Pride of Britain

GB probably can't afford it... but the Olympic Torch Relay is bringing us out in our thousands to cheer on deserving and inspirational people in our communities. 

Her Next Door, G10 and I watched in Haverfordwest on the 9th day; this day totalled 137.6 miles and 114 torch bearers.


Adam Goy. 
The torch is perforated by 8,000 small cut-out circles,
representing the 8,000 torch bearers.

As I write these words the Olympic flame continues travelling the length and breadth of the United Kingdom – weaving its way through over a 1,000 communities. There are overnight stops for large celebrations at 70 towns and cities.

In total 8,000 people will end up carrying the flame on its 8,000 mile, 70-day journey around the UK to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on 27th July.

And to top it off nicely, look what came in the post this morning. We're really looking forward to it now, the atmosphere in Haverfordwest yesterday has really whetted our appetite. Blow the expense, the moral of the nation is up and to be honest this will definitely make us feel proud to be British. Go Team GB.

Not long to wait...

Mornings could be worse...

Photographs were taken at corresponding points A and B on the map below.

Went out for my run, early this morning.  Wow, it's good for the spirit.  I've been running along the roads this time as I'm not sure if the uneven surface around the reservoir had been contributing to my previous injuries.  I'm in denial that it's anything to do with my age.  I've also invested in yet another new pair of shoes, but this time I went for some advice at TriExercise in Haverfordwest.  I must admit I bought them some time ago, but have for the last month or so been gradually wearing them in.

This time I've started by just doing a few kilometres, three in all by the looks of the map below.  The route is flat(ish) and I head out three times a week to incorporate rest days between sessions.  I've increased my distance just very slightly over the last few runs and will perhaps add a little more in the very near future.  Slow and steady though.

MapMyRUN

Playing catch up

Have you missed me?  "No" I hear you cry.  Well tough.  I'm back.

Our Gran

I've been away on our extended family holiday to Whitesands (which is all of 20 miles or so away).  This was quite a feat this year though as Gran needed to bring all her equipment; including oxygen bottles, special mattress, portable adjustable tables, commode - the list goes on.  Anyway a very special shout out must go to Country Cars who provided the disabled transport and a driver.  They charged us the princely sum of £8.50, both ways.  Simply amazing (and there we'd been trying to get Gran's bus pass organised to get the fare half price, thinking it would be more like £85.50).   Also worth an honourable mention are the carers Western Welsh Community Care, who pulled out all the stops and juggled their staff so that we could still have the three visits a day whilst Gran was on holiday.

We all took it in turns to help look after Gran through the week, ably assisted by a To Do list I'd put together, (ding, just polishing the old halo).  For this I'd come under some flack from my brother (little Hitler might have been mentioned - hmm, me!)  When his turn came round though he bumbled and fumbled.  Had he actually read the To Do list?  Had he heck.  Gran felt sorry for him and in tones that seemed to indicate that it was all my fault she said, "Poor M, he really doesn't know what to do.  Nobody's told him."  My flabber was gasted.  "He berlurdy well does know," I said, waving the list about in the air.  But still she felt the (48 year old) boy was very hard done by.  How do the male species get away with it?

I returned home with a razor sore throat, which then developed into a near death experience (OK perhaps it was just a cold).

In the midst of all this I have been trying to revise for my Welsh exam, but the only successful thing I've managed to do so far is confuse myself further - it that's at all possible.

I'm also back on my running plan... second week in.  This has been partly prompted by a throw away, although rather to the point remark, "You're getting fat!"  Oh out of the mouths of babes.  I must admit I've got to do something, I'm looking more like Mr Blobby every day. 

Pembrokeshire Coastline - I did do some walking to burn those calories too.

New Year's Resolution

Well here we are again, with the same old resolution (i.e. to lose weight) although this year it's combined with picking up those running shoes again and getting fit.

To this aim I have bought some winter gear and ordered a monthly running magazine which will accusingly or encouragingly (depends on my mood) regularly land on the mat, but I still have not sorted out the new shoes.  And unfortunately after receiving my credit card bill yesterday I am still in deep shock.  I'm not sure the bank balance can withstand another hit.  I even took something back to Marks and Sparks yesterday as it was in the sale, and then re-bought it at the sale price.  Every little helps.

Winter running gear; still with labels intact.

J keeps telling me there is no point hanging on to our savings as they are now depreciating quickly in this economic climate, I on the other hand still like that feeling of a back up nest egg (no matter how small). 

I also worry about things currently in the future and not confirmed; for example how on earth are we are going to be able to afford to send G9 to higher education (if she chooses to go) if we don't save a little beforehand.  Currently Wales is subsidising the fees for Welsh residents wherever they may choose to study, but a week is a long time in politics, never mind 9 years.  I know these tuition fees are supposed to be down to the students to pay, but between that and trying to afford a home at these ridiculous prices in the UK we'd really want to help G9 out at the beginning of her independent life - if at all possible. 

Watch this space though, where there is a will there is a way - hopefully.  Car boot with unwanted Christmas presents here I come!

HAPPY NEW YEAR - BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA

Ms Angry to Ms Proud in 48 hours

Lows
Friday morning I found our Internet was down – being an IT company we are dead in the water without it. I phoned our ISP (note this stands for Internet Service Provider) who duly did the line checks and found nothing wrong. He told me that before anyone would send an engineer out we had to replace our router.

Not an unreasonable request I suppose except that I informed them that our neighbour was also down. What was the likelihood of two routers going ‘ping’ at the same time?

