Keep on running, or you know, start again

No, not a post about Singapore. But it's coming. Soon. Just as soon as I write it.

Instead what I'm going to write about it is about my renewed interest in running again. Remember I ran around the lake? Well, earlier this year I was running in the gym (on the treadmill, not like round the corridors), not far, just the 'warm up' and then the next visit while about to put in my Nike+ transmitter thing to my Nano (affectionately known as piePod) I lost it. I turned round and a second later it was gone. Like vanished. Karen and I looked high and low and I even asked in lost property, but to no avail. I even decided a woman that had been hovering around me had stolen it. I know, the shame, because, can you guess where this is going?

Yes, that's right, I found it. How I found it is quite surprising. I was doing washing after France and before Singapore and after having put the load in the washing machine, taking it out and putting it on the radiators, I then put the stuff (towels and the like) into the tumble dryer, you know 'to soften them up a bit'. It was when I was taking the load out of the dryer (which included the towel I had in my gym bag for swimming) that it fell out and landed beside my feet. I don't know how it managed to get there and neither do I know how it manages to still work, but it does. Win.

So now armed once again with Nike+ I decided when I came back from Singapore I would start running. But running outside. I thought it best to approach it like I did the lake - have a route in mind to be able to run all of it. So I've done that and let me say it is way more challenging the the lake. Although it's about the same distance it's got way more uphill. Heck, part of it is a cliff face, albeit with steps. But seriously, it's steep!

I thought that if I blogged about it, then I'm much more likely to be able to do it because I won't give up because I know when I see you, you might ask me about how it's going and it'd be embarrassing to say that I haven't done it in weeks. Actually, I'd probably try to lie and say I was injured or something even though I'm not a very good liar. And now that I've said that if I do actually get injured now you won't be believe me. Dammit. So let's just say that if I haven't done it I'll be honest.

Unless it's a really long time since I ran I might mention about how I once spotted UFOs on the route and I'm too scared to run there now.

Ministry of fud

I know, I know. I said I would blog from Singapore and all I managed was a photo. And I do still intend on writing about it all. But for right now I'm going to chart my progress with Jamie Oliver.

You know those people who say they love cooking because it relaxes them? I am definitely not one of them. Cooking fully stresses me out. But I shall persevere. This week I have been upping my repertoire to include:

Steak Sandwich

Served on ciabatta bread, with watercress and a large mushroom. Very nice it was. I mean, you can't go far wrong with steak can you?

Pancakes

For breakfast this morning I had pancakes. They're really easy to make. I used to get slagged in Singapore for having the sort that you just add water to and now I can see why. Mine were served with some sort of Ambrosia Creamed Rice lookalike. It was actually banana, coconut and natural yoghurt. Also there was mango. I wasn't so fussed on the yoghurt stuff. Think I prefer blueberries.

Prawn Stir Fry

I was excited by this one, but actually this was the most disappointing one. I put too much chili in it so it was accompanied by a large bucket of water (not shown). The prawns were good though so I'll have to give it another go sometime.

Tomorrow is either going to be pasta or salmon. No doubt, I shall let you know how it goes.

One of many moments

Holy crap, I used to live here.

Little treasures

Day 2 in Singapore and everything is going well. Similiar feelings to
being back at the Lake which I didn't expect.

Staying with Clare, Derek and the girls is fun. They (the girls. Derek
and Clare are much more measured) go crazy when I'm here! I don't
think I've ever seen children react to me like it. I mean they do
eventually calm down but there's a good 10-15 minute period of
jumping, climbing and pulling.

Yesterday they were full of nice compliments for me which I have
remembered for you.

1. Have you had a shower today?
No. No I haven't. Well spotted.

2. You've been in your jammies forever.
Ah girls I have so much to teach you.

And my personal favourite.

3. Are you wearing a bra?
Really, you're four years old. No flies on you is there?!