Friday 27 June 2014
Monday 16 June 2014
Soo's Date Loaf
A filling cake with no added sugar, fat or eggs. It has now become a welcome favourite at the end of several extended walks & never ceases to 'Hit the Spot'! Thanks Soo!
8 oz/225 g stoned dried dates, chopped
1/2 pt/275 ml water
12 oz/350 g mixed dried fruit
6 oz/175 g plain wholemeal flour
3 teasp/3 x 5ml sp baking powder
1 teasp/1 x 5 ml sp mixed spice
grated rind of 1 orange or lemon
1 oz/25 g chopped mixed nuts
4 tabsp/4 x 15 ml sp unsweetened orange juice
1/2 oz/15 g flaked almonds to decorate
Place the dates & water into a saucepan and cook over a gentle heat until soft. Remove from the heat & mash with a fork to make a smooth puree. Add the remaining ingredients except the flaked almonds, and beat together well, until evenly mixed. Spoon the mixture into a lightly greased and base lined alb/900 g loaf tin & level the surface. Sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top & place in a preheated oven at 160ºC/325ºF/Gas Mark 3. Bake for 1 1/4 hours or until a skewer when inserted comes out clean. Turn out and cool on a wire rack. Best eaten within 2 days but I can assure you there won't be any left around after 2 days anyhow!
Freezes well.
8 oz/225 g stoned dried dates, chopped
1/2 pt/275 ml water
12 oz/350 g mixed dried fruit
6 oz/175 g plain wholemeal flour
3 teasp/3 x 5ml sp baking powder
1 teasp/1 x 5 ml sp mixed spice
grated rind of 1 orange or lemon
1 oz/25 g chopped mixed nuts
4 tabsp/4 x 15 ml sp unsweetened orange juice
1/2 oz/15 g flaked almonds to decorate
Place the dates & water into a saucepan and cook over a gentle heat until soft. Remove from the heat & mash with a fork to make a smooth puree. Add the remaining ingredients except the flaked almonds, and beat together well, until evenly mixed. Spoon the mixture into a lightly greased and base lined alb/900 g loaf tin & level the surface. Sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top & place in a preheated oven at 160ºC/325ºF/Gas Mark 3. Bake for 1 1/4 hours or until a skewer when inserted comes out clean. Turn out and cool on a wire rack. Best eaten within 2 days but I can assure you there won't be any left around after 2 days anyhow!
Freezes well.
Saturday 7 June 2014
Mindfull Living
“Stop and smell the roses” isn’t just good advice—it’s also a powerful safeguard against stress. Mindfulness, or the practice of consciously and non-judgmentally observing the present moment, is linked to better wellbeing. People who are naturally mindful are more emotionally stable during the day and more relaxed at night.
Mindfulness can act as an emotional buffer, protecting you from the normal highs and lows of your day. People who are more mindful are able to stay somewhat separate from shifts in their body and their emotional state. They’re more observant, as opposed to reactive.
Luckily, mindfulness is a skill you can learn. So how do we become more mindful? Here are a few quick starting points:
Ease into your mornings
On an average weekday, do you abuse your snooze button before scrambling out of bed to barely make it to work/school on time. Rather than rushing through your morning agenda, take up to 30 minutes every morning to sit quietly and simply focus on your breath. When your mind wanders, come back to your breath. This gives your mind and body time to make the transition from a resting state to an active state. If sitting still for too long makes you squirm, meditating for even just five minutes is better than nothing.
Step away from your desk
You don’t have to be a smoker to excuse yourself from your office or home for a few minutes to mentally recharge. If you take a walk, observe what’s going on around you—the colour of the sky, the movement of the wind, and any physical sensations you experience. Mindfulness is the opposite of living your life on autopilot, and these mini-breaks will help train you to appreciate the here and now rather than being caught up in a lot of thoughts about the future & the past.
Take a real lunch break
We know it’s hard. The temptation to shovel food into your mouth while cruising the internet or reading the paper is hard to resist, but it prevents you from enjoying your meal. By paying attention to what you’re eating. Take time out to really zero in on texture and taste. You’ll enjoy your lunch more, slow down, feel more satiated & eat less!
Give yourself time to make transitions
In any given day, you might go from a career woman to a Zumba junkie to a domestic goddess. Rather than jumping from role to role, take a moment to mark these shifts. Doing so will help you get into the right mindset so you can better focus on the task at hand. When you sit down at your desk in the morning, for example, give yourself a full minute to centre yourself and conect with your world in that moment. Likewise, when you come home at night, try to consciously change gears. It’ll help you to be fully present for the people you’re around.
