On where Santa comes from....

28/12/15 - late night chats...

"Did God send Santa for all the boys and girls???"

Bits

On the drive to daycare, I told Pip "I love you to bits". She replied "I love you four bits Mama". 

November 27 - playing with a crib Nana Stef sent

"This is the Angels boyfriend." (Angel and one of the wise men) Makes the toys kiss. "They love each other. Now they are off to see her fiend Mary and her new baby Jeeez". 

Boyfriends eh? Kissing eh? 

She's 4. 

Falling over myself laughing. 

Running with friends

Besides actually sticking to most of my plans, I've stuck to my long runs best. 

Last weekend I hosted a big fat reunion - 13 adults and 14 kids (from 4 months to 15 years) at our house in Woolpit. Awe. Some. 

The group was perfect in every respect. Everyone pitched in - whether cooking, cleaning up, parenting or resting - everyone had their turn with no fuss. 

The kids were also awesome - the older ones caring for the younger ones and generally everyone playing together!

And the running- after a late, alcohol fouled Friday night, four of us geared up for a 9km run. A slow, chatty run - fun and even with a hacking cough, and two lazy runners (as compared with the two marathon runners) we managed a decent 7km/min. 

Since then I've ran three times - an interv 5km (10 min warm up; 1min fast;1 min slow repeat 8 times) and a straight 5km. 

And this morning, 10km from the house to Stowmarket swimming pool (meeting Mr T and Pip at her swim class). 

I'm very happy with that run today. So many times I could have pulled out of going but I did it and ran at 6:57min/km. not fast but didn't have any problems doing it. 

Roll on next week - I fly to Florida for work tomorrow, hotel running during the week. Arrive back in England on Friday afternoon and fly to Ireland for a family holiday Saturday morning. Somewhere I've got to run 12 kms. As my friend J would say "Nae bother"

Week 2 run and stop

Had a fabulous run on Saturday - 6kms while Mr T took Pip to swimming class. 

And Monday morning had the fun of a river run in Weybridge. 

As I had to travel to The wedge of London for work, I stayed overnight in a hotel in Weybridge. The river Wey runs through it and, after some searching on the Internet (I love the Internet) I found that I could run by the river and see the lock

It was a nice looking morning over the hotel window, and the drizzle was a surprise when I got outside. I'm glad as, to be honest, if I'd known it was drizzling I may not have left the house. Any old excuse...

But I had 5 lovely kms -starting on the street and then along by the river. Seeing fabulous homes,house boats, the lock and nice morning walkers and runners. 

Then I should have run Wednesday or Thursday but I didn't. For many reasons including a chest cough. But just excuses. 

So tomorrow morning (Friday) I'll have to be up and at it early! 

Before the mayhem of the weekend begins!

Re-jigging the plan.

My plan to run a marathon this year had taken a step back. Some major life stuff came up and so for 6 weeks I didn't train or eat like I should have. 

So I'm re-jigging and making a decision. I'll be in Sydney for the blackmores half again this year so I'm going to do that! 

Now to get my ass moving and shrinking :)

Sitting. Breathing.

A brief stop in a day that started at 330am with a little girl wake up call, a 5am work call to Sydney, lots of spreadsheets and data all day, 4pm call to Denver, dinner, bedtime for little girl and now a brief pause before the 9pm call. 

Wow. 

Beautiful sky, a breeze sweeping the clouds along, the church bell ringers practicing and a gin and tonic nearby. 

And...interrupted. My mother in law is staying. She has Parkinson's and dementia and wanders the house at times, lost and confused. Sad. 

Right then, back to the work world and meetings at 9pm. 

Thanks clouds, bells, wind and gin for that little moment. 

Run, tea, bubbles - yay for Saturday's!

I promised I would make the most of this time away from home so I am! I had a lazy Friday night in and slept so well, I rolled out of bed at 930am. After an hour of faffing, I headed out for 5km as per the plan. It was nice. Felt good. And felt like I can easily pull my times up soon. 

Next up was a yummy bagel with lox and cream cheese and coffee from my old reliable Gloria jeans - reliable. 

Then time to get clean and smart is for an afternoon of high tea with my lovely girlfriends. 

