Running Spots

This morning's run was a beaut! The temperature was just right, sharp but fresh which helped to blow the cobwebs away and meant I started the day fresh and energised. Spotted:

• Frothy blossom on stumpy trees like mini jets d'eaux bubbling from the earth
• Candyfloss pink blossom peeking out from amongst their still leafless neighbours
• Tulip buds like bullets waiting to explode into colour
• Bonbon colored hyacinths jostling in a flower bed
• An abandoned tiny hat and coat looking forlorn on a bench
• Two ladies marching purposively with their doppelgänger dogs
• Brand new sparkling red asphalt under the swings waiting for the squeals and scuffs of sky high swinging!

Wonder I will see next time?!

Running Spots

One of the things that I want to do with this blog is shamelessly steal an idea from a friend of mine who records all of the interesting things he sees while running. He has inspired me to really open my eyes while running and rather than battling my own motivation to get out to run, I've started to look forward to the interesting and intriguing things you spot when in your own bubble of physical exertion and high tempo music.

I started running about 2 years ago to combat stress and as a physical counterbalance to the noise in my head that comes from a job that relies on using and stretching my brain to do things it often isn't ready for! I honestly believe I have succeeded in forming a habit that will stay with me for a long time. My mantra is 'you never, ever, regret a run'. My new habit is an achievement in itself as a former excercise-phobe. That said, I still only run around twice a week and I don't run with any discipline, mostly for a quick 20 mins or 3k - basically until I get bored!

Husband and I therefore decided today that we will sign up for the Cardiff Half Marathon! V exciting. This means a lot more discipline and training, but also a lot more runs!

So let's start with today. Today was one of those perfect runs. Or so I thought; cloudless blue sky, lovely breeze and that feeling that comes from basking your sun-starved face in the warm spring rays. But the whole thing nearly went awry. My new phone has not yet synced my Spotify playlist - so 5 mins into my run it stopped playing ball! A run without music is uninmaginable, especially in such rare perfect conditions. My heart sinking, I desperately scanned my phone knowing I hadn't yet had time to sync to itunes either. But, what can I say, Kylie saved the day. I'd downloaded her new track 'Into the Blue' on a whim last night. Good old Kylie on repeat was the perfect soundtrack for a perfect blue sky run.

Spotted; couples lounging on blankets in the park, a smiling family sharing a sunday joke and a flask of something yummy and hot, a giant dog that lept up to almost knock me over when saying hello, perfect magnolia blossom against an azure sky.

 

Bonjour et Bienvenue

I have been thinking about starting a blog for a while. I've dipped my toe in the vast blogging waters a couple of times. Set up an account and username but have invariably retreated from full blog commitment due to downright laziness, a perception of a lack of time, apprehension and basically not feeling entirely 'ready'.  Over recent months I have become a bit blog obsessed. Following other people's blogs has become one of my favoured distractions and has completely replaced my previous magazine fetish. Blogs are so much better, personal and never ending!

The more blogs I read, the more I seem to have ideas for my own posts, millions of little seeds of ideas bursting for me to put them down somewhere for others to see. My blog will be a hotchpotch of things I love, think and do with no particular organising principle! I hope it will help with a general commitment and interest in being more mindful that I have developed in recent months. A desire to slow down and take note of all of the wonderful, marvellous and extraordinary things that an ordinary day can bring; if you just slow down enough to see them.

So, I will blog about crafting, cooking, reading, running, travelling, all things French and anything else that springs to mind or floats my boat. It will be an outlet for my love of writing and hopefully a magnet for my love of people and learning about their lives.

Enjoy!