Holding Back The Years

Happy 92nd Birthday Mummy!

We were so pleased that she was well enough to be taken out for a family birthday lunch today. Though honestly she was very frail and clearly doing her best to enjoy it for our sakes. So very different from last year's birthday, and so different from a similar outing just a week before Christmas. 

Infinitely healthier!

I'm keeping up my daily running ( OK - striding out, and walking with intermittent slow jogs) following the Run, Fat Bitch Run, book and blog by Ruth Field, see here. Actually I'm not keeping up with Ruth but going at my own pace and still enjoying it. Her wonderful mantra, "Get your arse off the sofa and run, fat bitch run", got me going and I recommend it to anyone who's never been able to summon the courage or commitment to do it before. I just get up, throw on my loose comfortable clothes, (I don't waste time getting washed), drink a glass of water, and step out of the front door on a circuit I worked out beforehand. It only takes me three-quarters of an hour door to door. I don't care if amazingly fit looking joggers or runners pass me. I'm doing this for myself and my health. In fact I am surprised to notice that very few of the other runners, and the occasional other togged up walker, look that good.  An awful lot of fat wobbly bums out there - or maybe that's just here in my town! And you do get a bit of respect from casual walkers and passers-by who thankfully tend to give way on the narrow footpaths and sometimes even respond to my cheery, "Good-morning!"

My circuit is only 3km ( 2.5miles) but I try to keep at a steady 5km hour pace as apparently this is the optimum for health benefits, and just pre-holiday I don't want to risk a knee or ankle injury. I have gone out in all weathers, rain, gusty winds, even very gingerly on frosty mornings avoiding icy patches on footpaths. I can't tell you how wonderful it is. I guess all you dog walkers out there already know this, but I'm not bundled up and ambling. On the coldest day I only wore a fleece on top of my (very old) long-sleeved sports top. I always wear my Occupational Therapy (OT) 'infinity' scarf doubled round my neck as it's so comforting. I made the scarf during visits to my mother in hospital when she took up knitting after an OT session. We would sit there happily clicking needles and sometimes my sister joined us. We nicknamed ourselves, "The Knitting Nanas", to the amusement of the nurses. Previously I hadn't knitted anything for donkey's years and then wasn't very good at it, but I'm very proud of my scarf! 

And now I've inspired my rather fitter daughters to join me on my daily 'runs' when I get to Australia. They already do Pilates and Zumba but it's all indoors and they want to get into a daily, and by the way TOTALLY  FREE, routine of running/jogging/walking ( delete as appropriate). 

I won't ask if any of you elegant ladies and gents are still keeping up with your New Year Resolutions, because I didn't make any! This 'running' thing stems entirely from shame and from necessity in trying to fit into summer clothes (which have strangely shrunk), in time for my Australian trip.

PS - HELP needed from fellow Bloggers! When I tried to change my header picture on this blog, I was informed that I had exceeded my storage on Picasa web albums. I had no idea I had such a thing. Went to look and there's hoards of photos on there that I don't want/need them to store. I certainly don't want to pay for more storage as I store all my photos elsewhere. How to delete these please? Or will all my pictures on earlier blog posts disappear???

Note added 22/01/2012

With advice from my web developer, I think I've sorted the Picasa problem for now. I clicked on Picasa web albums, went into 'my photos' and found hordes of dupes and deleted those. Apparently every time you upload one or more to the waiting list before 'adding selected' to the blog post you are composing, these are also stored in your Picasa web album, even if you don't use them. And many's the time I've uploaded several, added one or two pics as I'm composing, then gone back to add more of my selection to find that they've disappeared. So have to upload again. All the time the disappeared ones have gone into the web album. Resulting in all those dupes. 

And take note anyone else experiencing the same, Picasa is the WEB album for Blogger. It's where your Blogger pics that you have uploaded from your computer files are stored as, even whilst your computer is switched off, your blog is live on the web. I assume that the pics you upload from some other URL link are already out there on the web and so are not affected by Picasa.  A lot of bloggers mainly use embedded links from other sources on the web, like YouTube etc, and only occasionally publish their own photos so never get near their Picasa web album limit. So if you delete everything in your Picasa web album all your own pics from your blog will disappear. (There must be something similar for Wordpress etc too, otherwise it could not work.) While Picasa is free, it only offers a certain amount of storage at that price! After that you have to pay. But a good way of delaying that moment, is to find and delete existing dupes and unused pics, then to make sure you keep on deleting unused and dupes in future. Though eventually you will have to delete pics from your very old posts, to 'free up' more free space for current blog posts. Or accept the deal and pay a very modest fee for what is, after all, a brilliant service.

