Lawrence, Lily and The Green Berets

I'm proud to present to you my son, Royal Marine Commando Gordon J Cruickshank of 101 Troop, The Kings Squad who will be, in about 4 hours, drafted to Fleet Protection. All mothers are proud of their kids achievements and I have been of all four of my kids but in each of their lives there have been milestones - receiving his green beret was Gordons and if I ever stop blubbing it will be a miracle :)

My middle son Keiran and I spent a few days down south visiting family in Gloucestershire, Manchester and attending Gordons passing out parade in Devon. It was great, if emotional and tiring, and wouldn't have missed it for the world. It was also scorchingly hot - 34 deg C on Friday. We stayed with my aunt and uncle in Cirencester a stones throw apparently from Lily Allen and Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen. They live in this lovely area that backs out onto savannah-like grassland and its like being on permanent holiday!Was lovely to catch up with everyone as its not often we get to be in the same place at the same time.

Dad, Cousin, Aunt, Mum, Me, Uncle and Lola the dog

I have though, despite packing my running shoes, not done any exercise since Wednesday and boy do I feel it. I feel fat, bloated (though to be fair, that could have been the three family packs of sports mixtures Keiran and I managed to eat over four days..). I tried but every time I thought I had 30 minutes for a run, something happened and I was diverted. Or I found myself driving round Manchester at 2am looking for sodding Travel Lodges.

Kieran at Exmouth

So this morning (my first back at work), I took the hardtail in. It was a gorgeous morning but the rain from the past few days up here has left everything very muddy so I was clarted by the time I got in. I got new Marazocchi forks for it today. They're lighter than the old crap forks but still quite heavy but bombproof. I've been after a pair for ages but they were always so expensive until I landed a pair cheaply. So now, with the exception of a set of new wheels, the hardtail is nearly rebuilt. Looking forward to giving it a good test out on wednesday!

Sidmouth by night

Tomorrow though, back to 6am runs! I've lost a week out of The Plan and its going to be hard enough keeping to some semblance of it whilst on holiday in Menorca as it is! Tonight in Mahon (just a few km from where we stay) its 25 deg C so I reckon I'm going to be up at 4am running before it gets too hot! Daytime temps are 30 deg + so I will mostly be spending the days in or under the water :)

Well, back to the packing and washing for me. Its such a glamorous life :)

Gordon and Me