I have a guilty secret

I’ve walked a couple of times this week, the usual Monday circuit with Louise and Lyn and my usual 5.5 mile local circuit today. Nothing stunning, but I did break my 17 min/mile average speed today. Got it down to 16.3 min/mile. Might not be much to you, but I was quite chuffed! It is a relatively flat route, so really not taxing, but I wouldn’t be able to make that speed if I was walking with friends. I can’t walk, talk and breathe beyond 2.9 mile/hour, unlike Angela, who I swear can breathe through her ears.

My regime is working, my walking trousers are now a far more relaxed fit and I couldn’t resist trying on the pair in the next size down. Snug, but on and I could bend down to do my boots up, yey! Progress.

I probably didn’t mention that we bought a one size fits all present for the children last Christmas, against all my best principles. A Wii. Eeek! I’ve resisted computer games, Playstations, Gameboys etc., and they don’t have televisions in their rooms. They are allowed music, I’m not entirely mean.

The last time I was walking with the girls, David nipped to my favourite supermarket and purchased Wii Fit Plus. If nothing else, I thought, there are some completely different games to entertain them, might even help improve their posture and balance. Apparently, it’s quite addictive. I can ‘feel’ my glutinous maximus quite a lot now and I noticed my right hip wasn’t at all sore on my stroll today, so that’s got to be a good thing.

It’s Mothering Sunday this weekend and our eldest daughter has been pestering my as to what I’d like. I’ve wracked my poor, exhausted brain cell and can’t come up with anything. I wanted something that I’d enjoy and keep as a reminder of our four wonderful children, but I’ve decided that what I’d like most is a lovely, relaxed day together as a family.

And a nice roast dinner that I haven’t cooked (David makes a mean roast too).

And a card.

That’ll make for a good day.

(Did you spot the guilty secret?)

February girly walk

We went for a girly walk yesterday, a version of the Culbin walk we did in April last year (I think). There were seven of us altogether and I used our old camera to record the event. I wish I’d taken my new one, the photographs are dreadful for some reason and I can only blame myself.

Jo, Judith, Sally, Alison and I met in Lidl’s car park. Useful place that, always empty. We took the path to the bridge at Broom of Moy, then continued on our merry little way to Kintessack. At this point, we had to telephone the reprobates, Angela and the New Girly, Sarah, because Angela (still a little Hoppy) had kindly allowed us two and a half hours to cover three miles. I know we’re a little out of practice, but hey, that’s an insult! Turned out they couldn’t meet us any earlier because they had to wait for the Other Louise, who was still going to join us at that time.

We planned a ‘scenic route’ through Cloddymoss to kill time and arrived ten minutes before midday, just in time to meet Angela and Susan, have  a toilet stop, (the PC was unexpectedly open mid-winter, so you have to take advantage!) and lunch. Well, second lunch, we’d had the first at Cloddymoss…

From the left, Angela (Hoppy), Alison (seated) Jo, Judith, Sally and Sarah is the hat. Hidden, unintentionally, honest.

We decided to shorten the route, despite Angela wanting to go to Binsness via the Gut, and took a more direct route. We are taking care of her strained ligaments whether she likes it or not!

We walked and chatted to Binsness, then continued on until we could leave the track and Angela could see the sea(it’s like walking with a child sometimes!). We had snack. A seal came to say hello, maybe it’s in the background of this photograph?

Or maybe not.

(Yes, I know, it’s sluds. I have no idea why, I only had cocoa in my flask, honest! Could have been the whisky in the home-cured salmon in my butties…)

We walked on, not believing Angela that her knee was fine, until eventually she caved and thought she should go back to the car via Earnhill, with Sally, while the rest of us carried on.

We took the track over the bridge that takes you down to the ford, then took a wrong turn somewhere (doh) before Judith voiced her concerns and we turned around. We hadn’t gone too far the wrong way and perhaps if we’d realised sooner, would have been in more shelter when it snowed. Eventually, we arrived at the bridge at the Broom of Moy again and soon returned to the car park.

Overall, those that did the whole route did 15.1 miles with 313 ft climb (odd, not sure about that), we took just over 4 hours with 1 hour 30 mins rest stops, with entertainment provided by my new emergency group shelter (group emergency shelter?), not that we used it, we just got it out for a giggle. Like you do when a group of grown women on a Sunday afternoon stroll, ahem.

Extremely good fun all day and slightly riotous at times.

Talk about missing the bus!

I despair sometimes.

If this dapper chap had pitched up on time, a month ago, along with the yellowhammers, goldfinch, collared doves and moorhen that also missed it, my Big Garden Birdwatch for the RSPB would have been far more interesting.

Typical!

Glorious day for a stroll

Yesterday, David and the boys dropped Ciara and I at Roseisle Forest and we walked home. It was an absolutely glorious day, not a breath of wind, clear and crisp.

Hot chocolate stop

The way we came

The way we’re going

Cromarty Firth

Incongruous

It was a lovely walk, 6.5 miles and very little up to speak of in a little under 2.5 hours.

Anyone for a cheap date?

I made an excellent decision this morning and left the car on the driveway to take a stroll into town. I only had a couple of minor jobs, pay a cheque into the bank (our daughter’s a winner! £25 on the premium bonds. She won’t share….) and pop to the health food shop in search of a wheat bag. No heavy load on return, so I really couldn’t justify the car for a 5.5 mile round trip on such a glorious day. I even turned down the offer of a lift twice, once on the way there and secondly from the same incredulous acquaintance on the way back. It was snowing by this time, somewhat unexpectedly, so I can understand her puzzlement, but I was dry and snug and happy, happy, happy.

Ben Wyvis and other  hills I have yet to identify were snow capped and glowing golden in the winter sun in the distance, there was a distinct chill in the air, but there were only a few grey clouds, high and non-threatening, so all was well with the world.

As I strolled into town this morning, a letter I’d read in the TGO came to mind. A chap was telling a tale of how he met a group of walkers on the mountainside on Skye that, despite the glorious views available, were discussing the qualities and benefits of their latest gear, amongst other things, but not their outstanding surroundings.

I’m a cheap date  because you can plonk me in the middle of the countryside, give me a fantastic view and a bit of wildlife and you’ll have me reduced to a quivering wreck and I’ll be yours for life. (Well, actually, I’m firmly taken, but you get the gist.)

You might well ask what made me feel like this, what made my day today?

A red squirrel, in the park in town, and a stoat in ermine!

I’d noticed what I thought was a piece of rubbish, floating about the grass, then realised there wasn’t a strong enough breeze. Bouncing along the verge ahead of me he was, then he stopped and peered at me and I got within about six feet of him for a really good look! No camera of course, but it was truly awesome.

Yep, cheap indeed.

(Let me lull you into a false sense of security before I mention the Chanel No5 and a penchant for Tattinger…)