I've been wondering how on earth to get more flowers on plants in my garden recently: how even to get things planted as seeds to come up at all. I have come to the conclusion that the soil is not fertile enough, having been hidden under shrubs for years and years and doubtless never fed.
My Father in Law and God Mother M had various suggestions, peat-based compost being a complete no-no. Bone meal or something was one suggestion; my parents stated that they had stacks of compost, but quite how they'll get it up to Cumbria I'm not sure. Then it struck me that we had something far more useful close to hand (though it will need covering with top soil - which isn't a problem as I want to raise some of the levels anyway); something free and in regular supply. Ferret poo. And, as our ferrets have a very high quality diet (remains of roast beef; yorkshire pudding; custard) doubtless their poo will be high quality too. So... next time Husband cleans their hutch out (and leaves the straw and droppings in a bucket for several days), they are going on the garden.
I'm optimistic that our garden will eventually be as fertile as the patch of grass where the pond used to be.
I'm also optimistic that if I get a job it won't then cost a huge amount to get someone in to set up my raised vegetable beds, do some weeding, and move the paving stones from the back to the side, thus finalising, for now, the layout of the garden. What I also want someone to suggest is how I get the 6' high stinging nettles out of the ferret run.....
Talking of runs, I went for a run in Gelt Woods today, for the first time in getting on for two years. It had even changed a bit: Hayton High Estate and Edmond Castle Estate have fenced off lots of their land, but it had the advantage of making the footpaths wider and also there weren't any stiles to climb over. Then, when we got to the quarry, we found the footpath had also been widened and moved there. My running companion and I decided that the changes were probably for the best.
It took us 3 or 4 minutes longer than usual to get to the railway viaduct at Middle Gelt Bridge, but at least that provides a base on which to improve, and generally I was running quite well and felt fitter than I had anticipated feeling. We arranged to go again next weekend, and to make it a regular weekly outing if we can. It would be great if I was going to the gym Tuesdays and Fridays and running on a Sunday: getting a job could limit that but on the other hand I do also need to earn some money.
Husband is busy doing the ironing and I've done the washing, washing up, baby's bottles etc.: so while he's occupied with that I'm going to bed to start re-reading Axel Munthe's The Story of San Michele, which I haven't read since I was in my late teens/early twenties. I wonder if I'll enjoy it as much now?
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Saturday, 13 August 2011
ACCIDENTS IN LIFE
I love the John Lennon quotation 'life is what happens while you are busy making other plans'. For me that has always indicated a certain amount of 'accident' in life; and emailing a friend this evening reminded me of that again.
I think I've also learnt over the past year or so that it's no good trying to read Fate into things either: she doesn't show her cards that readily and it's only with hindsight that her hand becomes clear. I was thinking that Fate might be pushing me in the direction of writing, presenting and music (broadly): that does not now seem to be happening, although I shall still make some more laid-back efforts in that direction. Perhaps I've had my 15 minutes of fame: the Radio and newspaper coverage about my third pregnancy was a surprise to me and perhaps that is now all over. Fame certainly does not seem to be a goal you can chase.
Having said that, I haven't had a huge amount of luck applying for surveying/property jobs recently either. On the other hand there aren't many around and at least I have 20-odd years' pretty varied experience. I will have to make efforts to get one and part of me has a fear that my age and the fact that I want part-time work will count against me: but I'm also conscious that I need to try to remain positive and optimistic. Something else I've always had a belief in is the power of positive thinking: I think it was Jane Fonda who said 'you can take anything in life and concentrate on the negative, but the positive beauty of it can change your life'. I've probably quoted that in this blog before as I love it so much.
