Post Comment Love - 17th-19th April 2026

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

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I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

I hope you all had a good Spring break. Easter feels like so long ago now.

I had two wonderful weeks off to just chill out. Peter arrived back from his break in Turkey.

I took part in an Ultra Challenge in Bath and spent some time with friends. The cat had her 18th birthday. We had a day out at Countrytastic with our grandchildren. There was a rather disappointing football match, an Easter party, some days out and finally the Brighton Marathon (you can read how I got on in this weeks link up)

And now ... well I'm not too sure. I'm doing a park run this weekend and we're seeing the grandchildren and there's a trip to Northern Ireland booked at the end of May, but otherwise it's just days out, gardening and of course more running and walking. but for leisure as I'm not doing a marathon again, one was enough.

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How I ran my Brighton Marathon April 2026

Yes it is possible to run a marathon with no formal training plan, no coach, no special diet or expensive equipment.

This is what I ran in. It was what I had been training in and they say don't make any adjustments that you haven't trained in. But you'll see from the photo's it was a hot day and within one mile of setting off, I found toilets and stepped off to jsut the running vest. Thankfully there was no rubbing or chaffing.

There was a 3.5 mile walk to the start line from the camp site near the Marina to Preston Park. it turned out to be the best warm up for me. A chance for my breakfast to be digested and to enjoy a coffee as well as walking familiar routes as I'd done as child towards the viaduct in the background to London Road where my mums family used to live.

On arrival it was windy and raining and I wore my hat and had a disposable plastic rain mac. At the start there was a clothing bin for SHELTER where I dropped my hat.

I met up with a woman in the toilet queue who had run the Brighton Maraton before who gave me a few tips for the race.

The first group went at 9.45am and they called us in waves. I was in wave 8 and we set off at 10.47pm. There was a chip built into the bib that was activated as we crossed the start and I also activated the app at the same time so family and friends could follow my progress and for Peter and my friend Jenny to be able to see me on route which gave me an amazing boost to hear my name being called and get a hug.

The toilets became pretty grim as the race went on. This was my second stop around 4 miles in.

At this point mile 6 I was still running and very much enjoying myself. I had a clothing malfunction and knew I was seeing Peter at the 8 mile mark.

I saw my friend Jenny with her husband around this point. shortly afterwards the route went uphill then out onto the sea front and the wind and sun was vicious. At mile 7-8 I slowed down and walked and ate and ran a bit until I got to Peter to hand over my jacket and running top and get a drink.

And this was the part of the run I was dreading the most. We'd travelled it on the bus on the Friday. 2 miles out and 2 miles back. No crowds. At the round about a run in land then up the last hill to the windmill and back to the half way point.

There was another loop on Marina Parade and a shoe/sock malfunction followed by a mile to Hove where the 6 hour 30 min pacer caught up with me and there was no way she was going past me and I had a boost of speed. I threw my bum bag at Peter as I had finished my snacks. The 4 miles round Hove saw me run/walk from lamp post to lamp post. A colleague in work who is running the London and Sydney Marathon this year said he could tell I was really digging in at this point. 

It took forever to run round the lagoon for the last 2 miles and past the beach huts and that's when the emotion kicked in, when I remembered why I was doing this at the ripe old age of 54 with 26 weeks of preparation. Stephanie.

I could hear Peter yelling my name and I found the last bit of energy I had. I never once doubted myself that mentally I was capable of this, but physically I was starting to question my abilities.

After crossing the line and collecting my medal, I was given some water, protein yogurt, a t shirt and found Peter.

Peter carried this bag with him for the day, plus he had my jacket which I put back on as I was really cold once I stopped running.

I had my snacks, drink, took my trainers and socks off and put on fresh socks and my crocs. I could hardly move. I just lay on the grass for about 20 minutes.

So do I have any secrets and tips to share with you?

Yes.

I wrote down the water stations mile points as well as the refill stations and toilet stops on the inside of my bib so I could refer to them during the run.

The previous day I'd done a parkrun and had skipped breakfast and hadn't warmed up. DON'T DO THAT.

