A Portavadie Run

January 11, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 16 Comments

While @TheWelshWookie and I were in Portavadie last week, we headed out for a run. On our way, we ran past the General Manager, Iain, who shouted after us that we were putting everyone else to shame! 🙂

Having said that, we only had a very short run. But it was great, to blow the cobwebs away.

Here were the views:

I took a picture of that particular boat because it was called Dignity. And, to reach Portavadie, someone had obviously ‘sailed her up the West Coast’. If there are any Deacon Blue fans out there, you’ll know how cool that is!

Foodie Friday

January 10, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 18 Comments

Welcome to the weekend, y’all!

Today, I’ve been thinking about all of those lucky ducks in Orlando, running the various Run Disney races! In particular, I was thinking about PirateBobcat who is half way through the Dopey Challenge.

I’d love to run that! Maybe next year! 😉

This week, I tried had to climb back onto the healthy eating bandwagon, I really did. And I’ve been only partially successful! Here’s some of my eats from this week, and last week:

Here’s the seafood starter we had at the New Year Gala Dinner. It was awesome!

We enjoyed some lovely treats: marinated sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella. Yum!

Here’s an attempt at some healthier eating. It as like a healthy pot noodle, and was delish!

: Maybe next week I’ll get back on track…. 😉

The Ghost Village

January 9, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 23 Comments

During our recent trip to Portavadie, we spent the afternoon visiting Argyll’s Ghost Village, Polphail.

During the late ’60s/early ’70s, Scotland was in the midst of the North Sea Oil boom. And, deep water was needed for the construction of oil rigs. As Loch Fyne is a particularly deep sea loch, some folks thought that it would be an ideal site for constructing these platforms.

And so, money was invested and a whole village, Polphail, was built near Tighnabruaich to house the workers.

But the work never materialised.

And the village was never inhabited.

Now, it lies in ruins, a weird blot on the picturesque, wild, west coast landscape.

But, I love it!

@TheWelshWookie and I visited it with my parents, and with my nephew Ryan. We had a great day, adventuring!

Would you like to see some pictures?

Back to tonight: I’ve done 20 minutes on the treadmill, 15 minutes on the rower and my plank-a-day. Today’s a rest day from the squat challenge 😉

Have you visited any derelict buildings or places?

Wednesday Wisdom

January 8, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 4 Comments

Looking Towards Late Summer

January 7, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 24 Comments

So, it may still be January, and freezing outside for many of you. But I’m already looking towards late summer!

Already, I have my summer holidays all authorised at work, so I can now look forward to a few trips. 🙂

I’ve also been mooching around various running sites, lining up potential races.

So far, I’ve entered the ballot for places in the Great North Run:

I watched last year’s race, wishing I was there! I know it’s always over subscribed, so I’ll just have to wait and see if I’m lucky 😉

I’m also still considering the Loch Ness Marathon, and I am definitely leaning towards entering it…. I just haven’t actually committed to it….. yet!

Back in the present, this evening I’ve done my plank-a-day, my squat challenge and some rowing. Gosh, it feels great to be back to it!

Have you signed up for any late summer races yet?

Bad food safety statistics from the Scottish Conservative Party

January 6, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

For anyone who read the ‘scare’ story publicised by the Scottish media yesterday about food hygiene standards in school kitchens, please read this post.

Patrick Mackie

Improvement Required

The Scottish Conservatives have published a report (well, a media release) on food hygiene standards in Scottish schools. This was picked up by the BBC, STV, The Herald and The Sunday Post, amongst others.

The summary of the story is, that over the period from 2009 to 2013, 83 schools, nurseries and after-school clubs received “Improvement Required” food hygiene ratings. This means that the establishments failed to meet the “broadly compliant” rating scores for the rating elements of food hygiene, premises condition or confidence in management. Obviously, this is a matter of concern, but it does not indicate that any of these sites were serving unsafe food – a site could fail to meet the requisite standard simply by failing to maintain adequate records of temperature checks, or having some structural problems, which are not themselves directly hazardous to the safety of food being prepared. More serious…

View original post 611 more words

Routine Run!

January 6, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 14 Comments

Happy Monday, gang! For those who returned to work today, I hope it went OK.

I’m back into my routine, for the first time in weeks. My work clothes were all a little more snug than I’d have liked, so I’ll do something about that 😉

Tonight, I kitted up, and headed out for a lil’ run in the dark, just to get the legs going. I looked, erm, interesting with my fluoro gear and arm lights:

And I also used the Nike+ phone app, as I hadn’t charged my GPS watch. Doh!

But it did allow me to play about with the wee photo app- it’s pretty cool!

I came back home to start my plank-a-day challenge and squat challenge. So far, so good on day one!

I’m off now to check out some new half marathon training programmes: has anyone tried the Hal Higdon iPhone app? Is it worth using?

How has your Monday been?

The Return of the Routine

January 5, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 15 Comments

Well, the house has been de-Christmassed, we’ve unpacked from all of our recent adventures, and for us, the New Year routine starts tomorrow.

Back to running more routinely, back to eating better, back to planning for all of our 2014 adventures!

Thank you to everyone for your encouragement with my metres to miles idea….. I’ll keep you posted!

Are you back to your normal routine? 😉

Metres to Miles in 2014

January 3, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 45 Comments

Evening all: I’m just dropping by with a quick question to all of my super-knowledgeable friends, during my short visit home from Portavadie and before yet another busy weekend. We have our family Secret Santa day tomorrow!

I need a holiday!

Those of you who are fans will have seen that, for Mo Farah, 2014 is about moving from metres to miles.

In 2014, Mo will run a marathon.

Now, the question I have is: can I do the same?

I’ve been eyeing up The Loch Ness Marathon for some time, following some twitter encouragement from @pt_steveb . I must admit, I am seriously tempted. But, can this serial short-distance jogger of 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons step up and do the big one?

Festive Food

January 1, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 10 Comments

Ok, so I’ve eaten well over the past couple of weeks. Very well, actually.

Wanna see?

	Still a Runner on The Great Post Lockdown W…
	TartanJogger on Weekly Workouts
	Still a Runner on Weekly Workouts
	TartanJogger on Weekly Workouts
	The Running Princess on Weekly Workouts

TartanJogger

Adventures in living well, quotes and very slow running

Month: January 2014

A Portavadie Run

Foodie Friday

The Ghost Village

Wednesday Wisdom

Looking Towards Late Summer

Bad food safety statistics from the Scottish Conservative Party

Routine Run!

The Return of the Routine

Metres to Miles in 2014

Festive Food

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this:

Please share this: