'twas a dark and stormy night, the last of November, 2006, when I realised that if I didn't get writing, I would have posted no entries this month at all.

I've not been up to anything sufficiently exciting that I've felt compelled to run home and write about it, and yet I've not been bored doing nothing either. Since Aviemore I've been away from home for the weekend twice; once to a Halloween party in Bolton, and once visiting my mother for the weekend. Both enjoyable visits.

Most of the rest of the time has been spent on, or should have been spent on, my research, which is coming along nicely. I can't really get into details, but new ideas are occurring and the thing is generally building up nicely.

The weather is currently making itself known, rattling the windows and whistling through the trees. I wasn't fibbing before. The nights now start mid-afternoon (sunset is currently 3.45pm), and sun comes up after 8. We've had one cold snap, and although it is much warmer now I'm still glad the heating was repaired this week before the next one. Mostly the last few weeks it's been dull, wet and windy, or threatening to be so, maybe half the time...

So, I am still managing to motivate myself to go out running, but only just... Of the past 5 weekends, I've had three good long runs in the hills, one down the length of the Water of Leith walkway, and I missed last weekend's. The w.o.l. run was a logical outing I've been meaning to do for a while, but let down a little by the effort of getting to/from the ends, since I live close to the middle, too much concrete surfacing, and various less than inspiring bits; those I have walked past before, at least running they go by quicker.

The hill runs were fun, and that's something I hope to do a bit of next year, as there are plenty of local hill races. In Bolton I ran up Winter Hill and along the area behind it, which holds the record of my wettest run (although it was not raining). I think I'd rather run through miles of wet bog in light fell shoes than walk in any pair of boots; once your feet are wet they're wet, but light shoes let water out as easily as they let it in, and it is easier to grin and ignore discomfort running along in shorts, mud splashing up your legs, than it is to plod along getting wet and muddy with no view to see and remain so cheery.

Otherwise I cycled to/from the Pentlands for a 2-hour run (knackering hills), and from my mum's went out for a 3.5 hour jaunt in the Ochils (too tired to even jog up much of the ups at all, and easily my longest run to date). Shall probably leave the hills for a bit, but my calves feel bigger already...

I've not been out hill-walking at all recently, and I suppose the hill runs have satisfied that urge in any case, but now winter's coming I should probably make an effort to get out to the mountains particularly if I run on the flat, maybe once a month or so. Snow!

I might do a reading (etc.) round up in the next couple of months, otherwise I shall write again the next time I do something interesting—which is pretty much guaranteed next month, at least. So long.