March 2009 Archives

Louie Lewinson's goal couldn't stop Northwood U11 Reds going down 3-1 to Harvesters on Sunday.

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.

NORTHWOOD Residents' Association is holding its annual general meeting.

David McVittie, chief executive of The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust, will be the guest speaker at the meeting.

It is being held at St John's Church Hall, in Hallowell Road, Northwood, at 8pm on Tuesday (31).

HILLINGDON Police have donated £1,000 each to two junior football teams.

Both Harefield St Mary's Colts and Northwood Under 14's were handed cheques by the police at the weekend to help tackle the problem of under-funded youth football teams.

PS Peter Smith, who has helped coach Northwood Youth teams since 2002, presented the cheque to the Under 14's team manager, Dave Fox, on Sunday (22).

He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity as neither club currently has funding from any other source.

"It will make a real difference to the young people and will encourage others to have a greater involvement in sport."

Harefield's Safer NeighborhoodÕs Team Sergeant, Allan Moore, handed Paul Bentley, the ColtÕs manager his cheque prior to their Cup quarterfinal on Saturday (21).

He said: "This is a great example of local police working with and assisting communities. Helping Paul will keep these young people dedicated to sport. His commitment and love for the game really does deserve our support."

The funds came from Hillingdon Police Property Fund and their Social Club.

THOUSANDS of people who signed a petition to keep the cancer centre at Mount Vernon Hospital can rejoice in the latest good news.

An interim report from the Hertfordshire primary care trusts (PCTs) on the future of the cancer centre recommends that the service should remain at the hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood.

The report also supports, subject to further work, the development of a satellite radiotherapy unit, in either north Hertfordshire or south Bedfordshire, with the aim of improving access locally to the cancer treatment service.

The Community Voice, an umbrella group linking local organisations concerned with good NHS services, has been campaigning to keep the cancer centre at the hospital since the Varley report was published in 2002.

The report recommended that the cancer centre be moved to a new hospital or to a district general hospital in Hertfordshire.

Chairman of the group, Joan Davis said: "This is excellent news because it means staff know they have a secure future and patients know their treatment can be competed close to home.

"I think everyone will be absolutely delighted at the prospect of Mount Vernon becoming the hub of a satellite system.

"We are delighted it's now facing a future without fear."

Ruislip-Northwood MP, Nick Hurd, launched a campaign to keep the cancer services at Mount Vernon in February 2007 and also delivered a petition containing more than 80,000 signatures to the Minister of Health.

He said: "This is good news for all those who supported our campaign.

"We are winning the argument but can't be complacent. It is time to end the uncertainty and secure the future of this much loved hospital."

The good news comes following the publication of a discussion document, which asked stakeholders, patients and user groups to decide where the cancer centre should be located, using a list of three options.

However, the final decision will not be published until the end of the review process, which aims to be completed by the end of the year.

The report also recommended that much of the old hospital - especially ward areas - needed to be upgraded and it expressed a wish to see the centre's research programme enhanced through linking up with an academic research partner before the end of the year.

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.

Safer Neighbourhoods Teams are holding community events.

The Northwood team is holding a drop-in surgery at Mount Vernon Hospital refectory, in Rickmansworth Road, on Friday (13) between 11am and midday.

The Northwood Hills team is holding a drop-in surgery at the doctor's surgery in Neal Close today (Wed) from midday to 1pm.

PUPILS at Northwood School gave away free haircuts as part of a project to create a calendar to raise money for charity.

Hairdressing students at the school in Potter Street, Northwood Hills, treated staff, volunteers and clients of Harrow Mencap to a free hairstyle in the school's in-house salon on Wednesday (4).

The aim of the exercise was to produce a calendar to raise funds for the charity - a service provider and campaigning organisation for people with learning disabilities.

Head of Department, Tonya Niazi, said: "This experience was very beneficial to the students. Not only were they helping to raise vital funds for the charity, but they gained an enormous amount of experience by meeting people from different ethnic backgrounds and with learning disabilities."

Year 13 student, Leanne-Daisy Norton, said: "It was a challenging activity, but was a lot of fun and a great learning experience."

To book an appointment at the salon call 01923 833925.

NORTHWOOD School is appealing for memories from former pupils or staff to help mark its 75th birthday.

The school in Potter Street, Northwood Hills, is 75 this year and there are several events planned to mark the occasion, including a school reunion on March 28.

Send your stories, photos, and memorabilia to srosenberg@hillingdongrid.org or to Sue Rosenberg, Northwood School, Potter Street, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1QG.