LisasMiles 45:365

A huge running smile today as I woke up early so made it to ParkRun at Kingsbury Water Park in spite of my busy week. And I should perhaps try to run as fast as I can when I'm exhausted more often as I broke my PB a minute, aided by the Valentines pacemakers. Having ended up at the back I was not letting the 28 minute sign out of my sight and chased it down, overtaking with just under 1km

to go and finishing in 27:18 officially (although I made it 27:10) 

And to cap it all, a red rose and Swizzel sweeties at the finish! 

And more flowers from John on my return. Lucky girl! 

LisasMiles 32:365

8.5 miles with an average pace 9.49 min/mile - that's worth a big smile, especially as it felt very hard work for the first 2 miles. 

And I saw the beautiful ponies, managing to capture a picture before my phone inexplicably decided to 'run out of battery' with 49% battery left... Quite annoying as there were other sights I wanted to capture, including more ponies and the sun going down over the lake. 

The battery on my iPod Shuffle ran out with 3 miles to go and I quite enjoyed listening to myself breathing and the park sounds. It was quite soothing but no sure I'd have enjoyed it as much if I'd be struggling at that point. 

Nice to see Bob Alex and Harry this morning accompanying 'Uncle' Charlie to church. Worship group were particularly appreciative of Bob clapping our rehearsal! 

In other news, I think I'm becoming addicted to Wasabi peas!

LisasMiles 30:365

It was a beautiful morning running in the park. Crunchy snow underfoot and a clear piercing blue sky - so beautiful but I'd no camera to capture it as is left it in the kit bag in case I fell over and smashed it :( Still, my eyes enjoyed it! 

Also smiled when I'd finished the 5.3+ miles when I looked down and saw the amount of mud on my legs. Compared to others, significantly more! I think it's an inherited trait ;)

And for tea I made sausage risotto, a dish I perfected at uni and a recipe that was then stolen by many friends. The boys loved it and it tasted nearly as good as 24 years ago when I first made it! 

Other smiles:

Wasabi pea overdose as I tried to complete some trying, last minute paperwork. 

End of the week. 

Stories of school from the boys. 

John brought Lindt chocolates back from his travels. 

PS someone called Wendy Webb has posted a picture from the park this morning on Twitter so I've borrowed it! Thanks to @Sutton Observer for the retweet or I'd have missed it. 

LisasMiles 16:365

A bright crisp morning; perfect for a run - 5.4 miles. And I did enjoy this morning's run. Far more than last Friday when it was out and back, and the wind was howling!

Jude's trainers arrived much to his delight.
I made it to school to retrieve my folder just in time before the building was locked up for the weekend.
Tea was delicious.
John came back from Budapest.

LisasMiles 11:365

I decided to tackle Cardiac Hill today on my run. Seemed a good idea at the time as I wanted to go in the park and needed to be out by 4 as it would be getting too dark by then. Unfortunately the wind was in my face much of the way and it was hard work. Just about to lose the ability to breath, I looked up and a pony appeared ahead of me, wandering across the road. As I got closer, his friend was munching nearby. The wild ponies that live in the park are very shy and I've never seen them there before so it was quite a surprise, but a pleasant one. Unfortunately I didn't have my 'phone with me so no picture but I took one in my head!
Other smiles today:
finding various small cuddly creatures hidden around the house.
becoming riveted by the darts final - never thought that would happen!
the smell of clean washing.

And finally incredulity at this snippet of Fox News - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwq8Bwr9wUg - turned to amusement at the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts on Twitter as people came up with other preposterous facts that Fox News may(or may not) have broadcast!

LisaSmiles 9:365

A run on a very windy but rather lovely day. 

Core class during which I managed to plank for a minute without nearing collapse - although my running V sit left s lot to be desired! 

A positive message from a colleague. 

A trip to IKEA resulting in the purchase of some hats, meatballs and fairy wings. And a puppet that I say is a dragon as it has a fiery tongue but the boys say is a dinosaur as it has no wings. 

Finally, hilarity over a video about dogs and socks. 

A good day completed with John just arriving home :)

LisaSmiles 6:365

Things that made me smile today:

Back to school (second time this week) and shoehorning the entire school into the hall for assembly. A child suggesting that one of the Headteacher's New Year resolutions was to "drink more" had us giggling! (If you add "water", they were correct. 

A child misunderstanding what I said by taking me literally and thinking that their teacher would actually tell me to go away and not teach their class - he was quite indignant on my behalf. 

Two unexpected lads were my stars of the afternoon. Don't know what happened to them but I like it! 

And I fitted in a run before tea. A short one but that's Jantastic kicked off! 

Today's picture was actually taken in Vienna but I'd forgotten about it. 

New uses for coffee stirrers!

LisasMiles 4:365

The first LisasMiles post! When I'm running this year I've decided to make an effort to enjoy my surroundings more, and to pause to take photographs. I made a start yesterday, but that was before the run not during it. Today I stopped whilst out running, not because I was tired or needed a break, but because I wanted to capture the view. The park is so lovely, even on a cold misty day!

