Exploring Kilkenny

For our first full day in Ireland we didn't fancy going too far after travelling the whole day before. So we drove the short distance to Kilkenny to explore what the city has on offer. The first thing we spotted was our very own bar (but we didn't go in!):

The one thing Kilkenny isn't short off are pubs and bars! We wandered down to the River Nore with its colourful buildings:

Luckily for us there was space on the terrace for a late lunch with a view of Kilkenny Castle:

Reasons to be Cheerful: Irish Eyes are Smiling #R2BC

A late arrival for the linky as we have been on holiday and this is my first chance to use my laptop since I got back! Obviously my reasons are all holiday based and here are the smiles from Ireland:
1) Crossing the Sea

I was away with my two top men my son and my dad. We enjoyed our ferry ride across the Irish Sea from Holyhead and then a drive down to Knocktopher near Kilkenny.

2) Holiday challenges

My son and I climbed up steep ladders to reach the top of the 900 year old St Canice's tower in Kilkenny. Well worth it for the view even when you are scared of heights:

3) Running

I managed to find a lovely (if hilly) route to run in a wood to keep up the exercise. It was a hot one but it put a smile on my face:

4) Smile!

How could this not put a smile on your face when you are given your coffee:

Hope you are smiling this week too!

Holiday hit list

Well school is out for summer so its freedom until September 4th! For that reason I thought I would draw up a holiday hit list of things I want to do or need to do before the schools go back...

1) Family fun

I want to enjoy time with my family when we have no time pressure on us. Whether its a break away from home or days out in the Lakes this has to be top priority!

2) Fitness

The last half term has seen my health & fitness take a back seat to my challenge is to:

a) get back to running 4 times a week and increase to half marathon distance
b) lose a stone as I have gained some of what I had lost...

3) Home

A year of me teaching full time has meant a house going backwards and it becoming disorganised so I have a few hits to do at home:

a) sort out my bedroom so that all my teaching stuff has a home yet I have a place to relax
b) sort out kitchen so that I make best use of the storage and its easy to maintain
c) with my son get his room into a proper tween room so that he has his own space too
d) get the lounge back into proper usage instead of a bit of everything and chaotic!
e) rescue the garden and make it a better place to chill

4) Blogging

I have neglected this blog whilst working full time so I need to revive it and get it back to where it was...

Watch this space!

Reasons to be Cheerful: Schools Out For Summer #R2BC

We have had a pretty rubbish last half term as a family so I am so glad to be coming up for air now that the school holidays are here! Coming to the end of my NQT year made the light at the end of the tunnel turn back on... Here are my end of school year reasons to be cheerful:
1) Run on Scout Scar
My son and I joined his club for an extra training run up Scout Scar. It may have been drizzly but we had a lot of fun on a hilly run in a beautiful spot:

2) Blooming lovely
My roses are really coming into their own now and looking glorious:

3) Family Fun

Reasons to be Cheerful: Proud Mum and Running #R2BC

So little time to post this week that I am combining my normal two posts into one! Therefore a few of my reasons to be cheerful are fitness related...

1) Out Run May on track

My charity challenge for Macmillan Cancer care to run 80 miles this month is well on track and I am relishing trying different routes and mixing up my distances from 1 mile to 10 km in a run. Running on evenings like this are a tonic for the soul:

2) Speeding up

The regular running is speeding me up too. Last weekend was my fastest 5k and Parkrun for 2 years. An extra bonus was this awesome finish photo:

3) Proud Mum #1

We all ran our local colour run in aid of the local hospice on Sunday. Not often all 3 of us lace up our trainers:

If you fancy sponsoring us on this one here is the link: St John's Hospice