London Marathon - a lot of heavy breathing !

Once again, the marathon attracted a vast entry - some 40,000 runners ! I wonder if anyone has calculated how much oxygen is inspired during this exhaustive physical undertaking? Personally I've never been interested in more than running for a bus, or chasing giggling children in fun games, so my congratulations go out to all those involved. As a charity event, it raises enormous amounts of funding for hundreds of good causes. The most unusual entrants this year were six young Masai tribesmen, dressed in brightly coloured, full hunting regalia, they looked gorgeous with big toothy (lucky they !) smiles, and happily pottered along, wielding shields and asegais, wearing cut down car tyre "shoes" which they explained are very comfortable ! They have never been away from home before. Their quest was to raise £60,000 for a project to sink wells for a water supply in their village - the nearest source is four hours away at present - and to think how much water we waste on a daily basis.... They exceeded their target amount, so, good luck to them and every success. Reading Anna's (Larsson) blog, I felt sympathy for little August and his fright with the "evil Tomtar" in Vienna - his is the lovely face I have as "wallpaper"( can you believe? ) in this laptop, Anna and I chose it as it is so adorable - grinning cheekily from ear to ear, with his fingers in his ears - looking like antlers, in a "na na nana na" pose.....aaaahhh - big hugs to him and Axel - and Mama and Papa tooooo, not forgetting Mussi - I miss you all, life is so quiet here. Apart from visiting breathers, the loudest sounds come from Shady, the cat - best baritone in the business. If only some people could project like him....Change of subject. When watching a programme about bees this evening I was reminded of the time I was taking Royal Jelly capsules regularly. After a while I discovered that fine dark hairs started to appear on my cheeks - yes, (just the same as hairy bees), it was all the rage a few years ago - can't think why now. Anna reminded me of this recently when a friend of hers bewailed the fact that her face was becoming hairy! Well, now you know how to achieve a hairy face ! (I stopped taking the capsules and the hairs disappeared eventually...not sure about Anna's friend...) The programme was concerned with the depletion of bees in the U.K and America, due to a parasite plague which is killing them off drastically, and an International disaster if it cannot be controlled. Another programme featured a synchronised swimmer of seventy one years, a champion in her youth, this lady is still brilliant at it. What is the secret of her continued success - "Good breathing" she announced. Her trainer for forty years is a lady of ninety one years "And you're still friends ?" asked the interviewer. "Of course - you can't teach anyone if you're not friends". Good Lord ......maybe we should all keep swimming......? Did you know that frogs breathe through their skin? Just another piece of useless information for your edification... with which I will sign off ....k..p b.......g