Day 352 - Mile 330

So, the folks have landed safe and sound yesterday - thankfully not today due to the snow and all that! It was funny to watch how excited Mum got when she awoke to see the snow outside - a light sprinkling I'd call it after all that we have had, but they don't get much snow in Menorca so it was a real treat for her!

We went out for a quick walk before porridge for breakfast - mmmmmm...

Lots of footprints already even though we were out before 8.30am, cats, dogs, people...... I took a photo of some that look like shooting stars.... well if you have a good imagination they do!

We were walking along and saw a DHL man delivering very large sacks to a house, I think it may have been Santa in disguise!

See our photos here....

Love Iona x

365mileisn365days@googlemail.com

Day 346 - Miles 325-329

Well what a lovely Sunday I have had! Lazy morning followed by a walk, torchlight parade and carols, followed by a carol service, out for dinner and now home - as I said - Lovely!

I have had quite a busy and stressful few days after I came home from work to find Police in my house and Katy on the phone to the locksmith after we had been burgled! Thankfully we were both out, no one was hurt and the alarm went off so they didn't take much! Saturday was spent sorting more locks and insurance folowed by Calum's pirate birthday party which made that day a bit more enjoyable!

I'm not one to sit around an wallow, well not for long anyway, so today was a day for enjoyment!

Trina and I set out to Haworth after lunch and headed out onto the moors into Bonte country! After a quick trip to the toilets we were off. There was some upmarket graffiti "Live a life of splendor", good advice if you ask me! It really was a good day to be out there, there were heavy clouds and the rain was just at bay! I have never ventured out on the moors here before but will definitely be doing more so in the future. It was still quiet cold up there as you will see from the pictures, puddles and the old quarry lake were frozen. You can see out to the reservoir and across to some of Yorkshire's finest fields from the top, there was a bench in memory of "Jackie" - in a great spot, obviously someone special.

After wandering around (me calling Heathcliffe!, Trina cringing and laughing at me!) we headed back down towards Howarth village for some Christmas treats. The light was going, the Christmas lights were sparkling and there was a buzz in the air as we all waited for the torchlight parade to start.

It was brilliant - definitely something to become a tradition of mine and Trina's. The torches were lit, the carol sheets handed out and the safety warning given - much to the annoyance of the Beagle (old name for policeman apparently). We headed up the hill with torches, topping and singing carols at various points. Lots of people parading and many more watching from shops, pubs and cafes. I love singing!

We finally arrived at the church where the people that were going to church were ushered through the crowd so that we could fine our seats and prepare for the carol service, it was a lovely way to end a great day - more singing, a good sermon, readings and more........ I realise that I have mentioned this before but for someone who is not religious, I seem to have spent alot for time in church recently!

Lots of lovely pictures here...

Hope you have all had a great weekend,

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 342 - Mile 324

So.... I had intended to get up and go swimming at 7am this morning..... hummmm that didn't happen! It is so cold at the moment, even though I had everything ready by the door to make my exit a swift one, that when my alarm went off, I found it hard to get out of my warm snuggley bed and get up!

I did however pack my swim bag into the hire car so that I could go after work. It felt very strange walking across the car park to go swimming in my wellies - not swimming IN my wellies that would be silly! The car parks were frosty and there was lots of snow still on the ground, I was quite thankful when I got into the leisure centre.

It was nice to swim, I love it, I can not think of life without the ability to swim! The only problem was getting out! The pool and the poolside were warm, but the changing rooms seem to have a massive draft running throughout - brrrrrrr!

I did make sure I took the time to dry my hair before heading back out into the cold - even though my hair is getting a bit long for this swimming!

See pictures here...

I am going to try to swim at least 2 times next week to get some miles in, and plan to do some walking at the weekend - hopefully!

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 339 - Part 2 - Mile 323

These are our grumpy car collision faces!

