2015 is on it's way so the count down starts.

9 months 16 days!!

Lots of over indulging to work off so I've already started walking that off with my gorgeous blond trainer.

 

Yesterday we got a little bit lost, went up through Bathampton Woods as the Bath Skyline Walk runs along the top of the woods. Followed a path heading towards Claverton as I had seen a map that showed a path down from the University through Claverton Village to the Canal.
We managed to get into the grounds of The American Museum which seemed ok until we saw a Security Guard who was, to say the least, extremely surprised to see us.  He was very nice about it and when I explained where we were trying to get to he told us how to get down through the grounds and out onto the lane. Thankfully we had left early afternoon so we didn't run out of daylight and I worked out we had done a good 5 miles of, in places, very steep, slippery terrain. Unfortunately I did slip over once and landed on my camera so this was the last photo I took and I'd only just started out!! It was a lovely walk the woods were beautiful with all the green ferns and mosses and no leaves on the trees meant the light was great had I had a working camera. We walked through Claverton Village and crossed over the A39 down to the canal, the views over the valley were fantastic and all looked very peaceful you can see for miles across the Warliegh Valley towards Bathford and Batheaston.

 

 



So I was trying to decide what to spend all my Christmas money on but having sat on my camera I guess that has been decided for me! I had looked at the GoPro as it is very small and light and thought it would be ideal for travelling and it takes still shots and videos.

 

 

My back is much better but there is still one spot that gives me gip, hope to get back to Pilates soon, Zumba starts again first week of January, then guess the Gym to do some serious leg work as the walking up hill is what I tend to struggle with most.

 

 

Happy New Year to everyone and look forward to some great fundraising events. February, Pub Games Night, details will follow shortly. 

Meet Barney he's going to be my house guest over Christmas and New Year!

I think he'll be helping me walk off all that extra food and booze!

Serious training will being in the New Year.

 

I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and a big thank you for all the support so far with the fundraising events, watch this space for more events in the New Year.

Bath Christmas Lights and Market

 

Collecting in Bath this week was lovely and started to get me into the festive spirit (had a large Brandy when I got home! only joking). The city really does look pretty with all the lights and the market stalls. As you can see it was a wet afternoon and as well as the money we collected there was plenty of rain water in the buckets!!! but it did include a few soggy notes so that was great. In all a very successful afternoon.

Thank you to all my helpers for braving the rain. We did manage a couple of dry hours which was a help. There were also quite a few other charities collecting so I think we did very well under the circumstances.

Very busy with work now right up till Christmas so nothing else organised for now but lots of great events in the pipeline for next years so watch this space. New Years resolutions will include building up my fitness!!!

I would like to collect lots of Santa hats for an event next year so please save them for me or let me know if you see any going cheap after Christmas. I will also need some Christmas decorations so please don't pack them too far away as I may be asking to borrow them!

 

Fabulous Week,

First fundraisers great success.

 

A BIG thank you to everyone who came to the Flower Demonstrations at Hillside Hall and Dorothy House at Peasdown St John, I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did and left with some inspiration for your Christmas Decorations.

I raised £76.50 over the two events.

To all the Raffle prize winners I hope you all enjoy your prizes, if they were floral don't forget to water them!!  

 

 The rest of the week has been quite a challenge too as I'm trying to get back to normal working and catch up with all I've missed while I've been off.  My back and ribs are still quite uncomfortable depending on what I've been doing and very soar by the end of the day but I've got through and it is getting easier and I'm recovering much quicker when I have over done it. Had a lazy day today to recover ready for another busy week.

Anyone shopping in Bath City Centre on Thursday 11th December?  If so you can spare half an hour or an hour to help, we're collecting around Union Street and The Pump Rooms. Please let me know as soon as possible as I have to register all the names of people helping me with the collection buckets. Thanks again for all the support.

Preparation for Tuesdays Christmas Flower Demonstration.

I have been busy today preparing for the Demonstration on Tuesday, full details in previous Blog. Looking forward to entertaining lots of people with some help from Julie.  Lots of raffle prizes to add to the arrangements we'll be making.

I will be doing it all again at Dorothy House Outreach Centre at Peasdown St John, it's their Christmas Craft Fayre so it's a lovely opportunity for me to meet lots more people involved with the fantastic work the Hospice does.

Also made time for a walk today, started in sunshine but as you can see from the picture it didn't stay sunny for long. Walked a bit of the Bath Skyline behind where I used to live it's changed a lot as they have cleared a lot of undergrowth and made it fun for the children with lots of Fairy Doors to find in the Fairy Wood. Then had a well deserved coffee by the canal.

Anyone going shopping in Bath on Thursday 11th December? I have permission to collect in town and it'd be great to have a bit of help even half an hour or an hour would be great, please let me know as soon as possible, it is late night shopping and the Christmas Market will still be on. 

Out with Archie to christen my new walking boots!!!

3 miles through the woods and fields lots of ups and downs so gave the boots a really good workout not a blister in sight and lovely dry feet despite jumping in the puddles like a big kid! Think it was a bit much for poor Archie, getting old, will have to find a younger fitter dog to borrow.

 

 

Looking forward to seeing lots of people at the Flower Demo on the 2nd, don't forget to spread the word. If you missed the announcement please check the previous post.

 

Fundraising event 2nd December 2014, Bath.

The launch of the fundraising events gets off the ground on the 2nd December details below, if you need any more information please leave a message in the 'Comments'.

Everyone welcome so please spread the word.

Fundraising Christmas Flower Demonstration





First Event organised for 2nd December 2014 10am to 12 Noon
at Hillside Hall, Hillside Road, Oldfield Park, Bath BA2 3NX

Christmas Flower Demonstration with refreshments and Raffle
Entrance £4.00 inc. refreshments.
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Well my back is healing much quicker now so I no longer have an excuse not to start building up my fitness except my fitness trainer (pictured right) went home today! Will have to keep borrowing him back!!!

I hope to start back to Zumba Gold this week but I think it's a bit too soon for Pilates. Anyone know of a Line Dancing Class Bath or Keynsham?

The next job is to replace the old walking boots for something a bit lighter and replace the trainers as they've seen better days too, think I'll be hitting the sales straight after Christmas!!!

Raising Money for Dorothy House Hospice.

So no I haven't taken leave of my senses I am going to be raising lots of money for a very worthwhile cause. 

Why? Over the years many people I know have had contact with Dorothy House for one reason or another and more recently it seems to be people much closer to me including my Dad. It is a wonderful organisation and covers many areas you would not immediately associate with them.

Another reason is I recently had an accident and because one of my vertebrae was fractured I had to have a bone density scan the result is I have Osteoporosis. It is controllable with diet and exercise so I decided I needed a focus to help with my fitness, it will be a slow start and a gradual build up and I will need lots of encouragement from my friends especially through the winter.

I have 10 months hard work ahead of me to get very fit and I intend to organise, with the help of all my lovely friends, some really good Fund Raising Events.

The Trek is organised by Dream Challenges so I will have support from them and other people taking part but it really will be my friends that get me there!

Have I taken leave of my senses?!

 

I've now committed myself to trek part of The Great Wall of China September 2015.