It was lovely to find that the Burnt Orange uses products from Avoca Ireland - my Mum has a set of button design cups - as the lovely Sarah is modelling below. 

A very delicious selection of goodies!

And a very lovely selection of girls!

Sarah and I finished out the day with some bubbles and an anti pasto selection and chats til late. 

Lovely lovely day!

Gear review - belts

I'm a short, curvy runner. Fabulous but short and curvy. 

I say this as I've spent some time looking for a great belt to hold my phone, keys, gel etc for short runs to half marathons. 

I've had a go with a Nathan belt (didn't like how it felt), a flipbelt (lost my iPhone) and finally bought a spibelt and am SO happy!

SPI belt stands for small personal item belt - which doesn't really cover how awesome (I think) this belt is!

Firstly and 1) it stays still. It sits wherever I put it - hips, waist, tummy - and doesn't move. Not at all. 

Secondly, it fits lots! So stretchy! I usually just have my phone and keys but it also has capacity for enough gels for a half marathon and an inspiration note - you should always have one of those :)

Thirdly, it looks good, great in fact! 

As my training runs get longer for the marathon,  I think I'll have to upgrade  to the energy belt with gel holders. 

Run, jog, repeat

Interval day

Run 4, jog 1, repeat x 4 = 20min intervals this morning. 

Not fast, not long, but I'm doing it!!!! 

Round and round...

After flying from England and arriving at 5am yesterday, I had a great night sleep. 

My work is putting me up in a lovely studio apartment near the office. I'm 5mins walk from work, have my own car to use and lots of me time. 

 Today was a days work - meetings meetings - and home at 5 and off for a 5km run. I'm glad it did it - I was going, then not, then going and finally just did it. Yay for me. 

It was a slow but steady hilly circuit of Macquarie university. I know I have a lot of work to do so I've gotta get started and keep going! 

My photo in the lift was...eye opening. A lot of work to do. 

My girl!

She truly is my daughter! We love eating out! 

Working mum - travel time

I'm incredibly lucky to work for an Australian company while living in Woolpit!

But right now, tonight, as I stare at my packed suitcase, it's hitting home that I have to leave my husband and daughter for three weeks to go back to Sydney for work. 

I'm not sure how I will handle this. I'm not sure how they will handle this. I know we will all survive it. I know there will be no lasting (emotional) scars. 

I'm just wondering how Ms P will handle me not being here for a meltdown. Or her  need for mama hugs. Or her laugh and story of the day or...argh. 

I know every mama out there will understand how much I love her. How, in three weeks, so much will happen and change for her. How missing those weeks will mean I can't get those moments back. 

How the hell will I handle school and college???

Two decisions made then!

First, I will be more present when I with her. I will put my phone down. I will be in the moment with her. Not every single moment -reality bites - but not half there/half working /face booking or whatever. 

Secondly, I will make the most of my time away. Physical, mental, emotional health get prioritised. For her and for me. Marathon training gets started in full force. Time with my soul mate friend Lady S. 

I'll be a mama she can be proud of. 

Who wouldn't want to be for her!

3 and three quarters... Life at...

I got my first "you're not my best friend anymore" this morning. Hilarious! 

This day included two huge meltdowns, a lovely lunch at a high tea spot, a haircut by a student (who, while lovely, didn't really get that she was cutting a child's hair - a 3 3/4 yr old who doesn't know how to hold her head still for minutes), buying lunch boxes for her friends in Australia, more meltdowns, cuddles on my bed, trampolines, kisses, packing for three weeks away, laundry and outfit prep for Pippa. 

Some days need a wine - or three. 

Step one

I started. Last night I went to my first training session with the Stowmarket Striders. 

I joined the beginner group - about 8 of us - away from the big group of...80? Or maybe 40. Either way it seemed like a lot.

It was a sprint session and fun! More than I expected. I didn't fit well into my running gear - too many chocolates - but I ran and had fun. 

I've also just put together my marathon plan. 

So tomorrow i will run again. I also will be biking Pip to daycare which is fun for both of us! It's only 3.3kms but a bit hilly and definitely enjoyable. 

Dreams by a 3.5 year old

Every morning I ask Pip if she dreamed last night and what was it about. 

