Five Days In......

Hello lovely people! Two days in to the first week of the New Year. If life is 'back to normal' for you I wish you a slow start and little stress.

I have a week or two remaining of recovery from my hysterectomy before my return to work. The time left will be concentrated on returning to the work routine, walking the dog at the pre-hysterectomy time, but also trying to get a good night's sleep - something that has been evading me big time, I am now a fully fledged insomniac (blog post coming up) and am now struggling to cope. JUST GIVE ME THE DRUGS!!!

Yesterday though Mr.L dragged me out for a run!! Yay I thought, it may help me sleep - not!! Anyway, trainers were laced and with some apprehension we drove to the local reservoir, nice and flat. My aim was to run round the 2.5 miles at a slow pace without stopping and yay I did! My breathing was great, my legs okish. Happy Happy!

This is the second run since my hysterectomy. The first was around the same reservoir, I had to stop about four times going round but the actual running felt good, but by the time I got home I felt terrible and just crawled into bed in my running gear and slept for two hours - lesson to be learnt, too much too soon!!

So here is me, post run, tired but elated. The toenails are dirty so needed painting; for a change, green! A small gift from a work colleague of Loreal Feline Sauvage. Not a colour I would usually go for, but I like :-) Expertly painted as you can see....

 

 Thanks so much for dropping by,
See you soon!
XX

Winter Wonderland

Hi! Hope you have had the kind of sparkling Christmas you hoped for!?

I am back to work tomorrow, but want to share some photographs from Boxing Day when

Mr.L & I went for a run round the local reservoir. 

I don't know how the tradition started but every year the trees surrounding are festooned with decorations, messages and tributes to loved ones. 

On our cold, frosty morning run it really did feel magical.....although the run did take longer than usual! ;-)

Yes - he jumped in.....silly boy!

 Can you spot him?

 A surprise to look up and see.

A beautiful way to remember a loved one.

Does this happen anywhere else?
Please share....
XX

52 Weeks of Happy (16/52)

It's been a funny week, busy, in fact time has flown, but I have felt SO tired!

Amazing how one week you feel so full of energy and then *meh*....

So, four moments that have made me this week!

• Starting a new 10 week running course and 26 people turning up on the first night! Wow - bit frantic but definitely one to put a smile on my face :-)

• My friend managing to bag tickets before they sold out to the first ever Radio 6 Music Festival Line Up here, especially looking forward to seeing Haim! 

• Friday night perfection! Wine, popcorn and the Shoequeen Tamara Mellon, who incidentally liked one of my Instagram pic's - well it was of her book - but all the same - Tamara Mellon - eeeeeeekkkkkkk!!!

• More Run Leader Training - spending this morning with a fabulous group of inspirational people - and coming away buzzing with ideas :-D

So, it would be wonderful to hear what's made you smile this week?

XX

* This blog hop was started by Jen who writes the lovely Little Birdie Blog - drop by!

For the Love of Running

Some of you may know I lead a running group, which I love so much.

 I inspire people to run, but actually it's a two way relationship - 

they inspire me massively.

 Until this last week I had not run since before Christmas. When I have a break my fitness drops so quickly - does anyone else find that?

So this week it was back to leading and I thought "I'm never going to be able to do it!" 

So, I got my bum in gear & I've run four nights running, including leading, 

covering 17 miles. Wowzers - what's wrong with me??

I love running, didn't used to, but now I run for fun & have learnt it doesn't matter if I can only go out for 10 minutes and walk for most of it!!

Running is free, doesn't impact on your day and you can be out the door whenever you feel like it and back 20 minutes later feeling virtuous...

When I run it encompasses so many other areas of my life. 

I up my fluids - no, not wine, water, think about what I eat and also look after my skin better (said before I'm lazy!) A good cleanse and moisturiser is needed as well as a refreshing hot shower after a run, especially in this cold wet weather we've been having.

This week I have learnt why you should definitely invest in a Sports Bra as I couldn't find mine and ran in my normal bra - I now have a graze where it has rubbed....

Its good to treat yourself to some nice attire to run in, you will run better - trust me - 

its psychological but worth it! I buy running gear from Aldi for cheap basics but for high end LOVE Sweaty Betty - would really like some Skirt Leggings but not willing to pay full price and keep missing out in the sale - always like their cycling and running pants with attached skirt - girly chic! ;-)

Trainers are an important part of your kit, but I would say don't rush out and buy an expensive pair, see if you stick to running before you part with your hard earned cash. 

