A 4 mile run round my Dollar loop on Sunday and 4 miles at lunchtime yesterday. No hope of any more this week as I've got things on every lunch time and evening until Sunday again. Too busy.
Apparently the midnight sun marathon I mentioned in the last post is, like, a million miles from anywhere. Doesn't look like we've got the budget to get to northernmost Norway next year, at least. Not sure what holidays are on the cards at all, with my annual leave entitlement and salary yet to be confirmed I think I'll hold off booking anything until I know whether I have both time and money!
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Passing thought
Loitering on the Runner's World forum (thinks: is there an apostrophe in the mag title?), I came across this:
http://www.msm.no/midnight-sun-marathon.9866.en.html
Kind of tempting.
http://www.msm.no/midnight-sun-marathon.9866.en.html
Kind of tempting.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Leith run
Four miles down the Water of Leith on Sunday. Wanted to get it done first thing, but Al suggested a walk with Dougal and Callum, so did a hour's walk by Cramond first. Then managed to persuade Cal to come on the run on his bike and Al to do 30 mins of it too. Lovely weather for it, and made me feel better about the cake overdose that followed in celebration of Morag's birth.
Actually, didn't do it all along the water but turned off past some allotments and discovered a new tunnel has been opened by Tesco's leading to a delightful park. Which made a nice change.
Yesterday planned to go surfing but instead had a sore throat and cold so cried off. Feel much better now so am annoyed with myself for not going as I haven't been surfing in AGES. But then, maybe if I had gone I would now have double pneumonia. You never know.
Actually, didn't do it all along the water but turned off past some allotments and discovered a new tunnel has been opened by Tesco's leading to a delightful park. Which made a nice change.
Yesterday planned to go surfing but instead had a sore throat and cold so cried off. Feel much better now so am annoyed with myself for not going as I haven't been surfing in AGES. But then, maybe if I had gone I would now have double pneumonia. You never know.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Autumn run
Four miles (ish - going by timing and need to look out the magic satellite device to tell exactly) at lunchtime today. It's nice when I can get away from my desk, even if I do return bright red and shiny in a way that may not inspire confidence in my pronouncements to colleagues. Went down the Devon Way to where the tarmac ends and back. Next time maybe I'll make the turn off to the stables. I was inspired by feeling particularly fat last night at dinner in my previously-favourite-now-too-tight jeans. Something Must Be Done.
In other news, have found a lovely house to rent in Muckhart! The letting agent is an idiot who could tell us nothing useful about the heating, council tax or use of the garage and who told us the gardener was included in the rent, which turned out to be far, far from the truth. So I explained we couldn't afford it with all the extras he piled on at the last minute. Next day he called back and offered an affordable (just) price, so warmth and dryness and millions of (ok, five) bedrooms await. Very excited.
Off to do the horse tonight. She's just started back in work and is allowed 15 mins of walking twice a day. Last time she only freaked out once, which is an improvement.
In other news, have found a lovely house to rent in Muckhart! The letting agent is an idiot who could tell us nothing useful about the heating, council tax or use of the garage and who told us the gardener was included in the rent, which turned out to be far, far from the truth. So I explained we couldn't afford it with all the extras he piled on at the last minute. Next day he called back and offered an affordable (just) price, so warmth and dryness and millions of (ok, five) bedrooms await. Very excited.
Off to do the horse tonight. She's just started back in work and is allowed 15 mins of walking twice a day. Last time she only freaked out once, which is an improvement.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
So far so good
Four miles at the gym to check the trainers, which are exactly like their predecessors, hurray.
Then a 6 mile walk yesterday with F&A and dogs, followed by a 4 mile run round Dollar today. Dougal is very happy with all this activity. Will try and get another run in tomorrow before heading to Edinburgh for Barry's birthday brucnh, which will probably weight me down for the rest fo the week.
Then a 6 mile walk yesterday with F&A and dogs, followed by a 4 mile run round Dollar today. Dougal is very happy with all this activity. Will try and get another run in tomorrow before heading to Edinburgh for Barry's birthday brucnh, which will probably weight me down for the rest fo the week.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
New shoes
Just bee up to Bridge of Allan to pick up my shiney new trainers. Asics GT 2140s to be priecise - lovely violet colour this year, much nicer than last year's black.
So, now I have to actually go running to make use of them and justify their exoribtant cost.
I've done bits off and on but nothing really concrete. What with riding and working it's hard to fit in. But not impossible - there's a fair bit of laziness coming into play here too. Al and I have pretty much decided not to do a 2010 marathon but perhaps to aim for a good time in one in 2011. But I need to do something so will look up a few spring half marathons to aim for.
So, now I have to actually go running to make use of them and justify their exoribtant cost.
I've done bits off and on but nothing really concrete. What with riding and working it's hard to fit in. But not impossible - there's a fair bit of laziness coming into play here too. Al and I have pretty much decided not to do a 2010 marathon but perhaps to aim for a good time in one in 2011. But I need to do something so will look up a few spring half marathons to aim for.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Out of excuses
Yep, my orthotics were here but my will power wasn't. I've driven round with my gym kit in the boot for a week and a half and the most exercise I've done is two 40 minute walks. Ah well. I don't normally start training till December anyway. But secretly I'm scared that without a marathon hanging over me I'll Never Run Again.
Must set myself a difficult time goal for the Alloa half to inspire me, and record it here so I can't wuss out...Let's see. How about [checks past blogs for previous half marathon times] ... 1 hour 40? That's what I would hope for just before running a (mythical) 3 hour 45 minute marathon. We'll see.
Very busy at work at the moment. Looking forward to next week's holiday - even if there's no surf I'm just going to sleep and read and be warm and not work.
Must set myself a difficult time goal for the Alloa half to inspire me, and record it here so I can't wuss out...Let's see. How about [checks past blogs for previous half marathon times] ... 1 hour 40? That's what I would hope for just before running a (mythical) 3 hour 45 minute marathon. We'll see.
Very busy at work at the moment. Looking forward to next week's holiday - even if there's no surf I'm just going to sleep and read and be warm and not work.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Orthotic dependency
Left my orthotics in Edinburgh last week which meant no exercise for me, as I've long since discarded the normal inner sole of my multiple pairs of trainers. Luckily Al brought them back for me this weekend and I was fully intending to go to the gym after work today. But then I ended up working till 6 and hurried home to my beloved instead. Except he wasn't there because he had to stay in Edinburgh and fix a server. Boo.
Gym tomorrow lunchtime it is then, though that may not leave me any time to buy food for the week as I have to hurry home for Dougal's obedience class...Took the Dougal Dog to agility yesterday and got out of breath hopping over a tiny jump with him. Pathetic. He loved it, but it's a big time commitment when we don't really have a routine. We'll see how it goes.
Gym tomorrow lunchtime it is then, though that may not leave me any time to buy food for the week as I have to hurry home for Dougal's obedience class...Took the Dougal Dog to agility yesterday and got out of breath hopping over a tiny jump with him. Pathetic. He loved it, but it's a big time commitment when we don't really have a routine. We'll see how it goes.
Monday, 27 October 2008
Monday gym
Gym after work (even though it was dark and I wanted to go home and hibernate):
- 0.5 miles cross trainer
- 1.5 miles treadmill, incline 2%, 6.1 mph
- 1 rep of 10 for each of three grips on seated back, weights set at 5
- 3 reps of 10 shoulder press, weights set at 2 (pathetic)
- 3 reps of 10 tripcep kickback, weights set at 5
- 2 reps of 10 for each of two grips lateral pull down, weights set at 7 (not pathetic)
- 1 mile treadmill, as before
Not going to bother with the lunch time class again tomorrow. Will try and find proper pilates or yoga instead.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
101 posts
Didn't realise until today but that last post was my 100th. A milestone and, hopefully, impetus to get me to carry on blogging.