I felt negative today. I'm tired as I've been staying up late reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I nearly put it to one side during the first chapter as initially I didn't think I was going to like the writing style: by Chapter Two I was completely hooked. It was really interesting to read more about Afghanistan, having read that other book about a more recent Afghan past, which was about women: this takes place partly prior to the Taliban and concentrates, initially, more on two boys growing up than on the political background: which of course is exactly how the boys would have perceived their lives. As an aside, I've been trying to get Older Son to do a project on the Second World War - he hasn't been very interested despite the fact that I've been trying to get him to look at it through the eyes of people who would have been his age (roughly) throughout the war, i.e. his grandparents - so I've decided that I'm going to start a second blog about it myself. A side-effect of reading the book has been that it made me realise that Afghanistan, like so many other places in the middle and far east (Lebanon?) must once have been a beautiful place rather than a war-torn desert.
As well as sitting up late reading and hence being tired (due also to being woken up early: I'd never make a farmer or a dog-owner) I've also got rejected for a job (because I didn't have the right experience and another candidate did, which is fair enough); had my opera programme rejected by Radio Cumbria (also fair enough: I knew it wasn't good enough and they said it would take too much training to get me/it to the right standard, especially with cuts in expenditure); and am annoyed with myself for not losing any more weight (I ought to try on some work trousers to see whether I can actually get into them). Whilst I feel fitter my heart rate monitor at the gym seems to indicate that I'm not. At very nearly 50 I'm not meant to be exercising at the heart rate I was exercising at 10 years ago: and at one point yesterday it seemed to be rather leaping around, suddenly dropping and then increasing again.
However I'm going for a run outside tomorrow, which I'm looking forward to, especially as the forecast is no longer for rain. I shall have to make myself run or cycle or swim in the evenings this week as I won't get my two gym sessions in: the Older Son and Daughter have a swimming lesson every morning in an attempt to get them both to swim properly without armbands, and I think I'll book them in for another week later on in the holidays as well. I'm determined to get them swimming properly: it's maybe something else which I shouldn't try too hard with, as it'll happen when they want it to rather than when I think it should. Ditto the Baby's crawling (he is now sitting quite nicely, though he's still a bit inclined to lean over one way or the other and end up flat on the floor).
How does one get the balance between drive - taking the step on the road and then keeping going rather than giving up at the first hurdle? - and being open to new opportunities and ideas? I don't know. I shall just finish with some other quotations of John Lennon's I rather liked, from a website I found through a search engine - http://brainyquote.com/. So here is JL again:
"Part of me suspects that I'm a loser, and the other part of me thinks I'm God Almighty".
I like this one as it reminds me of me. Sometimes I think I'm a failure: other times I'm incredibly pleased with myself.
"You don't need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!"
What a boost to your self-assurance, if you allow it to be.
 |
| My best 'accident' |
I've always felt - and this has probably been clear from my blog posts - that a lot of life happens by accident, or Fate. We take one step in one direction and suddenly find we are heading off down a road which we never expected to be heading down: quite often with no map. In fact, in my experience if one tries to follow a particular route too strictly, without being tempted by detours to right or left, then it doesn't normally turn out quite the way one expects - or at least, isn't quite as exciting as one expected anyway. Perhaps it's fear of being let down or of not succeeding, but I feel that adhering too firmly to any one goal - particularly one that is a long way ahead - is always a let-down. I was completely sold on the idea of being an opera singer at one point: not only was the goal unrealistic, but accepting that was emotionally hard and left a void in my life. On the other hand I was never 'desperate' to have children - in fact I had come to the conclusion that I was too old to have any - and I somehow have ended up with three. And career-wise I've tended to apply for jobs because I just fancy them rather than with any particularly clear career goal in mind.
I think I've also learnt over the past year or so that it's no good trying to read Fate into things either: she doesn't show her cards that readily and it's only with hindsight that her hand becomes clear. I was thinking that Fate might be pushing me in the direction of writing, presenting and music (broadly): that does not now seem to be happening, although I shall still make some more laid-back efforts in that direction. Perhaps I've had my 15 minutes of fame: the Radio and newspaper coverage about my third pregnancy was a surprise to me and perhaps that is now all over. Fame certainly does not seem to be a goal you can chase.
