Well done on the loss, and I hope the eventfulness stops soon.

I had a really nice run this morning, I went out without a set idea of what route I wanted to do, and just did what I fancied. Originally I'd wanted to do some hill practice because I'm doing a hilly race in a couple of weeks, but I got to the lake and it was looking gorgeous with clear blue skies so I ran round that instead. I did almost exactly 10k, and did manage to get a few hills in at least (ones I normally avoid by making sure my route takes me down not up them).

I'm trying to sort out some house stuff this weekend. It's only the second weekend I've been at home alone since early August, so I'm not planning on doing too much. So far I've sorted through a whole pile of magazines to rip out and scan recipes and workouts then I can throw the rest of the mag out, and I'm washing the bedding. I've got lots of nice recipes planned for the weekend too, as the freezer is getting a bit bare.

I might go for a swim later too, as it's always blissfully quiet on a Saturday evening and I don't have any other plans.

Yay, one of my internet friends I've been wanting to meet for ages will be in London on Sunday - and so will I! Hangover permitting...

Isn't it a lovely day! Very windy but very sunshine-y here and quite warm when the wind drops.

I had a lovely shopping expedition with my friend yesterday - made a nice change from going with DH who gets bored unless we are in Halfords.

We went to the designer retail outlet place at Castleford and didn't get further than Monsoon and Next. I got a lovely pair of indigo velvet trousers in Next and then went in to Monsoon and got calf length indigo silk skirt plus three of their beautiful tops which are completely different from each other but which all go with both trousers and skirt. All very sensible. Then I blew it... I fell in love with a beautiful deep violet floaty silk georgette dress which is boned and fitted on the top then flaring out from the waist to mid calf length (probably wear it on New Years Eve and then sell it on eBay!) The dress was £140 reduced to £35 and the rest of it was half price or less - and I got everything in the next size down! My friend thought I was nuts as did the changing room assistant in Monsoon - I tried on everything in my current size to make sure it suited me and then bought the next size down. This gives me 8 weeks to shift approx 10lbs of lard (hopefully more). The incentive is that if I don't do it there is a real possibility that DH will divorce me when he sees the CC bill for a bunch of clothes which don't fit! All I need now is a pair of suitable shoes and I'll be all set.

If you think I was extravagant you ought to see what my friend bought - OMG that woman treats shopping like an Olympic sport!

Afterwards we had a restorative cuppa in Thorntons and I managed to resist the freebie choccie again. My friend had a couple of dippy goes in the chocolate fountain and said she felt a bit afterwards.

arah Ann I am drooling (whimpers) Monsoon! Wish I had gone there!


I bought a pair of size 18 Next trouers in their sale - kind of moleskin material. I did not realise they had elastine in them and could stretch cos I was going to do a 'SarahAnn' and slim down into them - as although I can fit size 18 trousers with stretch, rigid ones I cannot. Anyway they fit me now and feel really nice on!

Fantastic peacock well done you.

I've just signed up for Sarah's challenge!!!!!!!!

What a rainy old day it is here. I've just straightened my hair and today i've put a black dress and black long boots on as I am off to meet my father for a drink. This dress is the one I was going to wear Christmas for a drink with my father until he saw it and said "get up those fecking stairs and change that dress its too low" so I did oh I am still fourteen in my father's eyes. Anyway this dress is bit big really now but I've put a pin in the front.

All quiet in this house one son at footie with his father, other son at his mate's.

Sodding raining is going to make me bloody curly again.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone

Michele

Peacock - This isn't a normal Monsoon shop - its where all the ends of lines/ overruns are sent to be discounted and most things are sold for half label price or less. Except that yesterday they were ALSO having one of their 'buy one get one free' days. So these tops are marked as £35 each on the label and I got them for £8.75 and the skirt's label is printed with £70 and that was first marked down to £20 then I paid half of that - a tenner. My friend paid for my skirt and I paid for one of her tops - so we could get the full discount! I love a bargain

Michelle - no rain here - just dull and grey. I wish something would make me curly! Years ago I used to get my hair permed and it would look a bit orange but nicely curly for a couple of weeks then go straight on the side I sleep on and frizzy on the other side so I gave up with the perms. I still spend far too much of my life (and money) trying to get some wave and body in to it, though - but I don't have perms any more.

I just signed up to do some voluntary conservation work next weekend for English Nature on the Moor (probably ditch digging). I used to volunteer regularly but then they told me I couldn't take the dogs with me so I stopped going - not sure why, George & Fred used to mainly just follow me around - maybe wander around a bit, maybe chase the odd rabbit or two - then go to sleep when they got bored. Anyway I just got a phone call saying they'd changed their minds and G&F are now welcome - so thats next weekend's workout planned.

Yeah Sarah ann - I realised it was no ordinary shop as you already said it was the designer retail outlet.

Have fun ditch digging - it'll be good for those biceps!