Apparently this information was irrelevant and had nothing to do with our issue. To me it was obvious that they were following a problem solving ‘script’ and come hell or high water and even when provided with useful information, they had to ensure that each item was duly checked off the list. Sorry Madam, it MUST be your router, grrrrrrr.

An hour round trip to pick up a new router, ½ hour to configure and £80.00 later, low and behold… our Internet was still down. Apologies, but the earliest an engineer could be with us now was Monday. My response? Insert expletives here.  I would also like to know who is going to refund us the cost of purchasing the router - it doesn't make a very convincing objet d'art.

Highs

Sunday I did the Race for Life at Scolton Manor in Pembrokeshire, what a beautiful day in more ways than one. There was a little team of us and G8 also ran. It brought tears to your eyes reading some of the dedications pinned to the backs of most of the runners. I ran for one person in particular who never got the chance to grow old, but also for two or three survivors. As we began our running they played Heather Small’s “What have you done today to make you feel proud?” and for once I had an answer to that.

The lonliness of the long distance runner...

I love it, I go into a world of my own... and think all sorts of thoughts. Although I can never remember them when I get back. A bit like dreaming I guess.

Tonight wasn't so lonely. The dog actually kept up... well I had to carry her past the fishermen (I should have started jogging by then but thought it might be better if she didn't actually run off with one of their fish). I had to go dangerously close to them to retrieve her. I normally try to avoid all human contact in my running gear, not a pretty site. I dumped her unceremoniously at the beginning of the track and tonight she kept up. Actually she was good company, until we met another runner - yes who is she? I was so busy telling the dog to shut up that I didn't have time for pleasantries except for a rather muffled ‘hiya’. She looked a darn site fitter than me and I was soooooooo relieved that at least I had my new gear on and not my old jogging bottoms that have paint splodges all over them and a top that is supposed to be white but has a definite grey tinge to it.

I wore my new trainers (a pair of Saucony Progrid Triumphs) for the first time and boy do my toes thank me for it. A couple of my toenails have gone black so this time I have bought a whole size larger. My feet generally feel better all round and just to be sure I bought some running socks; yes I too thought a sock was just a sock but oh no, it’s all very technical. My sports bra also arrived. Wow, this over the shoulder boulder holder was a struggle to get on but again so comfortable, no black eyes at least.

I am now on week 8 of the Couch to 5k in 9 weeks - yes OK it has taken me rather longer than 8 weeks to get to this point but we'll just gloss over that. I'm now doing 28 minutes solid running. I need a goal to aim for so am running in the Race for Life at Scolton Manor. I keep being badgered to enter the Cardiff half marathon by a couple of proper runners - gosh how many miles is that? Don't tell me, it may be a step or two thousand too far.

Reasons to run for me are really for my mental well being – I do feel more positive and definitely more content.  It is great to pound the tracks and loose yourself in the here and now. Shedding a few pounds won't do any harm either but it's not my primary reason. It's not for everyone - but it suits me.

I'm on an 'up'

I think it must be spring waving her magic wand and the lighter early evenings. Cold, long winter nights are not for me and I'm sure I get SAD because of it. To raise my spirits I try various tactics.

1) To socialise - I can be my own worst enemy if left on my own for too long.

2) To resist the eighth piece of chocolate - it only make me feel fat and slightly sick.

3) To have a glass of red - but perhaps not the whole bottle.

4) To switch the telly off - and go and read a good book instead.

5) To go out for a walk or a run – stimulate those endorphins.

6) To read Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. Google it - please, it really is worth reading. Here are the last few words. "With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

7) To appreciate what I have and not max out my credit card chasing the materialistic 'dream' created by global advertising.

8) To spend time with my lovely family and friends (they are the best).

9) To really look at the daffodils, listen to the chatter of the birds and feel the breeze.

I am healthy - but not so wealthy and well wise is really debatable (now common sense I've got gallons of that). Stuff the money; I'd rather have time to do the above list. I just need to learn to count my blessings more often.

Race for Life

Hi, I'm blogging for sponsorship now - I'll stoop as low as I have to to get some money out of you!

I used to run a lot when I was younger, always long distance and I loved it. I ran for a local club then and often represented the county. Things waned a little when boys came on the scene (I loved them more) so the running took a bit of a back seat for a while, (does 30 years count as 'a while'?)

Since I moved here I have wanted to get fitter and have done many stunning walks. But running was my first love and it takes it up a gear. To try and get my body out of its lethargic state I started a Couch to 5k running plan at the end of last year aiming to get my heart rate up a bit, and boy did I find out how unfit I really was. Initially I had tried to 'do it on my own' and kept getting annoying ham string injuries - I even tried to impress my cousin's daughter who came out with me one Saturday for a run - what was I thinking - ping, there it went again. These injuries would put a stop to my running attempt for weeks at a time. I have discovered that my recovery takes a bit longer than it used to.

To give you an idea at what stage I'm currently at, I'm just about to start week 3 in my Couch to 5k program this Wednesday. There are 9 weeks in total. The bad news is I repeated week 1 umpteen times... so another 7 weeks of training to reach 5k could be a tad optimistic.  Although when my friend suggested I do a run to raise funds for Cancer Research with her,  I thought great - a tangible goal to aim for, lets do it.

All I need now is MONEY, so GIVE please – it’s a very good cause. If only a pound it doesn't matter. Anything. Thank you.