Listen up
We’re all guilty of zoning out in the middle of a conversation. And let’s be realistic —Starbucks ‘coffee-café chit chat’ isn't the most riveting but practicing mindful listening, where you focus on what the person is saying without judging or interrupting them, is a way of getting out of your own head, your own worries, your own woes & living in ‘present time’. Think of it as a vacation from your own thoughts.
Head Space:
Recently I have been using a great web site called 'Head Space' it helps demystify meditation & makes it easy to learn & fun to do. I can sure you that it really does work & within 3 days you will start to notice differences in your emotional stability, your feelings of, confidence & calm & your energy levels will be enhanced. Trust me on this one & give it a try:
http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/what-is-headspace.aspx
Mindfulness can act as an emotional buffer, protecting you from the normal highs and lows of your day. People who are more mindful are able to stay somewhat separate from shifts in their body and their emotional state. They’re more observant, as opposed to reactive.
Luckily, mindfulness is a skill you can learn. So how do we become more mindful? Here are a few quick starting points:
Ease into your mornings
On an average weekday, do you abuse your snooze button before scrambling out of bed to barely make it to work/school on time. Rather than rushing through your morning agenda, take up to 30 minutes every morning to sit quietly and simply focus on your breath. When your mind wanders, come back to your breath. This gives your mind and body time to make the transition from a resting state to an active state. If sitting still for too long makes you squirm, meditating for even just five minutes is better than nothing.
Step away from your desk
You don’t have to be a smoker to excuse yourself from your office or home for a few minutes to mentally recharge. If you take a walk, observe what’s going on around you—the colour of the sky, the movement of the wind, and any physical sensations you experience. Mindfulness is the opposite of living your life on autopilot, and these mini-breaks will help train you to appreciate the here and now rather than being caught up in a lot of thoughts about the future & the past.
Take a real lunch break
We know it’s hard. The temptation to shovel food into your mouth while cruising the internet or reading the paper is hard to resist, but it prevents you from enjoying your meal. By paying attention to what you’re eating. Take time out to really zero in on texture and taste. You’ll enjoy your lunch more, slow down, feel more satiated & eat less!
Give yourself time to make transitions
In any given day, you might go from a career woman to a Zumba junkie to a domestic goddess. Rather than jumping from role to role, take a moment to mark these shifts. Doing so will help you get into the right mindset so you can better focus on the task at hand. When you sit down at your desk in the morning, for example, give yourself a full minute to centre yourself and conect with your world in that moment. Likewise, when you come home at night, try to consciously change gears. It’ll help you to be fully present for the people you’re around.
Listen up
We’re all guilty of zoning out in the middle of a conversation. And let’s be realistic —Starbucks ‘coffee-café chit chat’ isn't the most riveting but practicing mindful listening, where you focus on what the person is saying without judging or interrupting them, is a way of getting out of your own head, your own worries, your own woes & living in ‘present time’. Think of it as a vacation from your own thoughts.
Head Space:
Recently I have been using a great web site called 'Head Space' it helps demystify meditation & makes it easy to learn & fun to do. I can sure you that it really does work & within 3 days you will start to notice differences in your emotional stability, your feelings of, confidence & calm & your energy levels will be enhanced. Trust me on this one & give it a try:
http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/what-is-headspace.aspx
Thursday 5 June 2014
Boot/hoe kit care for these 'April Showers' hitting us in June!!
How to Clean and Reproof Walking Boots and Outdoor Footwear
Walking shoes are possibly the most essential and personal piece of outdoor kit you can buy & they are worth looking after. So often, our wet shoes just get slung in a cupboard caked in mud and forgotten about until the next weeks outing. This does reduce their lifespan, and can cause uppers to rot or crack, soles to fall off and general unpleasant odours to form. (Faults caused by neglect are usually not covered by a manufacturer's warranty, which will stipulate that you need to show some respect for the product.) Thankfully cleaning and re-waterproofing your walking boots is both quick and easy with the right know-how! (To clean approach or walking shoes simply replace the word 'boots' with 'shoes' throughout).
Post-Walk Care
So you've come back from your walk and your shoes/boots are caked in mud and debris (often containing bacteria which just love to use your boots as a breeding ground and secrete leather damaging substances)...tempted just to sling them in the airing cupboard and be done? Hold your horses!
* Remove the laces and footbeds (stones stuck under the footbeds can and will eventually damage any Gore-Tex) You can hand wash the laces in the sink with some Nikwax Tech Wash or soap & then air dry.
* Thump the boots together to remove any loose mud.
