what to do on a hot and sunny afternoon.....

On a very hot and sunny afternoon, why not hop on your bike and go for a 27 mile bicycle ride... ok so there are a million reasons why not, including going to the beach and eating lots of ice cream. However, I am in training so on the bike I went...

After getting slightly lost twice and properly lost once it did take a bit longer than anticipated. I found some amazing places, within 15 miles of our house that I have never found before....

With regards to getting lost, I did have my OS map with me (but no gadgets) It all came right in the end and I got home.

One significant event was when I inhaled an insect... The insect was unhappy and stung me on the lip twice on its way out! (the insect was fine btw)

I was witness to some amazing views and the weather was lovely, there was a good breeze and although the light was great it was not too hot.

I saw so much wildlife...(all to quick to picture) and had some inspiring classical music to accompany the rhythm of the pedals.

I only managed 1 chain fail and no punctures...!!

I did discover a bridlepath that would not have fit a Shetland pony let alone a horse and I pushed my bike along some muddy and narrow paths... I managed some green paths and some steep downhills. I even managed to go at 30mph on a good hill.....

I am so looking forward to next weekends rides.....

here are some pics...

Washing on the line

Back from an amazing holiday....

Our holiday this year was a holiday with a difference.....Apart from 1 night in a hotel, the rest of our holiday was spent with friends and family. LSP comes from Scotland and we go up as often as we can. The difficulty is there is never enough time. We always seem to be popping in and popping off again. So we decided to spend some quality time with people.

I have taken far to many photographs which I will share with you over the coming weeks I also ate far to many wonderful home made treats.... I have not dared the scales yet. We managed to get some cycling in over the most amazing countryside.

When I was cycling in very remote countryside in the north of Scotland,the roads were so quiet, you could hear every car and tractor coming, but you could also hear the birds, the animals and the sea. It reminded me of when I was young, cycling through the villages in Oxfordshire (without the sea). Now there is so much more traffic its not the same.  The weather was really good, (except for one day when we were climbing a hill that went on forever and the rain was horizontal)

Blue Sky to start with....

light rain at 10 miles...

(Last picture, Camera became so wet it had to be dried out by the fire overnight as it stopped working.)

We are blessed with some amazing friends. We have enjoyed some wonderfully prepared meals, fresh herring's, home made scones, amazing steak, pork, amazing egg dishes from free range home reared hens......

I have drank more wine in 2 weeks that the whole of the rest of the year ........

We have had time to chat often into the early hours....

(yes we did need a fire) 

I love my job and hate my job in somewhat equal measures. my job steals time, not just the 37-47 hours I spend doing it each week, its the energy the mental and physical energy that it occupies. Even in my quiet moments at home it creeps in and a problem or situation will be mulled over in my mind. When my waking hour's are not enough it occupies my dreams as well.

However, the part of me that loves my job could not imagine doing anything else...Just variations on the same theme.

 So I want a different life, a change of pace, more time, more headspace......I want to not feel permanently tired........I want to not have to see an osteopath to relieve the tension in my body..........I want to have quality time for people and friends not just 1 hour here and there and a bunch of apologies and excuses for not having time..........I need to enjoy my time......We only have 1 life and we do not know how much time we have on this earth........I need to be able to improve my quality of life........Not to be lazy..... I do not want to be sat watching the Jeremy Kyle show.......I want to grow veg.......I want to have Chickens......I want to be productive in a way that will benefit my family.......

I know that this is a big list of wants....But what is wrong with wanting?


 I have a new 5 year plan.

To live in Scotland and to work part time.

 In order to achieve this I need to save as much money as possible and to take some additional training, so no more weekends away, (apart from the one we have booked for our anniversary) No more meals out, no more non essential shopping and to be as frugal as possible. Save, Save Save....... To buy a little cottage, not to big, that needs a bit of work.

It will be worth it in the end......

Anyway, today I am back to reality, Making home made soup ( leek and potato), chicken and skirlie for dinner (skirlie is a Scottish Oatmeal stuffing), tidying, sorting and hanging washing on the line.... (and dreaming)

The start of an amazing journey

Today is the start of an 8 month journey, this journey will test, my creativity, endurance, perseverance, patience,stamina, commitment,  fitness ........ The Journey ends with a 400km cycle ride across Vietnam and Cambodia.

I am not doing this on my own, I am doing it with 2 very good friend's and 100 other women.

Why? you might ask, We are doing it to raise money for genesis research trust

Today, we went to the information day at Imperial College London.

It was amazing to be in a room with so many other women who are all doing the same thing. As I am on the large side I worried that I might be the largest in the room and everyone would look at me as if to say, What are you doing here? But no I was wrong, there were many women of all ages, shapes and sizes.

We had talks about the ride, how to prepare, more about the Charity including an address by Professor Robert Winston, The founding chairman of the Genesis Trust.

The journey between now and November is the training and fund-raising we need to do!

My personal reason's are contained in my bearded lady post I have been affected by gynaecological problem's my entire adult life and want to be able to give something back as I have benefited from the research that has gone into my condition's.

Their vision.
Advances in the well being of women and babies can only be achieved by research into the disorders which can affect anyone. Our primary aim is to improve the health of the unborn child and its mother.


Our successes include:
* One of the first screening programmes for cervical cancer
* One of the first pregnancy ultrasound screening programmes
* Early advances into placental physiology
* The prevention of premature labour
* Investigation into the genes involved in female cancers and embryo implantation
* The reduction of brain damage in babies born in a vulnerable state. 


I will still be doing my usual blogs but will be keeping a track of my fundraising and training progress. 


If you wish to get in early you can Donate here

What does not kill you makes you stronger.

Hooray I am still alive!

What perils have I put myself in??

I went to the gym!

So am hopefully a little bit stronger (lol).

We signed up yesterday and went today.

Ok so the first thing I did was weigh in, I weigh 18.5 stone. (gulp) which is roughly twice the weight I should be. Imagine walking around all day giving someone a piggy back. well that's what my legs do everyday.



The next was the warm up, spent 15 minutes on the cycle and cycled for 5.3km. cycling on an exercise bike is not like cycling on a road bike as the positioning is all different, also there are not as many potholes. At the moment I need to be exercising and losing weight as well as building up my road cycling.

I maneuvered my way around most of the equipment. Different weight machine's to help build my arm and leg muscles, then I moved onto my arch Nemesis, the cross trainer! (it even looks like a torture device)



To those of us who are co-ordinatingly challenged. the cross trainer is the ultimate torture device. Walking around in the street, my arms and legs know exactly what to do! Put me on a cross trainer and it is laughable. I started off by walking backwards, then was walking but using only 1 leg, the other one was not making any effort it was just there for the ride, then my arms appeared to be doing all of the work. eventually I managed to get into some kid of rhythm, despite the fact that I had to cope with the most awful music that was on the unknown music channel that was blaring out across the gym. Note to self, bring MP3 player next time.

Well before I knew it - the hour was up. I left the gym feeling tired but with a sense of self satisfaction.
Lets see how stiff I am in the morning!