Have you heard of the Guerilla Gardeners? They even have their own website!

Sunny and bright here, with a light reeze, I'm attempting to get the sheets dry on the line...might happen, but I think they might need finishing in the dryer later...after the five loads I'm wading through at the moment! And Hubs had the cheek to ask if I've been slacking on the laundry front as he only had two pairs of work trousers ready for his trip this week...bloody cheek!

Sarah, ditch digging sounds fun, I bet it's achy work though, like Peacock said, you're biceps will be super

Michelle, you made me laugh with the comment about your Dad and your dress, isn't it funny how our parents still think we're teenagers. My Dad never said anything about what I wore, growing up, or as an adult, but my Mum, bless her, will raise an eyebrow or so, not so much comment now, although I did have to hear it from her when she saw my belly button ring...I was 38 at the time...quite old enough to have one...but the raised eyebrow started and then the comments.... did make me smile though.

Peacock, your trousers sound very nice, good for you on the fit as well. I seriously need to go and get new jeans, my 16's fit, but I don't like the way they fit, I think I may need a different style...

Ok, another load done, must go and fold....

Shoe porn!!


www.vivaladiva.com click on there and go to 'Couture'. Crikey! I guess you don't walk in 'em - you take a taxi. I was looking under wwide fit selection then veered over to the couture but I could never afford those ones ...much less walk in them!! Still, they can't arrest me for merely looking can they??!

I've done nothing interesting over the last few weeks I did give in and "accquire" the 1st 3 Episodes of Season 3 Lost - mmmmmmmmmmmmmm *drools*.

I'm ready now to have some more of my hair cut off. Its shoulder length but for the life me I can't think of how I want it I can't be doing with hairdriers and "product" I'm a messy wash and go sort of person.

I just couldn't fit my feet in them, so I guess I'm safe.

I've had a lazy day today. I only ran 7 miles (short for a Sunday) and since then have just sat around reading the paper and relaxing. I suspect I'll need some rest before next week at work!

Running club tomorrow, so I won't run before work - I'll probably swim instead. I think they've got a 10k run planned, which should be OK.

Sarah, your shopping trip sounds great. I have no idea what I'm going to wear for my christmas party - it's a back to school theme so I'm thinking of a very short skirt and long socks, but haven't thought much further than that. Of course when I was actually at school I wore very boring and very unflattering stuff, but I suspect they wouldn't want me to turn up in that, even if it actually fit me!

SarahAnn

We go to that Monsoon, too! In the summer, I went in when it was £15 for everything AND BOGOF! Got all my summer clothes in there! Also, a few autumny things that have just started wearing this last week... It's brilliant there!

Not a good start to the week, I was leaving the house to go for a swim, tried to turn the lights in the kitchen off and the lightswitch blew, the lights didn't go off, and smoke started coming out of it. Not good! I'm the least practical person I know with things like that so I stood there staring at it for a bit, then finally worked out that turning the electricity off would be a good idea. Then I realised how dark it was and decided to take the switch off the wall and turn the electricity back on, but hadn't thought to do sensible things like finding a torch or a screwdriver first, so had to use the light from my mobile to rummage around and find something. Taking the switch off the wall was actually surprisingly easy, although I'm not so sure about wiring a new one in!!! At least nothing's burning at the moment, even if I do have to rely on an uplighter I took through from another room.

I ended up missing my bus, but got the next one and managed a 20 minute swim. It's not my main workout of the day anyway, so that's not too bad.

Helen - OMG! Are you going to change the switch yourself or find an electrician? DH isn't particularly DIY minded but he can change a lightswitch so it can't be rocket science. About your Christmas do outfit - how about modelling it on the Roger Taylor schoolgirl look in the Queen video (the one where Freddie Mercury wears a skirt and tight pink top.)

Peacock - those shoes are really amazing! Nice to look at but I don't think I could actually wear them. I can't imagine spending £300+ on a pair of shoes although I've got a friend, Mookie, who's a complete shoe addict - she's 35 and still lives at home with her parents to keep her living costs down so she can afford her weekly pair of Manolo Blahnick's or whatever. Crazy!

PhatPhoenix - it went a bit downhill after they moved units. When they moved they got a new manageress and stopped that BOGOF offer but occasionally they have a specials day like Saturday. I wish I'd got a few more things now. Ah well....

Moo - got luck with your new hairdo. I hate going to the hair dressers it gives me the creeps when they touch the back of my head, especially near my neck.

I was speaking to someone who was on a conservation volunteers party this last weekend and he said that its too wet to dig ditches (makes the peat unstable and you might get buried) so it'll be something else. I hope its chopping down trees with a chainsaw - I really enjoyed that the last time I did it.

That's why iti s shoe porn Sarah Ann - we can look but not touch!!! I cannot believe I used to wear 3 inch heels which is not that high!!! I could not do that now.

He he! Sarah Ann - we will have to watch out if going your way - Chainsaw Massacre!!!