Maybe we won't emigrate after all

Standing at the school gates on Friday one of my mummy friends suggested emigrating. Not one of us told her that was a daft idea. We didn't even really discuss where to go, altho' I think someone mentioned Australia, it was just the thought of getting away from the weather. Very enticing. You see for a good part of last week we had that peculiarly Scottish phenomenon of horizontal sleet. It really was horizontal. I had a few days when I didn't even enjoy walking the dogs.



But today is a very different story. Its a few degrees above zero and the sun is shining. Everything looks and feels different. So I guess we'll all be back at the school gates for a while yet.



My training for the Mighty Deerstalker has been very erratic but I did manage three runs, complete with several layers and hats and gloves, in the rain and sleet last week. Yesterday's raised my hopes a bit too. I ran further than I have for a long time and took in several quite big hills. There is hope for me yet. The six of us had a Planning Meeting last Thursday and I got quietly, well maybe not that quietly, more and more nervous. The others are all experienced at running races and talked about what to eat beforehand, what kit to wear etc etc all of which is quite beyond my experience. But they have been so kind and positive and encouraging that it really makes me feel so much better.



The big day, night really, is 20th March and by then we have to be ready to run 9 miles (in itself not too major I guess) in the dark, on rough ground, up hills, over obstacles and through water. The course information helpfully tells us that if we get wet above our armpits its because we have fallen in. No tripping up then - armpits is plenty deep enough for me! The weather was partly what was scaring me - the thought of doing all that in zero degrees or below wasn't very appealing. But now I have hope that it may be a bit warmer and if not, well, it won't be for too long. And I know it really will be fun - maybe just quite hard work too!



To make the most of today's sun we walked home from school along the river. We had some snack, fed the ducks (can't do this with the dogs) and spent some time playing in the Giant's Garden. Actually its really known as St Mary's Pleasance and we don't visit it nearly enough - its only 2 or 3 minutes walk from our house. I must try and remember to make more use of it this year. The sun is still very low but everything looks so beautiful. We're very lucky to have all this on our doorstep.