a weekend well spent

the least muddy part of the run

How the time flies. To be honest, I have been a bit miserable, a hacking cough, a low fever and headache turned the last ten days into a bit of a slog. I worked at home so I wouldn't pass my cough to my office mate and I could catnap in front of the fire. I don't have much of a backlog because I tend to work more efficiently at home. I am much better now.

To cheer myself up I did something mildly crazy on Friday. I had the most radical haircut I can remember in donkey's years. Without taking out the measuring tape, I am fairly certain my hair is shorter than Richard's. This drastic measure left not a single strand of coloured hair and for the first time since my early twenties, my hair colour is my own. It is all shades of mouse and white, depending on where you look. Who'd have thought. I like both colour and shortness. I might pop out to buy a pair of funky ear rings now that they can be seen.

On Saturday James and I drove up to Falkirk for the Scottish Cross Country Nationals. The drive was challenging with the high winds, snow and rain. There were also short moments of such strong sun light that I could barely see. Don't laugh but I actually packed an extra bag with a quilt, additional clothes and plenty to drink because I had a vision of us stranded on the M80 somewhere in the middle of nowhere, snowed in. We also had a banana, a mars bar and two cereal bars and snow chains in the boot. With just a few miles to go we were met with a flooded road that was impassable. The nice lady on Google maps eventually agreed to give us an alternative route although she was a bit reluctant, insisting we go through the water. We made it to the venue just in time for us to find the club tent and get timing chip and number. James nearly chickened out on the starting line but trotted off with a what seemed like hundreds of little boys wearing far too little for the weather. He was the only boy from his training pack, all the other under 13s are more experienced runners and are in the endurance pack. They are fast wee runners, most came in very near the front and as a team, the under 13s took second place. James took it gently and finished way back. I am a very proud mum because he ran without support from his own pack and finished without falling, losing a shoe, or vomiting. Always a bonus. 3.2 km through partially flooded park land and ankle deep mud is quite something. I was very grateful to have a club tent to get James changed into warm and dry clothes. I myself was wrapped in my down coat, waterproof trousers, wellies hats and mitts. The drive home was not pleasant but we did not after all need our emergency pack.

Meanwhile the rest of the family remained indoors, cosy and dry.

Sunday we slept long, it was quiet outside for the first time in about a week. No winds howling and no rain and hail battering the windows. Unbelievably, there was even blue sky and sun. What a difference this makes. I enjoyed an hour of sewing, did some chores and met a friend for a dog walk. It was lovely, not a single drop of rain. Later I went for my run. It was a most enjoyable day. To make it better still, Annie and her army of little boy helpers folded and tidied all the children's laundry (she puts mine and Richards stuff in separate blue Ikea bags for us to sort out) and did an online grocery shop based on her menu plans for the week.

In other news, after having been informed by Annie last week that my parenting skills are just barely adequate my status has been elevated to slightly above adequate today. What more can I ask for?

On that note, I am off to bed. Thanks for visiting.