My beautiful garden

Tomatoes growing

The courgette I harvested to go in my roasted veg for dinner

My coriander plant in flower :)

Growing my own is proving fun and (excuse the pun) fruitful. I have so far harvested two courgettes and there are plenty more at various stages of growth.

I have only got 4 tomatoes between my two plants at the moment but there are plenty of flowers on them which should mean plenty of tomatoes soon.

My pepper plants (capsicum) have grown more quickly since I discovered they should be watered twice a day and started doing so.

My runner bean plants produced their first two flower buds on Monday so I am looking forward to seeing some beans soon.

Carrots are still small but seem to be growing well.

I got some more herbs to add to my collection: curry plant, basil purple ruffles and chocolate peppermint.

I did buy an aubergine plant recently but it died :( I've been very lucky with all my other plants so I can't complain really, although it does feel like a waste of money.

I have done well though as the tomato plants and runner bean plants were given to me by someone who didn't have room for them so were pretty much free. I agreed I'd give them some of the produce to say thanks.

A Stressful day

I just typed out a post about my stressful day. However upon typing it out I feel a bit better.
It was stressful but also got a couple of important things done.
Feel like I need another day off to recover now though!

Thoughts

Hi everybody,

Here I am updating! Please don't faint in shock.

I am on a day off today as I am working tomorrow and Sunday. I got up at 8.20 this morning and put my rabbit in his run, fed him and changed his water. Then I had breakfast and read the paper for a bit before having my shower.

I went into town to get a birthday card for somebody and some food shopping.

I also got some compost for my plants. It was my birthday last week and I asked for herbs so I could make a herb garden. I was already growing coriander and thyme but I now also have garlic chives, basil, tarragon, oregano, dill, rosemary, sage, mint and parsley. Last week I planted the ones that were seeds and repotted the ones that were given to me as plants. I am also growing strawberries which I got in a set for my birthday, no signs of life yet but fingers crossed. I am growing courgettes, green beans and sweet peppers as well. Todays job was to thin out the pepper plants and repot them which I did. I was also going to repot my coriander but it looked very much like rain so I retreated inside. I'm really hoping to have a good crop.

I have eaten a lot of cake, sweets and big meals over the last week due to my birthday and my mum's birthday the day after. It was fun but I seriously need to rein in my eating habits at least a bit. Since the marathon 5 weeks ago I have put on 6lbs! I cannot carry on at this rate.

Last night I had the option of eating at home or at the pub when we went for the quiz (some of my friends were back late from a conference and had no time to cook), I chose to eat before the pub in order to save money and be healthy. Everyone elses pub meals looked lovely but today I am pleased with my decision. It wasn't being unsociable as we were doing the quiz whilst the food came out and the focus was the quiz rather than going out for a meal as such.

I have vowed not to eat any junk today. I am also trying to spread out what I eat today. So far so good. Weetabix for breakfast then a tuna sandwich on warm granary bread that I made in the breadmaker. I'm going to have a banana in a little bit. For dinner we are having pork with wholewheat couscous and ratatouille. I may have mentioned our ratatouille before, we don't use any salt at all even though traditional recipes suggest plenty of it. We also put in sweet potato and some chilli powder and oh my it is delicious. Last time I made it I took a risk and instead of using oil to cook with I used some boiling water, I then worried it would not taste nice but it tasted just as delicious and I saved a load of calories. I'm really looking forward to our dinner tonight.
I am going to a barbecue tomorrow night so can enjoy the food more if I know I was very good today.

I have been cycling to work a lot lately which is cool as it saves money, helps the environment and burns calories. Win, win, win. I think it can be very difficult to exercise regularly when you work shifts. I have only been running once a week since the marathon. I want to get back into running a bit more often but at the same time I am really enjoying not having to go for a long run every weekend and not having to run x many times per week. I have been for a couple of bike rides for exercise and have some more planned so maybe I should aim to cycle twice a week and run twice a week.

Whilst I want to lose weight I also want to eat healthily and exercise because it is good for me.

Hello my name is Sophie and I am a marathon runner

Hello!

I am officially a marathon runner. Four weeks ago today I ran/walked the 26.2miles of the London Marathon. It was hard, fun, sad, happy and most of all an amazing experience and a day I will remember forever.

I am still so proud of myself.

Four weeks until my first marathon!

Oh my goodness. My marathon is only four weeks away. Last year when I had to defer my place to this year due to illness I was very upset as it seemed so long away. That time sure has flown by. It doesn't seem real that this big event that I have been talking about for so long will soon actually happen. Do I feel ready? Yes and no. I feel like I can do it but it will be hard and I wish I was fitter. I do think that however fit I was I would feel that so I am not going to worry.

