This morning I wasn’t really feeling up for a big long run. But i needed to do one, im following a program for my next half marathon and the weekend is the only time i can crank up some miles. So i needed to go. Forced myself out of bed and into running gear. It was one of those mornings where i just couldn’t be bothered.

No really, i couldnt. So much so that i decided to stick with the park route and build the miles up through circling it a few times. Something i really hate doing. Its not that it isn’t a gorgeous park, its one of the best and it is rightly so very popular with runners and exercisers at all times of the day, but i just dont like the ‘hamster on a wheel’ feeling it has.

Anyway i stuck with it because its easy, i know it and i didn’t have to work out in my head what would be a 12 miles + route.

When i got the the park it was quiet, it was still early so there were few people around. Gradually people started to appear and I found myself avidly people watching that I soon forgot just how many times I was going over the same ground. It wasn’t long before the tiredness that I was feeling in my legs had been forgotten and the little community of runners and characters there were circling this great city park on a sunny Sunday morning drew me in. 🙂

Some notable mentions go to.

1. The man who was walking with intent. Plugged into the biggest ear speakers i have seen since the 80’s. He was strutting along throwing his arms in Saturday night fever type motions. I first saw him I thought that maybe it was some  warm up routine that he was doing but then I saw him again on another lap and  he was still walking bobbing along to the beat and throwing some crazy shapes with his arms.  I love that he just kept on doing what he was doing and regardless of how many 10 K half marathon trainers went past him he just carried on walking step to the beat and doing his own thing.

2. Next there were two cyclists who I saw the entire time I was there. Every time they lapped me i noticed them. They were head to toe in cycling Lycra, and on what must’ve been very expensive racing bikes. They had those aerodynaminc helmets, their heads were down and they were sharing the slipstream with each lap.  Their speed was totally consistent and reminded me of the racers we saw in the velodrome back in 2012.  I may have even picked up a little bit of a slipstream as they went past.

3. Next up the two pensionable age ladies I would say, running in denim jeans, smart overcoats and denim jacket chiffon scarf. They were wearing trainers maybe as bit of a token gesture  but it looked like they had totally just stepped out of a cafe and decided on going for a bit of a run. I can’t imagine they got into a sweat but their complete contrast to everybody else in lycra running gear and garmin pacer watches made me smile.

4. A couple of pensioners heading off to the lake with their huge replica model tall ship sailing boats, complete with tiny skippers and white billowing sails. I wanted to photograph them really bad, like i did all the characters that i saw.

5. A large group of ‘friendly’ runners that i was unlucky enough to be going in the opposite direction to. Chattering loudly, laughing and dragging a reluctant small dog along with them. I jumped into the road and narrowly avoided getting squashed. I noticed as i went past  that the dog they had seemed to have a sign attached to its back with a harness. It looked like a reversing light..?

6. A guy, who must have been in his 60’s or maybe even 70’s. Who burned past me on one of my laps. No fancy gear, just shorts, a t shirt and a battered pair of runners. I sped up a little as he past..well you know there is a little bit of a competitor in all of us, but he was far to fast for me to keep pace with. So i settled for being incredibly in awe of someone who probably has his free bus pass being so fit and fast!

All life was there and i actually really enjoyed being part of a little community for a short time!

Just goes to show how important it is to shake things up once in a while!!

Well could you?

I try not to hyperventilate when i think of the chaos that would ensue if my John Lewis washing machine gave up the ghost. It has on a few occasions and i have felt bereft. Like i have lost my best friend.

It might seem a little bit dramatic but when you do at least two loads of washing a day and thats on the weeks (yes i said weeks) when im not changing the bed sheets! Take all the sheets of the beds in this house and you are looking at a sizeable Mount Washmore. We are heading into pre-teen hormones as well so there can be real need to wash certain people’s clothes a little more often than usual *ahem*

As i have such a close relationship with my washing machine,  I try to look after it, someone told me that using liquid instead of powder increases its life and keeping filters and things clean. But one thing i can’t help is something completely outside of my control! Our washing machine lives in our outside garage.Its a few short steps from the back door so on a rainy evening it can be done without getting too wet. But being a bit wet isnt a problem to an outdoor dwelling washing machine but the cold, freezing temperatures can be! We havent really had many of those nights (thankfully) this year but in previous years we have had more than our fare share of sub zero temps and sure enough as the drain pipes run out of the garage and into the drains they froze and no water was going anywhere from the drum.

Cue error message from the machine and start of melt down panic. ‘is that the kids uniform trapped in the machine until the weather thaws?’ or even worse that pair of socks that i just really love….you know the ones, where you hang around to the end of the cycle just so you can get them into the tumble dryer as quick as possible?

hmmm…just me then?

Over the years my adept and able OH has wrapped the drainage pipes of the machine in layers and layers of insulation till it looks like a giant, bloated sausage coming out of the side of the wall. But sadly it isn’t always enough and there have been a few times when my wonderful OH has been out there in the late hours of the evening with the hair dryer and me silently hopping around inside wondering if i need to start bagging things up to take to the laundrette!

Thankfully we haven’t had to go that far yet, although i have had to call in a few ‘mates’ favours for the odd load of washing when the backlog is threatening to engulf us as we use the bathroom.! 🙂

Like i said this year we haven’t had to deal with that..but as with the weather in this country that could all change and we will see a freeze snap into May!!

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