Manchester Blogger Meet Up

Hello! Sorry I’ve been AWOL for a couple of days … I’ve been poorly with a nasty stomach bug I know I must have been really ill because I didn’t feel like eating and didn’t feel like blogging or commenting … I’ve got lots of catching up to do on all three areas now that I’m feeling a bit better! So, no What I Ate Wednesday today unfortunately. I started taking photos on Monday morning, but then got ill and haven’t eaten much since, so it would be a very boring post.

When I last left you on Sunday I was recovering from my first 10 mile run. I’m happy to say that my muscles have recovered really well and I haven’t had any pain or niggles and I don’t feel too tight. Having said that, I haven’t been running since then, so I don’t know if my legs would have felt heavier or tighter than usual. I managed to run 24 miles in total last week (see my running page for more details), which I’m really pleased with. I was planning to do a step-back week this week, and I had a target of 16 miles in my head. I’m going to take it easier than that because I’ve been ill and no longer have a target in mind. I might get my running shoes out later in the week if I feel up to it, but I don’t think it matters if I take a complete rest week – my body will thank me for it.

I was determined to make it to the blogger meet up in Manchester yesterday, even though I still felt poorly. I’m so glad I did because it was amazing to meet so many of my favourite bloggers in the flesh. It was quite nerve-racking meeting them all for the the first time, but the ice was broken quite quickly and then it was like we’d known each other for a long time … which I guess we have really. I interact with most of these girls several times a week and I feel like I know them through their blogs. They were just as lovely in real-life.

l-r: Laura, Ffion, Laura, Sarah, Emily, Ali, Jemma, Leigh, Jess

It took a little while for everyone to get to Manchester, especially as a few of us had nightmare train journeys, so we spent quite a long time loitering around Picadilly station looking highly suspicious. Luckily, we didn’t get moved on by the police and once everyone had arrived we walked to the 8th Day Co-operative, which is a really cool health food shop with a vegetarian cafe downstairs. We headed straight for the food!

I had the aubergine and chickpea curry, which tasted really delicious, but unfortunately I could manage less than half!

I was also very disappointed not to be able to manage a slice of cake, because they all looked scrumptious. There was a carrot cake there that would have been calling my name under normal circumstances. I feel that I return visit will be in order at some point soon to make up for it.

We then mooched around the shop on the ground floor, which was really well stocked with health food goodies. I just couldn’t look at the food though, which was yet another sign that I was ill. On our food blogger odyssey, we headed for the food hall in Harvey Nichols. I could just about afford to buy a bottle of water, but I enjoyed looking at all the unusual things. The dried insects looked interesting, but I’m not sure that I’ll ever be brave enough to try them.

Our final stop was a cocktail bar (as you can see from the group shot above!). I didn’t partake in an alcoholic beverage this time, again, I think I return trip is required to make up for that! We had a really good natter and it was time to go home before we knew it.

It was truly fabulous to meet everyone and I hope that we can do it again really soon! I’m off to Northumbria for a few days this morning, so you won’t hear from me until Saturday. I have an awesome guest post lined up for tomorrow though, so make sure you check it out!