One Year On

What a difference a year makes

It's gone so fast. It doesn't seem like a year since I was phoned by Vicky at Radio Solent and asked to come on the show. Just think a year ago I hadn't met Wil or Claire, Julian or Vicky and Brockenhurst was an unknown village somewhere in the middle of the New Forest. Since then two new lives have comeinto the world Oscar and Harry too

Here are some pictures from the last year

More Photos of Race For Life

Here are some photos of Race For Life Bournemouth..courtesy of Stu. I can only apologise to the Princess of Paradise Island!!! But it was soooooooooooo much fun

WWWWWWonder Woman

At the risk of sounding like an Oscar ceremony.... I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me at the Race for Life Bournemouth. Which in a way is the grand finale to this year of the Daisy Dieter so it was a really special event for me

....This is me doing the warm up not just about to jump over a roof

So here we go special mentions -The family,ever supportive and amazing -Mum -

Liz & Nigel, Jenny and Little Harry, Catherine and Spud, Peter and David- Step Brothers who had come all the way from London and Alton to watch. Gorgeous Stu and his Mum and Dad, Reg and Maureen and Margaret, (Wil's Mum).

Stu, his parents and I watched a dvd of Wonder Woman before I set off. I have never seen an episode, but was enlightened into the ways of Wonder Woman. Fab retro show

The fact that I was dressed as a kind of Wonder Woman I am truely surprised they didn't disown me!!!

It was brilliant to have all their support especially because they stood in the rain for an hour - now that's what I call commitment!!-(or are they all as mad as me)

The atmosphere was brilliant again. Everyone chatted to each other and were looking at the names remembered on our backs. I got a mention on Radio 2CR

I think I have signed up some recruits for next year Margaret, Jenny and Catherine. So your names are now recorded on the lists so no backing out!!!!!

I am really hooked into the fun run circuit now and want to find some more

Is The World Ready

One day to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonder Woman play and sing along whilst spinning

OOOOOOOO Wonder Woman is taking the day off and her sister Wonder Why Woman in coming instead. Prepared for a soaking but who cares it's going to be great I can't wait.

And we'll be by the seaside.

2 CR are there broadcasting the races

Look it's Wonder Woman at the seaside...just keep that image in your head it may help you to forget what I'm going to look like!!!!!!!!

BOLLARDS!!!

Somedays it's best to stay in bed!!

Yesterday was one of those day... I woke up at 5am and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to make some oatcakes (as you do). The first lot I thought I would use flax oil (best source, for veggies for Omegas) rather than lard specified in the recipe, and I chucked in some dried herbs.........they were revolting. My second attempt had the British Hockey team phoning up asking if they could use them in their next game.
Then missed the train to Brockenhurst and had to walk faster than normal to get to the spa on time. Was really rubbish at weights works, I was shaking on weights I should really be able to do by now. My homework wasn't particularly brilliant . Wil was, as ever, patient.


On the walk back to the train station I edged past a huge cow sitting in the path way and fell over in a puddle, turning my knee in a way it really didn't want to go. And the cow wasn't much help, just sat there, no words of sympathy or help to get up. Knee hurting wasn't as bad as having to walk through Brockenhurst with mud all on my leggins. Although people of Brockenhurst didn't turn a blind eye. Well they do have horses, cows and donkeys walking up their main shopping streets and don't suppose mud is a problem.

I am a bit worried about doing the next Race For Life in Bournemouth with my knee in the state it's in...


Anyway I thought I'd show you the bollards outside of our shop. One thing I really love is Public Art and The Colour Factory in Winchester have been painitng bollards in The Square. They are fabulous and have become quite a tourist attraction. Each one is based on a bifferent movement in the art world. Should be more of this. Think of all the drab places in towns that could be cheered up with things like this.

Suffering a bit today. Feels like I've swallowed a vat of battery acid and been put through a mangle. Iwas told yesterday by somebody who I started the Race For Life with, that we actually started 7 mins after 11 am so I actually did the race in38 mins. I did push myself to limits I hadn't before and that's why I probably feel bit rough. It was only 5k so shows I got a whole long way to go yet .



Mission 'Wonder Woman'
- kind of made the costume yesterday. Red with gold starry skirt and a gold sequin type of shaped boob tube - don't worry I'll wear something underneath or may be the first Race For Lifer who gets arrested. Hope it's sunny cos I will sparkle and maybe seen from far flung satelites


I know I'm the Great Aunty, so I can keep on about him but these have to be the cutest photos of Harry so far!!

