Category: General ramblings

The week that flew!

Hey all

I hope everyone enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations- they seem a long time ago now. We had a lovely time in Nice- I had not been before and it was lovely- a place I would recommend for sure. We got home at about 1am Thursday night (or Friday morning) and I was off for the hen weekend Friday lunch time, so it was a speedy turn around. I even managed a quick run on Friday morning before breakfast, before unpacking and packing.

I convinced my friends to go to the naked tea and coffee for some lunch, and of course some tea! I love the teapots.

We did a spot of shopping:

Lovely Zest pesto, teabags, and some coffee truffles for Andy.

Plus a case for my sunglasses- they are quite big and I have never found a case to fit them, so normally have to pack them in a tuppaware tub!

We went for a walk by the sea (and even had some ice cream) but it was so windy and the waves were huge! They must have been easily 6ft high!

Then headed to the house where we had a lovely evening (caterers in, games after).

Then events got rather dramatic- we all went to bed, and my friend (who was in a bunk bed above me) got up to go to the toilet at about 3.30- I heard her get up, and then I heard her say “Oh my God there is a fire”- I thought I had drifted off and so I shouted “Are you awake?” as I was a bit panicked, but also wondered if she was dreaming. I got up, and saw the orange glow coming from the garden. By then a few other girls had woken up, and we realised that the wooden surround for the swimming pool was on fire- it looked like a garden bench at first. She called the fire brigade (there was a fire blanket and an extinguisher, but we wondered whether it was electrical as it was in lines on the surround), and then we decided to wait outside in the road (we did stop to get coats and shoes on over our PJ’s even though we know with a fire you should not stop- we figured as it was not in the house we had a minute). My friend even called the fire service again as they seemed to take an age (the two calls were only ten minutes apart, but when there is a big fire, that seems a long time)- there were huge ashes and sparks and smoke pouring over the roof as it was really windy.

Finally they turned up, and as soon as they saw it they were getting axes to chop off the wood- the swimming pool was about a metre from the house and surrounded by wooden decking.

We did make the classic hen party jokes about strippers, and my friend even got her photo taken!

Photo: Not every hen do where you have to call the actual fire brigade!!

By the time they left it was about 5am (we had to call the land lady too), and so of course we all took photos of the aftermath.

All the wood they chopped off.

Some of the burnt bits.

And more.

The decking had burnt right through in places. Anyway, we eventually went to bed for a couple of hours, but no-one really slept, as an electrician had to come out (it was an electrical fire as some water had got to the plug under the pool), and someone had to come and re-fit and test the smoke alarms. We had taxis booked for the next day so we could not just lay in.

Anyway, everyone was rather shell shocked, and so relieved that my friend had woken up in the night and smelt the smoke (she thought someone was burning joss sticks and went to check it out) as who knows what would have happened otherwise.

Anyway, after some dozing we got ready and went for a walk on the pier before afternoon tea for lunch at this place. The decor is just hilarious, and I cannot do it justice, so check it out! We tried to have an afternoon nap, but I think the adrenaline was still going.

Then we got all dolled up and went to the Brighton Ballroom for an evening of dinner, burlesque and dancing.

It was fun, and we were going to stay til 2am, but by midnight we were all flagging (but trying to keep it up for the hen) so we decided to go back. Seeing as some people had only had about an hour of sleep on Friday night, I think we did pretty well!

Anyway, I think the tiredness hit me today- we had a good journey back but then I have been trying to do work this afternoon and my brain is just rather foggy! Ah well, it was a memorable one anyway.

I might post some Nice photos later this week, when I have caught up!

Anyway, please can you all go and check your smoke alarms right now. And what did I miss this week?

Drenched!

Hello all

I hope everyone has lovely plans for the four day weekend- hooray!

I am just glad that I (just about) made it to half term in one piece.