Don't do anything new on race day that you haven't done before. I ran with the laminate pinned to my back. It was fine when I was running, but when I tied my jacket round my waist it was a pain. My bum bag and jacket tying didn't fit with how my bib had to be pinned on my front. I'd covered the toes and part of my feet with combed plasters where I knew I'd had problems in the past.

Take tissues for the toilets and hand sanitiser.

What I ate and drank. I'd not tried these gels that runners use. I stuck to my ham sandwich, banana, crisps and snack bars and sweets, washed down with gaviscon. I carried this in my bumbag. I ate the banana and a snack bag before the race started.

Things I didn't use or I'd do differently although there won't be a next time.

• I didn't use the headphones but next time I'd make sure I used them on parts of the route where there weren't any crowds.
• The refillable water bottle. it didn't get used.
• I wouldn't wear the long sleeve running top. I still wear the cardigan/jacket as I'm used to running with it tied round my waist, but I wouldn't laminate the picture/story, I'd have it printed on the back instead and keep it with me. 
• The bum bag works. No mints in future, didn't eat them and only had 1 snack bar, each time I've been out I've only eaten 1.
• I didn't activate Strava and I don't care. I'm more than happy with the official time and distance.
• I would have my name printed on the front of my shirt
• I would take more photos and videos especially at the finish line.

Word of the Week - Marathoner

Well I did it. I ran the Brighton Marathon in a time of 6 hours and 28 minutes and 6 seconds.

I am NEVER doing it again.

I will however possibly probably mention it again.

I'm 54 years of age. I'm bloody proud of myself.

The last time I ran was when I was in school. I left school in 1987.

I started with the couch to 5k on October 10th 2025 on World Mental Health Day. I completed my first 5k 4 weeks later at a parkrun in Monmouth, I'll be back there this Saturday.

I often surprise myself with my strength both physically and mentally.

It has been an emotional journey.

At 1 min and 3 sec you'll see me come into view and then cross the line and keep on running because I didn't realise I'd actually finished..

I hit my fundraising target and a big thank you to everyone who donated to Bowel Research UK.

Week 14 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

The Negatives

I was getting stressed with the fundraising side of the Marathon. Iwas under no obligation to raise a set amount for Bowel Research UK for my Marathon place, but it was important to me. Also felt like I was running out of time to get all the things done I needed to do before we headed off to Brighton on Friday.

The Positives

Everything came together in the end. half the things I wanted to get done, didn't get done, but it wasn't important stuff, well certainly not worth getting stressed over.

Saturday 4th April Had a lie in and finished reading my book throughout the day. Had a late breakfast of scrambled egg on toast and designed some fundraising pictures to go up in local shops. Went to retail park to print photos, had a coffee, picked up some gluten free food and home for dinner. We ended up moving the bed out the loft back to the first floor for granddaughter as she didn’t like sleeping up there. Late into bed and straight to sleep.

Sunday 5th April A lie in then headed out to the Forest of Dean to collect Granddaughter and to Lydbrook, our old neighbourhood to visit a friend and her grandchildren, then the village hall for an easter party. DIL and grandson joined us. We got home at 7pm, had dinner. A late night for granddaughter after stories. I did some blogging and reading in the kitchen and bath and bed.

Monday 6th April Another lie in, I'm beginning to enjoy this, getting up at 9am. Granddaughter was dressed and raring to go shopping and to the park, so off we went. We had a coffee first, but once she'd finished her drink and snack she was bored. Stopped off at the park, then home for lunch. Peter took her home via Goodrich Castle and I spent the afternoon watching the Birmingham game on sky and re organising the loft and bedroom and cooking dinner ready for when Peter got home. In the evening we watched Vera.

Tuesday 7th April Peter dropped me off at the top of town and took his phone to get a new screen fixed and I ran 9k around the outskirts of town and down to the retail park, his phone took longer and I ran quicker so I'd finished my coffee by the time Peter came to pick me up. I then went out to get the tyres and tyre pressure monitor checked on the van as we'd had advisories after the MOT and the sensor light had come on the previous weekend, but all is good for a while yet. Peter spent the rest of the day mowing the lawns and doing some weeding and I visited a friend to swop some books and pick up some shopping from the local shop but with the books and the shopping I had to get Peter to come and collect me. I cooked a roast for dinner, video'd called grandson and evening spent watching TV, sorting through more vinted sales, blogging and early bed to read.

