London Marathon 2014

Well who would have ever believed it?! I ran the marathon! WOO HOO! I RAN THE MARATHON!!! 

Scared face on race day!

26.2 full-on miles of blood, sweat and tears combined with a catalogue of amusing and surreal moments. These included: being hosed down by Firemen; being blessed by a Priest; running alongside a herd of 'Rhino'; being over taken by Big Bird at Mile 17 and sobbing my heart out for the final two mile stretch along London's wonderful Embankment and crossing the finish line at Buckingham Palace.

Even though I didn't run the whole way (I jogged/ walked the second half...so perhaps completing the marathon is a more apt expression for my achievement rather than running the marathon... but who cares? I finished!) I am proud of myself for each and every mile I managed to soldier on for and also incredibly thankful for the experience. I never expected the marathon to have such an impact on me as I was, in truth, dreading it. My training didn't go to plan, I had injured my knee and the thought of letting down everyone who had  so generously sponsored me filled me with absolute dread! 

That being said, it was one of the most inspiring and humbling things I have ever done. From the very beginning at the start line the crowd were immensely supportive, they cheered my name and made me feel like a hero the entire way round. The thousands of people running for so many worthy and important causes moved me beyond belief as did the personal stories of heartache from those who were running in memory of a lost loved one. Signs from the crowd with words of encouragement and inspiration, things like, "I don't know you but I am so proud of you" makes you realise that what you are doing is important and that by keeping going you are making a difference. 

Highlights of the 26.2 miles included seeing my family at Mile 14 and Mile 21...it gave me the boost I needed to keep going, especially at Mile 21 when everyone is shouting 'only 5 more miles to go!' and you die a little bit inside because you think you aren't going to make it! A smile and hug from a loved one is all you need to keep those legs working (you can actually see the moment I met my Mum and sister at Mile 14 in our video montage)! Seeing the Help the Hospices team dotted round the course was incredible too, Karl and I raised £4000 for them and their support before and on the day was amazing. Whenever they spotted a runner in a Help The Hospices running vest they went crazy cheering for us! Honestly... if you want to experience what it's like being a celebrity just run the marathon! Afterwards on the way home I was being fist-bumped by buskers, praised by groups of teenagers as they admired my medal and high-fived by complete strangers! 

Karl absolutely smashed it and ran the marathon in 3 hrs and 52mins...I'm so proud of him and he even made it onto the TV: 

The build up to the marathon (our training and fundraising efforts) is all documented in a blog I wrote called Vicky and Karl's Mighty Marathon so have a read!

Also, here is a video with some footage from the actual run that I sent round to try and raise some more money. If any of you are thinking of giving it a shot definitely watch the video and remember, you can do anything you put your mind to (and if I can do it then anyone can!) I'm so pleased to be able to tick this one off my list before I hit the big 3-0, and who knows... I'm not ruling out running it again one day! We'll see...

Thank you again to everyone who supported us, you are all amazing. 

Life is better on the slopes

How is it August already?! This year has flown by already and I am yet to start documenting my progress with the list! Lots has happened this year so far so without further ado I am pleased to say that I have already ticked off a few things.

I can now proudly say that I am Snowboarder. I took up lessons at The Chill Factor in January completing the beginners course, level 3 course and then the improvers course. It was so much fun and I now realise the benefits of having lessons. My technique is so much better than when I am skiing and it feels so much more comfortable (and I feel more confident) on a board that on skis. 

In March I went snowboarding for a week in Meribel and after having a bit of a wobbly first day (involving a lot of drama and Karl having to take off his board and hold my hand for 3 miles down a mountain!) I spent the week perfecting the art of snowboarding across the Three Valleys. Whilst I am far from perfect it's amazing how much you progress in just a week and I absolutely loved it. 

Here is some photographic evidence of me snowboarding: 

And excitingly here is a video of me snowboarding to prove I'm not just posing on the snowboard! This was on the second day on the slopes, so I'm still a bit wobbly but managed to make it down in one piece!

Looking forward to my next snowboarding trip already!

