Winter Sunshine

Blue skies in January compel me to squeeze every last sunny drop from the short hours. Saturday’s last light was golden at Compton Beach. It was chilly, sat on the rough grass of the cliff’s edge, but still perfect for a winter’s picnic of tea and brownies.

I always hated tea from a flask, but I’ve just discovered that the secret is proper loose leaf tea without milk (and a big slab of chocolate brownie to help wash it down).

We sipped our tea as the light dipped below the water, glowing orange while the last of the surfers sat and watched that last sunny drop.

Running Through the Storm

There seems no letup in this stormy weather, though our house on the hill remains dry and my heart goes out to all those affected by the floods. Living on the coast, we’ve had our share of dramatic weather. But rain and wind won’t keep me indoors; I’ve discovered that the very best thing to do in stormy weather is run..

Walking or cycling in these winds just feels like a hard slog, but running feels natural. After all, what do you do when you get caught out by a shower without your coat ten feet from the car? This is just a small extension of that.

In the last couple weeks we’ve tramped through thick sloppy mud, slipped down water-soaked slopes, been pushed by the wind along slick chalky paths, and held for dear life on to sea railings against horizontal hail. This is not the time of year to buy a nice new pair of trainers- they won’t survive a month. So grab some old gear and let the wind and rain buffet you about. It really is good fun out there.

A Wintry Week

It’s been wet and stormy round these parts; a well-chosen week to be off work, drowsing under the duvet or snoozing by the fire. But even this stormy weather is worth being out in. I loved the adventure of getting caught running the coast path in a hailstorm: a Christmas Day first for me. And the perfect stillness of Newtown after a storm passes is wintry perfection.

Truly though, I only go outside so I can max out on being lazy at home, for which the Christmas holidays are perfectly designed. Visiting family, eating delicious food, and laughing/shouting over games, is the perfect way to tire yourself out, ready for another big snooze under the duvet. I’m due a little more happy hibernating before the new year arrives..

Chasing Light

On short winter days the sun slips away so quickly it’s easy to miss. Even heading out as early as three o’clock felt late, as the sun was already hiding behind the hills. We started on the slippery mud path by the old stone wall but soon lost the track, chasing the light on the west side of the hill. We ran ridges of sheep trails, steeply lined above and below us, before circling around to find the West Wight filled with late light.

We were the perfect kind of lost. Standing on unfamiliar ground in the middle of familiar landmarks: Tennyson Down to the West, Culver Cliff to the East. Quiet cold air filled our ears and distant car lights picked out country lanes below. Sometimes being short on daylight just adds to the magic.

Night Running

It’s that time of year when we leave for work before sunrise and return home in the dark. It’s not the season for impromptu beach barbecues or a sunny spin round the block. Last weekend’s sunshine passed us by as we were busy finishing off our new kitchen (photos to follow!) So, I’ve been sorely lacking in fresh air and decided I couldn’t let the cold dark wind stop me from getting out. I have to admit that if Tom hadn’t been up for a run too, I’d be very happily still curled up the couch with a large bag of M&Ms (and I don’t care what the bag says – they are not for sharing.)

Our route takes us straight up a hill: a good way to warm up quickly and beat the bitter cold wind. I’m grateful for my many merino layers and wouldn’t go anywhere without ear warmers and woolly mitts. There’s no way to look cool in hi-viz. But it sure does make you feel happier to be running down little country lanes in the dark, dancing in front of the bright lights of cars. Once the cars are gone, the darkness feels like running on the spot in thin air. The long flat stretch of seafront feels just as tough as ever, but the lights on the water and across to the city make a change from the sailboats and strollers of the summer months.

This was my first run in the dark (I am a newbie after all). There’s no denying it’s hard to drag myself off the couch, but it felt great to be outside in the wind, and all the sweeter to get the fire roaring on our return. Just remind me of that when that bag of M&Ms comes calling..