* Run under a tap to remove any stubborn debris from the uppers and soles. If there's a stubborn patch, then a nail brush is ideal for removing it.
* Now you have mud-free boots which you can either dry (see below) for next time, or give them some proper TLC (which is the best way for longevity).
Cleaning
Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel is ideal for gentle cleaning of walking boots, shoes and just about any other footwear you've got lying around (including fashion trainers).
It's designed to be applied to damp footwear, so if you've dried them out make sure to wet them again. Then simply use the sponge applicator to apply a generous coating of the cleaning gel over the whole area. If there's stubborn patches, scrub with a stiff nylon brush like a nail brush. Rinse well in clean water. You can now either proceed to drying them, or ideally reproof them.
Reproofing
Reapplying waterproofing to the shoes/boot's is as easy as washing them, but you will need to use the correct product depending on fabric. There are many waxes and sprays on the market; boot manufacturers often make their own (Brasher's Conditioning Cream or Nubuck Sprays, Scarpa's HS12 cream) but I've always used, and been more than happy with the results of Nikwax's range. All Nikwax waterproofing products are suitable for anything containing Gore-Tex materials. Always ensure that your footwear has been cleaned before applying, and if using Nikwax make sure the boots are damp. (If using a rub-wax/cream or non-Nikwax sprays, check the label to see whether it should be applied to wet or dry footwear.) Once of the reasons Nikwax is so effective is that it's aqueous (water-based)...it therefore mixes with the water on the damp footwear and runs to where it's needed most.
Drying
So you've given your shoes/boots a quick rinse, or given them a thorough going over, either way they'll need to be dried. This is where many people fall foul and actually do their boots some harm. If dried too fast leather (which includes nubuck and suede) can crack. Ideally you want to fill the inside of the boots or shoes with newspaper or something else absorbent that won't leave bits behind. Leave in a warm, but not hot place to dry naturally. This is often a slowish process so don't be tempted to get the hair-dryer out. Never leave shoes/boots on a radiator or other direct heat source, as mentioned it can damage the uppers. It can also cause the glue holding the soles on to degrade, which will lead to them falling off. Once dried you can re-thread the laces and reinsert the footbeds, and then store in a cool, dry place until next time.
Internal Cleaning
So we've treated the outside of the boots, but they're getting a bit whiffy on the inside. In addition salt from perspiration is also being absorbed by the lining, which can damage Gore-Tex and also cause damage to uppers in non-waterproof shoes. There's a simple solution to this, and it really doesn't have to be done very often at all...when you've not got any trips planned for a while simply fill the boots with hand-warm water and add a bit of Nikwax Tech Wash (or similar). Leave to soak for 30 minutes or so and then drain, rinse and leave to dry as above.
This clears the salt, and also gets rid of those odours! For ultra-fast odour removal, there are anti-bacterial sprays on the market which will work.
Pro-Tips
* Keep toenails short, neat and free from jagged edges; this prevents damage to the internal lining.
* Always wear decent walking socks, cotton or 'classic' wool will hold onto moisture and are very likely to cause blisters.
* Remove stones, sticks and other detritus often, it can damage the lining.
* Avoid using dubbin for modern outdoor footwear. Modern leathers are usually of a very high quality, and are thinner and more supple than leather of 'ye olde days', and are much better served with newer technologies. Just because grandad did it doesn't mean it's still the best way!
Walking shoes are possibly the most essential and personal piece of outdoor kit you can buy & they are worth looking after. So often, our wet shoes just get slung in a cupboard caked in mud and forgotten about until the next weeks outing. This does reduce their lifespan, and can cause uppers to rot or crack, soles to fall off and general unpleasant odours to form. (Faults caused by neglect are usually not covered by a manufacturer's warranty, which will stipulate that you need to show some respect for the product.) Thankfully cleaning and re-waterproofing your walking boots is both quick and easy with the right know-how! (To clean approach or walking shoes simply replace the word 'boots' with 'shoes' throughout).
Post-Walk Care
So you've come back from your walk and your shoes/boots are caked in mud and debris (often containing bacteria which just love to use your boots as a breeding ground and secrete leather damaging substances)...tempted just to sling them in the airing cupboard and be done? Hold your horses!
* Remove the laces and footbeds (stones stuck under the footbeds can and will eventually damage any Gore-Tex) You can hand wash the laces in the sink with some Nikwax Tech Wash or soap & then air dry.
* Thump the boots together to remove any loose mud.
* Run under a tap to remove any stubborn debris from the uppers and soles. If there's a stubborn patch, then a nail brush is ideal for removing it.
* Now you have mud-free boots which you can either dry (see below) for next time, or give them some proper TLC (which is the best way for longevity).
