I've been a bit 'blogless' recently, not because I haven't wanted to blog but because a small explosion appears to have gone off in the middle of my life and I just don't seem to have a single second to spare. I'm running around like a headless chicken and getting no-where.
I can't really remember where I got to but I'll start with the book I'm reading. I did mention it when I bought it, Jane and Mike Tomlinson's The Luxury of Time. It's tough reading because it's written just as it is. It really isn't Love Story but then Cancer isn't like Love Story, if you've watched someone battling Cancer then you will know that. Every evening when I read a bit of it I marvel at this amazing woman's courage, that goes for her incredible family too. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 26, it wasn't until after the dreadful news that she was not going to survive and had between 2 months and 2 years to live, that she took up marathon running. She ran her first London Marathon, one of 3, in around 5 hours - and she was disappointed with her time!. I have just been reading her description of the Triathlon she completed in 3 and a half hours. I'm just in awe of this lady and feel so pathetic at my rediculous excuses ...... 'it's cold' ... 'it's dark' ... 'it hurts' ... 'I feel sick' it's just so wimpish!.
On Saturday I read that she had run 10 km in around 50 minutes. I decided that on Sunday morning I would 'cover' 10 km - on the machine, it was very windy, there I go again, pathetic!, really out of curiosity to see how long it would take me - an hour and a half, that's how long it took me! but I did it and I was pleased with that. Since then I have been in the office which throws my entire world upside down. Monday was a rest day, well, a 'do all the things I don't get done while I'm running ... day'. Tuesday I was full of good intentions but by the time I had tackled the drive home at rush hour in the freezing fog, fought my way to get in the door through the piles of laundry at various stages in the 'laudry cycle', admired the tiling Andrew had been doing on his day off (It's only taken around 7 years!), tackled dinner and finish off my online Christmas Shopping there was no way I could have run anywhere if my life had depended on it - pathetic again!
I made up my mind that I would absolutely run this lunch time, totally, 100%, without any doubt I would start work ready and be on the machine seconds after I logged off - then I discovered my lunch break was already spoken for and I had to take the coach to work. Anyway, quite unexpectedly, especially to me, there was an odd spurt of energy when I finished work - I think it was frustration at the dreadful day I had suffered, we are struggling with a new system at the moment and suddenly it's as though I'm new again, after nearly 11 years I was just getting the hang of it, now I don't have a clue again. Anyway, I ran, yes, I ran (no walking) 4 miles, It took me very nearly an hour which I guess is a bit like walking but I was running, well loping and that's ok. Tomorrow, well I'm back in the office again - this week is never ending. I don't know what will happen, I would love to run when I get home but I don't know if that will happen, we'll see.
One other thing that happened tonight is that we have been sponsored by someone who read my book. That's amazing and I'm so chuffed. Thank you if it was you, really means a lot.
Running for health, happiness and a good laugh whatever your age, size or fitness level
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Need a good day tomorrow
Well unfortunately I didn't go out today. Woke up again with my head thumping, had to go and pick up Madi from work at 8 and so wished I could follow her up the stairs to bed but I had to fire up the computer and work. Head didn't improve until I turned off the computer at the end of the day, still hovering but I'm hopeful it will be gone by tomorrow so I can have a really good day work-wise and running-wise, indoors or out, it doesn't matter - just need to get moving!.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Charity Squares
Just to let everyone know who bought a square the winning numbers were
9 and 22
They each win £25.00 worth of Bodyshop Products
We didn't manage to sell all the squares but we have raised £40.00 for Shelter
Have to say a big Thank you to everyone who bought squares, it was really appreciated.
If anyone would like to order from the Bodyshop here is the link and 10% of any orders will still go to Shelter. If you want order's by Christmas they need to be in by 15th December.
Just email me or message me with any orders
Thank you
A very Long week
Well I'm pleased to report that Charlie got out of Brixton alive and really didn't seem to have any idea what I was going on about.
On Monday I managed to get out with the coach. I had taken the day off to try and catch up with the mountain of washing and ironing that I had to do, I did manage it, I found the bottom of the ironing basket, but it's overflowing again now, as is the washing pile. No doubt there will come a day when there will only be mine and Andrew's laundry but for now I just have to accept that alongside the small restaurant we run we also manage a medium sized launderette!. Anyway, I didn't mention running, I thought if she doesn't mention it then I won't, but she did so we went. We got round and either Mads was a little slower or I was a little faster because I stayed more or less with her until the last few yards when she sprinted away from me as I hit the wall - no, just the 2 miles!.
