Doing a 10k Walk on Saturday

Firstly, hope you are all surviving the storms. Last night was pretty scary here, trees were flying everywhere, but we have  remained relativity unscathed so far, compared to other places.  (Fingers crossed).  My heart goes out to everyone who is suffering from the floods or those who have no electricity, you just never know whats round the corner do you?

Now, the subject of this blog is the 10K walk.

My eldest is doing the Archbishop of York Award through his school (similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Award), and the first task is to do some personal voluntary work / fundraising.

As he is only 12, Charlie wasn't too keen about going out into the community (bless him, he's shy), so he decided to do a sponsored walk instead.

The walk needs to be completed by the end of this coming half term, but when we did some research, we couldn't find anything suitable in our area.

So we decided to make up our own, which you can do through the Macmillan website.  Its so easy to do, they send you official sponsorship forms, you can design your own posters and they even send you a free T-shirt.  

Macmillan is also a charity which is close to our hearts as Charlie's Granddad, my father in law, died from breast cancer, so we have dedicated the walk to his memory.

Two weeks ago we did a dummy run (just to check that I could do a 10k walk!) along the Chester Greenway, a path which cuts through the center of the city - a bit more picturesque than having to walk along roads.  The only problem was that it was flooded part way along so we got a bit wet - twice.  

I'm just hoping the weather picks up by Saturday, otherwise we are going to have to take our swimwear, and possibly climbing gear to climb over fallen trees!  At any rate I'm taking the wellies!

So far we have raised £130 but if anyone feels like they would be willing to sponsor us, any donations would be most gratefully received.

Charlie has a just giving webpage at http://www.justgiving.com/Charlie-Middleton

At any rate, please wish us luck for Saturday, I have a feeling that we might get very cold and wet.  But whatever the weather we will be out there!  It might even turn into a run if the weather is really bad (perish the thought)

The Merrie Month of May

Oh I love the month of May.  One of the reasons is because it’s the month of my birthday, although I have to admit that as the years creep up, it’s not quite as exciting as it used to be.  I try not to look on my birthday as a reminder of the advancing years, but use it as an excuse to spoil myself.  If you can’t kick back on your birthday then when can you?

 

But the main reason I love May is the weather.  The nights draw out, the weather gets warmer (in theory) and finally, after the dark days of winter we can reconnect with the outside world again. 

And the first few days of May have been a blessing.  Although it’s a bit cloudier today, the forecast for the Bank Holiday is good (fingers crossed).  The only downside to being in the outside world again though, is that I can no longer deny the shambles which is my garden. 

Gardening to me is like housework – I hate doing it but love the results.  When I say gardening, what I really mean is weeding. I never seem to manage to finish the weeding before I have to start again. 

Over the last few days I have been tackling the front. As I live in an open plan estate, it is the part that shames me most as everyone can see the level of neglect.  I’m nearly finished and it’s looking so much better that it’s given me the incentive to keep going.

Maybe this year, now that I have more time at home, I might be able to make some progress. Who knows, I might even get the time to plant something!

Whatever, I’m hoping that at least we’ll get some good enough weather for me to sit outside without looking at the weeds and feeling guilty.

Fingers crossed that the predicted hot weather in May becomes a reality.  It will be nice to have a summer that lasts more than just a few days.

Old Wives' Tales

 

At the beginning of March, when we were revelling in a rare show of warm spring sunshine, I remember remarking to my husband that we would be in for a sorry time weather-wise at the end of March.

The old saying “In like a lion, out like a lamb” with reference to March weather also works in reverse, and as the beginning of March was lamb-like, I anticipated bad weather towards the end of the month.  But I was thinking in terms of some harsh March winds, not snow and blizzard conditions.

Snow settled overnight here and although it has been snowing all day, it's rather slushy, and so everything is wet underfoot and on the roads rather than icy and frozen.

Lucky us, because I know it’s so much worse in other parts of the country.

Good luck to you wherever you are.

Football training has been cancelled tonight and as I have nowhere else I have to go, I’ve put the fire on and am planning to settle down either in front of the TV or with a good book. 

Hope you’re in a position to do the same.

Take care and have a good weekend.

 

Linda

Impersonating a Chipmunk

For the last few days I have been doing a really good impersonation of a chipmunk - believe me it's not a good look.

On Thursday I had to have some dental surgery on my gum to try and resolve a persistant problem I've been having with an abcess above one of my teeth. I've had two root canal treatments but they didn't work so they decided to tackle the problem through the gum.

It's not a pleasant procedure because they have to cut the gum and then stitch it back up again, and now I have a mouth full of stitches.  I was warned that there would be some swelling and possible bruising.  Thankfully there hasn't been any bruising but I did wake up on Friday morning feeling like I'd been hit by a cricket bat - hence the chipmunk impression.

The swelling has gone down now thankfully and I am being to look like me again.  Still a bit sore and tender but it's worth it if it's going to do the trick.

I was warned that I would have to rest for a few days.  I'm not very good at resting but I decided to take the advice given to me and took a couple of days off work.  And did I pick the right two days?  I ignored the fact that the garden desperately needs weeding, did a bit of writing and a lot of reading.   It was hard work topping up the tan though.  It's wonderful being outside and I'm loving this weather, although it does make me want to take an afternoon nap, which is a bit difficult now that I'm back at work.

I'm sure the weather will break soon, but fingers crossed for a good weekend, it would make the celebrations so much nicer bathed in sun.

I hope it's fine tomorrow too as the Olympic torch will be coming through Chester and I hope to take the boys to see it.  Not sure if we will get to see much, if anything, as it's bound to be crowded, but it's a once in a lifetime experience and I would love my boys to be part of it.

Take care

Linda

Why Am I So Rubbish At Packing?

It's no good, I’m going to have to admit defeat - I’m useless at packing. We’re going away next week – two weeks in the sun for hubby’s (big) birthday. I can’t wait to be lying by the pool chipping away at my tbr pile but getting there is another matter entirely.

It doesn’t matter how hard I try I always take too much. I’ll end up wearing clothes on holiday that I don’t want to wear but feel I have to, to justify their presence in my suitcase. (That’s just reminded me of check in torture wondering if my cases are over the kg limit).

And it’s not just a case of too much or too little – there’s always the question of not enough for the right kind of weather.

We’re going to Lanzarote so I’m expecting warm and poolside. But what if its not and I spend the whole time shivering? And then there’s the evenings when it’s bound to be cooler!!! AHHH!

If it’s bad enough packing for myself I’ve also got to pack for the kids.

I wish I could be more like my husband who throws three of everything in at the last minute but my mind is too busy with the what ifs????? It’s taking over my life!

Is this a writer’s dilemma do you think?