30 Things To Do Before You're 30

I often read blogs, websites and articles about people who are working towards achieving things on their 'bucket list' and they often fill me with inspiration for new experiences and things that I need to get done before I 'kick the bucket'. However why have kicking the bucket as the end of play? No time like the present!

As many of you will know I am now in my 30th year of life having just turned 29 this Christmas, I know, I know, it's hard to believe! I have decided that I'm going to make this year count. I want to set myself 30 goals/ challenges/ experiences to have achieved by the end of the year and absolutely smash the last year of my 20s. 

Here are the 30 things I want to do before I'm 30: 

1) Learn how to snowboard 

I took up skiing when I was at University and pretty much taught myself. My technique is terrible and rather than undo all of the bad habits I think trying something brand new will be much easier...will I be the next Jenny Jones?! Let's see about that...

2) Try out surfing

Why not?! 

3) Learn how to sail

Very happy to be adding this one to the list as have booked onto a yachting holiday so I can do this (well, not JUST so I can do this...the sunbathing, island hopping and partying comes into it too!) This holiday is booked and we set sail from Athens in June. 

4) Take a course in something

I can't imagine what it'd be like to actually study something I am genuinely interested in. I loved my Undergrad degree but there were parts that I didn't enjoy, same with my Masters degree... I enjoy studying so think this is the year to take a course in something I will love! 

5) Attempt the London Marathon 

Attempt is a word I should perhaps underline here. It's the taking part that counts! April 13th is D-Day for this so we'll see how I get on. 

6) Finish decorating the house

We moved into our new house in May last year, it's getting there but still needs some work. My new found addiction to the home stuff in TK Maxx should help this challenge happen!

7) Get my motorbike license 

I was well underway with this last year but for some reason totally lost my confidence with it. I need to bite the bullet and get my license. My ultimate dream is to bike in Canada from Calgary to Vancouver. 

8)  Stick to my savings plan

Being nearly 30 with hardly any savings is NOT cool! Time to grow up and commit to save the pennies.

9) Declutter my life 

I'm definitely guilty of being quite messy and not putting things away properly. It's time to conquer the clutter in my life!

10) See Garth Brooks in concert 

My guilty pleasure... loved him growing up as a child and still love him now! Garth went into retirement and I thought I would never get to see him. However he has just come out of retirement and is doing a come-back gig in Croke Park, Dublin before he begins a word tour. I was lucky enough to get tickets! Words cannot explain the excitement...

11) Become a 'morning person'

I am a total grizzly in the morning, surely I must be able to change this!

12) Remember my dearest friends birthdays

This is a NY resolution every single year and every year I fail miserably. This is the year all this shall change!

13)  Make cool, home made presents for people

I always admire people who make things... I'd like to learn to make things.... I don't know what yet...but this one goes quite well with #12... cool, personal home made gifts of some description!

14) Learn how to make sushi

Yes, I know, I think most people will be shocked to learn I don't actually know how to do this. I adore Sushi, a love I picked up during my two years living in Japan. Sushi makes me happy therefore I should learn to make it. 

15) Go on a last-minute weekend trip in the UK somewhere

I used to do this all the time and was quite into couch-surfing! Such a great way to meet new people, make new friends, make cool memories and a bunch of fun stories to tell! Definitely need to have more random, fun weekends away. 

16) Try out Air BnB

An alternative to Couch-Surfing that a friend has recommended!

17)  Read more

I go through phases with reading and am terrible for starting books and not finishing them. I'd like to make more time to read good books. Read more, worry less- a good sentiment!

18) Aim to be fitter and stronger by the end of the year

Rather than setting a weight loss goal I would just like to be fitter and healthier by the time the big 30 arrives. One thing I have discovered in my 29 years is that crash-diets do not work. I need to get better at eating right and also find a way of keeping fit that I enjoy. 

19) Plan something outrageous to make my 30th birthday

Every year I wallow in the fact that my birthday is too near to Christmas and all my friends have other plans...well, this year I would actually like to mark the occasion. How?! I don't know yet. A party perhaps? A weekend away somewhere spectacular? Suggestions and ideas all welcome at this point!

