Shed part deux

The shed was installed (fitted? built?) today!!

I was out when it happend so I wasn't able to get any cheeky shots of men hefting sides of sheds through my house - you'll just have to make do with shots of the shed in situ and ready for use!

Shed happiness!!

New PB

I ran 5k in 33 mins tonight and then swam 32 lengths! Boooooyah! Or some such similar term that also means "What ho chaps, I'm somewhat pleased with myself!"

Best ever time.. Speed '9' on the treadmill for 4.8k and then speed '10' for the final .2k just to make it end.. And I didn't die..! Win..!

That 30 minute dream gets a bit closer every time I run.. Oh yeah! See my happy, if slightly tired, dance! Whoop whoop!

Ahem.. Thanks for reading and indulging me x x

Baking

We have been busy eating exciting treats at our house - baked by the amaze-bake-balls Vikki and me.

Last week, Vikki treat us to some fabulously festive treats in the shape of Frankenstein and ghosts..

Frankstein was a marvellous mix of marshmallows, rice krispies, glitter and chocolate.

I managed to smoosh the last ghost before I got a good picture, so here is the ghost in zombie form! A rich tea finger ingeniously dipped in white chocolate... sooooooo good!

This week I made a big batch of biscuits - one lot to toast Leif and the other for my friend Emma's birthday.

 Biscuit dough

Hearts and bunting (The best things in life!)

Leif's biscuits

Emma's edible bunting..

Its good to really enjoy the treats you eat - I have tried to adopt the rule this year, of absolutely loving the treat I am having, or else its a waste of cals and not worth it.... well, most of the time, anyway!

Weekly round up

Pretty low key exercise week here - far too pre-occupied!!

Monday
Nice easy swim: 25 metre pool x 30 lengths = 750m in 25mins

Tues, Weds, Thurs and Fri
'rest' days

Saturday
Early morning 5k run over in the park, it was nice and mild - if wet!

A good even pace really - the two speed dips were for dog walkers, annoying because it may well have been under 33mins without them and that would have been a new time PB. It was a tough run though, in terms of my head space. I really struggled to get myself round. Laps of the park are no different really to running on a treadmill - bit samey, boring even, but a good constant to train with. I have created a good new running play list, so I had music motivation, I just struggled to get the job done - after each lap my head told me to go home, rather than to get the next lap done! Frustrating!

Sunday
Today Lucy and I went to the gym for opening, we had a cycle, then Lucy went on the tread mill and I couldn't face another run today, so I used the posh stepper and then we had a swim. The pool is quite busy on a Sunday, the fast lane is quite fast (compared to a Monday night ladies only session for example) so I thought I'd have a go in the medium lane. The medium lane was just slow enough to be annoying, so I slipped into the fast land and killed myself trying to avoid being hugely annoying to all the people going faster than me! A great swim!

A friend of mine Jo, writes a great blog about her exercise exploits and I wanted to shout her out - Jo inspires me in many ways and not just with exercise, although she definitely inspires me to swim harder, and with different pool music! This post here really sums up how I feel about running and cycling too. I NEVER thought I would be able to run, let alone enjoy it (sometimes!), and although re cycling, I am perhaps less of a rabbit watcher on a summers evening and more of a peloton wanna-be, I can really relate to her musings.
You have achieved great things in the last few weeks Jo, you are already a triathlete!

W/E 11.11.12
Cycled: 10k (6miles)
Run: 5k
Swim: 1500m (2 sessions)
Gym: Elliptical machine, 1k's worth of stepping 

Winter acceptance peeps! Accept it's (almost) winter, modify how you train and get the job done!

Family

Hi Clanettes

I'm sorry it has been a few days. I have spent a blissful week with my sister and nephew - far removed from my usual blogging, housework avoidance and exercise efforts..!

Having been at the centre of the three new baby's to hit our family until Leif arrived, I have enjoyed seeing a new baby from another perspective - particularly the efforts and love my parents show to each grandchild.

A new baby really brings our family together. We are pretty well scattered over the UK. I live in Southampton, an hour from my parents and sister & brother-in-law who live (separately) in Reading, then our extended family lives all the way to Sheffield and Darlington. This week I have had the pleasure of seeing Daniels Mum, Julie (Hi Julie!). My Aunt and Uncle (My Dad's brother) who I can't remember when I last saw, and my Grandmother (Mum's Mum). Next week my Nanny (Dad's Mum) will visit, and then in a couple of weeks my Grandad and Anna (Mum's Dad and Step-mum).

To say I am feeling loved up and exceptionally lucky is an understatement at the moment. Leif is a very precious addition to our family and we are all so lucky that we are all able to share in the moment together.

My 90 year old Grandma, my Mum and Leif

I couldn't get a decent shot of all the grand-bairns, everyone was too busy chatting, but I love this shot - everyone is laughing.

Love your family, they're all you've got x x

Shed part 1

As I'm sure you can imagine, we have A LOT of bike paraphernalia. Paul and I have 2 bikes each, the biglets have a bike each, we have a bike trailer, a bike seat, a bike tag-a-long and a bike rack.. numerous tools and cleaning gadgets..We are also a family of 5 living in an end of terraced 3 bed house without garage, drive way or other storage.. Its been pretty cosy for the last few months.

Yesterday some nice chaps from Solent Sheds came and laid down some concrete and then next Monday, they are coming back to put a shed on it! A mahoosive 12ftx10ft beast of a timber building, bigger than Lochie's entire bedroom, that Paul and Lochie are already dubbing 'The Boys Shed'.  Fine, fine boys, you have your shed, cold and damp at this time of year.. How about I claim the other half of my kitchen back.. suitably free of bikes!

So here is the madness that is laying down concrete when you live 30 metres from the road and don't have side access to your garden..

They were great, even cleaned the kitchen floor when they were done. Roll on next Monday!

Leif

Congratulations to my sister Emily, and my brother-in-law Daniel, on the safe arrival of Leif (rhymes with safe) Noah Swanborough, who arrived on Saturday 03rd November 2012.

I'm an Aunty!

 

 

 

 

I was able to use my niche skill to my own advantage - I was able to see Emily and Leif outside of visiting ours as her private breastfeeding counsellor. Yay.

So proud of you Emoose. I can't even form the sentence to describe how much I love you. I shall cherish the time I spent with you yesterday until the end of my days xxx