Having said that, I haven't had a huge amount of luck applying for surveying/property jobs recently either. On the other hand there aren't many around and at least I have 20-odd years' pretty varied experience. I will have to make efforts to get one and part of me has a fear that my age and the fact that I want part-time work will count against me: but I'm also conscious that I need to try to remain positive and optimistic. Something else I've always had a belief in is the power of positive thinking: I think it was Jane Fonda who said 'you can take anything in life and concentrate on the negative, but the positive beauty of it can change your life'. I've probably quoted that in this blog before as I love it so much.
I felt negative today. I'm tired as I've been staying up late reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I nearly put it to one side during the first chapter as initially I didn't think I was going to like the writing style: by Chapter Two I was completely hooked. It was really interesting to read more about Afghanistan, having read that other book about a more recent Afghan past, which was about women: this takes place partly prior to the Taliban and concentrates, initially, more on two boys growing up than on the political background: which of course is exactly how the boys would have perceived their lives. As an aside, I've been trying to get Older Son to do a project on the Second World War - he hasn't been very interested despite the fact that I've been trying to get him to look at it through the eyes of people who would have been his age (roughly) throughout the war, i.e. his grandparents - so I've decided that I'm going to start a second blog about it myself. A side-effect of reading the book has been that it made me realise that Afghanistan, like so many other places in the middle and far east (Lebanon?) must once have been a beautiful place rather than a war-torn desert.
As well as sitting up late reading and hence being tired (due also to being woken up early: I'd never make a farmer or a dog-owner) I've also got rejected for a job (because I didn't have the right experience and another candidate did, which is fair enough); had my opera programme rejected by Radio Cumbria (also fair enough: I knew it wasn't good enough and they said it would take too much training to get me/it to the right standard, especially with cuts in expenditure); and am annoyed with myself for not losing any more weight (I ought to try on some work trousers to see whether I can actually get into them). Whilst I feel fitter my heart rate monitor at the gym seems to indicate that I'm not. At very nearly 50 I'm not meant to be exercising at the heart rate I was exercising at 10 years ago: and at one point yesterday it seemed to be rather leaping around, suddenly dropping and then increasing again.
However I'm going for a run outside tomorrow, which I'm looking forward to, especially as the forecast is no longer for rain. I shall have to make myself run or cycle or swim in the evenings this week as I won't get my two gym sessions in: the Older Son and Daughter have a swimming lesson every morning in an attempt to get them both to swim properly without armbands, and I think I'll book them in for another week later on in the holidays as well. I'm determined to get them swimming properly: it's maybe something else which I shouldn't try too hard with, as it'll happen when they want it to rather than when I think it should. Ditto the Baby's crawling (he is now sitting quite nicely, though he's still a bit inclined to lean over one way or the other and end up flat on the floor).
How does one get the balance between drive - taking the step on the road and then keeping going rather than giving up at the first hurdle? - and being open to new opportunities and ideas? I don't know. I shall just finish with some other quotations of John Lennon's I rather liked, from a website I found through a search engine - http://brainyquote.com/. So here is JL again:
"Part of me suspects that I'm a loser, and the other part of me thinks I'm God Almighty".
I like this one as it reminds me of me. Sometimes I think I'm a failure: other times I'm incredibly pleased with myself.
"You don't need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!"
What a boost to your self-assurance, if you allow it to be.
Thursday, 4 August 2011
THE YEN FOR FAME AND FORTUNE
I've had a productive couple of days. Yesterday the Baby slept for 3 and a half hours and I finally got around to doing some writing I'd been meaning to do for ages, as well as starting to do some research for another article idea I've had. Today the In-Laws have been in this morning with the older two children, so Mother-in-Law was dealing with the Baby while I did cooking and housewifely stuff. I have made more new purees for the Baby, hung up a load of washing, started tracking down a replacement part for the car, and made fairy cakes with Daughter.