Wednesday 8th April Had to go back to the pharmacist and the doctors to sort out some medication as the one I collected yesterday was a new tablet, same medication but quarter strength, all sorted now. walked on down to the retail park for a coffee. My charity box was empty, so designed a poster to go with it and arranged to go back later to move it. Home for 2 calls with the bank and a financial advisor. Rest of the day spent in the garden, the loft and reading and watching TV as well as some blogging. 

Thursday 9th April I went out to practise for the marathon morning by walking the 3.5 miles I have to do to get to the start. I had a coffee on route and a half hour rest and fuelled up with a banana, some sweets and energy bars. Had a wee and set off on a 1.2 mile up hill run that replicates the first part of the marathon and a 4 mile run home. We went to Brockhampton Court near Bromyard a National Trust site for a stroll, coffee and some lunch and fill the van up with diesel at Maple Leaf Express, which has been recognised as the second cheapest fuel station in the UK and just happens to be 500ms from where I work.

Friday 10th April Up early and off to Brighton. Stopped for coffee at Tewkesbury and again just as we joined the M23. I stretched out in the back while Peter did all the driving. Arrived at the camp site at 2pm, set up and took a walk to the Marina, caught the bus to Telescombe Cliffs and met my cousin and her husband to be for dinner. They gave us a lift back to the campsite. we had an early night.

On the blog this week:

Word of the week: Marathon

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Word of the week - Marathon

I'm running a marathon on Sunday.

I've not run since I was in school.

My training for the Brighton Marathon 2026 for Bowel Research UK has been about Stephanie. Talking about her and keeping her memory alive. Doing something that has put me out of my comfort zone, focusing my grief into something positive. There’s been no support out there since her death, not even in the early days, other than waiting lists or private counselling for trauma.

She didn’t fit into a box when she was alive. There was little understanding of the battles faced with her supported living, with care plans and funding issues despite the fact that we couldn’t have asked for anymore support than we received.

Stephanie’s death in October 2024 hit us out the blue. There was no warning, no expectation of a shorter life expectancy only the constant worry and fear of who would take those battles on when we were gone.
There is a strange sense of relief that we no longer have to worry about that anymore but also a sense of guilt that we feel that way. 

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with myself after Sunday when the marathon is over. I can’t promise I won’t do another one, but we’ll never stop talking about Stephanie. 

She taught us so much about unconditional love, patience and kindness. 

So many of our friends who have supported us through the past 18 months never met Stephanie but talk about her with us and have got to know her through us. 

So with 4 days to go, I’m tapering my runs, carb loading, hydrating, getting in as much sleep and rest as I can and looking forward to do just doing my best on the day. Getting round the 26.2 miles without complaining, having fun, enjoying the atmosphere and taking it all in.

I’m not sure how proud of me Stephanie would be. I’m not sure half the time Stephanie knew who I was. But I do know Stephanie loved to be out, loved her food and drink, loved being with people, loved going for a walk and loved making as much noise as she could and all without a care in the world. 

#BeMoreStephanie

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Week 13 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

The nausea and sickness is getting worse.

The house has been untidy for two weeks and I feel I never get to just sit and relax while it's clean and tidy.

The positives

The house is finally clean and tidy and I'm looking forward to just chilly out for the rest of the easter break and reading my books.

Saturday 28th March Woke at 6am. Got dressed, packed the van, had some breakfast and was on the road by 7am. The tyre sensor light came on so I stopped at Tewkesbury to discover it's the sensor and not the tyres that's faulty. Got to Bath racecourse at 9am for a 25k 600m elevation walk/jog/run/drag myself round. It was freezing, overcast and very windy. I was totally underdressed for the day. The sun popped out every now and then. It took me 5 and a half hours. I had a half hour lie down in the van and a cup of tea before an hours drive to Monmouth to stay with my mate of 28 years. After another cuppa, I had a long soak in the bath with a bucket full of bath salts she bought for me. We had dinner, a good catch up, more tea and I was in bed around 10pm and fast asleep within minutes.

