Posh Runs!

So it's week 2 of trying to get myself back into shape. I've managed two runs (without the runs) so far unlike last week and this poor bloke! You would soooo stop to get cleaned up wouldn't you? Sod your time! LOVED this picture even though it makes me gag. It came round on one of those joke things and prompted one of my friends to say 'why does it always happen to runners?'. She offered to stock me up with Tena Lady products and follow me round the FLM course with a pooper scooper...

This Sunday is the fabulous New York Marathon. I love watching this race. If you remember Katie Holmes (Mrs Tom Cruise) ran it last year minus a sports bra... This year's celeb to watch is non other than Victoria Beckham. Word on the street is that she was trying to keep it a secret but it's leaking 'conveniently' all over the shop. Apparently she's been in training and is not sure if she'll be up to it. If she doesn't run on this occasion then she'll reportedly run the LA Marathon in February 2009 as she wants to achieve this before she gets pregnant again. Dave (who appears on the cover of this month's GQ - well worth the £3.90) has been giving her training tips. Why oh why oh why can't he train me? Could you imagine?! If she does run on Sunday then I will be WELL impressed.

Dirty Dog Tales

It's been a while since I've blogged about my fantastic dog Flyn. Nothing much has changed. He's still finding food in all sorts of unusual places. One of his favourite haunts is Moulsham Street in Chelmsford where he more often than not manages to find a piece of KFC and wolf it down bones and all before I have a chance to grab it off him.

He went through a bit of an anti-social phase with other dogs but appears to have come out (literally) of it. The other week he got very friendly with another boy dog, a Springer Spaniel, who he wouldn't leave alone causing a fellow dog walker to shout out 'Your dog's gay!'. Juvenile.

At this time of year walks become less frequent and a bit more of a chore due to the weather. Now I don't have a problem with cold. Thick frost is fine and fun. But mud and rain grim. I worked from home today and Flyn had been staring at me for most of it begging for another walk so I took him out before it got dark and there wasn't the prospect of any fireworks (he's petrified). We were walking round our local park me with a cold, wet left foot as my leopard print wellies had sprung a leak and him taking a leak...

There was a youth on half term holidays practising his football skills. Flyn ran over to one of the goal posts and cocked his leg. I shouted out "Noooooo!" as I'd noticed there was a rucksack right next to the post but too late. I don't think the lad noticed so we quickly walked off. I turned round only to see him picking up a sports bottle from the floor next to the rucksack and swigging a drink.......

Winter's here!

What's going on with the weather? Just as we were indulging in those gorgeous Autumnal colours and a little bit of unseasonable warmth, suddenly slap bang wallop here comes Winter! This morning thick frost. There were the usual numb nuts trying to scrape their cars with nothing more than a credit card. My winter coat (think Dot Cotton of Eastenders) made it's first appearance and the boyf went to work in his Paddington duffle coat equivalent.

This evening we had apocalyptic huge rumbling black clouds accompanied by lightening and then a torrential hail storm (of golf ball proportions) bringing the Chelmsford traffic to a stand still. It's now pouring down with rain and I feel soooo cold even though the heating is on. I might need a hot water bottle tonight. Wrap up warm!

Lego Hair

I had my hair cut at the weekend and it's not good. Maybe that's a bit strong. I'm just not totally lovin' it. It's a bit too dull for me. I entered the salon very happy with the style, just wanting a 'tidy up'. My hairdresser said it had grown quite a bit so we agreed to take it to chin length. She then got a bit scissor happy, cutting into it and somehow I've ended up with what can only be described as 'Lego hair'. The Urban dictionary definition of this phenomenon is 'a particularly shitty male haircut where the sides cover the ears and the hair appears to be snapped on'. Hmmmm.

I never keep one style for very long but now I do feel a bit desperate. Hair is sooo important! It totally defines how you feel about yourself! So I'm frantically scanning magazines for pictures of Posh (I love how she's using Alice bands with her new crop), Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud (not when she had the Star Trek Lego hair), Frankie from The Saturdays and Rhianna for inspiration.

All I want for Christmas is funky new hair!

Picture of the Week

' Nuff said.

Well worth the wait...