In other smiley news, Jude correctly counted the number of times that the word 'follow' appeared on the screen at church during the service this morning, and won a banana. He was pleased to win but not so pleased with the prize as the 'advertised' prize was Smarties! Love his face! 

LisaSmiles 3:365

Marshmallow toasting over the bonfire with lanterns hung in the tree.

Park Run this morning was wet and muddy but a sense of achievement to get up and running! 

An addition to the lounge made up for taking down the Christmas decorations. 

And I thoroughly enjoyed the last liqueur cherry in dark chocolate, and the last Lindt truffle. 

MoreSmiles 82:365

This was when the sun was shining and I was still smiling. Not the wisest move I've ever made insisting on running the Seven Pools 10k this morning with a horrid cold, especially when the wind got up  (right in my face!) and there was an almighty hailstorm. Still, I finished and made it home too. Worth a smile!

MoreSmiles 75:365

A glorious day today, really warm and sunny.

Church then washing on the line and lunch. 

Then a looong run. What a lovely day to run, even when the wind was into face. Nearly got sucked into the RoadRelayRace in the park but contented myself with pootling along, occasionally overtaken (at speed!) by a club runner taking part. And I did give a few of them directions back to the start when they got lost on their warm ups!

I do believe I have a slight tan :)

And I am loving the discovery of JellyBelly Sports Beans. Much easier to eat than gels and you don't have to eat them all at once. Jude certainly liked them when I decided to share as he reached the top of Cardiac Hill in my wake ;)

MoreSmiles 73:365

A beautiful sunny day.

A challenging run in the sunshine. And lots done before as well.

A core class at which I actually managed to do everything quite successfully (although I am definitely lopsided!)

Lunch in the sun and then planning in the garden with my (soon to be patented) "Bootbox laptop sunshade"

And then the boys came home, and then John came home.

All smiles :)

MoreSmiles 68:365

I've been thinking about Fry's chocolate cream since Dave B mentioned them last weekend - and I found one in Wilkinsons. And I thoroughly enjoyed it as I sat in the sun this afternoon having run a race this morning.  

My ability to switch from struggling to put one foot in front of the other with 500m to go to sprinting across the line simply because Jac told me to 'come on' amused - and bemused - me no end. 

And discovering flowers in the garden. 

MoreSmiles 63:365

My pancakes obviously didn't look like these hence I didn't bother taking a photograph! They were however delicious.

We had a meeting about Isaac's German exchange this evening - that made me smile as Herr Götschel is a very amusing man!

And I got home in time to have a run before it got dark. Whoop!

MoreSmiles 59:365

I've got Sprüngli chocolates! 

#smileygirl

  

 A good run this morning, the arrival of a replacement UP band, sunshine and the end of a looong week all made me smile too!

MoreSmiles 54:365

My neighbour in Winti told me "you puzzle people because the Swiss don't walk around smiling for no apparent reason." Perhaps she had a point given the quotation above. 

Being 'starred' person in worship group usually means you have to get out and put away the music, but today I was "preacher's pet" as I came in on time for all the songs in pre-church rehearsals. That made me smile :)

A run with (so far!) no ill effects. 

Liverpool won 4-3 against Swansea. 

Dinner was delicious although we need more duck next time!

MoreSmiles 51:365

A run - short but very sweet!

Finishing a good book. 

A very sad boy made happy by some shopping at Currys. 

And an interesting way of sharing things from an iPad...

MoreSmiles 33:365

Good to be back in worship group, even if I did get hit over the head by an exuberant worshipping Barbara. Soon solved by removing my microphone from the stand and moving closer to Phil. Also meant I could read his large words ;)

And a very pleasing run on a sunny albeit cold afternoon. Having trouble breathing in the cold so I was very pleased with my average pace. Picture is the edge of the Country Valley Park as I sped past; that's flooding not a lake!

I knew Jude had a plan at lunchtime when he approached me with a smile on his face and eyelashes fluttering... sharing bags of crisps is not a problem for me, unlike John who ate an entire bag of M&S cheesy tasters all by himself.

Isaac's ability to balance his entire body in something akin to the lotus position on the tiny saddle of his bike is quite impressive and certainly causes a smile as I pass and wonder where the rest of his body has gone.

And John in cycling gear is always worth a smile ;)

Finally - this song is by someone I knew in youth group and last saw about 25 years ago! I like it - listen to the words (and they're below the video on Youtube too)

MoreSmiles 31:365

This cartoon made me giggle. 

And coping with a challenge session involving hill repetitions made me happy too - so not n the mood but was flying at points.

I also enjoyed talking to potential Erasmus+ partners via Skype. 

MoreSmiles 26:365

Great Twitter banter about #ILILC4 lessened the post-BETT blues as did sunshine this afternoon and Sprüngli chocolates!

I ran 5 miles fairly quickly and planned some lessons in ultra quick time so I've done one of tomorrow's jobs this evening whilst watching TheJump and The Three Musketeers. I still have countless things to do though...
One thing at a time - and I have planned my wardrobe for #ILILC4 :)

And Stan won the Australian Open!