Project 365 2015 #52

And so we come to the end of my second Project 365.
Christmas came fuelled by turkey, Prosecco and happy children.
Then we said goodbye to 2015.

Day 354
Today one of my lovely friends popped in to see us with her children and this turned into an unexpected gathering of past neighbours also popping in to catch up so the first bottle of Gluhwein was opened - and quickly finished!
Day 355
Hooray for no alarms for school today! We celebrated with a lazy day at home and some time spent snuggled under blankets watching The Polar Express.
Day 356
I do like my lazy days with the children but I also need to get out so today I took advantage of the husband working from home first thing and set off on for a long run - seven miles, with a pause at a village church, were in the bag today.
Day 357
I had to get the children outside today so they donned their backpacks, grabbed their compasses and we headed out across the fields to a local park for some much needed fresh air.
Day 358
Christmas Eve and I needed to clean the house and extend the table in the conservatory ready for tomorrow. It's a tight squeeze in there at the best of times!
Day 359
Christmas Day and I snuck out first thing for my 5k run - crazy maybe but it made the over indulgence on bread sauce and Prosecco feel a little better. The children patiently waited for me to return before opening their stockings from Santa and I got a lovely new star lightshade. We had a lovely family day and to top it all off Granddad joined us and he thoroughly enjoyed his Christmas dinner!
Day 360
Boxing Day and we went for a walk across the fields to the local village pub with the brother in law and his dog. I had envisaged a cosy couple of hours sipping on mulled cider and playing dominoes but my girl had a moment over the amount of people and unknown friends joining us so I took her and the boy home where they were much happier. She is clearly my daughter when it comes to new faces and social situations!
Day 361
The husband was back at work today and the brother in law was meant to come running with me along the canal. However, he 'forgot' his kit so off I went on my own for a lovely 5 miler through the mud and puddles finished off with a lovely uphill stretch up a country lane back to the in laws.
Day 362
Bank Holiday Monday was Star Wars day! But before the cinema we had a pleasant walk along the canal in Devizes followed by lunch in a park. The film was amazing.
Day 363
Finally we had a day of sunshine today so I packed a hot sausage roll lunch and headed off with the kiddos for a walk around Stourhead. We climbed a new to us stile today and found an owl in a tree!
Day 364
My final run of 2015 took me on another 7 miles around the local villages. These longer runs mean I can chill a bit and I actually stop and take photos en route.
Day 365
So this is it, the end of 2015. We have been adding to the memory jar throughout the year and tonight we are going to sit down and open it - and then probably head to bed by 10 o'clock!

Happy New Year!

x x x

Project 365 2015 #51

Christmas is now just around the corner and school is over at the end of week 51 for Project 365 2015.

Day 347
The husband accidentally bought blue fairy lights which I had to exchange straight away so I ran out to the store at the end of my lane as fast as I could over the railway bridge.
Day 348
A good six mile run followed by a hot bath and Earl Grey at 11a.m.
Day 349
Gift preparation for my amazing team at work included my homemade Sloe Gin.
Day 350
The husband and kiddos picked up this decoration today.
Day 351
I had a lazy evening tonight and sat looking at the tree.
Day 352
Last day at school before Christmas! It has been a long term full of ups and downs but unwrapping this gift from a lovely boy in my class made my heart swell and brought tears to my eyes.
Day 353
The windy weather almost kept me in bed this morning but I forced myself out for a four mile run where my TomTom ran out of juice, I had doubt over the half marathon and started feeling generally sorry for myself. Then I got home to some post that made me realise it is all worth it; my running vest for the Bath Half where I'm hoping to raise money for the new cancer unit at the RUH.

Happy Christmas!

x x x



Project 365 2015 #50

Week 50 of Project 365 for 2015 has been all about finalising Christmas presents and picking glitter out of my hair!

Day 340
Following yesterday's 'didn't quite go to plan' tree decorating I sat back and appreciated it today.
Day 341
Finally a bit of sunshine on the walk to school today.
Day 342
A trip into Bath today to pick up some final bits of Christmas shopping. Most of it has been done online but I needed that real feel of shopping!
Day 343
Back to work day and early to bed with my latest Katie Fforde.
Day 344
The boy's Christingle tonight made me feel warm and fuzzy.
Day 345
I wore my Winter jumper to work today where I found myself buried in a pile of glitter for most of the day.
Day 346
Another early morning run; today leaving the house in the dark at 6:50 for a 4 miler.

x x x



Project 365 2015 #49

The weather has not been good for week 49 of Project 365 for 2015.
I am craving a cold, clear, sunny day as it is December for goodness sake.