Sunday 29th March I woke at the usual 6am time, even though it was 7am, made a cup of tea and went back to bed while the rest of the household got ready to go to a landcover show in Newbury. I was a bit sore and my left hip was hurting, but the more I walked the better it felt. I headed out for a coffee then onto my mums for the morning and spent some time with Thing 2 and Thing 4 (my great nephew and great niece) Mum and I then went to town after they went home, to do some shopping and I went to visit a friend in my old neighbourhood for the afternoon and early evening. we've been friends for 33 years. I popped in the pub in the village to hi to the other neighbours before getting home around 8pm. Unpacked the van and straight to bed.

Monday 30th March Had a lie in and after resetting the remaining clocks and tidying up the vinted items. I took the one weekend sale up to the local shop and called in at the neighbours to invite the kids round for cake after tea, they placed their orders. I drove into Worcester to sort out my ISAs and another investment as /I don't get chance during term time. I bought new running leggings, had a Starbucks and home at 4pm via the retail park to buy new knickers and a McDonalds for Pushkins 18th birthday. Neighbours round at 6pm then an evening in front of the TV, a bath and bed at 10pm.

Tuesday 31st March A morning of rearranging and sorting my marathon bib out and drove into town to try and get some printing done but not happening, so sat in the coffee shop, bumped in to my neighbours mum, after bumping into a work colleague for a natter, and I while drinking my coffee I ordered a cap and some stickers and a charity collection box online. It took me an hour to sort the art work and I found it slightly stressful, I really could do with some help with this fundraising but I don't know what help I need and none is forth coming so I'll just plod on alone. I don't have time to organise events on top of training. I went to the library, saw some of my old students. Back home and I think I have all the kit I need now. I went through my wardrobe ready to upload quite a bit more onto vinted. I had to turn the BIG 'puter on to print out a label as the usual option wasn't available which took almost an hour of my time and I cleaned the bathrooms, changed beds and dusted the middles floor and moved things to the right rooms ready to be put away. There was nothing to watch on the TV so after a bath I went to bed around 9pm.

Wednesday 1st April Up at 7am and built a cabinet for the downstairs toilet and had the downstairs sorted by 10am and the kitchen and downstairs loo cleaned. Spent the next couple of hours putting away all the bits and pieces that I'd been collecting and got distracted with a tidy in the garden returning things to the shed and moving plant pots and a work station and outdoor toys. Walked to the retail park picking up a book from the charity shop for Book club and had a coffee whilst writing this week's blog posts and getting them scheduled. Home via the GP as I'm still feeling nauseous and the sickness is increasing. I dusted downstairs, hoovered and steam mopped the ground floor.After dinner it was a bath and into bed at 9pm to watch TV.

Thursday 2nd April Morning spent hoovering and using the steam mop on the first floor. went to the shop to get milk then it was a run to the Three Counties Showground and Countrytastic for the day where I met child 2, DIL, granddaughter and grandson for the day. we were there till 5pm, weather was good and we were entertained all day. Peter flew home from his 3 weeks in Turkey and caught the train home. Back home for a take away, Family left around 7pm, we had a quick tidy up, watched TV, had a bath and bed around 9.30pm.

Friday 3rd April Woken at 5.30am by cats fighting and met the neighbour on the doorstep. It wasn't our cat. Discovered blood and cat fur in our garden later on. Peter and I went for a coffee, home and I got ready for the football and read my book on the train to Birmingham. It was an awful game, we lost 1 nil to Blackburn, the atmosphere was dire. The club had gone all out Peaky Blinders. I got home at 7pm and Peter met me at the station. We watched Beyond and Death in paradise and snacked on easter eggs.

