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I'm sorry I haven't updated properly for a while. Preparing Book Ends for launch has taken up a lot of time but I also think all the busy-ness of the last few months, particularly with the three half marathons in three weeks, caught up with me and as such I've been trying to get the balance back in some other areas of my life and refocus. October was a rather full on month to be honest, as I've had to think long and hard about whether the risks I've taken this year have paid off and if it's worth continuing to take them. The dark days never last of course, but it's kind of getting to the stage where I can't just "see how things go" any more, it really is crunch time. It's all good, it is what it is, but I just don't want to give in to fear, like I have so many other times before.
But I've been keeping busy! Here's a few things I've been up to:
Finally getting my hair done for the first time since......May?! I was still 30 when I last had my hair done! It makes such a difference to my confidence to have a neat, un-scarecrow-like head of hair :) I have a rather exciting event next week and I simply couldn't go along with my tiger stripe.
Breaking in my new trail running shoes. They are Helly Hansen Pace Trail HTXP and they're fabulous! So sturdy and well constructed and yet not heavy either. I did a run in Wales last week after a night of heavy rain and they stood up very well, no slipping around in the mud! I've also done short road runs in them (or a combo of trail and road) and they feel great. I'm starting to come around to the idea of a shorter trail race for my next challenge :)
Celebrating. It was Tom's birthday a few weeks ago and to celebrate we went to the fabulous Theo Randall restaurant at the Intercontinental in London. I won a voucher for the restaurant back in August as I was one of the first five bloggers to complete the Gluten Free Blogger challenge, so that was very exciting! The experience was simply outstanding. Seriously, if you enjoy good food and wine, you will be in heaven! The menu is centred around rustic Italian dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients. Theo does offer GF alternatives but we decided to indulge in the freshly made pasta - which was 20 egg yolks for every kilo of flour, so you can imagine how rich and delicious it was. The ravioli with spinach, sheep's milk ricotta, butter and sage was out of this world! But it was the dessert plate that really tipped the meal from amazing to unforgettable.....weeks later, the memory of the sour sweet sharpness of the Sicilian lemon tart is making my mouth water. The service was impeccable, the ambience superb. Tom and I even got to go into the kitchen to say hi to Theo, which was surreal but wonderful! I thoroughly recommend going there if you're ever in London.
Interviewing more writers for Book Ends! This is a most enjoyable pastime. This week I spoke to Stella Newman, author of Pear Shaped, which I discovered and enjoyed earlier this year. We also talked about chocolate, brownies, desserts....food in general!! It was such a fun conversation which I'm sure you'll enjoy. There's quite a few interviews for Book Ends recorded and in the pipeline now so remember to tune in each Wednesday to see who's next :)
I went to the Yoga Show in London last Sunday and met Trumi proprietor Camille in person at last! What a treat! The Yoga Show was really excellent, I came away with lots of ideas, lots of items to add to my Christmas list and lots of Yogi Tea! If you love yoga, I'd really recommend going to the Yoga show. There were free classes, lots of really good exhibitors and it wasn't too "in your face" as some of these kind of things can be, if you know what I mean! Everyone just seemed to be wandering around, looking at what they fancied and having fun.
Cooking delicious things. Have you ever tried the chargrilled broccoli with chilli and garlic from the Ottolenghi cookbook?! OMG!
I also revisited this old SLSB favourite one particularly brutally cold night earlier this week and it was as divine and delicious as I remembered:
But otherwise I'm trying to stay fit, trying to stay warm, and trying to stay focused and positive :) I've been going through a list of goals I wrote at the beginning of the year and have decided I'll do my best with the remaining days and weeks of 2012 to make as many of them happen as possible. I must say that meeting so many wonderful writers through Book Ends is really keeping my spirits high!
What have you got planned for November? How are you staying warm, fit and focused?