Another long run

This afternoon the weather was beautiful - almost like a spring day.  My friend and I went out for a long run and it was absolutely stunning.  We managed 11.5 miles altogether and I am feeling pretty stiff just now but it was a lovely run.  We ran through the village and out into the hills up a lane and past fields and farms.  There were some good hills to run.  Then we met the road again and carried on going up until we came to the forest track and then there was a lovely mile downhill run to bring us around the forest and another climb brought us into the forest.  Some steep track running/walking brought us back out to another downhill and then straight into the village.

13yos has had a trial of some contact lenses today.  He had a bit of trouble putting them in at first but got the hang of it and has had them in all afternoon.  He went swimming in them and were non prescription goggles which I think he enjoyed!  Tonight he has gone off to band practice with them in so we will see how that goes.
12yod still working hard on her composition for the music festival.  It needs to be finished by next Monday so the pressure is on!
There seems to be some positive signs that a community nursing job might be coming up - would love that!! Watch this space.

delivery runs

Busy day but managed to fit in a 4 mile run this afternoon to deliver a thank you letter which 12yod had written to a friend who gave her a book token for her birthday.  2 miles there and 2 miles back and managed to keep the pace up nicely.  Had to call at the health centre to get some blood results for Occupational Health on the way back.  Just missed the rain as well.
Monday continues to be music day - piano lessons in the afternoon, plus orchestra for 13yos, 12yod and 7yos and then composition lessons for 12yod.  Lots of entries into the music festival for everyone so lots of practice being done.

running in the rain

This afternoon I did 2.5 miles in the forest with 13yos.  Rick and the other two children took the dogs for a walk at the same time in the forest.  It was a lovely run, in the rain, but quite sheltered in the trees.  When we approached the loch in the middle of the run, it was absolutely stunning.  The loch was still frozen over apart from the very middle and the rain was bouncing off the ice.  It looked incredible and we had to stop and admire it for a while.  I then ran the 2.5 miles home in what was now pouring rain, while 13yos went in the car with Rick and the others.  There is something really exhilarating about running in rain, if you have the right clothes on and are warm through the effort.  So I managed to get a 5 mile run in which was very satisfying.
Yesterday morning I did the paper round again so 13yos could have a lie in.  It was really really cold and my fingers were freezing as I kept having to take my gloves off to push the papers in the door.  The snow is mostly gone now though, the rain today made sure of that.
Eventful evening on Thursday evening when Rick went out for a 10 miler with the border collie.  She ran off after a deer and was no-where to be found.  I was beginning to wonder where Rick was (and he didn't have his phone with him) and whether I ought to be concerned or not when someone phoned to ask if we had lost a collie as they had found one and it was at their house.  I realised what had happened but couldn't contact Rick to let him know so just had to wait.  Eventually this lady went out looking for him (it turned out we know the family) and saw the van so flashed him down and handed the dog over.  She looked very sheepish when he brought her home - and it had added 2 hours onto the time he was out!!
Last night I went to badminton again - good few games and, although the arm is painful, it is holding up fine and getting better bit by bit which I am pleased about!

another short run

 It is still very cold here - almost colder now than the snow is going.  After working this morning, 13yos and I managed to get out and do a 3 mile run this afternoon, before I headed off to a meeting I had at the leisure centre.

The picture below is of Rick and the children watching one of his university science lectures - I think it was a series of experiments - they all enjoyed it thoroughly and learned something too I hope!

Last weekend 12yod had her birthday sleepover with some friends and this is a picture of her with her cake at the tea table.

more snow and aquafit

Had a lovely little run in the snow today.  Only did 2.5 miles as it is a short run day but really enjoyed it.  It is very cold here (well -2 which is cold enough) and I am really glad of my headband in this weather.  Along the way I managed to get in my fastest mile so far (still slow for most people) and I feel more comfortable all the time.
This evening I went to aquafit again - I walked the half mile up the hill to get there and again really enjoyed the workout.  It will be really good for my arms with all their "issues".
Had my dad at the hospital consultant this morning and good news for him too so all in all a good day.  11yod made tea and it was lovely - she is making it every Tuesday from now on and 13yos is doing it every Wednesday - we have a new two week menu plan started so we shall see how it goes.
I spoke to someone informally about a job I may apply for - we shall see.

