Running, running, running

Apologies for the tardiness with this entry; with my workload at the moment the last thing that I want to do on the weekend is sit at the computer... so much so that I have already developed an injury from my inactivity of having a desk job. Proof that working at a desk for 8 hours a day is detrimental to your health (and waistline). You may now be wondering what I have been up to the past six or so weekends since I have been too busy to update my blog... well, here it is:

Just after we returned from our holiday in France, our friends the Nowells treated us to a Murder Mystery Evening on board the Severn Valley Railway. It was dinner and a bit of "theater" where there are actors on board the train that play out their scenarios over the course of your meal and journey; all of which is meant to be set in the 1940's. Well, not all of it... just the murder mystery itself; nonetheless, we still dressed up for the fun of it and looked damn good in doing so. The old steam train took us about an hour into the countryside to a little town with a preserved station and pub. We stopped off at the pub for 45 minutes to admire the scenery and scenes that took place on the platform, and then picked up non other than Inspector Poirot, re-boarded the train, and hazarded a guess as to who killed the lad in the head with the hammer (not Colonel Mustard in the lounge as neither were present on the train). It was a great evening out, with fabulous weather and the pleasant view of the countryside from the train.

The next three weekends consisted of races: Race for Life with Craig's mom Cheryl, her sister Sharon, and my sister-in-law Justine. I was meant to walk the 5km with them, but my competitive nature sprung in just before the start of the race and I couldn't resist running... eet's a race, after all. I ran the 5km in 23 minutes which wasn't bad for wearing my Le Tigres instead of practical trainers (running shoes).

The following week was the big race: first half marathon! And of course it did not go as planned! I was feeling reasonably well in the morning despite drinking a bottle of rose the night before by accident (as you do when you are helping out with your friend's wedding invitations) and I was on my way:

-I packed my race bag, took my MC vs the 20 quid I normally take because I didn't want the coinage I was going to get from the machine where I buy my train ticket.

-Got to the train station to buy my ticked to find out that my MC was blocked.

-Called card services; they told me to get to a Lloyds TSB ATM and unlock my PIN.

-Got off at a train stop that I didn't need a ticked for (oh yea, got on a train while I was on the phone without a ticked because I didn't want to be late) and literally RAN around the neighbourhood (in what I found out was the wrong direction this past week) looking for the correct ATM.

-Didn't fin it, so ran back to the train and got on (still without a ticket).

-Got off at New St. Station, willingly got a fine for travelling without a pass, and went to the ATM to find that my card was permanently blocked.

-Called my husband to pick me up because there was now no possible way of getting to the start without a car (let alone in time).

-Got a bit lost on the way (and endured a rant).

-Got dropped off near the start.

-Ran to the start, and arrived 15 minutes after the very last group of starters (staggered start because of the narrow footpath), but was VERY VERY grateful to see three others plus a marshal.

-Ran my heart out full of fury and angst and did reasonably well... I passed about 30 people on the way and finished with an official race time of 2hrs:11min:44sec!! It was hard and when people ask me if I will do it again, I would... although as soon as I finished I vowed not to. It's that competitive urge in me that want to do it again and do it better!

The following week I did another 10km race, really because the weather was nice and I had nothing better to do. I have been supporting a running club in a nearby town of Redditch called Arrow Valley Runners and have met some really great people through the club. I'm kind of an unofficial member because I can't make the actual training days, but I do the races with the group. That week the team won a club challenge for having so many participants and for the participants doing well in their categories! Good job ladies (and the few men).

I took last week off (deservedly, I feel) to rest up for my marathon dance session for my birthday with my girls! Note to anyone who wants to go to England... I think you must visit a Lloyds One Bar and be drinking vodka red bulls and/ or drink special cocktails all night long while you dance to re-mixed versions of chart toppers through the years. Guaranteed great night of fun and you are bound to see something that will keep you and your friends talking for the next few weeks. Or perhaps I was just feeling nostalgic about my first year on tour.

