Wednesday

OMG I am sweating!! and covered in steam so it is difficult to know whats sweat and whats just steamy water.  I am trying to steam paper off the ceiling - the tall ceiling! Its killing my arms - its not coming off easily and its 1000 degrees outside...I'm perched right at the top of the ladder, reaching up - steam rises so its covering me...this is NOT an easy job.  I had to just get out of there and I've not even done a quarter of it yet. 

Connor and Emily have left until Sunday - didn't even see them this morning.  The gardeners came, and the path is looking so good - not long to go now and they will have gone all around it.  It was really overgrown and disappearing, so its good to see it being brought back to life.

Andy has a stressful day today - he is working from home but his mood has been right off for a couple of days.  People are pissing him off - and its very stressful and I can't help.  Took him a coke and sausage barm at about 10.30....

Oh....I dont want to do this ceiling!!!  Looks like plasterer is coming tomorrow to assess it all....electrician is coming Monday morning to do lights (if they turn up in time) and get rid of whatever electrics are in there....then hopefully get the plastering finished end of next week/beginning of the following week.  Then....its either floor or bath going in next....but its gonna happen and I'm getting excited!!  Hopefully it wont be long until the annex bedroom and bathroom is done!

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So I managed a little time doing the ceiling - but it was so hard!  I then gave up and after a while paul turned up and we all sat in the garden for some time...having a larf!

We ended up with take-out AGAIN! and playing pool and stuff - another fun night!

Tuesday

wow - was a scorcher today! So how better to spend the day than steaming off wallpaper!!  I managed to finish the walls in the bathroom - and now have to do the ceiling!  Also...there were wires coming into the bathroom and I had no idea what they were for - so ended up going out and getting a voltage tester - only to find out that one is live and the other is VERY live.  So - had to ask David for his electrician!  He is coming on Monday next week.

So after sweating buckets in the bathroom - I recovered and then went into the gym - did sprints and a circuit.  I'm expecting to be hurting in places tomorrow!

I then quickly got a shower, and then Andy got home...I made food and then we sat down - this was quite late - about 9.30pm.  Andy then told me lots about work and how much it is stressing/annoying him and unfortunately I can't help or even advise him....

Connor and Emily have had a nice day - lazed around then went into taunton - spent sometime in the garden...they are disappearing tomorrow until Sunday - then next week I'm hoping they start looking for jobs and stuff!

Monday

Hi

So Emily left to go back to Southampton to sort the van and the flat out - and Connor started unpacking all his stuff.  I started a real effort to get the wallpaper off the bathroom wall - and it was about 28 degrees outside!  I was sweating!!

All day Connor was stressing about Emily - as there were problems with getting the train home - delays etc.  I said we would do a BBQ, so Emily was trying to get back for that!

I stopped on the walls about 5.10pm as Simon - the guy who did our kitchen floor was coming to give us a quote for bathroom floor.  He was supposed to be here at 5.30pm and turned up at 7.10pm.  He saw the other bathroom floor (that carpetright did) and asked why I got them to do it! lol.  I honestly don't remember why! Simon went in and was slagging it off - especially some of the silicone around the edges - and I did some of it! lol Although only cos I was replacing some that was bad in the first place!  Anyway - just have to see what his quote is now - although I know I can get the Amtico flooring cheaper than he sells it - I'll bring that up after the quote!

Mercky is currently paddy pawing and sucking my arm!

So...I picked up Emily from the station about 6.30pm and we got out into the garden for a bbq....was really nice to relax - we'd all had a hard day!  When we lost the sun, we all came in and played pool...until about midnight - then we had to get to bed as Andy had to be up really early!

Da weekend

My alarm went off Saturday morning for the Park Run - I lay there debating it so much that when I decided I wasn't going I was far too awake to go back to sleep! So I got up - and I texted Connor as he should be up early to move house! He was in bed!  I hadn't called him until 9am, and he said they'd be leaving soon as the van was already packed.  He left about 10.30.

They got to our in the smallest van ever!  They'd already figured out that they were going to have to do 2 trips - and its about 2.5 hours each way.  We unpacked the van which didn't take very long! and they had some lunch and then debated what they were going to do - come go back, pack the van and come back again - or go back - sleep there and do 2 trips in the morning.  They had to get the van back to Southampton by 5.30pm Sunday, they also had a bed to put down and had to clean their flat (which included some painting!), and had to sort out a couch going to the tip.  The best thing to do - was to get back - load the van and come back again today - they had so much to do.  That is what they decided to do.  As they left - me and Andy said - they won't come back again today lol.  They didn't.

Once they had left me and Andy decided to have a game of pool - this ended up 20 games of pool (score was 10 each), loud music - drinking and take-out!!  Because we started early - we were falling asleep at 10.30 - so we got an early night!!

Sunday

Apparently Connor and Emily were up at 8am - and as I predicted everything took them so much longer than they anticipated.  At 10.17am I got a message saying that they should be leaving in about 10 minutes.  At 12.20 I got a message saying - we haven't even left yet this has been a nightmare.  So I have no idea how something that took 2 hours - they thought they could do in ten minutes!! lol  They got to ours at 2.50pm.  We were watching the England game - it is the world cup - and we beat Panama 6-1.

