The Cupboard of Doom

Since we moved in just over a year ago the under stairs cupboard has been christened the "cupboard of doom" as its where things got chucked when we didn't know where else to put them! The back of it was used for my Usborne books and stands but these are no longer there... So I decided today was a good day to tackle the issue once and for all...

Of course there was no where really to put it apart from the kitchen floor:

I live videoed the progress over the day and then I put them altogether into this video (it includes me once again demonstrating I am not good at something - this time putting up shelves):

It does look so much better though:

Kicking off the summer fitness campaign #UKFitnessBloggers

Well over the last few weeks the exercise has been poor, the diet worse and the weight has gone up... So when term finished on Thursday I kick started my summer fitness campaign with a 1 mile run around the block:

It felt good:

Then I walked to collect my son from school and we went into town to the library etc. I inspired him by saying I needed to hatch an egg in Pokemon Go:

Reasons to be Cheerful Schools Out for Summer #R2BC

Once again the lovely Michelle is hosting the linky so please go and say hello! Its the start of the summer holidays for us in Cumbria so there is plenty to be cheerful about:

1) Fun in Bolton

At the weekend were in Bolton for IronKids. A really fun event and I was proud of my children. This picture was accidentally humorous too:

2) Community Play Area

Since moving to our estate I've been involved on the residents' committee and our big project is a play area. The plans were agreed between the council and the contractor this week and it will be built this autumn:

3) Blast from the past

I had a chance to walk with my son through some of the older parts of Kendal where we used to walk coming home from nursery:

#CountryKids Exploring Waterhead and Galava Roman Fort

A friend has come up to Keswick for the Convention so we arranged to meet at Ambleside today for lunch. The easiest place to do this was at Hayes Garden World where we had lunch on the terrace with Mr Tod for company:

We then parked up at Waterhead (lucky that it didn't take long to get spaces!) and the children wanted to paddle in Windermere:

Of course we hadn't come prepared so they just waded in and got their bottom halves wet:

#CountryKids at #IronKids Bolton

When the entries opened for IronKids at Bolton this year Pippa at Red Rose Mummy suggested that I sign my kids up as she knows we love to run. It takes place before the full Iron Man triathlon when over 2,000 athletes from 38 countries around the globe will compete in the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. The first male Pro athlete is expected to achieve this in just over 8.5 hours! We travelled to Bolton last night to collect their race packs and meet Fred Dibnah:

After not much sleep in our hotel we were at the start line about 7:45 when the cobbles were wet and the streets were still quite quiet:

My daughter was in the second band of runners from years 7 and 8 who set off in waves on their 1.5 km run. She doesn't run as much as the rest of us and was full of cold but she looked amazing as she floated past us:

Reasons to be Cheerful: Siblings, Cumbria and Roses #R2BC

Thank you again Michelle for hosting the linky its great to be able to share the happy things with our little community. Here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:

1) Proud Mum

My son took place in his school's fell race morning this week. Over 200 children took part in both competitive and non competitive races around the Castle hill. In a tough race he was 5th in his category and oh so close to 4th. Good lad:

2) Sibling Love

As any parent of more than one child knows, siblings argue a lot! However mine do actually care for each other very much and sometimes they even do this:

Reasons to be Cheerful: 10 Green Bottles #R2BC

I am so glad that Michelle is back hosting this month as she was the original founder of this super linky. Hosting will be back with me in August! Here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:

1) 10 Green Bottles

This was hanging in my grandparents' dining room for nearly all my childhood. It is now above my dining table so I can remember them every time I see it:

2) Being looked after

I was unwell at the weekend and my son brought me lunch in bed:

3) Proud mum #1

My son won a silver medal in an inter school athletic competition. He threw a ball 5 metres in the chest push to get it:

#CountryKids Fell Foot Christmas Parkrun #FitnessFriday

Thanks to Storm Desmond we were unable to have a Christmas parkrun at Fell Foot Park. However Cumbrians are hardy folk so 6 months on we held a Christmas and half parkrun last weekend. We were asked to combine summer and Christmas for the special event. I managed to attach some ribbons to my trainers to make them more festive:

My daughter was marshalling in a Christmas outfit whilst the Run Director was channeling his Santa on the beach look:

The volunteers had made a fabulous effort at decorating the course: