On Thursday, I left work half an hour earlier, changed into my thermal running pants and went for my first run since some time last October. It felt GREAT, and I was amazed at how fit I still am after months of not running at all, and not going to the gym as often as I used to, what with the new job just having started and the very cold weather setting in more or less around the same time.
The very next day, I was back on our old familiar well-beaten running track on the fields; this time with my faithful running companion and friend. It was the first time we met in months, even though we live only two streets apart, and so there was plenty to catch up on - which is no problem when you don't run too fast ;-)
We're now in for another cold spell and probably more snow next week, but I - like countless others - am hoping this will be only a brief relapse, and then spring will come to stay.
Yesterday was another beautiful day. While I was going about my weekly cleaning with all the windows wide open to let the air and sun in, I heard the noise of a small aircraft, something I always associate with lazy sunny summery afternoons spent on the fields or at the park. It was something I had not seen in an long time: a small plane pulling a banner. It was an advertisement for a local radio station, and it had such a charming old-fashioned feel about it.
Inside, I put some Easter/spring-themed decoration up; not much, as you can see:
The desk where I usually put Christmas cards under the glass top and where I now have some particularly pretty spring-like cards from last year...
...and the sideboard in my living room where the vase that usually is on there had to make room for this bright green one, the matching candle holder and the "egg".
Oh, and there's a small yellow wooden Easter bunny dangling from the bathroom cabinet door, but I forgot to take a picture of it.
That's all for now; I'm not looking forward to the cold of next week, but there's plenty to look forward to: a congress about IT security on Monday, a dinner invitation from a former colleague on Tuesday, and a fashion show to attend with my Mum on Thursday, plus dancing with RJ on Saturday. Life is good!
You still get a lot of exercise since you don't own a car. Walking is the best exercise, I think!
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Kay, but I don't walk as much nowadays - I used to walk much when I still worked at former job, when I went out for a walk nearly every lunch break; it's not feasible where I work now most days.
DeleteYes I agree it must be all that walking that kept you so fit. Your week ahead sounds very busy but lots of interesting and fun things to do. You will not even be thinking of the cold with all of that going on. Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteWell, I still feel the cold every time I leave my flat or the office, and I spend some time waiting for trains nearly every day, which is not the nicest thing to do when it is cold :-) But you're right, the fun and interesting things to do help a lot!
DeleteTerribly cold here, still. Sunny but still -5C around noon + howling wind...
ReplyDelete-2C as we speak, and a flutter of sleety snow fell when I walked home from the restaurant half an hour ago.
DeleteA happy and contented post. It is encouraging and heartening, isn't it, how we can remain fit(tish) even after not keeping up with the exercise for a while. I never was much good at running but I love to cycle. When I don't do anything else, I generally cycle to a nearby rather steep hill and go up it :)
ReplyDeleteTrue, Jenny; I guess as long as there is some degree of "basic" fitness, it doesn't all go away in the space of two or three months.
DeleteHow brave of you to cycle up that steep hill! I think I'd be too lazy for that :-)
May the coming cold not bite too deeply and be gone swiftly.
ReplyDeleteThat's what everyone here is hoping for :-)
DeleteYou have a good week coming up, even if it is a colder one - and you know the warmer weather that stays is coming closer every day.
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued by your Easter decorations. I have Christmas cards going back to the 1920s but have never saved Easter cards. Of course, the 1920s cards were not to me, who was not born yet.
The beautiful Easter egg I saved to my computer so I could enlarge it and look at the design. And now I am wondering about it. It almost looks as though the very narrow red band that goes through the middle is on the outside of the egg. Can you tell me something about how this was made?
Only one of the cards is an Easter card, the others were sent to me for my birthday last year, but they look so spring-like and I liked them so much that I did not throw them out.
DeleteThe Easter egg was originally filled with Lindt pralinés. It is a tin, opening along that line, and painted in order to look a bit like a "Fabergé" egg.
Thanks for revealing the secret of the Easter Egg mystery! It's really lovely.
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