So - we helped unpack the van again and get some stuff into the attic - and then they left again - they had to get the van back - they knew they could not get it back in time.  They drove all the way back - and couldn't drop the van off - nowhere to park it or drop the keys off etc.  So they parked it where Emily works and will have to go back on the train tomorrow to take it back! They had 2 options to get the train back - one was at 7.55pm and one was at 8.15pm...the later one would take much longer and had more changes.  They were in time for the earlier one when Emily realised that she had left her phone at the flat!  Connor got one of these rent a bike things - and got back to the flat, only for Emily to call him on her phone and say she'd found it!  So - they missed the earlier train - and got to ours again at about 11.45pm!!

(It is Monday morning now at 9.38am and as far as I know Emily hasn't left yet to sort the van out and she was supposed to be getting up at 6am-7am).  I might be wrong though - she could had left already!

Friday!

Morning!

I'm sat here with my coffee....I have just given the plasterer a weeks notice to come and sort the bathroom out! eekkk....that means I have to get in there today and get the woodchip off the walls! No messing around now!!  I then have to finish the bedroom because if he is gonna come and do the bathroom - it'll be good to get the bedroom sorted out too.

I'm a little sore after last nights run!  But I weighed myself and I've almost lost a stone - less than 1lb away....but I've done a lot in the gym/running in the last few days and had no alcohol and not large meals - mainly cos Andy hasn't been around - and we are about to hit the weekend - so it might go up again before it comes down!

Just sent Connor a message asking what the plan is, as he is supposed to be moving in tomorrow!  he just replied saying - Were picking up the van today, Emily is going to drive it and we're gonna come tomorrow, not sure what time and then Sunday we gotta drive the van back as it was £90 cheaper to not drop it at taunton.

Oh dear....Emily driving the van...don't think she'll ever have done that before - and driving it all the way back? wow.  That will be quite a lot in petrol - and stress. However, they have a plan and that's good.  Just hope they are okay!  I found it very stressful when we moved and Andy drove the van - although I suspect that the van we had was massive compared to what they will have.

anyway - I'll update later on todays progress!

Well....it is now 20:53 and Andy is on his way back from the train station - I'vr just had a bath - and I've ordered Moddy burger - and dessert - so yeah I'll have messed up my diet yet again.  Today - I striped some wallpaper!! yay! Got a fair bit done in the bathroom - it is coming off fairly easily.  The plumber came again to fit the valve and stop the water running outside.  He found out that the water has been set to 100% rather than auto circulate - meaning it is not learning when we are using water and how much and adapting - it is keeping it hot 100% of the time - also the immersion heater was switched on!  Its like somebody has sabotaged us - costing the most amount of money possible!  Hopefully the bills will go down now!

Anyway - Andy just pulled up - see you later!!

Thursday

Hi

I had to get up early today as I knew the plumbers were coming to do the first fit on the bathroom!! Yay! David called last night to say that they'd be here today!  Went from hearing nothing from him for months (he first said they could get the first fit done by the end of April - and its now near the end of June).

So - Gary and the young lad Josh turned up - and started on it.  They asked about sinks and I started to doubt what I had planned (making a table top myself and getting freestanding bowls).  I ended up ordering 2 cabinets with built in sinks.  I said to Andy, Helen and paul that I was going to keep the whole thing secret from them and then do a big reveal when it is finished!)  I think it would be so cool to do that - but I also wonder if I can achieve it - because I like to talk too much about what is going on!!  I discussed all my plans with Lissa on messenger...and will continue to do so and see if I can manage to keep it from the others until it is done.

So - don't think there will be any images on here until it is finished either in case any of them get sneaky!

So....the first fit is now complete on the bathroom - I now have to get in there and get woodchip off the top half of the wall...how annoying - asbestos all on the bottom (which has now been removed) and woodchip on the top!  Then I need to get the plasterer in - and get the floor done - then get them back in to fit the bath - then I tile - then they come back to fit the rest....them I paint.  I also have to sort the lighting out - and I am struggling atm with what to put in there.  Andy is also going to try and re-wire for the lighting so if he can't see the bathroom he needs to do that first!

Once the plumbers had gone - I went to the Planet Flooring - the guy from there did our kitchen.  I looked through their LVT - which is a luxury vinyl (same as kitchen and existing bathroom) I took a few samples and arranged for him to come and give a quote on Monday evening.  When I got home I looked at the samples in the bathroom and picked on - then looked online and saw that I can buy it for £27.99 per sq meter - whereas he was selling it for £40 per sq meter.  So after the quote - I'll see if he will fir it if I buy it!  I need 9 sq meters - so his prices would be £360 plus fitting - or I can get it for £251.91...so £100 difference!