It's been 17 years in the making but finally the new Guns n' Roses offering Chinese Democracy has been released and it's well worth the wait. I heard it for the first time in my car today, cranked the radio up loud (which is the only way you can possibly play GnR) and it made my ears bleed!

I can't wait for the album to be released. If you live in the good old US of A you get a free can of Dr Pepper to boot! No it's not some gimmick dreamt up by the record company's marketing team. As the album was so long in the making, Dr Pepper pledged to give every man, woman and child in America a can of Dr Pepper if it was released before Christmas 2008...and it will be!

On this side of the pond Radio 1's Scott Mills has followed suit, offering to buy every man and woman in the UK a bottle of wine (his fave tipple) if Busted reform before Christmas. I don't think that would be such a bad thing - Busted reforming that is. It would give Matt Willis in particular something to do and their music wasn't that bad apart from that dreadful Year 3000 song or whatever it was called. So mine's a bottle of Rose Scott...

Chelmsford Celeb Spot!

How excited was I to spot none other than Melvyn Hayes of It Ain't 'Arf Hot Mum Fame walking down Duke Street in Chelmsford at 5pm today!! He's appearing in Run for your Wife at our local theatre.

No more excuses!

Ok so it’s been 2 weeks since I found out I got in the London Marathon. You’d think I’d be in full on motivated training mode wouldn’t you? Noooooooooooo….. I’ve probably donned my trainers on no more than 3 separate occasions clocking up less than 10 miles in total which is abysmal. My excuse? I’m injured. Not officially but I have a twinge in the centre of my lower back and my left Achilles tendon is sore. Now neither of these are impacting on my ability to run but it’s suddenly dawned on me that I could get proper injured between now and April 2009 meaning I might not even make it to the start line! So I’ve decided that the easiest way to avoid injury is not to run. I’m ‘resting’. Don’t get me wrong I am doing some prep. The boyf bought me a fab book about marathon running but I’m not actually putting any of this learning into practice.

Anyway this is all by way of background…the source of these niggling ‘injuries’ I think is my body discovering new muscles as a consequence of playing badminton regularly although I can’t say for certain. I decided to mention my concerns to our coach John yesterday but ended up talking about the marathon instead (he was wearing a FLM polo shirt which prompted the discussion). Turns out he’s a veteran of numerous marathons including an ‘ultra’ (anything over the 26.2 mile mark) and is a member of our local running club…the one I’ve been ‘thinking’ about joining for the past year. He told me I needed to get out and start training because marathon running is serious stuff. He does a long run at 8 am every Sunday morning without fail – nothing can get in the way of it and he said I needed to have some of that sort of discipline in my own training.

So this morning the boyf kicked me out of bed at 6 am and I stumbled into my trainers and out into the night. Things were going ok until about 20 minutes into my intended 30 minute run when I started to get stomach cramps. Now running is known for getting things moving and there’s always a section in running books called things like ‘Befriend your Bowels’ or ‘Runner’s Trots’ giving tips on planning your route around local public conveniences if possible. A cause is often dehydration and as I’d not had a proper drink since the previous evening this was no doubt where I’d gone wrong. I should’ve known better as this has happened to me numerous times before and I’m no stranger to doing an excruciatingly painful buttock clenching shuffle home.

On this occasion I pressed on hoping they’d subside but the roadside bushes had never been such a realistic option. It was too early to nip into Tesco so I decided to take a risky route through some trees into a local playing field where I often walk the dog. It was pitch black and I broke into a jog to try and get out of there as quick as I could. Within 10 minutes I was home to the safety of my lovely bathroom!

I wasn’t very impressed with myself. If I had been more consistent in my training during the course of the year, nothing spectacular, just regular running, then I’d be in a much position than I am now. I only have myself to blame…I had already decided to start a half marathon training plan today to follow between now and Christmas. Whilst this might not be to the letter because of my low starting point, at least it gives me some structure to get my arse into gear. My diet has also got to improve as has my gym attendance. I’ve got 6 months and 5 days to go…NO MORE EXCUSES!

X Factor wins it!

