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Sunday just been saw another 10k run, and this time it was the Norwich Union City vs. City run that cost 10 quid to enter. Not sure why I pay to put myself through the pain when I could just go out and run 10k anyway. But it goes to a good cause, apparently this one is for 200 initiatives nationwide. And I guess it gives me a goal to work towards and gets me off my lazy butt to do a bit of training – but never enough, as I always seem to leave training till the last minute.

The run itself was hard work. It was hot and I can now see why they said it was an undulating course. The hills were very hard work for someone who trains around home, and I have to say it’s as ‘flat as Holland’! But I’m glad I did it and I have another medal to add to my running medals – no I didn’t get a place, the good thing is you get a medal just for finishing.

But the best part of the day was looking forward and having a great pub lunch and a cheeky pint afterwards – now I know why people join harriers clubs!

This entry is just a note of appreciation to the nameless woman that saw that I only had one item while waiting in the supermarket queue, while she had a big full basket, and let me go first.

Thank you! It made me think that niceness isn’t quite dead here yet. Just!

To be honest, I’ve thought about doing the same every now and then but I always suspect that I’ll let the guy with just his loaf of bread and milk jump in front of us and end up waiting while he counts out the exact change in 1 and 2p coins (losing track twice and having to restart)… Maybe next time I’ll let him. What goes around should come around. Maybe it will help kick-start a small niceness wave in the city.

Although I suspect it might only last until the next time there’s tube trouble on a hot day!

He’s me wailing and whining that I’d still have a big wait until the chillis started to change colour, and then they go and show some blushes pretty much the next day! The Riots are starting to have some chillis turn bright orange, and some a bit purple. No idea how they choose which one will do what… But I’m happy. Maybe I should try even more whinging and whining every now and then…

It’s been a while since we had a new addition to the household, and as it was a rainy long weekend last weekend I sat Bec down in front of the sewing machine on the Monday, and lo and behold, a fox emerges!

Well, almost emerged. It possibly wasn’t the best of days to be doing some sewing. We were both a bit tired and cranky after the F1 day out, and so it didn’t quite get finished then. The last part was sewn up yesterday, hence this late report…

Only 2 more left still to do of the current stock!

The other day we scratch-built an Indian style curry for tea, but we weren’t sure how hot the curry powder was as we’d never used it before, so we didn’t put quite enough in. Chilli plants to the rescue! A big, fat green Ring of Fire in the pot, and another one for me to sprinkle on the top of mine, and it was all good! Yum, yum!

It’s good to finally be eating them! Not sure that I’d use any of the others in their green/yellow states, but these ones seem to be really nice green or red.

There are just so many chillis on the plants! I keep thinking at that I should do a count, but I just can’t face it! I just know that I’d lose track on the first stem of the first plant.

I’ve been hoping to see a bit of colour appearing on at least one chilli, but they seem to stay their initial colours. Checking back on last year’s blog entires, it seems like the first blushes appeared at about the start of August (maybe just a bit earlier)! That seems just so far away still! Oh well. Just have to wait for some more sun and see if it helps them along! Something to look forward to, I guess!

Thanks to a work contact of Bec’s we were provided with a great day out yesterday to watch the Monaco Grand Prix at the Williams team factory site at Grove.

The day involved breakfast, a tour around the Williams museum with all the old cars from the last however many years, a go in an F1 simulator and some scaletrix racing, and then the race on large screens with some live link-ups from the team in Monaco, all followed up with a very nice lunch.

Highlight of the day was probably the simulator ride. Great fun, and a lot harder than, say, a Playstation racing game. Also helped that the guy running it, Andy, was a real laugh.

The race itself was pretty boring. Of all the races of the year I always find it pretty tedious. There’s not a lot of overtaking generally in F1 lately, but Monaco is just impossible. You just have to wait (hope?) for an accident (there wasn’t anything notable), rain (there wasn’t any) or something absolutely unpredictable (millions of frogs crossing the circuit?) to happen to make it at all interesting. I’m sure it’s a great day out for all the rich and famous, but for TV viewing I think it pretty much sucks. Can’t see them getting rid of it off the calendar though. More’s the pity.

Given that it was pouring down constantly all day, and I mean all day, it was a great way to spend a long weekend Sunday. A big thanks to Mike for letting me tag along after a late cancellation. I was all prepared to be very, very jealous of Bec for getting to go while I sat home on the couch…

Didn’t really need to use an ultrasound to sort this out.  Just a picture.  Rach’s first chilli has arrived now too on one of the poor little plants that I had to give away.  I think it’s a Prarie Fire by the look of it, but not quite sure yet.  I can’t remember what I gave her in the end.  We’ll confirm that soon once it grows a little more…

Nice to know your offspring are doing well out in the big wide world!

It was a brilliantly fine morning this morning and as we manged to wake up at about 6:30 this morning we decided to go for a walk.  Actually, Bec decided, and then managed to harass me into it.  Glad she did though, it was a stunning morning for it.  We decided to walk down to Tower Bridge to get some breakfast.

On the way down to the riverside, we found that the birds that had been camping on the life-preserver had been lucky enough to have their chicks hatch.  Six of them!  Good luck feeding that lot!  Seemed that half the neigbourhood was out having a look too.

We did have a bit of a problem when we got to Tower Bridge though.  We were too bloody early for brunch anywhere! Not that it worried us too much.  We just sat in the sun and watched all the tourists arrive and take their photos.  And then had an average brunch by the riverside in the sun. Yay Sunday!

Well, I was going to update you with the latest chilli count as it’s been a really slow week for any sort of news, but to be honest I just keep losing track. Let’s just say that there are well over a hundred now. It’s the Riots that are the problem. They’ve just keep exploding!

No colour appearing on any of them yet, but hopefully this week will be as sunny as today and that’ll happen soon. The Ring of Fires in particular are looking nice and big, and I can’t wait to get into them. I’ll be really interested to taste the others too, and see what the difference in taste between them all.