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.

AN ARREST was made after a car lost control, crossed oncoming traffic and smashed through a wall onto a petrol station forecourt.

The dramatic scenes happened at 9.15am yesterday at the Total petrol station at the junction of High Road, and Oak Avenue in Ickenham.

After careering through the wall the car only came to a halt when it crashed into a stationary car parked on the forcourt.

An ambulance was called to the scene but nobody was taken to hospital.

An eyewitness said: "I was sitting here having a cup of tea when this car lost control with its wheel hanging off.

"It then went straight through the wall onto the station, it was dramatic, when the police got there they arrested the driver straight away."

Police confirmed an arrest had been made and an investigation was ongoing.

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.

When I picked Cardio kick for my next blog I just assumed it would be like all the other classes I have done: fun but not too challenging.

I was wrong!

I decided to drag my mum along to this class with me, again reassuring her that it wouldn't be hard. Ooops.

When we entered the studio people had already started to set up the equipment and it looked very much like a circuit......and circuits usually mean hard work.

The instructor noticed there were a few new people in the class so she told us the warm up was quite hard, but we could take it at our own pace. I just shrugged it off not really expecting it to be hard.

We started with some 'knees up' exercises and my legs felt like they were made of lead straight away - not a good sign. We then started to do a lot of punching and kicking while bouncing around. It was one of the longest and hardest warm ups I have ever done. I wondered if it was every going to end. I stupidly didn't put my hair up as well, so that made it even worse because it was clinging to my face.

My mum didn't seem to be enjoying it much either and I did feel a bit guilty for dragging her along. She's not as fit as she used to be.

We then moved on to the 10 station circuit in groups of three. This was easier than the warm up because even though you had to do two minutes on each station, you could take it at your own pace. It was a mixture of weight lifting, sit ups, step exercises, skipping, lunges, press ups and running.
I tried to push myself as much as I could but I did give up on some stations because my muscles just couldn't take it anymore.

With 15 minutes of the class still left I was a bit nervous about what we would be doing next. We started jumping around and punching again. My calves were killing me and I just couldn't do it. I felt so unfit and most people in the class were older than me!

After a bit of stretching to cool down it was finally the end of the class. It was one of the longest hours of my life. However, it was definitely closer to what I was used to doing in kickboxing classes than the other classes I have done so far.

My mum said she wouldn't go back again but I definitely would. I like a bit of a challenge. My whole body was still aching three days later though.

My next challenge is Aqua fit at Highgrove.

THE FUTURE of a heavily-debated children's nursery in Ickenham was secured last night (Monday) after months of indecision.

A special meeting was held at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge to thrash out the future of the application which has cast a dark cloud over the council's planning department ever since its approval was controversially rescinded in December.

The council's big guns were wheeled out for the meeting, with Jean Palmer, head of planning, Lloyd White, head of democratic services, and Rajesh Alagh, borough solicitor all joining the committee to oversee events.

Many objections were raised to the Rectory Way nursery, with three petitioners speaking out against it at the meeting, including Rachel Moore on behalf of the Ickenham Residents Association.

After nearly two hours of extensive debate, the committee voted four to one in favour of approving the nursery, with Councillor Elizabeth Kemp voting against it, while Councillor John Oswell, Councillor Brian Stead, Councillor Janet Duncan and Councillor Michael Bull giving their seal of approval.

Negin Nassabeh, the applicant for the children's day care nursery said after the meeting: "I am very happy, I'm really pleased the committee saw fit to ratify the decision. I will have a few days to rest, then I'm looking forward to starting the plans.

"There is a real demand for childcare in Ickenham and I can now help that."

Numerous objections were lodged at the meeting, with regards to parking issues, traffic issues, noise, refuse management, the fact the nursery lay in a protected conservation area, and even the area's childcare needs were disputed.

Since the plans only included the internal adaptation of the house rather than any significant external building the panel decreed it would not unduly affect the conservation zone.

As part of the approval conditions were placed on the 18 place nursery, including the staggering of arrival and collection times, so all parents would not arrive at once, leading to a bottleneck of traffic in the road.

Also a condition was placed on the number of children allowed to play outside at any one time, with a maximum of six to be enforced, and six foot high motorway fencing is to be placed on the outside to keep the noise down, despite grumblings from councillors.

Councillor John Oswell said: "I'm concerned when I hear people complain about the noise of children, I rather like it."

Rosemary Hodgson, who petitioned and spoke at the meeting said: "They got it wrong, we are extremely disappointed. We will look at the conditions and make sure they stick to them to the letter.

