Better late than never

I've missed the mid-week update yet again. Where does the time go?! I had all good intentions of settling down on Wednesday night to do an update, but by the time all the jobs had been done, and kittens happily put away for the night, it was time to sleep! 

This week has all been about waiting for a magazine to come out on Thursday. A running magazine. The one that DD will be in for the next 5 months. It's been very exciting and is finally here! 

And I have to say I'm really enjoying going out running with DD. We did another 5 mile interval training run today, and despite a few twinges in my legs I managed to keep up! 

The kittens are getting more confident every day now and will happily charge downstairs when given the opportunity. 

Poor Oscar appears to be a bit scared of them and moves away when they appear! The other cats are slowly getting used to them, but it's going to be a while before everyone's together. 

Yesterday we managed to get out walking. The weather forecast was ok so I suggested we head out a bit further north than usual and come off the motorway at Penrith. 

So we did. And the weather wasn't quite as good as we'd expected. So we didn't get the summit climbed that we'd aimed for. After negotiating some boggy parts of  a rapidly disappearing path, and noticing that the summit had disappeared in the clouds, we turned round and took a different path! 

It was still very pretty, but I'd got the wrong socks on for wearing my boots, so they didn't fit properly, which caused no end of discomfort for me! So, after painfully making our way along another very wet path, we stopped for lunch and then headed back. 

8 1/2 miles later I could finally take my boots off!! 

And today, while DD and DH went off to work, I headed to another craft fair. 

It was quite busy today and a good atmosphere overall. 

And then home to run with DD. 

So that's been my week - working, running, crafting, walking .........

Let's see what this week brings. 

Busy weekend

So how much can you fit in to a weekend? Quite a lot apparently!! 

DD had her last mega early start on Friday, and I must admit I was so tired I went back to bed after she left for work instead of getting on with jobs. But, I made up for it later by finishing three new shapes for the craft fair today - the rainbow snail, a giraffe, and the black and gold heart. And lots of kitten time. 

Yesterday I decided that as I'd started the C25k programme last week that I'd better get out and do Day Two. So first thing yesterday morning saw me heading out for my next training run ....

......it wasn't far, but it was warming up outside very quickly so I'm glad it wasn't for long. And then time to go for a walk with DH. Just a local walk for a change. 

It was lovely, albeit very humid .....

......up on the moors with very few people around .....

........and after a bit of bog jumping we finally made it to a decent stop for lunch .....

..... and then back to the van for a brew before heading home. 

And today I had a craft fair. Unfortunately it was a fairly quiet day with not very many people coming in. But, it's all good experience and good to chat with other crafters. 

And to finish the weekend? Well, I volunteered to go out with DD for her run tonight, interval running (2 minutes running, 1 minute walking) for 5 miles. And this after only going out twice last week......

But I did it! I'm very impressed ( although I found it quite tough to keep going sometimes). Maybe all these years of going out walking really have been good for me!

 

Crafting and kitten time

DD's on mega early shifts at work this week. Not good for getting up when it's not quite light. But really good for me getting stuff done if I get up with her. Including some crafting, which I haven't had time to do for a while. Mainly due to these two bundles of fur ........

They may look cute and cuddly, but they take up so much time!! As we've not had to introduce new kittens in to the house for about ten years, we're very conscious that we want to do it right, and that means doing it very slowly and keeping an eye on things to make sure the rest of the adult cats, and Oscar, are ok. So far we're doing ok. There's been a bit of hissing from the other cats (and the kittens),  but nothing major. And Oscar? Well, he seems to be a bit nervous of the kittens. So much so that he wouldn't even look at them last night when we were going to bed, came to me for a cuddle so he could hide behind me, and went the long way round to go to bed so that he could avoid Minnie who was sat in his way! So I think you could say we don't have to worry about Oscar attacking the kittens! Hopefully they'll become friends in time. 

And the bit of crafting I've been able to do has been after DD has left for work at 4.30am. Time to get out the paint and brushes to see what new shapes I can get ready for my next craft fairs. 

Not quite finished but getting there.....

DD has started her training plan this week too, the start of her 17 week training before her half marathon in November. As I used to go running, albeit a good few years ago, it's motivated me to get my own running shoes and go out with her. I've only been twice as I'm back at beginner level, but it's been fun to be out. 