And you're right MMMC - there probably was a warning somewhere about storage limits and fees, though clearly not made very obvious (Shoe Lane Parking? - is that still the precedent? Or caveat emptor! Although not quite the same, because you can back out without cost, though there is removal of facility. Nearer to the cases on the 'free' money off coupons that now actually state their value as 0.001p to avoid monetary claims, perhaps? Interesting.) 

Actually I wonder if you could just delete your first Blog (having given fair warning to your followers) and start another, so getting a whole new load of free storage?  Or maybe it's tied to your email so you'd have to use a different one. Mmmmn. Will have to consult my web developer...

The Dark Side

My last dark wash this winter!

Just tidying up while sorting out light clothes for an Australian summer, where we'll be in two weeks time, hooray!

My lovely mother's 91st birthday - January 21st 2011

I'm desperately hoping she will be well enough to attend her 92nd birthday lunch in nine days time. She has just returned from a dash to the local district hospital with a suspected heart attack. Luckily it was found to be a (light) case of pneumonia. She is responding well to treatment but has clearly suffered a bit of a downturn, though remaining cheerful and looking forward to returning home. 

And the other Dark Side: If anyone can offer advice with dealing with social services provision for the elderly I would be very grateful to hear from you. Please email from my profile page, many thanks.

New Shoes, New Shoes!!

No - not these designer models

Or even these pretties

But these babies!!!

Sadly my 10 year old Nike Air trainers are falling apart

I'll still need these old friends though!

You know what? Only five days in and I'm loving my new fitness routine of walking( with a view to jogging, and possibly running, in due course). I met a real runner in *Blacks yesterday and she helped me choose suitable new trainers. No need for fancy soles, but MUST be comfortable. (I was lucky enough to find a pair in the sale for only £25.) When I'm ready to try a little jogging, probably after a week of walking my circuit, she advised me to do only two minutes of jogging followed by two minutes of walking and so on as I could manage, to begin with. 

I do hope I can keep this up. It's a glorious world away from the gym. It's about enjoying the fresh air and opening my eyes to the wonderful place I live in. Not only the local scenic pathways and the undiscovered nooks and crannies of the old cathedral city I live in, but the everyday streets I have previously hurried through blind to their ordinary beauty. Even the shopping streets or the footpaths along busy roads that are lined with natural foliage and trees showing their seasonal leaves and berries, often overflowing from an old hedge, or a mellowed brick or stone wall. 


I used to wish I could borrow a dog so that it looked like I had a proper purpose in walking about. Why oh why did I think I needed validation just to walk round the streets and byways of where I live? I've even found that some people will greet me, although more will bow their heads to avoid eye contact. So I've now made a resolution to shout, "Good Morning" at everyone I pass, rather like the Norman French who (in my experience) always "Bonjour" even strangers, at the slightest meeting. So I'll either be sidestepped - so giving me more room on the footpath - or I'll make some new friends!


First time out in my new trainers this morning. I reversed my route which made me a bit confabalosed at first. Also I was a bit late starting. Not a good idea on a Saturday as too many other people around getting in my way. But by reversing I found another scenic path which took me off the city pavements for a bit longer so will add it to my circuit. I also tried about a minute's jogging towards the end of the route, which confused a passing bus driver as he stopped his vehicle at the bus-stop I was approaching and waited for me!  I averted my eyes from the stares of amused passengers and then was forced by embarrassment to keep on jogging until it had passed me by. Of course by then I was puffing and blowing like a steam train and had to slow down to serious looking strides. You have to laugh! ( But not at me, mind.)

* Long-established leading UK outdoor clothing and equipment store, sadly just taken over by JD Sports one of whose horrible shops I had tried first. 

Fabtastic '70s Children's Party (for MMMC)

First get your 1977 cookery book

Then your unfitted 1970s kitchen

Next, rope these kids in ( they've got a nicer kitchen)

Get cracking with the sausage rolls

And some open rolls, " Make them look appetising!"

Banana splits somewhere on the busy '70s patterned plate,

 and tinned peaches - yummy!

Oooh - the drinks! That raw egg white should see off a few 

of the more irritating young guests

Just a minute - where's the piece de resistance?

Cheese and Pineapple hedgehog!

Oo-er - look at those happy faces  - go for it Carmel!

Footnote to history: did you notice that the title of this section of the book is "Party Pieces"? Published in 1977, a mere 10 years before Carole Middleton launched her famous company of the same name...mmmn interesting.

Run, Fat Bitch Run - and reap the reward(s)...

