After much hinting and begging ( insert tantrums here if you feel the necessity ). Zanyzana decided that she could indeed do something nice for me. Show me the love so to speak. So she announced with much fanfare that she was taking me to lunch at a lovely little restaurant called "The River" in the town near to us but.........
But only if we could ride the bicycles there (a 34km round trip mind you). That way we could have yummy food for lunch and she could work off a few weight watcher points as well. Win win situation.....apparently.
Well after getting over the shock of her doing something really nice for me I agreed to her terms quite quickly. I was thinking to make sure she didn't change her mind. Not for one second did I think of the fault in her plan.....the return trip after gorging ourselves on beautiful food and wine.
So off we went. The trip there was uneventful besides me doing my usual chant in my head - ' This is not a race, this is not a race, we are meant to be having fun not killing ourselves trying to get somewhere fast, this is not a race, it's a fun ride'.
Which by the way, was explained to me early on on one of our joint bike riding trips. To be fair I was noticing that her fitness level had increased dramatically lately and if I wasn't careful she is now going to leave me in her dust.
Upon arriving at our destination, congratulating ourselves on a new improved time we went to the restaurant. Seated in a lovely sunny spot enjoying the view and the food AND wine, for a few hours. Life was good, really good!!! So with a very merry smile (thank you Mr Alcohol) I do remember saying before we left the restaurant that maybe we should walk for a little while first. To which Zanyzana agreed was probably a good idea.
But with all best laid plans when we got ourselves organised and ready to go she jumped straight on the bike and with a drunken wobble pedalled away. So I followed suit not thinking. About 10 minutes into the trip I realised my mistake. Pulling over at a public toilet I was not in good shape to say the least. When she came back to check on me, asking if I was OK, I replied that I wasn't sure if I needed to wee or spew. She suggested both. I went to the toilet and managed to tough it out and only do the former. With quite an effort mind you. Checking that I was OK she told me that I probably should have done both. Leading to her managing to just walk off have a little chuck for herself.
So picture me if you would. Wobbly booted, feeling under the weather already, having only just managed to avoid being sick. I hear and unfortunately smell the vomit. My day was going to get worse much much worse.
She decides to be a bit of a Nazi and commands I get back on the bike. I lasted another 10 minutes before off to the side of the road I went. Fine food doesn't taste any better coming back up than dodgy pizza or kebabs on a youthful drunken adventure. I'm sweating, shaking and my stomach is doing flip flops but I somehow return to the bike and wobble off in search of Annette whom had decided that this exact moment was great for a step up in her fitness level. She was miles ahead and going great guns. By the time she realised I was a lost soldier she was way way ahead. Like a good partner she doubled back to check on me. At this stage I had managed to pull over yet again for another little chuck and was laying on the grass on the side of the road in a world of pain.
Unsure what to do now she looked on at my predicament. I told to keep going and that I would catch up and if I didn't make it home by dark to send help then. We got back on the bikes and pedalled off. With poor Annette looping back every 5 minutes or so to check on me and let me catch up. We finally made it home in time for me to lay on the lounge quietly dying for a few hours.
What I didn't say to her. What I thought about later was the difference I saw that day in her, in her attitude, her fitness and where her head is at now days. Thanks to weight watchers and the people on there who support each other. Her fitness has increased amazingly from someone who would blob on the lounge for her entire weekend (and give me a horrified look when I suggested there was more to life than television). Her attitude now is one of can do, not can't do. She is loving trying new adventures. Toddling off with great enthusiasm to try. Yep try. Gone is the woman who grizzled her way through life. Her confidence is amazing me. She is looking, and I think, feeling like a million dollars.
She didn't even seem to notice the ride home for her was doubled as she kept coming back to check on me.
So what did I learn on my Sunday bike ride this week?
- My partner is now fit and healthy - Woo Hoo!!!
- My partner is now fitter than me - I need to suck it up and get over that one
- My partner is now enjoying life a million times more than she used to - That's called living life to the fullest I believe!!!
- That she doesn't realise how far she has come with it all - fitness, weight loss and happiness.
- If your going to have dessert don't drink the wine or visa versa (that was my big mistake)
Do I mind these things? Heck no!! I'm so so happy to see her living life out from underneath the dark gloom that is the vortex of being overweight, unfit, unhappy and the depressive mental state that these things seem to put you into. It was worth the pain I felt that day just for me to realise just how far she has come.
I AM PROUD OF MY GIRL !!!
Love you big time Babycakes x x