Cleaning
Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel is ideal for gentle cleaning of walking boots, shoes and just about any other footwear you've got lying around (including fashion trainers).
It's designed to be applied to damp footwear, so if you've dried them out make sure to wet them again. Then simply use the sponge applicator to apply a generous coating of the cleaning gel over the whole area. If there's stubborn patches, scrub with a stiff nylon brush like a nail brush. Rinse well in clean water. You can now either proceed to drying them, or ideally reproof them.
Reproofing
Reapplying waterproofing to the shoes/boot's is as easy as washing them, but you will need to use the correct product depending on fabric. There are many waxes and sprays on the market; boot manufacturers often make their own (Brasher's Conditioning Cream or Nubuck Sprays, Scarpa's HS12 cream) but I've always used, and been more than happy with the results of Nikwax's range. All Nikwax waterproofing products are suitable for anything containing Gore-Tex materials. Always ensure that your footwear has been cleaned before applying, and if using Nikwax make sure the boots are damp. (If using a rub-wax/cream or non-Nikwax sprays, check the label to see whether it should be applied to wet or dry footwear.) Once of the reasons Nikwax is so effective is that it's aqueous (water-based)...it therefore mixes with the water on the damp footwear and runs to where it's needed most.
Drying
So you've given your shoes/boots a quick rinse, or given them a thorough going over, either way they'll need to be dried. This is where many people fall foul and actually do their boots some harm. If dried too fast leather (which includes nubuck and suede) can crack. Ideally you want to fill the inside of the boots or shoes with newspaper or something else absorbent that won't leave bits behind. Leave in a warm, but not hot place to dry naturally. This is often a slowish process so don't be tempted to get the hair-dryer out. Never leave shoes/boots on a radiator or other direct heat source, as mentioned it can damage the uppers. It can also cause the glue holding the soles on to degrade, which will lead to them falling off. Once dried you can re-thread the laces and reinsert the footbeds, and then store in a cool, dry place until next time.
Internal Cleaning
So we've treated the outside of the boots, but they're getting a bit whiffy on the inside. In addition salt from perspiration is also being absorbed by the lining, which can damage Gore-Tex and also cause damage to uppers in non-waterproof shoes. There's a simple solution to this, and it really doesn't have to be done very often at all...when you've not got any trips planned for a while simply fill the boots with hand-warm water and add a bit of Nikwax Tech Wash (or similar). Leave to soak for 30 minutes or so and then drain, rinse and leave to dry as above.
This clears the salt, and also gets rid of those odours! For ultra-fast odour removal, there are anti-bacterial sprays on the market which will work.
Pro-Tips
* Keep toenails short, neat and free from jagged edges; this prevents damage to the internal lining.
* Always wear decent walking socks, cotton or 'classic' wool will hold onto moisture and are very likely to cause blisters.
* Remove stones, sticks and other detritus often, it can damage the lining.
* Avoid using dubbin for modern outdoor footwear. Modern leathers are usually of a very high quality, and are thinner and more supple than leather of 'ye olde days', and are much better served with newer technologies. Just because grandad did it doesn't mean it's still the best way!
- Avoid washing outdoor footwear in a washing machine, it can damage the glue holding soles on!
Friday 16 May 2014
Tadcaster Tri-Down!
AKA: The low down on how NOT to tackle a Triathlon!
Meet yours truly, competitor of the day, nº 259 in Tadcaster Triathlon, Gilly Payne. The lady who takes great pride in climbing big mountains, running around little mountains and rushing through UK mountain collections under big time pressures! In deed, she seems to love all there is to do with mountains & endurance events. She is one to relish jumping on two planks of wood & throwing herself down and even off mountains & couloirs just to see if her body breaks. And it does! Now there's a surprise! Its all in the name of madness really! But she always goes back for more & the risks get bigger & the trips get trickier! So why on earth is 'Ms Madness' shaking like a leaf at the prospect of going for a little paddle, pedal & plod around North Yorkshire with all her best mates bellowing support from the side lines!?
I guess, the thought of being submerged in the pool by Tadcasters Michael Phelps and mounting her bike to pedal for England (or at least Tadcaster) against Wetherbys Mark Cavendish before sprinting as if her life depended on it next to Yorks Jane Thomlinson is more pressure than even she can take! And on top of that, Ms 'I don't do clothes' has to dress & undress herself 3 times in the process! All in the name of fun! Excuse me but where does fun ever enter into this particular equation? I think I need to Google that word & re-Wikipaed it in my brain. Can you Wikipaed something? Well, you can Google something so why not Wiki something or even better, re-Wiki something!
