Day 211 - Mile 202

Another bright sunny morning, and what is best about today is that I set up my new Ipod docking station, so I am listening to Pete Roe whilst writing this morning! Hurrah for technology!

I decided to jog a bit further this morning and try to jog more and walk less. I have to admit I was a bit more tired when I got home but now after a shower and some orange juice I don't feel any worse!

Short blog today, as I have to get ready for work and then onto a friend's wedding tonight! What a nice way to spend the end of a crazy busy week, can't wait for Sunday which I have officially set aside for a bit of rest! Who knows if the weather's good I may even leave the house!

Have a great weekend when you see it! See the random shots taken this morning here....

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 210 - Mile 201

After a lovely visit to the family last night in Manchester, I had yet another late night. I did anticipate that I wouldn't jog this morning, but I woke up at 6.50am so decided to be pro-active rather than lay in bed for the half hour before I would have to get up. In keeping with being organised I even put in a load of washing before I went out, so that I can hang it to dry before I leave for work!

This morning is bright and sunny, the sky is mainly blue with some gorgeous cloud formations. I decided to jog yesterdays route but the other way around to see what a difference it made - initially I was a bit put off as I have to climb a bit of a hill first, but after that it was all good. Lots more people out this morning, but then doesn't the sun do that to people!

A few pictures this morning here....

Have a good day!

Love Iona

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 209 - Mile 200

After a late night at work, I was determined to get up this morning and go for a jog..... that was last night...... this morning when my alarm went off at 7am, I could very easily have turned over and gone back to sleep for another half hour rather than go jogging, especially as it was raining!

But, I did, got dressed and went out into the rain. It was a bit cold to start with but after a bit of jogging I soon warmed up. I took a different route over the park this morning, with a bit more trees and bit less street.

There is some kind of building work being done at the local primary school, and the massive cranes make a huge difference to the horizon. See the pictures here...

Love Iona, now clean and dry!

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 208 - Mile 199

So, I made a decision before the weekend, that I was going to get up early an do a mile - jogging and walking - each morning before walk to increase my stamina, fitness, and to keep my miles up! Work is very busy at the moment and all I want to do when I get home is collapse!

I haven't been jogging since I was in New Zealand, and have eaten really quite a lot of cake (even by my standards), I thought it was best to get back to it.

Alarm set for 6.30am, I jumped out of bed and got into my jogging gear, and was out of the house by 6.40am. There are lots of streetlamps being put in and taken out so I had to just judge how far I wanted to jog and walk..... about 50/50 I think.

So with people coming home from work, people leaving for work and dog walkers I jogged a miles from my house, up around the park and back through the estate.

Back home for a quick shower, some breakfast, and uploading the pictures before I go to work!
See here....

Hope you all have a happy Tuesday.... tune in tomorrow to see if I manage more than one morning!

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 206 - Mile 198

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Sunday was my birthday, and after a very lovely party at the Craven Arms in Appletreewick, we all headed down to the river for a swim. This is one of my favourite spots to swim, because you get a walk in as well as a swim, not sure some of the guests dressed for the walk?!?!?!?

I was very impressed by the amount of my friends brave enough to swim in the river, some converted to river swimming now, and other shrieking about how cold it was. Most people swam for a hour or so, paddling, jumping, diving and using the rope swing to plunge into the depths of the river. We even met another lady who swims on her birthday every year at Appletreewick - birthday twins!

What a lovely way to spend my birthday with lots of friends and family that I love very much!
Thank you all for coming and for being a bit crazy!

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 205 - Mile 197

The weekend has brought lots of lovely people to Leeds to help me celebrate my 30th birthday. Several of us headed out to Temple Newsome for Opera in the Park on Saturday night. This is a free event that happens every year and due to it falling around my birthday I have not been able to go before, but it was great! The group consisted of Mum, Dad, Juli, Nick, Rowena, Chris, Carina, Trina, Angela, Anam, Jemini and me - with a brief but lovely visit from Bec and Ash!

After sitting in a fairly long queue to park the car, we trekked our way up to the ground, to be searched, ticketed and plastic bagged before finding ourselves a suitable picnic spot. As several people were meeting us, we stayed near the top of the hill so we could be seen and have a good enough view. It's all about the music really so the view wasn't too important.

After masses of picnic, including tea and cake (a must for me!), lots of rainy patches, hiding under blankets and carrier bags, brilliant opera and music we made our way back to the car before the crowds! Thankfully it was downhill on the way back to the car - not sure we'd have been so enthusiastic if we had the uphill at the end of the night.

A lovely night, a lovely walk, and most importantly lovely people!

See the pictures here!

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 195 - Mile 196

Welcome to the world Harper James Yarrow - my beautiful nephew!

14.7.10 18.18 5lb14oz

It has taken a week to write this blog - I have been so busy catching up with friends and Harper being born and work is very busy and photos to upload to get back on track!

Harper was born a week ago today, and on the 15th July I went with my brother to pick up Jenny and Harper from the hospital. We had to walk over a mile from the car park to the materity ward - good job they have a drop off for pregnant women!

It was lovely to meet Harper and to see that Jen and Croin had survived and were already doting so much on Harper - there is no doubt that this little boy will have enough love for a lifetime!

