Welcome

This Blog will follow my journey as I prepare for the biggest challenge of my life – trekking to Everest Base Camp in December 2011 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

In March 2010 I decided to run the 10km Race for Life in Cheltenham for Cancer Research. I trained for the race and between myself and my 2 lovely daughters managed to raise over £850 for Cancer Research. I completed the race in 1 hour 20 minutes, not bad for a complete novice, but I knew that I could do better.

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24th March 2011

Time flys when you are working away, but this has been a really difficult week.

The wonderful people that I was going to Base Camp with are packing ( and repacking) their bags as I type. They depart tomorrow, all set for their Challenge of a Lifetime. I so wish I was going with them and I wish them all the luck in the world. These brave people have raised literally thousands of pounds for a cause which is close to their hearts - good luck boys and girls, and take good care.

I can't wait to hear about their adventures when they get back, and hopefully they will have some useful hints and tips for do's and dont's (do pack a range of colourful lipsticks, don't forget your hairdryer, that kind of thing).

Anyway, not disheartened I have been making steady progress in organising the Easter Fair at the Metropole Hotel in Padstow on 23rd April. It is bigger than the Christmas Fair and, should the weather be kind, it really will be a great day out.

I will be listing the businesses that are taking part in the Fair on the Events page. If you are interested in taking a stall then please contact me as soon as possible as spaces are now becoming limited.

The very kind people at the Metropole are also giving me a voucher for a nights dinner, bed and breakfast at the hotel for 2 - aren't they just the best. The Metropole is very dear to my heart as Mark and I held our wedding reception there. I will put the Raffle on the Competitions page as soon as I can.

That's about all for now - the training isn't going anywhere really at the moment, but the weather is getting better and I have some new trainers. I will be back on the Camel Trail soon, and I am really looking forward to it.

17th February 2011

Working away this week, but determined to do some sort of fitness, so hitting the hotel gym was my only option.

It had taken me far longer to get over my run on Saturday than previous training and I knew that I had to keep up the momentum, but work and travel seem to get in the way.

The gym was great and I managed to clock up a 2.5 mile run on the treadmill and a 5km cycle ride. No time limit for me this week, just easing back in gently. Also, the treadmill readouts were in German so no idea whether I was close to a heart attack or not - hopefully not!!

A good workout and a good one to keep up my spirits and momentum.

12th February 2011

Well after a massive break from training (10 weeks) I have managed a run - not too far, just 4km, but a start.

We were driving back into the village, the sun was out and the wind had dropped and I just said to Mark - why don't we go for a run? A bit of an ask as the England rugby game was just about to start and he is a huge fan. But supportive as ever we got home, got changed (Mark set the Sky Box) and off we went.

As you all know by now the round the village route is not my favourite - heartbreak hill is quite literally that, and I was beginning to regret my impulsiveness, but when you are out in public, in sports kit and everything you have no option but to start to run.

It hurt, it hurt a lot and I couldn't believe just how much fitness I had lost. It felt OK for approximately 2 minutes, and then it didn't. I started talking to myself at the start of the hill, and just kept on muttering and jogging up the hill, things like - I have run this before, if I don't do this today I will have to come back and do it at some point and I hate this flippin hill!!

Mark was brilliant as ever, I swear he could have walked faster, but he didn't leave me, just tried to make me laugh and sung very badly, but I eventually managed the 4km.

I am too embarrassed to put my time, but I arrived home in one piece. I felt sick and sounded as though I had just smoked 40 cigarettes, but nevertheless I had done it - I am back!!

8th February 2011

The date for the Easter Fair has now been confirmed - Saturday 23rd April 2011 (Easter Saturday) at the Metropole Hotel in Padstow, Cornwall.

We have lots of stalls and events planned for the day, with an ever increasing list of ideas. If anyone wants to help out then please do drop me an email. I am also looking for a bouncy castle company, coconut shy set up, pub skittles, that kind of thing - it really will be a traditional country fair.