They have now gone out to the aircraft museum and the Baby has fallen asleep again, giving me time to decorate the cakes (Daughter will be disappointed not to be involved: I forgot that the icing needed to be wet to stick the flowers on. Eating cake should be some compensation however), finish his mixed vegetable and cheese sauce puree (which tastes delicious: it's even made me think briefly about becoming vegetarian. He has such tasty purees. I guess pureed food would become tedious after a while however: for him it's still exciting as it wasn't that long ago that his diet consisted solely of milk) and done the washing up.
While washing up I was thinking about the interview I have next week, for a surveying job. Perhaps my yen for freelance fame and fortune via writing and broadcasting will come to nothing: perhaps it was never meant to be, however much fate seems at times to be pushing me in that direction (Fate was maybe just teasing me). But I then remembered that saying 'if anyone has breathed easier because I have lived, I have succeeded'. I've misquoted dreadfully but it's a quotation which always struck a chord with me. Similarly, if my only claim to fame and success is bearing and bringing up three gorgeous children - and if they become decent, happy adults - then I will also have succeeded.
They have now gone out to the aircraft museum and the Baby has fallen asleep again, giving me time to decorate the cakes (Daughter will be disappointed not to be involved: I forgot that the icing needed to be wet to stick the flowers on. Eating cake should be some compensation however), finish his mixed vegetable and cheese sauce puree (which tastes delicious: it's even made me think briefly about becoming vegetarian. He has such tasty purees. I guess pureed food would become tedious after a while however: for him it's still exciting as it wasn't that long ago that his diet consisted solely of milk) and done the washing up.
While washing up I was thinking about the interview I have next week, for a surveying job. Perhaps my yen for freelance fame and fortune via writing and broadcasting will come to nothing: perhaps it was never meant to be, however much fate seems at times to be pushing me in that direction (Fate was maybe just teasing me). But I then remembered that saying 'if anyone has breathed easier because I have lived, I have succeeded'. I've misquoted dreadfully but it's a quotation which always struck a chord with me. Similarly, if my only claim to fame and success is bearing and bringing up three gorgeous children - and if they become decent, happy adults - then I will also have succeeded.
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
DEFINITELY NOT SUPERWOMAN
I am not SuperWoman. I did two 'fitness tests' on machines in the gym - no, I lie, I did 3 as I tried a third and lied about my age - and they all said my VO2 max. was low. In fact I'm still lying as one said 'very low'.
I have also now heard myself singing and I didn't like what I heard. Well, it was OK but that was all. I am never going to be a world talent: not that I ever thought I would be, but one likes to dream of a certain amount of success.
HOWEVER..........
I'm not sure much credence can be given to VO2 max. figures from machines in the gym. I felt fit and strong, even if they didn't say I was, and I know I have good lung capacity from having it tested before. I also know that my recovery rate is good. I do still try to exercise at the heart rate I exercised at 10 years ago: but then, what effect does having a late pregnancy have on one's body?
And regarding the singing, there are people around who like my singing, even if I don't. In addition, it was never going to become a career for me as it's just too late. 15 or even 10 years ago, perhaps - just about - but not now. But hearing myself has also made me question whether I really am a soprano, or am perhaps a mezzo-soprano, which I have been wondering for a while. Something to explore further I think.
Older Son was hilarious this evening. I was down-loading photos from my camera onto the disc drive, or whatever it's called, and came across two which I hadn't taken. The first was of two of his toys (and quite a good one): the second was a very close-up shot of him, looking slightly cross-eyed, in my study.... he has been told not to go in my study (to be the Baby's bedroom) and not to use my camera...... Husband and I pretended to be cross but I was laughing so much I had tears running down my face. Older Son was crying real tears, the daft child.
Husband is now walking slightly more normally and fluidly than he was yesterday after his mammoth run, and said that stairs were easier this morning. A somewhat quicker recovery after 50 miles than mine after 8 miles. The label 'SuperWoman' will have to wait.
