Getting the hours in!

When I got up this morning I knew as I had a whole day off that I'd be getting out on my bike, but I have to tell you, even though the sun was shining I was able to procrastinate for quite some time before I actually did it!

However I am now back from a 12 mile cycle which, I might add, had some impressive hills! Sadly though one guy wearing, "back off bitch I'm a real cyclist" shorts went past me at a great rate of knots...he did raise a hand as he passed, I think in a friendly wave, or it could've been the equivalent of, "Ha! Ha!" in Nelson from the Simpsons stylie.

Anyway I muttered what my parents used to say when some nutter over took them in their Mk II Ford Escort - my Dad was never much of a speedster, but when (what he would've called a lesser car) sped past he'd say, " Yeah..good for you! See you later when you're wrapped round the next lamp post!" So I caught myself turning into my Dad when the cyclist did the same to me!

Yesterday my friends Bill & Muriel dropped off an exercise I'd had in "storage" in their garage for 6 years!! I have a tiny memory of Emily, my eldest daughter using it when we lived in Glen Prosen and it was in her bedroom, but I don't think I'd ever used it. It will be good for me to get peddaling on that when I can't get out because Charlie's off school or it's night time and I can watch TV and cycle - perfect!

My Dad babysat for me yesterday when I went to the Perth Races..and won, wait for it..£6. I'll try not to spend it all in one shop.

The photo is of my Dad cycling like a madman on the newly acquired exercise bike...probably just as well he's not joining the trip in September!

"I like to sit up here and make fun of the sunset. Hey gas ball! You suck!"- Nelson Muntz, The Simpsons.

An evening of encouragement, testosterone and laughter

Well it's been a while since I've been on here, and I have an excuse..I was away in the US for two weeks and have been playing catch up with work emails and clients since then.
My friend Gillian is back from her travels, and it was lovely having her to stay for a few nights. We were able to discuss more about the plans for her to drive my car and carry all my essentials..chocolate, lip gloss, Clarins perfume and moisturiser and my ipod charger. She'll also not mind (I've told her she's not allowed to) me crying and moaning about the pain, the weather, the hills, my inability to cope and her job will be to pamper to my every whim, slap me if necessary and remind me in my darker moments of the good reason why I'm doing this!
During Gillian's stay we arranged to go through to Perth fire station to meet the fire crew who are going to join us on day 7 & 8 of the 10 day cycle. As Gillian has been travelling in countries near the equator she has quite a tan...on top of that she's naturally beautiful, and I had hoped she would ugly herself up a bit before we went to Perth - it seemed only right that I should be the pretty one, but alas she didn't..so that was annoying. Fortunately though that was the only annoying aspect of the visit. The crew were lovely and I'm so chuffed they're going to be helping raise money for SHELTER - I feel quite moved by their kindness, and excited that 7 days into my challenge I'll have their banter and humour to keep me going for a couple of days! I think it's incredibly generous of them to give up their time and days off to support this event, and I'm looking forward to having their company on those 2 days. I explained when I talked with them that I'm also raising money for the equivalent to SHELTER in Canada called, "Raising the Roof" and also for a homeless organisation in Australia called, "Swags for the Homeless". Most families have relations and friends in all corners of the world so I'm hoping that if they know folk in those countries who might want to sponsor them, then the money they donate can be used in their country by either of those 2 charities.
Next week training will start again in earnest....a village near here...do my jokes ever end?! I'll keep you posted.

"Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can." - John Wesley.