Just a quick update today. Did I say I'd taken the decision to run the Alloa half marathon in March? So training for that starts now. Went to the gym last week, first for a lunch time class that was supposed to be pilates and toning. But when I got there they'd changed it to aerobics. Which was fine, but I really wanted some core strength conditioning to complement my running. I didn't particularly need a workout. Shame, because that means there are no pilates classes at all either at lunch time or after work. Maybe I can find an after work one at another gym or hall.
Went back on Thursday for a gym session, doing five minutes on the cross trainer followed by two 1 mile runs at 2% incline and 6mph. In between the miles I went and played with all the weight machines to try and remember how they worked and what level of weights was feasible. I decided to try and do regular work on the back machine, lateral pull down, triceps and shoulder press. All good for the surfing. A week in Fueteventura is now booked so I need all the practice I can get.
Spent yesterday and today helping Fi and Ailsa move, so I can add some heavy lifting to the list. Their new place is gorgeous already, and I can't wait to see it when decorating is finished.
In other news, some plants I ordered online ages ago finally arrived and I've planted up two big tubs: one with heathers and an acer and one with lavender and rosemary. Round the back, in the bed my mum dug over when she came to stay, I've put hollyhocks, delphiniums and dwarf lupins. Round the front I cleared as much gravel as I could from the bed by the door and topped it up with compost to make a mini raised bed and put in scabiosa perfecta, delphiniums and a couple of left over lavender. I've planted a few smaller pots with daffs and tulip bulbs but still have loads left so will stalk the garden tomorrow night looking for appropriate places to bury them.
I've recorded all this here in case I forget what I put where. Plus, if my running goes to pot (no pun intended) I can always record the progress of my plants.
Just a quick update today. Did I say I'd taken the decision to run the Alloa half marathon in March? So training for that starts now. Went to the gym last week, first for a lunch time class that was supposed to be pilates and toning. But when I got there they'd changed it to aerobics. Which was fine, but I really wanted some core strength conditioning to complement my running. I didn't particularly need a workout. Shame, because that means there are no pilates classes at all either at lunch time or after work. Maybe I can find an after work one at another gym or hall.
Went back on Thursday for a gym session, doing five minutes on the cross trainer followed by two 1 mile runs at 2% incline and 6mph. In between the miles I went and played with all the weight machines to try and remember how they worked and what level of weights was feasible. I decided to try and do regular work on the back machine, lateral pull down, triceps and shoulder press. All good for the surfing. A week in Fueteventura is now booked so I need all the practice I can get.
Spent yesterday and today helping Fi and Ailsa move, so I can add some heavy lifting to the list. Their new place is gorgeous already, and I can't wait to see it when decorating is finished.
In other news, some plants I ordered online ages ago finally arrived and I've planted up two big tubs: one with heathers and an acer and one with lavender and rosemary. Round the back, in the bed my mum dug over when she came to stay, I've put hollyhocks, delphiniums and dwarf lupins. Round the front I cleared as much gravel as I could from the bed by the door and topped it up with compost to make a mini raised bed and put in scabiosa perfecta, delphiniums and a couple of left over lavender. I've planted a few smaller pots with daffs and tulip bulbs but still have loads left so will stalk the garden tomorrow night looking for appropriate places to bury them.
I've recorded all this here in case I forget what I put where. Plus, if my running goes to pot (no pun intended) I can always record the progress of my plants.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Doggy run
Well, not quite as long a break as last time. Went for a run after work in the glorious autumnal evening air, and took the Diggler along. He was very good, coming back when called and pausing only briefly to play with a jack russell. He was knackered afterwards as Al had walked him already during the day and yesterday we went up the hill for a 'short' walk that turned into two hours (lovely though) during which Dougal ran non-stop. Afterwards he fell fast asleep on the sofa and refused to play with me, even though he'd woken me up that very morning when I wanted to lie in and refused to let me get back to sleep. He is very selfish.
Ailsa is right: running does banish bad moods and even my pathetic half hour tonight helped to lessen my frustration at a bunch of councillors who don't really understand what branding is or what they want from it. After spending months defending this county from accusations of provincialism, I really felt it was small minded and unprofessional for politicians to look at the research I'd done and say 'Well maybe everyone else thinks that, but I think we should just do what I want, even though there's no evidence to back it up whatsoever.' Very provincial.
I'm getting annoyed again so I will move on.
Here's a list of books I stole from Fi's blog. She can tell you all about it, but I've changed it so the ones I've read are in bold. Like her, I've changed the last two.
1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling - have read less than half of the series so that doesn't count
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible - only a few bits. The Book of Ruth. Stuff like that.
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (much better than Harry Potter)
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete work of Shakespere - again, less than half
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (loved it, even though I put off reading it for ages because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype).
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald - hmm, must put that on my reading list
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy - but it took me two years and by the time I got to the end I'd forgotten what happened at the beginning
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - but I read the next one he wrote
37. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
38. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
39. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
40. Animal Farm - George Orwell
41. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
42. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
43. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
44. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins - I've never heard of this. Is it famous?
45. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
46. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy.
47. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
48. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
49. Atonement - Ian McEwan
50. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
51. Dune - Frank Herbert
52. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons - saw the tv series though
53. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
54. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth - pretty sure I did read this ages ago
55. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
56. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
57. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
58. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
59. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
60. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
61. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
62. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
63. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
64. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
65. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
66. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
67. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
68. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdi
69. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
70. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
71. Dracula - Bram Stoker
72. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
73. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
74. Ulysses - James Joyce - started it, never finished
75. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
76. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
77. Germinal - Emile Zola
78. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
79. Possession - AS Byatt
80. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
81. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
82. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
83. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
84. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
85. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
86. Charlotte’s Web - EB White
87. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
88. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
89. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton - did actually borrow this from a friend at school, even though my mum banned Enid Blyton from house.
90. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
91. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
92. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
93. Watership Down - Richard Adams
94. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
95. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
96. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
97. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
98. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
99. The Kraken Wakes - John Wyndham - there's a shocking derth of sci-fi on this list, unless you count Orwell and Huxley
100. The Koran - I bought a copy of this and have read bits of it. But I got bored because it was so similar to the Bible.
I make that 51% and a few good ideas for when I finish my current bedtime reading (Grazia magazine). No more Hardy though. Or The Da Vinci Code.
Ailsa is right: running does banish bad moods and even my pathetic half hour tonight helped to lessen my frustration at a bunch of councillors who don't really understand what branding is or what they want from it. After spending months defending this county from accusations of provincialism, I really felt it was small minded and unprofessional for politicians to look at the research I'd done and say 'Well maybe everyone else thinks that, but I think we should just do what I want, even though there's no evidence to back it up whatsoever.' Very provincial.
I'm getting annoyed again so I will move on.
Here's a list of books I stole from Fi's blog. She can tell you all about it, but I've changed it so the ones I've read are in bold. Like her, I've changed the last two.
1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling - have read less than half of the series so that doesn't count
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible - only a few bits. The Book of Ruth. Stuff like that.
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (much better than Harry Potter)
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete work of Shakespere - again, less than half
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (loved it, even though I put off reading it for ages because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype).
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald - hmm, must put that on my reading list
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy - but it took me two years and by the time I got to the end I'd forgotten what happened at the beginning
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - but I read the next one he wrote
37. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
38. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
39. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
40. Animal Farm - George Orwell
41. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
42. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
43. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
44. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins - I've never heard of this. Is it famous?
45. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
46. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy.
47. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
48. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
49. Atonement - Ian McEwan
50. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
51. Dune - Frank Herbert
52. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons - saw the tv series though
53. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
54. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth - pretty sure I did read this ages ago
55. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
56. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
57. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
58. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
59. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
60. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
61. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
62. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
63. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
64. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
65. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
66. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
67. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
68. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdi
69. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
70. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
71. Dracula - Bram Stoker
72. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
73. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
74. Ulysses - James Joyce - started it, never finished
75. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
76. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
77. Germinal - Emile Zola
78. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
79. Possession - AS Byatt
80. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
81. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
82. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
83. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
84. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
85. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
86. Charlotte’s Web - EB White
87. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
88. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
89. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton - did actually borrow this from a friend at school, even though my mum banned Enid Blyton from house.
90. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
91. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
92. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
93. Watership Down - Richard Adams
94. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
95. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
96. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
97. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
98. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
99. The Kraken Wakes - John Wyndham - there's a shocking derth of sci-fi on this list, unless you count Orwell and Huxley
100. The Koran - I bought a copy of this and have read bits of it. But I got bored because it was so similar to the Bible.
I make that 51% and a few good ideas for when I finish my current bedtime reading (Grazia magazine). No more Hardy though. Or The Da Vinci Code.
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Sorry
Yes, sorry it's been nearly a month since my last blog. It's been a busy few weeks. I should really detail everything here, there's plenty of material, but I haven't really been in the mood for blogging recently. I don't know why.
In short, I went to Maastricht with Al for a long weekend, which was pleasant. Then we held our much-delayed housewarming party, which was fun. Plenty of people (and dogs) came along and we sheltered in the barn from showers, finishing with an excellent bonfire that didn't quite set the barn on fire.
Unfortunately while I was clearing up the next day I got stung by something (a bee I think). Didn't think much of it at the time but my hand swelled up overnight so on Monday I looked as though I was wearing an inflated washing up glove. This took a trip to the doctor, some antihystamine and nearly a week to go down again. At one point I had my hand up in a sling to help the swelling go down, which garnered a lot of sympathy until people realised I hadn't actually broken my arm. It also curtailed typing somewhat, which is another excuse for not blogging.
I had to leave cleaning the house post-party until it had gone down, which drove me crazy. I can't stand living in a dirty house and this was really filthy - everyone had been in and out in muddy boots so I was dying to get the mop out. (Not that I minded for party purposes: I expected a certain level of mess. I just hoped I'd be able to clean it up quickly afterwards.) However, I did buy a carpet washer, which was a stroke of genius, as the stupid design of the cottage means everyone walks through all the carpeted rooms and there's a distrincly stained path wearing in. The carpet washer made a real difference.
But I have to say I'm getting fed up of the cottage. Yes, I love the location and the space and being able to walk out of the door and up the hill. But I'm not convinced this makes up for it being so cold, dark, damp and hard to keep clean. I'm sitting here writing this wearing my down jacket indoors to stay warm. And this is only September.
Not sure what to do about this, as it took us ages to find the place, nearly caused me a nervous breakdown getting moved in and Al adores it. Emailing the landlord about the growing damp patch and looking into getting a cleaner are my first thoughts. It would be a shame not to last much longer than the housewarming!
In short, I went to Maastricht with Al for a long weekend, which was pleasant. Then we held our much-delayed housewarming party, which was fun. Plenty of people (and dogs) came along and we sheltered in the barn from showers, finishing with an excellent bonfire that didn't quite set the barn on fire.
Unfortunately while I was clearing up the next day I got stung by something (a bee I think). Didn't think much of it at the time but my hand swelled up overnight so on Monday I looked as though I was wearing an inflated washing up glove. This took a trip to the doctor, some antihystamine and nearly a week to go down again. At one point I had my hand up in a sling to help the swelling go down, which garnered a lot of sympathy until people realised I hadn't actually broken my arm. It also curtailed typing somewhat, which is another excuse for not blogging.
I had to leave cleaning the house post-party until it had gone down, which drove me crazy. I can't stand living in a dirty house and this was really filthy - everyone had been in and out in muddy boots so I was dying to get the mop out. (Not that I minded for party purposes: I expected a certain level of mess. I just hoped I'd be able to clean it up quickly afterwards.) However, I did buy a carpet washer, which was a stroke of genius, as the stupid design of the cottage means everyone walks through all the carpeted rooms and there's a distrincly stained path wearing in. The carpet washer made a real difference.
But I have to say I'm getting fed up of the cottage. Yes, I love the location and the space and being able to walk out of the door and up the hill. But I'm not convinced this makes up for it being so cold, dark, damp and hard to keep clean. I'm sitting here writing this wearing my down jacket indoors to stay warm. And this is only September.
Not sure what to do about this, as it took us ages to find the place, nearly caused me a nervous breakdown getting moved in and Al adores it. Emailing the landlord about the growing damp patch and looking into getting a cleaner are my first thoughts. It would be a shame not to last much longer than the housewarming!
Saturday, 30 August 2008
What adverts reveal about society
Results are up for Coll and I was 33rd overall, or 6th female. About half way through the field, in other words, which is around my usual placing. Quite happy with that.
So, I was watching Top Gear last night. I think I've blogged before about Top Gear and how great it is, despite the fact that I know and care little about cars. In fact, the whole of Dave channel's output appeals to me and most of my pals. Which, considering it claims men aged 20-40 as their target demographic, says something about how they've misconceived what appeals to women aged 20-40. Or maybe something about me and my female friends. Who knows.
Anyway, I love Top Gear. It's great. But it's sponsored by Halfords, who have these little spots before and after the ads. And these spots enrage me. They really do. At first they just irritated me, but by last night I was about ready to stop watching Top Gear (which is, as we have established, great) just because of these enraging spots.
The problem is, they're just blatantly sexist and lazy in their stereotyping. I mean, I know these are just little sponsor bites and not full blown ads, but you think they would have put in some measure of creative thought. Even allowing for the target demographic.
Individually, they're just enough to mildly piss me off, but en masse they just add to the depressing drip drip drip of tiny assumptions made every day based on sex that all then add up together to contribute to nasty big assumptions that ruin women's lives. Possibly without them even noticing (which is even more depressing). In a typical spot, for example, a woman goes to Halfords to get her baby's car seat fitted. Not too bad. Then another women gets her ipod fitted up to the car stereo and indulges in a little flirty banter with the bloke over her taste in music. Slightly nausea-inducing. Then a bloke gets a new roof box fitted and shares an 'all blokes together' moment with the Halfords man relating to how much stuff his wife takes on holiday. That's enough! I'm enraged!
I think what really really annoys me about this last one is that it is too true to life - I've heard exactly that sort of conversation take place so many times.
Did I ever tell you about the time I took my shoes to be reheeled and was just in time to hear the Timpson's guy finish a conversation with his wife on his mobile? The guy hung up, turned to me, and said "All women should have their tongues cut out at birth."
Since I'm fond of my tongue, I asked to be served by someone else.
On the plus side (slightly) I also saw an ad last night that really made me sit up and think. It was for Huggies - the nappies. Nappies adverts are in the same category as those for oven cleaner and tampons and washing powder in that they are without exception boring, formulaic and almost impossible to tell the difference between. I mean, it's impossible to tell the difference between two ads for different oven cleaners. You can tell the difference between a tampon ad and an oven cleaner ad (just). They are also all products aimed largely at women.
So I was astounded by this Huggies ad, which featured a bloke carrying a baby into a hotel room. A rather retro hotel room at that - none of the unbelievably white shiny surroundings usually associated with these ads. Then the bloke goes to change the kid's nappy, laying him on a nappy mat on the bed - yes! A nappy mat! Not a basket full of feathers or a lawn covered in puppies or some other equally unbelievable surface. This ad was going for reality, big time.
And - this is the good bit - as soon as the guy pulls the nappy off a little bit, the baby sends pee shooting everywhere - all over the hotel room, up to the ceiling. It's exaggerated, of course, with the point being that Huggies are great at stopping leaks. But it's not that exaggerated. Babies do pee all over the place. So here was an advert that:
a) acknowledged that men sometimes change nappies;
b) acknowledged that sometimes nappy changing takes place outside of pristine home surroundings;
c) acknowledged that nappies are messy and babies pee everywhere.