Blisters!

Yes - nobody warned me about those silly little socks that barely cover the ankle and kept slipping down. Plasters and thick socks tomorrow! Yes, again tomorrow, because I am on a mission/ New Year's resolution, to drop some weight and be fit enough for walking around Bondi and Sydney in the summer heat on our visit. Only three weeks until we fly, but I am hoping to make a difference after a sluggish UK winter. I've tried healthy eating and cutting back on alcohol etc, and even tried three months at the gym before our last visit two years ago and none really worked that well for me. 

So now I'm going for the simple answer. Running. Well, walking actually. No faffing about with ipods irritating my ears or pedometers that kept falling off and erasing the info. Not even a shower. Just got my kit on - M&S joggers, old but barely used trainers, old longsleeved T-shirt, light fleece ( it was a bit cold this morning) and those stupid socks. I'd worked out a circular route in my head and reckoned that as long as it took me about 30 mins it should have some effect, and I would manage to keep it up. I also realise that as I improve, my time will too, so I shall probably have to find a longer route by week three. But the main thing is for me to keep it up. 

And that's where "Run Fat Bitch Run" comes in. It's the title of a book by Ruth Field and the subject of an article in The Times on Tuesday. See the link here to her blog and see also her facebook page. No I haven't bought her book either - but I like the way she talks. This, my first morning,  I had to wait in for a parcel delivery . I sat there in my gear raring to go, until the parcel was delivered, when suddenly I felt tired from getting up so early - though it was 11am by now. Also it looked like rain outside and was chilly when I'd opened the door to take the parcel in. Then I heard that voice in my head: " Run, Fat Bitch, Run", and was out of that front door like a shot before I could boil a kettle for coffee and a nice sit down on the bum shaped dent in my sofa ( read Ruth's blog side-panel).

Boy did it feel good - along the way as well as when I got back. It rained twice but I hardly noticed. I tried a bit of 'interval' training ( 20 paces walking, 20 paces jogging) as I crossed the close by Salisbury Cathedral on the first section of my run. Thankfully no tourists to hear me gasping for breath like a chronic smoker ( I don't by the way). Just the occasional dog-walker and shoppers taking a short-cut. Anyway I soon gave up that idea and went instead for long strides, as that apparently works your bum muscles almost as well as squats and other unsightly and boring gym stuff. By that time I was out the other side of the close and onto a quiet-ish back road with a slight rise to a main road. Funnily I hardly noticed the traffic as I was intent on keeping my stride and looking anxiously for the turn off past an old riverside pub, and onto a scenic walk which would take me back to the town centre. I had a brief moment of panic thinking I'd set myself too long a distance as it seemed much closer when I'd passed it in the car (!) Thankfully, just after a very smartly dressed middle-aged country gentleman had stepped out of my path as he raised his hat, I spied the turning. Phew. Shortly after that as I made my way past some 'executive' housing ( never noticed them before), and being greeted by another elderly gent (perhaps I'm not as fat as I think I am??), I heard a woman's voice over my left shoulder. Without slowing my stride I turned and saw that I had collected a companion. She was a similar age, enviably slim, though not dressed in jogging kit, and kept up a conversation while also keeping up with my pace all the way back into town. Apparently she does this walk every day also just to keep fit. Well she looked good on it though I didn't mention that I would be earlier tomorrow as I felt that I'd heard enough about her divorces today. 

So back to the rewards of running/walking. Yes I felt great. Yes I'll do it again tomorrow. It wasn't hard and I didn't feel silly (well I did a bit at first). And as I'd just had a piece of fruit before I set off, I had been looking forward to a late breakfast on my return. The porridge was already simmering in the pan when I remembered that we had no milk. I always add raisins for sweetness, but that's still a bit dry. Lawks a mercy, what to do?

Delicious and healthy organic probiotic yohurt

Oh - but look at that use by date. Never mind, let's see what else is lurking at the back of the fridge:

See that date - perfect!

Ladies and Gentlemen, " Porridge Royale!"

I wonder how your New Year Resolutions are coming along?

See You Next Year!

Waiting on midnight

I can't wait for 2012 to begin. So many hopeful new starts. Later in January, I'm off to a wonderful long holiday in Australia which means I'll not be back in the UK until March when spring will just be around the corner. So much to be thankful for after all.

Wishing all my lovely followers and readers, a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year with your many hopes fulfilled. 

For Tom and his Candlestick Collection

Candlesticks as bracelet holders

And for more riveting fashion advice, the link is here. Sometimes I don't just hold my head in my hands. Sometimes I actually weep at the crassness.