"The location of the toilet in the annex was different on the plan shown to the one we received so we have written to the clerk for clarification."

It's already been three days since the Step class and my calves are still aching. I didn't realise how much until I was walking up the stairs to the second floor of Highgrove gym for the Stretch and tone class.

I had a bit too much to drink the night before as well so I wasn't feeling 100 per cent and I was yawning a lot as I was standing around in the studio waiting for the class to start. I had only just got back from court (as a journalist, not a defendant) an hour earlier as well, so it had been quite a long day.

It was the same instructor as the Aerobics class and it started off very similar with a few basic moves to get our muscles warmed up. I was convinced it was actually going to be exactly the same as the Aerobics class.

However, after the warm up things started to change. It really was a Stretch and tone class. Not once was I warn out but my muscles certainly were feeling the strain.

This time we had hand weights and rubber bands, like before, but we also had these small rubbery balls that I had never seen before. They were kind of like mini medicine balls.

After a lot of stretching with the rubber bands my arms were killing me. I almost felt myself giving up at one point.

Then the instructor told us to partner up! I didn't know anyone in the class so I just went with the person closest to me. I wasn't sure about partner work. It was a bit embarrassing really. We had to hold hands a lot and it's not very nice when you're both a bit sweaty. It was quite fun though and it did get everyone laughing. Not too sure I would want to do it again though. My partner, who obviously attends the class on a regular basis, said the instructor had never told them to partner up before, so it might have been a one off.

Then it came to the sit-ups, and we did a lot of those. My neck started aching more than my abdominal muscles.

After a few stretches to warm down it was the end of the class. It is now the day after the class and my legs are aching a bit, but not massively.

The class definitely does what it says on the tin.

My next challenge is Cardio kick at Highgrove.

A CONTROVERSIAL planning application which sparked off political rows and two resignations is up for debate again on Monday.

Two planning meetings were held in December to discuss a planned nursery in Rectory Way, Ickenham, which the applicant says is needed to meet child care demand in the area.

Opponents to the plans include the Ickenham Residents Association who claim the change of use from a residential property into a business encroaches into the Ickenham Conservation Area, and fear it would set a dangerous precedent.

The last meeting in December was expected to set a raft of conditions on the nursery after it was originally approved, but it was unexpectedly refused permission by councillors.

A meeting will take place in front of a temporary North Planning Committee on Monday at the Civic Centre at 9pm, where it is the only matter on the agenda for discussion.

What are your thoughts? Let the Gazette know on 01895 451030

WORK to clean up a beauty spot has been given a hesitant thumbs up from the resident who highlighted its neglect.

Swakeley's Lake in Ickenham was the subject of a row last month with the council accused of letting it sink into a state of disrepair.

Hillingdon Council last week confirmed that work had been done to remove debris such as shopping trolleys and road signs from the lake, although a concerned is worried the clean up will end there.

Andy Gaywood, 31, a firefighter from Bellamy Drive, Ickenham, said: "They've had what I class as a token effort, which I guess is something, but there's still lots of cans and bottles lying around.

"They've got rid of the bigger stuff and I appreciate their effort, but I was hoping it was going to be better than it was.

"Its hardly the picturesque beauty spot it should be though."

Kathy Sparks, deputy director of environment and consumer protection, said: ""The council has been working specialist contractors to remove debris in Swakeley's Lake and this work has now been completed, ensuring that the lake remains an enjoyable location for residents and visitors. The lake will continue to be monitored to ensure any issues that may arise are responded to quickly and effectively."

If anybody has issues with the lake which need to be addressed they can contact the council's Environment and Street Clean line on 01895 556000.

OLYMPIC gold medallist and arguably Hillingdon's most famous sportsman, Chris Finnegan, died in Hillingdon Hospital on Monday morning after a short illness. He was 64.

The Hayes Amateur Boxing Club member shot to world fame when he won the middleweight title at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and went on to enjoy a fine professional career, even challenging legendary American champion Bob Foster for the World Light-Heavyweight Championship in 1970.

After being counted out in the 14th round it was a performance described by Harry Carpenter as the greatest display he had ever witnessed by a British fighter in a world title fight.

Finnegan spent his early years in Uxbridge before moving to Iver and more recently to Ickenham.

His younger brother, Kevin, himself a former British and European Middleweight champion, sadly passed away only four months ago. He was living in Hillingdon at the time of his death.

Post your tributes to Chris below.