Since Monday I've spent a day in the office which meant no running and I brought home a headache which I haven't been able to shift all day. Madi has worked a couple of night shifts and slept all day. We are fast reaching the point where running has to become the priority and everything else has to take a back seat but I'm resisting it for as long as we can.
I think what I really need is to get out on my own, I'm being such a wimp at the moment I make myself very cross. If the headache has gone and the coach is still asleep at lunch time tomorrow then maybe I'll make that my aim. I do have a rather cunning plan for Christmas though, everyone I know that I buy presents for has this year got running shoes - brilliant huh!. Well not quite everyone, I haven't bought my mum or dad or Andrew's mum running shoes although my dad would be game I'm sure but my mother would never forgive me. So basically, I've bought Andrew running shoes - he'll be thrilled, he's always complaining he's cold on the bike, he can't really refuse, how ungrateful would that look?
On Monday I managed to get out with the coach. I had taken the day off to try and catch up with the mountain of washing and ironing that I had to do, I did manage it, I found the bottom of the ironing basket, but it's overflowing again now, as is the washing pile. No doubt there will come a day when there will only be mine and Andrew's laundry but for now I just have to accept that alongside the small restaurant we run we also manage a medium sized launderette!. Anyway, I didn't mention running, I thought if she doesn't mention it then I won't, but she did so we went. We got round and either Mads was a little slower or I was a little faster because I stayed more or less with her until the last few yards when she sprinted away from me as I hit the wall - no, just the 2 miles!.
Since Monday I've spent a day in the office which meant no running and I brought home a headache which I haven't been able to shift all day. Madi has worked a couple of night shifts and slept all day. We are fast reaching the point where running has to become the priority and everything else has to take a back seat but I'm resisting it for as long as we can.
I think what I really need is to get out on my own, I'm being such a wimp at the moment I make myself very cross. If the headache has gone and the coach is still asleep at lunch time tomorrow then maybe I'll make that my aim. I do have a rather cunning plan for Christmas though, everyone I know that I buy presents for has this year got running shoes - brilliant huh!. Well not quite everyone, I haven't bought my mum or dad or Andrew's mum running shoes although my dad would be game I'm sure but my mother would never forgive me. So basically, I've bought Andrew running shoes - he'll be thrilled, he's always complaining he's cold on the bike, he can't really refuse, how ungrateful would that look?
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Around an hour and a half left
You have somewhere around an hour and a half to upload/download (not quite sure which) my ebook Viv's Mountain from Amazon for free. It's the tale of my 'Journey' to and including this year's London Marathon. My hope is that it will make you smile.
If you enjoy it please sponsor me and Madi in our attempt to run next year's Marathon for Shelter.
The link to my ebook is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vivs-Mountain-ebook/dp/B009UETRQU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354487677&sr=1-1
Please get it, read it and review it ..... if you enjoy it - only if you enjoy it! and help get it up the ratings chart. Thank you
A Mother's Nightmare
At around 4 am I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard the key in the door, safe in the knowledge that Charlie had survived the 'Works Do' and I thought as I peacefully went back to sleep that I could relax just a little until next weekend. How wrong I was, we went shopping for a new mattress for Madi first thing this morning and on our return Charlie announced 'I'm going out in a little while' 'Where are you off to?' I asked, expecting, as most Sunday's he was just going round to his friends who have their own flat. 'I'm off to Brixton Academy to see blahdeblahdeblah's last ever gig'
Horror of horror's, my blood ran cold!
'Is Brixton Academy in Brixton' I asked in that by the way sort of manner us mums master as our kids hit teenage years. The way that we hope suppresses the rising panic in our hearts.
'Yes' he said, like I was some kind of doughnut!
'Is that Brixton, London?' I asked, hoping there might be some lovely little Suffolk village somewhere, Brixton-on-the-Weir, or even on-sea, anywhere but please God not London!
'Yes' he said, getting cross now 'Brixton, London'
Needless to say tonight is going to be a very long one, I'm not sure I have heard anything positive about Brixton for many, many years. I'm sure that good things do happen in Brixton but they don't tend to make the news. I did try as he went out the door to convey my fears without sounding totally hysterical but he was completely oblivious to my concerns.
I will be waiting tonight for the key in the door.
