The Habulous Blog

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

It was one of those nights, when after finally settling into a well deserved deep sleep the bedroom door opened and there stood a zombie (otherwise known as my daughter, Ffion)  not only did the Zombie wake us but she also expected an immediate solution to her inability to settle down.  There was nothing for it but to throw back the covers and cram her into our standard sized bed, hours later when no one but Ffion was sleeping I pondered the sense of our actions.  Luckily she returned to her own bed, at some point in the early hours which left enough space for Paul and I to catch a few winks.

The morning was a beautiful one and I had planned to do a long run (that’s 7 miles for me at the moment, quite some way off the 26.2 miles I’ll be running in April, OMG 26.2 miles, insane springs to mind). 

I did make it outside the house after several attempts to vacate my bowels (I know this is something you might not want to know about but can you think of anything worse than getting caught short when your nowhere near a real flushing toilet?)  For some reason running gets my bowels moving which is not a good thing, now I have no problems with wild weeing but wild pooping is another story, it just doesn’t appeal to me at all. I’ve heard those horror stories from friends who have been caught short, managed to find what they considered to me a private spot, found suitable substitute toilet roll (normally moss or leaves, but I have heard of socks being used too), prepared themselves and started the job at hand, only to have several beefy marines pop up from their hiding place in full camouflage and catch them in the act.  For this reason alone I am paranoid about leaving the house for a long run without having fully prepared.

It was bloody cold out there, and with the cold came the ice, now I can actually ice skate but running and ice skating should not be done at the same time.  Sense kicked in and I had to walk in places to avoid that embarrassing fall.  I did survive the run but really did begin to feel wary of the distance I need to cover in the led up to April.  Running isn’t just about the ability to put one foot in front of the other, it’s the mental battle of believing you can do it.  My mind likes to put obstacles in my path, if you make it past that tree you can walk for a bit, or better still If you run this without stopping again you can drink wine or gin. For some reason, that one worked. 

I have now settled down for the evening, the correct atmosphere created by burning one of my Wild Wreath wax melts (my current favourite), fire is lit and of course  I feel very righteous as I open one of those bottles of wine mentioned yesterday and counteract the 950 calories I burnt off on my run this morning. 

Remember sponsoring me is great motivation too!  Just click here  

The idea of writing a blog scares me, I mean really, really, scares me, but I can’t keep on procrastinating forever...   

The dogs need a walk, I have to place some orders for the stores, I must sit down at my wheel and get making, the rota’s need doing and on and on the list goes.  My biggest excuse to myself has been that I’m dyslexic and I really don’t have a knack with words, but the idea of blogging has been niggling at me for some time so if you are feeling  brave enough to attempt to read my ramblings, I’ll try to do it

I have quite a varied busy life, throwing pottery, making melts and running two lifestyle stores.  I like to keep busy and take on new challenges especially those of a creative nature (I’m a serial crafter in my spare time) and for a number of years I have wanted to run the London Marathon.  I really can’t explain my desire to run 26.2 miles but it’s been on my wish list for too long to ignore.  I mean who wouldn’t  want to loose a toe nail or three and wake up on those cold mornings in the middle of winter and go running in the snow or hail? 

I’m one of those lucky ones who has managed to secure a golden bond place for the 2017 London Marathon, I’m going to be running for a small charity called Back Care.  They are one of those lesser known charities that do some pretty amazing work but struggle to raise funds, so the money raised by their London Marathon runners is critical to their existence.

So in my attempts to raise funds and just to bore you all senseless,  I’m going to try too blog about my life, my training for the Marathon and attempts to raise as much as possible for Back Care.

But before I start all of that I need to enjoy the wine that’s just arrived.  Virgin Wine have kindly sent me 6 bottles of wine as a thank you for fund raising through them.  Now that’s my kind of thank you.  As  much as I am extremely grateful for this wonderful gift, it is going to do very little to help with my training.  Wine guzzling or running, got it wine guzzling and running. 

Want to sponsor me click HERE