20) Wean myself off Facebook

I spend way too much time procrastinating on Facebook. I'm sure I am not alone in the this and have in fact tried to 'come-off' Facebook a couple of times by deactivating my account. On both occasions this lasted no more than 2 days. I like Facebook for the way it connects people but I really do think it has turned me into a lazy friend and I make less effort. Whatever happened to a good old phone call or letter?! Maybe keeping a regular blog might be a better way of staying connected, we shall see!

21) Explore Manchester more

Manchester is an amazing place to live and there is still so much more to see and do here! I'd like to be more of an expert on where to go and what to do, where to eat and where to drink and be able to show off this great city to my friends when they come to visit!

22) Book a last minute flight to go somewhere, anywhere!

I love the idea of packing a bag, grabbing one of my best friends and heading off the airport with some last minute tickets to a random destination. A cheeky weekend away somewhere in Europe perhaps?

23) See more of my sister!

Since my sister came back from Taiwan we have't seen enough of each other. Plans need to be made to change this, especially as it's her 30th year too!

24) Do more fancy-dress nights and themed parties

I LOVE fancy-dress and don't do nearly enough of it. We've had some pretty fun themed parties over the last few years but not nearly enough. In the last year of my 20s surely ample fancy-dress nights are still acceptable?! Anyone up for a toga night...?

25) Cook more for friends 

Who doesn't love a good dinner party? Any opportunity to eat good food and drink good wine is a good goal in my opinion. 

26) Do a sky-dive

This has been on my to-do list for a while, so why not now?! No time like the present!

27) Go scuba-diving in the UK

Having learned how to dive a few years ago in Taiwan it's definitely something I want to do more of. It will be hard to top my trip to Egypt last year when we ran into a huge pod of dolphins but I'd love to give diving in the UK a go, am thinking maybe the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland?! It'd be pretty cool to see some seals... 

28) Take an exercise class in something new and different

I've tried pole-dancing and was terrible at it! There's so many weird and wonderful classes out there that I should be trying more of them. I've heard of circus workouts...that could be fun...!

29) Go away on dog-friendly weekends

Since we got our puppy, Roly, we have started to explore new pubs and places that we have never been to before simply because they allow dogs in! There's so many nice cottages in the countryside you can rent for the weekend with gorgeous walks and dog-friendly pubs that I want to explore more of them! 

30) Capture the moment

With all of these new experiences, goals and challenges I'm planning I need to make sure I am taking plenty of epic photos to record and capture everything that I do (and prove I did them too!) 

Me celebrating my 29th birthday with a posh hair cut at Trevor Sorbie...what will I be doing on my 30th?!

Roly

One of my favourite childhood memories from when I was growing up was the day we got our family pet- Oscar. Mum had taken Christine and I for a day trip to London to visit the Natural History Museum and Dad, who worked as a Prison Officer at Belmarsh Prison, had arranged to give us a lift home in the evening. As we approached Dad's waiting car just outside the prison gates Christine and I spotted a little golden shape sat on the back seat...this little golden shape turned out to be Oscar, our wonderful Golden Retriever who from that moment became our beloved family pet for the next 16 years. 

Karl and I have been toying with the idea of getting a dog for quite some time now. We looked after a friend's dog- a little black labrador called Coco- for three weeks a few months ago and I absolutely fell in love with him! Needless to say I was pretty upset when we had to send him packing back to his rightful owners but looking after him sealed the deal that we both wanted a pup! 

As you know it's been a bit of crazy time for us recently with the build and moving house etc. so whilst Karl and I have spent a lot of time talking about getting a dog I honestly thought that it would happen next year some time. Wanting to be part of the puppy-buying process right from the start I told Karl that strictly under no circumstances was he to surprise me with a dog after a couple of failed visits to the Labrador Rescue centre made me realise just how important it is to meet any little pup you are thinking of bringing home to make sure it's the right one for you (and you're the right family for him)...

So...a few weeks ago I was working down in London for work and upon my return to Manchester Karl picked me up at the train station. I threw my suitcase into the boot and jumped into the car ready to give Karl a big hug...moments after I sat down I got the shock of my life...A little black ball of fluff climbed onto my lap and a gorgeous little face beamed up at me...For a second I thought it was Coco returning to us for another holiday, but I soon realised that this wasn't the case...at all. The little fluff ball was tiny compared to Coco and he also had a big bow tied to his collar! 