Its times like this that one calls up Mother! Always there for me & always wondering what her mad daughter will attempt next, she just giggles at the end of the line when I explain my dilemma:
"Mum, I think I am going to die! My heart is about to erupt out of my chest like something out of Alien, its pounding so hard right now! I think I could fuel Campbells' Bluebird with the amount of adrenalin pumping round my body at this moment in time!"
God forbid that the heart pops whilst in the pool, now that could be a messy situation! Would they charge me for emptying the pool or does Mr Drinkwater foot the bill? I'd like to see him drink that water after such an incident! What are the Aids risks associated with this one? Oh, for heavens sake Gill, shut the "…." up!
But then, like some automata, I get dressed, eat my banana, down my beetroot shot & walk the walk, to face my fate!
Please note that Beetroot shots don't look great when they re-appear! Be prepared but don't be scared of Beet-wee!
After a long sermon on the ups and downs of our holy Tadcaster water & the A's, B's & C's of Tri racing, I (Ms Blue) find myself standing in the 5th lane with Ms Red, White & Green. All those years at Uni being labelled 'The Blue Nun' & here I am, once again, stuck in the Blues! I am sorry but just remind me how I ended up here?
Is this fluke or has Paul Drink-dirty-water intentionally put 4 Tri-Virgins in a lane together? Thats quite comforting except that Gilly is, on average, 15 years older than the rest of the pools inhabitants! Why oh why, did she quote such a quick swim time? The 'Biggest Boy' (the athletic one, not the 'couchy spud') pointed out:
"Its because you always push yourself Mum…. to extremes!"
I've started swimming! When did that happen?! Why am I doing this? Why am I drowning in public? Why have a put myself in here for total public humiliation? I'm tired, so very very tired. Think Gill: Bottom up, head down, arms bent, pull straight, diaphragm breath…
Before I know it, it's all done & I am clambering out of the water. I never was one for fannying about when it comes to getting dressed & I am off at a run, leaving many others patting themselves & pulling socks on. Throwing my goggles, car keys & towel at Mr Tape who is hidden in the bushes, I pound up the pavement towards the brewery. No, I haven't gone off the rails (Yet!) but our bikes are racked in the car park up there.
I'm on my bike now & looking forward to a gentle pedal & rest time. Its a chance to draw breath after semi-suffocation and ingesting half the pool. This is my recovery phase! The words of 'Big Brother' (the Tri Pro in the family) are ringing in my ears:
"Don't kill yourself in the pool Gill, or on the bike. Just save yourself"
And for the first time in her life, his little sister has listened!….Soft pedaling now for 8 short miles Well chuffed at overtaking blond bombshell at the last post before dismounting at a run & sprinting back to the racks. Shoes off, shoes on, top off, glasses on, helmet off & RUN!
But what's this?….Stitch! I was awaiting the dead leg syndrome typical of the bike/run transition but hadn't expected this….Its the worst ever.
For 4 hard miles, I am running doubled up in pain before it's all hemmed up and slowly fades away. I am so touched by all the friends and family supporting me: Mrs Nutrition, Mr & Mrs Tape & Ms Pilates, The Priory Team & the Biggest Boy (aka the athletic one) are all there to keep me moving.
I have concluded that I just have to keep my eyes on that rather large bottom belonging to Blond Bombshell (I still don't understand how she is in front of me again! Where did that happen?)
On to the rough wiggly river path heading back to Tad & the cows, cow pats, dogs & camera men are all cheering their heads off.
The bottom is still joggling up and down in front of me & is rather mesmeric, acting to distract me from the pain. If I can keep up with it then surely I must find myself coming to the end of this torturous path at some point!
Time for a little self talk me thinks:
"You can do this. You are getting there. You are doing this. You've done far worse than this. You've been in more pain than this. Think of the cake after this!
And there they were again, all the mates, at the finish, clapping me in. I made it & finished in a perfectly respectable time for a first and last triathlon.…..
Or will it be?!
P.S. Gilly Goat will be sprinting her way around the 10 kms route in the team event at Castle Howard Triathlon on 27th July, 2014!!!!
Meet yours truly, competitor of the day, nº 259 in Tadcaster Triathlon, Gilly Payne. The lady who takes great pride in climbing big mountains, running around little mountains and rushing through UK mountain collections under big time pressures! In deed, she seems to love all there is to do with mountains & endurance events. She is one to relish jumping on two planks of wood & throwing herself down and even off mountains & couloirs just to see if her body breaks. And it does! Now there's a surprise! Its all in the name of madness really! But she always goes back for more & the risks get bigger & the trips get trickier! So why on earth is 'Ms Madness' shaking like a leaf at the prospect of going for a little paddle, pedal & plod around North Yorkshire with all her best mates bellowing support from the side lines!?