Anyway - at 6.30pm I went out with the running club - Thursdays are different because not many people go - well, not as many as on Tuesdays.  So they run as one group and they are all pretty good runners!!  I could tell straight away that the pace was much faster - couldn't hold much of a conversation and was having to push myself harder.  We went a really nice route - same one we ahve done before that hits a hill!  I knew I'd never make it up the hill and I was dropping behind before we hit it.  A really nice guy who has a dog on a waist-lead stayed at the back a lot with me - and I know that him and his very tall skinny wife run marathons - and I was voicing my concerns about getting up this hill and saying that I wish I had dogs - namely two huskies that could pull me up the hill - when he just unclipped the lead and said - here take Billy!  So I ended up with Billy the sweet-looking-bit old looking- doggie strapped to me - and the dog literally pulled me up the hill lol.  I was still last and still struggled - and still had to force the dog to stop briefly on 2 occasions - but I got up the hill!!  Billy then stayed with me and he basically was always trying to catch up with his owners - and was very gently pulling me along.  It really helped - I don't know whether it was psychological - or whether he was really helping lol.  We ran 8.99K in one hr 2 minutes - so practically my fastest 10k pace! 

OH I didn't mention....Wednesday evening, I did an abs/core circuit training session in my gym - and incorporated short runs on the running machine - and hit 500k this year!!  Woo hoo!!!

So - tonight put me at 509k!

My hips are killing me lol.  BUT they are not as bad as they were (I think) but I need to rest them!!

Wednesday

So - yesterday I didn't do any of the wall paper stripping again - and I've done none today either and it is 12.18...still got time!  I did order loads of bathroom stuff - only to get an email this morning to say that the bath is out of stock.  They offered me the same one with two tap holes - they don't do pre-drilled holes so I replied saying - is it one that has been returned as you don't do pre-drilled tap holes...and when is the other back in stock.  They ignored my first question and said dunno to the 2nd.  So I replied saying - and the answer to my first question is....? Not had a reply yet.

So last night I went out with the running club - was going to step up a group as last week was a bit slow - but the group got really full so I volunteered to step back down again.  Looking at the posts on fb afterwards seems we all did about the same pace anyway.  It was a nice slow pace so I was able to chat to a woman - think she was called Louise....she has a daughter aged 16 who is a fitness fanatic - but apparently to a level that has seen her hospitalised (like anorexia).  Anyway - was nice to chat - and she was new to the group and seems to run my pace.  We did 7.5k - at around 8 min per km...I'd normally run at least 7 minutes per k...but you don't always have to push yourself! I was asked if I'll be back on Thursday - I wasn't going to as I was going to do my own 10k long run - but I might do running club instead.  I'm 5k away from 500k this year.....

When I got home Andy was back and had sorted most of the food...we had a noodle thingy  - was yummy.  Then we chilled....

This morning - I have been emailing about the bath as I mentioned, and again have spent most of the morning sat in front of my laptop - looking at colour schemes for the new bathroom etc.  Think I am going to go for pale blue....

I've done weedkiller again....and now I am thinking - I really need to get that bedroom wall stripped as it is dragging on for ages!!

Cats had another mouse again this morning - dead.  It is currently in our dressing room laying on the floor next to its own severed head....

okay - lunch then strip!!! Then later I'll look at what I wrote for today's exercise stuff and go do that in the gym.

Tuesday

So - I didn't wake up until just gone 9am - so I actually, for the first time in ages got just over 8 hours sleep!

I eventually got up - to a dead mouse in the kitchen without a head!  and since then I have changed the cat litter and sorted the bins out and other than that I have sat at my laptop - and it is now lunch time.

I've just been chatting to lissa about not having an exercise plan - so I am going to do one.  I need to do more than just run if I want to get properly fit.  So I might do something like this:

Monday - Upper body and skipping circuit (Lissa's suggestion)
Tuesday - running club
Wednesday - abs/core and cardio (I can incorporate the exercises I need to do for running)
Thursday - my long run
Friday - legs, glutes - and maybe rower & bike a little bit
Saturday - park run
Sunday - naff-all

That means running wise I should do about - 8k Tuesday, 10k Thursday and 5k saturday - bring me to 23k a week - which is over the required amount for my challenge...and I also have a few 10k runs booked in on Sundays.  I also want to gradually increase my 10k long runs....if I get to 16k - thats 10 miles - and if I can get to 20k - thats a half marathon (almost - think I need about 21k for that).  But when I say gradual - I need an extra 1k on top every 3 weeks or so.

I also need to stop drinking so often and sort my diet out.  I will be better at all the exercise stuff if I could lose weight! BUT it's hard - I like food and alcohol lol

So.  What should I do for the rest of the day? Andy is in London and I have running club at 6.30pm.  Oh! I need to order a bathroom suite...decide what I am going to do with the floor and finish stripping the wall paper off the annex bedroom wall.  Once I have done the walls - I can get the plasterer in and then get a carpet - and sort that bedroom out.  We realised this weekend when ppl stayed over that the first choice for a room to stay in is the 4 poster room (obvs) but then second choice in the annex bedroom - with the attic last on the list! So it would be good to get that bedroom sorted - and when the bathroom is sorted too - that'll be awesome - and if Connor stays a while i'd like to have seperate bathrooms.  So I feel good that progress is being made again.  I suppose I should order the bathroom stuff and then go do some stripping!

Sun/Mon

Sunday was mostly about people going home after the weekend!  Adam and Erika went first - while lissa was showing me and Emily some exercises to do with weights!  Emily reckons she is going to be my gym buddy when they move in next week.

