Earlier this year, Wednesday Jones was delighted to learn she had got a promotion at the Chester law where she works.
Her stint working as a conveyancing executive led to her being offered a job as a paralegal in the trusts and estates department at Linder Myers on Pepper Street.
But her promotion was not the only reason Wednesday has had cause to celebrate this year.
Back in May, she was awarded first place in the senior Liverpool University Open fencing competition, and, a month later, came third in the North West Regional Fencing Championships.
Fencing might seem like an unusual hobby to combine with a full time day job but for Wednesday, of Northgate Village, it’s been one of her passions for the past seven years.
Mum to a 25-year-old son, Wednesday is currently training for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Glasgow in November 2014.
The demanding regime includes working out twice a day with a mixture of cardio, weight training, swimming, running and aerobics.
For now, Wednesday’s aim is to be ranked number one in the forthcoming Welsh National Championships taking place in Swansea in October.
And as if that didn’t keep her busy enough, she’s also in training for the Welsh Open Fencing Championships taking place in Cardiff later this year.
“It’s all about discipline and efficient time management,” says Wednesday, 46.
“My local gym, BRIO Leisure gives me free training under the EATS scheme (Elite Athletes Training Scheme) which allows me to run for about an hour before work and do weights and cross training for an hour and a half after work on non-fencing nights.
“I had tried fencing on holiday in Sicily some years ago and decided to pursue it.
“I like it because I like to better myself, and I like trying to work out any mistakes I’ve made and how to fix them.
There’s also the camaraderie and the travel to different places and the opportunity to meet new people of all ages – although trying to maintain my composure when it all goes wrong is quite a challenge!”
But although fencing is a big part of Wednesday’s life, she has no intention of letting her focus slip on her law career.
“I got into law because I wanted to help people,” she explains.
“And fencing compliments my work – it’s all about etiquette.
“You have to salute your opponent before and after each bout and that’s true to work, you come to realise that other solicitors are doing the same difficult job as you and this makes you treat them with respect.
“Most people think I mean fencing as in with chicken wire though,” she adds.
“I have to qualify it by saying sword fighting and people are generally surprised because most don’t really know a lot about fencing apart from what they have seen in films such as Zorro and James Bond!
“I couldn’t choose which I love more – I’d have to say both.
“In both I meet lots of different and interesting people, I learn something new every day and I wouldn’t give either up for anything.”
