I am not going to keep this going for long - I just wanted to put put there that the official 'final' total including 'gift aid' on the paper sponsorship forms was £5,200!!!
Target more than met and more than doubled!
Thank you all so much for everything! We love you all!
Take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jo and Penni xxx
Showing posts with label Multiple Sclerosis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Multiple Sclerosis. Show all posts
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Thursday, 1 October 2009
And that is, for the moment, the end of that chapter!
Today is October the 1st and it is the day the Justgiving page has closed for business!
Everyone has been so very supportive and extremely generous and we have raised a brillo amount for the MS Trust!
Our initial target was £2,500. This was set by the company who run the challenge and not a number we picked out of thin air, had we done so I don’t think either of us would have set out sights quite as high as that! I think there were a few people who even doubted that we would make £1000 but to them, all I can say is….not publishable and would be frowned upon, so I won’t write it!
Last year, the official amount of money raise for the Trust was £60k towards Information, Research, Education and Support. A large amount of money by anyone’s standard – not however very much when you compare it to the millions that are raised on one night during the telethons of the BBC. When you consider this, it is not unreasonable that there would be a target of £1,250 (minimum) per person and that the expenses for the ride should be paid for by the participant before going – at least with that the whole amount raised goes directly to the charity and as well we know, every penny counts!
As I mentioned all the way through the diary, people were giving constantly through the training, we held a number of fundraising activities and soon we had met and exceeded the official target, from then on, everything else was a bonus! As time went on and people kept giving we decided that we wouldn’t stop fundraising and we wouldn’t stop asking for money, it is not a very easy thing to do but this charity is so very important to my family and I that we just kept on; because of this the target was always being ‘upped’ and soon we were £1000 over the target!
Even when I came home from Paris and the trip had not been as successful as I wanted, although I was honest and told people that I had failed to do it, people still gave money to the cause – as I say, everyone has and continues to be amazingly generous!
Considering the kindness, it is no surprise that from a fundraising point of view this venture was a success! It makes all the difficult times throughout the training, the lonely feelings when Penni moved to Birmingham, the devastation both Penni and I felt when she wasn’t able to take part with me (although for an amazing reason which should be here 2 months today!) the muscle strains, the early mornings and late evenings at the gym, the early morning road rides in the freezing weather through the winter and the feeling of complete ‘Wallyness’ for subjecting the people of the Vale of Glamorgan to the sight of me in not only Lycra but padded shorts as well – all worthwhile! (But I still don’t know what I am going to do with 4 pairs of padded shorts!)
So, I guess you have listened to me rabbit away for long enough and want to know how much we raised. So, online, our amount raised was £1,863; Offline the amount raised was £2,437 and the gift aid from online donation was £460.59. So not counting the gift aid that will have been added from the paper forms we sent in, (donations from people off line,) our combined total was £4,760.59 – 59p is very important when every penny counts!
Thank you all again for everything, for being such fab, generous wonderful friends – we love you all loads!
And, until the next time;
Take great care,
Loadsa love, Jo xxx
Everyone has been so very supportive and extremely generous and we have raised a brillo amount for the MS Trust!
Our initial target was £2,500. This was set by the company who run the challenge and not a number we picked out of thin air, had we done so I don’t think either of us would have set out sights quite as high as that! I think there were a few people who even doubted that we would make £1000 but to them, all I can say is….not publishable and would be frowned upon, so I won’t write it!
Last year, the official amount of money raise for the Trust was £60k towards Information, Research, Education and Support. A large amount of money by anyone’s standard – not however very much when you compare it to the millions that are raised on one night during the telethons of the BBC. When you consider this, it is not unreasonable that there would be a target of £1,250 (minimum) per person and that the expenses for the ride should be paid for by the participant before going – at least with that the whole amount raised goes directly to the charity and as well we know, every penny counts!
As I mentioned all the way through the diary, people were giving constantly through the training, we held a number of fundraising activities and soon we had met and exceeded the official target, from then on, everything else was a bonus! As time went on and people kept giving we decided that we wouldn’t stop fundraising and we wouldn’t stop asking for money, it is not a very easy thing to do but this charity is so very important to my family and I that we just kept on; because of this the target was always being ‘upped’ and soon we were £1000 over the target!
Even when I came home from Paris and the trip had not been as successful as I wanted, although I was honest and told people that I had failed to do it, people still gave money to the cause – as I say, everyone has and continues to be amazingly generous!
Considering the kindness, it is no surprise that from a fundraising point of view this venture was a success! It makes all the difficult times throughout the training, the lonely feelings when Penni moved to Birmingham, the devastation both Penni and I felt when she wasn’t able to take part with me (although for an amazing reason which should be here 2 months today!) the muscle strains, the early mornings and late evenings at the gym, the early morning road rides in the freezing weather through the winter and the feeling of complete ‘Wallyness’ for subjecting the people of the Vale of Glamorgan to the sight of me in not only Lycra but padded shorts as well – all worthwhile! (But I still don’t know what I am going to do with 4 pairs of padded shorts!)