birthday sleepovers, taking bloods and healthy eating

Been a busy few days but managed to get a run in this afternoon even though it was broken up with a walk to take 11yod to the leisure centre for her swimming club.  Ran down by the river and it was lovely and frosty.  We have escaped most of the snow but it is very cold and I really needed my two layers and my head warmer today.  Once I took 11yod to her swim club I picked 7yos up from tamborelli at the same place and ran home with him on his scooter beside me.  So a bitty run but manged to make 4 miles altogether.
I have some runs booked in already this year
March 16th - 10k in Glenluce
April 27th - 17k in the Lakes
May 8th - 10k in Troon
May ?25th - half marathon in Kirkcudbright
June - half marathon in Stranraer
September - ? using River Ayrway challenge as a training run - running some of it while Rick competes
and another secret one!!
On Friday morning I worked at the health centre again - doing a phlebotomy clinic.  Getting back into the swing of taking bloods again is daunting me more than all the other things in my return to practice course.  Not sure why this is, but it has to be done.  Got on really well and they are very welcoming and helpful.  It will be good to get more work there.  I haven't heard about the other two jobs I applied for so not sure if that means I won't get an interview or that they haven't contact people yet.  I walked to and from the health centre, coming home a long way round so got some brisk walking in.
On Friday tea time 6 of 11yod's friends came for a sleepover to celebrate her birthday which is next week.  It was quite hectic.  They watched a film, had popcorn, played some games and I don't think got much sleep.  They were tired in the morning but we made pancakes, did some craft and they went on the trampoline in the garden for a while.  After hot chocolate and cake they went home around 12 mid day.
Because of all that I didn't mange to run on Saturday so was glad I managed to do quite a bit today.  Probably overdid it on the eating at the sleepover as well!!  We sat down at lunch time today to redo our menu plan so we can concentrate on healthy eating.  I would love us to eat as our French friends do - they have such a good attitude to food.

snow flurries and 4 miles

Worked this morning making sure we were where we should be with projects and goals.  13yos is really getting his head down now ready for his probable progression into S4 in August.
This afternoon he and I went out for a run - 4 miles around our usual route and carrying on a little to add some on.  Good run although very cold with snow flurries.  I am trying to add 10% mileage onto December's but not sure I will make it.  We shall see.
Went to the shops after that with 11yod and 7yos and it started snowing while we were there so they were very excited.  It is so lovely to see their enthusiasm.  We went to my parents to do some things down there and then a bit of a mad rush for tea as Rick was going out on a Mountain Rescue exercise and 13yos and 11yod were going to Scouts.
This morning I got up and did the paper round for 13yos to let him have another hour in bed and because I like to get up and get out early before breakfast - kills two birds with one stone.
More music festival sorting out and practice today and sorting out things for 11yod's sleepover tomorrow night.  Looked after some friend's children while she went to the osteopath.  It is bitterly cold today in every other room of our house apart from the kitchen where we have the woodburner.  There is more snow on it's way.

ice, hills and water

This afternoon my running pal and I were going to do another 12 miler.  However it is really icy on the roads and pavements so we decided to go into the forest where it is more sheltered.  As we run slower on the trails we knew we wouldn't have time to get to 12 miles so decided to try out some new paths and get some hills in.  As usual it was a lovely run - the frost was still lying in some places and made lovely patterns.  We did some really good hill work which made up for the miles.  The hills were snow capped to the tree line and I never tire of admiring our beautiful surroundings.  We did 7.2 miles in all - I used my new hydration belt again and managed fine although I still haven't decided which bottle holder to take off.
18yos is home for a few days and he made our tea, which I really appreciated as I got a night off the cooking (not my favourite activity).  This evening 13yos had a band rehearsal, 11yod and 7yos had their Tuesday club and Rick was running with the running club so I decided that I would see what the aquafit class is like at the local pool.  A few friends go and they have been trying to talk me into going so I went along.  I wasn't sure how I would feel going on the night of my longish run but it went really well - I really enjoyed it and it was good fun but challenging at the same time.  So if it works out on another Tuesday I will go again.
On Monday all the children got back to their music lessons and orchestra - Monday seems to be music day this term.  I have taken on the job of secretary to the orchestra they play in so that's another plate to spin!!  With Music Festival at the beginning of March, there is plenty of practising to get in!!

