All revved up and one mile to go!

That was my mantra when I was in Hyde Park this morning when I reached mile 25 of the Moonwalk.
I did it, I effing well did it!
What an experience! The people, the atmosphere, everything.
Mercifully for the people of London, I kept my fleece on all the time so my bra was well covered at all times.
I did it in 8 hours - my aim was to do it by then. I was the last of my group to finish, but no matter - it appears I was only 10 minutes behind them. I was glad I was on my own, as I was very concerned about holding people back. Well, I was never really on my own, as there were 15,000 of us all together.
For me, it was just a walk, but for most people it was a journey of high emotion, especially when we passed the Marsden and I overheard a group of ladies agreeing to stop and hold onto the railing for a few minutes. I don't think that stretching was what they had in mind at that point.

Reaching the mile 26 sign was incredible. I then went to collect my medal and goodie bag, and met up with the gang. They were being collected by husbands, and I staggered home on the 137.

I got home, waved my medal at my incredulous family, and promptly fell face down on the bed and stayed there for the rest of the day. I'm just pleased I organised the following week before the Walk. If I drop dead, at least my husband has clean shirts for a week.

Am off to book my mobility scooter. I will never knowingly walk another step again.

Wrinkly Management

What about it? Doesn't Nivea have a product to deal with it? No, not wrinkle management, I mean the management of those who have lots of wrinkles. Old people.

My old person who needs managing is my mother in law. Another Doctor's appointment today, instigated by me, please don't tell her, she's already a bit suspicious. This on prescribed nose drops. We nod, leave, get the prescription, which no doubt will never come out of the bag, and move on to the real business of the day, a trip to M&S.

We stock up on old lady stuff. This is actually no different to mine, except that she has far better taste. We pay, go on to buy some food, and then leave.

We have lunch back at her flat where she confesses to me she hasn't had a proper meal for ages. We eat up, attack some of her Easter egg, and then I leave to deal with her grandchildren.

I phone other members of the family and tell them what's been going on. They almost sound grateful. What they don't realise is that I'm doing it for my own benefit, trying to control an uncontrollable situation. Trying to accept that after over 20 years of wrangling with her, we may be near the end. Up to now, I thought she was immortal. Now I suspect that she isn't.

It's the dependancy, really. Showing her things in the shop, I thought I was beginning to choose things for her. It was quite sad, really.

I keep hoping that she'll be back on an even keel soon and will be back to her old ways.

We'll see.

fat woman rant

Yes, here we go, another fat woman rant.

The temperature here in South London has risen and it's officially summertime.
And I hate it. And I hate hating it.
Because it means that yet again despite my efforts I'm having to keep my lardy self covered up.
I feel ill, hot , sweaty and unable to do anything apart from perform beached whale impersonations.
Luckily last year I invested in some lineny clothes, so I don't have to sweat it out in my elephantine jeans, but even these just show me that I'm slightly larger than I was last year.

I'll get over it.
There are far worse things in life.

So, what's been happening, then?

I'll tell you what's been happening.

Training for this http://www.walkthewalk.org/Challenges/ThePlaytexMoonWalk

I don't know how it happened, but I got a place, followed the training booklet, and it's just over a week to go.

I have been supported and generally cattleprodded by the wondeful Suzy http://www.walkingworkouts.co.uk/ so much that I'm now finding very difficult to walk on my own.

Over the past few weeks, we've walked some fabulous routes around London, along the river, round and round Hyde Park, and finally last Sunday we walked 20 miles from Hampton Court to Batteresea Bridge all along the river in 5.5 hours.

I swear that after 17/18 May I will invest in a mobility scooter and never walk another step.

I'm planning my costume. The rules state that we have to walk in decorated bras. My children have made me promise that I will not expose any part of myself. Bit of a conflict there, I think.
Still, they will be asleep at home whilst I do this, so I'll jolly well do as I please! The walking starts at midnight, so it'll be interesting to see how we cope with being up all night.

I'll keep you posted.

All The Rage - May 2008

I am horrified to note that it's over two minths since I wrote anything of note on my blog. I know, I know, I've been neglecting my army of readers, but life has been going on.

I am delighted to share with you the latest edition of All The Rage.

I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.alltherage.org.uk/alltherage-2008-05.pdf