Horror of horror's, my blood ran cold!
'Is Brixton Academy in Brixton' I asked in that by the way sort of manner us mums master as our kids hit teenage years. The way that we hope suppresses the rising panic in our hearts.
'Yes' he said, like I was some kind of doughnut!
'Is that Brixton, London?' I asked, hoping there might be some lovely little Suffolk village somewhere, Brixton-on-the-Weir, or even on-sea, anywhere but please God not London!
'Yes' he said, getting cross now 'Brixton, London'
Needless to say tonight is going to be a very long one, I'm not sure I have heard anything positive about Brixton for many, many years. I'm sure that good things do happen in Brixton but they don't tend to make the news. I did try as he went out the door to convey my fears without sounding totally hysterical but he was completely oblivious to my concerns.
I will be waiting tonight for the key in the door.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
White lights, free hanging balls and a little bit of Christmas Tack!
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of tack at Christmas, it makes me smile ..... so long as it's in someone else's house!.
Today was the day we put up the tree and decorations, a little earlier than most years but the coach is desperately trying to drag us into her little 'Christmas Wonderland World'. We have been resisting up until today but we've finally succumbed and, accompanied by the obligatory Christmas music, glass of sherry and a mince pie we set about moving the furniture around to fit in the tree.
Now I do have a few rules, particularly with the tree - only white lights, predominantly one, at most two coloured decorations, no tinsel, and my balls have to be free hanging! by this I mean that I don't like them resting on the branch underneath, I can't bare that, it drives me nuts. Anyway, apart from some ribbon to make some bows, the tree is done. This year we have purchased a piece of ribbon and some tiny pegs with a cardboard 'Christmassy' animal on them, it's up and if I could only find the 'one' card we have so far received I'm sure it will begin to look fantastic.
Each year we have got a little more adventurous with our outside lights, not that they are for anyone else's enjoyment but ours, no-one uses our front door apart from the postlady and the tesco delivery person so we put them up in the back garden. This year we have added 'icicles' - my last words as Andrew left to buy them were 'only white one's please'. He spent a few hours putting them up, managed to fall off the ladder in the process landing rather unfortunately on his face, the bruising is gradually coming out and together with a very red forehead, nose and chin he resembles a sleep deprived elf! Anyway, the switch on arrived and we all assembled in the garden .... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ............ blue - the icicles are blue!!!!!!!. My idea of changing them didn't go down too well it has to be said and it seems I'm going to have to put up with blue icicles, it also seems - and this is another pet hate of mine - that they will be left up once the Christmas season is gone ready for next year, looking at Andrew's face though I don't really feel I can argue!.
Here's hoping we all have a very Merry, Peaceful and Safe Christmas x
Today was the day we put up the tree and decorations, a little earlier than most years but the coach is desperately trying to drag us into her little 'Christmas Wonderland World'. We have been resisting up until today but we've finally succumbed and, accompanied by the obligatory Christmas music, glass of sherry and a mince pie we set about moving the furniture around to fit in the tree.
Now I do have a few rules, particularly with the tree - only white lights, predominantly one, at most two coloured decorations, no tinsel, and my balls have to be free hanging! by this I mean that I don't like them resting on the branch underneath, I can't bare that, it drives me nuts. Anyway, apart from some ribbon to make some bows, the tree is done. This year we have purchased a piece of ribbon and some tiny pegs with a cardboard 'Christmassy' animal on them, it's up and if I could only find the 'one' card we have so far received I'm sure it will begin to look fantastic.
Each year we have got a little more adventurous with our outside lights, not that they are for anyone else's enjoyment but ours, no-one uses our front door apart from the postlady and the tesco delivery person so we put them up in the back garden. This year we have added 'icicles' - my last words as Andrew left to buy them were 'only white one's please'. He spent a few hours putting them up, managed to fall off the ladder in the process landing rather unfortunately on his face, the bruising is gradually coming out and together with a very red forehead, nose and chin he resembles a sleep deprived elf! Anyway, the switch on arrived and we all assembled in the garden .... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ............ blue - the icicles are blue!!!!!!!. My idea of changing them didn't go down too well it has to be said and it seems I'm going to have to put up with blue icicles, it also seems - and this is another pet hate of mine - that they will be left up once the Christmas season is gone ready for next year, looking at Andrew's face though I don't really feel I can argue!.
Here's hoping we all have a very Merry, Peaceful and Safe Christmas x
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