Race For Life Part 1- What A Feeling!!

What a fabulous day!!!

Got up at 6 am feeling quite nervous about doing a Race with thousands of people.

As I walked to the venue my nerves rose a bit as I saw loads of people with number plates on and a sea of pink was making it's way to the park.

There was a short warm up period of aerobic exercises which was good and got us all in the mood. There was also a minute silence to reflect on the people we were running the race for. I dedicated my attempt to my Dad, who was a cross country runner and would be quite chuffed if not a little suprised to see me doing a race, and my Step Dad.

Runners were called forward and the celebration for them started and then the walkers and ME started. The atmosphere was electric and everyone was spurring each other on. I was going to walk the course but found myself jogging bits of the course. I got to the front group of walkers!!!!!

This is Harry in training for the next Race For Life. He's got Aunty Su the Great's medal just to get him used to it!!!

The course snaked around the park and before I knew it. it was finished. The support was great Mum,Paul, Jenny, Harry, Stu and his family were all there cheering me on. It made such a difference and gave me a real lift. I chatted, well kind of more a few words between trying gasp for breath, to people around the course . There were some fantastic stories of how people had come to be there and some of course very sad.

I caught the buzz of the competition as well. I found myself zig-zagging round groups of walkers trying to get ahead. I took notice of Wil's coaching about pacing yourself and managed to Run across the finishing line.

And I GOT A MEDAL....WOW (well everyone did, but for me this was just as valuable as an Olympic gold as for the first time ever I didn't come last ina race, in fact I did a personal best of 45 mins.

Doing it all again next week in Bournemouth...

Fairy Godmother where are you!!!!!!

Do you know that scene in Disney's, 'Cinderella' when the mice and Fairy Godmother make the ball gown out of rags, well I wish they'd give me a visit. I kinda made an idea, for Race For Life, as going as Wonder Woman if I raised over £100 for Cancer Research. I got very excited and brought some material. Sparkly gold and red with gold stars on (see picture), which looked vaguely Wonder Womanish now I just realised it needs some sewing to make into something wearable, I can do straight up and down sewing, but going round corners is something else.

So I may look like Wonder Woman in her punk phase of safety pins and the bin liner look!!!

I'll have a go.

.

Thursday had a great session with the Guru of fitness. Apart thinking I was about to die whilst rowing. It was really hard work but great fun.

Sunday I walked up the mountain of Winchester, St Catherines Hill. Going to start timing myself. It used to take several days and cardiac teams to get me up there now.

Going to venture back into the swimming pool tomorrow haven't been for a while but really need to get into it again as my knee is beginning to play up. It musn't fall off before the races

This Harry on Aunty Su (the great's) new gym ball. The other gym ball had an intimate experience with a drawing pin and gradually deflated as one was doing ones exercises.

Went to see the Guru of Fitness, Wil on Wednesday for my fix of inspiration and motivation. I have always avoided weight training apart form the necessary basics but now I am really enjoying the challenge. I looked at the first exercises Wil set me last year, I had trouble using 1 and 2ks but now I am entering the 7k....next pulling buses!!

Wednesday evening we had a works dinner to say goodbye to Christine (another one bites the dust). Pizza Express!!!

Had a haircut on Thursday and the hair dresser, just to see what it looked, like straightened it , my hair has a mind of it's own as you can see in past pictures. Anyway I went to see my mum afterwards and her reaction was very funny. She didn't recognise me to start with and then she gave a horrified gasp. Why do mum's always like curly hair!!. Gradually it has pingged back up to the normal wavy mess!!

Saturday it was time to judge the Josephs, Sandy and Dannys and fight off Scarecrows (ahh Saturday TV)

Sunday we had Jenny, Paul and Harry to visit. They are a lovely little family. Harry has past the 12lb mark. He's a strapping lad and has loads of smiles.

Went for a 12k walk in the morning. Along one of the roads was a field filled with poppies. It was really vibrant. Lots of people were taking photos and so did I but I lost mine in the virtual world somewhere!! In the after noon Harry took us for a walk although Aunty Su had a bit of trouble stearing but missed the river on several occassions .Then a session in the gym

13 DAYS TO RACE FOR LIFE WINCHESTER 11am Riverside Park

20 DAYS TO RACE FOR LIFE BOURNEMOUTH 2pm Bournemouth to Boscombe Piers and back