Wednesday evening I walked up to Sweatshop for my second run with them. It was cloudy, but after last week being so hot I was glad it was a bit cooler. Anyway, it started raining just as we were about to set off, and once we had run for a minute or so it was pouring down- massive golf ball sized drops. The runners up ahead had stopped in a bus shelter- I could barely see as the rain was streaming down my face. Some people decided to go back, but as I was wet through and would have had to run home in it anyway, I decided to carry on with them. It was a different route from last week, but a nice one, although at some points we went down underpasses and the water was streaming down them, and at other points we were close to the road so getting 6ft high sprays from the cars too. By the end the rain eased off, but I was so cold on my walk home as I was wet through. The route was a 5K, and although I was right at the back, I kept a pretty good pace- averaging 10 min miles (and for the first mile it was 9.30 I think)- I did say to them that next week I won’t be there, so they can go a bit faster, and they were all so encouraging saying “oh it looked like a long way but we only finished a few minutes before you“, and I just know that running with them is going to help me speed up.

I ordered some more nuun this week, as I saw on Wiggle they have new flavours, and a new packet design! I went for Tropical, and it is lovely (although I still think Tri-berry is my fave). Also I ordered some running shorts- what I want is ones like capri pants, but about knee length or just above- I find that baggy style shorts just ride up and chafe, so I want ones more like cycling style ones if that makes sense? Anyway, the ones I have are OK, not sure if I feel brave enough to wear them out as they are a little bit tight and maybe a bit short, so anyway I wondered what shorts people wear when it gets hot?

I went to body pump again on Thursday- I kept the same weights as last week (partly because I am missing it next week) but made sure I stretched a bit more as I really felt so stiff last week. It helped, as I was sore, but not as bad.

Friday I went out on a run after work- we had such a manic day having a Jubilee party, games on the field, a picnic etc etc, and I was on my feet for the whole day (more so than usual), plus it was very warm, so I just did 2.5 miles, very slowly (took me 30 mins) with one walk break. Plus a lot of foam rolling!

After seeing Laura make an iced chai tea latte, I decided to make one for myself. I brewed some Bengal spice tea (which is spices but no black tea) for a few mins, took the teabag out and left it to cool overnight. The next day I poured some into a glass, and topped up with almond milk (no ice though, so more of a chilled chai latte!). This was delicious, and I have plans for the other half. 🙂

Today has been a strange day as the plumber is finishing off the bathroom meaning I can’t do much at home. I popped to the shops to do a few jobs (and had a chai latte to warm myself up, and- how rude– a man pushed in front of me in the queue! I was so shocked that I didn’t even say anything, just got annoyed in my head), but as they keep turning the water on and off I can’t even do things like cleaning the bathroom or running the dishwasher.

I need to pack because tomorrow we are going to Nice for a few days (how nice- get it?), and then when I get back from there I am off for a hen weekend too. A busy week planned! But I can’t even pack because the plumber has the door open against the wardrobe and all his stuff in the way.  I am planning on going out for a run in a bit, as I won’t be running while I am away, and the weather has brightened up a lot.

I hope everyone has a fab long weekend- I walked up to the allotment earlier and the gazebos are already being set up for their party tomorrow. Plus there is bunting everywhere! How exciting!

Have a good one 🙂

WIAW- a long time coming!

Hey all

I have not got around to joining in with WIAW for ages and ages! For some reason getting back into the swing of work has thrown out my days even more, and by the time I am reading the posts from Wednesday it is too late. Ah well, I did it this week (Tuesday).

Breakfast:

Lovely overnight muesli (blueberries, muesli, almond milk, almonds and some alpro pouring yoghurt which I bought to try this week)- covered in cinnamon, plus iced mint tea, well, chilled, not iced!

Lunch and snacks:

Crunchy pear, juicy watermelon (sounds like the hungry caterpillar or something), pumpkin seed ryvitas and chocolate philadelphia. I bought it but I have no idea why as I didn’t really like the sound of it! It is OK, but not that nice- I might use the other tubs for icing or something to use them up.

Dinner:

I made a massive salad- I have been having these a lot recently and making loads so I have them cold for lunch for the rest of the week. I roasted some sweet potato, yellow and orange pepper, courgette and beetroot. I had this with spinach leaves, roasted pepper from a jar, balsamic, tomatoes, lentils and hummus. Delicious!

Dessert:

One square of this- me and Andy have been very restrained only having one square each- but it means that if I had an extra one it would make us uneven! I can recommend this anyway (and it was on offer in Tescos – 2 for something anyway).

We were planning on going to the cinema, as we had Tesco vouchers that ran out at the end of May, but we could not find anything we really fancied, and when we checked they actually run out at the end of June! So we walked up to the allotment instead. Shame because I had already packed this:

Will have to save those peanut butter beauties for another time. 🙂

The beetroot totally stained my fingers pink! I had been scrubbing and washing them but it took so long to fade!

