Blog Series

As a relatively new blogger, I am fully aware that I probably have a long way to go before I have found my feet and worked out how to do all the fancy stuff. I'm still not sure how use pictures that aren't photo's I've taken myself, I will probably end up asking a bloggy friend for some help with that, when I have plucked up the courage....

In the meantime I thought I might try and introduce a series of posts, if only to give a little structure to my rambly mess of a blog. I was thinking maybe a ''Running Rundown''? Weekly update on my running training as I prepare for my upcoming Zombie run, half marathon and any others I enter down the line. What do you think?

My other thought would be to do a monthly update on my 365 photo challenge, with some sort of collage of that months pics of the day. What to call it...any ideas?

Don't worry I am under no illusion that there are probably less than a handful of people that actually read my blog, (thank you lovely friends) but it would still be nice to give them something remotely interesting to look through. Anyway, ultimately this is for me, and I am so enjoying writing my blog, more than I ever thought I would. It has really helped my to think about things in my life in a different light, making me more observant of the things I do, and waking up my internal monologue, which is fun.

So what do you think to a blog post series, would you read it?

Weekend in Worcester

Not so much a weekend as a flying visit, we were travelling down on the Saturday, everything was going to plan and then this happened. Didn't even realise at first we just thought the road had got really bumpy, until we saw the smoke... Burning rubber does not smell good. Luckily it was the passenger side so it wasn't as hairy as it could have been to change on the hard shoulder. 

Motorway driving on a spare is not fun, seeing as you are not meant to exceed 50 miles per hour and we still had an hour to go. I have a little more sympathy for caravan towers now, not a lot just a little. We did manage to find somewhere to get a new one at our destination which I was extremely thankful for, I did not want to travel back on a spare, probably would have doubled our travel time.

This was our beautiful hotel, it's looks ever so pretty from the outside, it's not all that on the inside unfortunately, nice, modern and clean but nothing special. We did meet a crazy old lady in the car park who couldn't work reverse on her car, and expected us to push it, uphill!! She managed to remember how to drive it in the end thankfully, I really think some old people shouldn't be trusted with cars... am I wrong?

This beauty was behind our hotel, overlooking the car park! Bit strange but not an unwelcome site.

The reason we travelled all this way was for a 40th Birthday dinner, it was in held in their local pub, literally opposite the Birthday boy's house. I really enjoyed the food, poached duck egg, belly pork and pigeon finishing up with Toffee Holly Hog. As you can probably tell I tucked into my main before taking a picture, it was good though nom nom. The pub also had some tasty ale on from their micro brewery "This", "That" and "T'other".

The weekend seemed to fly by but it was fun, it's nice to get away and take in the scenery of a different town. Still nice to get home though if only to see Molly Moo.

What did you get up to this weekend?

Caterers Done

We met Darren in a Harvester (don't worry Harvester are not our wedding caterers) sat down with a drink and talked about food. 

Just on a side note Darren does look remarkably like Justin Theroux, you know Drew Barrymores bad boyfriend in Charlie's Angels. Which might give some of the girls a good reason to go up for seconds...

Luckily for us Darren has done tonnes of events/weddings including some at our actual venue, which was a huge relief. It meant he already knew the layout so he could tell us where he would set up and suggest how the day could pan out. He is a hog roast specialist, but we haven't gone for a hog roast. Don't get me wrong I love a bit of crackling and apple sauce, as much as the next meat eating fiend, but personally I feel it has been done. We are still keeping it fairly informal, I just want a little more choice for my guests. With a shed load of cheese for later in the evening. I love cheese I do.

Dessert is not being provided by Darren, but will be oh so scrumptious. I'm going to make our actual cake, and some other lovely ladies will be suppling the main dessert. I can't wait!! 

How do you feel about Hog Roasts?

