Downhill all the way....if only!

Today I ran the Forth Bridge 10k, my first race of that distance and the first time I've done an event that wasn't for charity. And it was bl**dy marvellous!!

I was expecting a tough run, as the course was described as "hilly", so I was predicting myself a time of 65-70 mins. So I was very pleased indeed to run it in 59 min 35 sec. My fastest ever race-pace. There were some really tough hills, and the bridge is waaaay steeper than it looks when you drive over it, but there were also some brilliant downhill sections, and the views were great.

I ran alongside one of my pals the whole way, and I think that really helped keep me going. We even managed a fabulous sprint finish, although I was slightly miffed that my parents were both too busy taking photograps to congratulate me when I first crossed the finish line.

But it's given me just the confidence boost I need before the Great North Run, which is 5 weeks today. In fact, I'm rather looking forward to it now...

Cute sleeping cats

Cute sleeping cats
Originally uploaded by HellyBelly.

All curled up together looking like two peas in a pod.

Running again

One thing that's been keeping me busy since I got back from my hols has been running. Along with some of my friends from the GUT running thread, I'm doing the Great North Run on the 18th September.

It's not my first half-marathon, but if/when I finish it, I'll see it as a huge achievement because I spent quite a few months last year not being able to run at all, and being very worried that I'd not be able to run again at all because of an injury. However, thanks to the wonders of the NHS physiotherapists at my local hospital, I'm back on the road again.

I'm doing the GNR in aid of MIND, a charity which aims to provide support for those with mental health problems. One of their campaigns is that physical exercise is good for your mental health, and I'd certainly agree with that, although I do sometimes doubt my own sanity in signing up for another half-marathon!

Seriously though, I've suffered with depression in the past, and exercise certainly helped me to get on the road to recovery, so I'm happy to be able to support a charity with such a worthwhile aim.

If anyone would like to sponsor me (and I know it's kind of cheeky to ask, but maybe someone will) you can do so online, and anonymously if you wish, here:
http://www.justgiving.com/helendoestheGNR
Any contributions will be very gratefuly received and will go to support the vital service that MIND provide.

Friendships

I seem to have been neglecting my poor blog recently. My main excuse is that I've been on holiday, but I've also been being terribly lazy and not doing terribly much of anything.

I had an interesting lunch today with one of my best friends. We were discussing my continuing single status and she said something that made me realise she understands me much better than I'd given her credit for, as a "smug married". I told her about a date I'd been on a couple of weeks ago, at which there was just no spark, and she said "It must be very tiring doing the dating thing", and I realised she was right.

There's nothing more exhausting (well, obviously there are some things, but for the current purposes, stick with it) than making small talk with yet another person you've not met before, trying to work out if you fancy them, and if you do, do they fancy you. Trying to be as witty and funny, interesting and generally sparkling as you possibly can be. And I realised I just can't be bothered with it for the moment.

I miss having someone to share things with, but not enough to make me want to approach dating with too much energy.

It made me realise how lucky I am to have some very good friends, two of whom I saw when I was on holiday, who I've known for years, and with whom conversation just flows effortlessly. There are few things more relaxing than a good chat with a great friend.

It's done!

Finished shower
Originally uploaded by HellyBelly.

...well, very nearly. A few final things to do, but nothing unfinished to be seen in this picture, which comes to you by popular demand...thank you, PrincessD.

Beautiful Phoebe

Beautiful Phoebe
Originally uploaded by HellyBelly.

Phoebe enjoying her favourite hobby - sunbathing on the sofa

Peony

peony
Originally uploaded by HellyBelly.

I've been rather tied up with DIY recently, so I've neglected my blog somewhat. To make up for it, here's a lovely peony from my garden.

Getting there

new panel
Originally uploaded by HellyBelly.

And this is what it now looks like, with a lovely new non-rotten wood panel.

Tomorrow, I'll finally be sticking up the first tile. Hurrah!

What's behind?

What's behind
Originally uploaded by HellyBelly.

I finally managed to get the rotten wooden panel removed tonight. I was kind of worried I'd find all sorts of beasties and more rot behind it, but there was nothing but shower pipes.

Part of me is kind of disappointed not to find something more interesting.

Shower disaster?

shower disaster
Originally uploaded by HellyBelly.

I've needed to get my shower re-tiled for absolutely ages. Now I've done a bit of tiling before, so I finally decided that the quickest and cheapest way to do it is to do it myself.

So far, I've spent one afternoon and three evenings taking off the old tiles, removing rotten wood panelling and preparing the surfaces. I've not even stuck on one single tile yet!

This is what it currently looks like. Well actually this is what it looked like last night. Tonight it doesn't actually look like I've done much more, although I spent several hours working on it.

Hopefuly I'll get to the satisfying bit soon: actually sticking on the tiles. I do hope I'm not going to regret doing it myself.

Persephone

In Greek mythology, Persephone was a beautiful goddess who was loved by everyone but who was kidnapped by Hades, god of the underworld, and forced to marry him. All rather gloomy.

But Persephone is also the name of my favourite publishers, Persephone Books, who publish what could broadly be described as "forgotten" books for women, which are largely written by women, and which are wonderful, interesting and inspiring.

http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/index.htm

Their books offer a fascinating insight into women's lives in the 19th and 20th Centuries, both through fiction and non-fiction offerings. The first Persephone book I read was "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day", recommended by my friends on the Sparkly thread, and since then I've been working my way through their catalogue.

I'm currently reading "A Woman's Place", a history of the role of women in the 20th Century, and it's wonderfully interesting. I've got one more waiting on my "things to read" shelf ("The Making of a Marchioness" by Frances Hodgson Burnett) and then it'll be time to spend a happy half-hour or so deciding which I'll order next.

As well as their books being great reads, they are also the most beautiful books on my bookshelf. They're bound in pale dove-grey, with end-papers which are taken from contemporary fabric designs.

I just wanted to rave about them, I promise I don't work for them or anything, I just love their books and their philosophy.