Sunday

Paul finished RAB this lunch time, he cycled from Lands End to John O Groats in 9 days and we are so very proud of him - if a little giddy at the thought of having him home!!

Paul - King of the world x x

Apart from lots of running, and blogging (I am on a roll at the moment!), I have also been doing a bit of sewing and I have a few projects on the go.  We were glad to be able to gift some bunting to our friend Barney this week, and I am particularly pleased with it because I upcycled an old shirt sleeve for the lettering and ribbon.. He is only 2 bless him, and I know its a bit mature, but he will grow into it..!

Running

During a run with Lucy at the beginning of the week, I noticed that Endomondo (my free phone app) said a wildy different distance to that of Lucys garmin and this made me suspicious of what Endomondo was telling me.

We are currently at my parents house, on the second weekend of RAB distraction and I went for a run at dawn this morning.  I was out 55 minutes and I got back and Endomondo told me I had gone less than a mile.  I was fuming with indignation.  So my Dad got the Memory Map out on his computer and we checked my route and low and behold I had gone 7.1km (4.3miles!) - a new solitary outside distance PB.. Yay me!

This morning was glorious. I would have much preferred to have been out on my bike, but given that I deliberately didn't bring Amy, a run was going to have to do.  It was cold - my first cold outside run (exercise of any kind) since spring.  So I borrowed a fleece from my Mum, because I had only brought warm weather gear with me, and off I went.  My parents live in a lovely part of the country and you are only minutes from seemingly deep countryside. The sun was just coming out, my breath was crisp on the air and there was mist over the fields.  The kind of invigorating morning that makes you feel glad to be alive - and glad to have made the decision to get outside early.

So once we'd cheecked this mornings distance (shown above), I then made my poor old Dad check a few of my other distances and I am running further than I thought I was!  Last weeks run (mapped below) was 5km on Endomondo, but in reality it was 6.53km (4.03miles).

So I have plotted another route with my Dads mapping wot-sit to try tomorrow morning and I am happy that I am closer to hitting my GFFE goals for running than I thought I was!  I knew when I set my goals that I wouldn't be doing any cycling for the first couple of weeks, and I know that I can easily make those distances up - but running was worrying me. Well not anymore!

I am through with Endomondo!  I know it was just a phone app, and a free one at that, but so annoying!  What is the point!  I'm going to have to re-think my tracking options.


Speaking of RAB briefly, Paul sounded tip top this morning and I am feeling better for him.  2 days left and this monumental challenge will be over and I can not wait to have him home and look after him a bit - for a little while anyway, then it will be life as usual..!

Quick pic of our Map exploits last night - and introducing my Mum!  There are loads of pics of Daddy on here, from our cycling and wotnot, so its nice to finally see Mummy. 

Yo!! Hello Mama!! Looking good there.. wolf whistles ahoy!!

Happy Saturday Clanettes x x x

Music to run (or indeed exercise) to!

I am brimming with emotion.  Paul is in Scotland, cycling his massive heart out. Today was always a big mile day, but due to a landslide they have had to de-tour meaning they have to cycle 137 miles today - in gale force winds and pouring rain. That, I think coupled with a relentless week, the consultant last night, and the end being so close now, has meant I have been teary this morning (I know! I know! I ALWAYS cry! Its a way of life!).

I kind of needed to record the moment I guess, so that the annals of history can record that Niamh and I went swimming (she loves it!), Bebe completed her first week at school, Lochie going into class this morning said of me wishing him luck on his first spelling test 'Don't worry Mummy, I'm a Christie, I'll kill it'! The Chris Moyles show ended and Paul battled Mother Nature on his bike.

But seriously, what a post to write - let alone read, so I thought I'd disguise the emotion with an upbeat post about music!!

So! What do you listen to when you work out?  I don't have music when I'm on my bike, but I do listen to music when I run and when I swim..  I thought I'd share my play list :-

Kelly Clarkson - My life would suck without you
Jakatta - American Dream
Madonna - Love Profusion
My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the black parade
Kelly Clarkson - My life would suck without you
Ben Howard - Keep your head up
Jason Derulo - What if
Justin Timberlake - What goes around, comes around
Madonna - Sorry
Linkin Park - Crawling
Kelly Clarkson - My life would suck without you
Mika - Relax, take it easy
Mariah Carey/Whitney Houston - When you believe

Quite an eclectic mix, I'm sure you'll agree - a mix of good beats and then sing your heart outs..  And I can't think of an excuse for 'When you believe' other than it has got me home numerous times!  No your eyes are not deceiving you, the same Kelly Clarkson song does indeed appear 3 times - its my absolute fave to run too and I like that it keeps popping up during my workout!

Go on,  cheer me up Clanettes, what do you listen to?

Thoughts on Thursday

I don't think I have mentioned RAB enough peeps!!  I can't tell you how much you should read Paul's blog if this whole cycling malarky inspires you.  My husband realised at the age of 30 that he was born to ride a bicycle and now he seems to be realising his dreams.  Its an epic, amazing journey that he is on - and in three days he'll be home and I can't wait to see him and tell him face to face just how proud I am of him.

Here is day 5 on the map we marked up yesterday, even Brenna noted that Daddy had travelled a long way on his bike - high praise indeed!

And day 6 - today Paul hit Scotland!

A friend sent me this poster because my email tag line reads 'The challenge is to be yourself, in a world that is trying to make you like everyone else. Eleanor Roosevelt. Love it!

So whilst we're having a chat about thoughts on Thursday, I should mention that I am back from my consultant appointment this evening and I'm going to have some gyne day surgery to try and figure out all the stuff I talked about here.