I guess, the thought of being submerged in the pool by Tadcasters Michael Phelps and mounting her bike to pedal for England (or at least Tadcaster) against Wetherbys Mark Cavendish before sprinting as if her life depended on it next to Yorks Jane Thomlinson is more pressure than even she can take! And on top of that, Ms 'I don't do clothes' has to dress & undress herself 3 times in the process! All in the name of fun! Excuse me but where does fun ever enter into this particular equation? I think I need to Google that word & re-Wikipaed it in my brain. Can you Wikipaed something? Well, you can Google something so why not Wiki something or even better, re-Wiki something!
Its times like this that one calls up Mother! Always there for me & always wondering what her mad daughter will attempt next, she just giggles at the end of the line when I explain my dilemma:
"Mum, I think I am going to die! My heart is about to erupt out of my chest like something out of Alien, its pounding so hard right now! I think I could fuel Campbells' Bluebird with the amount of adrenalin pumping round my body at this moment in time!"
God forbid that the heart pops whilst in the pool, now that could be a messy situation! Would they charge me for emptying the pool or does Mr Drinkwater foot the bill? I'd like to see him drink that water after such an incident! What are the Aids risks associated with this one? Oh, for heavens sake Gill, shut the "…." up!
But then, like some automata, I get dressed, eat my banana, down my beetroot shot & walk the walk, to face my fate!
Please note that Beetroot shots don't look great when they re-appear! Be prepared but don't be scared of Beet-wee!
After a long sermon on the ups and downs of our holy Tadcaster water & the A's, B's & C's of Tri racing, I (Ms Blue) find myself standing in the 5th lane with Ms Red, White & Green. All those years at Uni being labelled 'The Blue Nun' & here I am, once again, stuck in the Blues! I am sorry but just remind me how I ended up here?
Is this fluke or has Paul Drink-dirty-water intentionally put 4 Tri-Virgins in a lane together? Thats quite comforting except that Gilly is, on average, 15 years older than the rest of the pools inhabitants! Why oh why, did she quote such a quick swim time? The 'Biggest Boy' (the athletic one, not the 'couchy spud') pointed out:
"Its because you always push yourself Mum…. to extremes!"
I've started swimming! When did that happen?! Why am I doing this? Why am I drowning in public? Why have a put myself in here for total public humiliation? I'm tired, so very very tired. Think Gill: Bottom up, head down, arms bent, pull straight, diaphragm breath…
Before I know it, it's all done & I am clambering out of the water. I never was one for fannying about when it comes to getting dressed & I am off at a run, leaving many others patting themselves & pulling socks on. Throwing my goggles, car keys & towel at Mr Tape who is hidden in the bushes, I pound up the pavement towards the brewery. No, I haven't gone off the rails (Yet!) but our bikes are racked in the car park up there.
I'm on my bike now & looking forward to a gentle pedal & rest time. Its a chance to draw breath after semi-suffocation and ingesting half the pool. This is my recovery phase! The words of 'Big Brother' (the Tri Pro in the family) are ringing in my ears:
"Don't kill yourself in the pool Gill, or on the bike. Just save yourself"
And for the first time in her life, his little sister has listened!….Soft pedaling now for 8 short miles Well chuffed at overtaking blond bombshell at the last post before dismounting at a run & sprinting back to the racks. Shoes off, shoes on, top off, glasses on, helmet off & RUN!
But what's this?….Stitch! I was awaiting the dead leg syndrome typical of the bike/run transition but hadn't expected this….Its the worst ever.
For 4 hard miles, I am running doubled up in pain before it's all hemmed up and slowly fades away. I am so touched by all the friends and family supporting me: Mrs Nutrition, Mr & Mrs Tape & Ms Pilates, The Priory Team & the Biggest Boy (aka the athletic one) are all there to keep me moving.
I have concluded that I just have to keep my eyes on that rather large bottom belonging to Blond Bombshell (I still don't understand how she is in front of me again! Where did that happen?)
On to the rough wiggly river path heading back to Tad & the cows, cow pats, dogs & camera men are all cheering their heads off.
The bottom is still joggling up and down in front of me & is rather mesmeric, acting to distract me from the pain. If I can keep up with it then surely I must find myself coming to the end of this torturous path at some point!
Time for a little self talk me thinks:
"You can do this. You are getting there. You are doing this. You've done far worse than this. You've been in more pain than this. Think of the cake after this!
