This week as part of getting fit for the 10k run in May I have started a 6 week push-up challenge. Basically you perform push-ups 3 times a week, in my case Thursday, Saturday and Monday each week. Last night I finished week 1 of the challenge. The aim of said challenge is to perform 100 good-form push-ups in one go – something that sounds impossible only in the first week. Before starting you are required to see how many you can do in one go – now bearing in mind I haven’t done push-ups since I was at university, I was a little rusty.

100 Push-Ups

I managed a magnificent total of 18! Pathetic really, but the aim of this challenge is to improve that performance and get you to 100 – in just 6 weeks. This isn’t going to be easy. So I started week 1 last Thursday and the set I had to start with was (with a minute rest between each set) – 10, 12, 7, 7 and then at least 9. I managed this just about and was happy to have a break until Saturday. Saturday was day 2 – the set was 10, 12, 8, 8 and then at least 12. I nearly died at the end of this set and was glad to have another break. Day 3 was last night – the set was 11, 15, 9, 9 and then at least 13. This was an absolute killer if I’m honest. I literally couldn’t push my body weight up after the 10th push up on the last set.

I’ve got a break until Thursday now and my arms need the time to recover! All my weight isn’t good for them!

Well it’s Pancake day so if you’re not sure how to make them, here is a quick guide how to make basic pancakes with sugar and lemon.

Ingredients:

• 110g/4oz plain flour, sifted
• pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 200ml/7fl oz milk mixed with 75ml/3fl oz water
• 50g/2oz butter
• caster sugar
• lemon juice
• lemon wedges

Method:

Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl with a sieve held high above the bowl so the flour gets a airing. Now make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it. Then begin whisking the eggs – any sort of whisk or even a fork will do – incorporating any bits of flour from around the edge of the bowl as you do so.

Next gradually add small quantities of the milk and water mixture, still whisking (don’t worry about any lumps as they will eventually disappear as you whisk). When all the liquid has been added, use a rubber spatula to scrape any elusive bits of flour from around the edge into the centre, then whisk once more until the batter is smooth, with the consistency of thin cream. Now melt the 50g/2oz of butter in a pan. Spoon 2 tbsp of it into the batter and whisk it in, then pour the rest into a bowl and use it to lubricate the pan, using a wodge of kitchen paper to smear it round before you make each pancake.

Now get the pan really hot, then turn the heat down to medium and, to start with, do a test pancake to see if you’re using the correct amount of batter. I find 2 tbsp is about right for an 18cm/7in pan. It’s also helpful if you spoon the batter into a ladle so it can be poured into the hot pan in one go. As soon as the batter hits the hot pan, tip it around from side to side to get the base evenly coated with batter. It should take only half a minute or so to cook; you can lift the edge with a palette knife to see if it’s tinged gold as it should be. Flip the pancake over with a pan slice or palette knife – the other side will need a few seconds only – then simply slide it out of the pan onto a plate – Then eat!

This is Delia Smith’s method of making them – I’m sure there are many others.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to everyone. Have a fantastic 2010! I will be back with more stories and SEO news in the new year so keep checking back for more!

I have finally finished the Christmas shopping for this year! I took two days off last week to get it done so I didn’t have to face the Trafford Centre on a weekend. I managed to get most of the things bought on thursday which meant I could have a nice chilled out day on Friday. I went for an exciting day in Manchester – shopping, lunch at Nandos and saw the “Fourth Kind” film. It was a bit strange, quite entertaining but the storyline was a bit disjointed and hard to follow. It was a good day though, followed by Christmas markets (briefly) and a meal at Tom’s house.

The weekend consisted of more shopping, for food this time and watching football in the pub (and the odd game of pool). So my 4 days off had gone, but thankfully I had got all my cards and presents and all before the work’s Xmas do. I managed to sell my United ticket for the Villa game on Saturday which means I can get to the work do on time. The other thing I am looking forward to this weekend is seeing my sisters come back from Uni! The house will go from 4 people to 6, back how it was before! It’ll be good to have a full house again for a while. So there is much to look forward to this weekend, and I’m sure some other nice plans will appear somewhere too.

I found this picture of a Porsche 911 on the internet recently. I just thought it looked pretty cool and thought I would share it. I don’t really get the point of it though, it attracts you to look at the car, but you would probably end up looking at yourself in the reflection. I imagine the owner has some reason behind having this cool feature though!

Porshe 911 Mirror Effect