Category: General ramblings

We would usually go away on holiday in October half term, and had booked a few days this week, so before we had our long drive I had a short run to stretch out the legs, wearing my run Disneyland Paris top (to remind me of happier times…).

I find it a good time to get away because the first half term is so busy, but with parents evenings and assessments all due in the final week, there is not much work to be done in the holidays (versus other holidays with report writing or other tasks) so you can properly switch off. Google Photos keeps reminding me of trips- 5 years ago we went to Iceland, 4 years ago to Edinburgh and 3 years ago to Devon (we were meant to be going somewhere warm that year as it was Andy’s choice, and had booked flights to Croatia but then the airline went bust so we travelled closer to home instead), and the last 2 years we’ve been to Florida. As it’s now our wedding anniversary I think it is safe to say it will still be a tradition moving forwards. Andy had the week booked off, but we could not decide where to go- we wanted somewhere with lots of outside options as we are not going in to restaurants or cinemas or anything like that, and of course lots of places were booked. He found a cancellation of a self catering place in Cornwall so we jumped at that.

The journey there was fine- we stopped at the services to pick up lunch (they had a Pret- I was very excited) and had booked a slot at Stourhead because the autumn colours there are very pretty, plus it was around half way so ideal for a walk and lunch.

We were staying in a converted boat house on a lake- the grounds had some yurts for people to stay in too. It was so peaceful, and you could look out across the lake. It felt like somewhere that Bob and Paul would stay in for Gone Fishing.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we had booked a garden visit each day (2 National Trust places and the Lost Gardens of Heligan) and then around those headed to a town or the coast for a walk somewhere else. We had taken food with us (our place had a microwave and hob) so could be fairly relaxed about what time we headed out and back- no need to get to the shops or anything.

We were super lucky with the weather too. It poured with rain in the night, but when we were out and about it was generally fine- we had to shelter under a tree a few times, but we didn’t need the waterproof trousers.

Tuesday- gardens, seaside, Lizard Point.

Of course I had my autumn sweater with me too!

Wednesday- Lost Gardens and the wood burner on for a cosy evening.

Thursday- gardens, awesome cinnamon bun (yes, we pack our own cups because often the cups in places like this are tiny and it is almost not worth using a teabag in such a small cup…).

Then to St Ives, which was so busy – I dread to think what it would be like in the summer. After a bit (and finding a bakery with some amazing vegan options) we headed out to the coast for a more socially distanced walk.

On Friday we had to head home, and the traffic was awful from the start. It took us 9 hours and we were so fed up by the end. It was a good trip, and we were lucky to have been somewhere, but that is a very long time. We have not been to Cornwall much in the past because it seems like such a long drive (and we could have seen lovely coast in Dorset/Suffolk etc), but thought we would give it a go. When we arrived after the  Monday drive (which I think was a little over 5 hours) Andy said that we could have flown to New York in that time, and of course on Friday it could have been to Florida!  When we were nearly home Andy said he had to make a detour to his parent’s house to collect something, and when he got back in the car he presented me with this box:

Yes, a box of Crosstown vegan doughnuts (pistachio, honeycomb chocolate and pear and blackberry). I was not much of a doughnut fan (although I think that is because I’d either had the big greasy supermarket ones, or weird dry Krispy Kremes), but in Portland last summer we had a proper one, and then when we went into London in February we shared a Crosstown one- these are something special- they use sourdough dough and they are not overly sweet or stodgy. Anyway, they have started delivering more than just to London, but not as far as us, but Andy’s parents were in the delivery area- how exciting! A pretty good wedding anniversary surprise.

Have you been to Cornwall?  Do you like doughnuts? 

I heard a suggestion the other day that perhaps the clocks should not go back this year, because we really don’t need another hour of 2020! I don’t think they should go back anyway (lots of research around road safety for one) but I really think this could have been the year to get rid of it. At the moment my runs after work have been in the light, but on a few occasions if I’ve been stuck in traffic and arrived home later than planned, the final mile of my runs have been a little dark. Time to find and charge my torch I think.

Of course there has been lots of tea, and also a Caffe Nero gingerbread man to accompany a bit of work. Yoga on Wednesday has been wonderful- I am so glad that my teacher has carried on doing classes over zoom because I would not feel responsible in going to in person classes right now.

Last weekend was Panshanger parkrun’s 6th birthday! It’s crazy to think back to that first one. That was really the parkrun that got me into parkrun if that makes sense. Before then, I’d been going over to the St Albans one maybe once a month, when my dad and brother were free. At that time I was running with Sweatshop, and they had a poster up for the Panshanger one (remember when they advertised inaugurals?).  Once we started going there, it turned into a mostly weekly event, and on their first birthday I celebrated my 50th parkrun. They put a video on their facebook page and me in my Minnie Mouse skirt was in the first section of video. It was so lovely to look back and think about how it has grown since then. It really is a permanent fixture of our weekends now.

