**Disclaimer: I’m writing this rants and raves post after spending the day in MS Teams meetings. I never thought I’d write this, but I’m starting to miss face to face meetings. I’m starting to miss my colleagues and I desperately need to stock up my tea bag and hot chocolate sachet tin. As always, all rants and raves and moans and groans represent my own views. Other, far less negative running blogs are available**

I’d like to start by saying good morning, afternoon, etc to whoever takes the time to read this brain dump. I hope that you are all staying safe and sane. I can’t believe it’s more than eight months since I last published a rants and raves blog. I’ve been feeling so mardy this year, it’s probably a good thing I’ve haven’t shared my rants on here. I’ve been finding the last few weeks quite difficult.

As always, I’ve waffled on far too much, so here is my latest selection of rants and raves. Apologies for any repeat rants and raves, I’m aware that I have a habit of repeating myself. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this insight into how my mind has been functioning recently.

Rave: Blogging

In my last rants and raves post, I had a bit of a rant about some of what I described as the not so positive aspects of blogging. This time, I’m going to start with a blogging related rave. I’ve been sharing the highs and lows of my running and of my life since March 2013. Since the start of the year, it feels like my persistence and honesty have finally started to pay off.

I’m going to do that slightly annoying thing that I’ve seen loads of other bloggers do, but please watch this space. I’m in the process of thoroughly testing out some really amazing running related products at the moment, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you on here. I just need my left knee to recover enough to allow me to complete my product testing.

Rant: My left knee

I’ve said it before, but it wouldn’t be a rants and raves post if I didn’t have a rant about either my left knee or my right foot. This time, I’m going to have a bit of a rant about my troublesome and temperamental left knee.

A year ago, an issue with my left knee resulted in me not completing the Couch to 5k. I didn’t realise it at the time, but what I’d originally thought was a minor niggle was very much a ‘proper’ injury. I ended up not running for almost a year.

Fast forward 12 months and although I successfully completed the first six weeks of the Couch to 5k, my left knee started to feel niggly during the final 25-minute run of Week 6. I’m currently debating restarting the Couch to 5k following a two week break from running. Unfortunately, I’ve genuinely got no idea if my left knee will allow me to complete the final three weeks of the Couch to 5k.

Thanks to my fragile left knee, I’m finding graduating from the Couch to 5k far more difficult than I found graduating from my undergraduate degree.

Rave: Having a permanent job

After spending more than three years employed on a series of fixed-term contracts, I feel incredibly fortunate to now have a permanent contract. I started my new job at the start of April, and although I’m still finding my feet and getting used to working closely with people I’ve never met, most of the time I’m enjoying what I’m doing. Having said that, at times the new job is incredibly stressful, and I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights since the start of April.

I have a dilemma; a permanent job in my old team in Wallingford has just been advertised. I miss living and working in Wallingford and would love to return there. At the moment I’m not sure what to do. I’ve spent a lot of time writing out what I’d describe as pros and cons lists and wishing I had someone sensible I could turn to for advice. I’m rubbish at this adulting malarky.

Rant: House prices

Ever since I left Wallingford and moved back home to Four Oaks in June 2019, I’ve been in what I’d call saving money mode. I feel terrible writing this but since the initial March 2020 lockdown, I’ve been working from home and have managed to save even more. I was able to cancel my monthly travel pass and stopped buying to lunches in the canteen at work four days a week. I’m aware that I’m incredibly fortunate as I managed to avoid being furloughed.

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I’m saving with one aim; to save enough for a deposit for a house. I’ve been wanting to get my foot on the property ladder for a while now, but I’m growing increasingly concerned that unless house prices stop going up and up, I’ll never be in a position to buy anywhere. I just have to hope that house prices start to settle down soon. They can’t just keep going up and up, can they? I’ve decided to put my house buying plans on hold for now until I’ve worked out where I want t live and where I see myself in 10 years’ time.

Rave: Clarkson’s Farm

Jeremy Clarkson has been what others have described as playing at being a farmer on his 1000-acre Oxfordshire farm since late 2019. Clarkson’s Farm is a newly released Amazon Prime documentary that follows Jeremy Clarkson as he attempts to run his Oxfordshire farm. When I started watching Clarkson’s Farm, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I come from a farming background, work with farmers on a daily basis, so I know how challenging and dangerous farming is. I think it’s fair to say I was a little concerned about how Clarkson’s Farm would portray farmers and farming.

I needn’t have worried. I loved every minute of the eight episodes of Clarkson’s Farm and regretted binge watching the whole of the first series in just two sittings. Jeremy Clarkson is brilliant at conveying all manner of fascinating information while pretending to be a complete muppet. The programme introduces some amazing characters including Kaleb, Gerald, and Ellen the shepherdess. If you have access to Amazon Prime, I recommend at least giving the first episode of Clarkson’s Farm a try. It’s the best programme I’ve seen on TV for years.

Rant: Instagrammers who Follow and then Unfollow

I struggle with Instagram as I find it a little strange when someone follows me, waits for me to follow them back, and then almost instantly unfollows me. I can remember the first time it happened to me. I was followed by a female runner who I won’t name and shame. I felt quite flattered when this person followed me because she only follows 295 people, and the majority of those people are either elite runners, speedy runners, ASICS FrontRunners or members of the Brooks RunHappy team. So, I stupidly followed her back and was pretty much instantly unfollowed. I guess that’s how she’s obtained a lot of her almost 25,000 followers.

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This post explains how the ‘Follow Unfollow Instagram trick’ works. If you do this to people on Instagram, then please don’t. Firstly, It’s incredibly disrespectful. Secondly, you never know what’s going on in people’s lives. I’ve been struggling with my mental health recently and being made to feel like people hate what I’m posting on Instagram hasn’t helped. I’ve now reached the stage I’m reluctant to follow people who have a huge number of followers.

Rave: @dinosandcomics

Fortunately, Instagram isn’t all bad and I follow, and I’m followed by hundreds of incredibly supportive runners. I also follow several slightly what I’d describe as more random accounts, one such account is @dinosandcomics

I seem to relate to 99% of what get posted on the @dinosandcomics account 🙂

Rant: Alcohol free gin

I don’t want to sound incredibly ungrateful, and I don’t want people to think I have some sort of alcohol addiction, but I was a little very disappointed when I opened one of my birthday presents.

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I mean, why on earth is alcohol free gin even a thing?

I’m going to finish with a bonus rave; one of my favourite accounts on YouTube; Rate my Takeaway.

Rave: Rate my Takeaway

Rate my Takeaway is a YouTube channel belonging to Danny Malin. Danny has become an internet sensation and has been described as the YouTube version of Peter Kay.

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The Rate my Takeaway concept is simple; Danny drives around, trying out eateries that people have recommended. Although the food reviews are entertaining, the reason I love Rate my Takeaway is Danny. Danny is confident, cheery and walks around with a camping chair and table which he sets up in the middle of the street outside whichever eatery he’s reviewing.

Once again, if you’ve made it to the end of this latest random selection of rants and raves, thank-you. As always, I do feel slightly better for having a bit of a rant. Isn’t the expression ‘better out than in’ or something? As always, I hope that my rants were reasonable and that I haven’t somehow managed to inadvertently offend anybody.

Do you prefer what I’d describe as dedicated product review posts, or do you prefer product reviews that are incorporated into a larger post? I don’t want my blog to turn into a series of product reviews, so I’d love to know what works and what doesn’t work.

Have you watched Clarkson’s Farm? I know Jeremy Clarkson isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but Clarkson’s Farm is well worth watching.

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