atomicules

Mostly walking the dogs

Figured I could pick up the Denburn Trail on the way to Brimmond Hill and maximise the off-road (fun) bits. Also, as much as I like running full loops, the road on the way back from Brimmond Hill was pretty boring so decided to pick up the same trail on the way back. This makes for a great route.

And The Fear Slithered Off Me

"He dropped his arm over my shoulder and the fear slithered off me and dropped behind like a discarded skin."

— Monkey Grip by Helen Garner

From a prose point of view I wish that was the ending. Although Nora is probably lucky it wasn’t even if she didn’t think it at the time.

My Heart Spread Out

"My heart spread out and escaped from its hard embattlements."

— Monkey Grip by Helen Garner

I Fell In Love With His Long Legs

"I fell in love with his long legs, saw him getting smaller in the distance, felt him pulling one of those long strings out of my heart."

— Monkey Grip by Helen Garner

Loved it. Has been on my list for some time. I didn’t know anything about it, but didn’t realise it’s a cross between Trainspotting and Normal People, but set in Australia (I’m sure people would hate me for saying that). And of course pre-dating either of those by years. I find anything “relationshipy” incredibly stressful and this stressed me to the max (but I still thought it was great).

The Secrets To Dressing Well In Your 40s

"Remember: There is power in being in your 40s. Your body may have changed in the past decade, but so too have your budget and your confidence. This is the era in which you buy nice clothes that make you look good. It should be the best you've ever dressed."

Made me LOL and then stop reading the article. I had more of a clothing budget when I was a teenager. On a related note, I have just bought some running shorts from Vinted for £3. Mostly to go over the top of my worn leggings so I don’t get done for indicent exposure. Has taken me about 30 months to “save” for them.

A quote not from a book! I’ve nearly finished my next book though.

Maybe in my 50s?

Salomon Sense Ride 5

Some quick initial thoughts on Salomon Sense Ride 5:

  • In a roundabout way I got them for a fiver which is why I went for them (wouldn’t normally consider Salomon just as a way to cheap the options down).
  • They are a great road/trail/dog-walking shoe.
  • The tread pattern reminds me of the old Vittoria cyclo-cross tyres I had - i.e there is an even enough surface for road use and enough tread for off-road.
  • Since they are a road to trail shoe they are “good enough” on the road and “good enough” off-road. But not great on either. That is just the compromise you have to make.
  • I have of course christened them through lots of mud, but I was “cautious” in them in the really slippery bits because they don’t instantly “bite”.
  • The fairly tight tread pattern also means they don’t shed mud that well once it’s dry.
  • They have a semi-collapsible and nice soft heel counter which I like.
  • They look pretty good.
  • They do take a bit of breaking in. I was not a fan of walking in them when I first put them on, but I’ve done almost 100km of running in them now (and more walking) and they are fine now; And were fine some point before this.
  • The laces aren’t normal laces, but they are mostly set and forget.
  • The absolutely worst thing about them is they have a really shallow toe box. A size UK 10 feels too small, but actually isn’t length wise. I replaced the insoles with some old Nike ones which are a bit thinner and that helped. I still thought I was going to end up with badly bruised toenails, but actually they are no worse than usual.

Giving the new shoes a proper christening. Wish Brimmond Hill was a bit nearer. I definitely can’t be doing that very often before work; However, did make it back in time to take the dogs out before a meeting.

Note: Should have said it last Friday, but the Heartworms album is probably going to end up as my album of the year. Can't stop listening to it

The Snow Did Not Look Like A Killing Blanket

"And, today, the snow did not look like a killing blanket but like a tender coverlet designed to keep the cold away from germinating seeds."

— Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

Sarah Walters says in the forward “it’s also the most engaging and accessible of her fictions” and I was going to say “but I can’t remember The Magic Toyshop being this bonkers”, and yet it turns out I did say just that.

Why A Woman Should Want To Murder Her Husband

"There are many reasons, most of them good ones, why a woman should want to murder her husband."

— Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

I mean, in the grand scheme of things, she’s not wrong.

From Water That Holds Within It The Entire Sky

"Outside the window, there slides past that unimaginable and deserted vastness where night is coming on, the sun declining in ghastly blood-streaked splendour like a public execution across, it would seem, half a continent, where live only beads and shooting stars and the wolves who lap congealing ice from water that holds within it the entire sky."

— Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

Beautiful.

These are the ten most recent posts (not counting any note drivel), for older posts see the Archive.