The old gang

Thursday night I went down to my old local for an ex-colleage's leaving do. It was really good to see everyone again, I miss them! A good night!

Jo (who's leaving) on the left, Ed on the right




A spot of impromtu dancing fun while singing Abba.





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A walk in the country

Today Matt and I went out to Surrey (just outside of London) for a walk in the country. Such a beautiful country we live in!! My feet held up nicely today on the flatlands and Matt plastered me with sunscreen so all good on that front! Very warm and sweaty 6 miles but good to practice towards my mountain climbs in a few weeks!!

One bridge that we came to, we played "Pooh Sticks". My stick won :-) can you see the sticks?

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Stupid Karen, tomatoe is not a good look!

I put on factor 50 suncream in the morning and topped up my arms with factor 15 midday ... but failed to reach my back. Sigh. The tomatoe look doesn't suit me!

You can (kind of) see my arms aren't red, nor is my chest, but my back an neck were certainly in need of sun screen yesterday :-(


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A 10.5 mile "leg stretch"

Some of you know I'm doing a hike up 2 mountains in a couple of weeks to raise money for charity. (a 7.5 mile hike up Snowdon on Saturday and a steeper 5.5 mile hike up one of Snowdon's neighbours on Sunday.). Today I met the group I'm going with for a practice walk. Andy, who hill walks as a regular leisure activity, kept referring to this as a leg stech - my legs are well and truly streched thank you! I must admit it wasn't a hard walk today, although there were a few steep bits to get up that took my breath away. Ift weren't for trying to break in a new pair of hiking shoes (I've actually had the for 3 years, just never worn them) I think I would have been fine. As is I came home with a slightly sore bum from the steep bits and 2 blisters. It was a beautiful day for a hill walk around the coast though!!!

View in front of me still to walk, about an hour in.




View behind me that we'd already done.




Andy and Sean looking over the cliff edge. Apparently it was scarier on your belly but I thought it was far more daunting standing up, looking over the edge.




A light house we walked pass





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A Hot Rock Dinner

Last week I went out to dinner after work with two colleagues. Sandra suggested a "hot rock" place nearby. "What's a hot rock place?" I asked. Her reply was that they served raw meat on a hot rock and you cooked the meal as you wanted. It sounded unique and something everyone should experience at least once.

What fun it was! This is my plate. It's in 3 portions, on the left was raw veg, middle was the (extremely) hit rock and on the right chips. I ordered a steak and it came on the rock raw, but sizzling away. Sandra said the best way to eat it was to take the steak off the rock, cut into little pieces and cook. Very entertaining!!



After I finished, I had fun with the peppers :-)



PS I got a new iPhone application today for blogging. Apparently this allows me to post more than one picture in a post. And hopefully it will size the pics better. Let me know what you think!


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I've been robbed!

... by the government! I'm sure I've blogged before about high petrol prices - an average tank of fuel around £60, but it's been creaping up and up and up. I was gob-smacked when my total broke £70 today. Can you beleive it?!!

(For those American blog readers, that's over $100!!! I remember my first car, a little 81 Toyota that I could fill up for like $12!!! P.S. I feel old for saying that!)

On top of Oxford Castle

How you dooin!

Star struck I AM! My friend Tesca and took a trip away this weekend and decided Thursday night on Oxford - it was the cheapest hotel we could find last minute in a bank holiday weekend. What a good choice it was! On a tour through Oxford Castle I turned around a did a four take (more than a double take was needed!) on a guy ... Who happened to be Matt Le Blanc. I met Joey from friends!! OH. MY. WORD!

Luckily Tesca stepped in in my moment of girl-ness and asked of he would take a picture with me. He laughed at her request (as she said we might be stalking him all day if she didn't ask as I was too sheepish to ask for a photo with him) and happily obligued.

I MET MATT LE BLANC! oh wow!! How great Oxford is!