Rosedawn Ramblings

I'm sitting on the balcony watching the world go by, the bottle kilns my ever-present backdrop.  It's early on Sunday morning. The sun is shining, there is a refreshing breeze. Every now and then, the sound of traffic replaces bird song to interrupt the peace and quiet. A couple walking their dog pass by on the bank opposite. The same man who runs by everyday has just appeared. Someone is fishing up by the bridge. A child is feeding the ducks. The coffee tastes good.  I've got a new book to read. It's my happy place ; my place to reflect and re-set. In the nearly 12 months since my last blog post, my new job has continued to be just what I needed, we've had some mini-adventures and lots of fun-filled days. There have been a few bumps in the road, especially when it comes to blogging and running, but I've been doing my best to live up to the intention to  start again . First there was Tailenders Live, which definitely brought the laughter back... Then...

Since the beginning of 2020, things have been “not quite normal” for most of us. That’s probably the biggest understatement with which to be begin this new blog. But that’s how it is. Covid-19 has changed things. Life has been different in every way; and we have developed a whole new language to characterise what we have experienced. We have been in lockdown. Self-isolating may or not be optional. Virtual has been added to almost every sentence. We have been socially and physically distant. We have followed a roadmap but not gone anywhere. We have passports we cannot use (and have now expired). We have binge watched in several different languages. We have waited patiently or impatiently for the next slide. We have tracked the R rate. We have added the word global to every statement about pandemics even though it’s not needed. We are expects in spike proteins. Muted is something we have all been at one point or another, whether we meant to be or not. And yes, that is a legacy hand. A wh...

At the end of almost every year since I started this blog, I've written an end of year review; reflecting on the ups and downs of the year, the places we've been, the fun stuff we've done, the life lessons learned and perhaps even plans and goals for the year ahead. I usually really enjoy writing it; looking back over the year, flicking through photo albums, going back through earlier posts, being proud of achievements and thinking through what didn't quite go to plan. But here we are at the end of 2020 and I've not really blogged all that much, especially compared to 2019 where I posted every week all year. However, 2020 has been a year like no other in my lifetime (although not as bad as 536 or 1349 according to the discussion currently on Radio 5 live). My usual sources of inspiration - travel, racing and training, weekends away, nights out with friends, parkrun adventures. concerts, meals out, theatre trips - have all been put on hold. As a result, I have defin...