Wow. I couldn't decide if I should be excited that society had taken the great leap forward into commissioning such a revolutionary advert or depressed (again) that it should come as such a surprise, in 2008, to come come across a product that acknowledges reality.
Who knows?
So, I was watching Top Gear last night. I think I've blogged before about Top Gear and how great it is, despite the fact that I know and care little about cars. In fact, the whole of Dave channel's output appeals to me and most of my pals. Which, considering it claims men aged 20-40 as their target demographic, says something about how they've misconceived what appeals to women aged 20-40. Or maybe something about me and my female friends. Who knows.
Anyway, I love Top Gear. It's great. But it's sponsored by Halfords, who have these little spots before and after the ads. And these spots enrage me. They really do. At first they just irritated me, but by last night I was about ready to stop watching Top Gear (which is, as we have established, great) just because of these enraging spots.
The problem is, they're just blatantly sexist and lazy in their stereotyping. I mean, I know these are just little sponsor bites and not full blown ads, but you think they would have put in some measure of creative thought. Even allowing for the target demographic.
Individually, they're just enough to mildly piss me off, but en masse they just add to the depressing drip drip drip of tiny assumptions made every day based on sex that all then add up together to contribute to nasty big assumptions that ruin women's lives. Possibly without them even noticing (which is even more depressing). In a typical spot, for example, a woman goes to Halfords to get her baby's car seat fitted. Not too bad. Then another women gets her ipod fitted up to the car stereo and indulges in a little flirty banter with the bloke over her taste in music. Slightly nausea-inducing. Then a bloke gets a new roof box fitted and shares an 'all blokes together' moment with the Halfords man relating to how much stuff his wife takes on holiday. That's enough! I'm enraged!
I think what really really annoys me about this last one is that it is too true to life - I've heard exactly that sort of conversation take place so many times.
Did I ever tell you about the time I took my shoes to be reheeled and was just in time to hear the Timpson's guy finish a conversation with his wife on his mobile? The guy hung up, turned to me, and said "All women should have their tongues cut out at birth."
Since I'm fond of my tongue, I asked to be served by someone else.
On the plus side (slightly) I also saw an ad last night that really made me sit up and think. It was for Huggies - the nappies. Nappies adverts are in the same category as those for oven cleaner and tampons and washing powder in that they are without exception boring, formulaic and almost impossible to tell the difference between. I mean, it's impossible to tell the difference between two ads for different oven cleaners. You can tell the difference between a tampon ad and an oven cleaner ad (just). They are also all products aimed largely at women.
So I was astounded by this Huggies ad, which featured a bloke carrying a baby into a hotel room. A rather retro hotel room at that - none of the unbelievably white shiny surroundings usually associated with these ads. Then the bloke goes to change the kid's nappy, laying him on a nappy mat on the bed - yes! A nappy mat! Not a basket full of feathers or a lawn covered in puppies or some other equally unbelievable surface. This ad was going for reality, big time.
And - this is the good bit - as soon as the guy pulls the nappy off a little bit, the baby sends pee shooting everywhere - all over the hotel room, up to the ceiling. It's exaggerated, of course, with the point being that Huggies are great at stopping leaks. But it's not that exaggerated. Babies do pee all over the place. So here was an advert that:
a) acknowledged that men sometimes change nappies;
b) acknowledged that sometimes nappy changing takes place outside of pristine home surroundings;
c) acknowledged that nappies are messy and babies pee everywhere.
Wow. I couldn't decide if I should be excited that society had taken the great leap forward into commissioning such a revolutionary advert or depressed (again) that it should come as such a surprise, in 2008, to come come across a product that acknowledges reality.
Who knows?
Monday, 25 August 2008
Coll half marathon
Got back from Coll last night after a great trip. We drove to Oban on Friday night, stayed in the van and got the 7am ferry. Colin and Helen accompanied us and were of good cheer. I was knackered after the night in the van and the previous night having been spent getting up to let Dougal out as he was whinging for a poo and then cleaning up after him as he ate a frog and spat foam everywhere. But we were cheered by the sight of Seonaid and the boys and hurried to the Community Hall to sign in.
The race began at 3pm - a great atmosphere and very friendly. There were about 70 people doing the half, and they set off at a hell of a pace. We quickly became strung out along the route and I settled behind a woman pushing a pushchair (yes, really - she was speedy!) and a woman in a turquoise top. Al stuck with me for three miles, annoying me by constantly asking about our pace. I think if you want to know your pace when you run you should make your own measurement arrangements! Luckily after mile 3 he dropped back. I was starting to enjoy myself on the undulating hills - just up and down enough to maintain interest. The head wind was a bit off putting but at least it was cool and I consoled myself with the thought that Alex had said it was all downhill and with the wind behind you for the second half.
The miles were also speeding by, and I suspected (rightly as it turned out) that they were measured short - there was no way I was doing sub-eight minute miles. At half way there was a mile off road on a compacted path through sand dunes, and as I emerged from this I realised that Alex had been lying and there was a good deal more undulation to go. With tired legs it seemed less interesting, and it also started to rain. Just past Seonaid's water stop the rain set in proper and the wind came round again to be head on. The last three miles were a real slog, with mile 12 being all uphill and into the wind. Al had disappeared from behind me but a woman in a pink top crept up! I was damned if I was going to let a place slip, so put on a spurt and distanced myself from her, managing to overtake Turquoise Woman in the process. But Turquoise deservedly regained her place on the last hill, where it was all I could do not to walk.
Finally the line appeared and I clocked under 1 hour 57: better than I expected at the start, though not as good as I might have hoped at around mile 6! Averages a fraction under nine minute miles, so that's not bad considering the lack of training. The best thing was the friendly atmosphere, encouraging water stops and great scenery. Al and Ailsa appeared within a few minutes and we headed back to the house for much needed warm showers and food. Helen had finished her 10k in under and hour, while Colin had achieved an annoyingly speedy 5th (I think) place.
Great ceilidh in the hall that night, though we weren't really up for much dancing. I did, however, allow Archie to take me on a turn around the floor. (Archie was loving having Helen around and she spent much of the weekend in Archie World. Al too, at one point, acknowledged that the van may indeed be a spaceship, Dougal's tether a dinosaur snare and Dougal's collar his magic dinosaur-shape-shifting-device.)
Al is much taken with Coll, especially given it is less touristy and a closer community than Tiree, where he's been before. He is already planning return trips and asking me when I can get a job there. Dougal, too, had a good time with beach walks and, in labradoodle Tally, he finally found a dog willing to play with him. They spent a good hour on Saturday chasing after each other.
Sunday was spent pottering around the island: we'd hoped for a surf but made do with driving Norman off road. No results for the race posted yet, but I hope to have made it in the top ten women. If not, then there's always next year!
The race began at 3pm - a great atmosphere and very friendly. There were about 70 people doing the half, and they set off at a hell of a pace. We quickly became strung out along the route and I settled behind a woman pushing a pushchair (yes, really - she was speedy!) and a woman in a turquoise top. Al stuck with me for three miles, annoying me by constantly asking about our pace. I think if you want to know your pace when you run you should make your own measurement arrangements! Luckily after mile 3 he dropped back. I was starting to enjoy myself on the undulating hills - just up and down enough to maintain interest. The head wind was a bit off putting but at least it was cool and I consoled myself with the thought that Alex had said it was all downhill and with the wind behind you for the second half.