So another weekend of tee vee viewing is over. It started quite dismally with Corrie and Liam’s long-awaited demise over the bonnet of a hit and run driver. Frankly after all that hype it was disappointing. Hardly edge of your seat stuff.

Saturday we had the indulgent fest that is Strictly and X Factor. Last year in our household Strictly won hands down and we just used to pay lip service to X Factor. This year X Factor is getting our vote. The addition of Cheryl to the judging panel has freshened it up considerably and some of the contestants are on a par with the usually higher quality of American Idol. This week the stupidly named Girlband were axed which was no doubt extremely sweet for Bad Lashes who went out in week 1. The Bluecoat lad got a better song and his first taste of tabloid kiss and tell in the News of the Screws yesterday.

Over to the Beeb and Strictly. I think the reason we’re not totally feeling this at the moment is there are still too many contestants and some of them lack personality, not least Don Warrington who hung up his dancing shoes last night. This week’s dances were the Samba and the American Smooth. Heather Small was sporting a very bad Austin Powers stylie ‘fro and ended up in the dance off for the second week running. Mark Foster who should’ve been in the dance off wore a dodgy fish net number. He has a very hot bod though. My triple jumper man Philips Idowu was in the audience to support him.

What I don’t get about Strictly is why oh why do they bother with the pretence of the ‘Sunday’ show. We all know it’s filmed on the Saturday night and it’s clearly evident in some of the comments that are made by the judges and contestants. Whereas X Factor had a special guest appearance from Girls Aloud in their results show, Strictly could only rustle up their current champion Alesha Dixon performing her new single. She did look good (I got long leg envy) and is clearly being marketed as a UK version of Beyonce, but Girls Aloud in their gold sequin dresses won it hands down for me.

Until next week…keep dancing!

Absolute genius!

I LOVE love love this advert for Absolute radio! Plus the accompanying track is the Kaiser Chief's Never Miss a Beat which is fantastic.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LHaxBTHE7lU

(p.s Apologies for the very basic link. I'm not very technically advanced so don't know how to embed videos which is why I've avoided this before!)

Just call me M....

Are you bored of the whole Madonna and Guy divorce thing yet? I'm not! It's only just begun...not quite satisfied with today's front page NoTW splash, I've just read a piece on t'internet which claims that apparently all the 'are they on/off' stuff over recent months and the rumours about her and that A-Rod guy was just publicity for her tour, to keep her in the headlines, and the increased revenue this would create in ticket sales would be set aside for their kids. Now I think that's got to be totally fabricated bonkers!!! Although what goes on in the bizarre world of celebrity never ceases to amaze me.

What I thought was probably more accurate (and caused me to feel a little uncomfortable) was not what will happen to poor baby David Banda, but the Daily Mail's report yesterday about the impact M's macrobiotic diet had on Guy. Dairy and sugar amongst other things are banned in the Richie/Ciccone household meaning Guy had to suffer rice milk in his daily cup of good old English Rosie Lee! He was also not allowed to have chipolatas with his Xmas dinner because M didn't want processed meat in the house. That's where I felt a bit wierd because I too am guilty of inflicting this level of suffering on my own man by feeding him Quorn mince and veggie sausages. My mum thinks this is just tragic. I'm not looking after my man properly, not feeding him proper food despite his repeated requests for real mince in his chilli. With Guy looking forward to his first Christmas in 7 years with traditional 'pigs in blanket' and a plate full of Jumbo sausage rolls from Iceland, maybe I need to let a few dead animals into our household...

Oh the other thing I just HAD to add is that apparently (again according to the Mail) M slathers herself in cream that costs £500 a pot before donning a plastic body suit in which she sleeps alone every night. I thought a good coating of Body Shop peppermint foot lotion and some thick socks was enough of a turn off...

This week...

I have been loving...

• Being at home with my man, my dog and my own bed.
• Autumn colours on the trees.
• Sex and the City the movie.

I've been hating...

• Feeling really not quite myself.
• Not having unlimited cash to go and splash on a new Autumn/Winter wardrobe.
• GMTV.

Changes

Last night I dropped by the Houses of Parliament to pick up with my sistas. When I got off the train at Liverpool Street it was like trying to swim downstream. I was caught up in a determined, pounding stream of commuters with one thing on their mind - catching that train - and I was attempting to go in the opposite direction. So I had to make a salmonesque leap out of that stream to head for the tube. I don't miss the daily commute at all.