Lissa and Antony went next...I miss them all so much but Lissa and I have a lot in common - we both can talk forever - and we love gym stuff and it would be brilliant if we lived local to each other and could do all the gym/running/weights stuff together.  We used to do circuit training together - in the kitchen in our old house, we would use the opportunity to chat and have a laugh too and we motivated each other to do it. 

Anyway - then Emily and Connor here until about 8pm - as their train wasn't until late.  We discussed jobs they could get and where - when they move here.  I'm a little worried that they'll get used to having a lot of money from two jobs with no rent or bills and start living it up!  They already mentioned going on holiday - and THIS IS NOT THE PLAN.  We are letting them move in so that they can sort themselves out - then move to Bristol.  I think me and Andy are a little stressed that they won't stick to the plan and just get used to being a little cash rich!  It will cost us extra money too - as we will be paying the extra on the bills - water, gas, electric, and it is bound to cost for other things too...and we are still trying to get ourselves sorted out paying for a big house like this.  So I plan on having a frank conversation with them when they get here - but I don't want to sound like a ogre either!  I know I get stressed about mess too....and i am guessing they are not exactly really tidy people - but I don't know Emily that much - I guess I am judging her on Connor's standards!  So - that is the stress part of it - on the other hand I think it might be nice having them here - and having a gym buddy - and also they have said they are going to join taunton running club and do the couch to 5k course that they run!  Then they can come to the park run with me on a saturday morning too.  They say all this - lets see if it pans out!

So - after they left - me and Andy just had a bit of a tidy and chilled before going to bed!!

Monday - I tried calling the plumbers again.  The company did almost all the work for us on our heating, bathrooms and kitchen etc. last year - and we got on really well.  I have been chasing them about more work and they seem to be ignoring all my emails and phone calls.  this is a worry because I don't know why they would do that.  I called again and david the boss actually answered the phone and I thought HA! I've got you now!!!  He sounded a little awkward at first because he has obviously been getting all my messages.  Anyway - he apologised and I think they are mega busy and I've been asking for breakdowns of prices and stuff that he just couldn't be arsed with whilst so busy!  I told him about an overflow pipe pissing out water outside - and he said he'd get somebody to me that day or tomorrow.  He also said he will get a price and come and do the first fix for the bathroom asap.  So We'll see....

An engineer did come and have a look at the over flow pipe and it seems that our cold water is backing up into the hot then spewing out.  So 1) we are wasting water we are paying for on a meter, 2) it is hot water - so we are paying to heat it and 3) cold water is going into the hot water cylinder and cooling it down - so we are paying more money to try and bring the temperature up!  So...shame this has been going on for ages and we did nothing about it (cos we don't know if it is normal or not!) but hopefully once it is fixed (wednesday or Thursday) hopefully our bills will go down again!!

Today also - the mechanic came and finished the work on Andy's car - he needed break pads...and did a service on my old banger - he told me my car is in great condition!  Its old (11 years old I think) but has low mileage - about 34,000.

Hello fresh food was delivered - and they delivered the wrong thing so we have a fish dish egghhhh

Other than that I didn't do much - pottered - clean up - weed killer in garden.....didn't do my long run I usually do on a Monday cos I have running club tomorrow and I didn't want my hips to be sore.

Went to bed a little earlier - as I was so tired all day.....

saturday - continued

So...after the park run - we came back home and got showers - then we all had egg/bacon/sausage/mushroom - of varying combinations.  Then we got ready and walked down to netherclay (just around the corner) as there was Bishops hull summer-thingy on.  It was quite small and seemed a little rubbish at first - but there was a bouncy castle type thing with something that rotated in the middle - you had to either duck - or jump.  I suggested to Adam, Lissa and Connor that they go on it...I was so pleased when they agreed.  I love that about them - so many people would have said no!  So they went on it and is was soooooo funny!!!  They would have their legs knocked from under them - end up on the bottom and have to jump up quickly before it came around again!!

Some pics....

They were knackered afterwards! lol.....we had a sit down for a bit - and then we walked into taunton.  A really nice walk through Longrun Meadow.

When we got into Taunton Somerfest was on - we walked through it - then went into a pub - where we stayed for the rest of the day haha!  We had a really good laugh.  After, that was, Adam managed to tip a bottle of vape liquid - which is oily - all over himself!  He was squeezing a big bottle of the stuff into a smaller bottle and it was coming out really slowly so he squeezed it so hard that the lid shot off - it went all over the table - and all over his jeans - including his groin area - he was LIVID.  Then - he decided to squeeze the last bit out - I shouted - don't do it again - as Connor shouted - the lid isn't on properly - and he did it again!  This time - we were all trying not to laugh and Adam was properly fuming!! In the end Erika had to go and buy him a new pair of jeans, new boxer shorts and some more vape stuff.  Connor and Emily also went off and bought more vape stuff - not knowing Erika was doing the same!  Adam claimed he would be pissed off for the rest of the day - but soon chilled out once he was cleaned up and changed!!

So - we had quite a few drinks in the pub and I properly laughed loads!!

Me and Lisa took the pic on the left and Connor pointed out how alike it was to the pic that he and Emily has.....

Think we spent ages trying to get a good one...lol Lissa looks nice!