I have got a 13 miler to do tomorrow then the next long run I will be doing next Saturday is 18 miles. The weekend after I run 10 miles, then weekend after a 50minute run at marathon pace and finally the weekend after is the real thing. I have followed a beginners/just get round training plan. I am aiming for between 6 hours and 6 hours 30minutes. At the moment life is about eating plenty of nutritious foods and looking after my body. I can't afford to be getting a cold or anything and my body needs the right foods to keep it going on runs and to heal itself afterwards. My mind boggles at the thought of running 26.2 miles and I am sure I will be emotional before the start, during and definitely after but I know myself, I know I will keep going no matter what because that determination burns inside of me. I can do this and I will. And it will feel great to show those doubters out there that I was right!

I can't wait to be able to say I've run a marathon. I have a lot of supportive friends and family and am so lucky to have them. I expect they will be looking forward to the time when I don't talk about the marathon practically every day!

I am running for the special care baby charity Bliss who are a great cause. If you would like to sponsor please comment and I will send you the link. Thanks.

Run run run

Hello folks,

Yet again I have neglected my blog. I have just felt so busy all the time. I am training 5 days a week for my marathon which is in 5 weeks and 3 days time (wow that has come around fast) I am both nervous and excited. I am aiming for any time under 7 hours which will seem ridiculously long to most people but I will definitely be needing a few walking breaks and will be very proud of myself just for finishing. I ran a half marathon on Sunday and managed to run the furthest ever in my whole life without a walking break. Very proud of myself. It was nice as I ran with two friends who definitely motivated me and encouraged me. I think it will be tough not to have a friend to run with in the marathon.

Tonight I made a risotto for dinner, it was the first time I had ever made or in fact eaten risotto and it was delicious. Enough leftovers for 2 more meals which I am freezing for when I am on late shifts and need something quick.

I'm on the late shift tomorrow and it is then my weekend off. I am going out for a meal Saturday night and so far no plans for Sunday other than the 10mile run that my training plan informs me of.

I'm then working Monday and Tuesday before some annual leave I am taking to use up before the end of our holiday year (which is end of March). I have some plans with friends which I am looking forward to. I am also starting a beginners jog group next week as I am a qualified jog group leader. It will be the first course I have lead so shall be challenging but I think I am well prepared.

I hope everyone is well and that I update again soon.

Review of 2010 in survey form (better late than never)

Hi Folks,

I'm afraid to say that yet again I have fallen off the blogging regualarly wagon. The next ten days or so are very busy for me and I have a couple of important events. After those are done I hope to blog a bit more often. For now I give you 2010 in survey form.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you had never done before?
Had an ultrasound scan, got a pet rabbit, went to spinning classes not sure what else! That is a bit of a random mix.

2. Did you keep your new years resolutions and will you make more for next year?
The two I can remember are cut down on swearing which I managed for quite a while but have since not done so well on and the other was to run the London Marathon which I didn't as I had to defer my place to this year due to illness.
My aims for 2011 are be ill less often, socialise more, stop swearing, run the Silverstone and Swindon half marathons again and run the London Marathon.

3. How will you be spending your new years eve?
I went to a masked ball at a club, it was good fun.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit?
Wales.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More energy and the ability to run the London Marathon.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
There isn't one particular date that will remain forever. Although my friend got married in the summer and I am sure I will remember that day :).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This one is difficult to say, losing a stone and keeping it off is good. Also getting better at running, training as a jog group leader and Nordic walking group leader were both daunting things but I am proud I did them.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I wouldn't say I had any massive failures but I was a bit boring this year due to tiredness hence my resolution to socialise more.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had ongoing problems at the start of the year which are now pretty much under control(yippee). I also had a few minor injuries. In December I had the flu pretty bad and fainted at work banging my head pretty hard.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
At the moment I can't think of anything in particular that I bought, I'm sat here with my latex free hot water bottle keeping me warm and I use that all the time so I will say that that is fab.

12. Where did most of your money go?
On this I am not sure, probably car stuff or food.

13. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Don't stop believing.

14. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting out there and living my life

15. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being ill!

16. What was you favourite TV programme?
One born every minute or biggest loser.

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate isn't something I do, there are some people I dislike or feel disappointed in.

18. What was the best book you read?
I can't even remember what books I read now sorry folks!

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not sure!

20. What was your favourite film of this year?
Shrek forever after, I laughed so much the first time I saw it.

21. What did you do on your birthday?
I went to work and then had a birthday meal with my family in the evening.

22. What kept you sane?
Sleep!

23. Who did you miss?
Friends that live far away.

24. Who was the best new person that you met?
My friend Amy, I met her in 2009 but we only really got to know each other in 2010 and she has become one of my best friends.

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson that you learned in 2010.
Be who you want to be, only you can make this happen.