My excuses for not running this last week or so are many and varied, but mostly I'm blaming the weather: too cold, too wet, plain too bloody miserable, I can't look after the kids if I catch pneumonia... you get the picture. And I really don't think I'm the only one. The hordes of new recruits I've witnessed lately running past the playroom window(the credit crunch forcing everyone to cancel their gym memberships?)have certainly dwindled. But of the ones that are still persevering there's a common theme: waterproof jacket and sports cap. Call me dense (I'm still blaming lack of sleep and plan to for some time yet) but I really hadn't thought of this.
A timely 'Sweaty Betty' brochure arrives in the post so I take a look. They're beautiful, certainly, but the cost! And quite frankly I look pretty shocking out running so even the most fashionable of jackets is going to have its work cut out. Instead I turn to ebay where the prices are far more reasonable and hopefully I've spotted a good one in plain black. I'm never quite convinced until the actual item arrives so I've got my fingers crossed it'll arrive safely.
In the mean time I improvise with the husband's treasured Aber Crombie cap and old sweatshirt. The cap is a great idea and I hardly notice the drizzle when it's not directly on my face. The husband is less impressed when he spies me sneaking back in before I have time to return the afore mentioned cap to its resting place... The postman had better hurry up!
Monday, 6 October 2008
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Taxi!
When I was a teenager it was a running joke between my friends and I as to which parents we'd call to drop us off and pick us up, drop us off, pick us up, drop us off, pick us up (we lived in the middle of nowhere so had to pester our parents to get anywhere) - "Williams' Taxis or Jones' Taxis?" (And yes I do come from Wales).
Now the shoe's firmly on the other foot and the joke's not quite so funny anymore. The Chimp has started pre-school, swimming lessons and French lesson since September and the 'taxi firm of Mum and Dad' has well and truely opened for business. Today I counted that I lifted Lady in and out of the car in her car seat a grand total of 9 times - or 18 lifts - and she's bloody heavy!
I guess I should count it as part of my work out for the week...
Now the shoe's firmly on the other foot and the joke's not quite so funny anymore. The Chimp has started pre-school, swimming lessons and French lesson since September and the 'taxi firm of Mum and Dad' has well and truely opened for business. Today I counted that I lifted Lady in and out of the car in her car seat a grand total of 9 times - or 18 lifts - and she's bloody heavy!
I guess I should count it as part of my work out for the week...
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Green is the New Black, part II
Not only am I currently, like the rest of the country, struggling with the 'credit crunch' but I've also got the double whammy of a 'maternity-pay crunch' to battle with. My salary has dwindled dramatically in the last couple of months and so my shopping addiction has had to take a turn in a different direction...
After having read about the new trend for 'vintage' style jewellery and the best place to source it being local charity shops in several magazines, I decide to head for the streets.
Now I haven't frequented charity shops since my student days and I don't really relish the prospect to be honest, but I certainly have the time on my hands, especially since the Chimp has recently started pre-school. The Lady and I try our luck and find if you're willing to put in the ground work it's worth the effort. My tips:
1. Get to know your local charity shops - this does take time but some are far better organised than others (and get better things donated)
2. Visit once a week (if you can spare the time) to view new stock
3. Clothes can be hit and miss but accessories are great - make sure you take the time to look around the whole store
4. Look out for good, quality labels - missing or old-fashioned buttons can easily be replaced / updated
5. Hats, bags and jewellery are by far the best bet.
I'm impressed. In just two weeks I've managed to purchase a couple of lovely pendant necklaces for about £2.50 each, both of which I've worn and worn already. I've also got a bargain of a long-sleeved running top, which I suspect has never been worn, for £3.00 and lastly a Phase Eight top for work for £3.50. Certainly enough bargains to keep me going back for more, and all for charity too. Green certainly is the new black.
After having read about the new trend for 'vintage' style jewellery and the best place to source it being local charity shops in several magazines, I decide to head for the streets.
Now I haven't frequented charity shops since my student days and I don't really relish the prospect to be honest, but I certainly have the time on my hands, especially since the Chimp has recently started pre-school. The Lady and I try our luck and find if you're willing to put in the ground work it's worth the effort. My tips:
1. Get to know your local charity shops - this does take time but some are far better organised than others (and get better things donated)
2. Visit once a week (if you can spare the time) to view new stock
3. Clothes can be hit and miss but accessories are great - make sure you take the time to look around the whole store
4. Look out for good, quality labels - missing or old-fashioned buttons can easily be replaced / updated
5. Hats, bags and jewellery are by far the best bet.
I'm impressed. In just two weeks I've managed to purchase a couple of lovely pendant necklaces for about £2.50 each, both of which I've worn and worn already. I've also got a bargain of a long-sleeved running top, which I suspect has never been worn, for £3.00 and lastly a Phase Eight top for work for £3.50. Certainly enough bargains to keep me going back for more, and all for charity too. Green certainly is the new black.
Monday, 22 September 2008
Weighty Issues
One of the main reasons I started this blog was to re-locate my waistline after having my second child. So I'm somewhat miffed to find that the weight isn't exactly dropping off... Despite my (pretty)regular runs (that my blog has made me keep up - so not all bad!) Wait for it... I've lost the grand total of 2 lbs. Hardly fantastic. On the plus side however I do feel a lot 'trimmer' and two pairs of jeans that I haven't managed to zip up since having the chimp now magically fit.
Muscle weighs more than fat apparently, so I'm guessing that I have shaped up by building up some impressive muscles. It's tempting to slack off a bit but I need to keep it up to get more impressive results. Ho hum...