The miles were also speeding by, and I suspected (rightly as it turned out) that they were measured short - there was no way I was doing sub-eight minute miles. At half way there was a mile off road on a compacted path through sand dunes, and as I emerged from this I realised that Alex had been lying and there was a good deal more undulation to go. With tired legs it seemed less interesting, and it also started to rain. Just past Seonaid's water stop the rain set in proper and the wind came round again to be head on. The last three miles were a real slog, with mile 12 being all uphill and into the wind. Al had disappeared from behind me but a woman in a pink top crept up! I was damned if I was going to let a place slip, so put on a spurt and distanced myself from her, managing to overtake Turquoise Woman in the process. But Turquoise deservedly regained her place on the last hill, where it was all I could do not to walk.
Finally the line appeared and I clocked under 1 hour 57: better than I expected at the start, though not as good as I might have hoped at around mile 6! Averages a fraction under nine minute miles, so that's not bad considering the lack of training. The best thing was the friendly atmosphere, encouraging water stops and great scenery. Al and Ailsa appeared within a few minutes and we headed back to the house for much needed warm showers and food. Helen had finished her 10k in under and hour, while Colin had achieved an annoyingly speedy 5th (I think) place.
Great ceilidh in the hall that night, though we weren't really up for much dancing. I did, however, allow Archie to take me on a turn around the floor. (Archie was loving having Helen around and she spent much of the weekend in Archie World. Al too, at one point, acknowledged that the van may indeed be a spaceship, Dougal's tether a dinosaur snare and Dougal's collar his magic dinosaur-shape-shifting-device.)
Al is much taken with Coll, especially given it is less touristy and a closer community than Tiree, where he's been before. He is already planning return trips and asking me when I can get a job there. Dougal, too, had a good time with beach walks and, in labradoodle Tally, he finally found a dog willing to play with him. They spent a good hour on Saturday chasing after each other.
Sunday was spent pottering around the island: we'd hoped for a surf but made do with driving Norman off road. No results for the race posted yet, but I hope to have made it in the top ten women. If not, then there's always next year!
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Things to do when I retire
I have been crap at keeping this blog anywhere near up to date since getting the new job...mostly because work doesn't allow access to blogspot and the last thing I want to do having escaped from the computer terminal at the end of a working day is to sit down at one again at home.
I think blogging may have to be added to my 'things to do when I retire' list. It's only a mental list, although, actually, I'm about to type it up so it will be made flesh: pixelled into life.
Ahem:
List of Things to Do When I Retire
Did my longest run on Sunday, about 9.5 miles. The first 4 miles were with Dougal, and then I did a second, longer loop after dropping him back home. He is still loving it. I hated the tough hill I set myself at the beginning of loop 2, which forced me to walk for a minute, but the rest was fine. Not really sure of distances so it's hard to say how fast I was going. Who knows how Coll will be on the back of this rather erratic training, especially as Ailsa is now scaring me with mentions of possible hilliness. Ah well.
Now Dougal and AL are just back from Aviemore and I must desist on the blogging front to greet them properly. Dougal has definitely grown - he used to fit on my lap while I typed but is now getting mightily in the way of the keyboard and also investigating the desk for crumbs and - AARGH! LICKING ME IN THE MOUTH WITH DOG FOOD BREATH!
Yuch. Time to go.
I think blogging may have to be added to my 'things to do when I retire' list. It's only a mental list, although, actually, I'm about to type it up so it will be made flesh: pixelled into life.
Ahem:
List of Things to Do When I Retire
- Blog more.
- Play musical instruments/sing.
- Join posh exclusive health club and spend my days in the jacuzzi gossiping with Cheeseboarders while being served herbal tea by buff young personal trainers.
Did my longest run on Sunday, about 9.5 miles. The first 4 miles were with Dougal, and then I did a second, longer loop after dropping him back home. He is still loving it. I hated the tough hill I set myself at the beginning of loop 2, which forced me to walk for a minute, but the rest was fine. Not really sure of distances so it's hard to say how fast I was going. Who knows how Coll will be on the back of this rather erratic training, especially as Ailsa is now scaring me with mentions of possible hilliness. Ah well.
Now Dougal and AL are just back from Aviemore and I must desist on the blogging front to greet them properly. Dougal has definitely grown - he used to fit on my lap while I typed but is now getting mightily in the way of the keyboard and also investigating the desk for crumbs and - AARGH! LICKING ME IN THE MOUTH WITH DOG FOOD BREATH!
Yuch. Time to go.
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Walking and running
After finally taking the decision to enter the Coll half marathon, I decided I had better do some training. Having done bugger all since the couple of three mile jogs back in June, the prospect of 13.1 miles was daunting. I decided that, with five weeks to go, I'd try and cover a hundred miles in preparation.
Then I realised that it was a week earlier than I thought and I would be away walking the West Highland Way for a week, giving me three weeks prep time. So I decided to just do what I could.
I started with a few gym sessions, finding it pathetically hard to maintain 6 mph. Shortly before leaving Dougal with my generously dog sitting parents I did a three and a half mile circuit of Gartmorn Dam, bringing my total mileage up to 23.5 miles. Then came the walk, which was not as tough as I had expected in an up and down type way but still covered a lot of ground. My muscles, I have to say, barely complained at all. But the way runs along old drovers roads, well cobbled in the time and with a severe camber, which left me with rather sore feet from the hard pounding. Worth it for the scenery though.
Altogether we covered 75 miles in five days, but I couldn't count it as training: bitter experience has taught me that walking fit is not the same as running fit. So after an all too brief reunion with my parents (and tales of naughty but cute doggy antics) it was back to work.
I did six miles round Gartmorn on Friday in 55 minutes, pausing only to challenge the ned kid who tried to trip me up to a race (he lost, but then, he was about eight and overweight). Then in a rare burst of sunshine, we headed down to Yellowcraigs beach on Sunday. While Al and mate Pete went fishing I headed off down the John Muir path. I'd last covered bits of this coastal route on a long training run pre-marathon, taking it from Leith to Cockenzie and back. I now picked it up at Yellowcraigs and ran the four miles in to North Berwick and out the other side and back, making it eight miles. Was pretty pleased with this, my longest run so far, and with a few small hills to keep my interest. Also lots of gorgeous houses overlooking the golf course to the sea. Mostly tarmac, but some grass, a patch of woodland and lots and lots of boggy sections. The path skirts the golf course, which was closed due to flooding, and cuts across a ploughed field, at which point I cursed the fact that I only had my road trainers with me - they are just about dry now, three days later.
Hormones got the better of me for the beginning of this week, meaning I spent Monday night curled up in front of the tv and yesterday, by a supreme effort, managed just 5.5 miles on the treadmill. I'd been hoping for at least 6, but it was not to be. I did, however, complete a few minute bursts at 7 mph. Today I took Dougal with me on a 3.5 mile loop round Dollar. It was my first run with him and he loved it. Still very muddy out, though less so now that we have returned with most of the mud adhering to one or other of us. I let him off the lead on the off road stretches and kept him on in between - my running was faster with him on the lead because he was pulling forward at such a rate!
So now up to a total of 46.5 miles with nine days to go. Hopefully I can make it up to 70 or so, which should be respectable. As long as I get a 10-11 miler in at some point I'm happy to run the half knowing I should get round in one piece.
Then I realised that it was a week earlier than I thought and I would be away walking the West Highland Way for a week, giving me three weeks prep time. So I decided to just do what I could.
I started with a few gym sessions, finding it pathetically hard to maintain 6 mph. Shortly before leaving Dougal with my generously dog sitting parents I did a three and a half mile circuit of Gartmorn Dam, bringing my total mileage up to 23.5 miles. Then came the walk, which was not as tough as I had expected in an up and down type way but still covered a lot of ground. My muscles, I have to say, barely complained at all. But the way runs along old drovers roads, well cobbled in the time and with a severe camber, which left me with rather sore feet from the hard pounding. Worth it for the scenery though.
Altogether we covered 75 miles in five days, but I couldn't count it as training: bitter experience has taught me that walking fit is not the same as running fit. So after an all too brief reunion with my parents (and tales of naughty but cute doggy antics) it was back to work.
