Bank Holiday

It was very wet yesterday and we ended up lighting the wood burner in the utility room in the evening to keep warm with the pets. Lovely having a load of wood delivered with high quality logs for the winter ahead.

Monday has dawned grey but dry and I got out for a run which was just over the three miles, shorter than previous days, and boy did I feel it. Legs are tired after managing 93 miles this month so far. Never run as much in one month before and looking to get above 100 for the first time.

Tomorrow is the start of camping down near St Ives and really looking forward to that.

Kingston Lacy

Lovely visit from Julie and the twins who we are meeting up with for camping next week too. We enjoyed a tour around the house on this visit, as well as a walk round the gardens. It was a late night in front of the woodburner as the weather has begun to turn a little chilly.

Bryony is off to Sri Lanka later today for three months. We will miss her.

Wednesday 22nd August

I was very pleased with my afternoon run given the pace for the 5 miles. I was struggling to get to around 9 min miles for a 5km run, so to be there for the longer distance is very pleasing. Part of the reason is I am now running a warm up first, a gentle half mile run to loosen things up a little and that means I get underway more quickly in the actual run. That would be in keeping with the fact I often have positive splits i.e. each mile is quicker than the last. I take some time to get warmed up and going - true in so many ways.

It was nice to be able to cook again with a vegan roast the order of the day. Lentils, cashews, walnuts and breadcrumbs gave a lovely moist roast to go with the potatoes, peas, roast carrots and courgette. Onion gravy to top it off. Lovely.

I experimented with a mango for a salad tea, couscous, cucumber and tomato also added.

The car went in for checking after the long term pinking or knocking sound became a worry with the trip to Cornwall next week. I was pleased it turned out to be a caliper sticking to the brake pad and therefore a good deal easier to resolve than feared.

Also underway yesterday was the bramble attack. Our front hedge shared with next door is very old but it is largely bramble these days and I started clearing the huge stems which is freeing up space for the other plants to inhabit. It does look much more bare and we'll see  how it progresses into the spring. If nothing else though, it makes hedge cutting much easier and less perforating.

Maria has her new school gear all ready now, as does Joseph which means we can focus on enjoying the last fortnight of the break. In fact, less than that now. However, I shall not be returning for the first time in 25 years, PGCE included.

Kingston Lacy in the sunshine

Lovely visit to Kingston Lacy yesterday afternoon with the sun beating down as we head towards the end of the summer. Slow walk round the grounds with the children followed by tea and cake.

The fern garden was especially welcome in the heat and has an interesting fountain.

Ouch

I got the golf in yesterday before collecting Maria from dance and was pleased with the 83 I scored which is 17 over par, well within the 26 maximum handicap. I am getting more consistent but there are two holes in particular which catch me again and again, especially the last. Grrrr.

This morning I ran a short distance, just over three miles, and have almost beaten my record distance for the month. I've done 75 miles in August which is just behind the record 78 from July. I've got over a week to beat it! Feeling fit for all the running and enjoying listening to podcasts whilst doing so.

I have completed the hedges at Joy's home and have finally brought the hedge cutters home. In sweeping up, I disturbed a wasp nest and didn't notice until stung on the leg. Looking down I saw the wasp stuck to my leg by its sting, as if it had struck and didn't quite know what to do next. I had to clear out the way for a few minutes to let them calm down. There was also time to plant some lettuce seed which is meant to be ready in a couple of weeks. Maria was great in helping water the seeds in, sweeping up hedge cuttings and sweeping the path.

We are off to Kingston Lacy next.

The summer holiday continues

It's been a busy weekend with a visit to Jenny and John on Friday evening where they treated us to bruschetta, paella and fruit. That was followed by a trip to Dorchester for the vegan market at the Corn Exchange which saw Maria selling raffle tickets and Alison serving vegan hot dogs. They raised a good deal of money and the various traders had a brilliant morning. I had a long run listening to the football in the afternoon and we watched 'When Harry Met Sally' in the evening.

Sunday was quieter for us in that Maria and Joseph went to Longleat with Sandra and Bridie. They had a great time whilst I got on with grass cutting, hedge cutting and relocating the swing seat.

Alison and I then went to tea at the Langtry Manor Hotel. Bridie had got us a groupon voucher for my birthday some months ago and it was worth going. We had a great tea with delicate sandwiches and then scones and cake.

This morning it was painting Bridie's bathroom. I ran down and got 6.29 miles done in a shade under 59 minutes.