May I introduce you to Roly... my surprise pup!

My first ever photo with Roly

My little pupster

Utterly scrumptious

Having a snooze

Having a snooze on his new Mummy

Chilling with his Daddy

My darling little Pup

Despite my warnings to Karl about surprising me with a pup he took it upon himself to contact Coco's breeder to see if they had any pups left... there was only one left... ROLY! A sure sign that he was meant to be ours :-) 

Karl not only managed to replicate one of my favourite childhood memories with absolute perfection... but he also picked the perfect pup!

Making a House a Home

We've moved in!

Two weeks ago Karl and I went to sleep for the very last time in our little house on Cambridge Terrace. With the hustle and bustle of preparing to move, it didn't really hit home that it actually was our last night in the house until the following night when I found myself staring up at our brand new ceilings in our brand new bedroom! So long wonderful little Cambridge Terrace, happy times in a happy home... hello shiny new house! 

There's still a lot of work to do and our house is going to be used as a show-home this weekend to try and sell the remaining two plots. This has meant that since we moved in I have been working tirelessly to bring life and character to our new home and to bring it up to the 'show-home standard'. 

On a limited budget and with a tight turn-around I have had to be savvy and resourceful in order to get the furniture we need and not spend thousands of pounds (which I could very easily do!)

I will be taking before and after shots next weekend and we'll see how close I managed to turn the blank canvas into my dream home. In the meantime here is a sneaky preview of the bargains I have sourced over the last couple of weeks (am I officially getting old blogging about furniture?!)  

    Before and after pic of the sofa. 

Karl loves this sofa suite... I do not. As a happy compromise we have kept the sofas but I have covered them with Sofa Huggers- the whole suite for about £100. It will do... for now! Soft, fluffy cushions are always an absolute must so I bought some lush, natural cushions in TKMaxx (my new favourite shop) and then recycled the old cushions by buying new cushion covers. I still haven't decided on my colour scheme but we'll see what emerges, I'm liking the neutrals with a splash of colour!

New sofa bed

I toyed with the idea of getting a second hand one but none of them looked very nice and to be honest- you just don't know what might have happened on a used sofa-bed! I got this brand new sofa bed from The Pavilion in Ashton and it was an absolute steal at £270. I wonder who will be the first to sleep on it?

Oak Desk

Ignore the bit and pieces on top of it, we still need to hang the pictures on the wall. This was another brilliant steal from The Pavillion, a solid oak desk for £130. 

Oak Bed

Karl and I went into Dreams the other week and both really liked this bed, it was a little out of our price range so we looked on Gum Tree to see if we could find something similar. We found the exact same one with a mattress for £170! It's like new and probably the most comfy bed I have ever owned.

Dressing Table

Every girl needs a vanity dresser, this was actually the first piece of furniture I bought and was an absolute bargain- £60 on Gum Tree.

Window Seat

Here's me shamelessly posing on the window seat, releasing my inner bookworm! 

I've been after a metal mannequin for ages and stumbled across one in TKMaxx (on one of my many visits...) It was reduced to £27 which to me was a sign that it had to be mine! I've wrapped a clip light inside it to turn it into a statement lamp. 

So...a few days till the show home, fingers crossed our new home will wow those that come to visit and we will end up with more wonderful neighbours!

Motorbike Dreams

"Travelling in a car is like watching a film, riding a motorbike is like starring in it..."

I've wanted a motorbike for as long as I can remember. This desire was spurred on after I read about Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman's epic motorcycle trip "the long way round"- 20,000 miles, across 12 countries and 19 time zones. On this trip of a lifetime they crossed Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, through Siberia, over to Alaska, through Canada, North America and finished in New York. What a journey! I genuinely don't think there could be any better way to explore the world than the sheer energy, joy and freedom of being on a bike! 

There are still so many places I want to visit and explore and now that Karl has his "big-bike" license I just need to catch up so that we can hit the road together. I'm taking it easy and one step at a time, so for now am jetting about on my little Suzuki GS 125 and when I feel ready (hopefully by the end of the Summer), I will be confident enough to take the test. In the mean time I am practicing hard and finding my inspiration here. 

