ohhhh

I have just had the best nights sleep ever! I was so tired yesterday (think it was the driving) that I even fell asleep on the sofa last night and now this morning I feel great and the sleep was fantastic - but so glad not up in the lakes - means I can finish unpacking my house - yippee!!

Need to go and pick my copy of Trail up today, but will probably leave it till Monday in anticipation.

A hill with no view!!

Another hill off the top 100!! Kinder Scout was summited today. The landscape looked beautiful through all the mist.

Had no idea what to expect as Claire had told us it was a rolling walk in the Pennines - what!! No mention of the slight scramble??

No seriously I am one of these people that may whinge a bit whilst going up and sets my own pace and may not necessarily enjoy it at the time - but when we've finished I loved it!! I always drive home on a high (but very tired today).
Claire and Tom are fantastic and such lovely, genuine people. they make you feel so comfortable. It's such a shame that Tom won't be joining us on our next trip. My lips are sealed until we have confirmation!

On another note - one thing this trip taught me was - I need to get some more training in. I am secretly pleased that I don't have to do the Lakes 3000'ers this weekend ( I overestimated my fitness) so what I have to do now is abuse the help that Trail will give us from Darren and everyone else and try to priortise my hours and get some proper training in - Can I get another 2 hours in the day please??

So it's off to Ellis this week to book my climbing course (only 4 months late) and Milton Keynes have lots of outdoor climbing walls. Dig the bike out and take it to work so I can go out in my lunch hour and time to dust off the LTT from the move.

I have to remember why I applied for the academy and reassess my priorities (will be easier after 5th April)

On a good note though have lost 2 dress sizes!!!!

Near Miss

Well I awoke this morning and off to work I went to find that 2 of the staff were sick and another coming down with a cold - arrgghh!! So for a few hours today the trip tomorrow was out of the question, but alas I am going to the Peak District. Which is just aswell because I need a break - I am completly exhausted and some fresh air (albeit after a very long drive) will do me the world of good. So I will be taking lots of photos and can't wait!!

The joys of parenthood!

Well, all best laid plans go mad. My two are so unwell no-one wants them this weekend. So my charity event is out of the window. I am still going to the Peak District on Friday with Trail on my own (with no company in the car) but alas the lakes are out.

Am I gutted? A little bit - yes, but my monsters come first and no mountain in the world can compete with them! But on a good note - the weight is continuing to fall off me and had to buy some new clothes!

more lost!!

woohoo another 2lb off the weight. Paul keeps telling me that I have lost weight and am getting trimmer. Even managed to get into some jeans today that have not seen the light of day for quite some time (probably wore them before I was pregnant with Ioan - so nearly two years) not a bad achievement.

Am finally getting my haircut on tuesday for the 1st time in 10 months - so will look completely different in our next photo shoot.

Read the book on the 3 peaks challenge and I think the enormity of what we are doing has finally hit me - but has also made me more determined to do it. Will get lots of walking and exercise in when we go away in May. Just far too busy with work at the moment and getting the house sorted.

Am now going to use my Tesco Clubcard points to buy our ramblers and YHA membership

7 days to go!!

Well it's 7 days to the next trail installement - quite excited but abit worried as we have had no details about it yet!

Anyway its full steam ahead for the challenge next weekend. Went on the live chat on wednesday and got some great advice and it was a good old chat in there. Even got sent a book about the 3 peaks challenge so DaveA many thanks!!

Been really busy with work at the moment and my little boy has been so unwell - so all the best laid plans have gone haywire!! Nevermind tomorrow is another day. Still going to be there next week.

The snow is coming!!!

Well we've had a splattering if you could call it that. Very cold though!!!

Anyway I have forgotten to tell you all how great the Blacks Sale was - our 3 in 1 fusion jacket by Technicals was reduced to £36.99 what a bargain that was. But the bestest one for me (my hubby treated me) was a rucksack containing a tent, sleeping bag and a self-inflating mat. All for the grand old price of £46.99

So now I am trying to twist his arm into a bit of wild camping in the lakes - not sure if it's working yet.

Have decided to book myself on that climbing course that I have been rabbiting on about since the beggining of Trail Academy. So am going to Ellis Brigham this week and treating myself.

Need to also look into some low level walking in the pyrennes as we are off to the south of france in may and I can't wait - really need a holiday this year

more trips - wayhay!!

Just over 2 weeks to go and another trail trip to look forward to. We are off to the Pennines - have never been so quite excited plus the icing on the cake is a few hours drive afterwards and I'll be in the lakes for my first big challenge - the 3000's!!

