The same traits as Mr Bean?

Yesterday was a bit shit really, I felt fed up so wasn't in the best mood for writing my blog for all to read. I had written and sent my letter to confirm going back to work after my maternity leave, so think it was probably the sudden realisation that I have less than 6 weeks of maternity leave left.

After finally mustering some motivation, I went shopping with my uber money saver tight arse head on and managed to spend £30 less than usual. Now we don't have the temptation of eating any junk food as I didn't buy any. I still have some hidden Christmas choccies left ssshhh, whilst everyone else has demolished theirs while they verged on the edge of choccy chunder at Christmas, so I may be about to cause a choccy zombie apocalypse in the next few days.

On my tight arse mission, I also rang the energy company I was with to get my money back.  After switching providers in November they still hadn't sent a closing bill etc. The best way I could sum up the conversation is that lady I spoke to was a lot like a sloth. Why they can't send out a cheque as part of the switching process is beyond me. I felt like tapping down the phone to check she was still alive. Eventually found that they owe us over £200 which they caused through hiking up our direct debit in preparation for me to warm my house to that of tropical climates through the winter. I now apparently have to wait up to 21 days for a cheque, because they obviously aren't up to date with bank transfers- I mean, who actually uses cheques and goes into their bank eh? It took me 18 months to change my bank account into my married name.

I started looking on t'interweb the other night for events around the world on the day I was born... Haven't found anything remotely interesting yet, so might have to just find out about the day/ year, rather than the actual date I was born. The only thing I already know is that I share the same birthday as Rowan Atkinson AKA Mr Bean- kind of figures really, perhaps it's a Capricorn trait? I spend a lot of time hiding my Bean-ness, Claude has definitely drawn the short straw with the genetics as she is a bit Beanlike too. Ooohhh, perhaps Doodlebean was subconsciously nicknamed as I know deep down that she will also be Beanlike?

   selfie face
      perplexed face

I have contacted the skydive centre to find out booking information. Usually a charity will fund a skydive if you raise a certain amount on their behalf, but that can't happen apparently. I am now trying to figure out the best way to get it booked as a skydive for the heck of it is quite expensive. I'm pretty sure if he could, Dave would pay as long as he got to push me out of the plane. It's funny, well it's not but you know what I mean... Every time I go to write anything or talk about doing my skydive, it makes me have palpitations. I have wanted to do it for a long time, but have not plucked up the courage until now. I'm not really a particularly brave person, so I'm hoping I have an awesome skydiver to help me find the courage to jump. Think it must be a man thing, but Dave isn't usually one to show excitement or proudness, so I'm so pleased that he is my first sponsor on my just giving page.

Had one of those moments of realisation this morning too, while I was planning our run tonight... My nephew Cameron used to love it over Chasewater, I hope he is not only having a good laugh at my expense, but also looking down on me with proudness as I train round Chasewater to help raise money for Children with Cancer UK. Cam's Sunshine Trust was set up by his mum as he wanted his Doctor to raise money to find a cure for other poorly boys and girls.

I am also aware that it is now near the end of January, so I still need to fit in going on a date with Dave, cleaning my car, time to pamper myself and shave my legs, and make a start on watching movies since 1977... Dave needs to go fishing 😂

Trainers smell like arse now

It's lovely having Dave at home, but he doesn't half watch some shit on the telly. I am here earlier than normal, eating my hidden crunchie bar while he's watching some pile of crap, Promethius I think, which I gather is like some crapper version of I'm Sparcrapus! He needs to be actively encouraged to go fishing in the rain with the ducks I think.

It was flipping raining again fust thing - Dave did the school run, so I was a bit of a lazy plodder. Me and Doodlebean chilled out and chatted until we got too hungry, my bed was just so snuggly and warm. I then stared out of the kitchen window while I made a brew, to decide whether or not I fancied looking like a soggy Yorkie bear in the rain? I figured, I still like my smart looking new trainers and I don't want them to smell like arse. I also didn't fancy the feeling of peeling smelly, soggy socks off so I thought I'd try the '7 minute workout'.

I bet you wish you were a fly on the wall in my kitchen, you would have probably laughed your bol**cks off at me. I thought- do I seriously need to get into gym gear for this- nah! I'll just do it in my PJs. Considered carefully which room would be best and settled for the kitchen. There is a solid floor, moved the mat so that there was enough space without causing too much mischief to myself. Got the kitchen step, for the step ups, and used the oven handle for the tricep squat things. I had a quick look to check I knew how to do the exercises properly and got cracking.
I tried my hardest to put some effort into the workout and surprised myself with press ups etc. I was also pretty glad that Lizzie the Yorkie Bear didn't trot in for a drink too- she would have only pegged me over wandering around blindly or she would have licked my face during a press up or something.
     