Gardening

A brighter morning which meant we could go down to Verwood to continue to work on Joy's garden. I ran down and did 5 miles before meeting Alison and Maria. There was a bit of hedging to start with followed by digging the vegetable patch and sowing a few seeds, as well as sorting out the runner beans which had blown over.

We planted some spinach and radishes before going home for a spot of lunch and a play in the garden. The plan is to drop Maria with Bridie for the fireworks this evening whilst Alison and I visit a teacher from her school.

I am going to try and get a round of golf in as well.

I was amazed to see that Robin had a spade made in the GDR, the old East Germany! The spade was apparently his father's before him which makes it at least 50 years old, probably more. I am trying to figure out how an East German spade came to be in their possession. I imagined there was little trade between the countries, as part of the cold war. The spade is great. Maybe that is where communism excelled, in the production of garden implements! Joy was then prompted to get out some other old items from the shed including a very old measuring tape in a beautiful case. The tape was imperial only, no mention of metric at all. Just the thing for Brexit?

Wednesday 15th August

Started the day with a dog walk followed by a 5 mile run at 9.33 pace, which is much improved. I did a bit of a warm up run first, about half a mile, which seemed to help. Got a few holes of golf in as well, just the 7 because there were other people on the course playing quite slowly, although having great fun. You can see families from the local camping site playing together which is good to see. Hit some good shots.

Very much at the point of hitting some lovely drives, pitches and putts and feeling as if the game is straightforward before then messing up completely.

Took Maria over to the twins' house for a sleepover before getting over to Dorchester where Alison and I did some work on her garden. Lawn mowing, dead-heading and a little hedging.

Tuesday 14th August

Another morning working on Joy's garden, this time getting both lawns cut and sorting out the pile of wood left over from demolishing the arbour yesterday. Looking so much better already.

I had a gentle run down to Verwood across the golf course, 4.6 miles, before starting on the garden and have clocked up 50 miles already this month. Feeling good for it.

Made some blackberry jam after picking lots of berries yesterday and then got a bolognese ready - added some aubergine to see what that comes out like. I also gave Alison's car a clean and will be polishing it later.

Maria has Summer and Tiger over for a sleepover, so it ought to be a quiet evening.

All going well - enjoying not being at school and also not counting down the days till the exam results come out and I am back at school more or less. It feels a much better rest as a result. I can see retirement working out well.

Hole in one

Hole 7 Crane Valley golf course. I got the ball in the hole in one shot!!! I could see the ball was close but hadn't realised the only reason I could still see it was because it was resting against the flag. Moving the flag meant the ball fell in. In fact I had 18 good holes - 39 on the first 9 and 42 on the second 9. Some great shots but also some real messed up pitch shots where I hit the ground before the ball.

Lots of time at Joy's getting more hedging done and taking down the trellis. More to come this morning.

Beautiful Saturday morning

It was a lovely sunny morning yesterday, as shown in the photos. I managed a 10km run in under an hour but the weather was already taking a downward turn. Plymouth were ea bit lucky to get a draw and just about every result I cared about turned out poorly. Fingers crossed for Liverpool later today.

Sunday is wet and Maria and I have been playing Cluedo.

Hedge cutting

This week has been about getting jobs done in Verwood for Joy, hedge cutting, fixing the gates, her wardrobe and identifying the various tasks that are going to take a while to work through. Having spent a few hours there this morning it was time to sort out camping trip to Cornwall for the last week of the holiday and then the golf course.

Definite signs of improvement on the course with me finally hitting the ball straight, mostly, off the tee and being able to use a driver. Progress!

4 mile run to Verwood as well as the dog walks. Feeling fitter and eating healthily.

Alum Chine

A beautiful day to spend at the beach. We got to Alum Chine early and had the beach to ourselves with the girls all in the sea before 9.00. It was lovely and warm which made getting in and out over the next few hours a pleasure rather than an ordeal.

There were several people practising yoga or meditation with one remarkable man of quite some age performing incredible feats of strength and flexibility.

Having returned home, Chrissie and Emily came to collect the girls after their week with us and we had a barbecue in the evening sunshine. It's been a great week and it's always good to catch up with the family. Let's see if Grace reads any of the poetry of Sylvia Plath and if we can get Emily eating some peas!

Grace and Lily visiting

What a busy two days with a visit to Moors Valley yesterday to complete Go Ape. The three girls loved it and I managed to run there and back. 5.42 miles there and slightly shorter on the way back.

Today was Paultons Park and we had a great time. Lots of enjoyable rides for the children, including Joseph who went on all of them. Shattered!