Run 1: 8.03km Cals 479 Time 38.23 Pace 4.46
Run 2: 5.1 km Cals 299 Time 23.57 Pace 4.44
I do manage to beat my distance record so far :-)
Muscle weighs more than fat apparently, so I'm guessing that I have shaped up by building up some impressive muscles. It's tempting to slack off a bit but I need to keep it up to get more impressive results. Ho hum...
Run 1: 8.03km Cals 479 Time 38.23 Pace 4.46
Run 2: 5.1 km Cals 299 Time 23.57 Pace 4.44
I do manage to beat my distance record so far :-)
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Green is the New Black
Attempting to distance myself from my former Boden addicition I've already purchased a new check shirt from Topshop (although I'm fully aware I may not be able to stop at one:every shop seems to be tempting me with yet another variation)and a paisley, chiffon blouse from Zara. Both go beautifully with my jeans.
The shops are full of beautiful things at the moment and I'd love to do some serious 'back-to-school' shopping, however my finances just won't stretch any further. It's not so much a credit-crunch as a maternity-crunch I'm suffering from. But the upside to this is that I get to unpack all my Autumn / Winter clothes from storage that my expanding waistline this time last year forced me to put away early. Armed with my research from the glossies I sift through in the attempt to recycle anything that could possibly pass as 'this season'. I find:
Two pairs of cord boot-leg jeans (Gap and Boden)- did these ever go out of fashion?
(Brown and burgandy respectively, for purely practical reasons originally, but they now tick the seventies colours box)
A grey Topshop cape I bought a couple of years ago - apparently back in
Three polo-neck jumpers perfect for this season's layering-look
A fake-fur coat and fake-fur lined gilet (good old M&S)
And a plaid skirt from Boden
An impressive haul and one that will hopefully save me some money too.
Smalls
The shops are full of beautiful things at the moment and I'd love to do some serious 'back-to-school' shopping, however my finances just won't stretch any further. It's not so much a credit-crunch as a maternity-crunch I'm suffering from. But the upside to this is that I get to unpack all my Autumn / Winter clothes from storage that my expanding waistline this time last year forced me to put away early. Armed with my research from the glossies I sift through in the attempt to recycle anything that could possibly pass as 'this season'. I find:
Two pairs of cord boot-leg jeans (Gap and Boden)- did these ever go out of fashion?
(Brown and burgandy respectively, for purely practical reasons originally, but they now tick the seventies colours box)
A grey Topshop cape I bought a couple of years ago - apparently back in
Three polo-neck jumpers perfect for this season's layering-look
A fake-fur coat and fake-fur lined gilet (good old M&S)
And a plaid skirt from Boden
An impressive haul and one that will hopefully save me some money too.
Smalls
Monday, 15 September 2008
Sundayitus
It's still a month or so until I have to force myself back to work, but last night I had a bad case of Sundayitus. I can't believe how quickly the last six months have gone and I've got that sinking feeling...
I actually enjoy work (most of the time)but the juggling is insane. It was hard enough with just one child; how I'll cope with two I have no idea. Just getting up and out of the house on time is going to take military-style precision.
On the plus side I can't wait to earn proper money again, converse with adults and wear a suit. And I can't help but feel glad the power-shift in my marriage will swing back in my favour.
But on the negative side leaving Lady will be awful. Like most mums, I fought hard to keep my tears at bay, returning to work after the Chimp. The second time around I can't help but feel it can only be worse because I now know how quickly time will pass by amd how much I'll be missing.
But needs must. I don't want to waste what remains of my maternity leave worrying about what has to be. So I force myself to buck up. And things always feel better in the morning.
Smalls
I actually enjoy work (most of the time)but the juggling is insane. It was hard enough with just one child; how I'll cope with two I have no idea. Just getting up and out of the house on time is going to take military-style precision.
On the plus side I can't wait to earn proper money again, converse with adults and wear a suit. And I can't help but feel glad the power-shift in my marriage will swing back in my favour.
But on the negative side leaving Lady will be awful. Like most mums, I fought hard to keep my tears at bay, returning to work after the Chimp. The second time around I can't help but feel it can only be worse because I now know how quickly time will pass by amd how much I'll be missing.
But needs must. I don't want to waste what remains of my maternity leave worrying about what has to be. So I force myself to buck up. And things always feel better in the morning.
Smalls
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Pot - Kettle Part II
The Chimp has regressed in his potty training. After a couple of days where I thought he'd cracked it: everything's gone totally pear-shaped again. My poor, old washing machine is straining under the pressure. Despite Gina Ford's dire warnings, I totally lose my patience with him. I swear he waits until I attempt to put Lady down for a nap to wail: "Mummy, I'm doing a wee wee nowwwwww..." Grrrr...
I found myself unaccountably soaking wet this afternoon: a huge damp patch spreading across the back pockets of my jeans. I search around the playroom for an accident I'd possibly missed earlier. The Chimp follows me eagerly: "It's a mystery Mummy, how you get wet? Are there any cloooes?"
Hunting around to no avail the Chimp declares his verdict: "Did you need a wee wee Mummy? I think you not got there in time." The first smile of a long, long day spreads firmly across my face.
And another gap in the rain allows a run:
Distance:5.5km Time:26 Pace: 4.42min/km Cals: 331
I found myself unaccountably soaking wet this afternoon: a huge damp patch spreading across the back pockets of my jeans. I search around the playroom for an accident I'd possibly missed earlier. The Chimp follows me eagerly: "It's a mystery Mummy, how you get wet? Are there any cloooes?"
Hunting around to no avail the Chimp declares his verdict: "Did you need a wee wee Mummy? I think you not got there in time." The first smile of a long, long day spreads firmly across my face.
And another gap in the rain allows a run:
Distance:5.5km Time:26 Pace: 4.42min/km Cals: 331
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