Am I nervous - oh yes. Will be doing a bike ride and a walk this weekend. But I know I can walk distance now after the last weekend. Would like to start more cardio - but darren recommended anything but running (have big calves - they would get bigger) so thats just the excuse I needed to knock that torture on the head - but there is plently of other things that I can be doing. Running around with 30 children every day seems to be working. Have to go and buy some new jeans this week as mine are now too big - or prehaps I should just try a belt but then they don't fit so well.

By the end of the week should have some news on next years big charity event - should be spectacular!!

Also my gorgeous boy Ioan is now sleeping through the night - what a difference that has made!

36661

36661 is the number of steps that I did yesterday. Had a fantastic day out raising money for charity. Was a great walk and the weather was great and only a slight ache this morning that soon disappeared.

Saw some beautiful sights and the most annoying thing about the whole walk was that I had to keep pulling my trousers up.
Found some great spots for eating (well we were taken there by our guide) and my boots were fab!! No blisters, no sore toes, so will be ready for the lakes.

Will probably be putting the trip back by one week to tie in with the Trail Peak District trip. Just have to confirm with hubby when he get days off.

here are some photos of the trip yesterday - was going to do a blog but was having far too much fun! Plus don't think that people really want to listen to me drone on and on when I'm much better at writing instead!!

it just keeps getting better....

Well where to start,

life is on the up, definetly losing weight clothes are feeling alot looser, generally feeling really good too.

Looking forward to sunday, have found out that we are going through the waterfalls too - haven't been there since I was little so will be doing a blog!

Have been wearing in my new boots ready - and they are so comfy (except when I'm sat down on my knees) such a difference and very happy that I got them. They came in handy today when Elli decided to waddle into a puddle with no wellies and it was knee-deep to her, my toes were still warm and dry.

Been on the memory map looking at routes for the Lake District - still haven't decided on the best routes yet - posted a question on the Trail Forum and only got one reply with routes - please help I'm a novice here!!

ohh its good to be back out there!

Yesterday I went on an8 mile walk for a local hospice in the beautiful buckinghamshire countryside. And it felt good there was a lot of mud, some rain and some hills, but it has got me in the mood for next week with 17miles in the brecon beacons. Really excited about that and have confirmed baby sitters for my 1st big one at the end of the month.

Also found a great shop in Stony Stratford called the Outdoor Shop, went and tried on about 15 pairs of boots and eventually bought the 2.0 Air Revolutions and boy are they lovely and comfy - so am currently breaking them in ready for sunday as my old ones are slightly too small (4 1/2) and my new ones are 5 3/4!!

Good Morning to you all!!!

It is rather early in the morning here and having had about 5 hours sleep due to some very little monsters (namely my daughter who has decided that she wants to sleep in our bed)

So I am up watching teletubbies and surfing the net looking for some new boots. Which was what I dreamed about last night.
Today I ma going to try Meindhl's Air revolution GTX which have been ordered in for me. But just looking around to see what other shops are around here. I've decided against buying any on the internet and seeing as my business is on the up - I need a treat for working so hard.

Plus I really don't want to have to cut my toes off next week. I am confident that when I get the right boots that it will open up another world for me. No more tears on the hills. They really hurt when we were in Wales - infact they bruised again - not very pleasant.

So seeing as I am starving now - I am going to have soem lovely porridge with bananas and raisins and maybe soem organic wholemeal toast too.

Hope you all have a lovely day and I am so looking forward to my walk tomorrow!!!

Not going to bore you!!

Finally have internet access!!

Well just a brief update - move went somewhat have been working 80+ hours each week at the moment with the business so haven't had much chance to do alot.
The weekend in Wales was abit of an upset for me and on the way home seriously considered coming off the academy - I totally lost the plot and had far too much on really for the weekend. There was tears up Moel Siabhod and then trousers rip on Tryfan.
I felt like a failure - and a little bit alon - except for George my mountain leader who really helped me.

Normally I am enthusiastic and up for anything - but if someone had said to me "would you like to go back to the YHA" then I probably would have jumped off the mountain to get there quicker.
It did teach me though that even thought the outdoors is a good place to clear your head - sometimes there may be just to much to deal with.

But on some good notes - I have lost 6 pounds since that weekend - I am far more active as consitently running around and on my feet.
I have an 8 mile walk in Buckinghamshire on Sunday for Charity and then the week after I am walking from Brecon to Glyneath (through the beacons - 17 miles). This is training for the big one in the next few weeks, Scafell pike, Scafell, Helvyllen and Skiddaw all in 12 hours (arrrghhh)

Have some new boots on order to try this weekend as my lovely merrells may be abit too small and my toes really hurt in Wales (so have admitted defeat - need them for the weekend after)