Two blue bottles......

When Phil goes to Spain he always manages to bring us back some lovely presents; even though the only shops he gets to visit are in the airport! We have had nice pens and writing paper, bags with "Madrid" on them, last visit I got a beautiful bull keyring. He has also brought me these beautiful bottles. The water served at the villa comes in these and Phil thought I would like them as he knows how much I love blue! He has promised to bring me another one on his last trip in July, as I think a group of three will look even better!

I love Wednesdays. Wednesdays are like a mini-weekend in the middle of the week. I get a morning to myself and in the afternoon I have RDA. Bliss.

This Wednesday I also have the Race for Life at Chester Zoo in the evening.

Two different shots of the iron men on Crosby Beach, a large scale art installation from Angel of the North creator Antony Gormley called "Another Place"
I really enjoyed my windblown evening here with the Wildcat; although her photos are more impressive than mine! I never get tired of this beach and the wonderful statues. Many of them are developing interesting growths of marine life.
The Corner monthly competition results were announced last night; the subject was HUMOUR and I got second, third and joint fifth places!! I can't say my most successful photo was of any technical merit - just something I happened to see!! click HERE if you want to see my photos and the winner; which IS a good photo!!
This morning I'm off for my training walk - it's less than a month now until my Race for Life. I have RDA this afternoon. My back and right hip are really hurting today despite liberal dosages of painkillers - I think it's the rain. Hope it holds off while I'm out walking.

Just a happy day....

I have really enjoyed today! First thing I met up with J and M, two of my Helsby friends for a Race for Life training walk. I took this photo of the tree branches against the blue sky after we'd walked up the first big hill! As you can see the weather was perfect!


A bit further on we passed one of the local pubs. It's quite a nice place to have lunch both in summer and winter - T and I have had a few lunches here. You feel you've earned your drink if you walk here - whichever way you approach it it's up steep hills!


This last pic is the view up Towers Lane. We walked down it today but we often walk UP instead! It's a longish pull and at first J and I couldn't walk it and talk at the same time (M actually RUNS up it, the fit minx that she is!!) but now we can walk up it chattering away and barely notice the incline. We saw coal tits, long-tailed tits, a green finch and heard a woodpecker. Lots of coltsfoot is out in the hedgerows.

After lunch I went off to RDA. I actually remembered to wear my purple riding gloves today which was lucky as i was helping to lead Theo. The lady who usually takes Theo had hurt her wrist when he knocked her over last week making a dash for a patch pf grass at the end of a ride! So she wanted me to help her. Theo has his "little ways" - he kicks out with a sort of "pawing the ground" motion and also a tendency to nibble people, as well as his habit of trying to snatch any bit of greenery he passses. On the whole he was very good today. All three rides turned up and all of Theo's riders enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. For such a contrary beast, he is a total lamb in the stable, very docile and gentle. Go figure!

Sorry for rambling on but once again I'm on a bit of a post-horse "high"!

By the fireside...
It has been a long, busy and productive day at work - but I really enjoyed it! Yesterday I was feeling a bit downhearted but today was so much better! We had our time briefing after work and I brought in bread rolls and got chips from the chippy - just a little snack but it made the meeting seem less like a chore. The trusty slow cooker had done it's work so there was pork in plum and ginger sauce ready when i got home. I snapped this pic from where I lay on the floor in front of the fire - it's been chilly today and by the fire is a nice place to end the day.

My IBS has been terrible this week for some reason and right now my tummy feels as if one of Lori's frisky horses has been dancing all over it so I'm off to bed with a hot water bottle. I have a Race for Life training walk in the morning and RDA in the afternoon!

The view from the treadmill....
I knew I had a busy day ahead so I took the compact into the gym to snap this view. It's what I see when I'm on the treadmill. You can see a bit of Chester Cathedral in the distance. Not the most interesting view in the world but ok when you're listening to music. I enjoy my exercise programme but I'd always rather be walking out in the open air than on the treadmill. But the machine is a good way to test my stamina and to see how my training for the Race for Life is going.

I've had one of those disheartening days when I feel as if all of my confidence and self belief has vanished down the drain. I went into work in the afternoon but wasn't in a good mood and felt I let one of my colleagues down. I phoned to tell her I was sorry and she was very understanding. But it's hard to forgive myself!!

P is away until late this evening and I really miss him. However I spoke to four friends this evening and each one of them in their own way lifted my spirits. We didn't talk about my feelings but just connecting with these wonderful people made me feel better although they probably never realised it!

As I posted an old picture of mum yesterday; here's one of me aged around five! Don't laugh....

I found a trio of very happy-looking mating frogs in the pond this morning! So I'm hoping for a nice crop of frogspawn soon.This is another photo of P's - I think it's really good especially considering it was taken with the compact camera - I'd have dropped it in the pond probably. I will try my hand at frog photos soon though.Maybe with the camera in a plastic bag!

I finally did something I've been meaning to do for months. I rang Riding for the Disabled and asked to be considered as a volunteer. I'm going along next Wednesday for a trial. I'm really excited - I hope I can do this!!

I also did my first training walk for the Race For Life today. J and I did about four miles - we had a great time! We were lucky with the weather and made quite good time.I'm hoping to not find the actual race as painful as last time; when I was afraid i wouldn't be able to continue.