Update from the homestead...

My daughter Sara and grand-daughter Heather arrived from Germany yesterday - its been a year since I saw either of them except via Skype and its been great catching up and seeing them both in the flesh instead of over some computery highway thingymajig.

Sara..

The sun has even stayed out all yesterday allowing us to get out in the garden and for me to get a 10k run in the morning stopping briefly to speak to a couple of the marshals for our cycle clubs (DTCC) 50mile TT. It was already scorchingly hot at 9am and I don't envy them the route! I ran ok but I'm getting some pain under the ball of my left big toe and extends along the side of my foot till mid arch - which remains even when my foot is rested. Possibly the result of wearing nothing but flip flops for the past fortnight but even wearing my new(est) running shoes didn't help. Thankfully I'm cycling and swimming for next two days so can rest it a bit.

Other news from here is that we have chicks! One of our hens went broody a couple weeks before we went on holiday and we looked for her when we got back but no sign - and so presumed she'd abandoned the clutch & been taken by a fox....that was until Sara said "awwww chicks" and pointed to 8 fluffy little guys and gals binging about after their mum!

Less cute but no less tasty (he heh!) are the vine ripened tomatoes we returned to as well.

Sara and Heather left this evening and I'm sad but I get to see them for a full fortnight in a month so not so bad. So now, a glass of wine and back to sorting out the massive changes happening here - more on those later!

Only mad fools and Englishmen...

...(and people desperate to keep some semblance of fitness) go out in the mid day sun. Oh OK, it wasn't mid day at all but rather 5am (thats 4am UK time people - kudos please for my sheer determination!) that saw me trotting along the beach on the southern tip of Menorca for the past fortnight.

I decided not to take the bike as last year I saw no other cyclists, however this year, it seems to have exploded in popularity as a sport - both roadie and mountainbike - on the island much as it has elsewhere in the world! They have even built designated cycle paths alongside but raised off the main roads including white lines down the middle to separate the directions!

Early morning swim laps Binibequer beach

So yeah, had to 'make do' with swimming in azure blue coves and running along cliff tops that made my heart ache with their pure, unspoilt beauty. Oh and paddling and going in those ridiculously funny round boat things and snorkelling and other water sports (you at the back - stop giggling). Menorca was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO back in 1993 and so is the least touristy of the Balearics and even at the height of its tourist season - august - when mainland Spain also shuts down and migrates south - at 5am, you have the place to yourself (save the odd other runner). Its also about the only time of day temperature wise that this poor northern European body could hack running in! At nights it drops from average 32 - 36 deg C to 28 deg C with about 84% humidity but as the sun rises......eeeek!!! You know that scene in The Chronicles of Riddick where they're trying to outrun the sunscorch on Crematoria? That was me that was...

The first half of the second week I was less determined due to well, PMT and so decided to sod any exercise that didn't involve light toodling, drowning myself in Hierbas and giant prawns thus ruining any good work done in previous week :) however we moved villa to one on top of a very steep hill and as a result, for the first time ever...I maintained weight on holiday despite eating more food that I ever thought possible. I've also discovered a really hilly route for the roadie next time!

5am runs.... good for the soul

It was a great holiday and I'm now depressed about being back but was happy to get out for an easy couple hours on the roadie this morning to spin out the old muscles, stopping briefly at the shop to say hi and try out a new time trial bike the Boss had told me someone was selling. Its nice and it fits and I want it but I'm saving my money - there are plans afoot to return to the Island for longer at Christmas.

Anyway back to it tomorrow in earnest. Got a couple of 10k's coming up sooner than I'd remembered lol!