And then there's the dog walking.... And the reading....And the vegetables in the greenhouse .......

Keeping busy ......!

#walking #running #crafts #handmade #womensrunning

What a week!

I can't believe it's just over a week since we got back from holiday. We've packed so much in! 

I wasn't back at work last Monday. I had an important job to do. Off to the Cattery to collect two new kittens!!!  So, on top of the four cats we already had, we now have two new additions. Meet Minnie and Coco! 

They are super cute, and take up so much time! We're spending a lot of time with them, attempting to build up their confidence to become integrated with everyone else. It's a slow process. The other cats seem to be ok so far, but the kittens aren't straying downstairs yet. They're spending most of their time in DDs bedroom and are quite happy in there! It's going to take a little while before they're confident enough to bounce round the whole house. 

And then Tuesday I was back at work, after ringing up to book Wednesday off. To take DD to London. For a photo shoot for Women's Running magazine. This all happened while we were on holiday. DD had gone home and entered a competition in the magazine not thinking anything of it. Three days after applying she had an email saying she'd been successful and needed to go for a photo shoot! She rang us while we were on holiday ( and thankfully a small pocket of phone signal). The question was - how to get to Wimbledon Common for 11.30 on Wednesday. The train would have taken hours, so she said she'd drive and stay overnight. As it would be a long and pretty scary drive I ended up going with her so we could share the drive. So, Tuesday night we headed south after DD finished work, and Wednesday morning we made our way to Wimbledon Common, with me doing the driving round London and DD navigating for me. 

The photo shoot itself was good - she really enjoyed it and now has some fabulous running gear (the one with the white jacket). 

And while we were off in London, DH ended up going home Tuesday night instead of staying away, so he could look after the animals, and then go back to work on Wednesday, and DD asked her boyfriend to call in on Wednesday to see to everyone before we got home on Wednesday  night! ( thanks to the men for helping out). 

Now all she has to do is train for a half marathon in November. In Bath. Over hills. Good luck DD! 

Then back at work on Thursday, ladies lunch on Friday, DH's mums yesterday for lunch, to also catch up with DH's daughter as she was up for a few days, and then a fabulous walk in the Lake District today with DH, DD and DD's boyfriend. 

It's been a fabulous day today with lots of sunshine. 

We walked up to the summit on Loughrigg Fell. A tough climb in the heat, but with fabulous views from the top. 

And a lovely walk back down through the huge ferns! 

And an ice cream for everyone when we got back down. 

What a day. 

What a week!!! 

#walking #womensrunning #hillwalking 

Summer in Scotland Part Two

After leaving a very wet Durness campsite on Tuesday morning we went back to Cocoa Mountain to get another hot chocolate, and a bag of chocolate for DD, before heading south (well, you can't really drive any further north at that point, only east or south!). 

Time to drive a new road, heading away from the coast this time. And what a lovely road! 

It took us along the valley for miles, with fabulous scenery ...

We found a spot to park up and set off on a short walk. 

And, you've guessed it, it started raining again!

It made for a very interesting landscape at first ....

....before it got worse ....

....and we had to head back to the van. And, as we've had previous nights, a lovely glow at night .....

Very bizarre weather! 

Wednesday we carried on further south and parked up for a longer walk (weather permitting!) and set off in brilliant sunshine ....

...only for it cloud over quite soon ....

....but we managed to get to the loch with no rain ...

We had lunch and then it was a straight road back.... 

....in the rain (after 8 miles of walking we had to give in and get the waterproofs out)

And then a quick drive to park up for the night.

Thursday we headed to Lairg and then the long drive back to our original campsite.... 

...with weather turning wetter and wetter as we got back to the coast. And yet again, we had a lovely evening sky. 

And then we started the long drive home. With a few stops along the way ....

....and back to our original first night spot for a lovely walk - in sunshine!

And a pleasant evening stroll later on ...

.....arriving home eventually yesterday after driving in some of the worst rain and wind we've had in the two weeks we've been away. 

So, two weeks in the highlands done for another year. Despite the weather we've had some fabulous walks, got drenched more than once, tasted some delicious local food and driven new roads. 

Amazing. 

Can't wait to go back ......

#walking #scotland #highlands