As I recently mentioned going to Parliament is like visiting family but last night it was like a couple of relatives had been on Extreme Makeover! The most recent change is to the famous watering holes. Our first stop was the Lords Bar. Where once there was a warm, very traditional, dark bar, in its place stood what can only be described as something akin to an airport departure lounge! Bright, unforgiving lights under which there would be no chance of having a 'discreet' drink. We sat on slippery red 'leather' high stools and it was all very 'modern'. It didn't feel right at all, completely out of place in this beautiful historic building.

We then headed off to Bellamys which had also suffered an Ikea style makeover. It still smelt of paint. It was completely soulless and will look soooo dated in no time at all.

One thing hasn't changed though and that's the prices. I had a very credit crunch friendly hearty meal for the bargain price of £2.15 and a round of drinks still costs a fiver.

What a load of pants...

So we went to badminton again yesterday. I think it's something like week 4 of our 12 week course so we're a third of the way through. It's going well. We've learnt the rules and we're playing games. We leave each session positively buzzing. We've also started doing these drills to improve our foot and racket work. They're soooo exhausting though. I like to think I'm fairly fit but after 5 minutes of drills I'm knackered!

This week I felt a bit self conscious. It's hardly a competitive fashion show, most people come casually dressed, especially the women. No make-up and designer fitness gear to be seen. I like to think that I make an effort though. Anyway I have these 'fitness' knickers. They're nothing special. Just cheap ones from JJB but they add a little bit of 'control' and are made of a different, probably whicking, fabric. As we left the house I said to the boyf that actually it looked like my bum was enjoying a rather hearty meal. He agreed but said not to worry. And I didn't at first. I felt rather chuffed when our coach asked me to play in a men's doubles game to make up the numbers. I took that to mean he thought I was the strongest woman in the group but, on reflection, it could mean that the facial hair has come back with a vengeance. Anyway me and my partner Jim won the first game. Then me and the boyf were paired up and were awful. I then got partnered with Jim again. He's good, he plays in the week and his girlfriend/partner and her son are in the improvers' group who play after us beginners. In this last game we weren't playing well and were trailing quite badly. We are both fairly competitive and were getting frustrated at the shots we were missing. Added to this I suddenly felt extremely aware of my VPL as his girlfriend and son were watching us from behind. They must've thought 'god look at her arse and not only that but she's a shit player too'. I think I need to invest in some looser fitting trousers or a pair of 'skorts'. If the rear was that bad then I'm sure I must've had a 'toe' going on at the front too. Not good. Added to that my bum then went on to wreak further havoc as I inadvertently sat on my racket when I got home bending the head almost to a 90 degree angle. What a bummer...

TV Pick!

I'm not going to make it a regular thing to comment on X Factor cos Macmonkey does that soo much better than me but I just had to pick up on a couple of things. Dermot's hair? I'm not loving it....get it cut! Danny the widower/pool guy from Essex - bad makeover.....he had too much make-up on and his hair looked positively ginger. He was like a bad Rick Astley and the melancholy song choice was predictable. Which brings me nicely to the ample bosomed Ruth. How obvious was it that she would sing in her native tongue? How long before she belts out a Shakira or Gloria Estefan number? I must confess the girls get my vote this year. Alexandra was fabulous and I also loved Laura (although I think it was rather cruel squeezing her into that unforgiving tight LBD). As for the first to go, Bad Lashes, I don't think they deserved it. Admittedly it was a bad song choice on Louis's part but I think they were quite edgy and they could've gone further. Was loving their make-over especially the Sarah Harding lookalike. That Bluecoat guy should've gone just for playing the sympathy vote so well. Looking forward to Girls Aloud's performance next week.

Over on the other side we have Strictly Come Dancing. I LOVE this programme sooo much. I am such a frustrated dancer. For some reason this year Tess Daley is annoying me loads. I know she's meant to act dumb as Bruce's sidekick but she does it far too well. It's her stupid facial expressions. As for the contestants I was devastated to see the legend that is the wonderful Anton Du Bec leave the show so prematurely. Does he always get put with a rubbish partner deliberately? And has anyone else noticed that his professional partner 'Miss Whiplash' Erin Boag seems to have had a makeover? She looks fab!