And there they were again, all the mates, at the finish, clapping me in. I made it & finished in a perfectly respectable time for a first and last triathlon.…..
Or will it be?!
P.S. Gilly Goat will be sprinting her way around the 10 kms route in the team event at Castle Howard Triathlon on 27th July, 2014!!!!
Monday 12 May 2014
Nordic Nomads hit The Wolds
What a fabulous walk we had in the Wolds last Wednesday.
Much of our route overlaps with the Wolds Way, the National Trail which wends through some of the most tranquil and gentle countryside in England, along wooded slopes & serene dry valleys, the walk climbs gently onto the airy tops of the rolling hills where you can see forever on a good day.
But we are all cold & disgruntled in the car park, not used to cold starts or black skies but once we head into Wayrham Dale, the microclimate that is typical of the Wolds, wraps us up and warms us through. After weaving between the sharp fingers of several steep, uncultivated Dales, we run into the Wolds Way at a point where one of the 10 new public artworks has been completed.
You can read more about these art works at the: Visit Yorkshire web site
This particular feature was created by the artist, Chris Drury & is known as 'Waves & Time' & represents the ancient flow of ice & water through the area & how that has created the landscape we see today. It sits at the junction of three Dales & the spiral earthwork indicates how an eddy might have formed in the flowing water, to create the open space. The project involved restoring a Dew pond using traditional methods. Dew ponds were a common feature of the Wolds and were created to provide water for the sheep and cattle.
My favourite Thixendale stretches away in front of us but our route turns away from here & soon we are stripping off layers of clothing, ready for the steep climb up the side of Worm Dale. On emerging onto the road above Painsthorpe, the first rain storm of the day kicks off! Out came all the OMM jackets & the banter begins. Mrs Nomad gets a kicking for sporting the most unsightly piece of clothing possible, her sons 10 year old football waterproof & looking like a Gnome or Gnomad to boot!
From up here we spot a coppice to the right & it transpires that approximately 20 round barrows (burial mounds) have been found in the Painsthorpe area dating from the Bronze age, some even believed to date back as far as Neolithic times, this being one such mound.
From this Wold top we head down through Painsthorpe where we come across another massive crucifix on the hillside next to Painsthorpe Hall. Painsthorpe used to be the site of Painsthorpe Abbey, an Anglican Benedictine monastery, established around 1916 by Aelred Carlyle.
At the bottom of Painsthorpe Lane, we cross the field into Kirby Underdale where we turn & swing off through the fields, heading up a chalky track with a gradient of 17% in places.
We emerge into the rain yet again and find ourselves back at the top of Garrowby Hill. At 807ft (246m) above sea level, it is the highest point on the Yorkshire Wolds with views to match even through the rainclouds that have now opened above us! Garrowby Hill sits atop Bishop Wilton Wold which supports another burial mound, the subject of Hockneys 1998 painting:
Bishop Wilton is considered by some, to be one of the prettiest villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire. A shallow beck runs through the centre of the village which is flanked on both sides by sloping grass verges & narrow lanes. This beck serves as a habitat for endangered wildlife including water voles, toads & newts.
Heading out of the village in a Southerly direction towards Pocklington, we soon turn off the road, following a public footpath sign to the left & heading back up the hillside to the wold top and the next few fields to Great Givendale. Spotting a nice open verge, we start to arrange our fleshy backsides, ready for a brief fuel stop until the cow phobics amongst us point out there is one rather over sized bull in the adjacent field.
Despite the presence of a robust barbed wire fence, not many of us feel comfortable eating bully beef sandwiches whilst being eyed up by this young lad! So, we continue through the settlement for another 100 yards & reach the little church of St Ethelburga, situated down a wooded slope, as if hiding away from the world. It is such a peaceful place, once found, never to be forgotten! We entered into a debate as to whether they would allow such a pleb as myself to squeeze into a patch of earth when the time comes. Doubtful!
After 15 minutes, we were all becoming far too complacent about life and starting to stiffen up so Mrs Nomad gives the marching orders. From here, we follow the Minster Way which stretches for 50 miles between the Minsters in Beverley & York. It was established in 1980 by the Ramblers. The path wends its way along the bottom of Givendale & up the side of Whitekeld Dale and onto a farm drive where we spot a rope swing strung in the remote beach coppice with views across Yorkshire. Being of child at heart, there is always one Nomad who has to try these things out & provide great amusement to those not quite as brave. Clearly it wasn't designed to take her adult weight as the branch dipped, she disappeared from site & came precariously close to getting a muddy, bruised bottom on reaching full swing cycle!