However.... as you know I am one to make the best of a situation, and as Trina was now stuck at my house, I decided to walk her home and she would drop me back. Well I need some extra miles and I wanted to take pictures of the Christmas lights again this year.

As we teetered and tottered down Coal Hill Lane, the walking was much better when we were on the flat! Both of us had intended to go to the Farsley Lights switch on but Wednesday was blizzard day so we opted to stay in the warm!

I am sure, and so is Trina that lots of the lights are different this year.... whether they buy new ones, or swap with local towns I am not sure! I have to say that I much prefer them this year, especially the Angel outside the church - just beautiful!

To see this years lights click here....

To compare to last years click here...

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 339 - Miles 321-322

Sundays don't start better than a nice large coffee and some toast and strawberry jam! Yum!

Trina, Nat and I had planned on going to the Yorkshire Sculpture park today but they both texted to say they thought they'd have too much work to come out for a walk. I decided to just head out to Otley Chevin on my own, but Trina decided that she's probably get cabin fever if she was in all day so came with me.

We went for a lovely, somewhat de'ja'vu walk, as we had walked year in the snow early last year. Trying to get some lovely pictures as I love the Chevin and the trees and views that you can get from there.

We were greeted with a strangers dog coming bounding towards us - I got an amazing shot just before he darted off to his owners! Lots of people out walking dogs, sledging and enjoying the lovely snow before it gets too icey and cold. The sun was really shining!

See the pictures here...

We headed to The Cheerful Chilli for cuppas and cake before heading home......or so we thought... what started off a a quick walked turned into a long day out!

Someone had slid and crashed into my car! Thankfully they had left their insurance details, so after an hour of phone calls, we were rescued by the AA. They got my car road worthy enough to get it home ready for collection by the garage tomorrow - gaffer tape it seems is the best thing ever! Thank goodness for the AA and their very helpful staff - if you are not a member I definitely recommend it.

See pictures here..., hope you had a better day!

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 338 - Mile 320

Christmas party number 1 - wonder how many I'll get through this year! My closest university friends always meet up before Christmas for dinner and to exchange gifts! What started as a 1230 lunch ended up finishing at 4pm! Oh well good job the restaurant wasn't too busy!

Nicola, Pearse, Joshua (1), Dominic (1), Helena, Graeme, Calum (nearly 4), Samuel (1), Fiona, Paul, Simeon (1), Sue, Nat, Chris and I all sat down for a lovely leisurely lunch.

Some of us headed for a quick walk while we sill had light, trying to burn off a little of the giant meal that we had all eaten! Phew!!

We headed down to the canal in Appperley Bridge for a quick stroll to see the canal boats and back to the pub! It was slippy and chilly, but we were all wrapped up well, so it wasn't too bad! Lovely frozen Canal again today!

See the pictures here...

The roads are getting less snowy and more frosty so I am planning a nice quiet night in!

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 336 - Miles 318-319

After being sent home from work yesterday due to the snow, and a 2 hour drive home I couldn't bring myself to go out again for a walk, so I hid inside and slept!

This morning after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, the decision was that I would stay at home until lunchtime and await the call to go in if necessary. So I decided that good walk in the snow was in order. After all you have to get some pleasure from this weather, not just annoyance from people driving too close to you!

It was really lovely going out, the snow was still crisp underfoot and glistening in the sunshine. I headed down the road, past the park and onto the canal. The only point in the whole walk that I nearly slipped over was crossing the bridge onto the canal. It was such a lovely sight seeing 2 canal boats with their chimneys going, keeping warm in this wintering weather.

The poor birds only had a small bit of water to swim on but they seemed to be making the most of it! The swans were breaking the ice and pushing their way through!

On the way up the hill home, it was clear who has decided not to go into work by the layers on snow on their cars, and the people who have been out for a bit by the thick brown sludge on theirs! When the snow goes I think there will be a lot of car cleaning going on!

Snowy pictures here...

Hope you are all warm and happy,

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com