When Claude got back from school, it had actually stopped raining so we decided to go for our first run together. We decided to run past St Anne's church and over the bridge towards Chasewater, then back round over the other bridge- pretty well organised to plan our route eh? Unfortunately a certain intrigued 12 year old I know had messed with my phone on the way out of the house and I didn't check it, so we had set us off on a 20 minute run non stop. Thankfully I realised, so we had to do another 5 minute brisk walk while we put the right run on. As we started running, we reached the boggiest part of the path and I almost slid on my arse. Talking of arse, my new trainers are now minging and will probably literally smell like arse after all now- I wish I could send you a scratch and sniff of them.
I really enjoyed my run with Claude, I felt Ok and didn't get too out of breath, so must be getting a steady pace which was good.  I also read a comment on my feed earlier from a lady saying she had done her first 1/2 marathon after only 4 months of running, which made me feel much better as my goal is much more in reach now.

Conquered the mofo hill

The last couple of days has been a little bit up and down, not had time to have a crap in peace let alone write on here.
Friday was a bit of a mixed bag really. I had arranged to have a brew with Sammy Boo, which turned into a perfect shopping trip moment. As a keen runner I figured she could suggest which clothes are likely to chafe and which are likely to be more comfortable for an older 'slogger' like me. Felt like I had purchased some right old bargains, so now I have a wash and a wear kit. Sometimes it takes several days to get through our epic family washing pile and I can't be doing with being able to smell myself while I run. In fact, we walked through someone's sweat cloud on the way into town and it wasn't nice. Why are some people so smelly, can they not smell themselves?

Do I look like a proper runner? lol

Dave had been called into work for a meeting at work, so when I got home I discovered that he and his work colleagues have been laid off from work- redundancy looms. My initial reaction wasn't quite what I expected in hind sight. It wasn't panic, instead I thought - yes, happier Dave and wicked, I can go running without the pram. Dave works incredibly long hours and some weeks he literally hasn't seen us either before or after bed for 4/5 days. I am glad this didn't happen before Christmas, otherwise it would have made things a lot more difficult to keep things ticking over. Since Friday I have been contemplating money saving measures, but as our conversation earlier went... I'm already a tight arse and pretty savvy with the things we do buy, even Martin Lewis would be quite impressed.

Social media is a wonderful thing at times. I was really pleased to be given a little advice from Ant, Sammy,  Tomtom & Jane after my last post. Little things like this just make my heart happy and made me feel like I am actually able to do this. When other people leave comments, it is almost I suppose like other people believe that I can do it too.  I have now searched t'interweb for how to breathe when running, instead of trying to breathe through my blow hole. I have read up about nutrition for running and... I have set my goal and booked my place in the Birmingham Great Run in October. I updated my justgiving page, so hopefully others can see what I am trying to do to raise money.

I am thinking of trying to book my skydive for July, damn it's making me have palpitations at the thought of it. The last time we raised money for charity like this was in 2011. We held our fun on the field day at our local school, then Cakey and I walked a marathon with 2 other friends in a day. We raised money for my nephew Cameron, who was terminally ill with Rhabdomyosarcoma, to get him to Disney. Sadly, he passed away a short time later at the age of 8. This is the reason behind why I want to raise money for Children with Cancer UK. The statistics are awful. No child and family should suffer, more research is needed into this awful type of cancer which affects younger children. #Cam'sSunshineTrust is also continuing to raise money to fund research in his memory.
https://www.facebook.com/cameron.woodhouse.31?fref=ts


Saturday morning I went for my second run, without the pram yay! My god did it make a difference only running with my own body weight. I ran through Chasewater, walked up that bad ass mofo of a hill... Then timed it perfectly to run down it. I didn't feel close to passing out, I felt quite a sense of achievement. I can do it, I can run a half marathon can't I.

I  only have 6 weeks left of my maternity leave, so I  want to enjoy them with Doodlebean and try not  to stress too much.

