Tempus fugit

It sure does. 3 weeks since I last checked in - and what's happened? Not a lot, really...

Well, it has and it hasn't.

The bike has been well and truly christened, with a few trips to Wharncliffe, Bakewell and Wyming Brook and just out and about. All the bits that came loose while I was riding (including the non-drive crank and the headset) have been firmly secured and it actually rides really well.

Apologies for crap quality but here is the bike in its natural habitat - Wharncliffe.
No trees were harmed in the making of this photo...

The main difference over the old bike is that it looks so pretty. No, only kidding - although it is true - the main difference is that because of the bigger frame and the wide handlebars, it opens my chest up while I am riding resulting in better breathing and not kneeing myself in the boobs when I am bobbing around trying to get up a hill.
I have also gone back to the SPD pedals - mainly because the old DMR flats looked far too shabby for my lovely. :-) I can tell the difference on the hils, again, but it is taking a lot of nerve when I am riding XC not to unclip and ride like a motocrosser, sticking the leg out for stability (and an easy escape).

What else??
J has bought himself a road-ish bike. It too is very pretty - all matt black and sleek. He seems to be enjoying riding that, which is cool. I wasn't sure how well he'd get on with the lack of suspension and the general difference in riding position but it's all good. Apart from one comedy fall whilst still attached to the SPDs. Lesson learnt; make sure you adjust the spring on BOTH sides of the pedal. Ho ho ho. (we've all done it)

Erm, so, gardening.
I now have 19 cherry tomato seedlings, 18 aubergine, 1 butternut squash, 5 cauliflowers, lots of peas and 1 purple capsicum all growing up nicely, ready for potting on or planting out. There are also more peppers and chillis (supposedly) germinating, carrots and raspberries in the ground, potatoes in bags and strawberries, thyme, oregano and sage in pots. I am waiting for some Tumbler tomoato plant plugs and my red onion sets to turn up - any day now...
It all sounds very organised, but I have never attempted this kind of thing before and I am definitely winging it. I guess I will see what grows and what doesn't and adjust/abandon next year as appropriate.
The front garden is a mass of colour and is my little haven of peace and girliness.

My little corner of peace and quiet. Wish the back of the house got so much sun.
Found an old, enamel bedpan in the back garden and planted it up with pansies.
I think it looks ace on the table.

Wish my house faced the other way though, so I wasn't facing every passing stranger when I sit out and read.

And finally, the exercise...
Well, I have not been as exercisey since the turbo trainer got packed up - maybe I should recommission it?
I have been out running a bit more though, and while I was down at head office last week I went for a run that looked good on my little map and was even better in real life - I got fields and woods and hills and nice chatty cyclists and baby lambkins and I was back at the hotel before I knew it. Yes, I ran and I enjoyed it - breakthrough!! Here is a pic from that route:




In a field, near Knowl Hill.
There's cycling in them thar woods too - might take my bike next time I am down south...


Since then I have been out on my local 4.5km 'time trial' route and from my baseline time of 34.5 minutes I did it in 30 minutes and 3 seconds. My 'might take some time' target was 30 minutes, so to have been just 3 seconds off already made me very happy indeed. Feeling quite pleased with that.
Cycling - the race is in 65 days so I need to get my arse into gear for that.
Got my BMI and body fat % down into the next number. Still a fat knacker, but a little less so.

Gratuitous food shot - sorry.
I made american style pancakes with slightly tired strawberries and my home made dandelion jam
that didn't set and is more like dandelion syrup. It's kind of like runny honey. Nice, but dead sickly.

Right, dunno about you but I am bored now, so bye for now. Hopefully my next update might be a little bit sooner.