Embarking on a new exercise routine especially after a casserole and red wine winter is a bit of a culture shock. We know we need to get a little more healthy and it’s not always about losing weight. I talk to my girlfriends and those of us who are heading north in the direction of, ‘over 40 and acquiring the age of wisdom’ aren’t so much concerned about bits heading south, but more about being fit enough to maintain our busy lifestyles into a future 30 + years down the track. Exercise for me is about mental clarity and fitness so I can keep fitting in all the things I do in a day: Working on the property, writing, looking after the home and trying to fit in other interests. I’d really like to learn how to paint, cook some more interesting dishes and take French lessons again-maybe later… However when I hurt my back three years ago things literally started to slow down. No more mustering day in and out, no more lifting 20L drums of roundup or 20 kg bags of sorghum – more fool me. However for those of you on properties you know what it’s like. If a job needs to be done you just do it. However now there’s light at the end of the proverbial. I’m up to stengthening and have just joined Curves in Moree. http://www.curves30.com.au/the-workout.php

Spring Wildflowers

It’s a 220km roundtrip for a 30min circuit and cardio workout plus stretching time. Unlike a normal gym with free weights the exercise equipment works on tension with great back support. So for any of you thinking maybe I should do something, hmmm. This could be for you! Thanks to Sara Foster for her wonderful blogs this month. She received great responses from her posts and hearing her thoughts as a former fulltime editor turned writer was very interesting. Next week Maris Morton, the 72 year old winner of the CAL/Scribe fiction prize for a debut fiction writer joins us. For those of you lucky enough to be enjoying the run towards a long weekend-have fun.