Such a Slogging knob

I did it... I was running ( in the voice of Forest Gump). I was dressed ready as I knew I had to go straight out to avoid the 10.00am rain.
I dropped Willis off at school wearing my new running trainers, to check they wouldn't chafe my feet and cause blisters. Quickly discovered I had put on the most ridiculous pair of socks, one was fine and the other was like rolling its way down my foot with each step. Needless to say, a quick change of socks was done before setting off. I figured I needed to be out of sight of the public as far as possible before beginning my run, so headed off for Chasewater. Made sure I was well past the high school too just in case.
Turned on the app to get started on my brisk walk warm up. I'm busy thinking about the route I need to take with the pram, meanwhile Doodlebean is blissfully asleep in the fresh air. Sounds idyllic eh?
Then my phone beeps to tell me I need to run for 1 minute. After a few seconds, my heart is beating out of my chest and I can barely breathe. I actually felt like I was a sack of shit slob jogging WTF, I was almost leaning on the pram. It's funny how long 1 minute can actually be. The next 90 seconds of walking was literally just enough to get my breath back before the app voice told me to start running again.

This time I'm trying desperately hard not to slob jog, thinking perhaps there's like a secret way to breathe through your arse hole as your running? Nose was dripping like a 3 year olds and then thankfully the app told me to walk again. I foolishly ran along the speed hump route, which was a bit daft and then I looked up to see that big ass hill - thought no way will I make that, so cut through past the wake boarding instead.
I noticed quite a few 'runners' in their fluorescent running gear as I'm slogging (half slob, half jog now) and I have the brilliant idea of missing the bumpy route and running round where they have just filled in the old duck pond- genius. I go onto my next 60 seconds of running, my heart is beating to the point where I actually felt like I was just about to pass out. Then time to walk again.

I have to ask you runners out there, is it normal for your whole head to feel tingly when you run?












160 BPM shows my heart attack and brain tingle




As I go onto the next 60 seconds of running, the app tells me I'm halfway - the lights, I can see the lights. Then I decide it's probably a good idea to start the route back towards home, this must look a bit barmy to any passers by. I run past an elderly couple and it suddenly dawns on me - I don't even look like any kind of 'runner'. I'm running like a knob, lacking proper running gear as I'm in a regular hoodie and leggings and I have a pram- I bet they think I'm like late for my bus or something.

My walk home was pleasantly satisfying as I had completed 'running day 1', I had missed the rain and I was lovely and warm. I had actually barely broken a sweat, just nearly had a heart attack instead. Doodlebean thoroughly enjoyed watching me through her eye lids too.

I have felt really proud of myself and tonight I have been and bought a fluorescent top ready to go running again tomorrow. I am hoping to look a lot less of a 'Slogging knob', hopefully the only way is onward and upward (just not hills).

Fitbit has told me I've done well today.

The little things mean a lot

I was so ready for today when I got up. I had my mission in my head of what needed to be achieved as Dave was back at work (love him loads I do, but I am far more productive when he is at work).
I got up as soon as my alarm went off at 7:30am, Willis was pretty easyish to get up and we got everyone breakfast, dressed and ready to leave the house as usual by 8:30am- Winner. Opened the front door and the wind nearly took us away with it. So, pulled on our hoods and walked to school at a pretty quick pace to keep warm and all is fine as we get there in time... now this is where I kind of lost my way a little.

I had to knock on the door to speak to Wilfred's teacher... my first failure in my bid to get more organised - I had to totally admit that I may have misplaced Willis's book bag (must have put it away somewhere 'safe' for over the Christmas holidays) his teacher was 'fine' and said that they would sort him out a new book in the meantime. Bear in mind, I really hate when this happens at work as it means that some poor soul has to go without that book and skip to the next one, and it generally causes havoc. So I felt extremely guilty for having screwed up their home readers plan doh. Sorry.

I walk back up the huuuge hill on the way home, but it's cold and windy and I'm pushing the pram uphill. Needless to say by the time I get to the top I'm knackered and so out of breath it's unreal, feeling like I've had a full workout at the gym. Reality check - how the hell am I going to cope with going running? I'm trying to then plan how I can actually even begin going running and stressing myself out more at my lack of opportunity.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3537/3362871990_5fe900abb9_z.jpg?zz=1

Operation Momstar begins- I started cleaning and tidying as usual once I got home and even got a few bits out of the garage ready for the tip- woohoo (got shit loads of cardboard blocking my porch now though). I'm so glad Cakey came round today as my house is back to some sort of normality for the first time after the festive house destroying.

