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Just in case anyone was wondering whether I had fallen wheel-first into a snowdrift never to be seen again (my last update was back in the deep southern snows of January) I am still here ? though in slightly different format. This sizeable pregnant pause is due to two reasons. One is that I was pregnant and have not long given birth to another mini cyclist (I?m trying my best to increase the cycling race). The other reason is that my website is in the throes of being given a new lease of life. Simon at my publishers Little Brown used to do it all ? I would send him postcards and handwritten (and usually rain-sodden) updates from various far-flung destinations and he would put them up on my site. But then he left and Little Brown?s Darren was good enough to take over for a while until he advised me that the website was all a bit technically old hat and tatty round the edges and in need of a revamp. Unfortunately he didn?t have time to do it but said that it would be fairly easy to do myself. What Darren didn?t know was quite how inept I am when it comes to computers (Google, emails and writing books on Word are about my limit) so I?ve been up the road and through the woods and found a local man called Peter who has come up trumps by knowing everything in computer land that I don?t.?
Although I may have no idea about high-tech goings on I?m beginning to get a feel for this birthing lark. In my experience cycling has been the best thing for pregnancy and birth. With Molly I cycled right up until a few hours before she was born and I did the same with the new little Daisy that has appeared on the scene (my tip for getting labour off to a flying start is to ride down a potholed road before tackling a 1:4 hill).?
With both pregnancies I didn?t do one antenatal class ? I thought rather than sit in a room trying to learn how to puff and pant I?d rather go for a bike ride (a more enjoyable form of puffing and panting. With cycling, you often push yourself beyond what you think you can do which means riding through several pain barriers and you do similar things when giving birth. Because of my age (I?m an old bird) I was statistically high risk and doctors and midwives were a bit concerned until they took my blood pressure and heard that I?d arrived at the hospital by bike. Luckily my lump of a bump was of a size that some of my neighbours didn?t know I was pregnant ? I think I had a sort of packable, foldable travel version that could fit in a pannier. Saying all this, cycling wasn?t quite the breeze I was used to ? my lungs felt in my throat and my stomach felt in my lungs. But still I could cycle and pull my trailer full of a ten-ton Molly ? and for me that was the main thing. Have bump will travel, and preferably by bike.
July 25th, 2010
By glider or kite I’ll be first on your site.
Nearly as bad a rhyme as in the old autograph books.
John
July 31st, 2010
Josie:
Congratulations on #2!
David Shomper,
Boulder, Colorado
August 7th, 2010
hi josie. I think you are amaizing.
Congratulations on the birth of your two daughters.
I have read about your cycling trips through japan, europe and nz.
It inspired me to borrow some bikes and go riding with my husband on the weekends.
Also booked a cycling tour when i went on holiday and loved it.
Cycling was so much fun until i also got preganant and stopped.
Now my son is 17 months and i have a seat in the front of the handlebars. I’ve only done a few short trips with him here and there but hoping to do it more often.
He loves going down hills, he puts both arms up above his head and sort of says wahooo.
hoping to read the rest of your books which i totally enjoy.
I think your attitude to life is great.
bye for now from bridget adelaide south oz 🙂
August 9th, 2010
Congrats on the second birth. I was swimming laps when my waters broke! Nothing wrong with exercising right up until the due date.
Missing Hampshire (lived in Liss)with all those small, tree lined (though sometimes crazy driver filled)roads. British Columbia, my new home, is too full of long and straight “highways,” plus macho road racers who have never heard of bicycle tourers, or considered the idea of enjoying a bike ride or, god forbid, carrying a set of panniers or using unaerodynamic mudguards…
Happy cycling.
August 18th, 2010
Wow, great to read of your good news Josie – congratulations!
I bet Molly’s chuffed at being a big Sister – are you towing both of them, or have you got another trailer for Builder? ;>D
August 21st, 2010
Congrats to you and yours on the mini cyclist. I like the new look site. Are we going to see a new book in the near future. Seems years since the last one.
August 27th, 2010
Good for you Jose, I always say NEVER MAKE CHILDREN an excuse!
September 14th, 2010
Hi Josie, Congratulations with the growing family!
Your Japan-books were a big inspiration for us. We made a 3 month long bikeride through Japan and it was fantastic!
Some pics can be seen at the above mentioned picasa web.
Cheers!
Corri and Willem Nelson NZ
September 22nd, 2010
Many congratulations on your new arrival. I hope that everything went well. I do hope that there is a possibility of a further book sometime in the not TOO distant future. In the meantime, enjoy your children. They grow up so quickly. All the very best.
Tom
September 23rd, 2010
Ah, Josie, have just checked out your website again and am so very happy for you! I cried when I read about Molly coming along, and although I am not reacting so pathetically this time, I still think it is wonderful that you’ve had Daisy. You really are a joy to have on this earth, Josie. Love your books, love your attitude to so many things, love your humour, can’t wait to read another book from you when you get time/inclination (20 years from now???). All the best, Jeni, Australia.
September 29th, 2010
A book about cycling with kids would be great. Hint hint….