In truth I wasn't intending to inflict another update upon you all, well certainly not this soon anyway. However......I wanted to let you know about a blog that I've just written for Alzheimer's Research UK. ARUK is keen to re-promote the sixtyat60 challenge now that I've passed the finishing post, and I was asked by their press officer to contribute a 500 word piece for the ARUK website. My goodness, how I struggled to stick to that word count. So much material! But it was lovely to spend some time dipping into my memories of Andrew's mother before she became affected by Alzheimer's. And it also gave me the opportunity to reflect on my sixtyat60 experiences in entirety. Here's the link to the recently published ARUK blog.
http://www.dementiablog.org/sixtyat60/
Since I seem to find myself hanging out on Blogspot again, perhaps you'll forgive me for regaling you with a few more post-sixtyat60 nuggets of news?
1. Welsh walking
In my previous blog, I described how a small coterie of Hunots, led by Bobby the Italian greyhound, were planning to take on Mount Snowdon, as part of Andrew and Michael's preparation for their Kilimanjaro adventure. Our expedition took place 2 weeks ago. So how did we fare.......?
The weather was damp and murky as we set off (classic conditions for the onset of seriously frizzy hair as far as I was concerned) and the ascent was pretty tough going in places. Jonathan surged ahead as predicted. Michael increased his pace and disappeared into the mist after Jonathan. Liz was sure-footed and swift all the way up, despite having to deal with endless inquiries about the Bobster by fellow walkers. Andrew built up confidence and momentum as the walk progressed. And I just kept plodding on, my hair getting wetter and wilder by the minute.
Here we are at the summit. Can you spot us through the swirling mist? I'm chief photographer so you won't see me at all (no bad thing - my hair had taken on a life of its own by this point).
The descent was as challenging as the ascent, what with tiring legs, uneven/steep terrain, a greyhound expecting to be carried down by his team of Hunot sherpas, an incident involving said greyhound that resulted in a leg injury of uncertain severity, and a rather splendid tumble by your writer (Liz kindly said it looked 'very professional'). But the mist finally evaporated, the scenery was spectacular, we arrived back at our starting point in a highly respectable time and thankfully neither Bobby nor I required orthopaedic attention. Ben Nevis anyone?
Andrew and Michael head out to Tanzania this Friday and will be starting their ascent of Kilimanjaro on Sunday. Whether they make it to the top or not (altitude sickness can hit the most well-prepared of people), I'm very proud of them both, and I'll be waiting at home on tenderhooks for 6 long days until I know they've completed the descent safely.
2. Jigsaw jiggery-pokery
That accursed nemesis of a jigsaw Starry Night has been framed and is now hanging in Michael's bedroom (NB Michael left home 12 years ago, but in my mind it's still his room - does this make me a helicopter mother?) And very fine it looks too.
I've now started the 1000-piece Selhurst Park jigsaw that Jonathan gave me for Christmas. It's another tough one, with lots of grass and many rows of tense and despairing faces. Will I have completed it by the time Palace have their first win of the season? More than likely if Palace don't get a move on with signing a striker. I mean, just look at their performance against West Brom on Saturday. There I go slipping into football chat again. Sorry girls.
3. Caterham capers
It's almost a year since I took a spin around the Sussex countryside in our friend Peter's splendid Caterham car, with Andrew by my side uttering Mr Toad-like noises. Perhaps you'll remember that in my blog I made an unkind (if affectionate) little dig at Michael's 9-year 'journey' to build his own Caterham. But it looks like my underhand tactic worked. Michael has sent me an up to date photo. Just look at the 'before and after' photos below. How impressive is that!!
4. Ringing the chimes
Forgive me for puffing out my chest a little, but I've finally reached the pinnacle of fame - an article I've written on my bell-ringing task has been published in our local parish magazine. My hope is that new recruits will come forward to bolster that magnificent but sparse team at St Bartholomew's as a result of my carefully crafted piece. And will Andrew and I be leading by example? At this stage I don't think it's going to happen, mainly because we'd disappoint and frustrate the team with our unreliable attendance at weekends. But who knows, the sound of the bells drifting along the valley may still draw me there.
5. Lindy hopping
On Saturday evening Andrew and I went to a really lovely party, where there was a great band, which meant there was.......dancing!! We attempted a quiet lindy hop move or two when we thought no one was looking. And even when Andrew was just bopping, it was clear (to me anyway) that his style has definitely loosened up. That's all thanks to Matt Blacklock, our cheerful and charming lindy hop instructor. I'm still hoping I may be able to entice Andrew into joining one of Matt's group dancing classes - only please don't tell Andrew I said that (stealth tactics at work.....)
Finally, and most importantly, I can give you a final-ish tally on the money raised for my two special charities (I say final-ish because it's possible I may still receive a few donations via the ARUK website):
£1505 for Shooting Star Chase
£1950 for Alzheimer's Research UK
That's a grand total of £ 3455, which is waaaaay beyond my expectations for the year (you may remember that I originally set a target of £600 for each charity). Needless to say both charities are delighted and very grateful. Once again, my sincere thanks to all who made contributions - I'm so touched by your amazing support.
