Striking a Pose

I know that I’m jumping the gun a little here talking about things that we are doing now, instead of when we first arrived. But I’m so excited to tell you that I just can’t wait!

After we came out of lockdown and started to live in what is now called “The New Normal”, both D.H and I noticed that we’d put on the pounds. We were swimming, walking, gardening and enjoying the odd ice-cream before lockdown; but during it we were restricted to gardening only, with a little bit of ‘on the drive tennis’ for our main form of exercise. Now I’m not complaining, at least we had a garden; but the truth of the matter is my moods swung from being very bored, or totally obsessed with the covid19 statistics. Neither being helpful or healthy, so I had to do something to keep busy and stop obsessing.

I tried reading, but couldn’t concentrate, so I took to what I do best and got cracking in the kitchen. I had an abundance of vegetables in the garden so soups, quiche and stews were all on the menu. All healthy, nutritious meals, but it wasn’t long before the cakes and cookies started filling our kitchen. Quite a challenge at first, because I hadn’t brought any of my recipes with me.

Anyway, the end result was extended waistlines, and if only it ended at the waistline, but I’m afraid to say, it didn’t.

Right that’s enough explaining, what I really want to tell you is that I’ve managed to get D.H exercising. Yes, you read that right! It all started with a trip down to a nearby hotel that has a seawater pool. You pay €5 for a day pass, and although the place is a little dated and in need of some TLC, it still has its own charm. (Sounds like I’m describing D.H and I), What we didn’t realise was that for that fee you were allowed to join in the activities: aqua aerobics, pilates, yoga and much more. I have to say, I had to tread carefully at first, D.H still talks about how I tricked him into trying ballroom dancing. I still shudder just thinking about it! But a hint every now and then seemed to hit the spot.

Things like;  “Look at all of those people over there in the pool doing aqua aerobics, they look like they’re enjoying themselves. I would love to do that again, I used to do it with my mum, it’s such good fun!”

“Wow, I didn’t know they did pilates here, it’s very good for people our age, it’s easy on the bones!”

“We really need to do more than just gardening, the lockdown weight isn’t shifting!”

And then the straw that broke the camels back,

“We need join a gym!”

So every Wednesday, would you believe it, D.H and I can be found doing ‘The Cat-Cow’, ‘Dog’ and ‘Cobra’. No results so far on the waistline, but as a consolation prize, the hotel serves a cracking three course lunch for €10, drinks included, and after all of that exercise one needs a good lunch!

So to conclude, if you’re ever in Las Galletas, and fancy a day at a seawater pool, I highly recommend it. Although, you might want to give it a miss on Wednesdays, D.H and I trying to get into ‘The Lotus Position’ is not a pretty sight. But good for us, “Allegedly!”

Alborada Beach Club

Av. de Fernando Salazar Gonzalez

38613 Las Galletas,

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Ax

The picture below: D.H practicing has moves before we go and do them for real by the pool, Victor our instructor, and the dining room.