Connor and Emily (the skint ones) were buying cocktails - me and Lissa drank Connors pina colada about 5 seconds after he said he didn't like it.  This was his replacement....

We eventually dragged ourselves out of the pub (I suspect Andy was thinking I was getting too drunk!) and we got taxi's back to the house - and carried on the fun!!  This lot ordered pizza and kebabs (look at Connor!!), me and Lissa ordered a curry - which we couldn't really eat as we'd eaten some of their pizza!!

After me, Connor and Lissa, spent ages trying to throw a sweet with our feet - for the other to catch it in their mouth (haha disgusting I know) this lot decided to try and do an Irish jig.....

A very good night was had by all - and if Lissa reminds me of anything else we did or laughed about - I'll add it in!!

Saturday - Park Run

I was up quite early because Andy was snoring...so I went up to the top attic floor to sleep and all the cats followed me - I can't shut them out as there is only a curtain to shut off that room! They woke me up constantly...then the bright bright sun was up at 5am!  I got up about 7.30 and got ready for the run...the others appeared about 8.10...and we left on time about 8.40am

So....park run...with Lissa, Erika and Adam!

We all started off together...a fairly slow start because of the volume of people...it wasn't long at all until Adam said...see ya! Not long after Lissa went off ahead.  Me and Erika stuck together for a while...then I was struggling to I backed off.  I kept Erika in my sights (and Lissa for a while - but then couldn't see her anymore).  I needed to walk and get my breathe twice, and I saw Erika get a bit further away....the last 1.5km I tried to increase my speed slightly so I wasn't so far behind Erika...I slowly slowly closed the gap a bit...but it was killing me lol.  On the last 2-300 metres I was right behind Erika and was going to try and get past her, but as I tried to increase speed - she did too! I past a guy who acted as though he was not impressed and it felt like he tried to pass back in front of me - so I gave it everything I had! lol.  I tell you this as he ended up in the same photo (below)....he didn't get past me!   Erika came in just before me with a girl between me and her.  As soon as she past the finish line - she went off to the side and threw up! lol. 

So our times were.....

Adam - 25:34 (ish...as he didn't have a barcode)
Lissa - 29:41
Erika - 31.54
Me - 31.57

So....my time was exactly the same as my previous pb.  So I was really pleased....so was Lissa for getting under 30...although she's done it in 26 before...

It was awesome having family run it with me - and a great way to start the day!

Some pics....

The only one I could find of Erika (top left corner)

Adam....

Me and Lissa

Lissa

Me

Friday!

Today was cleaning day - and omg - this house takes a LONG TIME to clean!!  Next time i have to clean the whole house I need three days not two.

I was sweating all day - vacuuming...cleaning...making beds - I had a big list.  All day I chatted on messenger with Lissa while I was doing it which was rely nice.  I was sending her pics of my list and the ticks I, was adding to it....when she got here she gave me a B for effort - and somebody else changed it to a B minus! lol

So...Adam and Erika were the first to arrive at about 7pm.  I made them some chicken burgers lol.  Then Lissa and Antony turned up at about 9pm...and then I had to wait until about 10.20pm to go and pick Connor and Emily up from the train station.  Then we all had a drink and played pool!  Me and Lissa were planning on doing the Park run together on the saturday morning - and Adam and Erika said they were going to do it too! That was a game changer haha! Instead of me and Lissa thinking that we were going to do a leisurely run - it suddenly got a little competitive!  Not as far as I was concerned because I knew they would all beat me!  Adam (when he was about 18) had done 10k in 36 minutes - so a proper elite pace, Erika used to run half marathons...and go out a lot running 16 or 20k, and Lissa is mega fit!! Connor was debating doing it too...but hasn't done any running, but he's still fit because of all the cycling he has done.  So a lot of the chatter was about the run....we didn't want to drink too much or go to bed too late...but I don't think I went to bed until about 1am anyway!

Was sooooo good to see everybody and us all be together again!

Before Connor & Emily got here me and Andy had discussed them moving in and we were looking forward to hearing what their plan was.  Before I asked him he said to me...so, mum, what are we doing? are we getting jobs in Taunton or Bristol? how long are we staying? I laughed saying I was looking forward to hearing your plan! He looked to Emily and said...do we have a plan...and she said errrrrr......

So...no plan...no idea lol.

Mon - Thursday!

Hi

I've not been so good at keeping this updated recently!

Monday - I was working on the floor - and nothing else significant! 

Tuesday - more of the same - and I went to running club in the evening - I joined in with a slow group...at first too slow - I was dad running (not actually going any faster than walking pace) but then a few people dropped out and we sped up a little.  We ran just over 8km...it was nice, although had a few aches and pains after Sunday - most noticeably my hips, but also my lower back was just aching.  Was nice though, because we were running quite slowly I was chatting to Tracy the run leader...she is really nice.  They all are really! Although one of the other runners made me feel a bit crap before we started running, because I was telling her about my first 10k and told her I did it in 1 hr 8m and she was like...hmm....not too bad...you'll get better! I had thought it was good! lol.  She did a 10k on Sunday too...in 58 minutes! Tracy said - wow thats really good!! That is the reaction I wanted lol.