Well, that brings us up to this weekend where Craig and I will be getting up early to go to the CLA Game Fair at Ragley Hall on Saturday morning! It boasts the world's biggest country sports and outdoor pursuits event. Really Craig is going to top up his fishing gear while I pursue the cheese tasting and cookery demonstrations. I think the plan is to meet up at the dog show mid-afternoon. So, I will keep you updated on how that unfolds in the weeks to come.

I hope that the summer has been treating everyone well. The weather here has been exceptional and fingers crossed it remains that way!

Leisure Time

We had our first camping trip of the year at the end of May which ended up during the first great weather weekend, as well. Thirty degrees and not a cloud in the sky and a total of 33 kids and adult campers in our group made it our for Paul's birthday weekend. This big group seemed to be too much for our first destination and the lonely two campers that got caught up in our convoy; thank to their complaining provoked perhaps by our chatting did get us evicted the very next morning. FYI: Christchurch Camping and Caravan Ground in the Forest of Dean doesn't let you talk after 10pm because it is a family site... the kids in our group ages 9 months to 16 years didn't seem to have any problems falling asleep, but never mind. We found a better campsite just around the corner the next day complete with horses and free range chickens. Oh yes, I must explain that when I say campsite in England, I really mean a farmer's field... not a little clearing next to a brook in the forest like a Canadian campsite. "Campsites" may or may not have facilities of sorts on them; this one did have a shower and toilet block in a make-shift mobile home type thing and running water... great for the kiddy paddling pools! I highly recommend bringing an inflatable paddling pool along with an air mattress when camping in sunny weather as it serves as an instant refresher and doubles as a large vat to keep your cider cool.

Tracy and Nick as Simon serenades us all.

Free Range Zack Abbotts

Other than "catching the sun" (getting tanned) and your typical ball and Frisbee games, the convoy took a trip to Broome Farm which produces its own cider on site and supplies fruit to Magners. It is set in the gorgeous English countryside where you can order freshly made Cream Teas. A Cream Tea is a wonderful English treat consisting of tea (duh), scones (biscuits), jam, and clotted cream. You know you are having a good Cream Tea when the scones are freshly baked and you can stand your ickle spoon straight up in the cream.

From the English countryside to the French Riviera, Craig and I have had a month of leisure it would seem. We have just got back from a week long holiday in Sainte Maxime in the South of France. Our friend Vicky has privileges at a family villa and invited us along for a holiday with her hubby Richard and their two kids Zach (nearly 3) and Luke (9 months). The villa is a gorgeous typical little home on the hillside with a view of the Med from the estate terrace (on our doorstep). As always with the Abbotts', we ate (and drank) very well all week... including Moules and Frites where for 15 Euros I received an entire soup pot of mussels in a delicious white wine cream sauce, Steak Tartare (Richard dared and finished 300g + of raw seasoned ground beef topped with a raw egg- and yes, I did try it, and yes- Richard felt the ill effects of eating that much raw ground beef), and gourmet gelato (chocolate epice was le bon choix- dark chocolate and nutmeg/cinammon/ all spice). We visited Ste. Tropez and did see some big yachts, but didn't see any celebs. Steak Tartare

View from the villa to the Med

Unfortunately our holiday did take a turn for the worst (worse than England's performances at the World Cup thus far) halfway through when we were confined to the villa for the entirety of a day because of torrential rain. I have never ever seen so much rain sheeting down and it was reported that in one day the area received as much rain as England gets in five months. This rain did cause devastation as you may or may not have heard... we were, and 95% of local businesses were without power for approximately 48 hours as much of the area around us had flooded and damaged the main power line. Cars were swept off the highway in places; we saw an old campervan straddled over the highway barrier, and those toilet blocks that are like small mobile homes flipped on their sides at the beach. The beach itself was closed for swimming, not that you would want to go because the lovely Cote d'Azur was murky brown. Oh well... we did get a few nice days of weather before the storm and quite typically, everything was starting to sort itself out the day that we left.

Back to reality now while Craig and I buckle down for the summer. The next big thing coming up is my first half marathon in Birmingham on July 3rd, so wish me luck! Until then, let's hope that England can give us something to cheer about for the rest of the World Cup!