Knowing your limits

Two years ago I wrote a blog about running for Sport Relief. This year I decided to do sign up again and so I'm writing a blog about it again. Although last time I ran three miles, and this year I'm running six. Mostly because (if you clicked back you'll see) I chickened out of six last time. In fact, now that I think about it, that's the only reason.

You see, ever since I saw the ortho doctor last October, I treasure any day when I don't dislocate my knee as miracle. The conversation went something like this:

Doctor: Hmmm....(on honkers five feet opposite so he's looking at my knees at eye level) Have you ever dislocated your knee?
Me:  (Standing with my trackies pulled up into shorts) Dislocated it?! (Surprised at the suggestion) No.
Doctor: Hmmm... (and not a good sounding 'hmmm') Are you sure you've never dislocated your knee?
Me: Yeah...no, why?
Doctor: Really? (Raises eyebrows)
Me: Well, never knowingly anyway.
Doctor: Oh you'd know. But you've really never dislocated it?
Me: No.

At this point in the movie of my life, there'll be a daydream sequence where I will be some sort of medical marvel. People come from far and wide to stand amazed at the never-dislocated knee. There'll be spinning front covers of my knee on the British Medical Journal, Scientific American, TIME, Newsweek, The Economist, Hello, OK and a host of foreign magazines, you know, to add to the worldwide wonder of my knee.

So six miles is most definitely my limit. I know a few people running the marathon this year. And well done to them! But see, I would also like to be able to still use my knees in 5 years.

Now here's the bit where you come in...

Like I said before, it'd be silly of me not to mention it on here because if you'd like to sponsor me I'd very much like that! I know Sport Relief is a huge charity and will raise literally millions through their very prominent night of prime time broadcasting, and other charities need the support of marathon runners etc to raise their money.

But this is your friend Tina and she's running a distance she's not entirely sure she'll complete and she's holding a small, figurative bucket for charity while she does it.

So if you'd like to sponsor me, you can do it here: http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/tinaarena

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

If Jed and Birgitte ruled the world...

I know, a two week hiatus on here. No one is more disappointed in me than me.

So what has moved me to blog after 15 days of inactivity? One word: Borgen. I know what you're probably thinking, but let me explain. Borgen is a Danish political drama and it is just fantastic! The West Wing is rated pretty high on my TV favourites list (scratch that, it's top of the list), and I can't think of another political drama that I've even watched, much less loved. (No, wait, I did watch some of that Geena Davis Commander-in-Chief. Terrible, truly terrible.) But the four episodes I've watched of Borgen I've loved.

My good friend Rebekah (and now, purveyor of TV shows I should watch) told me to watch it. I caught it just before it disappeared from iPlayer. Now, sadly for you if you haven't watched it it's already been on TV and no longer available on iPlayer. But do look out for repeats or a showing on BBC2. [The Guardian did a review of it here, if you want to know more about what it's about.]

A lot more intrigue and political wheeling and dealing goes on in Borgen than The West Wing, and of course the biggest difference is that it's subtitled into English. Every so often a stray English phrase sneaks in to an otherwise Danish sentence, like 'fifteen minutes of fame'. Much like the French have no phrase for cul-de-sac, the Danish don't have a phrase for fifteen minutes of fame. Also, I'm pretty sure I've learnt the Danish for Prime Minister - States Minister. See, this programme is really improving my Danish.

Names are tricky to follow sometimes, and I'm not entirely sure how they pronounce some of them. And place names. Oh the place names! I enjoyed this one so much I rewound it to take a screenshot.

Middelfart, of course, means central passage because it connects Jutland and Funen.

Should I ever go to Denmark (it looks just gorgeous in the show) Middelfart is on my list of places to visit. Just for a picture by the sign of course.

How I scored a bajillion cool aunt points

There are many, many reasons why I'm a super cool aunt but today I present you with just four.

1. Today is my nephew's third birthday! I had a great present for Johnny: a Buzz Lightyear costume. He likes to pretend he's Buzz Lightyear using the Mr. Potatohead Buzz Lightyear wings he has. They're about 10cm wide and he holds them on his back but that doesn't stop him. So I knew I was on a winner with an actual Buzz Lightyear costume for him.

I can't claim any points for the aid to flying, we shared this arm breaking work around.

Average aunts would stop there. Cool aunts aren't done with just buying presents, oh no.

2. I gave him a laser for his costume. Not a real one you understand, that's dangerous and costs you cool aunt points. It was one of those keyring things that help you find your car's keyhole. 

I Buzzed it up with a Star Command logo. Above average aunts would give just the keyring.

3. I made him a spaceship! Oh yes I did! I realised with his wings on he might not fit into his current rocket (a playtent tube thing, I don't know the correct term, I'm not a parent!) So I went to Play Resource, got lots of big cardboard and bits and bobs. (If this wasn't a post about my nephew I might have written 'free crap' there...) I took into consideration my brother and sister-in-law's feelings on the growing expanse of toys in their living room and made it collapsible; visitation rights are important to cool aunts.

No honestly, I've never worked for Nasa.

It's fine, it has wings here, see.

The interior (do you have spaceship 'interiors'?) You can see the moveable control panel with buttons, and the light panel, along with many space and Buzz pictures.

4. And finally, I made him a personalised card. I know what you're thinking, 'no big deal Tina, you make cards all the time for people'. (Please note: If I didn't it was because I probably ran out of time and not because I don't like you. You got a card didn't you? Then what are you complaining about?!)

But this card turned out to be the pièce de résistance of the whole thing. He opened it first and was immediately spellbound by it. Why? I'll show you why.

It's Johnny and his good friend Buzz hanging out in space, that's why!

The card brought about some of the cutest sentences I've heard. Every once in a while he'd go back to the card and tell us something about it -  "Buzz is looking after me", "I am 'appy with Buzz" or "Look at my 'appy face.

Honestly, it's hard getting all these cool aunt points. Your heart can actually melt.