The way I've been looking at things this week with my health is that I can either just accept things as they are and get on with life or I could succumb to the sickness, migraines, breathlessness, fatigue and go searching for the easy way out and take the medication and surgery that is offered or I can carry on with the diet and lifestyle changes and accept that it's a long road. Stopped smoking and taken up running and guess what? Haitus hernia ... oh the joys of getting older. It was diagnosed in 2017 along with the gall bladder and the wheat intolerance but has taken its time to cause problems and has been aggravated by the running. X-ray booked later this month to check it's not worsened and it's being tackled with diet changes. Chocolate is aggravating it, blast, it's easter, so chocolate off the list as well now, annoying but I don't want to fill myself with medication to mask the issues and I've got a marathon to run next week.

On the blog this week:

Word of the Week: Downtime

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Word of the Week - Downtime

I've had some downtime this week. downtime for me isn't just time off, or time doing nothing, it's about time on my own, doing my own thing, no agenda and nothing of any importance, having nothing planned, but also just going with the flow and spending the day at Countrytastic with the grandchildren.

It's the easter holidays and I've 2 weeks off school and after a busy weekend in Bath with an Ultra Challenge I've spent this week trying to have a lie in. There have been coffees, gentle walks because my hips are still sore from the weekend and I've finally got on top of everything in the house and I left the house this morning with everything in tip top condition, just the washing out on the line and some ironing to be done.

I was so looking forward to a chilled evening on the sofa in my lovely clean and tidy house, a take away and TV and what happened?

Grandchildren ... 2 of them.

We had the takeaway and I've watched TV. The washing finally made it in. I've not dared look in the play room upstairs, but DIL did go up before they left which is always a good sign.

I was looking through my camera roll and I realised I hadn't taken any before and after pictures because the only thing I'd needed to do this week was clean. I'd done all the sorting the previous week. I've not taken a coffee shop photo for ages, but I had taken photos of the sunset that I raced home for and up two flights of stairs to capture and stopped for a while to watch. 

I went out to capture the magnolia at the end of the street.

I visited the library to get some books out and spent some time looking a the displays and enjoying some time in the grounds.

I went out of my way to fill my bottle from the spring in the town whilst out for a walk.

I took time to take photos of Stephanie's angel wing bulbs my friend gave me which me planted the day of her funeral.

There's another day left of this week and I'll be spending it in Birmingham at the football, my favourite way to relax. An hour on the train with my book and a picnic, a Starbuck on arrival and more reading and the bus to the ground and an hour back on the train. 

Week 12 2026 - One Daily Positive and Project 365

The negatives

It's been an emotional week feeling isolated from family and friends. But knowing we're only a short drive away. The trouble is we're the ones that do the driving.

The positives

I got the dining room table cleared and the back room sorted and my desk tidied and everything back in the rooms where it should be ready for a major tidy up next week.

Saturday 21st March I had the best day. After a great sleep, I packed the van and drove to the Barry island and parked up over looking the beach and headed down the steps to the start of the parkrun. it was chaos. I missed the briefing as there wasn't any clear direction, but everyone around was super friendly and I was pointed in the right direction. It's easy to work out, I just follow. Loads of spectators out on the route cheering everyone on, 2 laps. My usual 35+ mins and a coffee at Marcos, a walk on the beach and back to the van for breakfast and a lie down and a read of my book. I got changed and spent some time in the 2p slots winning a duck and a gem stone. Afternoon spent at Jenner Park where my father was the goalie in the early 60's for one of their most famous games with 7000 supporters. FA first round against QPR. They beat Caernarfon 2-1. After the match I drove to Newport where I set up camp for the night and was in bed by 9pm.

Sunday 22nd March Had a great sleep, packed up after breakfast and headed out to Malpas to visit my nephew, his wife and my great niece to drop off a gift and an early easter egg, then off to Monmouth to drop of my friends 50th birthday gift as she'll be in Disney for her actual birthday and I won't see her until after the actual day. Stopped in town for a coffee. Home by 5pm watched the football on my phone while unpacking the van and putting everything away, had tea and a bath, washing machine on, got everything ready for work in the morning, uploaded some more items onto vinted and parcelled up some more items that had sold over the weekend. Watched more TV and bed by 9pm.