I did six miles round Gartmorn on Friday in 55 minutes, pausing only to challenge the ned kid who tried to trip me up to a race (he lost, but then, he was about eight and overweight). Then in a rare burst of sunshine, we headed down to Yellowcraigs beach on Sunday. While Al and mate Pete went fishing I headed off down the John Muir path. I'd last covered bits of this coastal route on a long training run pre-marathon, taking it from Leith to Cockenzie and back. I now picked it up at Yellowcraigs and ran the four miles in to North Berwick and out the other side and back, making it eight miles. Was pretty pleased with this, my longest run so far, and with a few small hills to keep my interest. Also lots of gorgeous houses overlooking the golf course to the sea. Mostly tarmac, but some grass, a patch of woodland and lots and lots of boggy sections. The path skirts the golf course, which was closed due to flooding, and cuts across a ploughed field, at which point I cursed the fact that I only had my road trainers with me - they are just about dry now, three days later.
Hormones got the better of me for the beginning of this week, meaning I spent Monday night curled up in front of the tv and yesterday, by a supreme effort, managed just 5.5 miles on the treadmill. I'd been hoping for at least 6, but it was not to be. I did, however, complete a few minute bursts at 7 mph. Today I took Dougal with me on a 3.5 mile loop round Dollar. It was my first run with him and he loved it. Still very muddy out, though less so now that we have returned with most of the mud adhering to one or other of us. I let him off the lead on the off road stretches and kept him on in between - my running was faster with him on the lead because he was pulling forward at such a rate!
So now up to a total of 46.5 miles with nine days to go. Hopefully I can make it up to 70 or so, which should be respectable. As long as I get a 10-11 miler in at some point I'm happy to run the half knowing I should get round in one piece.
Friday, 25 July 2008
Dog walk
Al headed off for a weekend of sea kayaking today, so I came home at lunch time to let Dougal out. The poor pooch had pretty much spent all day home alone by the time I finished work though, so I didn't have the heart to shut him in again while I went for a run (I'm waiting until I can buy a proper running dog lead before running with him, as I fear he is too bouncy to run on the regular extendable lead without entangling us irreparably).
Instead, we had a lovely walk together. It must have been nearly four miles out along the back road but cutting back to the railway from the far side of Dollar. He did some heel work, which he clearly finds tiresome but has to learn so he won't get run over in the city, and had a good romp off the lead on the railway.* There some pools of water covered in dense green weed tempted him with their apparently firm surface and he fell through the weed into the water not once but twice - a very surprised pup.
I read somewhere once that walking uses a particular butt muscle not used in running, so it will be no great hardship to have to run and walk for the next few weeks. I can use the running to get fit and the walking to procure/maintain a perky posterior. A plan with no drawbacks.
Oh, and the big field at opposite us which was previous full of grass about the same height as me has been trimmed right down, so Dougal did mad big circular dashes all over it. He spotted a black lab that he thought was his friend Jake and was very disappointed when it wasn't. We were both knackered and hungry upon our return and, while having sated the hunger with pasta, I'm now even more knackered after dismantling the guest bed (which was too small for the mattress and held together with extra planks on a broken side) and getting the Ikea boxes for the new one in from the van. I'm leaving the remantling till tomorrow.
* This is a defunct railway track now used as a walk. I wouldn't let him run around in front of actual trains or anything.
Instead, we had a lovely walk together. It must have been nearly four miles out along the back road but cutting back to the railway from the far side of Dollar. He did some heel work, which he clearly finds tiresome but has to learn so he won't get run over in the city, and had a good romp off the lead on the railway.* There some pools of water covered in dense green weed tempted him with their apparently firm surface and he fell through the weed into the water not once but twice - a very surprised pup.
I read somewhere once that walking uses a particular butt muscle not used in running, so it will be no great hardship to have to run and walk for the next few weeks. I can use the running to get fit and the walking to procure/maintain a perky posterior. A plan with no drawbacks.
Oh, and the big field at opposite us which was previous full of grass about the same height as me has been trimmed right down, so Dougal did mad big circular dashes all over it. He spotted a black lab that he thought was his friend Jake and was very disappointed when it wasn't. We were both knackered and hungry upon our return and, while having sated the hunger with pasta, I'm now even more knackered after dismantling the guest bed (which was too small for the mattress and held together with extra planks on a broken side) and getting the Ikea boxes for the new one in from the van. I'm leaving the remantling till tomorrow.
* This is a defunct railway track now used as a walk. I wouldn't let him run around in front of actual trains or anything.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Nedding
I can't do justice to it, I really can't. So just the highlights:
Can't wait to run another Mouse Race next year! I'm already planning on asking the neighbours if we can borrow their tennis court and wondering if you're allowed to swim in Gartmorn Dam.
Back down to earth: Fi's sister caught me in a weakened hungover state and signed me up for the Coll half marathon in (gulp) five weeks. I'm going to try and run 100 miles before then: averaging 20 miles a week. So far I have done two gym trips, one 4 miles and one 4 and a half, at just quicker than 6 mph. It was horrendous: so depressing that what would have been a mild warm up three months ago is now a real workout. But if all else fails I can do the 5km race instead.
- Seeing the girls head off to the registry office in a state of high excitement and return (about 30 seconds later) officially nedded: it brought a tear to my eye (in a good way).
- The first sight of the secret location, the glorious Ardanaiseig Hotel, and Fi's particular excitement at showing us all to our specially selected rooms (ours chosen for the short bed (as Official Shortest Couple) and fabulous freestanding bath).
- Trying out the bath - mmm, hot water!
- Seeing the boys draw up in their Inspector Morse car.
- Walking into a timewarp before dinner when everyone had dressed up beautifully for the 1920s theme and the venue was perfect for it.
- Venison.
- Poker with a professional dealer.
- Music and dancing and Fi and Ailsa looking really happy.
- Messing about quietly with arty stuff in a comfy yurt.
- Swimming in the loch, thinking all swimming should be done in fresh water, under the open sky.
- Lying on short grass in warm sun.
- Talking to Archie about dinosaurs.
- Feeling pretty in my hippy dress.
- Steak.
- Ceilidhing with Simon and Morag like old times.
- Al winning the Fantastic Prize.
- Mulling it all over with the cheeseboard on the way home.
Can't wait to run another Mouse Race next year! I'm already planning on asking the neighbours if we can borrow their tennis court and wondering if you're allowed to swim in Gartmorn Dam.
Back down to earth: Fi's sister caught me in a weakened hungover state and signed me up for the Coll half marathon in (gulp) five weeks. I'm going to try and run 100 miles before then: averaging 20 miles a week. So far I have done two gym trips, one 4 miles and one 4 and a half, at just quicker than 6 mph. It was horrendous: so depressing that what would have been a mild warm up three months ago is now a real workout. But if all else fails I can do the 5km race instead.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Friendly weekends and a political rant
Long time no blog, what with two delightful weekends full of friends to keep me busy.
First there was the long-awaited hag do for Fiona and Ailsa: a fantastic event over three days organised with precision by Barry, Colin, Hils and Helen. There was a meal in the intimacy of a private room at Channings, where we could get all loud and annoying without worrying that we were bothering other people. Then on Saturday were split into two teams (I was on Fi's) and set on a series of challenges including golf, cryptic clues, rounders, tug of war, a beer mat collecting exercise and cheese and wine tasting. I was mediocre at all of these but nevertheless our team triumphed overall.
That evening we had a two round poker tournament, playing for actual money: £10 in the pot from each of 14 of us made it a prize worth winning and really very exciting. I made it to the second round on the back of extreme luck, including being dealt a natural full house, but Barry proceeded to amass a heap of chips so huge you could barely see his eyebrows. I went all in on the last hand - three threes - and won most of Al's stash (he claims, in the misguided belief that I would have done likewise, that he 'donated' them to me knowing I had the better hand) but even that was not enough to overcome Barry's hoard and he was declared a worthy winner.