Congratulations Coz and Stoggs,

Love you, Yogs x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 187 - Miles 195

After a long trip on the Greyhound bus, I arrived at Jib Jib farm to visit Deb's sister Pam, her husband Carson and their children Jessica and baby Lewis. The farm is great, just outside a small town called Northampton.

We had a coffee and cake date on my second day there, with Pam's mum's and babies group. A couple of them had decided that they should maybe do a bit of walking before the cake! We joined them for a stroll along the beach, sharing children and buggies between us. It's just become the school holidays here so there were kids playing on the beach, but too cold for the water.

Only one mile, but they decided that they should walk most weeks and build up the distance to get them loosing their baby weight - although to be honest, they all looked pretty good to me!

We headed in for coffee and met up with some of the other mum's. Such a great way for them to share stories and experiences. The mum's who have had other children advising the other mum's that various aliments and normal and not to worry.

A lovely day,

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 185 - Miles 188 - 194

A slow Sunday morning get up meant that it was well after brunch that Deb and I headed into Perth. We had decided to take a walk along the Swan river and see where we went from there.
Unfortunately I started to suffer from very bad gastric reflux after about 2 miles (probably from all the caffeine I have had since being here). We decided to catch the bus from that point into the city to get some medication.

After drugs, and a rest, I was feeling much better and we ended up walking all the way from Perth back to Deb's house at Rivervale. The walk had been well designed so that even though you are next to the main road, it feels like you are in the country by the water. Lots of marshland and bird spotting sights. There were still lots of people out having picnics and parties by the river as we passed the Casino.

A lovely way to spend the day, even after the slight change of plan!

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 184 - Mile 187

La Weekend!

It's the weekend as we are spending time as a 'family'! Todd and Deb took me to play on the beach at Cottesloe. I did pack my swimming cossie, being a typical pom I decided that the weather was much nicer than it actually was. I think I probably would have gone in for a swim if there hadn't of been such a wind in the air. It's not so much the temperature of the water in my books, more the ability to get warm afterwards!

So instead of them laughing at me while I swam, we strolled along the beach, them on the promenade and me in the water paddling. The water wasn't that cold, but still not enticing enough to swim. Todd kept telling me that there had been a shark attack on this beach (maybe this added to my not wanting to swim!?!?!). The beach is separated by a break wall (not sure of the correct term?) so one side was all calm and serene and the other was wavy. Some surfers were out, but I didn't see many actually catch any waves... maybe it just wasn't wavy enough.

After walking back towards the car we stopped at a lovely Pavilion style restaurant on the sea front for Chai Latte's and Hot Chocolate's to warm us up after being battered by the wind.

A lovely day in the sunshine, made better by being near the water - only 2nd in my book to being in it!

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 183 - Miles 183-186

Friday morning was depressing as hell! Rain, rain, rain, my washing was wetter than it was when I put it out, I was cold and home alone!

I had arranged to meet Deb for lunch, so after uploading some pictures for the blog and my hols, I showered and the world seemed to change! It was as if the weather knew that I wanted to go out and that all my warm clothes were wet on the washing line!

I headed out to meet Deb in a top and a cardigan, even leaving my jacket at home, where I had earlier thought I was going to have to raid the closet for a fleece!

After a quick bit with Deb, I braved the bus into Perth and to King's Park. It is down in all the books as a "Must-do" if you come to Perth. As I stepped off the bus I could see why - views as far as the eye could see. The park has a high vantage point and Perth and the water lie below.

After a quick coffee and a muffin, I had a quick stroll about and then landed up on a Botanical tour. It was only me and another guy and 2 tour guides! I learnt a few interesting things, but mainly they took us on an interesting route around the park. Taking photos as I went, asking questions and being told facts and history, it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. I would definitely recommend it to anyone - especially Mum and Dad if they get here on their Grand Tour next year!

Unfortunately the battery of my camera ran out near the end of the walk, but I hope that I a have captured some Australian flora and some of the highlights of the park.

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 182 - Miles 179-182 Caught up!!!

Thursday saw us back in Perth, a bit off kilter as we had changed time zones once more, Deb was back and work and the sun was shining!

I decided to head out to the pool as although I had been in water while I was in NZ, I definitely had not swum anywhere near a mile! The sky was blue, and there wasn't a cloud in sight as I head out for the pool. It is a good walk there so, with rucksack on my back I headed out.

When I arrived at the pool there was only 4 people in and I had the choice of 2 lanes that I could have to myself! If you know me than you will know that a quiet pool fills me with joy, but that is the luxury you have when you are on holiday and the only other people in the pool are retirement age.

Whilst swimming my mile I kept watching 2 of the other people in the pool. They were in the shallow end walking backwards and forth. I presume that they were doing some kind of therapy which the water helps because it holds your weight.

After swimming I got out and had a shower, and saw a girl who was decked out in a swimming Burka - I kid you not, and good on her for persevering and keeping to her believes. I would never have even know that they existed! I know the amazement I had when I found my perscription goggles after years of wondering if I'd end up in the men's changing room, they enabled me to do the exercise I love with ease, and she obviously had the same revelation.

So cossies, shorts, bikini's, wetsuits and burkas we all had a good swim!

I walked home after having a short stop by the lake - beautiful black swans who were a bit too interesting in me, so I had to leave! Embarrassing, yes!

The great thing about walking home though, was the fact that when I left the pool my hair was wet and when I arrived back home it was dry! Hurrah!

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com