The Habulous Blog

I really struggle to sit still, when I have too I resemble an annoying child fidgeting all the time. Right now I'm sat in a train on my way home after my first trade show of the year. I had tried to bring as many distractions as possible to occupy myself on my journeys (I really wanted to bring my crochet with me, but the item I'm working on is near completion and would take up to much space in my luggage, plus I really would look like a mad woman trying to stitch my granny squares together!) Right now everything I have to hand isn't inspiring me, so strangely I find myself turning to my blog (something I never thought I would do).

Top Drawer is the trade show that kick starts my buying year. It's one of my favourites, not just because I love visiting London, but also as I manage to couple work with seeing family, hopefully a little shopping of my own and if I'm really lucky a visit to the V&A.

It's proved to be a good start to the year with an amazing amount of strong new products on show. Now it's the patient wait for our new product ranges to arrive in the stores, there is nothing better than unpacking and displaying new stock and seeing our customers reactions.

After the cold weather at the end of last week I was worried about my running mojo, it had gone somewhere and was probably enjoying a gin and tonic.
I woke this morning after an exhausting day yesterday knowing I had to do my long training run. One look out of the window at the grey skies and rain did little to motivate me, but I did get out there in the end.

I normally run along the embankment when I'm in London, but today I fancied a change so I set off weaving around the streets, trying to stay parallel to the Thames. I decided to run to various places from my past for a little reminiscing down memory lane.

I've always thought running had improved my sense of direction, today I proved myself very wrong, having several deja vu moments, thinking things looked familiar only to realise I had unintentionally looped back to the start, when I thought I'd ran in one direction. I'd love to say I only went off track once but it happened several  times the most worrying was when I realised I was in an area I didn't feel at all comfortable in and the signposts where for Dover! Luckily London doesn't lack tall buildings and at times like that the Shard really does has it uses! Getting lost was a blessing as it meant I managed 12 miles and even more surprisingly I actually felt like I could carry on.....

I've got a hefty amount to raise for my golden bond place, so if your feeling generous click here

Well 2017 is already in full swing, the time seems to pass by, quicker and quicker each year.  I’m determined to make this a good year, I’ve set myself both work and personal goals that I am going to tackle head on and one of my most important goals is to slow down at times and appreciate those little things that happen around me that I so often take for granted.

My children are growing up fast with Ben heading towards his 15^th birthday and Ffion now at secondary school, life is forever changing around their development and this year I really want to relish those moments whilst they still, on occasion enjoy being around us! 

My New Year started with a bang, celebrating with friends and family and then I was straight off to Cornwall to attend a Ceramics throwing course.  It was an amazing start to my year, I felt like a pig in mud.  I got to spend the week in a studio, with other like minded people taking my pottery skills to the next level.  The satisfaction I felt at overcoming some of the obstacles I have faced with making this year was invigorating.   

 

My main goal was to improve form and throw bigger pieces, I definitely achieved this during the week and I just hope that when I sit down in my home studio (really not as glamorous as it sounds, my wheel is next to the washing machine!) I can replicate what I made whilst away. 

 

I have managed to maintain my training for London Marathon, but have had moments of thinking I must be insane to want to run that far (mainly whilst struggling on my longer runs).  I have even managed an interval run this week and have come to the conclusion that interval runs are evil. For those of you who don’t know what they are, its bursts of running very fast then slow that are repeated a number of times, you leave the house thinking nice easy 30 minutes and come back feeling like you’re going to puke.   

I’m a slow runner so the intervals should help improve my speed and my overall fitness, ready for the big day.  When I think I’m running fast I’m often not as my kids like to point out, years ago they cheered me in on my first half marathon, when I saw them near the finish line, I managed to get a sprint on, or so I thought.  I was feeling pretty pleased with myself until they came up to me, and pointed out that watching me had been like watching a slow motion clip.  So there I was giving it my all, taking massive strides and apparently mimicking that famous scene from Chariots of Fire.  Right now my only real concern is making sure I make it to the finish line in April, whatever fashion that may be in.....

If you want to support Back Care the small charity I am running for here's my sponsorship link

Well its here in a blink of an eye and gone just as quickly.  Merry Christmas to you all, I really hope you’ve all had a wonderful time, filled with food, drink and fun with friends and family. 

After a really busy lead up to Christmas with the stores we have had several very relaxing days, my rather wonderful Uncle catered for us all this Christmas so I feel really relaxed and extremely spoilt. Although we did a couple of walks in the wonderful weather I can report that I’m happy, but  my jeans are not, they are struggling to cope with all the cheese and other lovely bits I have over indulged on, I supporting a rather large muffin top today, so I decided to get out there and burn some calories, oh boy was that a mistake! 

As you know I run a little bit, more than most, but nothing compared to those amazing people who tackle Ultra’s (these people run a Marathon for breakfast and 100 miles for fun!).  I generally run to keep fit and try to fight off the rather fetching middle age bulge.  I normally feel pretty good after a run, it also means I don’t overly worry about my calorie intake hence can indulge a bit with out to much guilt. 

Before Christmas I saw one of those social runs pop up on my face book time line and thought that I’d tackle it to help with my training.  I didn’t really read the details just noted it was a 10 mile run.  So this morning after a lazy lie in, I rushed up to Princetown to join the bunch of runners, whom I assumed like me would be trying to tackle the effects of the last few days of over indulging.  When I arrived I should have been more observant and noticed that no one there had an ounce off fat to spare, but no, I must have put on my rose tinted shades before I left because this didn’t sink in until just under half way through the run.