Humph.
Sunday found us at the Sheep's Heid in Duddingston, a pub I've been meaning to go to for years but never got around to. It claims to be the oldest pub in Edinburgh, with a tavern on the site for the last squillion years, and boasts an old-fashioned skittles alley. To be honest I was hoping for a little non-competitive, genteel, ad hoc skittle action, but being us we once again organised into teams. Luckily a round of sausage sandwiches from the pub barbecue revived us enough to not lose every single round, but not enough to deny Ailsa the chance to claim a victory.
Last weekend Mo and Ray came up to visit, seeing the cottage for the first time. It is, at least, just about habitable for visitors now, though we still need a new spare bed. The current one is nailed together with planks and the mattress is too big and hangs over the edge. I have booked Al in for a trip to Ikea before my mum arrives. Anyway, Morag and Ray were most patient with it, and apart from the study, which still looks as a bit empty and seems to get covered in muddy paw prints as fast as I can hoover them up, the rest of the place cleaned up nicely after a two hour frenzy with the vacuum and duster.
We'd planned to do very little and enjoyed a leisurely lunch followed by a two and a half hour walk along the back roads to Tillicoultry, where ice creams were purchased, and back along the railway. It was the first time Al had done this route, which is familiar to me from running. It's a lovely walk with hardly any roads and Dougal loved it, romping happily with passing hounds. Back home he summoned just enough energy to eat his dinner before curling up on my lap and sleeping - the first time we've managed to tire him out!
I made a lasagna while Morag and Ray erected a massive Leaning Tower of Cake from the sponges I'd made earlier. Well, Morag mostly made it while Ray provided helpful comments, took photos and prevented Dougal from eating things. The shelves inside the oven have slipped so cakes come out a bit squinty, but my assistants managed to match the layers of sponge beautifully. Held together with whipped cream and an entire punnet of strawberries, it was a sight to behold.
After the previous weekend, Al had the poker bug and we had requested that our guests bring cards and chips. Fortified by cake and whisky, we pokered away until Al had won everything and then we went to bed.
I dragged myself up at 9.30 to let Dougal out. Having done so, I went to the loo and returned to the kitchen to find Al letting a rather confused Dougal out again. He (Al, not Dougal) had mistaken a pile of duvet for my sleeping form and was sleepily surprised to find me downstairs as well as still in bed.
While not exactly sunny, the weather was at least making some attempt at warmth and we spent a pleasant morning in and around the hammock with the papers before tootling off to find a pub for lunch. We tried to track down one in Powmill, which Al's parents had recommended, but we couldn't find it and returned to the Muckhart Inn instead. Al and I were on the bike, so Mo and Ray headed home after lunch and we motored back to the hound and more hammock time.
I took another look at my courgettes. They still haven't grown, even though I've watered them and been stung by nettles weeding them. Expert opinion (ie my mum) suggests that they are now goners. How ungrateful of them. At least my herbs are making a brave showing, proving that I am not a complete plant Jonah. The basil is even recognisable as basil already.
Back to work for a short week - Friday to be spent at a Secret Location for the non-wedding of the year. Took Dougal to the vet yesterday as he has an eye infection - probably from running through acres of eye-height grass. I was much more nervous than him. When the vet picked him up to put him on the table he thought he was getting a cuddle, and then he kept trying to lick the torch used to look in his eye. Now we have eye drops to administer, which takes a while as Dougal thinks they'd be much better taken orally.
Otherwise, I've been kept occupied following the Glasgow East by election. As Ray noted over the Sunday papers, the Sunday Times seems to be under the impression that the Tories could win this seat. Possibly their thinking goes: Labour not looking good, therefore Conservatives not looking bad. But I'm pretty sure that, in their desperate search for a way to show Gordon Brown where to stick his 10p tax band, the people of Glasgow East are not clinging to the legs of Tory politicians and pleading for forgiveness for the crime of never having voted for them before.
Oh no. I think the SNP will probably do quite well.
Especially if Labour keep coming out with stuff like this, from Labour minister David Cairns: "Councillor Mason [the SNP candidate] has finally let the cat out of the bag. He has admitted what we knew all along – he is a hard-line Nationalist who sees his role at Westminster to bring about independence."
Um, am I the only one who thinks that possibly the cat was never in the bag in the first place? That, in fact, the cat was sitting some distance away from the bag, sunning itself and opening flaunting a yellow SNP badge? Hello - it's called the 'Scottish National Party'. The clue is in the name.
Now I don't support Scottish nationalism (yet). I'm not quite convinced it's in Scotland's interests to go it alone, or that the rest of the UK will ever let go of all that lovely oil that Alex's relying on. But I do support democracy. And if the people of Scotland vote for an independent Scotland then that is what they should get.
David Cairns seems to think that if you support nationalism, you shouldn't be allowed to express that support democratically by electing someone to bring about such a state of affairs by peaceful political means. He's out of touch if he thinks that wanting an independent Scotland makes Mason an unacceptable representative to most Scots.
Quite apart from the fact that independence is not, north of the border, viewed with the antipathy it is in London, the SNP has managed over the last year and a bit to establish itself as more than a one issue party. I didn't want to like them. But they keep doing things I agree with.
I want Labour to win Glasgow East because I want Gordon Brown to stay prime minister. So my advice to Margaret Curran (who seems a lot more on the ball and is a proper Weegie to boot) is to ignore Cairns. Don't try and denigrate the SNP for being what they are, when what they are is popular. Instead, Labour might do well to consider why they're not so popular themselves right now.
First there was the long-awaited hag do for Fiona and Ailsa: a fantastic event over three days organised with precision by Barry, Colin, Hils and Helen. There was a meal in the intimacy of a private room at Channings, where we could get all loud and annoying without worrying that we were bothering other people. Then on Saturday were split into two teams (I was on Fi's) and set on a series of challenges including golf, cryptic clues, rounders, tug of war, a beer mat collecting exercise and cheese and wine tasting. I was mediocre at all of these but nevertheless our team triumphed overall.
That evening we had a two round poker tournament, playing for actual money: £10 in the pot from each of 14 of us made it a prize worth winning and really very exciting. I made it to the second round on the back of extreme luck, including being dealt a natural full house, but Barry proceeded to amass a heap of chips so huge you could barely see his eyebrows. I went all in on the last hand - three threes - and won most of Al's stash (he claims, in the misguided belief that I would have done likewise, that he 'donated' them to me knowing I had the better hand) but even that was not enough to overcome Barry's hoard and he was declared a worthy winner.
Humph.
Sunday found us at the Sheep's Heid in Duddingston, a pub I've been meaning to go to for years but never got around to. It claims to be the oldest pub in Edinburgh, with a tavern on the site for the last squillion years, and boasts an old-fashioned skittles alley. To be honest I was hoping for a little non-competitive, genteel, ad hoc skittle action, but being us we once again organised into teams. Luckily a round of sausage sandwiches from the pub barbecue revived us enough to not lose every single round, but not enough to deny Ailsa the chance to claim a victory.
Last weekend Mo and Ray came up to visit, seeing the cottage for the first time. It is, at least, just about habitable for visitors now, though we still need a new spare bed. The current one is nailed together with planks and the mattress is too big and hangs over the edge. I have booked Al in for a trip to Ikea before my mum arrives. Anyway, Morag and Ray were most patient with it, and apart from the study, which still looks as a bit empty and seems to get covered in muddy paw prints as fast as I can hoover them up, the rest of the place cleaned up nicely after a two hour frenzy with the vacuum and duster.
