Saturday 29 February 2020

Virtual Running - part 2


On 27th February I finally 'arrived' in Paris.  
It's taken me 2 months, but I've managed to run the 214 miles needed to run from London to Paris as part of my virtual running challenge this year.  Admittedly most of them were in London, but every mile counts.
This challenge is a bit weird, in that there is no finish line to run under to know you have finished.  There is only the spreadsheet I've created with all my mileage logged.  It was a very weird feeling to look on the spreadsheet and realised that at some point on my run that morning I had completed my first challenge.  But it was also a very satisfied feeling to know that I had done it, even missing a few long runs due to storms and a grumpy ankle.
So in January I ran 125.74 miles, in February 91.84 miles.  
To complete my biggest challenge of 1000 miles in 12 months, I still have 782.42 miles to go, but right now that seems very possible and with the uncertainty of coronavirus and all the cancelled running events right now, it also feels like I chose the best challenge possible this year.
On to my next challenge - 220 miles 'along' the River Severn.

Sunday 9 February 2020

A Curtly Roll

Not the real office curtly
Years ago I received a set of curtly for use in the office from a good friend.  If I remember rightly, it was after I'd moaned to her about how disgusting the curtly at the office was and how I didn't want to use it for my lunch.
That set of curtly, consisting of a knife, fork, soup spoon and tea spoon, have accompanied me to many jobs, sitting in a drawer with a plate and soup bowl waiting to help me with my lunch and other snacks.


However my newest job doesn't involve drawers.  Because we can hot-desk round the office we have lockers instead.  I can't say I'm a fan, but I guess it does keep your junk a bit more manageable.
But my curtly set wasn't enjoying my locker, always seeming to disappear to the bottom of the stack, and so with a long-run free Sunday, due to Storm Ciara, I decided to create myself a curtly roll.


Using a spare tea towel and some left over ribbon, I made something that looks nice but is very practical, holding my curtly and allowing me to give it a quick dry after washing too.
Its very similar in design to the knitting needle wrap I made 6 (!!) years ago. 
It'll be going to work with me tomorrow and will hopefully show my curtly just how much it means to me.

Thursday 6 February 2020

Maddox the Mischievous Monster


Last Christmas I received the pattern for Maddox the Mischievous Monster as a present.  He's by the same designer as the Herman bear pattern.
I've enjoyed making Herman several times now, but he can be a bit fiddly to make, so I wasn't sure how Maddox would be. But he turned out to be much easier to make as he a little more on the larger size.


I made him for my sister, who gave me the pattern, so choose a sweet mint colour.  While he might not get a lot of play, I bet he gets a nice comfy seat on a bed or cushion.
I hope she likes him.