Feeling festive?

I've signed up for a Santa run.  Well, actually, I mentioned to Glam Kath on Wednesday that there really is a 5k Santa Run in Cardiff on 1st December and, despite the fact that she hasn't yet entirely managed 2k without stopping, she was hugely keen to enter.  So we have.  We will both be sent spectacularly ill-fitting Santa suits ('One Size Fits None') made of best polyester with a belt that will drop off after about 50 metres of running.  And an itchy beard.

So proper training has started...  On Wednesday (before I knew we were doing the Santa run) I ran with Freaky Running Dog to Machen (2.5k), ran round the playing fields twice with Glam Kath (2k) then ran home again (2.5k).  Total of 7k.  Yay!  And then we posed for our selfie although some of us haven't quite got the hang of looking at the camera...

It's very difficult to get us both in....  You'll also notice how the cool MudRunner headband is doing a rubbish job of hiding the wrinkles...

And then a cold bath.  Bleugh.  But it does stop my muscles aching for the next four days.

On Thursday and Saturday I swam and exercised bike and on Friday Freaky Running Dog and I went running again - this time we went puddle-hunting and she got muddier than I did.  Well, she does have twice as many feet...

Over the weekend I have seen a lot of cyclists out and about, all wrapped up against the cold yet still looking a little 'blue of nose'.  I haven't actually been out on the bike for a few weeks now, although I did figure out a new Sustrans route which should get me to my target of 50 miles before Christmas.  All I need now is a day to do it...

Today, by way of light relief (and some of you will remember that this is something the Melodeon Master treats me to from time to time) we went to B&Q to buy a new valve for the upstairs loo.  To make our visit even more exciting we went to look at the Christmas decorations (we have an excellent game of 'spot the naffest bauble' which we play in various locations each year).  There was an entire display of festive bears, reindeer, polar bears and meerkats (?!) which would all sing and dance if you pressed their paws.  So we pressed every single paw and got the entire display jiggling and wailing out of tune...

It just had to be done.