When you know it is worth investing, consider a Gait Analysis. These are carried out at various sports retailers, but I go to a small independent retailer, himself a marathon runner. 

My footwear of choice are Brooks - they suit the way I run. Before I ran people always said you could wear trainers a size smaller than you would usually wear.

I am a size 6 - my trainers are 7.5 & perfect - don't go smaller!!

Did you know you should replace your trainers every 300 miles - not that I keep track haha!

A waterproof, windproof jacket is a must for anyone who becomes serious about running, along with a hat and gloves. I wear this jacket for running and cycling.

I don't profess to be a running expert, but just wanted to share some tips with you.

Here's me on my first run of the year - a selfie - yes I know!

“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.”― John Bingham

Who else runs? What do you do to stay fit?

Do you carry on through Winter?

XX

Running Group

Earlier this year I completed a UK Leadership in Running Fitness Course 

with the aim of starting up a complete beginners running group.

(Supported by my Running Club).

Running is something I try to do twice a week. 

At one time it was about the mileage covered, but now it is about going for a run, 

coming back refreshed & with a smile on my face.

Running is the one thing that also changed my body, mind and fitness level - after years of going to a gym with little if any results. 

You can go any time you feel like, for as long as you like, even if it's a quick ten minutes. 

It's free (apart from a decent pair of trainers) & if you stick out the first couple of weeks it does get easier!

So, I started my group along with a guy named Alex & we were amazed when on the first night eight people turned up! 

They all had more or less the same aims - get fitter, lose weight, breath more easily.....

we now have twenty on the register & last night was week 8.

I can't tell you how proud I am of the individuals who make up the group, 

I LOVE running the group and seeing how improvements are made each week, 

personal goals realised. 

Support & encouragement given to each other.

Most importantly we have FUN! :-)

They make me smile. They have no idea how much THEY motivate ME!

Anyone interested in completing a Running Fitness Course, 

take a look here - it's free - you won't regret it!!

XX

My Bedside Table....

When I first started to think about writing a blog, my initial thought was to call it "My Bedside Table".

Why?

Because that's where most of my family organisation happens! I read, write, pay bills, check my internet banking, look at ParentPay, book holidays, research....ok, ok, you get the picture!!

I even took photo's for my header photographs...then...went on to Blogger to start to build my blog to discover the domain was taken. Gutted!

I sat with Mr. L, both of us trying out different names. Looking wildly round the room I then came up with it - sat on my sheepskin rug on my sofa I glanced up at my stag's head (remember I said I have a stag fetish?) draped in fairy lights and PING 'sheepskinsandfairylights'.

This is turning into a story! Anyway, I had all these photo's of my bedside table so thought I'd share them in a blog post :-)

As you can see my bedside table is ram jam full!

The rabbit below was a present from my Ma & Pa years ago - it's twin sits beside my Sister's bed! Peep in the basket you can just make out a small wedding day photo of Mr.L & I!

Below, in the ribboned box is a gift from 'C' aka The Best Friend A Girl Could Wish For - it's a beautiful candle by Bahoma London - I am not allowed to burn it until I have burnt the remains of my other candles dotted throughout this house! Does anyone else do that??

Daily essentials - jewellery, Vaseline & Steam Cream (LOVE the tins that this all round moisturiser come's in - 100's to choose from).

Large glass of water - I try to drink 4 or 5 of these a day, especially when I plan to run/cycle - it definitely makes a difference to my performance (& my skin).

 Lamp from Ikea below displaying bits & pieces - the bit of wood from our holiday last year in Corsica - Random!
The rabbit stone is a Medicine Spirit Stone to give positive energy & create balance, mine is for Peace (from my lovely 'C').



Goes without saying - TEA for me the best start to the day - especially in this mug! 

I love the clean smell of the Olive Body Butter from Body Shop. Currently 25% off at Body Shop quote - NEW25 at the till. 

Hand cream for me is a necessity as I've gotten older - currently using Sanctuary which is also a favourite, the fresh smell of the orange zings me awake in the morning. The REN radiant eye gel was a magazine freebie - must. use. eye. gel. more.



 Hope you've enjoyed this peep into the chaos at my bedside!

XX