We head across the next multiple crossroads & down 'The Balk' into Millington. Sadly, the Ramblers Rest is shut on Wednesdays, so I could not introduce the Nomads to one of the jewels in Yorkshire tea rooms!
So, we turn left, following the signs to Millington Pastures & Millington Woods. Millington Woods is one of the few remaining wooded dales in the Wolds. There has always been a woodland where Millington Wood stands in the steep sided lily Dale. The first written evidence dates back to the Doomsday Book in 1086. The wood was owned by several estates & let to tenants to provide fencing materials, furniture & fuel. In 1986 the wood was bought by the local authority & designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1991. It is a popular beauty spot & is known locally for its springs - Millington Springs - which formerly supported large beds of watercress. After a mile along this road we come to the edge of Millington Woods & drop down a chalk track after another snack attack with fuelling before the next & last climb of the day.
Once on top of Millington Heights again, we join the Roman road heading back to the A 166. Turning off to the right just after a fir plantation & the clouds open once again before the last dash for home. Many of us felt that we got it totally wrong today with our fuel intake, I for one was starving when we finished but lessons were learned and future plans made!
A great walk, with some great banter, walking-talking therapy & time to laugh, live & enjoy the Wolds:
Thursday 1 May 2014
NORDIC NOMADS SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR
DATE
W/C :
|
WALK
|
OTHER NOTES
|
MAY:
|
||
06/05/14
|
9:30 TUES: Bolton Percy
Wed: Wolds Walk
|
Wolds Walk is a hilly 15 mile route.
|
12/05/14
|
Tockwith
|
|
18/5/14
|
Nidderdale Walk
|
22 miles. On line/postal entry.
|
19/05/14
|
Mon & Wed: Allerton Estate
Friday: Pateley Bridge
|
Pateley Bridge = 10.25 hilly miles
|
26/05/14
|
Kirkby Overblow
|
Note: There IS a walk on the bank holiday Monday
|
JUNE:
|
||
02/06/14
|
Mon: Embsay
Wed: Stutton
|
Embsay = 14 hilly miles
|
04/6/14
|
Evening chat about Camino & Y3P Q&A
session
|
Venue to be decided
|
09/06/14
|
Mon: Telly Tubby Land
Wed: Y3P
|
Wed: Y3P
|
16/06/14
|
Southern Harewood Loop
|
|
23/06/14
|
Sicklinghall
|
|
30/06/14
|
Mon: Fountains Abbey
Wed: No walk
Fri: Linton
|
Fountains Abbey with Richmond NW group = 9
miles.
|
JULY:
|
||
07/07/14
|
Cowthorpe
|
|
14/07/14
|
Green Hammerton
|
|
21/07/14
|
Mon: Spofforth
Wed: No walk
Friday: Spofforth
|
|
28/07/14
|
Bardsey - Harewood linear walk & lunch.
|
NOTE: I need help please organising lifts.
See below.
|
***SUMMER BREAK ***
|
*******ENSUES******
|
****SUMMER BREAK*****
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LONGER WALKS AND TALKS:
Wednesday 7th May
|
Wolds Walk
|
15 hilly miles
|
Sunday 18th May
|
Nidderdale Walk
|
22 miles.
|
Friday
23rd May
|
Pateley Bridge
|
10.25 hilly miles
|
Monday 2nd June
|
Embsay
|
14 hilly miles
|
Wednesday 4th June
|
Camino Girls Come To Talk
|
Venue to be decided.
|
Wednesday 11th June
|
Y3P - Yippee
|
24 miles
|
Monday 30th June
|
Fountains Abbey
|
8 miles
|
Week Commencing 28/7/14
|
Mon: Harewood to E Keswick
Wed: E Keswick to Harewood
|
Normal NW: 5 miles.
NOTE: Linear walk
with end of term lunch/coffee at Collingham café on Monday & at Harewood
muddy Boots café on the Wednesday. I need help organising the car sharing
please for both days. Leaving cars at one end & driving back to collect
afterwards.
|
NOTES:
Please note that if it doesn’t
say otherwise, the walks are from the same point on both Mondays AND Wednesdays.
Otherwise, the details are listed under both ‘Other Notes’ AND the table at the
bottom for ‘Additional Information….’ There isn’t a week when there aren’t at
least 2 walks but there are a couple weeks when there is no Wednesday walk due
to a course & my sons graduation.
(1) Monday Bank Holiday walk shifted to Tuesday at 9:30
(3) There is an
additional Friday walk this week at Pateley Bridge.
(4) School Half
Term Week
(5) There are
no Wednesday walks these weeks but Friday alternatives
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