pamperings

Yesterday I was treated to a day of pampering by my very good friend.  For my Christmas present she took me up the road 55 miles to the college her daughter is at doing a hospitality HND.  Every now and then they have a day where the public can come in and have some pampering and can also eat in the restaurant so the students can practise being in the real world.  So my friend bought us both vouchers for a massage and a three course meal.
It was a really lovely day and great to be out for the day just doing our own thing.  The massage I had seemed truly professional and I certainly felt very relaxed after it.  My friend felt hers was more of a gentle rub so not quite as good.  We then went and had a little walk around the shops (not my favourite thing to do but I did enjoy it) and went back to for the meal.  It was really lovely and the only thing which reminded us that we were in a college was the tutor who was hovering to make sure the students got it right.  I would definitely go again for both and really appreciated my present.
Rick seemed to manage the day with the children and he is really doing great at the home educating when I am not there.  It is something we will have to get used to when I get a job (haven't heard from the two I applied for on Monday) and not an easy change for him.
I took 7yos to his swimming lesson at 6.30pm.  He has gone up into the top class and I think it was quite challenging for him but he did really well.  He is a really good swimmer.  He'll be joining the others in the club soon!
I went to badminton in the evening for an hour and it went really well.  My arm is still sore when I stretch but as I don't think it is doing any damage I just am trying to go through it.  It was good to be back at badminton again after a while.
This morning 7yos and I went down by the river.  He went on his new rip stick and I ran.  It was quite stoppy and starty as he is just learning to use the rip stick but he did really well.  He is very determined.  11yod was out at a friend's house for the day so I spent most of the rest of the day doing house work and grocery shopping for us and my parents.
13yos has announced that he wants to concentrate on running for a while and so he went out this afternoon and ran 4 miles.  He'll be catching his dad soon.  Rick is on a marathon training programme so he is making sure he gets all his training in - think he is aiming for another PB!
On Tuesday 18yos decided he wanted to hitch hike down to Manchester.  He took his back pack and gear and set off and got a lift just outside our little town.  That lift took him about 170 miles and then he quite quickly got another one for the last 30, almost to his grandparents' door.  Coming back was a little harder - he ended up having to sleep out and got cold and wet but he made it home in time for work last night.  All this in preparation for his European tour this coming summer.

frosty fog in the forest

Just had a wonderful 5.1 mile run in the forest with my running friend.  We didn't want to do a long run this week and so decided to do some exploring.  We set off and found a great path which took us up some lanes and through fields.  Really enjoyable and managed to get a load of hills in again.  I really enjoyed it and came back really refreshed.  It was quite cold - around -1 and the fog which has been hanging on all day was getting worse but that added to the run.  Great run.

81st birthdays and lego

Today is my dad's 81st birthday.  11yod made a cake for him, 13yos made a really impressive Welsh dragon card and 7yod coloured him a picture of a Welsh rugby player.  We went down this morning and had tea and cake with them and watched while he opened his birthday cards.  He seemed to have a lovely time and really does well for his age.  He was also enjoying getting phone calls from family and friends.  I am so blessed to still have both my parents.

  Yesterday 11yod and 7yos got their Lego magazines in the post and there were competitions in them so they immediately got busy and these are their creations which I will send photos of to the competition.

The two photos below are of our celebrations while Rick's parents were with us over New Year.

