £250,000 worth of watches and in October last year four men used axes and sledgehammers to break the shop window before stealing 10 watches.

Rob Ungar said: "We stock high quality jewellery and that is why we are getting targeted, and the harder the economy gets the more likely it's going to happen.

"All the watches and jewellery have reference numbers so if it turns up the police will recognise it all.

"The people buying the jewellery are just as guilty as the ones stealing it.

"We have CCTV inside and outside the shop and we are going to increase our security measures."

Two of the four suspects had handguns, but neither of them were fired and no one was injured.

After leaving the shop they were seen running down Ruislip High Street before getting in a blue car which headed towards Eastcote.

All four suspects are aged between 20 and 27, 5ft 10ins to 6ft 2ins, of athletic build, with London accents and wearing dark hooded tops.

No arrests have been made and officers from the Flying Squad are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information should call 020 8247 7941 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

South Ruislip Safer Neighbourhoods Team is holding a football event at Goals, in Victoria Road, on Friday (20) from 5pm to 7pm.