Someone at work told me they had a gift for me today….  but it came with a condition.

The gift was 5 lb of Damsons and a Jar…..

The condition was that I made Jam with the Damsons and gave them a pot of the Jam.

As I am away on holiday next week the Damsons have gone into the freezer with my Sloes.

I shall be busy when I return 🙂

Last week I started both my French class and my Yoga class.

There are about 15 people in my French class, a nice mixture of male and female.
What surprised me was the few foreign people in the class.
Not sure how much I will actually learn but one thing I do know is that the class is going to be fun.
I also learnt that maybe I should have taken an English class first 🙂
After one week I now know the alphabet in French and can count to ten.

There was also about 15 in the yoga class which much to my surprise worked me well.
As I do all aerobic exercise I thought yoga would be good to help me stretch and keep me supple.
What I did not expect was aching tummy muscles the following day.

I soon realized that they are a great combination, one will work my brain while the other will work my muscles.

Looking forward to more classes already 🙂

Shopping always makes a girl feel better, and as Geoff is away, shopping was the substitute for a Hug.
Although personally I would have preferred the Hug 🙂

My new shoes ……

And Bag…..

Now saving for the Lime Green coat 🙂

Would you take your car to a garage for a service and expect advisory notes on jobs to be done ??
Well if so do not take your car to WRIGHTS MOTORS in Downham market.
6 weeks ago I took my sons car here for a full service and MOT, this week the cam belt broke causing approx £1000 of damage.
We phoned them today and asked when a cam belt should be changed they said at 75 thousand miles.
We then asked why we were not advised to change our cam belt when the registered mileage is 82 thousand miles.
They replied we did not ask for it to be changed.
When questioned more they went on to say it could have been changed at a previous time, yet they have serviced and done the MOT for the past 3 years.
When questioned even more they said we should have known it needed changing and asked for it to be done, we replied but your the car mechanic and as we know nothing about cars, we pay you a lot of money to service and advise us about what needs doing.

They have not heard the last of this…..   and in the meantime my poor son is getting up at 4am to bike the 12 miles to work .

A party Invite took us up to Staffordshire at the weekend.
On route we stayed over with Margaret and Keith , who live in Rugeley.
Unbelievably their house was right on the edge of Cannock Chase, a place I had heard a lot about but had never visited.
So Saturday morning saw me getting my first walk round Cannock Chase and what a great place it was.
We then travelled up to Stone.
After having an enjoyable time at the party, Sunday saw us up and out early for a 17 mile walk down the Trent and Mersey canal, coming back via Gayton and the undulating countyside to Stone.
I have never done a walk with so many Stiles.
It was cool of Geoff to plan the walk to go by Gayton Village as the village I live in, in Norfolk, is also called Gayton.
All week-end the weather stayed sunny and warm 🙂
Monday morning saw me waving bye to Geoff again as he went off to walk the Offa’s Dyke path and I made the journey home calling in to see my mum and dad on the way.
The journey was easy thanks to Tom Tom.

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Every walker/ hiker/ traveller dreams of having the best kit.
Most of us buy the best we can afford hoping one day we will have the lightest, most quick drying , best wicking, and the list goes on and on.
One company Paramo has great technical kit and most walkers would love to own just one piece.
Over the years I have often “looked”
BUT as from today I now own a Paramo taiga fleece
It has some great features

1. Water Repellent

2. Can be worn as a stand alone garment or with a Windproof Jacket

3. Articulated shoulders and sleeves

4. Two large chest pockets

5. Two large waist level pockets

6. Elasticated and poppered cuffs

7. Concealed elasticated neck and waist/hem drawcords

8. Scooped tail

We shall be going off to the French Alps in a few weeks time so I hope to test it out then, and I hope it lives up to its reputation.

Having so many pockets also makes it great for travelling too 🙂

As you know last week I booked myself onto a 10 week beginners French course , starting on 15th September.
Well today I also booked myself a place on a 7 week introduction to yoga course, starting 16th September.
If I enjoy the yoga I will then be able to go to classes on a Monday or Wednesday evening.
Debra, who teaches the yoga, sounds like a very nice lady and assures me the yoga will complement my running and walking.
Watch this space to see how I get on 🙂