First Non-Annual Post Pneumonia Run

Well, this was a great way to launch back into running. A little jaunt around the southern end of Central Park with hundreds of other runners. I don't see this many people running in Oklahoma unless it's a race and even then only at the big races. It was a weird sensation.

Start spreading the news...

The Eye of the Tiger

...Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a girl and her will to survive…

I am the girl in the class with the gym bag.
I am the girl with wet hair straight from the gym.
I am the girl who never takes the lift.
I am the girl who can’t make appointments earlier than noon on a Sunday,
As I have to run.

I am not the girl who looks down on others for not going to the gym.
I am not the girl who feels superior because I do some exercise.

I am the girl that needs to run to survive.

Running for me isn’t about being slim (though I have to admit that is where it all started and an undoubted benefit). Running for me isn’t a way to make others feel bad. It’s the way I’ve found that I like myself. It’s also the way I’ve found to stop taking the handful of pills twice a day to keep my moods stable and seizures at bay.

Running is me responsibly looking after my body, mind and finances. I can't afford medication. I can't afford to lose years more of my life to depression. I can't afford to keep buying clothes in larger and larger sizes. I can't afford to keel over from a heart attack. I can't afford to stop liking myself.

Most of the time running isn’t fun or easy, sometimes the weather isn’t nice and I don’t feel like getting out of bed. Often I have other things I need or want to do instead. But I still run and I do it because I have to.

Sometimes it seems like a lot of people split the world up into two groups, those that exercise and those who don’t. Those who don't seem like they're on the defence all the time like somehow those that do are judging you. We're not. We're just doing what we have to. Or at least I am. I often feel attacked by those who don't for running. How dare I work so hard to conform to the male stereotype of the female figure? How dare I look after my mind, body and finances...?

There's also the idea that those that don’t “just aren’t sporty people”. Guess what? Very few exercisers (if any) are. I was the girl picked last for every PE team in school you could imagine. I was the girl that hid in the music room rather than do the annual “Cross Country” run around the streets of Ealing. Even now I’d probably rather lie at home on the bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to Radiohead while eating icecream. Unfortunately this natural tendency makes me a nightmare to live with both for myself and other people.

I don’t run for the fun of it. I don’t run for the superiority of it. I run because I have to. Because it’s the responsible thing for me to do.

We Don't Do Duvets!!

This is Iggy. Many people that come to visit us may come to wonder whether or not we actually have two cats. Rufus is all up in your face begging for love and attention and this ellusive cat called Iggy is nowhere to be seen. Well rest assured people, I have photographic proof, and not just your bog standard here-is-my-cat-asleep proof but Iggy being the cheeky monkey that you never get to see proof.

This is Iggy at the beginning of his monkey escapade. He has dug himself into the duvet cover and is purring. A lot.

















"Iggy! Where are you?!"

"Here I am!"

I am apparently a floating head.

Mmmm.... Cat heads.... (the biscuit and gravy sort, not an actual cat head, that would be gross)









"Peekaboo!"
















"I'm here! Look! Look at me!"











"I'm so cool. Just hanging. In my duvet."

Sadie is not entirely sure about all this...

Yay! This is exactly the weather I love to cycle to evening classes in... At least it's stopped hailing!

BHF Santa Run 2007

Thanks to everyone that sponsored me doing the British Heart Foundation Santa Jog this Christmas. I managed to raise just under £100 and got mud in my beard in the process. It turns out that there is nothing more entertaining than 400+ santas doing aerobic warm-ups in a park.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 25

Today is the day. I'm really very mostly packed and really very mostly nervous and excited. So many hours sitting still may just drive me crazy though...

Amanda was right! Antlers for Olive the Other Reindeer. Yay!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 24

I am nearly packed. Sort of, maybe...


Nooooo Rufus! Don't eat the snowman holding Olive. He keeps knocking people into the bin, little monkey.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 23

Still unsure as to what else could be lurking behind these remaining few doors...