So when they announced that they would be two runs, a shorter run (7 miles) and a 10 to 11 mile run, I didn’t bail out and opt for the shorter distance.  All of a sudden we where off running on to the moors at a pace I am not familiar with, within 1 mile I was the one lagging at the back but still quite happy to be out there, it was such a beautiful day and I started to relax into the run.  This lovely lot of hardened trail runners, liked to avoid the tracks as much as possible so it meant, lots of jumping bogs and stones, and running up and down hills (you can imagine what I looked like at the back, I’m sure it would have been good material for Little Britain).

I was doing OK until mile 7 when I realised I was quite close to home, then the mind games started, “just tell them your jogging home” said the voice in my head, No said the other.  So gritting my teeth I duly followed the bums of some seriously fit runners on the loop back to Princetown.  Now I really don’t know how I managed to finish the run but I did.  I can proudly say I finished, I was at the back nearly all the way kept company by several lovely people who took it in turns to bolster me on (thank you, you know who you are).  The worst part was the hills, lots more ups then downs on the last stretch.  At about mile 10 my legs didn’t really want to go on, but somehow they did, I know if I was alone I would not have done it,I was the last one in but I did it. The run was actually 11.77 miles, no wonder my legs complained.

After a quick pint of something cold and non alcoholic I rushed home to relax in a super hot bath with a box of toffifees (bugger the muffin top)!  I was shocked at how much scrubbing I had to do to remove the mud,  the water at the end looked like one of my sons baths after he’s run around a football pitch for several hours, but no it was from me.  Well I must say I take my hat off to the super fit bunch I tried to run with today, they are amazing, I don’t think I’ll be tackling any Ultra’s in the future, but I’m one step closer to London.  Somehow hubby and I have ended up with a kid free night, so I think it might be time to head off to the pub!

My sponsorship link should you want to part with a pound or two is here

Well Christmas day is getting so close only 5 sleeps to go as those who love Christmas will quote.  I do love Christmas but find the time before so hectic, that I never feel organised enough for my own families Christmas.  Yes, I am one of those people who never gets everything done until very late Christmas Eve. I’ll rush out from work on Christmas Eve to get those last few things on my list and stand in the cheese shop queue to get our rather delicious cheese board (we have the most amazing cheese shop in Tavistock).  With a bag full of cheese and any last minute presents purchased I'll head home and out for a quick social with friends. Once back in our own nest, Hubby and I will desperately try to get the kids off to bed so that we can begin the mammoth task of wrapping their presents until who knows when. Just as we are heading to bed we will no doubt realise we haven’t put the carrot out for the Reindeer or the drink for Father Christmas.  Thank god I'm not cooking this year, so one less thing to worry about.

It has been an eventful week; you might remember I was off to a bottle auction on Friday night last week.  It’s a great event that raises funds for our local village, needless to say after one too many JD and Cokes, I did bid on way to many lots of booze and have enough to last a rather long time (possibly even open a new shop!).  Included in my wins are some rather dubious looking bottles of mulled wine and quite a few bottles of Rose (I don’t even like Rose).  Oh well I’m sure I know someone who does! 

My marathon training was all good, until the dreaded lurgy hit, but it seems to be on its way out now.  I say well, I still haven’t run more than 7.5 miles, so only another 18.7 miles to go. I’m going to need to get really disciplined after the New Year.  Any offers of company on my runs or anyone willing to ride a bike beside me, yelling encouragement or profanities is welcome! 

Don't forget to help me reach my target you can sponsor me here

I’ve only blogged twice and I already feel guilty as I haven’t blogged for a week, what is about us woman and feeling guilty for the 101 things we should have done.  I know it’s stupid but that doesn’t stop it constantly niggling at us?  (Sorry to any Men who feel the same, I just admire the way most of you appear not to let guilt over silly things touch you, at times I feel I need more testosterone, although many might say I have enough already!)

It’s been a pretty busy week for my family and work life.  Having two lifestyle shops, certainly keeps you busy but even more so as we approach Christmas.  My days largely evolve around ordering, unpacking deliveries and looking after our lovely customers.   My mind is constantly ticking over at this time of year, going over everything, again and again; to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything.  I spend most of the year working towards this point, and for a small business like us, without a good Christmas trade, I doubt we’d still be around.  Our hard work throughout the year seems to be paying off as customers are really pleased with what we have for them to choose from.  Interestingly our best seller this week has been from our Enid Blyton book for Grown Ups series: “Five on Brexit Island”   I used to love these books when I was a child, were any of you fans?

I have managed to spend some time on the pottery wheel, which is my calm time.  Playing with clay is so therapeutic.  I’m pleased to report that I have even stayed on top of my running getting 3 descent runs in this week (best of all it means I might just win “the work week hustle” on my fitbit, not that I’m competitive or anything).   

Tonight I’m off out to a bottle auction, to drink copious amounts of booze.  I’ll no doubt buy lots of obscure drinks that will live in the back of our drinks cabinet, until we have one of those dinner parties which will end badly after my husband pulls out those dreaded bottles.

In amongst all of this my lino cut class also had a small exhibition last week.  I was supper pleased to have my tulip print used for the poster promoting the event.  On that note you may not know I’ve got a hefty amount to raise for my London Marathon place, so I’ve decided to offer up one of my limited edition Tulip hand pulled prints as an incentive for anyone who sponsors me.  Once I’ve completed London and can walk again, I’ll draw a name out of a hat for the lucky winner (well lucky if you like the print that is!) Bye for now, more rambling soon.

Sponsor me here