I have also now heard myself singing and I didn't like what I heard. Well, it was OK but that was all. I am never going to be a world talent: not that I ever thought I would be, but one likes to dream of a certain amount of success.
HOWEVER..........
I'm not sure much credence can be given to VO2 max. figures from machines in the gym. I felt fit and strong, even if they didn't say I was, and I know I have good lung capacity from having it tested before. I also know that my recovery rate is good. I do still try to exercise at the heart rate I exercised at 10 years ago: but then, what effect does having a late pregnancy have on one's body?
And regarding the singing, there are people around who like my singing, even if I don't. In addition, it was never going to become a career for me as it's just too late. 15 or even 10 years ago, perhaps - just about - but not now. But hearing myself has also made me question whether I really am a soprano, or am perhaps a mezzo-soprano, which I have been wondering for a while. Something to explore further I think.
Older Son was hilarious this evening. I was down-loading photos from my camera onto the disc drive, or whatever it's called, and came across two which I hadn't taken. The first was of two of his toys (and quite a good one): the second was a very close-up shot of him, looking slightly cross-eyed, in my study.... he has been told not to go in my study (to be the Baby's bedroom) and not to use my camera...... Husband and I pretended to be cross but I was laughing so much I had tears running down my face. Older Son was crying real tears, the daft child.
Husband is now walking slightly more normally and fluidly than he was yesterday after his mammoth run, and said that stairs were easier this morning. A somewhat quicker recovery after 50 miles than mine after 8 miles. The label 'SuperWoman' will have to wait.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
SUPERWOMAN!
I can't see the top of the nearby hill at the moment, it's so shrouded in mist and rain. A complete contrast from yesterday which was so hot and sunny I got prickly heat (or whatever it's called) all over my arms and today looked as if I had the beginnings of a rather nasty case of ezcema.
Fortunately the rain only started early this evening and so GodMother L. and I were able this morning to do the Dodds Wood walk we had for ages been promising each other we would. This is a walk which is in my 'walks with buggies' book and whilst it said 20 minutes of very steep uphill followed by 25 minutes of very strenuous uphill and introduced the walk with the doom-laden words 'you have been warned', I didn't really believe them. After all, just how difficult can pushing an off-road buggy up a relatively smooth path be, even if it is uphill?
With Lumpkin the Baby in it, quite hard. So much for the dictate of 'stay upright and keep your stomach pulled in'. Ha! At times my chin was down on the handlebar and I was walking on tiptoes. I very kindly let GML have a go at one point and I have to admit that walking the dog was a lot easier. It took me quite a while to let her have a go though, as being my usual competitive self (even with myself, or with a hill) I was determined to show no weakness and to get all the way to the top.... but it was hard work! I was rewarded however by GML saying that I must be fit. I immediately took this to mean that I was SuperWoman (well, I'll be a SuperVet in triathlon terms this year) - hence the title of the blog. I'm definitely no Domestic Goddess but SuperWoman... well, that sounds pretty good....!
On a serious note I am in fact always a little surprised when people comment about how inspiring or amazing I am. There were a few comments along those lines in birthday cards I had for my 40th, and I now have little idea why: it may have been that I was pretty fit at that point and that I've been lucky enough that most people think I'm younger than my age (thank you, hair dye). Nowadays it seems to be connected with the fact that I've had all my children in my 40s, including the Baby at 49, and I have to admit to being quite proud of myself and especially proud of the fact that I then ran 8 miles round Loch Muick the other day (despite the stair slide). Is being proud of myself big-headed? I hope not: I think rather it's more an indication that I often question my own abilities and am in fact quite critical of myself, so I'm always rather pleased when people compliment me. Correction: I'm always extremely pleased when people compliment me. I love compliments. I commented the other day that Daughter had a good school report because she gets lots of attention and so long as she continues to get attention and praise she'll continue to do well. I know where she gets that from: and in fact isn't it a proven psychological point that people perform better when praised; and that babies and children behave badly, half the time, for attention?
