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Double Dab

Pic of the week 30/5/21

On Tuesday I had my second dose of the Astra Zenica covid jab, and on Thursday Becky had her second dose.

Pleased to have got my second jab in – should be safe now!

Half term had finally arrived, after a long and tiring seven week term. And the weather has changed for the better as well – after a cold April and a wet May, yesterday and today has seen the sun shine and the temperature rise, which has been wonderful. Went for a lovely walk yesterday morning, this morning I did a 10K run – didn’t feel too difficult, but was slow. On Wednesday I ran 10K in school in an attempt to “beat the Head” (I didn’t!) and that was really tough – running on grass just seemed to sap the energy from me, there was no bounce to my rhythm.  I do need to spend some of this half-term getting myself back to a level of fitness I haven’t known for many months.

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Dogging!

Pic of the week

Another wet week with little to report. It really does feel like I’m currently just grinding out the days until half term next week.

Wednesday was yoga day – a bit of a highlight in the week and I’m glad I’ve started doing it again. We arrived early (don’t we always!) and, with no-one else present, Becky to a pic of me “doing the dog – it is evident that my back is far too rounded, but I’m not really sure how I do that!  Here’s a pic of what it should look like:

Weather-wise its been pretty dreadful: cold, wet & windy. No hint of summer at all. Let’s hope things start to warm up soon …

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Wet and tired

Pic of the week 16/5/21

A combination of poor weather (yesterday and today have been particularly wet) and being tired (the long term is starting is starting to bite, yet half term still seems a way away)result in little to report this week.

We seem to be on top of the mouse problem – no sightings nor captures for several days – and everything is looking green and verdant – verging on the overgrown as I can’t get out to do anything – which is nice: the sunflowers planted out last week are looking healthy, and the cosmos seeds have popped up. I would just like some nice warm weather so I can sit outside and enjoy the garden.
Yesterday, Becky & Sophie went to Cornwall for the day, and somehow dodged the rain. Sam wen to the dentist about his wisdom tooth and was pescribed some anti-biotics which seem to be doing the trick.

I spotted evidence of leakage from the shower – I have applied some tape over the sealant, hope that does the trick.

The week ahead looks set to be wet too, lets hope the sunshine is waiting in the wings for half term in two weeks time …

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Swimming, mice and flower beds

Pic of the week 9/5/21

On Monday I swam, for the first time since August. Given the extra long term, we were given Monday off as a “duvet day” and I took the opportunity to book myself in for a swim up at school.

I ended up doing 40 lengths – 2Km – in 47 minutes and 57 seconds. I actually felt quite fit in the pool, I was able to do that distance without too much difficulty, but I was then knackered for the rest of the day. Amazing how much it took out of me. However, come the holidays (both half-term and summer) I really ought to make swimming more of a regular thing.

Mice: we’ve been plagued by mice, fortunately only in the garden, who have enjoyed foraging on the bird food we put out. The fear is is that they start to stray inside, so this week traps have been laid.  We’ve snared three so far, with cheese being the bait of choice.

Today I planted out my sunflower seedlings into the new bed, along with geranium and lobelia plants. Hope they take to life outdoors and grow into big strong plants.

And this week we bought a rowing machine for the whole family to use. I don’t think anyone’s done a full session on it yet (to be fair, I only put it together yesterday).  I just hope it gets used, and gets us all trim and fighting fit.

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Glastonbury 10K

Pic of the week 2/5/21

Today was the Glastonbury 10K road race.

A new route, to avoid the crowds in Glastonbury High Street, and we were set off in waves, I was in wave 11, those with an estimated time of 47 mins.  This time was the time I gave for my entry in 2020, which was cancelled due to Covid, and was a bit optimistic. But the “new” course is very flat – from Strode, along the back lanes towards Baltonsborough for 5K, then turn round and come back – and therefore quite quick.

As ever in these races, I set of with racing snakes at too swift a pace – 1st K in 4 mins 30 secs – the race was tough, but I completed it in 47 min 42 secs, a whole minute faster than I have run a 10K this year.  I finished 222nd out 760 runners, and 19th out of 56 in the M50 category (Males between 50 and 55)

I’m pleased I ran it, am pleased with my time, let’s hope that events like today signal some sort of return to normality.