Keep on Running

The worst thing about going for a run super early, is that you are usually the first person to walk/run along those particular pavements that day. Which means you get to clear the route of all the sticky cobwebs made by the busy nocturnal spiders, and for some reason they always seem to whisp around at head height!!! No fun, and I always get just a little bit freaked out thinking that there may have been a rogue spider still attached. OK rant over.

I have still been going running, although I failed my personal challenge of 4 runs a week last week, (only did 3) and I didn't quite muster enough courage to get out there of an afternoon/evening, but I will at some point. 

But I think I need to scale back on the pressure I am putting on myself, I am still doing 3 runs a week and I do manage to go just a little further each time, which is amazing for me, so I should be proud of myself, not thinking myself a failure. I think maybe 3 runs a week is a more realistic goal and any extra will be a bonus. Otherwise I'll just end up getting really cross with myself and forget that I have actually come quite far. I am not a natural runner, not even when I was little, but I think I am finally coming pretty close to cracking it, with the help of yoga and some handy phone apps.

This is what I was confronted with this morning though, not sure if I was early or Mr. Sunshine is getting tardy, but it was dark out there this morning.

Do you ever set yourself unrealistic goals, and have to scale it back?

Blueberry Muffins

Last week after we had planned to get the tandem, I decided to make some Blueberry Muffins for the picnic, so Friday night I did. I got all my shiznit together and picked a recipe from my Hummingbird Bakery book.

Mixed everything together using my not very fancy £15 hand mixer, (I am desperate for a fancy orange Kenwood mixer, but can't justify the cost at the moment...) it did the job. I did however realise too late that I should have put my apron on, my t-shirt was covered in flecks of muff mix, oh well that's what washing machines are for.

My first batch were a complete disaster, so obviously I didn't take a picture. I think my oven my be on it's last legs, or it's just grumpy and temperamental. I cooked them as instructed at 170 degrees for 20-25 mins, but when they came out they were pretty much still cake mix. We still ate them though, who doesn't love cake mix? Don't pretend you don't lick the bowl.

For the next lot I turned it up to 190 and let them cook for 30-35 mins, they looked better but not quite as I had hoped. Anyway lesson learnt, and it's a good excuse to practise a little more to suss out my crazy oven.

What did you last bake?

Two Girls on Tandem

Yesterday me and a friend hired a tandem, we've never ridden one before just thought it would be fun. And it was once we got going it was, it just a bit tricky to actually get going, didn't help that we couldn't stop laughing. My friend likes to be in control, so I let her go in front to steer and I didn't want to take the blame if we crashed. It was both scary and fun, scary because I couldn't see where I was going but fun because I got to take in all the beautiful scenery.

We headed along the seafront using the conveniently placed cycle paths, we took a picnic with us and stopped in Bexhill, to scoff and enjoy the sunshine. Took a few pictures, cute bell on the bike we had one each, both with Mickey on though. We chained the bike up for a bit and had a wander around, got an ice cream, and had a pint of Pimm's before heading back, it wasn't quite a pint but it may as well have been.

  

It was a hell of lot hotter on the way back and the front was a lot busier, but it seemed to be easier on the way back, I think maybe we had just got the hang of it. It's amazing how excited people get to see a tandem, we got loads of smiles and waves from the kiddies, which made it all the more fun, I think so anyway.

When we got back, we took the bike back and headed straight for the pub for a cold cider, nice. It was a great day obviously the weather helped, only down side I have a very sore behind today. Maybe a few spin classes will help me out for next time, because I'm pretty sure there will be one.

Have you ever ridden a tandem?

New Handbag Arrives

I won some money on the lottery the other day, and it just so happens it was just the right amount to frivolously purchase myself a Cambridge Satchel. I love these bags and of course I had to get it in fluorescent orange. It is amazing, the colour is eye bleedingly bright, and the smell of the leather is perfect. I think my friends would agree that this bag could have been made especially for me.

I will definitely be getting another one, (don't tell Adam) perhaps a fitness challenge reward...

Have you bought yourself anything frivolous recently?