Monday 23rd March A good day in work, reasonably quiet and got lots done. Forgot about a staff meeting and din't get home till 5.30pm so didn't go out for a run. Dropped off a Vinted parcels off then went for a coffee as my neighbour messaged me to say they were putting their house on the market and I felt really sad about them moving. Coffee shop was closing early so I jsut came home. had tea and a bath and phoned my friend and had a good cry about life in general. Tidied up, got ready for work in the morning and went to bed.

Tuesday 24th March Work and off to Worcester afterwards to buy some running shorts, had a coffee and did a food shop. I didn't have any shopping bags with me so everything was loose on the front seat. Got ready for work in the morning, had a bath watched TV and uploaded some more items onto vinted. There was a torrential downpour just after I got in that took me and the cat by surprise and it was really windy and I had to move the chair and table outside as it was nearly blown over. went to bed at 10.30pm which is late for me as I stayed up to watch the Huw Edward program. 

Wednesday 25th March Work, home, changed, parcels sent with vinted and a run to the retail park to meet my friend for a coffee. Bumped into 2 ex colleagues, had a good natter and catch up and a lift home. Had a bath, uploaded more items whilst watching TV and baked a batch of cakes for school on Friday for fundraising for their prom.

Thursday 26th March Work and home. So much more to say. Did some batch cooking when I got home, walked up the local shop to collect a parcel and send more off, then drove to the retail park for some gluten free shopping, a coffee and stopped at Lidl on the way home as we were low on the basics. decorated the cakes for school in the morning. More uploading, some reading, TV, bath and bed. 

Friday 27th March The able sale raised over £120 for Prom. I left on the bell and home to pack for the weekend. Finished uploading everything onto vinted, no sales today. Nothing much to watch on the TV so an early night after a bath. Got everything ready for Pushkins 18th birthday on Monday.

It snowed during the week, not just hail, but proper snow.

On the blog this week:

My garden in March.

Post Comment Love - Link up with any post written this week

Word of the Week - Rollercoaster

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Word of the week - Rollercoaster

I've had a bit of a rollercoaster of a week with a lot of things.

Mostly things out of my control.

But I have had control over how I've dealt with them.

Initially I've not dealt with some things very well, but I've been on my own for the week. I've had work, I've been places, I've been able to speak to people over the phone, but I've spent a lot of time on my own and in both ways it's helped and me process and it's also given me a lot of time to over think things.

Over the weekend I was at the top of the rollercoaster, the weather was perfect, lovely and sunny and I combined it with a trip to the seaside, camping, football and running. But it brought some upset and a few dips as the football took me to Barry Town where my father was the goalie in the 1960's and I was sad that I never got to go there with him before he died.

The highs of the rollercoaster continued with a visit to see my nephew, his wife and their daughter and a visit with my friend and her family on my way home, but the low kicked on the long drive home to an empty house where I felt sad to be so far away from our family and friends.

Work isn't a good place for me, I'm not enjoying the job. I don't have any friends there, but I am building some good working relationships with staff. I am looking for other jobs, but I want to be doing something that excites me and I really need the long school holidays due to one of children living in Australia and another in Northern Ireland, even more son now our son in Australia got his citizenship last week which has me on a high for him and a low for me and my emotional rollercoaster is all over the place as I think about the fact the the chances of him ever returning to the UK have now become 0%.

Our very good neighbours have put their house on the market, which sent me into a dive on Monday when they messaged me to let me know the for sale would be going up later this week. They have been talking about moving for over a year, so not really a shock, but I shall miss them being there, the kids randomly knocking on the door, the chats, the calls for help with fixing taps (them) random help putting up shelves (them) locking themselves out (them) cat sitting (us) burst water pipes (us).

The rollercoaster dropped a bit further as a call went unanswered to a friend and by the time she called back I was a blubbering mess, but I picked up some speed and by the end of the hour, I was climbing back up with plans firmed for the weekend and I'd been given a big talking to about how I just didn't like change and maybe I was just feeling that my life was too static for me. 

She reminded me that all the time she'd known me - 28 years - I'd never sat still. I'd been raising kids, studied, worked, divorced, been a single mum, remarried, blended two families, moved, raised 5 kids, had a career, dealt with kids leaving home, moved abroad, given up my career to focus on supporting the children and Peter, moved country, dealt with the death of my father, lived between 2 countries, was separated from Peter during covid, relocated to the UK, Stephanie died and still grieving. 