I took the easier option for the afternoon school run, putting Doodlebean in the sling and walking quickly. I hate taking the pram as you have to keep stopping and waiting a bit like you're in a trafic jam... and then you end up bottle necked outside the school gates where the smokers and vapers gather - Really wish they wouldn't as not only are they in the feckin way, I can't be doing with having to walk through their clouds... Role modelling at its best.
We had planned to go out visiting, so no unexpected changes to routine (which believe me usually causes the most havoc). But I obviously don't give us enough credit for our usual military precision, AKA how soon we usually get cracking on the end of day routine, to get everything done and get everyone in bed at some reasonable time.
Stopped off quickly at the supermarket on the way home, had quick tea, then it felt like I blinked and it was time to read.. I listened to Willis read as I was putting out the washing and thought I've had enough of this.
http://cdn.xl.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock9387529.jpg

I had a moment of WTF, before deciding we needed to actually chill for a few minutes. So I lay on my bed with Willis and Doodlebean to read 'Esiotrot' before bed. Was just so lovely, giggling and chatting about the story and having a cuddle. Life gets so busy sometimes that the little things that make a difference can be easily overlooked. Following a good talk to myself I decided, I am going to take Doodlebean and go running tomorrow. The weather forecast says that it should be clear from rain until about 10am... come on you old fart, you can do this- Huh. If there is one flake of snow on the ground in the morning, I'm going to have a melt down!

Such a ball ache to leave a message on this blog

I had set my alarm for 7:30am to take Willis to school, but my bed was way too comfortable and Dave was already up.

I woke up to my alarm going off at 7:30am and little Doodlebean hadn't woken at all during the night, so I of course had that panic moment where I gave her a gentle prod to check she was ok. As she had already been given a bottle before I got back from London last night, she had slept like a hybernating bear. Needless to say I was extremely uncomfortable and glad when she finally woke up, if you mommas know what I mean.

Dave did the school run which meant I could get ready with Doodlebean at my leisure, as I had planned to go over to my Mom's for her birthday. (I managed to post her card in time, so a good start to my challenge)  When I rang at 11:30, she said she was still in the hairdresser and would ring in a bit when she was done. She did ring back, didn't fancy a trip to Dunelm and she was heading home instead as her husband was off work today... Doh. This is the point at which I think, well there's not enough time to do anything else now before the school run. That meant plan B, time to take down the Christmas decorations which I forgot to do on Friday and Dave didn't get round to at the weekend.

I always think it's quite nice to take down the decorations as it means packing away some of the shit that's been making your house look a mess. I hate Christmas cards, unless they have a meaningful message in them, but had left them out to make Willis happy as they were from his school friends. It was satisfying to chuck them away in the recycling. We were actually quite organised as well- Dave put the first couple of boxes straight up in the loft, instead of leaving them in Willis's bedroom for a year like we did before. #365daychallengetobeorganised.

Dave cooked tea early and I planned to get the boys' hair cut after school... That idea turned into a shower of shit as well though for some unknown reason and we ate our tea in silence pondering where it had all gone wrong. I aim to get their hair cut tomorrow instead, please keep your fingers crossed for me. At least we had a little time to rest before getting the boys ready for karate. It's funny how you can ask your 6 year old to get changed, even bring their kit downstairs for them to make it quicker, but it turns into an epic pants parade instead. But, he's 6 and Doodlebean found him hilarious of course so no harm done, glad it wasn't the usual rush.


I have emailed Children with Cancer Uk tonight to enquire about my skydive, then I can begin to plan dates and sponsorships etc. The big question is... Do I book it in the summer and sweat like a pig, or do I book it sooner and have less time to mentally prepare my shitting my pantsness?

My friend told me the other day that it is a ball ache to leave a message on my blog, so I have set up a Facebook page where you can message instead. You can find me by searching 'Melfreeda Mom of Four', I would be really grateful if you could message me if you have ever done a skydive, so that I know which places are better.
Please support me by sponsoring me through my just giving page, the link is on the left. Xx

Life is too short, make the best of it

My friend Sam, told me something rather earth shattering the other day. This is another reminder that life is too short and we should be making the most of each prescious day with our families.

Her sister Becky's childhood sweetheart, Richard, who she has been with for 20 years has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is only 37.

Richard and Becky were already making wedding plans, but they need to change them extremely quickly as the wedding needs to take place within the next few weeks. Please, can you offer any help or donate towards the cost of Richard's last wish.



https://www.gofundme.com/a-wedding-for-becky-richard