Once the confirmed stalls start to roll in I will post a list on the Fundraising Events page, plus various links to the companies, and areas where we are publicising - fantastic fun - I can't wait!!!

31st January 2011

It has been approximately 6 weeks since my last Post – and in that time a lot can happen. Avid readers of my Blog will have seen that I had been suffering health issues which were preventing me from training. Over Christmas this became a lot worse and now I have been advised by my doctors not to go to Everest in March.

I have had a few weeks to contemplate the news and have decided not to give up, but to reschedule my Expedition and put everything into getting well and training for the Challenge. I have managed to get a place on the Expedition on the 2^nd December 2011 – I will get to the Base Camp of that mountain.

Training is for the moment out of the question, and so I am turning my attentions to fund raising. The Christmas Fair was a complete success. We had fantastic stall holders who were full of fun and encouragement for the cause. It was a great day, if a little cold. We dealt with a few cancelled stalls and quite a quiet day in town all down to the bitter cold and overnight snowfall. However customers were tempted in off the street with free mince pies and mulled wine and a good time was had by all. We managed to raise over £650 on the day – a fantastic result.

For late night shopping in Wadebridge in December my daughter Sarah and I camped outside of Countrywise (thank you for the tea and mince pies) and collected for the evening. I have to say it was pretty cold out there, but we kept ourselves warm by blowing up balloons, jumping up and down on the spot and basically running after children to give them the balloons. Thank you Sarah May and the kind people at Countrywise – we raised just over £50 on the night.

The Name the Yeti competition was ended and duly judged – Orinoco now has a new home in Devon – well done to David for giving him his new name, I hope you have stocked up on ice cream! A full list of the names suggested are on the Yeti Page. Orinoco managed to raise over £50 for the cause.

I was overwhelmed at the number of entries to the Personal Challenges competition. The stories were truly moving and just go to show how bright, beautiful and courageous we women are – thank you to all who entered.

Teresa Hamilton is the winner of the competition and a Hush loungewear gift set is on its way to her. Teresa’s story can be found on the Personal Challenges page, along with some more entries. I could not publish them all due to space and a desire for anonymity from some – but please be assured that they have all been read and have all meant a great deal to me.

Finally I have had to cancel the Valentines Fair due to having had to take the complete month of January off to rest and recuperate. The wonderful people at the Metropole are happy to reschedule something for Easter and I shall be posting the details / dates / availability etc as soon as these have been finalised.

A look at my Just Giving page shows you that I have reached almost a third of the total I need to raise for Macmillan Cancer Support. This is fantastic news – thank you to everyone who has sponsored and supported me so far, it means a great deal.

I will be Posting very soon so please watch this space.

14th December 2010

I can see by the countdown clock in the corner of my Blog that I will be going to Everest Base Camp in 100 days (and 12 hours) how scary is that?

It hasn't been easy over the last month or so trying to remain focused on what I am trying to achieve. Trying to run a business, run a home and yet raise this enormous amount of money for something that is going to happen at some point next year. Priorities are a nightmare. Christmas is happening very soon, VAT returns are due this month, bills need to be paid ASAP and my daughter needs a new coat, has to have her college bus pass updated and also needs to arrange a sleepover for 8 friends by yesterday!

And yet this morning I received a story from a lady who was entering the Personal Challenges Competition. I knew why I had started the competition, I knew what I was trying to achieve, but everyday everything else has taken precedence. I stopped, I printed out her email and then I cried (am a bit of an emotional mess at the moment, you will have to excuse me).

I won't ruin it for you, but this lady has been through so much, has lost friends and family along the way and yes this lady is an inspirational woman.

This is the reason I am climbing to Everest Base Camp, the reason why I am running in the rain, snow, wind and ice, the reason why I am standing freezing on a street corner wearing, lets be honest, a rather unbecoming green fleece and shaking a Macmillan tin, this lady and everyone like her - this is why I am taking on this Challenge.

Thank you Teresa, you have made me stop and think and you have made me renew my enthusiasm for what I am trying to achieve.