24 Days Warning

 

 

And so it begins...

Those of you who have had the pleasure of reading my blogs, tweets and occasional 'Likes' on various social media sites will know that my family and I sometimes have a holiday. Not just a week in a caravan kind of holiday - which is all very nice and that, nor a pop into the travel agent to see what bargains there are kind. Oh no, I'm talking about hours spent online waiting for special offers, free dining plans and half price flights kind of holiday. Weeks of planning, coordinating, booking - and in the process, saving a lot of money on a luxury holiday!

I have to admit however, that I personally don't do any of the above, I just nod and offer my opinion as and when required. Hubby is the Project Planner - and very good at it too.

 

New readers and those who have endured our travels before have the option of using the Scaredy Cat exit to the left or to strap themselves in tight for the the thrill and fun of the ride and engage in hilarious audience participation. No heckling or fruit flinging though or security will escort you out!

So let's get you all warmed up....

How Well Do You Know Us Quiz

1. Where are we going?
2. Name 3 places we will visit.
3. What drink do I order when I first arrive and sit by the pool?
4. How many times have we been here?
5. What do I love shopping for while there?

5/5 - You obviously read and enjoy my blog and should be coming along with us!

4/5 - Not bad, but you should stop nodding off while reading.

3/5 - Good effort, subscribe and read them all this year though.

2/5 - Fair to middling, more effort required, easily distracted.

1/5 - Spend the next 24 days reading back through all my previous holiday posts.

0/5 - Fast pass to the front of the queue for brainwashing

There see, you're almost as excited as me now now aren't you? Don't worry, this post was just a test run using the Blogging App (Bloggsy) that I usually use for writing on my iPad, but haven't for a while and wanted to check it was still as good as it was. I won't be posting every day yet, just enough to get back into blogging and tease you with merry quips along the way, priming you for the deluge of high quality writing and photographs you will receive in August.

Bet you can't wait...

Answers

   
Florida
   
Walt Disney World parks, Universal Studios parks, St. Augustine, Orlando, Shopping Malls, Orlando City Soccer Stadiu
   
Piña colada 
   
19
   
Handbags

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Stinky in Pink Part 2

Ready to Race for Life - Warriors in pink

Eileen and I were dropped off at the Town Moor to meet up with others bedecked in a whole spectrum of pink waiting for the warm up. Eileen was in wave 9, I was wave 11 - but intended to join in hers since no one seemed to be stressing about who was where and when.

Once in the warm up 'pen' we were treated to a chat from some Newcastle Radio presenters and a bit of a warm up from Katie 'the scouser' from The Apprentice before being herded to the start gate. We were the first wave of the afternoon so there was a clear run, no stragglers bimbling along from previous waves to negotiate, which was good planning as we noticed as we left that some of the obstacles were getting a little congested.

Criss cross ropey thing

It was a long way to the first obstacle and we both realised that we maybe ought to have done a bit more running practice.. but we struggled on and made it to the first mud bath - or more a dirty water trough...enough to soak your trainers and legs. Nothing like running in soggy trainers!

Slightly muddy tunnels and high ropey climb thing.

More running, small obstacles and a big ropey climbing thing. Commando drill perfected we scaled and descended like professionals in the most unladylike of ways. More running and a bit of power walking when necessary and we got to the good bits.. proper muddy obstacles, crawling in it and sliding into it. Not the stinking, claggy swamp and river mud of Stampede, that got everywhere, but clean, non smelling mud, that lightly coated the skin.

Final run to the finish line through gritted teeth and lots of cheering from the spectators we crossed the 'I made it' line to be greeted by a line of volunteers with water, medals and cake! 

By this time there were loads more women waiting for their warm ups as we walked through to the bag drop, gasps of horror at our muddiness and "well done's " finished off the day as we headed off for a hot shower then bath.

Slightly caked but still smiling

As an event it was a fantastic way to raise funds for charity, and accessible to those who wanted to do something but not fit enough to do more challenging events. Personally I didn't get the buzz of achievement that I did doing Stampede last year. I should have done more running in preparation for this one, but found the obstacles pretty tame.  

There's nothing like a lot of thick stinky swamp water, boulders and submerged tunnels full of the above to get the adrenaline going and the muscles pumped. Time to look for another challenge.

A vision of loveliness.....

My only regret is that I didn't do this kind of stuff years ago as a 30 year old - but at least I'm doing it now and fitter and healthier than I was back then.

Thanks to Dean and all the Assert Fitness Warriors

http://www.assert-fitness.co.uk

  

Stinky in Pink

The sun is shining and its set to be a lovely afternoon, about 20 degrees they say. 

Lovely day to be thrashing around on filthy inflatable and such on Newcastle Town Moor. Today is Pretty Muddy 2015 (Race for Life) and I along with loads of hysterical, squeaky women in pink, (only women, no men allowed) will be skipping and larking about all in aid of Cancer Research. A cause close to my heart having lost my Mum to cancer 20 years ago.

Intentions to step up my thrice weekly fitness routine slipped by and two weeks before today I finally got around to ordering some 'kit' to wear on the day, though I look better in pastel pink than puce!

Its just a 5k event around a park- not the harrowing 10k Stampede I did last October in an icy wind through real life streams and swamps.

Is it just me or does it look like you're really running through
 lots of chocolate and pink blancmange*?

Here they are...my running number and pretty tattoos to stick on whatever body parts you like.

I've rescued the pair of stinking trainers I wore last time from the garage - no way were they even getting close to the house, and have a bag full of post run necessaries - such as wipes, wet cloths, towel, change of clothes and lots of drinks and eats for refuelling afterwards. Hubby has kindly offered to take me and my fellow warrior Eileen there and back - hopefully in his car and not mine - see below.

Time now for the banana omlette, water and a little sachet of pre run magic given to me by my eldest son who says its what all the fit people use...that'll be me then...

to be continued....

*Blancmange...a word you don't realise you can't spell until you try. Thank you Siri for telling me how to.