The week started off in the same way- opening my tea advent calendar (Butter Brew made an appearance which is a lovely black tea with caramel, as did Eggnog which is a vegan rooibos with nutmeg), doing some crafty bits and wrapping gifts.
I was going to meet Carrie for a run after work on Tuesday but she could not make it, so I parked in town and attempted a snowman that I had seen someone else in the running club post (they had posted a screenshot from Strava so I couldn’t zoom in). I could not quite work out the entire route but I think it looks pretty good. I’d worn my Christmas leggings of course.
There wasn’t any yoga on Wednesday, but after a very busy day I was thankful for a short walk before getting on with work and then some TV. I did ponder having a run, but decided to wait until Thursday.
Thursday started off well (tea in a cute robin cup from one of the children in my class) and I was in a festive jumper (and also I took in my Christmas Minnie Mouse ears as we’d been doing reindeer runs at school each day in place of the normal daily miles). But then at lunch time I had the dreaded alert on my phone.
Because of who the cases were linked to, this meant that we had to send home our entire bubble, and I had to go home as soon as the last child had left. We had already planned a rehearsal for trialling Google Meet with our classes, so I had to do that and then prep a day of online teaching ready for Friday. Not really the end of term we were hoping for. Although the app is wrong as it has changed to 10 days, so the official letter I got tells me that my isolation ends on Christmas Day at midnight (eg I can go out on Boxing Day). I really wished that I’d gone on a run on Wednesday before I’d known, as I cannot leave here (even if I went out at 6am and didn’t see anyone)- I did a trial walk around the garden and made a sort of figure of eight but it isn’t the same and Strava/ Garmin cannot cope with measuring it. I had signed up to run 100km before Christmas and I am not 100% sure I can manage that now- 4 miles really feels like the limit for each day.
Making the most of WFH with crumpets for lunch as I do not trust the communal toaster at work!
Andy had already ordered the festive vegan Crosstown Doughnuts as a celebration for making it to the end of term, so they arrived on Friday- even more needed! After finishing work I went for a run around the garden- I wanted to run 4 miles but with the tracking being so off, my watch didn’t get to 4 miles until I’d been out for around 70 minutes- it was very dark by then. Listening to WMN for a bit of festivity- and yes I agree with Nicola that Baby It’s Cold Outside has a very inappropriate message!
One of the running club challenges was to take 4 photos on a run, so I could tick that one off still. Not the most exciting photos!
Saturday was International Ugly Christmas Singlet day (from the parkrun adventurers pod)- I had my koala top from last year so of course was going to wear it for my run. Ideally it should be at a parkrun (and I did wear it a year ago at a very muddy Jersey Farm) but this is what is allowed. I wore my Run up 2 Christmas elf socks too, to get into the festive spirit. Andy ended up shutting the blinds because he said watching me made him think of animals pacing a tiny zoo enclosure.
Garmin cannot cope with the run!
At least I had lots of Christmas jobs to get done, such as decorating Christmas cakes and wrapping more presents.
Next up on the Christmas movie list was Elf- it seemed fitting after wearing my elf socks on my run, and preferable to watching the announcement about how we are going back into lockdown for the next few months.
I do feel disappointed by this, as we were not going to meet up inside with anyone over Christmas, as we didn’t think it was sensible (but I do understand that we are lucky that both sets of parents live close by, so we have seen them for walks etc fairly regularly- much easier than if we lived in different parts of the country)- however we were going to meet up on some walks outside as all the evidence shows that outdoors the risk is relatively low, and now we can’t even do that. I feel cross when I think about it for too long because I have been so cautious- online shopping, only going into a café during the more relaxed lockdowns for a takeaway drink, not going to restaurants or pubs, I’ve still not braved the hairdressers (3rd Jan 2020 was when I last went…) and even with all that I have first lost a week of my holiday (I know it’s not technically lost, but I need to be outside for my mental health and not having that for a week makes it feel like I am very stuck and wasting time) and can’t see much for optimism in the near future. I also really want parkrun back, and with these latest restrictions it feels further away yet again. On the podcast Tom Williams was talking about it, and he said that in the summer they could have legally gone ahead, but linked to public perception etc they didn’t push for it. Which makes sense when football and all sorts was going on then. But if they had started and then had to stop, I wonder if it would be nearer again, whereas because all the events have stopped for so long, the restart is going to take ages. Whinge over.
Gingerbread chai tea- hooray! It’s one of the best!
On Sunday I did a slightly longer run (around 90 mins, although Strava still said 4 miles)- another running club challenge was to run with a buddy and have a post run treat, so I got my little Stitch and had him in my pocket as I ran. One doughnut each was left so that was breakfast and the post run treat sorted. Delicious.
Late afternoon and another Christmas movie was calling, this time The Christmas Chronicles. Which I did quite enjoy, but am not 100% sure who the target audience is (a child in my class who was scared of The Gruffalo was watching it, and I do think it’s scarier than that). Anyway, quite fun. I rounded off the weekend with watching a podcast (it’s a comedy teaching one)- it was live on Friday night but I could not really face it then- if you’d got a ticket you could watch it later, and as Andy had a football podcast at the same time it seemed like a good option.
How are you coping with the new tiers? What would you do if you were stuck inside for 10 days? To end on a positive note, I have had so many messages from people asking if I need anything, which is just so sweet (although Andy is allowed to leave the house so he can go to the shop if we needed anything). Anyway, it’s good to remember that people are just so kind.
Happy Christmas, Maria. I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now – I love your thoughtful nature and positive outlook on life.
parkrun will restart again when the time is right. And it will feel great when it does. In the meantime, those of us who can parkrun will do so on behalf of all those who can’t. When parkrun restarted in New Zealand each individual parkrun adopted a country (Hagley parkrun here in Christchurch adopted Ireland). Ever since then I’ve thought about parkrunners around the world every time I’ve been to an event.
Happy Christmas and happy running in 2021.
Hi Bob, thanks for leaving a comment and Happy Christmas.
I remember seeing about that when New Zealand launched- one of the podcasts I listen to did a live feed and it was amazing seeing the finish funnel up and hearing all the claps and cheers. That is one thing that is so special about the parkrun community- even on the other side of the world we can share something together. Once it’s back everywhere in the world it will be amazing 🙂
I totally get where you’re coming from with your whinge. I’ve definitely had my moments of being fed up with the whole thing. My parents are home for Christmas for the first time in a decade but other than a very quick exchange when I dropped off gifts (them at the front door, me more than 2m away behind my car) I’ll not actually see them.
Our tiers are slightly different, but Scotland is going into tier 4 measures from Boxing Day – basically lockdown again but only marginally less stringent than the March lockdown. We’re also delaying the start of term by a few days and starting with remote teaching. I’m worried we’re on the brink of tough measures again.
I’m glad you’ve been ok in your isolation. I really dread getting that message as, like you, I need outside to keep my mental health balanced. I think I would run up and down the path at the side of our house if I had to but it would be a bit dull!
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for better days ahead in 2021 ?
Thanks- I am sure I am not the only one feeling this way. I know the measures are there for a reason but it’s hard all the same.
I think here they are delaying secondary schools going back (only announced on the last day of term…) but that is to do with setting up testing centres in schools. Nothing about Primary yet…
Here we’ve been Tier 4 since it was invented (I can’t remember any more!) but with plenty more of England joining us on Boxing Day.
A bit rubbish, but like you say, hopefully 2021 will be better.