This afternoon 13yos and I went out for a 3.5 mile run round one of my favourite routes.  It has been a cold crisp day and it was lovely to get out and blow the cobwebs off.  No points for a fast run but it was certainly good to be out and 13yos makes good time.  He ran ahead and came back when he got to around the 3 mile mark so we could run the last mile together.  He pushed me to go a little faster on the last mile so that was good. I really hadn't wanted to go out of the warm kitchen today so it took a lot of will power to get out but I am so glad I did - it's always like that!  Must be my lazy nature!

practice nursing

Haven't managed a run for a couple of days.  Yesterday it was absolutely pouring down and although I have told myself I must run in all weathers I just couldn't bring myself to go out yesterday.  It was a really busy day here and what with music lessons and getting back down to work the day just flew by. Rick even went to the gym instead of running which shows how bad it was.
I spent last night filling in application forms for two jobs which have come up and writing letters to the local medical practices to ask about the possibility of practice nurse cover, which I would really like to do.
This morning I spent 3 hours shadowing one of the practice nurses whose holiday cover I will be providing.  I really enjoyed it and can see myself fitting in to do the cover, with the possibility of eventually doing practice nursing.  We shall see.
This afternoon 18yos decided he would like to go to Manchester so he set off and hitchhiked down.  He did well to get there with just two lifts, one from us to Chorley and the other from Chorley to the street Rick's parents live on.  We was going to go yesterday but the rain put him off.  I think he will have to hitch home in a day or so as he has to be back at work on Saturday.
Took my dad to the doctors this afternoon and then shopping so it has been a really busy day. There just was no time to get a run in today. Tomorrow is his 81st birthday so 11yod will make a cake in the morning and we will take it down to have coffee with them.
Tomorrow afternoon 13yos and I will do a 3.5 miler which I do fairly regularly.  Looks like a foggy day but at least not pouring down!

New hydration belt

Went for a 2.75 mile recovery run by the river with the dog to try out my new hydration belt before using it on a long run.  I love the run by the river - so quiet and yet easily accessible.  The view across the river is stunning, even with the mist which is hanging around here and there. I had done some research into hydration belts and  I chose the Nathan trail mix 4 bottle belt as I reckoned I wouldn't want to run with a hydration pack but might need more than two bottles.  Rick uses a Nathan belt and it has served him really well on all his miles.  On the run today  I was comfortable with the belt although I think I will want to take one of the bottle holders off so I only have three bottles and sew some sort of other pocket where the extra bottle was.  I like the fact that it isn't velcro fastening as that feels more secure.  Think I will keep it and it will be great with the adjustments.
This morning 13yos slept in and forgot his paper round so I ended up waking him up when his boss phoned.  That doesn't happen often at all and he was a bit upset.  He is usually very conscientious.  We did some tidying up and washing bedding and Rick went for his run over lunch.  11yod is out for a birthday party with a friend, going ice skating and then the pancake house.  They will be gone a while as it is quite a drive to the nearest large town.
I really enjoyed The Hobbit last night although I did have to disconnect from the book as there are some huge discrepancies.    Good film though and the effects are really good.

Hit the 12 miles mark

Yesterday I managed to break the 12 mile barrier.  It was a bit of an event as my running pal and I set out hoping to hit 12 miles but just planning to go with the flow.  After about 1 mile my pal had some pains in her legs which she had last year and caused her to have a break from running so we did some run walks and slower runs which helped but when we hit 4.5 miles out she decided we should turn back.  So when we reached her house we were at about 9 miles.  I knew that I had to carry on and do the extra 3 miles to take me up to 12 miles.  In my head, I knew I would feel so good after doing that and could cross off another goal.  So I carried on in a loop around the town and through some of the streets and got home almost bang on 12 miles.  Incredible feeling to have achieved that.  The run we went out took us up into the lower hills and with the mist hanging round and seeing nothing but sheep and cattle it was a fabulous run.  The weather was quite mild and we missed the rain which had been threatening all morning so it was great to be out.
Rick's parents left this morning and all the older boys have gone back to their various places so things are almost back to normal.  Part of my Christmas present from Rick's parents was some money and I sent for a pair of shoes from John Lewis.  They arrived this morning and I really like them. I ordered two pairs so I could choose the nicest but there is no competition - so I am really pleased with them.
This afternoon I will walk 2.5 miles to my parents and back as I am on a walk day today and this evening my Christmas present from my 13yos is that he is taking me to see the Hobbit.  Hope I am not too cross that it isn't exactly like the book!!
So Happy New Year everyone - no idea what ours will turn out like but step forward in faith.