Anybody seen my keys?

Yesterday B. and I popped into Harleston to do a bit of shopping. The last job was to get a new battery for my stopwatch. We'd taken the camper and we both have a key to the camper on our keyring, and B. happened to be using my keys. We managed to park opposite the shop, popped inside, and as I was looking at the other stopwatches, B. quickly nipped to the cashpoint next door. I paid for my stopwatch, we put our stuff away, he says 'can I have the keys please?'. No sign of them. I knew he hadn't given them to me, but they weren't in his pocket and not in my bag either. We'd not done any browsing in the shop and they weren't on the floor anywhere. Panic ensued: my keyring has my (only!) house key and my car keys on it. It quickly dawned on me that the most likely scenario was that someone had picked them up accidentally, but it's a Bank Holiday over here this weekend and if someone did find them before the shops shut yesterday, what were the chances of them remembering which shop they'd picked them up from? We left our contact number with the shop, went to the police station to leave our number there as well and then went home - feeling very unable to do anything but wait. Fortunately I'd remembered who else was in the shop at the same time, and more fortunately the lady helping there had the sense to remember that that lady had ordered something and left her telephone number. So they rang her and left a message, and lo and behold, at 2.30 that afternoon, the shop rang to say that the keys had turned up. The man in the shop at the same time as me had the same make car as me, had seen the keys and assumed they were his, and put them in his pocket. When they heard the message on the answer phone, he checked his pockets and found my keys there.
Funnily enough, instead of feeling just relieved, I just felt incredibly angry. We both had lots to do yesterday and most of our day was completely mucked up by driving around and trying to think up solutions, just because someone was so stupid as to pick up the wrong set of keys. When B. picked the keys up again and it didn't seem the bloke had even apologised, I got even angrier. Someone said to me 'good to see there are still honest folk out there' - well he shouldn't have taken them in the first place!!
By 8 pm last night we were both shattered. We'd achieved nothing all day and we were in bed by 10.30 pm, not unusual for me but B. doesn't normally make it to bed before midnight, and that constitutes an early night for him.
Feeling a bit better this morning, but needless to say, I'm not leaving my keys out of my sight!

Still counting those three minutes

I've been struggling with this running level for over a week now. C.'s completely dropped out, as her ankles have been so painful she can barely walk, let alone run. GP said no serious damage, and to get some proper footwear fitted if she takes up running again. She's wearing expensive Nikes, I'm wearing cheapo trainers bought eons ago for a pilates class, and I'm pretty much painfree now that my muscles have got used to actually being used. Anyway, I've been training on my own for over a week now and have had real trouble with the three minute runs, to the point that last Tuesday I couldn't even finish the second one. I was getting very frustrated - normally I can tell my body gets used to the increase in pace, now I was just finding it harder every time I went!
I was wondering if dropping down to 2 1/2 minutes was an idea, but wanted to give it one more try to see if I could do it - and today I managed it. Still hard work, still dripping sweat, but at least I didn't feel I had to give up for fear of collapsing.
I've slowly come to realise that I probably won't be running all of the 5 K for Race for Life. The plan I'm following covers 9 weeks, I'm on week 3, and Race for Life is in a month. Fortunately nobody tells you you have to run it (I just set myself the challenge), I know I couldn't have tried harder, and I also know I'll keep it up after the Race, as I'm enjoying it. I've secretly got my eye on a triathlon ;-)

Apart from that life is ridiculously busy, so much so that I haven't touched my knitting in days - it's been back and forth to Diss so many times and I haven't even taken it out of the car on occasions. This weekend is a long weekend though, and I. and N. are with me on Monday, so maybe I'll get a bit of knitting in when we go to the zoo.

I. had her Brownie promise tonight. I remember doing mine when I was her age and it was very sweet to see her standing there very confidently giving her promise and telling Kingfisher what the Brownie law is. Compared to December when she was so upset about me having been away and mum having been ill, it's great to see her so full of life and confident again. And growing up.

Three minutes and counting...

I did it - we upped the level again today, which included running twice for three minutes. I was fully expecting to collapse. To my utter surprise, I found it quite manageable. Now, it is possible that we went a bit slower than normal as C.'s ankles are giving her trouble, and we had the wind in our backs, but still! I'm seriously chuffed...

Murphy's law

Why is it that when you can think of countless opportunities to knit, you haven't got your knitting to hand?

B. and I went to Durham this weekend to pick up his new van. We were supposed to take the train, would be collected by the seller, and would drive the van back home again. So, a 3 1/2 hour train trip, perfect for knitting, right? Only, when we got to the station and asked for the tickets, the lady said 'that will be 178 pounds please' without so much as blinking. We had to wipe ourselves off the floor. That was only for two singles - if the van was a pile of rust, we'd have to come back on the train too! Needless to say, we said 'thank you but no thank you', got into the car, bought a road atlas and drove up to Durham. We shared the driving up there, then coming back again B. was driving the van and I drove his car. I didn't knit a single stitch. Worst of all, when we got back home, 13 hours later, I was first of all shattered from all that driving, and secondly excited about the new van which he let me drive around the block. So I totally forgot about my knitting back in his car. And it's still there, now that I'm back at my place. I'm taking the kids to the library this afternoon - where I normally knit a bit while they have a cup of tea before we choose our books. I knit when they get home from school and we sit down with tea and a biscuit. But now I can't knit... Okay, it's not the end of the world, I'm seeing him tomorrow evening, but I want my knitting back! (and yes, he lives too far away to just nip over and get it... I learnt that lesson when I left my house keys at his place one day!)

