An Update
November 28, 2011Hola!
Yaw, you all (well, 14 at the time of writing) warmed the cockles of my heart, with your requests to start blogging again 
I’m still undecided – part of me wants to (because I like to ramble away), but part of me is fed up with blogging through WordPress, and part of me wants to start a whole new blog. Hurrumph. Tricky times.
In the meantime, I thought I’d give another little update as to what has been a’ goin’ down round these parts over the last few weeks (…or months…!):
The Good Stuff:
- I’m still volunteering at the primary school, which I love!! I’ve been working almost exclusively with the Year 2 class, and it’s fantastic. I’m really getting to know them!! My mum and I are going to watch the nativity play the week after next OH, and the best bit is I feel like I’m making a real difference when I help in class. #winning
- I went on my play therapy course, which was pretty good. The drive there was Awful, with a capital A. No map + no satnav + all alone + pitch black + going to a place I’ve never been + in a county I’ve never driven in + getting lost + dying mobile = angry Freya, crying Freya, Freya-being-angry-and-crying-on-the-phone-to-the-mamma. Fab.
- I have another school volunteering gig! After Christmas, I’m going into my old primary school to help with their reading scheme – taking groups of 6 or so, and doing guided reading. It’s going to be awesome Oh, and the other volunteering gig (helping with visits to the countryside, from inner city kids) and my NVQ course start in January too. It’s going to be crazy busy!
- Last year for Christmas, my stepdad got my mum two tickets to see the Spanish Riding School of Vienna on their tour in London. On Saturday, we finally got to go!
Hello, FRONT row seats!? My mum and I were blown away! Seeing Carl Hester and Lee Pearson give a masterclass was the icing on the cake. It’s just the shame the 2.5hour journey home from Londres Town took almost five….
- I ran a 20k race a couple of weeks back. It went ok..I averaged an 8.20 pace, but OH boy, the course was the most dull course I have ever, ever ran on. I shan’t be doing that one again!!
- Something really, REALLY exciting might be happening very, very soon……..!!!! I’m going to be all annoying and coy and cryptic because I don’t want to toot the horn too early *just in case* – but it’s proper cool!
The Bad Stuff:
- I had a dodgy foot about a month ago. This weird pain came on around my heel, and for a good few days, I was t e r r i f i e d I had plantar fasciitis – which is a horrible nasty runner’s injury that can sideline one for 6months – 1 year. In the days following the onset of the mystery pain…well, let me tell you – there were tears, folks. Lots of tears!
However. I went back to my physio, and lo and behold, IT WAS NOT P.F! In fact, the reason for the pain was my stupid, dodgy running style, putting a ridiculous amount of pressure on one point on my ankle / foot. One painful massage, a(nother) change in running technique, and some big scary needles later (to drain fluid…!!) – the pain was gone, and I am back bouncing around the countryside again (with new £12 compression socks – bargain).
- My gran is really ill. She’s had osteoperosis for a few years now, but the other day, it took an almighty turn for the worse. She had to go to hospital in absolute agony, and is now pumped full of super heavy painkillers (cue my mum saying loudly on the phone – on a quiet train – ‘you’re off your face…yeah…on drugs…’). My gran is being so incredibly strong, and she’s an amazing woman (especially for being 88!) but boy – it’s so tough seeing someone you love so much in such a lot of pain.
Today, I swapped my days round at work, and spent the day cooking lunches and dinners for my gran and grandpa. After my gran’s rapid downturn, neither of them can cook, but I can! Soooo my kitchen was turned into Chef Headquarters, and I made things like:
Mama Pea’s spicy african peanut soup (they love it!)
Banana Pecan Rice Pudding Pie from E, D & B V (they love rice pudding)
Chestnut Savoury Bake (from New Complete Vegetarian)
Banana Walnut Loaf (from New Complete Vegetarian)
All things which can be frozen, or just need a quick heat up
- I have become addicted to pancakes. Like, proper addicted. Alas. Oh, and I seem to have lost my taste for tempeh 
I just now ate some, and I almost didn’t like it. CRAP! I need a fabulous, sparkly new tempeh recipe a.s.a.p.
- Waitrose are not selling canned pumpkin anymore.
- I haven’t done any Christmas shopping yet…this time last year, I had done most of my wrapping.
- Coco still doesn’t get that cats. do. not. go. on. to. kitchen. counters.
- Coco still doesn’t get that cats. pee. outside.
The Ugly Stuff:
- Rabbit
- Chika
- Tig
- Ralph (short for Ralph Lauren)
- Kovac (named after the fit doctor in ER)
*insert new Kovac picture here* – I promise he hasn’t been forgotten! He’s actually sleeping parallel to my shin as I type….
- Coco (named after Coco Chanel)
Aah, so much ugliness.
Sooo yes. That’s what’s been going on!
Future plans include: an exciting trip to London (more on that after it happens – but it’s to do with the super exciting thing I mentioned earlier :-p), a fun Christmas themed 10k cross country run on Saturday (it’s actual name is the Hell Run – make of that what you will), the primary school nativity play next week, and the beginning of MARATHON NUMBER TWO TRAINING!
Oh my days.
Annnnd finally – how are all you lovely readers doing?