Most nights it me and her, jumping in muddy puddles. 

This morning was a little different!

Pip - "I dreamed of you and me and daddy and nana and grandad and all my cousins jumping in muddy puddles" 

Me - "and who was jumping the highest?"

Pip - "Grandad. There was a kangaroo teaching him how to jump!"

Me - "wow! And did anyone else have a teacher?"

Pip - "my cousin Rua had a frog teaching him how to do a frog jump."

I love her imagination!

Marathon training - week 1

Well I'm going to do it! Sign up for, train for, and run a marathon! Why not, eh?

I'm doing this for a few reasons - after saying for years I would run a marathon, so here goes. 

1 - I can. Working from home allows me some flexibility so when the training runs get long, I can see a way to do a 3.5hour training run

2 - I want to do something big! I've noticed Pip struggling at times to control her world...or parts of it. While she reacts with (massive, earth shaking) tantrums, I'm hoping to avoid this. She's 3.5. I don't have this excuse. 

3 - I want to commit to something. And follow through. 

4 - I want to meet people! And that is going to happen through running by...wait for it...joining a running club which I started tonight!

I'm going to follow a plan (work in progress) and train with a group - Stowmarket Striders - but I'll be on my own for a few weeks in Sydney. I leave England on Saturday for three weeks work. Back on June 7. 

More to come on this with weekly updates on progress to the plan. 

Yay me! I can do this!

Malteasers, Kit Kats and rainbow checkers - cake -tick!

When Pip has had her three birthdays I have made some pretty awesome cakes (if I do say so myself). 

First year was a beautiful rainbow cake under a white icing layer. 

Second was a coloured inside cake pop cake. 

Mid year we had the heart christening cake...

And third was a Gaston the ladybird cake with Ben and Holly on top!

So when it came to my 40th birthday, I bought it was time for me to make a fancy cake for myself!

Mum and I were chatting about the kind of cake and some words popped up repeatedly - malteasers and colour. But classy. Mmmm how's that going to work? 

We ended up deciding on a classy outside with a colourful inside - and it worked out a treat! 

Malteasers, Kit Kats, layers of coloured cake.... Easy peasy! 

Ping me for instructions!!! 

Fabulous at 40... Same same!

Turns out I decided that I was already fabulous and wanted to enjoy my food no social occasions without worrying about calories. And I did.

I turned 40 last week and had a ball. Starting with a family holiday party in Ireland - 2 grandparents, 10 parents and 9 grandchildren plus my "almost a brother" cousin were all in attendance at my parents home for a fabulous get together.

There was a malteaser/kit kat / rainbow /checkered cake (a whole seperate post). There was wine, beer, gin and more. There was a bbq extravaganza. There was rain and shine - in true Irish weather style. Mostly there was a lot of laughs from everyone.

Mr T was there for a couple of days (Pip and I were there for nearly a week).

All in all I felt a lot of love.

And the presents - oh I'm a lucky girl. My brothers and wives bought me a beatiful Thomas Sabo necklace and mum and dad a ring to match.

Mr T and Pip bought be a push bike!!!!! With a child seat so I can drop Pip to daycare and go from rides to the local duck pond.

We finished off my actual birthday with dinner at Wagamama and more cake.



Lucky 40 year old me.

X

Fabulous at 40 - tick tick!

It's coming faster than I'd like but in just under 6 weeks, I turn 40! Eeek!

I didn't start my diet in January, or even February! No, I made it all the more challenging by starting in mid March. Hmmm. Interesting. 

I had lots of excuses / reasons for this but finally decided I needed a helping hand and joined Slimming world. (??!?!) 

It's a good program and the round the room discussion is great - when you've dropped a pound or so - but I'm not looking forward to justifying any gains. 

In the first week I lost 5.5lbs. A combination of drinking more water, eating more consciously, running three times and weighing in before eating dinner all helped ;)

Let's see what week two brings - with 5 days in Ireland eating mums (yummy) food. 

Take me home...and back again...

This year is all about family. So why not fly to Ireland for a long weekend! Work from home is the same here or there. So cuddles with nana, chats with grandad and wine with siblings...

Bring it on!