We'd planned to do very little and enjoyed a leisurely lunch followed by a two and a half hour walk along the back roads to Tillicoultry, where ice creams were purchased, and back along the railway. It was the first time Al had done this route, which is familiar to me from running. It's a lovely walk with hardly any roads and Dougal loved it, romping happily with passing hounds. Back home he summoned just enough energy to eat his dinner before curling up on my lap and sleeping - the first time we've managed to tire him out!
I made a lasagna while Morag and Ray erected a massive Leaning Tower of Cake from the sponges I'd made earlier. Well, Morag mostly made it while Ray provided helpful comments, took photos and prevented Dougal from eating things. The shelves inside the oven have slipped so cakes come out a bit squinty, but my assistants managed to match the layers of sponge beautifully. Held together with whipped cream and an entire punnet of strawberries, it was a sight to behold.
After the previous weekend, Al had the poker bug and we had requested that our guests bring cards and chips. Fortified by cake and whisky, we pokered away until Al had won everything and then we went to bed.
I dragged myself up at 9.30 to let Dougal out. Having done so, I went to the loo and returned to the kitchen to find Al letting a rather confused Dougal out again. He (Al, not Dougal) had mistaken a pile of duvet for my sleeping form and was sleepily surprised to find me downstairs as well as still in bed.
While not exactly sunny, the weather was at least making some attempt at warmth and we spent a pleasant morning in and around the hammock with the papers before tootling off to find a pub for lunch. We tried to track down one in Powmill, which Al's parents had recommended, but we couldn't find it and returned to the Muckhart Inn instead. Al and I were on the bike, so Mo and Ray headed home after lunch and we motored back to the hound and more hammock time.
I took another look at my courgettes. They still haven't grown, even though I've watered them and been stung by nettles weeding them. Expert opinion (ie my mum) suggests that they are now goners. How ungrateful of them. At least my herbs are making a brave showing, proving that I am not a complete plant Jonah. The basil is even recognisable as basil already.
Back to work for a short week - Friday to be spent at a Secret Location for the non-wedding of the year. Took Dougal to the vet yesterday as he has an eye infection - probably from running through acres of eye-height grass. I was much more nervous than him. When the vet picked him up to put him on the table he thought he was getting a cuddle, and then he kept trying to lick the torch used to look in his eye. Now we have eye drops to administer, which takes a while as Dougal thinks they'd be much better taken orally.
Otherwise, I've been kept occupied following the Glasgow East by election. As Ray noted over the Sunday papers, the Sunday Times seems to be under the impression that the Tories could win this seat. Possibly their thinking goes: Labour not looking good, therefore Conservatives not looking bad. But I'm pretty sure that, in their desperate search for a way to show Gordon Brown where to stick his 10p tax band, the people of Glasgow East are not clinging to the legs of Tory politicians and pleading for forgiveness for the crime of never having voted for them before.
Oh no. I think the SNP will probably do quite well.
Especially if Labour keep coming out with stuff like this, from Labour minister David Cairns: "Councillor Mason [the SNP candidate] has finally let the cat out of the bag. He has admitted what we knew all along – he is a hard-line Nationalist who sees his role at Westminster to bring about independence."
Um, am I the only one who thinks that possibly the cat was never in the bag in the first place? That, in fact, the cat was sitting some distance away from the bag, sunning itself and opening flaunting a yellow SNP badge? Hello - it's called the 'Scottish National Party'. The clue is in the name.
Now I don't support Scottish nationalism (yet). I'm not quite convinced it's in Scotland's interests to go it alone, or that the rest of the UK will ever let go of all that lovely oil that Alex's relying on. But I do support democracy. And if the people of Scotland vote for an independent Scotland then that is what they should get.
David Cairns seems to think that if you support nationalism, you shouldn't be allowed to express that support democratically by electing someone to bring about such a state of affairs by peaceful political means. He's out of touch if he thinks that wanting an independent Scotland makes Mason an unacceptable representative to most Scots.
Quite apart from the fact that independence is not, north of the border, viewed with the antipathy it is in London, the SNP has managed over the last year and a bit to establish itself as more than a one issue party. I didn't want to like them. But they keep doing things I agree with.
I want Labour to win Glasgow East because I want Gordon Brown to stay prime minister. So my advice to Margaret Curran (who seems a lot more on the ball and is a proper Weegie to boot) is to ignore Cairns. Don't try and denigrate the SNP for being what they are, when what they are is popular. Instead, Labour might do well to consider why they're not so popular themselves right now.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Busy evenings
Been unusually busy through the week with a delightful last minute dinner at Holly Cottage on Monday so Al could get his massage as he is a guinea pig for Fi. Of course he was late and as usual took 20 minutes to get ready so I drove like a demon until we got stuck behind a tow truck and had to crawl anyway. I was berating him the other day for his inability to leave the house in under half an hour and he pointed out that he often manages to leave very quickly...but then has to go back again for whatever he's forgotten. How hard can it be - it's not like he has to brush his hair or anything.
I suppose everyone has to have one annoying habit. Callum always leaves empty packets in the cupboards and fridge when he's taken the last of something, which drives Al crazy. I told him to think of the day when Cal leaves home and eventually opens his fridge to find nothing but empty packets taking up all the room.
Anyway, as soon as I walked through the door of HC I felt instantly relaxed, as is always the way, and was plied with wine and nibbles by Ailsa, followed by tasty roast (yes, Morag, I got your roast! Mwa ha ha!) Al too looked chilled out following his treatment. He is very complimentary of Fi's talents and has been persuaded to possibly go back to the doctor about his back, which is good.
Yesterday we'd invited the neighbours round as they'd had us over for drinks and had introduced Al to some cycling friends. We had a nice chat and some wine. they were amazed we had the fire on - 'But it's the middle of summer!' Oh yes, I am trying to avoid thinking about possible indoor temperatures come winter.
Tonight is a free night, phew. Then a public meeting for work tomorrow night and the hag weekend starts Friday.
Nice to have some time to myself but I am missing the jingle of little Dougal's collar as he potters around the house. We have turned into sickeningly doting dog owners. Gazing adoringly at Dougal and gently stroking his paw as he slept, Al announced that he loved him. I was slightly put out, pointing out that it had taken Al nine months to say that he loved me, and only then after I'd said it first.
'Has Dougal ever told you he loves you, eh?'
'Ooh yes, he says that whenever he licks my ear.'
'That's not him saying he loves you. That's him trying to get you to regurgitate food for him.'
I suppose everyone has to have one annoying habit. Callum always leaves empty packets in the cupboards and fridge when he's taken the last of something, which drives Al crazy. I told him to think of the day when Cal leaves home and eventually opens his fridge to find nothing but empty packets taking up all the room.
Anyway, as soon as I walked through the door of HC I felt instantly relaxed, as is always the way, and was plied with wine and nibbles by Ailsa, followed by tasty roast (yes, Morag, I got your roast! Mwa ha ha!) Al too looked chilled out following his treatment. He is very complimentary of Fi's talents and has been persuaded to possibly go back to the doctor about his back, which is good.
Yesterday we'd invited the neighbours round as they'd had us over for drinks and had introduced Al to some cycling friends. We had a nice chat and some wine. they were amazed we had the fire on - 'But it's the middle of summer!' Oh yes, I am trying to avoid thinking about possible indoor temperatures come winter.
Tonight is a free night, phew. Then a public meeting for work tomorrow night and the hag weekend starts Friday.
Nice to have some time to myself but I am missing the jingle of little Dougal's collar as he potters around the house. We have turned into sickeningly doting dog owners. Gazing adoringly at Dougal and gently stroking his paw as he slept, Al announced that he loved him. I was slightly put out, pointing out that it had taken Al nine months to say that he loved me, and only then after I'd said it first.
'Has Dougal ever told you he loves you, eh?'
'Ooh yes, he says that whenever he licks my ear.'
'That's not him saying he loves you. That's him trying to get you to regurgitate food for him.'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)