Don't stop me in my tracks

I' m still really enjoying the running. Running is a misnomer really, it's jogging. But I enjoy it, whatever it is.
I've been teaming up with C., a friend, and we try to go together twice a week. We seem to be on a fairly similar fitness level which makes it fun to join up. Last week on Thursday we upped the running and we both thought we'd collapse. Admittedly, it was up a hilly road and it was the first warm day of the year, but even so... This morning I did the same level for the fourth time and thought 'this is a doddle, next level please'. Yes, I'm still tired at the end of it and I'll be the first to admit that it is hard work, but I still find it amazing how your body adapts and gets fitter.
I still cycle and swim as well, and this week I've managed to exercise every day since last Saturday. I'm giving myself a well-deserved day off on Saturday...
The only drawback is that I'm constantly hungry and I haven't quite worked out yet how much I can eat without piling on the weight!
(roll on Race for Life - a week ago I didn't think I'd ever be able to do it, this week I feel it may just be possible...)

Useless information time...

Taken from Cetta's blog, who I did a coffee swap with last year.

50 more things you never cared to know about me…

1) Do you like Bleu Cheese?
Yes, being Dutch I love most types of cheese.

2) Have you ever smoked heroin?
Nope, don't intend to either.

3) Do you own guns?
No

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic?
At what?

5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Yes, a little.

6) What do you think of hot dogs?
They're okay, but there are far nicer things to eat (blue cheese...)

7) Favorite Christmas song?
Once in Royal David's city

What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
At the moment it's tea.

9) Can you do push ups?
No idea!

10) Can you do a chin up?
no idea again!

11) What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
Not sure I have a favourite piece. I wear the necklace a lot that my mum bought me just before I went back to Britain after she'd come home from hospital. It's got sentimental value - to me it signifies the end of a very intense, frightening period.

12) Favorite hobby?
Again, not one favourite hobby - sewing, knitting, cooking.

13) Ever been in a car wreck?
No, but I've bumped my car several times.

14) Do you have A.D.D.?
I hope not.

15) What IS one thing that you hate about yourself?
I worry too much.

16) Middle name?
Haven't got one.

17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
1. What's the next question?

2. How much more work do I have to do?
3. Is it going to rain today?

18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday.

1. Coffee plus cinnamon toast, and cake for I.
2. Fruit and vegetables on the market.
3. WeightWatchers magazine.

19) Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
1. Tea

2. Coffee

3. Instant hot choc

20) Current worry?
Am I going to be able to run the entire 5K for Race for Life?

21) Current hate right now?
not sure I have one right now - feeling quite relaxed at the moment!

23) How did you bring in the New Year?
Went to over to the Netherlands, went to see mum with I., then back to dad's place, woke up N. to see the fireworks.

24) Where would you like to go?
Right now? To the coast in the camper.

25) Name three people who will complete this?
Don't know

26) Do you own slippers?
Yes, a blue stripy pair at home and a pink fluffy pair at B's.

27) What shirt are you wearing?
Turquoise/lime green striped rugby shirt

28) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
No, cotton or linen.

29) Can you whistle?
Yes.

30) Favorite color?
Blue.

31) Would you be a pirate?
No. I'm too law-abiding.

32) What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don't sing in the shower. I sing in the car along to cd's.

33) Favorite girl’s name?
My eldest's name! If my second child had been a girl, she would have been called Erin.

34) Favorite boy’s name?
My youngest's name! I like lots of Dutch boys names.

35) What’s in your pocket?
A ten pound note and a raggedy tissue.

36) Last thing that made you laugh?
B. teasing me.

37) Best bed sheets as a child?
Probably a pink duvet cover with white flowers, which was the first duvet cover I had after sleeping under blankets, and which I. is still using now.

38) Worst injury you’ve ever had?
My dad skated over my thumb, severing the muscles. I have a large scar on my right thumb and can't bend it as far down as the left thumb.

39) Do you love where you live?
Yes.

40) How many TVs do you have in your house?
1. Would rather have none at all.

41) Who is your loudest friend?
Myself? ;-)

42) How many dogs do you have?
None but I would have two if I had them.

43) Does someone have a crush on you?
No idea!

45) What is your favorite book?

Lots of books made an impression. Last book that I read with I. made me cry: Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo, but then most of his books do.

47) Favorite Sports Team?
Haven't got one.

48) What song do you want played at your funeral?
Not something I've ever thought about!

49) What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Brushing my teeth to go to bed.

50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
What's the time?

1045 reasons why knitting is good for you

So what do you do when you end up in the traffic jam to end all traffic jams, which means that a journey which normally takes you 75 minutes, now takes 5 hours?
You listen to Radio 4 and you knit of course.
I'm sure it saved my sanity for those 5 hours.
(even though I did wonder a few times why I'm keen on working at the office a bit more...)