I felt more positive after the call, but I was much further down the rollercoaster and had further to get back up and after an early night and a good sleep on Monday night I woke feeling a lot more positive, but the weather turned and was wet, windy and cold and after work and a food shop I miserable because I couldn't go out for a run and wasn't feeling sociable for the gym and I fell asleep for an hour which set me back even further, but I decided I needed to take control and I set about getting on with a few jobs that had been dragging me down and I ended up getting to bed late and couldn't seem to get myself out of the ups and downs of finding the right balance.

A coffee with a friend on Wednesday motivated me to apply for a job at a school where I'd been turned down previously.

By Thursday I found myself on the right track. I'd uploaded all the things on Vinted and had a system going of parcelling items and everything was nicely stored out of sight behind the sofa with easy access. The dining room table and craft room has finally been sorted. I'd done some batch cooking and a food shop to stock up on some of the basics we were low on. 

I baked and decorated cakes to support fundraising for the school prom and stopped stressing out about my own fundraising. I have other plans for that. I plucked up the courage to send a whole staff email with the link to my fundraising page.

I've got two weeks to go before the Brighton Marathon and can now start running in the mornings as it's the Easter holidays now.

I feel that I'm travelling along on a straight line at the moment and I'm happy with that. I have some highs to look forward to this weekend with family and friends and my ultra challenge with a 29k walk/run in Bath and I'm going to try not to focus on the lows, unfortunately the reason I'm running the marathon is because Stephanie died and I can't get much lower than that, it's hard not to think about it, even when I focus on all the positives, the happy times, I'm just aware how short life can be now so every time I see family and friends, I'm always so sad when I say goodbye, aware it might always be the last time. 

So what I have to remind myself of now is that I'm just further down the rollercoaster than I was before and it's just taking me a little longer to get back to my original starting point.

Post Comment Love - 27th - 29th March 2026

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I. This is our last post before Easter and we'll be back on the 17th April with a reminder over on Twitter/X. Drop me a comment here if you'd like a reminder if you're not already on the list or you can tweet/x us below.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

Please leave a comment with the host you link up with and we'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter/X tag us and we'll RT. You can find us here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby Please also add our badge to your post.

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

By the time we're back I will have run my marathon and I'll be updating you on how I got on. Only 2 weeks now to go.

This week I'm in Bath on an Ultra Challenge. 25k with an 600m elevation. I've been training for endurance, but my running has increased in both time and distance.

I was on Barry Island last weekend taking part in a parkrun and spent some time in the arcades. 

I also went to watch Barry Town play football at Jenner Park, where my late Father was their goal keeper.

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My Garden in March 2026

My garden is doing very nicely without me at the moment, which is how it should be.

By now I should've shifted these pots into position and I should've dug these beds over and I should've planted out the hedge row, but do you know what?

It really doesn't matter.

What we did get done though was the patio was cleaned and de spider webbed and tidied up.

We've had a glorious few days in March and did I spend them in the garden?

No I was at the seaside.

The washing spent some time in the garden, but mainly on the patio, under the cover because  you know, I still don't fully trust this weather not to just suddenly rain.

The seeds were finally sown, which meant the back room had a spring clean so I could make room for the seed trays. I spent a bit more on the trays this year from a garden centre. it's a false economy buying from B&M (other stores are available) as they don't store well and crack over the winter.

My temporary potting table worked well, b ut I had to work quick to avoid the rain.

Wishin 4 days my first seedling appeared.

There are still. few days left in March. I'm busy this week with the last few days of term, but with the Easter break coming up I'll be spending the first few days at home and getting the pots into place, potting up the parsley that survived the winter in the covered beds and digging them over and adding compost from the bins. Then sorting out this corner, the plastic greenhouse and planting out the basil that is taking over the kitchen and seeing if I can rescue the magnolia tree. The pear tree is doing well, it's the only bit of blossom in the garden so far.

Pear Tree