Tangent's credit

As Tangent went on all of my training runs with me for the 10k, but obviously could not run the actual race, I thought it only fair to share my medal with him:

Not looking terribly impressed.

Bristol 10K

Well, after not really taking the training for Bristol 10k particulary seriously (we're talking beer most evenings and take aways in the week leading up to the run, as well as neglecting to actually run for about two weeks before) I ran the whole thing in 1 hour and 6 minutes. Definately not an Olympian effort, but I was still happy with it. It has made me wondering what my time may have been if I'd actually trained. But then it is always easy to say 'I didn't really train/revise etc.' after the event! A combination of the euphoria of completing my longest race to date and guilt for not really taking it seriously, has spurred me on to consider running the Bristol half-marathon in September - I sure as hell won't be able to get away with not training for that one!

Aspirations

I thought I would share a couple of photo's of Willow and Tangent watching Crufts - I hope they were taking notes! Especially as Tangent has a show on the 3rd of May and another on the 30th May. I have also been toying with the idea of taking Willow out of retirement for one last show. I'm still undecided, but it will have to be a local show as I don't want to travel too far with her with her arthritis - She will be slightly more than cranky if she then had to do a whole day at a show!

Chocolate!

We have now been in the new house for about three months and things are starting to settle down nicely. I even had the inclination to make some more chocolate, which I haven't done for months!

Below are my most recent efforts: An Easter egg - which quite frankly was the thickness all Easter eggs should be, not this half-centimetre rubbish! I also made some chocolate spoons which I was quite proud of as the tempering went very well so they are the 'shiniest' chocolates I've made to date. Finally, some white chocolate rats that came out with a frosty appearance so I must've got the temperature wrong somewhere.

The Easter egg

The spoons

The rats

The faces of Tangent and Willow

Jedi-Dog

Hannibal-dog

Fornicating frogs!

The house we have moved to has a pond which is more algae than water. However, it seems to be more than adequate for the sudden arrival of heaps of frogs! The pond's surface looks like a jacuzzi with the frog's amorous activities!
Our landlord appears to be a very nature-loving person as there are bird-boxes and tables in the garden too. He advised us to put a tin of tuna (out of the tin!) in the pond to help the frog's spawn. The adults would eat their young without the alternative food source. So we are looking forward to spring and the emergence of the new baby frogs that will bring now. I will add photos here soon, but I'm not sure how many people are going to be interested in the sex-life of frogs!

Long absence!

Wow. Has it really been three months since my last post!? In my defence things have been rather busy. Since I last blogged, I moved house then started a new job four days later. We've been in the new house about 6 weeks now and things are starting to find permanent homes - I only unpacked the last box a week ago!
It was such a good decision to move. Both Gareth and I are so much happy and calmer in this house. It has a very cottage-like feel so it's easy to feel relaxed. Plus the absence of bedbugs certainly helps with anxiety levels!
My job is going well and I actually get supported training (as opposed to being thrown in and expected to be soley responsible for an area I know nothing about!). The people I work with are great, and one of the the benefits of my job entails free entry to Bristol Zoo!

The dogs are doing OK, although we do have a minor concern with Willow as a urine sample showed elevated levels of protein, glucose and some blood. It may just indicate an infection, but we need to get a further sample to the vets soon. She isn't being co-operative and as the sample needs to be tested an hour after taking, it's proving difficult!
Tangent is doing well at Dog Club, and is starting be more creative with the behaviours he's offering for livercake.

I'm off to Crufts this March too, to watch the Obedience and partake in the splendours of the stalls! The tickets arrived this morning so I'm counting down to then!

I will endeavour to update this blog more frequently than quarterly from now on!