But to finish the walk at Dodd Woods. Having gone up, up and up we then walked along a wide and easy forest track, past the Osprey view point and a man-made 'Osprey nest' (to which we were invited to donate a stick. Goodness, those birds are HUGE) and back through the woods to the Old Sawmill Tea Room (http://www.theoldsawmill.co.uk/). I was particularly impressed that while the lady was clearing the table she offered to wash the Baby's lunch bowl and spoon for him: it came back not just rinsed but properly clean. No spinach and fish mash in my bag! What fantastic service. GML and I also patted ourselves on the back for doing a walk advertised in my book as 'allow at least 3 hours' in under 2 hours.
Rather shorter a time than Husband's run yesterday. He did the Lakeland 50 (http://www.lakeland100.com/) in 14 hours and 3 minutes. He had been hoping for under 14 hours, but bearing in mind that it was really hot yesterday and that people were throwing up all along the route, and that about one fifth of the 50-milers dropped out, he did extremely well. In addition he was 127th so I think just in the top third. It was a lot busier than it has been for the past 2 years and is obviously becoming very popular in the Ultra-Marathon calendar. It takes a lot of self-discipline in terms of training to run that far well, and a lot of determination to keep going. Madness though...
Talking of which, he is downstairs asleep and the Outlaws are staying and will want the bed back, so I need to go to wake him and Older Son (who camped at the end at Coniston with Grandad and waited for Husband) and Daughter, and make sure they all get into the right beds.
Fortunately the rain only started early this evening and so GodMother L. and I were able this morning to do the Dodds Wood walk we had for ages been promising each other we would. This is a walk which is in my 'walks with buggies' book and whilst it said 20 minutes of very steep uphill followed by 25 minutes of very strenuous uphill and introduced the walk with the doom-laden words 'you have been warned', I didn't really believe them. After all, just how difficult can pushing an off-road buggy up a relatively smooth path be, even if it is uphill?
With Lumpkin the Baby in it, quite hard. So much for the dictate of 'stay upright and keep your stomach pulled in'. Ha! At times my chin was down on the handlebar and I was walking on tiptoes. I very kindly let GML have a go at one point and I have to admit that walking the dog was a lot easier. It took me quite a while to let her have a go though, as being my usual competitive self (even with myself, or with a hill) I was determined to show no weakness and to get all the way to the top.... but it was hard work! I was rewarded however by GML saying that I must be fit. I immediately took this to mean that I was SuperWoman (well, I'll be a SuperVet in triathlon terms this year) - hence the title of the blog. I'm definitely no Domestic Goddess but SuperWoman... well, that sounds pretty good....!
On a serious note I am in fact always a little surprised when people comment about how inspiring or amazing I am. There were a few comments along those lines in birthday cards I had for my 40th, and I now have little idea why: it may have been that I was pretty fit at that point and that I've been lucky enough that most people think I'm younger than my age (thank you, hair dye). Nowadays it seems to be connected with the fact that I've had all my children in my 40s, including the Baby at 49, and I have to admit to being quite proud of myself and especially proud of the fact that I then ran 8 miles round Loch Muick the other day (despite the stair slide). Is being proud of myself big-headed? I hope not: I think rather it's more an indication that I often question my own abilities and am in fact quite critical of myself, so I'm always rather pleased when people compliment me. Correction: I'm always extremely pleased when people compliment me. I love compliments. I commented the other day that Daughter had a good school report because she gets lots of attention and so long as she continues to get attention and praise she'll continue to do well. I know where she gets that from: and in fact isn't it a proven psychological point that people perform better when praised; and that babies and children behave badly, half the time, for attention?
