Month: October 2025

As I have a quiet few moments, it’s time for a catch up of this past week. I do sometimes think well nothings really happened this week but when you take time to reflect there’s always little things which happen, the ordinary can make the extraordinary.

It has been a pretty quiet week, although there’s preparation in the background as I get ready for my husband’s 60th next week. There is quite an age gap between us so I’m nowhere near that milestone and retirement yet. I’ve made some lovely personalised cards reflecting his favourite hobbies. Unfortunately my husband is so indecisive about his birthday and all my many celebration suggestions have been declined. I still don’t know the details of what we are doing, I know we’re going out for a family meal but this may be during this week rather than on his birthday as there is football. At the least I can decorate the house and have a special birthday breakfast with presents and treats next Sunday. I have discovered over the years that he doesn’t ‘do’ birthdays and doesn’t plan or think of all the fun things that I do. Rather than be frustrated or hurt I’m learning after 27 years that it’s just how it is…

On my commute I have read the new Ruth Jones / James Corden audio book. Not quite sure if you can read an audio book but I am until I find a better phrase. I was hesitant about this book as I am a huge OG fan of Gavin and Stacey and also of Ruth’s books, my worry was that this was a money making best of book with little original content. I am so pleased to report it’s not, it’s such an interesting book firstly on how an idea becomes a script and then a tv show with all the background information that for a non industry person was fascinating and then like all Ruth’s work its about relationships. I listened to the book whenever I could as I was so taken by it, definitely one of my favourites from this year. My Good Reads challenge is looking healthy, I only need to read 5 more to meet my target and am already well through two more books. Generally I have an audiobook for my daily commutes and a Kindle book for the evenings.

This weekend I was able to finally celebrate my 100th volunteer credit for parkrun. I’ve been on the countdown for weeks and it’s possibly 3 weeks later than expected as I have done some tourism. I’m lucky that I volunteer and then can still run. I normally do car park / welcome marshal so am up at the parkrun for 8am every Saturday, ready to meet everyone. I was given a lovely photo mug by the RD with all my favourite parkrun people on it, it was such a thoughtful gift. It was also our Halloween special and I decided to go subtle by simply making a tshirt with a humorous / spooky tagline linked to our parkrun. I can’t remember why I have an orange tutu, I’m sure it’s part of a previous fancy dress at the parkrun but perfect for Halloween.

When I popped into town on Saturday afternoon I found the Good Food Vegetarian Christmas edition. I have these from many years, quite a collection, it’s my must buy festive purchase for menu inspiration . Fortunately this year’s is excellent. Last year I didn’t make our Christmas dinner from the year’s magazine but an old copy as it was uninspiring. However I am very much spoilt for choice with this year’s festive menu suggestions. Half term is always the start of my Christmas planning, although this year I have bought some beautiful Christmas cards by a local artist at a fayre. However it’s time to get serious and plan for a special season.

As well as half term being the start of Christmas planning, it’s also my cue to pop on thick tights. I managed to a week before half term but the weather was so wet and cold and I needed a little leg warmth. In the photo are my new FitFlop flat shoes, they are so soft and comfy but my children call them my Granny shoes.

Toady the clocks have gone back and it was a beautiful morning. I woke, had a very leisurely breakfast and then was out on my run before 8am thanks to the extra hour. The morning was absolutely stunning and it was one of those mornings when everyone was out running, cycling, rowing or walking embracing the sunshine.

This week coming is half term and my daughter is home for a week. Our plan is a mix of fun activities together coupled with the mundane but necessary half term appointments which need to be fitted in.

A much needed catch up, as life’s been pretty hectic over the past few weeks and I’m just about feeling able to sit down and put some words together.

The big thing in this period has been the half marathon. I had trained properly and upto around 2 weeks before the half all seemed to be going smoothly and I felt strong and ready. And then everything started to fall apart, including me! It started innocently, a mid week evening run but my first dark run of the year and I fell badly on the very uneven pavements we have. Whilst it was dark I was running with a light and on a well lit street so the dark wasn’t the reason just my simple clumsiness. However the fall did leave a nasty injury, a big, deep cut and the lower half of my legs heavily bruised and even now 2.5 weeks later I still can’t kneel as the wound is still healing. As I was running the half I used every cream, plaster, and products I could find to allow me to run. The wound was heavily bandaged for the run, blood running down the leg was never going to be a good look. Whilst I was shaken I then spent the final pre race week with everyone around me with coughs, colds and the flu. I didn’t feel 100% but had been topping myself up with Lemsip in the preceding days. So not the best pre race prep. The day itself had its highs, the lovely ladies I met pre race, and its lows, the route especially from mile 8, all the faffing pre race and receiving the wrong size tshirt! The race started at 11am, but I left home at 7.10am as it was a very complicated start plan. I parked by the finish but then had to catch the event bus to the start, £7.50 for a single and quite a walk from drop off to the start. By the time the half began I had already done 6k steps. The buses left at 9am so there was a lot of standing around and waiting at the start, nearly 2 hours as the bus went when it was full which for me was around 8.45am. I didn’t like this and wouldn’t sign up for a different start and end half again. My first half of the race was a dream and I was really happy with my time and then my head went. The route was so odd, lots of times you you ran out and back to return to where you had been before, the signage was poor, the half and 10k markers were all mixed up and as the water stations weren’t were they had said all my refuelling plans just didn’t fit. I am not disappointed with my race but proud that I did finish when I was in such a dark place and at times it didn’t seem likely. Surprisingly I haven’t vowed never again as I really want to do another and run the way I did in my training runs to get the time I trained for.

Unfortunately there was no time to rest and relax and soak up the atmosphere post race. It was straight to the car and a 30 mile drive to meet the rest of the family cheering on our son in his football tournament. I missed the first game but managed to see him play in two and score a brilliant goal. Needless to say, after the maddest of days I was shattered and had a few lazy nights in the following week. They were so needed.

I am back running today and as I had to drop the boys off to catch the football coach I went to the flat and fast Poole for parkrun. It was then a very productive day, shopping for some essentials and having my car valeted. This was worth every penny, I spend a lot of time in my car and it now looks, smells and feels clean. Tidiness and order are key to me and after a frantic few weeks it has been good to have time today to sort everything out. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had my hair and nails done and put up the seasonal decorations all of which have definitely made me feel more in control and grounded.

In the midst of all my busyness, I did have a lovely meal out with friends. We go to a lovely, old pub full of period features and it’s so cosy to dine and chat. It was the night of storm Amy, and as the pub is on the banks of the river, we did check a few times to make sure we weren’t going to get flooded. That night the boys were at football and what had been neatly planned for me to pick them up at the station at 11pm turned out differently as I had to go to the the next town to meet them as trees on the line stopped the trains. Along with a road closure due to the storms it meant that we finally get home at 1am. As it was Friday night, I was back up at 7am to volunteer for parkrun. The rest of the day was very lazy!

I should quickly mention the excellent audio read by Alan Davies, Just Ignore Him. He was and probably still is my celebrity crush, it’s the curly, floppy hair. His is a tragic story that I was unaware of and although a very difficult read due to the nature of the book, I am full of respect for his decision to share his experience and hopefully help others.

I feel I’m upto date now, one more week and then it’s half term for which I need to make plans for the break and a 60th birthday celebration. Life doesn’t slow down and to be honest, I wouldn’t want it any other way.