SANTA! And I was sure he'd be last. He's got to check his list twice first though I suppose.

I wonder what I'll get tomorrow!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 22

Day 22, I am beginning to wonder what there is left to add to my little scene. Amanda and I have conferred and we are quite sure that Santa will be day 25 although she did also suggest Olive's reindeer antlers though I'm not sure how those would work. I am also beginning to be a little bit sad that I wont get to enjoy this once all the pieces are out as I'll be off to lands afar. So, anyway, what will it be?



Awesome! A wreath. Apparently even reindeer like to decorate for Christmas as the instructions under the door (I love it when they give me directions on where to put things) said that this was where it was to go.

Christmas Joy in Sweater* Form

I made this delightful item at We Hate Sheep, We Love Holiday Sweaters. I think maybe I should have hit the unravel button at some point... I might have to chart this thing out and knit myself a real life version!

*Sweater used rather than jumper as I've never seen quite the same level of old lady Christmas Joy in sequin applique and intarsia insanity in England.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 21

It's Monday. It's Monday now and I leave on Friday and arrive on Saturday and if that weren't excitement enough I get to run 3 miles in a Santa suit on Sunday. What could be better?!


And I thought it was gearing up yesterday! Today there's an elf tethering one of the reindeer to the sleigh. Quick Comet, put down that cup of coffee and stop being so nonchalant, it's time to get cracking!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 20

Dagnammit, 5 days to go. I must think about getting my suitcase out.






Wow. Things are really gearing up at Santa's castle. I was initially confused by this strange item but Amanda informed me that it is a starry lamppost with speakers for The Cookie Parade. I am a fool. Clearly.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 19

Day 19, what on Earth will the clever makers of the Olive the Other Reindeer Advent Calendar think to put behind the door today?!!






Okay, this is a little bit weird, verging on the bizarre. It appears to be a gingerbreadman taking a photo. I put him taking a photo of Olive and Percy but frankly I think he's odd. Sorry Mr. Gingerbreadman but there's something not right about photographer gingerbread particularly when he's clearly fresh out of the oven and piping hot.

Run, run fast as you can...

Countdown to Christmas - Day 18

The 18th!!! Already?! But I'm not ready yet. I haven't packed or finished getting presents or anything! Arrrrrrrrrrgh!


Nelson the Naughty Penguin is AWOL. He was possibly eaten by Iggy the constantly hungry or Rufus the Ruthless. We're not sure. This little penguin is forming a search party and it off on a rescue mission. According to Amanda he is on an icycle.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

Just a week to go now and not only am I brimming with excitement but the pressure's really on to finish my Christmas shopping, oh, and pack!



Behind the door today was yet another penguin. He's building a snowpenguin but Amanda reckons he's only feigning playing nice and is in fact a cohort of Nelson the Naughty Penguin's. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt but he must continue to behave if he has any hopes of cookies from the cookie parade when Santa gets back from delivering presents.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 16

Day 16 of the countdown. 9 days to go until take-off. I really ought to make sure I have some clean clothes and some fun airplane/airport activities.






Today behind the door was another Elf. I put him in with the other Elf in the toyshop. It's getting rather hectic in Santa's Castle so it's all hands on deck to prepare!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 15

YAY!!! Day 15 which can only mean just 10 days until I fly which is THE most exciting thing ever. I wonder if London will still look the same and whether I'll remember how to use the ticket machines on the tube....

Behind this door was another reindeer drinking a cup of coffee. You've got to perk up and be alert to be useful to Santa. The stables are getting rather full now that they're each pressed up against their windows. I do hope they're allowed out to stretch their legs a little. Perhaps I'll let them frolic tomorrow.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 14

So day 14 soon I shall be in single fingers on the countdown ticker and figures with a 2 at the start on the advent calendar. Such fun! Maybe I ought to think about packing... Any requests?




Behind this door I had an elf. But this one was running. Clearly Nelson was after him so I put them together. What a naughty boy Nelson is. No presents for that one.