But to finish the walk at Dodd Woods. Having gone up, up and up we then walked along a wide and easy forest track, past the Osprey view point and a man-made 'Osprey nest' (to which we were invited to donate a stick. Goodness, those birds are HUGE) and back through the woods to the Old Sawmill Tea Room (http://www.theoldsawmill.co.uk/). I was particularly impressed that while the lady was clearing the table she offered to wash the Baby's lunch bowl and spoon for him: it came back not just rinsed but properly clean. No spinach and fish mash in my bag! What fantastic service. GML and I also patted ourselves on the back for doing a walk advertised in my book as 'allow at least 3 hours' in under 2 hours.
Rather shorter a time than Husband's run yesterday. He did the Lakeland 50 (http://www.lakeland100.com/) in 14 hours and 3 minutes. He had been hoping for under 14 hours, but bearing in mind that it was really hot yesterday and that people were throwing up all along the route, and that about one fifth of the 50-milers dropped out, he did extremely well. In addition he was 127th so I think just in the top third. It was a lot busier than it has been for the past 2 years and is obviously becoming very popular in the Ultra-Marathon calendar. It takes a lot of self-discipline in terms of training to run that far well, and a lot of determination to keep going. Madness though...
Talking of which, he is downstairs asleep and the Outlaws are staying and will want the bed back, so I need to go to wake him and Older Son (who camped at the end at Coniston with Grandad and waited for Husband) and Daughter, and make sure they all get into the right beds.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
IT'S REALLY NOT VERY EXCITING
I had another thought about children the other day. I wondered if the more children there are in a family, the more confident they are. After all the more siblings they have to compete with the more they have to stand up for themselves. Daughter is extremely extrovert and confident and the Baby is showing signs of being much the same, though I know it's early days. Older Son is somewhat more sensitive and quieter and could do with learning to stand up for himself a bit more. Obviously a lot of it's down to character, but if Older Son had been an only child perhaps learning to stand up for himself would be a lot harder, learnt only via the school playground? Who knows: you can never really say as it's difficult to separate character from environment or nature from nurture anyway.
Meanwhile I have a blog to recommend to you all, which promises to be quite funny:
http://handmadefromtheheart666.blogspot.com/ - one woman's search for her Mr Darcey. And for any woman who moved somewhere relatively rural and remote for her husband's career, http://www.wifeinthenorth.blogspot.com/ is to be recommended: especially the book. And as I can't think how else to finish, at least not in a punchy conclusive style, I shall leave you with a photograph from my 8-mile run round Loch Muick (yes, the one which resulted in such stiff legs that I slid down the stairs while telling Daughter to put her pants on). This is near the beginning of the run when the top of the Loch, the halfway point, is still ahead of you.
Meanwhile I have a blog to recommend to you all, which promises to be quite funny:
http://handmadefromtheheart666.blogspot.com/ - one woman's search for her Mr Darcey. And for any woman who moved somewhere relatively rural and remote for her husband's career, http://www.wifeinthenorth.blogspot.com/ is to be recommended: especially the book. And as I can't think how else to finish, at least not in a punchy conclusive style, I shall leave you with a photograph from my 8-mile run round Loch Muick (yes, the one which resulted in such stiff legs that I slid down the stairs while telling Daughter to put her pants on). This is near the beginning of the run when the top of the Loch, the halfway point, is still ahead of you.
Monday, 25 July 2011
JUST AN UPDATE
Life plods on in the same way: except this week we're in Scotland and yesterday I ran round Loch Muick. Today I fell down the stairs as my legs were stiff....
Just over a year ago I blogged about a walk I went on near Loch Muick when I was about 8 weeks pregnant. Now the Baby is here and large as life - in fact with his love of food, larger than life - and close to beginning to crawl. Today he got lifted himself right up on his hands, arms straightened out: this is in contrast to the last few weeks when he has got his knees underneath him but his nose has dived on to the floor. Life, as far as the Baby is concerned, gets funnier and funnier and more and more interesting. Much as he loves people, he is also very nosey and if bunting is fluttering in the breeze he'll be transfixed by that rather than giggling at the silly faces people make at him. He seems to think my singing is especially funny...