As I wind up this blog, I have to confess I feel another one coming on once Andrew and Michael return from Kili - so be warned guys!
http://www.dementiablog.org/sixtyat60/
Since I seem to find myself hanging out on Blogspot again, perhaps you'll forgive me for regaling you with a few more post-sixtyat60 nuggets of news?
1. Welsh walking
In my previous blog, I described how a small coterie of Hunots, led by Bobby the Italian greyhound, were planning to take on Mount Snowdon, as part of Andrew and Michael's preparation for their Kilimanjaro adventure. Our expedition took place 2 weeks ago. So how did we fare.......?
The weather was damp and murky as we set off (classic conditions for the onset of seriously frizzy hair as far as I was concerned) and the ascent was pretty tough going in places. Jonathan surged ahead as predicted. Michael increased his pace and disappeared into the mist after Jonathan. Liz was sure-footed and swift all the way up, despite having to deal with endless inquiries about the Bobster by fellow walkers. Andrew built up confidence and momentum as the walk progressed. And I just kept plodding on, my hair getting wetter and wilder by the minute.
Here we are at the summit. Can you spot us through the swirling mist? I'm chief photographer so you won't see me at all (no bad thing - my hair had taken on a life of its own by this point).
The descent was as challenging as the ascent, what with tiring legs, uneven/steep terrain, a greyhound expecting to be carried down by his team of Hunot sherpas, an incident involving said greyhound that resulted in a leg injury of uncertain severity, and a rather splendid tumble by your writer (Liz kindly said it looked 'very professional'). But the mist finally evaporated, the scenery was spectacular, we arrived back at our starting point in a highly respectable time and thankfully neither Bobby nor I required orthopaedic attention. Ben Nevis anyone?
Andrew and Michael head out to Tanzania this Friday and will be starting their ascent of Kilimanjaro on Sunday. Whether they make it to the top or not (altitude sickness can hit the most well-prepared of people), I'm very proud of them both, and I'll be waiting at home on tenderhooks for 6 long days until I know they've completed the descent safely.
2. Jigsaw jiggery-pokery
That accursed nemesis of a jigsaw Starry Night has been framed and is now hanging in Michael's bedroom (NB Michael left home 12 years ago, but in my mind it's still his room - does this make me a helicopter mother?) And very fine it looks too.
I've now started the 1000-piece Selhurst Park jigsaw that Jonathan gave me for Christmas. It's another tough one, with lots of grass and many rows of tense and despairing faces. Will I have completed it by the time Palace have their first win of the season? More than likely if Palace don't get a move on with signing a striker. I mean, just look at their performance against West Brom on Saturday. There I go slipping into football chat again. Sorry girls.
3. Caterham capers
It's almost a year since I took a spin around the Sussex countryside in our friend Peter's splendid Caterham car, with Andrew by my side uttering Mr Toad-like noises. Perhaps you'll remember that in my blog I made an unkind (if affectionate) little dig at Michael's 9-year 'journey' to build his own Caterham. But it looks like my underhand tactic worked. Michael has sent me an up to date photo. Just look at the 'before and after' photos below. How impressive is that!!
4. Ringing the chimes
Forgive me for puffing out my chest a little, but I've finally reached the pinnacle of fame - an article I've written on my bell-ringing task has been published in our local parish magazine. My hope is that new recruits will come forward to bolster that magnificent but sparse team at St Bartholomew's as a result of my carefully crafted piece. And will Andrew and I be leading by example? At this stage I don't think it's going to happen, mainly because we'd disappoint and frustrate the team with our unreliable attendance at weekends. But who knows, the sound of the bells drifting along the valley may still draw me there.
5. Lindy hopping
On Saturday evening Andrew and I went to a really lovely party, where there was a great band, which meant there was.......dancing!! We attempted a quiet lindy hop move or two when we thought no one was looking. And even when Andrew was just bopping, it was clear (to me anyway) that his style has definitely loosened up. That's all thanks to Matt Blacklock, our cheerful and charming lindy hop instructor. I'm still hoping I may be able to entice Andrew into joining one of Matt's group dancing classes - only please don't tell Andrew I said that (stealth tactics at work.....)
Finally, and most importantly, I can give you a final-ish tally on the money raised for my two special charities (I say final-ish because it's possible I may still receive a few donations via the ARUK website):
£1505 for Shooting Star Chase
£1950 for Alzheimer's Research UK
That's a grand total of £ 3455, which is waaaaay beyond my expectations for the year (you may remember that I originally set a target of £600 for each charity). Needless to say both charities are delighted and very grateful. Once again, my sincere thanks to all who made contributions - I'm so touched by your amazing support.
As I wind up this blog, I have to confess I feel another one coming on once Andrew and Michael return from Kili - so be warned guys!
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