Late night nibble:

Fresh apricots and a persimmon- so tasty.

I am off to the Sweatshop running again this evening- I am sort of excited but also now I know how hard it will be (and not a run/walk!) I am a bit more nervous about it too. Ah well, I know I can do it.

Groupon Winner!

Hello!

Just a quick post for me to announce the winner of the £20 Groupon voucher giveaway from last week.

Names on paper, folded up, and Andy picked…

Eleanor!

How exciting! If you can email me with your email, then I can email you the voucher. That is a lot of the word email in one sentence.

In other news, I have been eating a lot of watermelon. Yum. I bought one because it has been so hot and I find them so refreshing- like eating sorbet.

I also went on a run on Monday when I got home from work – that was not a good idea. I was baking when I got home from work, so decided to take it slow. I did manage 15 min run, 1 min walk, but the next 15 min run was so hard and I felt quite sick. Yuck. For the last few minutes I was basically thinking about how I didn’t want to have to admit to not managing it on my blog! Plus I knew I did it last week at the Sweatshop club, so I knew I was capable. But when I got home I was so hot- dripping in sweat- it was even coming out of between my fingers. I should have gone later in the evening, but because we are having stuff done to the bathroom it was then or never (and I think I should have chosen a walk instead). And after I thought I had sorted out my shoes, my foot went numb again right at the end. I am sure I am still tying the laces up too tightly, as I used to get it occasionally in my old shoes, but it is getting annoying now. I think I might have to undo the laces and start all over again.

A super Sunday

Well after the boring-ness of Saturday, it was good to have a lovely Sunday.

I woke up bright and early, and went out for a run before it got too hot. I was in two minds over what to do (whether to follow my plan or to run it all, seeing as I managed to run on Wednesday without walking at all) but in the end I kept the walk breaks in. I need to be increasing the distance of these weekend runs especially, as I am doing the GNR (a half marathon) in September and I am sure it will come around quickly! So I went for a longer route- 3.5 miles, and had a few minute breaks after each ten min run. I think from now on I am going to add a little more to the weekend run, and if I need them keep the walk breaks in for the next few weeks at least, so that I am used to covering longer distances before I get rid of them. My midweek runs I will keep a bit shorter, and the Wednesday one especially will be a little faster which I think will be good for me. That is the plan for now anyway.

I had put some nuun in the fridge before I left, and boy did I need it when I got home! Despite drinking a glass of water before I went out I was super thirsty when I got home.

Although not quite as red as I thought I would be! (this was no-where near my colour on Wednesday evening!). Loving my Thoosa vest and my Bondi band.

After a cold bath (although hopefully later this week I will be able to use our new shower) I had a very summery breakfast.

Fresh mango, blueberries and some tropical alpro yoghurt. So delicious.

I had some housework to do (I don’t mind doing that) but no actual work! And also made some cookies for Andy’s parents- I used the trusted recipe but added in 50g chopped dried mango, 50g chopped brazil nuts and 20g dessicated coconut. I then sprinkled them with coconut before they went in the oven. I also used coconut sugar in place of regular sugar and that seemed to work well.

Totally tropical 🙂

We were planning on watching the Grand Prix a bit later, but Andy was busy painting the bathroom, so I went to sit in the garden. It was bliss.

I had made myself a jug of iced mint tea, so I took some out there with me. It was so easy to make- boil the kettle, pour over a teabag in a small cup, let it sit for ages (the longer it steeps, the stronger the tea), then remove the teabag, pour into a jug and top with water. You could add lemon/fresh mint leaves etc. I made it on Saturday night and so by Sunday it was lovely and cool, and really refreshing too.

I sat out there in the shade, reading magazines, drinking the tea, and eating a gourmet raw brownie (a coconut/banana one).

Everything was just coming to life in the garden- there are loads of tiny apples on the tree, and the blackcurrant bush is leaving with green berries 🙂

It was such a wonderful way to totally relax and chill out.

The rest of the day was spent watching the race, and then sitting in Andy’s parents garden- so relaxing to be outside 🙂

How are you all planning on spending the 4 day weekend later this week? Fingers crossed for the weather staying this good!

And don’t forget to enter my Groupon voucher giveaway. 🙂