Green Runner Beans for dinner….
and they were delish !!
Category Archives: Personal
All work and No exercise
Makes me a moody irritable girl 🙁
Since getting my job transfer and changing my work hours its been hard fitting in my exercise.
For those that are wondering , I have still not be allocated a job at tesco BUT have allocated myself a job… I sit on the tills, its busy, the the time goes quick, I get to chat BUT I get no exercise 🙁
Due to my growing massage business  I have not been able to get to ladies swimming or my exercise class.
I have started running again, but only a mile as I want to keep it low milage till I see how my achilles feels. I have now been 4 times and its feeling good but I dont want to push it too hard just yet.
I was all set to join the gym again as I miss the cross trainer but I thought I may never find the time to go, then someone suggested that I bought myself a cross trainer.
AND  I decided what a fantastic idea, Geoff has measured up my shed and its the perfect size, so hopefully by the end of August I will be the proud owner of this and I am so so excited about it 🙂
A mountain of cakes
On 28th July it was Geoff’s 65th birthday we celebrated by having friends and family round for tea and cakes.
I baked a mountain of cakes for a man that loves walking in the mountains 🙂
The baking had started 10 days before when I baked two fruit cake’s  in a number 6 and number 5, after feeding them with brandy for a few days I then put the marzipan on and hoped that I would get them to cambridge in one piece.
On the day of his birthday Geoff had me up bright and early as he was stressing  🙁 but 
I had everything under control.
I made…
2 carrot cakes, Â 2 molly cakes, 24 plain cup cakes, 24 chocolate and beetroot muffins
30 ginger biscuits  and finally 12 carrot and cardamon cup cakes.
The cakes were enjoyed by everyone, although I could not bring myself to eat any after baking all day and making what felt like a thousand cups of tea, BUT I made up for it the following day 🙂
Short summary of the GR10
It was tough walking, the weather was hot , the scenery fantastic and I loved every step I took 🙂
If your thinking about walking in the Pyrenees and along the GR10 I would recommend a few things..
Remember to take insect repellent or bite cream as I had a few nasty bites.
Make sure your kit is light and quick drying as its a hot dry dusty place and you will want to wash your clothes out at night.
If you are a light sleeper take ear plugs if staying in dormitory type refuges.
In peak season July/August book refuges in advance ( we had a few lucky nights where we just managed to get the last beds available )
If staying at Cortalets think about staying an extra night to enjoy a walk to the summit of Carnigou.
Keep your pack as light as possible, mine was around 10kg with water and lunch.
Most of all ENJOY !
131 miles / GR10
We are now in Banyuls after walking 131 miles in eleven days along the GR10
We have had perfect weather very hot at times and only rain during the night
It has been a very tough walk but I have enjoyed every second and Geoff will never know how much I have appreciated the opportunity to do this walk with him
It’s been great to have my Kindle and catch up with the reading I long to do, but always seem too busy to do at home
Looking forward to a good nights sleep after being in full, air less, dormitory rooms for the past few nights, with some real miserable French people 🙁
3 days till we fly home, will be interesting to see what we do I hope to get a few hours on a nice beach in the sun with my Kindle
Then I cannot wait to have a bath and give my clothes a proper wash
It’s been perfect 🙂
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Trailside Eco Lodge
We had mountain thunder storms during the night so was happy to wake up to a clear fresh day
After another breakfast of bread and jam which I really struggle with, we were off on our way at 8.30am
Today’s route was a much easier walk with no noticeable height gain or loss, mainly through forest and across ski runs .
We soon covered the 12 miles and found ourselves at the Trailside Eco Lodge by 1.30.
The downside to finishing so early is the long wait till the 8pm dinner the upside is more time to read my book and rest my feet / legs ready for the next day.
Dinner here was very good all local organic food with local cheese too. Only 2 other guests staying a French couple we have bumped into now and again they started on the same day as us from Merens and will be going to Banyuls too so we expect to bump into them again.
Tomorrows refuge has no shower or electric so should be interesting.
It’s now pouring with rain and thunder can be heard in the distance but hopefully it will be dry and clear again by morning.
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Location:Casas del Mitg,Planès,France
Tough walking
We are now at refuge Des Bouillouses after 2 really tough days walking along the GR10.
The first day was only 6 miles but it was a constant climb,the actual height gain was 1367 m so not bad for a Norfolk girl
That night we stayed at Refuge Des Besines very remote and beautiful with a great evening meal which made up for the expensive price .
We had breakfast at 6.30 and was on our way by 7.30 as it promised to be another hot day.
The height gain today was only 602 m but it was a good 11 miles over very rocky paths, some still covered in snow.
The 2 hour climb up to Coll de coma d’Anyell was just awesome! Then it seemed a long way down till we eventually arrived at tonights refuge.
We had a long wait for the showers as a huge French walking group had just arrived but I passed the time with Mr Grey and my Kindle 🙂
Photos for day 1 can be found here and day 2 here.
Happy to say my achilles is behaving but as a precaution I am applying Voltarol gel morning and evening.
As I write a mountain storm is brewing.
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Ax Les Thermes
This morning we left Cambridge by taxi at 3.30am after a flight and 2 train journeys we arrived 13 hours later in Ax Les Thermes and just to make us feel at home it was pouring with rain 🙁
Tomorrow we are going to sample the thermal baths and have a massage, I have booked the hot stone massage to see how it compares to mine.
Hopefully by Tuesday it will have stopped raining as we then take the train up to Merens les Vals and from here we start walking along the GR10. Day 39 in the Cicerone guide Book.
This will be Geoff’s third walk along the GR10 and I am lucky to be with him this time as he completes the walk.
My rucsac weights in at 8kg without water and food the lightest I have managed yet and hopefully this will help my Achilles.
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