My only other TV comment HAS to be about my favourite soap Coronation Street or 'Devastation Street' as it's been branded this week. Over the last few weeks there's been a regular stream of departures from the Street. The Mortons (namely Fat Sinbad from Brookside), Janice's fella whatever his name was, the amazing Vernon (he sooo should've stayed) and this week hot stuff Liam. I think this plot line has got a bit silly. He's suddenly making a right fool of himself over Carla - although I wouldn't be complaining if I was her. Apparently 3 endings have been filmed and we know one of them is definitely out as he didn't take a real bullet during paintball tonight. If you watched it how amazing were the stag party's tartan t-shirts? I want one! And the scary Tony masks soooo should've had a bigger evil eyeball cut out on one side. Has anyone noticed how they're trying to cover up 'Carla's' real life pregnancy? The big fat bow on the wedding dress was classic. And what's happened to Rosie? I know......

Fab food (except the porridge)...

So it was a brutally early start today even by my standards. I'm a real morning person yet I struggled to be on top form for an 8 am interview. It didn't help that the porridge served up at breakfast was just a solid, luke warm mass...I'm going to skip that tomorrow.

It was a strange day. Felt like we spent a long time sitting in a cold air conditioned box, just the two of us, in almost total silence, tapping away. However it has not been without its highlights. In the hospital cafe it was 'Indian' day and boy was it good! I had a chick pea curry thing, dal, rice, naan bread and a mahoosive poppadom. I've never had dal before but it was yum. (Note to Uncle Ken - it was probably sauce number 3 but you still would've enjoyed). I was stuffed to the gills and as Debs had shephards (their spelling not mine) pie it meant we didn't have to suffer the all you can eatery again. After last night's visit I noticed I stunk of cooking - on my clothes, in my hair. Eww!

So work over, back to the hotel and I decided to go out for a run to clear my head. There was an overwhelming stench of slurry but it was still great to get outside. I had my ipod on and the last song on my 'run' playlist, the 'power' track, is the Foos 'Pretender'. It's quite difficult to play air guitar when you're running...

Freshly showered I went for a walk to check out the local Asda Supercentre (the neighbouring 24/7 Tesco already done) and get a sarnie. This place was amazing! I know certain friends of mine that literally would've been in heaven, especially in the seasonal Halloween section (I bought a 50p plastic pumpkin bucket but skipped the Haribo Horror Mix mega bags. I'll probably regret it as shops sold out last year). When you're away from home supermarkets, especially 24 hour ones, become quite homely and you can spend ages just wandering the aisles looking for bargains. I got a gorgeous Buggsy sarnie (hummus, grated carrot, rocket and alfafa sprouts) reduced to 45p and treated myself to some Hello Kitty stuff for the car (tax disc holder, air freshener and demister mitt. I can justify the latter on safety grounds as it's coming up to winter and I could've done with it this morning).

So tomorrow is the ritual Friday feedback and I'm prepping like mad now as I have a funny feeling about this one but we can but see what tomorrow brings. Of course the one certainty about tomorrow is going home. Woooooo hoooooooo! (That one's for you Rich)

Tits for tatts........

My fave local celeb has been at it again. Jodie Marsh got her baps out for the paps at Jermaine Defoe's birthday party in London last weekend. Is it like some uncontrollable reflex reaction? She's also had some new tatts which she kept covered up on this occasion. Now I love good ink (as I'm sure I've mentioned before) but she's had Buddy Holly and Wacko Jacko's faces on her arm...why?

Sent to Coventry...again...

So this week I'm back in Coventry. The week started well as I was given an extremely welcome and much needed reprieve and didn't have to travel till Tuesday. This meant a Sunday night at home. OMG I can't tell you how nice that was. And then bonus upon bonus a Monday night too! On the downside I have to do the feedback on Friday and change plans to see friends that night but it was worth it for 2 extra nights at home with the boyf.