Wednesday....I spent a large portion of the day cutting the grass...it took me about 1 hour 40 minutes...its pretty knackering!  Then I went to see a guy about some reclaimed victorian tiles - unfortunately they were nowhere near the right colour which is a real shame.  then i drove to exeter to meet helen at Runners Need...they assess your gait and everything to get the right kind of trainers for you, and she did the running on the machine whist being filmed - they slow it down and see how your foot lands etc. and she ended up buying a pair of trainers that were £150 lol.  I got another pair too!  Brooks Ghost...mine were £120.  I could get 10% off because I was in a runners club - but then we found out that Helen could get 15% off for being a member of the caravan club!!!  When I got back I quickly got changed and me and Andy had a walk down to the Stone gallows pub and got something to eat and a couple of drinks.  That was nice - to get out the house for a bit!

Thursday - the gardeners woke me up moving the wheelie bin - so I got up and went out for a chat...and ended up helping them.  They are restoring the path which had become overgrown.  They are both really nice people and I like chatting with them.  They were telling me that a woman that used to work here is interested in coming around and seeing what we have done with the house - so I told them to give her my email address and I wouldn't mind at all!

The rest of the day I need to clean up - house is filthy after all the sanding etc. and all the kids are visiting this weekend.  Also Connor and Emily are going to be moving in the following weekend!  They need to move out of their flat in Southampton and haven't managed to get a place in Bristol yet.  So we offered that they come here whilst they get it sorted.  I assume that it had already crossed their mind to ask...it will be awesome to see more of Connor for a while.  I just hope that they are tidy and considerate because its a massive job trying to keep on top of this house as it is.  I'm a little concerned about the extra electric and gas etc as that's killing us already, but they need the help and we are in a position to help out - so we are happy to.

Sunday - Chew Valley 10k!

So....my alarm went off at 6.30am - very early for me! But I was up and getting ready straight away - didn't want to leave late and put more stress on myself about getting there on time - it was about an hour away.  Andy then appeared and said he was coming with me! yay!!! I really wanted him to come with me but didn't want to put pressure on him to come with me as he is up so early every day with work.  So - he drove (big relief).  I was chatting about the run - saying that the quickest I'd ever ran 10k was 1.09/1.10 so my aim was 1.10 however, I knew that there was a huge hill, and so as long as I got less than 1.15 I'd be happy.  I just wanted to get my first 10k under my belt!

We got there about 8.20am after negotiating tiny little country lanes....as we approached I could see markers saying 6KM and 5KM so I knew we were driving on the route I'd be running...it looked hilly lol.  We eventually got parked - it was very busy! Then I went and got my number and my t-shirt - and then we had ages to wait around - which I hated - I just wanted to get on with it!!  After a big group warm-up we eventually made our way to the start - Andy made his way to the BBQ to get a bacon butty lol.  I ended up near the back - as it is organised in to times - so the people that could run it in less than 40 minutes went at the front! How they can run it in that time I don't know!

When the gun went off it took me over a minute to get to the actual start line - but I had a chip in my number so that didn't matter....and off I went.  Quite slow at first because I couldn't get past the mass of people there....but it was a nice steady pace.  I kept going and at about 3km I had a small breather....I didn't think I was doing well and those first few kilometres were not easy, and at 3km it seems you still have soooo far to go....at about 4.5km we hit "The Hill", I'd chatted a little to the people around me - asking when we'd hit the hill and one woman said she thought it was around 4km....I thought - that's good because it will be downhill after that!  They were giving out jelly babies just before the hill - which I took! and there were water stations - so it was nice to have a bit of water - something I don't usually have on a run!  So - the Hill....it was a killer - I couldn't run up it - and walking up it was really hard - my heart rate was so high even though I was walking - but the ppl that could run up it were not going much faster than me - so I thought - I'll make up the time on the down hill!  Finally got to the top and it took a while to get my breathe back - but I was off again....however, rather than coming down hill there seemed to be more up hill bits! I joked to the people around me about these hills and wanting to know where the down hill was!!  It was not really until about 8km that it started to come down!  There were loads of ppl cheering us on after about 6km which was really nice, primary school kids banging drums and chanting - you can do it! There was a choir! and a bloke with a hose pipe so you could run under the water lol.  It was so cool in the last 2 km - I was running fast! (for me) on the downhill and really felt good! The closer we got to the end - the more you could hear the crowds of ppl and I felt really proud to be a part of it and not just a spectator - was awesome to see signs to say 400m to go - 300m to go...as I turned the corner for the last 100m there were loads of people! My pace was good and I felt strong - and I spotted Andy and managed to wave!  Then I was done!!  Andy met up with me and it was so good that he was there!!  Then I got my medal (and I thought there were no medals on this run so I was dead chuffed!) and then I collected my official time! My chip time was 1.08.30 - so better than I ever though I would do - even though I walked up the hill!! I felt SO HAPPY that I'd done it!!! I loved the atmosphere of it all!! I was so glad Andy had been there to share it with me!