Day 333
A super soggy wet day for rugby training today. Luckily it was the husband's time to go so I stayed dry inside.
Day 334
Another super soggy wet day. So much so I drove to do the school run - which is unheard of as I can't bare the parking mayhem.
Day 335
I headed out for a run which turned into my Virual 10k Race for December - and a PB. I also started a blogging running diary.
Day 336
We've been playing some old school games discovered in the loft. The current favourite being Downfall.
Day 337
Some post for me today in the form of my Christmas Day running medal. This is going to be wrapped and put under the tree.
Day 338
The children went to their Christmas school fair with a friend today. Back home the boy pulled his personally made cracker with his own joke inside. He is clearly a comic genius.
Day 339
I had a cosy day in mind putting up the Christmas tree with a happy family and warm mince pies. I made the mince pies and eventually we had a happy family hanging the baubles!

x x x

Project 365 2015 #48

Last week of November and thoughts are just starting to turn towards to Christmas.
Week 48 of Project 365 2015 has been more positive than last week with some crisp weather to brighten the soggy days.

Day 326
A beautiful cold sunny day for rugby training. The blue sky almost lasted all morning.
Day 327
My favourite cold and crisp morning for the walk to school - a great start to the week.
Day 328
A positive 5 mile run today which felt good in terms of physical fitness and no knee pain.
Day 329
Back to work blues again today. On my return the children and husband had picked out a beach huts gift; "To cheer you up mummy."
Day 330
Early to bed with an easy reading Katie Fforde book tonight.
Day 331
Almost missed taking a picture today - this is at the bottom of my stairs and I pass it countless times every day. Certainly wise words - Live Inspired.
Day 332
I was due to run Parkrun today but my running buddy had other plans so to make life easier at home for everyone I shot out of the door at 0730 for a 5k training run. It was a lovely time to be out just as the sun had come up.

x x x



Project 365 2015 #47

Week 47 of Project 365 2015 and it's been a wet and chilly one. Not a great week for photo taking but I'm completing this project again!

Day 319
A chilly day for rugby today and my girl wasn't too impressed with the on field action choosing instead to sit with her tablet.
Day 320
A soggy walk to school and the end of the lane had its usual puddles.
Day 321
The girl loved her latest piece of home learning - it definitely beats lists of random spellings.
Day 322
A lovely friend messaged me last week saying she had a spare TV and would I like it - so we have finally replaced our 19" chunky box!
Day 323
Grandma left me a book today. I liked the look of the cover, yes I judge a book that way, but once snuggled in bed I discovered it was a collection of short stories. Must give it a go though.
Day 324
Tonight I booked tickets to see one my favourite bands, James, play next year!
Day 325
I missed Parkrun again this week in order to take the boy swimming - I have been promised that the husband will do the swimming run next week - so I had to force myself out this afternoon to get the training miles in. It was cold but glad I did it!

x x x

Project 365 2015 #46

Week 46 of Project 365 for 2015 and I almost faltered with work and general life prioritising over snapping pictures.

Day 312
Another Sunday, another rugby day. I was on kitchen duty and needed some fresh air so we went to a local park after lunch where all the leaves are now turning brown.
Day 313
A package from New Zealand today for my rugby mad boy.
Day 314
I managed a 5 mile slower pace run today. I was so relaxed about it I actually paused for a bit outside my favourite cosy cottages.
Day 315
Work Wednesday and evening cuddles on the sofa with my girl before bed.
Day 316
Early to bed with my Mindfulness book - I think I managed one page before falling asleep.
Day 317
Very happy to see Friday evening this week. I dragged myself out for a quick 5k donning the hi viz - I am not keen at all on the dark training runs but they need to be done.
Day 318
No Parkrun today but seeing the boy show progress at swimming was worth it. Back home after the weekend shop and I made my own muesli before snuggling down with paracetamol and water in an attempt to kill off a sore throat, head and ears. Why am I never ill on a work day?!

x x x