I know I promised no more cathedral blogs but guess what? Coventry has not 1 but 3, yes 3 cathedrals!! Two are in ruins but the latest, modern version is standing proud. Luckily I can't see it.

Regular readers will recall that when me and B came here to do our pre-visit presentation we 'dined' at this all you can eaterie next door to the hotel and it was not good. Consequently we weren't looking forward to this week's food. It hasn't improved since we were last here. Tonight I had an uncooked vegetable kebab. I think tomorrow night will be a sarnie from the neighbouring 24/7 Tesco mega store.

I'm making the most of some 'me' time tonight. I was in my Spongebob hot pant pjs by 6.45 pm and have just washed off a blue face pack. I was worried the fire alarm might go off and I'd have to run outside looking like a stumpy brunette Smurf.

Back to the 60s

My favourite music video at the moment is Girls Aloud's 'The Promise'. I think it's fantastic and I sooo wish I was wearing a gold sparkly dress looking like a Supreme!

Another group channelling the 60s theme is Boyzone with their comeback single 'Love you Anyway'. The song is extremely catchy and I love it! Check it out and I bet you end up singing along.

26:04:09

The wait is over! I got in! Woooooooooooo hooooooooooooooo!!! I am in denial. I opted to work from home today as it was a total 'crumpet' day for me. I went through my OCD-like routine of checking the bank account online for signs of marathon activity but nothing. I popped down to the local shops at lunchtime and decided to treat myself to a chocolate filled donut topped with more chocolate for when the inevitable plopped through the letterbox. I was eating my lunch reading the local rag when the dog went mad as the postman delivered the goods. And there it was. The blue plastic wrapper. I didn't rush as I knew it would be bad news. I flipped it over and could see through the wrapper that it said 'Congratulations'. Yeah 'congratulations there's still hope you loser' or something to that effect. I went back to the table to continue my lunch and then decided to rip it open. And there it was. Like the Golden Ticket to the Wonka Factory. A Flora London Marathon 2009 Acceptance Form. I screeched the house down a la Cheryl Cole when she found out what category she got in X Factor last week. I then rang the boyf and screeched at him before calling my mum who was permanently engaged so I just left a screechy message instead. So we're off out to celebrate tonight and then I'd best start some hard core training. This is a dream come true for me! Woooooooo hooooooo!!

No news is good news...or is it?

There's still no news on the London Marathon front. I'm beginning to clutch at straws. Yesterday I discovered, to my horror, that the debit card I had used to register had expired in May. Panic set in - I was bound to get rejected on that basis wasn't I? I hadn't even thought of that! I consulted the oracle that is the Runners World Forum and discovered that others were in a similar situation. Some had the foresight to get in touch with the organisers with their new card details. Others said they'd been told if there was a problem with payment they would be contacted. I've heard nothing so I'm assuming I didn't get in and they didn't need to use the card anyway...

The Runners World Forum has over 8,600 threads about the London Marathon. They go back years but it highlights the huge buzz this event attracts. People are sharing their disappointment, discussing alternative spring marathons in this country and overseas and also bemoaning those who entered the race 'just for a laugh'.

Those that bequeathed their entry fee have all been coming home to the grim discovery of a rejection magazine and an oversized FLM fleece (apparently the small can comfortably house 2 people). On the plus side I've not found anyone that's got in yet. It's all been rejections so maybe there's still hope! There's even a rumour that the rejects hear first and the acceptances are in the second batch. My hopes were heightened further when I received an email from the charity MIND yesterday saying people should know whether they're in or not by early next week. There's still a few days optimism left then.

Paula doesn't have to go through this trauma does she?

Cathedral Crazy!

I seem to have developed an obsession with large places of worship in the last fortnight. On the train back from Newcastle this week I spotted York Minster, another impressive sight.

Then we pulled into Peterborough and lo and behold another cathedral! I didn't realise Peterborough had one...

It amazes me when you think how long these buildings have been standing and the changes that must've taken place in their surrounding landscape over the centuries. I also think the intricacy of the stonework is something else.

Anyway I don't intend to continue on this cathedral craze after this particular posting so will end with our very own cathedral in my home town of Chelmsford. Nice isn't it?