Category: Non-running

Baubles from Run Destinations

Baubles from Run Destinations

by TartanJogger ♥ 19 Comments

When you’re away in a different city and running, do you buy yourself souvenirs?
I do! 🙂
Here are some of the new baubles we have collected this year:

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The first is my Harrods bauble, which I picked up when I was in London for The Color Run UK back in July. We always buy a Harrods bauble each year, and have done that since 2007, so we now have seven!
Next, is the silver ornament we bought at the Guinness factory in Dublin. We picked this up when we visited for the inaugural RnR Dublin half marathon in August.
Bottom right is a wooden heart with a reindeer’s head, which I got when in Centre Parcs for the Hen Do. Not a race, but I did go for a run that day.
Finally, the sparkly red reindeer is from The Tree Shop at Cairndow. We stopped off there after the inaugural CowalFest trail run, which was in October.
@TheWelshWookie and I have also given in to temptation, and bought some festive goodies.
We now have stollen, as well as these:

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I’m looking forward to having a glass of mulled cider, and to tasting these cinnamon Pringles! They also had Mint Choc Pringles, but I though those were a step too far!
Anyone else tried those?
Meanwhile this weekend, I seem to have transformed completely into the embarrassing old auntie….

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TartanJogger on FB at last!

TartanJogger on FB at last!

by TartanJogger ♥ 27 Comments

Well, I’ve done it. I’ve taken the social media world by storm!

Only kidding.

I’ve set up a TartanJogger page on Facebook! 😀

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So, the way I see it, you have two choices. Number One: ignore this post. Number Two: put your real life on hold and head over to FB to like meeeeee!

Since starting my blog, I’ve had FB linked to my personal facebook page. That meant that my friends and family were treated to had no choice but to read my blog posts. Ha! Now, my timeline is not dotted with running related posts quite as much!

I’ve been on twitter, G+, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Path and BlogLovin’ for some time. I reckon I’ve now completed the set.

Where do you link your blog posts to? Would you say you’re social media savvy, or a SM novice? Does it matter? 😉

Tree Huggin’

Tree Huggin’

by TartanJogger ♥ 15 Comments

I didn’t run tonight.

But, @TheWelshWookie and I did go for a walk instead. We took a walk around Tarbert harbour, because it was a lovely cold, crisp evening.

And because we wanted to see the Christmas lights.

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Now that power has been restored, the lights are on. There wasn’t a grand lighting ceremony as planned, but the village does look lovely and festive!

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And for me, a lit Christmas tree means only one thing: that baby’s GOT to be hugged!

Here’s my hug of the tree in Coombe Abbey, Coventry two years ago:

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And hugging Tarbert’s tree last year:

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Here’s this year’s big hug:

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It certainly gives the neighbours something to talk about!

What weird traditions do you have?

Power’s Back!

Power’s Back!

by TartanJogger ♥ 14 Comments

Just a quick post to thank all of the hard working engineers and support staff who have been working tirelessly to get us all connected to the electricity supply again, following today’s storms.

The forecast overnight is for low temps, so I am extremely grateful for being able to now switch on my electric blanket tonight!

Our power outage was only 14 hours; it could have been a whole lot worse than that. 😉

Thanks for all of your kind thoughts and words today!

The Power Cut: Part Two

The Power Cut: Part Two

by TartanJogger ♥ 22 Comments

We’ve been bashed and battered by gale force winds over the past 12 hours or so, with gusts reaching 140MPH in the Highlands. You can read all about it here.

And so, we have no power in our village again, for the second time in a week.

The joys of living in rural Argyll!

On my commute this morning, I had to dodge seven trees which had blown over and into the road, which was a little different 😉

I’m hopeful that normal blogging (and normal running) may commence later, or failing that, tomorrow.

It’s supposed to be our village’s Christmas Lights switch-on tonight….. not sure if that’ll happen now!

🙂

Hoping you are all safe, if you are also affected by bad weather!

The Power Cut

The Power Cut

by TartanJogger ♥ 6 Comments

Immediately after @TheWelshWookie and I hung our decorations and lit our Christmas tree tonight, the power in our village went out!

😮

Coincidence? I hope so!

And so, this is the briefest of posts, as we’ve already had a couple of false returns to electricity; this may be another!

It’s very snug and Christmassy, though 😉

And the treadmill is obviously not an option this evening!

Advent

Advent

by TartanJogger ♥ 5 Comments

It’s advent! This year, @TheWelshWookie and I have advent calendars. Every year, we have an advent train, that we fill with chocolates every year.
However, this year we succumbed to temptation, and bought advent calendars, too.
TheWookie has a Lindt chocolate one, and he has kicked off advent with a dark chilli cherry mousse chocolate. Here’s his calendar:

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I have a zero-calorie calendar, a Yankee Candle one:

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My first tea light is a Christmas cookie one, it smells delicious!
It’s lovely, that the first Sunday in advent has actually coincided with 1st December!
Do you have any advent traditions?

Almost St. Andrew’s

Almost St. Andrew’s

by TartanJogger ♥ 16 Comments

On our drive home today, I was thinking about the coming week: with Thanksgiving, followed by St. Andrew’s day on Saturday. As @TheWelshWookie and I will be in Coventry this weekend, I thought we’d better have haggis at some point this week, since we won’t have it on Saturday.
And so, we stopped off at the George Hotel in Inveraray for dinner. And what did I have? Oh, there was only one thing on my mind: haggis, neeps ‘n’ tatties, with a green peppercorn sauce. Yummy. Very winter-warming!

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In keeping with foods with an ‘n’ in the name, @TheWelshWookie has fish ‘n’ chips:

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We’re now home. And I’m road testing my new slipper socks…

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I hope you’re having a comfy, cozy Sunday. Did you have a busy weekend or a quiet one?

On My Way Today

On My Way Today

by TartanJogger ♥ 13 Comments

I’ve been saying how the weather has turned cold and wintry recently. I though that, today, I’d show you.

And so, I took a couple of snaps to and from Helensburgh today. Also, because the scenery is lovely 😉

Here’s a view looking down Loch Fyne, from Lochgilphead. You can see the Isle of Arran in the distance. #nofilter20131121-150959.jpg

This picture is of the snow peaked Arrochar Alps, just peeking out behind the hill, as you leave Inveraray:20131121-151109.jpg

And here’s Inveraray itself:20131121-151153.jpg

These next two pics are of Loch Long, from Arrochar at the head of the Loch:20131121-151237.jpg

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And this final pic is of the helicopter taking equipment to the guys at the Rest and Be Thankful, who are still working to reduce the landslips. The traffic was stopped both ways to allow the helicopter to fly right in, in front of me 🙂20131121-151452.jpgSo, after my four hours in the car, I’m looking forward  to hammering the treadmill and rower tonight.

Then, it’s time to pack for another weekend away, and for a glass of vino 😉

What was  your commute like today?

Nathan’s Christening

Nathan’s Christening

by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Have you had a busy weekend, or a quiet one?

Mine has been busy. We had my nephew Nathan’s Christening yesterday, and we had a fantastic day.

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Nathan with his mum and dad, and his god parents!

After the church service, we had a family meal in Paperino’s, Byres Road, which was great. Pizza and pasta. Yum!

We then had a brilliant family-party night, with lots of food, fun, dancing, and a few drinks 😉

Nathan liked his cake:

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We’re now home: @TheWelshWookie is finally feeling a little more human!

Back to the running, rowing and strength work tomorrow 😉