It was also cool to see that Andy and helen had been tracking me from my Map my ride app...and had been having a conversation about how I was doing - Andy had looked up about the course and new where the hill was (roughly) they discussed how I was going quite fast (first 4 km were under 7 minutes each) and then they discussed how I slowed down hugely lol and that I must have hit the hill. Then they saw when I speeded up - and Andy said - She's going for it!!! and I was! hahaha

So, I felt on a complete high afterwards!

By the time we got home I was starving!! and we made a big BLT....and I got a shower - and Andy went in his studio and I was so tired that I went for a sleep! lol

Later we played pool - then watched TV...and bed.

All-in-all an awesome day! :-)

Saturday

Hi...

Today I wanted to cut and fit the floorboards...so Andy helped me - even though I dont think he likes to use his days off for DIY stuff....but it was good team work and using the new saw (which it pretty cool!) we spent all day getting them all cut and in place.  the cats loved playing under the floorboards whilst we were doing this!  Now we just have to tread carefully because they are not screwed down yet and they all need packing to bring them to the same level as the existing ones.  It seems the victorians used 23mm thick planks - and ours are 20mm!

Saturday night - I didn't have much to drink and and got to bed at 12...as I knew I had to leave the house Sunday morning by 7am for the 10k run in Chewvalley.  I had been telling myself not to get nervous - because I know I can run 10k and what is the worst that can happen.  I suppose I was more nervous about getting there, getting parked up and getting organised - got my number okay - all that kinda stuff.....

Thursday/Fri

Oh - these days were quite a while ago now and I not sure if I can remember what I did!!

I know that I was still sanding floors!!!

Thursday night I went to the running club - and there were not many people there so ppl went as one group.  This worried me as I knew that a lot of them were really good runners and I didn't want to slow them down... As it happened - I did! lol.  They have a great attitude though and make allowances for runners that are not as good.  There was one other woman called Flo, who went about my pace, so that made it a bit easier to be at the back all the time not on my own! 

There was a big hill that the others could run up without stopping that was too difficult for me and Flo but we gave it our best shot and when we got to the top we got a round of applause lol.  So it was hard but I enjoyed it.  I'm going to go again on a Tuesday because lots more ppl turn up and they ahve lots of different groups at different levels...

Andy got back from London not long after I had got back from running....he'd not had a good day with one of his team having a bad attitude with him in a meeting...so he spoke about that for a while - then we got food cooked and chilled out with a glass of wine - and then got to bed.

Friday - I decided to start laying the new floor boards.  I quickly decided that I needed something adequate to cut the wood rather than a hand saw - especially as I had to cut them length ways - about 3 metres! So I went out and bought a table saw.  I then spent the rest of the day putting it up - took me over 3 hours and I was not happy that my day had been written off - just assembling it! By the time Andy finished work I was growling!!!  He helped me finish it off and then I got a shower and we ordered food! Moody burger lol.  So - not good as we have been staying away from take-out....anyway - was a nice evening - but as Andy is working so hard - he was falling asleep fairly early so we got to bed.

Wed

So last night - I went to a yoga class for the first time.  I walked in thinking I was really early and thought - crap - its half way through a class! But luckily it wasn't people were all just on the mats ready to go!  I got a place....and off we went - starting off by laying on your back and breathing....not really my thing to be honest!  It got better and there were some hard moves - one I couldn't do at all....I though - bet Lissa can do this (so you know Lissa - you sit down then lift your legs so that you body is folded in a v-shape and hold your toes - imagine you sit on the floor and reach down to get hold of your toes - well it is this position but with your feet in the air!)...after the class I felt really good! I thought - I should go home and eat a salad! I didn't though - I came home and had ham, egg and chips hahaha.  Not sure if I'll go again - might give it another go....

Wednesday morning - I enquired about an industrial sander and ended up picking it up.  Actually, I filled in an online enquiry - then the bloke called me back, and I decided to go for it.  my car was full of stuff for the tip so I went there and emptied the car.  The tip is probably the place I have visited more than any other place since I have lived here!  I then drove all the way back to a place just around the corner from home to pick up the sander.  They didn't know what I was talking about! So I googled the phone number of the guy who called me back and realised it was Brandon's and not Bradfords! AND it was just around the corner from the tip!!

Back I went....got a big sander and an edger sander and all the sandpaper (which cost £95!! just for the sand paper!) and then came back home - cleared out the hall - and - quite nervous - turned on this massive sander and started on the hall.  I'd watched many youtube videos....and felt i knew what to do....it was fine!  Apart from the fact that not all the boards, actually none of the boards were completely flat - so it sanded the bits it came in contact with and left loads of bits! 

I'll put a post up at a later date when it is all done with pictures of the progress....as its quite impressive really....

The edger was heavy and had a mind of its own but I had the same problem - where the boards dipped down - the really dark varnish wasn't touched.  Plus - the varnish would get hot with the sander and smear and clog up the sandpaper.  So - it was really hard messy dusty work and i felt that I hadn't really achieved much in a day....when I look back on the pics though - I had.

Andy was still away...so I just chilled watched some TV and got to bed.

Monday/Tuesday

Hi,

Well yesterday I managed to go out and run 10km for the first time in ages.  Well, I say run...there was quite a few walks - mostly on the hills... I did it in 1 hour 12 minutes....which is 36 minutes per 5km...so i obviously can't keep up my 5km pace over 10km - but is not bad considering the hills!  The down hill parts help!  Anyway - I was not in too much discomfort with my hip, which is awesome.  So - I have my first 10km race on Sunday arrgghhhhhh!!!  I checked the route and there is a massive hill!!  So....I'll walk up the hill and make up the time running back down it!  I have to leave here at 7am, so Andy has already said he doesn't want to come which is understandable, but it is shame that I'll have nobody there to cheer me on or see me come through the finish line :-(   Guess I'll come through the finish line - wander back to the car and come home lol. 

After my run yesterday - I recovered for a while - did a bit of wallpaper stripping....yes still not finished....then I had a bath...chilled out for the evening...

Today...Andy got up and went to London and is not back until Thursday night.  I am planning on - guess what - yeah, stripping wall paper...and then going to a yoga class tonight...

Trying to hire a sander for the hallway too - that'll be good to get done.

So...guess I'd better go strip.....

Saturday

Hi....

I got up early after a bad nights sleep to go and do the Park Run.  I was really nervous! I think it is because the only running i've done lately has been stop and start - with circuits and I haven't ran more than 1-3km in one go.  I was also worried that my hip might start hurting lots again.  I wanted to see how I went on because I have a 10km run next weekend!

Helen was messaging me, as she was going to do the Torbay park run - she hadn't done it before, but wanted to do it, because next weekend the NHS are taking over the parkruns, and she works for the NHS and wants to get involved.

So....off I went on the park run - determined to take it easy - not trying to beat any times...and at the time I don't think I enjoyed it at all - I just wanted it to be over lol.  I managed it without any major pain in 33.30.  Quite a bit slower than the last couple of times, but still not bad considering I wasn't trying to push myself really hard.

Photo's are usually put up on FB later in the day - and there was one of me that was truly awful! I looked about 65...it must have been taken as my foot hit the ground and my face dropped downwards! lol.  Soooooo bad.....so bad in fact that I am not reproducing here!

When I got home Andy wasn't up yet so I tidied up and got he dishwasher on and stuff...then he surfaced and we had poached egg on toast - and then he went in to the studio - and I had a nice bath - then played...and basically we were lazy for the rest of the day - which seems to becoming a thing!

Friday - 1st june

Wow - its June already!

Well, yesterday - I had a pretty good gym session.  Mixed it up again with circuits and running.  Makes a nice change to do something other than running, although it has made me realise how my muscles are not as good as they used to be! I used to do loads of gym and circuit training.  me and Lissa used to do circuit training at home - and we always had a good laugh at the same time, sometimes too much of a laugh so we couldn't do the exercises.  We learnt to skip quite well too - and it's nice to complain to somebody else that understands what you are going through - like the side plank - ahhhhhh how long left!!!   20 seconds!! I can't do it......  when you are on your own you either just give up or man up....I gave up on a few yesterday!

Anyway...I then had a shower and got ready and ordered a taxi so when when Andy got home, he quickly got changed and we went into taunton.  We went to the Cozy Club...had a drink and couldn't decide where to go for food.  We got to the door to move on and it was throwing it down...so we it didn't take much for us to decide to try food where we were!  We had a nice meal - sharing 3 starters - and then I had a chicken burger (tiniest piece of chicken) but it was really yummy - and I didn't feel that I had over eaten.  We shared a bottle of wine and had a nice chat..it was fun!!  We got home about 11.30 - and got a drink and watched Britain's got talent - which we barely stayed awake for....then crashed...although somehow it had got to 1.15am....

Don't think I even woke up until 9am this morning - which is unusual....I chilled for a bit - then went and stripped some wallpaper....which seems to be taking ages!  I then cut the grass - only on one side - as we still have the tent up on the other side! Andy won't put it down until he has been in it whilst it is raining! lol.  I didn't have much left to do when I could tell that the lawn mower was running out of petrol - so I ended up running with it to get it done!  That is not easy - it is heavy and the garden slopes, so the up-hill bit was quite a work-out!!

Got it done - came inside and then it threw it down again - so just managed to miss it!  I am in a dilemma again now - as it is almost 5pm....I feel quite tired....Andy is still working int he basement, but I dont know how long he will be.  Should I go into the gym? I siding on the side of no at the moment.....

Also - Park Run on a saturday seems to have gone to pot.....I should really try and give it a go tomorrow - as the 10km is next week....I haven't run any proper distance for a few weeks now because of my hip....I need to see how I get on.  Okay decision made...no gym tonight and park run tomorrow!

Mercky has just got onto me and she is paddy-pawing my arm and licking/sucking my arm too....ouch....her claws are like tiny razor blades - she is the most lovely cat ever though....always cuddling and giving me tiny meow's....

So...tonight we are having another Hello Fresh meal....it is Spicy Sausages with Sticky Caribbean-Style Veggies and Mashed Potato...we are eating much healthier since we started getting these meals.  We also have Chermoula Spiced Chicken with Courgette Rice and Lemon Yoghurt and Orzo Risotto
with Mozzarella, Chorizo and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.  I often don't fancy it at all but it always turns out really good.

So....can't really type now as Merky is curled up on one arm...so I'll leave ya....