Paris Marathon 2010

Today I started training for the Paris Marathon. I ran to Oxfam House to find out how long it would take, as the plan is to run to work every day from now on (this gives me an excuse to use the amazing Oxfam showers, mmm). It took 45 minutes to run about 4 miles - by which I mean run about half a mile and stagger the rest of the way. I have never Run with a capital R before (although I did once chase somebody so fast that they threw up) - and I’m going to relish the challenge.

Charlie invited me to join the little delegation heading to Paris in April, and, needing my epic-event-fix post-Trailwalker, I couldn’t say no (Charlie is, generally, difficult to say no to; I’m not even sure if he was serious but I’ve said I’m doing it now, so I’m doing it). Scott is going to join me (with whom running will, I think, be another challenge in itself), and you’re welcome to come as well.

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My lovely job

I still haven’t said anything much about my lovely new job, which isn’t really a new job any more as I’ve been doing it since June, but it is lovely. I’m in the Climate Change Campaign Team, whose remit, very broadly, is to make as much noise as possible about climate change to ensure that world leaders commit to a fair and safe deal at Copenhagen in December. I love my job. I’m working with funky people on a really exciting, massively important issue. I’ve never worked so hard (or woken up with work on the brain so often) but it doesn’t matter because I genuinely enjoy every second of it, like a big work-loving weirdo. When I sought out Oxfam for a job back in 2007, I did it because I was tired of supporting businesses whose sole purpose was to make rich people richer, and I wanted to spend my weekdays doing something I really believed in. Of course, I’ve been working for Oxfam for two years now but it’s only since June that I’ve been (or at least I feel like I am) right in the centre of the brilliant work Oxfam is doing.

Look at that, I’ve managed to wax lyrical about my job without even mentioning that I get to shoot off to Copenhagen and Barcelona at the end of the year.

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The Edinburgh festival

I’m just back from Edinburgh, where big brother Ed, big-sister-in-law Cat and I spent a splendid week seeing shows, spotting sights and slurping shakes. Highlights of the week were Mark Watson, who I’d always previously thought was funny in a nice sort of way but who on Wednesday was hilarious; comedian Patch Hyde, who put on a show for 17 people in the Fudge Kitchen on the Royal Mile and, if he decides to give up the fudge-based day job, I think will become a comedy star in no time; and the singing, dancing, drumming, beaming African Children’s Choir, who inspired me to sponsor a child.

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Trailwalker 2009

Trailwalker sits at the bottom of this entry because it’s now officially Old News (see also Item 1), and if you’re not sick of hearing from me about it: congratulations! You made it to the very end. As did we, although for a while it looked like we wouldn’t (at Checkpoint 9 - 88km in - two of my teammates were asleep, I was uncharacteristically angry at myself for trying to prove something utterly arbitrary and my other teammate had a hairline knee fracture. But stopping 88km in is, well, stopping 12km out, and you don’t do that). Do enjoy my entertaining but information-free video and let’s let that be the end of it (but do feel free to pester me incessantly for sponsorship when you have a go yourself next year).

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Coming up in 2009…

The rest of this year is going to disappear in no time - which is a shame because it looks like it’s going to be great fun. I have trips planned to Barcelona, Las Vegas and Copenhagen (twice) - the latter of which is to influence the outcome of “the most important gathering since the Second World War”. There might be another house move coming up, and if it works out it’ll be one that facilitates house parties. Hopefully I can see my American pals, albeit briefly, in September or October while I’m that side of the Atlantic. I have my piano and my glockenspiel back, and Rory and I are going to hook up and get recording.

There’s only one thing missing…

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