Dad decided he wanted to do 16 (not)parkruns in October to celebrate parkrun’s 16th birthday, and alongside that to raise money for Unicef, and once a month he has been keen to do a 10k, so it was perfect timing that on Panshanger’s 6th birthday we could run 6 (point 2) miles, and tot up 2 more (not)parkruns for him.

I wore my Panshanger top and parkrun long sleeved top, all very orange. He planned a lovely route through some fields over to Ellenbrook (the way he would cycle when parkrun is on) and at one point we rounded a corner and saw the most beautiful parkrun apricot-coloured tree. I had to get a photo of course.

I had a lot of work to get on with in the afternoon, but we did have a break where we walked into town to get our Caffe Nero drinks. I am still not wanting to eat in anywhere, but a 5 minute queue inside is fine, and then we can walk home the scenic way while we enjoy our drinks.

On Saturday night we fancied a film, and so watched Enola Holmes- an enjoyable film (some filmed locally) but it got the Manic Street Preachers song (Enola/Alone) in my head.

The weather on Sunday was beautiful, and I enjoyed a run around local streets, taking my time and taking photos of all the trees. I just can’t resist stopping!

I did some baking (pumpkin cheesecake brownies from here) although a total blogger fail as I took no photos! What was I thinking??

In the evening we watched one of the Michael Palin recap shows, and I just loved it. I think he is brilliant, and it was so good to see parts of those travel series again. Perfect Sunday night viewing.

How do you feel about the clocks going back? I feel like it’s dark when I get up anyway, so I’d rather have some light in the evening.

I am not one to wish my life away, and normally at this time of year I would be getting cross about all the Christmas things in the shops (I am normally the frame of mind that it isn’t Christmas until December), but do you know what? This year I am all ready to get festive! With so many trips and events being cancelled, I am looking forward to some actual constants. Even if we are in the most severe lockdown, we can put up our Christmas tree and watch Home Alone.

I was given my first Christmas card on the 1st October (by a child in my class- love it), and my Christmas baking book arrived- it is filled with so many cute designs. It’s been so cold so a hot water bottle and long sleeved pj tops have been in order. I just feel like I am going to embrace the holidays now and have an enjoyable few months.

I had my regular Tuesday and Thursday runs, seeing some lovely autumnal colours. Andy was out one evening (it was his mum’s birthday and thanks to the rule of 6, we could not all go) so of course I had beans on toast in front of Bake Off. Plus some Battenberg later.

Anyway, a rewind to last Friday and I’d booked a shoulder massage after work because I was starting to struggle to look over my shoulder when driving- never good. Town thankfully was fairly quiet and I popped into Caffe Nero to get my free drink after.

It was parkrun’s 16th birthday, and I felt a bit fed up because of it not actually being allowed to come back in October any more. I know that everyone has different opinions, but I feel like they did a very good job of looking for research to find out how safe outdoor activities are, and after listening to the podcast and watching some of the live Q&A’s I felt very confident that it would be relatively safe (compared to other things we are allowed to do at the moment such as go to the cinema or sit in a restaurant and have a meal).  Anyway, my dad has decided to run 16 not parkruns in October, so I thought I would have a go too. On Saturday I did a 5k at home and then (after changing my t-shirt because it was raining  and I was soaking) drove over to have a 5k run with Dad. We went for our normal route and ended up getting very very wet- the bridleway was more like a shallow river in places! (top left pic is my dad’s feet trying to find a dry route)

We totally loved it though, and I felt so much better after. Running with others is really so different to running on your own and it does lift your mood in a different way I find.

My hairdryer had been intermittently working for a few months, and on Thursday evening it finally packed up, so I had damp hair from Thursday until Saturday. I had some vouchers leftover from last Christmas, so decided to treat myself to the GHD dryer- it had good reviews and I do have very thick hair so anything that can speed up drying time is a bonus. Anyway, I could click and collect so after our not parkrun I stopped in town to pick it up.

My B&B tea order arrived too- with gorgeous festive parcel tape- honestly all the signs are here that we should be celebrating nice and early.

On Sunday it was the virtual London marathon. Some people in my club were running it, but after initially hoping to do similar routes they all ended up doing different ones. My run leader lives fairly near me, so my plan was to run in the morning, and then head out later to try and cheer her in at the end. I managed 9 miles and got totally freezing- I need to remember that this pink jacket is not waterproof! I saw so many flooded paths, and a huge tree had blown down blocking the entrance to one of the paths. I loved that the London marathon was going on though- I saw a few people with bibs on and loved giving them a big cheer as they ran past.

Once home I had one of the best hot showers (and then regretted it when my skin was itchy and burning after the shower), and watched some of the elites on the TV. After breakfast I dried my hair (a dream with a hairdryer that works!) and then walked out to try and see my run leader, but alas she had changed her route due to the floods so I didn’t see her.

I then did some rainy day projects- using my burn pen to make some number block puppets for my classroom, and making a spiced pumpkin cake.

Did you take part in the virtual London marathon? What did you think of it? Did you celebrate parkrun’s birthday at all? Are you ready to start embracing the holiday season?