But back to the run and the stiff legs. This was the first run I had done in ages and ages. I think I have done about 4 runs since having the Baby, all of about 3 or 4 miles and with plenty of stops. If it wasn't for the fact that I have been going to the gym once a week and to a spinning class followed by pilates mostly once a week, I wouldn't have dared attempt a run round a Loch where the only option is always to go forward (there are no short cuts. If you want to get back, you either retrace your steps or keep going. Nor is there any opportunity for someone to come to fetch you by car). Apart from a few short bits of walking, I ran, and Husband and I got round in about an hour and 20 minutes - so not even too bad a time. However my knees were telling me I had run further than I had for a while, and this morning when I woke up my quads weren't too happy about going down stairs.
They'd already had a few practice runs when I stopped halfway down on one trip to tell Daughter - who was standing at the top of the stairs - to put her pants on. Next thing I knew I was slipping and my legs wouldn't move into the right position to stop me. Whilst I like to make it sound dramatic, it was more of a slip than a fall and apart from a bit of temporary carpet burn on my elbows I wasn't injured. The older two children were a bit surprised though: Older Son was standing on the same step as I was initially and was a bit concerned to see me suddenly start to disappear from view.
We're off out this evening, leaving the two children and baby with their three cousins of about the same age and in the care of two grandparents. I'm not convinced it's wise, as much for the Grandparents' sanity as anything, but we will only be 15 minutes away by car, and I'll try to get the Baby settled in bed before we go.
Husband is champing at the bit to get back on the computer and any moment now the two older children will get back from their Uncle and Aunt's, where they have been busy making, and no doubt eating, cake. What with high sugar levels and seeing their cousins, life in this house this evening will be gloriously calm. Not.
Just over a year ago I blogged about a walk I went on near Loch Muick when I was about 8 weeks pregnant. Now the Baby is here and large as life - in fact with his love of food, larger than life - and close to beginning to crawl. Today he got lifted himself right up on his hands, arms straightened out: this is in contrast to the last few weeks when he has got his knees underneath him but his nose has dived on to the floor. Life, as far as the Baby is concerned, gets funnier and funnier and more and more interesting. Much as he loves people, he is also very nosey and if bunting is fluttering in the breeze he'll be transfixed by that rather than giggling at the silly faces people make at him. He seems to think my singing is especially funny...
But back to the run and the stiff legs. This was the first run I had done in ages and ages. I think I have done about 4 runs since having the Baby, all of about 3 or 4 miles and with plenty of stops. If it wasn't for the fact that I have been going to the gym once a week and to a spinning class followed by pilates mostly once a week, I wouldn't have dared attempt a run round a Loch where the only option is always to go forward (there are no short cuts. If you want to get back, you either retrace your steps or keep going. Nor is there any opportunity for someone to come to fetch you by car). Apart from a few short bits of walking, I ran, and Husband and I got round in about an hour and 20 minutes - so not even too bad a time. However my knees were telling me I had run further than I had for a while, and this morning when I woke up my quads weren't too happy about going down stairs.
They'd already had a few practice runs when I stopped halfway down on one trip to tell Daughter - who was standing at the top of the stairs - to put her pants on. Next thing I knew I was slipping and my legs wouldn't move into the right position to stop me. Whilst I like to make it sound dramatic, it was more of a slip than a fall and apart from a bit of temporary carpet burn on my elbows I wasn't injured. The older two children were a bit surprised though: Older Son was standing on the same step as I was initially and was a bit concerned to see me suddenly start to disappear from view.
We're off out this evening, leaving the two children and baby with their three cousins of about the same age and in the care of two grandparents. I'm not convinced it's wise, as much for the Grandparents' sanity as anything, but we will only be 15 minutes away by car, and I'll try to get the Baby settled in bed before we go.
Husband is champing at the bit to get back on the computer and any moment now the two older children will get back from their Uncle and Aunt's, where they have been busy making, and no doubt eating, cake. What with high sugar levels and seeing their cousins, life in this house this evening will be gloriously calm. Not.
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