A little tribute to my growing love affair with bikes:

On two wheels in the Philippines

Off to explore a bat cave (just before I crashed...)

Me and my amigos off to explore Boracay

Jumping for joy on Orchid Island, Taiwan

Shameless selfie

Hitting the road, Green Island, Taiwan

Motorbikes and best friends: a perfect combination!

My first bike: Suzuki GS 125 

Suited and booted, ready to take on the world!

Off out for a Sunday afternoon ride

Wrapped up, ready to hit the road

Relaxing with a glass of merlot... (I was the passenger!) 

My fellow biker! Biking + good food = heaven 

The beautiful Ducati

My chariot...(I WILL be able to ride this one day!)

Me in my biker outfit

As you know, I am someone who always likes to be planning 'my next big adventure'. I'd love to just take off and travel to deserted coastlines, winding mountain roads, bustling back-streets and vast, open countryside. On a bike you are completely immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of a country and free from the confines of a bus or car, the perfect way to travel!

To follow the advice of Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman: "Change your life.  Take your time. Take the long way." That sounds like a grand idea to me. 

Where do you think would be good to explore on a motorbike?! 

Blank Canvas

And it all began with a with a blank canvas. 

This could not be more true as our new house is very quickly coming to life; things are moving along at such a speed and important decisions regarding interior need to be made! For me this is quite overwhelming as Karl has said I can pretty much do whatever I like (budget permitting) so I need to think hard about what I want my beautiful new home to look like.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau "the world is but a canvas to our imagination", this is exactly how I am feeling about my new house: it's a complete blank canvas at the moment and we can do whatever we like. The entire house has now been plastered and is ready to be painted, decorated, personalised and brought to life. This is the first time in my life  have ever had to think about such things and knowing where to start can be a bit mind blowing, so thank goodness for Pinterest!

The following pictures show the blank canvas that is our house as it stands, along with my ideas and inspiration shamelessly stolen from Pinterest. As someone who has a terrible tendency to change her mind I have no doubt that these ideas will grow, develop and completely change, so I promise to show you the final results when we eventually move in (which will actually be in about three weeks)!

Let's start from the top and work our way down....

The 3rd Floor. Our bedroom with ensuite.

I've always dreamed of having a beautiful window seat in my bedroom, a perfect reading/ day-dreaming spot.

Something light, airy and gorgeous?

Simple, delicate and lots of light

Beautiful natural tiles and a big mirror (a splash of colour will give it the personal touch)

The staircase going down to the second floor

Spot lights on the stair case are also an absolute must.

The hallway upstairs

Again, light and airy is the dream! I love the idea of picture frames, mirrors and books filling the hallway.

The Study/ Spare Room

Classy and quirky...

The guest bedroom 

A warm and inviting spare room

The main bathroom 

Again, lovely natural tiles- timeless. 

I adore the shelving in this picture, lots of space for pretty pictures, tea lights and luscious soaps!

Staircase

A homely staircase with an array of gorgeous photos, paintings or mirrors.

Teeny, tiny downstairs toilet 

Shelves and wicker baskets to maximise the space

Shelves, shelves, shelves!

The living room

A corner sofa with wonderful, squishy cushions...perfect for movie nights!

This snug is incredible... I love everything about this picture. 

Kitchen/ Diner 

I love the layout of this kitchen and I especially love the rounded work surfaces. 

These pictures are a (very) rough design of what our kitchen might look like: rounded surfaces, a breakfast bar, a glass cupboard with lights (for the cocktail and wine glasses!) The surface won't be black- it will be gorgeous oak to match our wonderful oak doors!

A birds eye view. Where you can see the second door on the right we are actually going to have an American-style fridge freezer with an ice and water dispenser! 

Potential dining area idea (I'm particularly loving the HUGE wine rack in the background!) Lovely glass table,  candles,  Japanese style table decorations and statement art work on the wall. 

I can't wait to show you the final 'before' and 'after' shots... what are your thoughts so far?! As a complete novice to all of this any ideas are warmly welcome!