Ahem. Now then, lets end on a high, with some inspiration courtesy of believe-toachieve.tumblr.com :-

Tuesday updates!

RAB
Paul completed day 4 of his 9 day epic journey across Britain today. Half way through tomorrow he is half way to the finish - and half way to being home!

Hello again Mr Map!

If you haven't had a look at his blog yet, you can find it here. We have faithfully plotted his course everyday and Lochie is definitely becoming aware of the huge journey Paul is on. DIG DEEP PAUL, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH XXX


HOME
We have settled into a little rhythm and I am finding my comfort zone - helped by Bebe really enjoying the time she is spending at school. As with everything in life, this week hasn't been as hard on my own as I thought it would be.  I have amazing friends and I have so much support - so much so that I have been able to run and swim, and in terms of nourishment, I am being looked after in all senses of the word!

Here I am, sweaty running Sarah, looking forward to getting back and chowing down on.. Still in awe of my ability to just go out for a run.. When does it become the norm?

Peanut Rocky Road chocolate amazingness + Gingerbread skulls = heaven.  Thank you Vikki x

MINCEMEAT
This evening I hosted the first of what I hope will become an annual event, a 'Mincemeat Bash', basically all my friends came round, we chatted and made mincemeat.  Simples.  I really enjoyed myself - I hope they did too!

We are lucky enought to have 3 apple tress in our garden, and our ingenious friend Dave invented the Apple Claw a couple of years ago to ensure we could reach the highest of apples (its basically a hand rake gaffa taped to a long pole!)

The trees have not really fruited this year - normally I struggle to use the whole crop, but this year I have only really got enough for the mincemeat - sad times!

I pull the apples off with the claw, the children collect them in

Peeling, coring and de-bruising 4kgs of apples is time consuming - perfect for a bit of a gossip! (Lets note the festive table cloth and my bike, Amy, joining in in the back ground!)

We simmered our cider to dissolve the brown sugar in two pans

Added all the other ingredients and simmered for half an hour - the house smelt AMAZING!

We then poured both pans into one large bowl to make sure all the quantities were equally mixed and added rum

Before jarring it all up - the best bit of all?  By sharing out the cost, and getting the apples from the garden, it cost £3 each - HUGE BARGAIN!

I make this mincemeat every year and its fool proof - tastes better the longer you leave it!

Hettie Potter’s suet-free Mincemeat
Makes about 2kg (doubled this evening)
250g soft dark sugar
250ml medium dry cider
1 kg cooking apples, peeled, halved and quartered
1/2 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
250g currants
250g raisins
75g glace cherries, roughly chopped
75g blanched almonds, finely chopped
rind and juice of 1/2 lemon
6 tbsp brandy or rum
In large saucepan, dissolve the sugar in the cider over a gentle heat. Add the roughly chopped apples to the saucepan. Add all the ingredients, apart from brandy/rum and simmer for around 30 min until everything has a pulpy consistency. Take off the heat and when it has cooled slightly stir in brandy/rum.

I always quadruple the spice and cinnamon quantities, and double the lemon, but half the rum.  Yummers!

GREENBEANS

And lastly, all the green beans were harvested yesterday.  I trimmed, topped, tailed, chopped and blanched them and now have 12 portions in the freezer!  Ticked all my homemaker boxes!

The first RAB weekend

Good news Clanettes, we have completed day 2 of RAB and we are on form!  I say 'we' and you know that I actually mean Paul, but 'we' are a team, so its allowed!  Yesterday he cycled from Lands End to Oakehampton, and today from Oakehampton to Bath.  Apparently Cheddar Gorge was amazing.

The kidlets and I updated the map after we spoke to him yesterday and today - Hello Mr Map! I think they are making a grasp of understanding what Paul is doing.  It still blows me away!

If you are interested in taking a look at Pauls blog, he is trying to update it daily and you can find it here - all RAB info can be found here!

We have had a lovely weekend at my parents house in Reading, and it was a great distraction.  Not least because of some particularly gorgeous food (Salmon was amazing Mama, thank you!) and some spectacular Sauvignon Blanc (Thanks Papa!).  The Kidlets had plenty to do and I managed to squeeze in a run and a bike ride (even though I decided not to take my bike - more on that next time) and spend some quality time with my sister.  Good good!

Garden Olympics - the view from my parents upstairs

Banana Smoothy - if you have never frozen your over-ripe bananas, then blended them with milk and honey, YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED!

I hope you have all had a good weekend and are set for a mad week of RAB watch, mince meat making and avoiding single minded madness - JOKE!

My last comment is for Paul.  'Ordinary' people don't cycle 'End to End' Paul, let alone in 9 days.  It isn't in their dreams, let alone their wildest dreams.  'Ordinary' people can't comprehend the training, the determination, the challenge I guess.  Don't doubt your support.  Everyone is cheering you on and being so expressive because you are extraordinary and you are doing an amazing thing.  We love you beyond expression.  Tomorrow you have one job - KILL IT.  Night night x x

RAB-a-hoy!

Paul left at 8.30 this morning, full of anticipation and excitement.

10 days is a long time, and the days are going to get tough for him, so we sent him off with notes of encouragement.  All our friends and family contributed.

I wrapped each days notes individually

It felt really positive - I was delighted with the end result and I hope that the notes/parcels will give him a boost every day.

And me?  I was emotional and I cried (obviously! I always do!) and I am full of nerves for the next 10 days.  I do however have some amazing support around me and my friends are being fabulous. I have a new found respect for people who's partners go away for lengths of time.  Its pretty daunting.  But its only 10 days and this is the ride of a life time.  We are team Christie, we can do anything!