So, I guess you have listened to me rabbit away for long enough and want to know how much we raised. So, online, our amount raised was £1,863; Offline the amount raised was £2,437 and the gift aid from online donation was £460.59. So not counting the gift aid that will have been added from the paper forms we sent in, (donations from people off line,) our combined total was £4,760.59 – 59p is very important when every penny counts!
Thank you all again for everything, for being such fab, generous wonderful friends – we love you all loads!
And, until the next time;
Take great care,
Loadsa love, Jo xxx
Monday, 6 July 2009
Back in Blighty
There are a number of reasons why I wanted to do this challenge, I wanted to raise as much money as I could for the MS Trust, I wanted to raise the profile of the disease and show it in a positive way rather than the extremist and over indulgent press that has been seen in recent months with the high profile court cases of Debbie Purdy.
There were a number of reasons why I shouldn’t have ever thought about doing this challenge, I hadn’t ridden a bike in 15 years, I am not the sporty or athletic type at all and balance is a problem for me.
So, Tuesday June the 30th. We set off for London Penni, my mum, my dad and I. Loaded the bike and bags into the car and off we set. The weather was reasonably OK when we left, warm but not too bad, however, when we got to London the sun was blisteringly hot; still we checked into the hotel, stored the bike and tried to get comfortable. This was impossible and as the perfect start to the trip – we could none of us sleep because of the heat, lack of air, humidity and worry for the next day.
Wednesday, July the 1st and registration was at 6am on the heath opposite the hotel, breakfast between 6.15-40 and a briefing on the common from 6.45 until the off at 7am. The night before, we had gone for a meal as the sun was setting and as I looked at the direction in which it was, I had a clearer picture of the direction I would be travelling the next day, after all, Dover is south east isn’t it? You can imagine my dismay when instead of setting off in that direction we went the complete opposite and went north east – I think it was at that point I began to realise that we were being sent the most difficult of routes rather than the most direct. I didn’t imagine that we would be cycling along the M20 but I assumed that there would be some kind of parallel (direct) road that we could use.
The heat was unbelievable, the route was ridiculous and the promised front and back marker cyclists were non existent! It was quite an eventful morning. My chain came off twice trying to sort out the gears to get me up the ‘undulations’ (not the hills) and as I got to the top of the worst one of the day so one of the racing snake figures/ die hard cyclists who had gone sprinting off at the beginning of the day appeared at the top, covered in blood and scratched and cut to ribbons. He had gone down the wrong road and the bike that he had (a road bike) had calliper brakes which hadn’t been able to stop him and he had come off the bike and fallen 20 feet through brush, gravel and smashed into a tree. Although I didn’t know this man and I had just got to the top of a really spiteful hill (by Detling) I felt that had I been in the same situation I would have liked someone to stay with me so I and another guy that I was cycling with at the time went with him to the bottom of the hill to phone the support vehicle.
When the van arrived I met the team doctor for the first time. A nice guy called Derick who was at that point more worried than I was about the weather, my condition, the humidity and the way that they might (or may not) work together. The afternoon was less eventful; the route was as ridiculous as it was in the morning up single track roads and terrains, up unbelievably steep hills in increasing heat and humidity.
I got to Dover, day 1 done – and so was I. It was at this point that the doctor I had met earlier advised me that because of the heat in this country and the forecast for the next few days in France, I should stop the ride. I could carry on if I didn’t want his advice, but if I did that and rode against his advise, my insurance would be invalidated. I can’t remember when, if ever I have been more upset, disappointed or angry in my life. My overall fitness has not been this good for years, my general strength has increased 10 times since I have been training (one of the reasons (perhaps) I haven’t had a relapse which has meant me being off work for 18 months) and if we had had last year’s summer this year I know I would have been fine.
As you know I haven’t been one to sit in my pity pot for too long over things to do with this illness but this is one reason I would crawl into it, put the lid on and not come out for a hell of a long time.
I will get on to the more serious matters in a moment, but it was such a pants time I don’t think I can’t tell you about the (slightly) funny aspects of things. (Although it wasn’t funny at the time!) Because of having to retire at Dover, my bag had already gone to France, along with my contact lenses and glasses, all I had to help me see were the daily lenses I was wearing, my medication – 3 injections worth of Beta Interferon, all my clothes had also gone and all I had were the lycra t-shirt and padded shorts I stood up in, as had my wallet with my Barclaycard all my cash bar £60 and €35 but as luck would have it, I did have my passport as I had to keep that in my ‘bum-bag’ for the ferry that day! So a quick trip to M&S to buy pants and clothes, Boots to try (to no avail) to get some more contact lenses (thank goodness for Specsavers the next day) and a toothbrush, Penni to rush to the bank to arrange some cash for me to borrow and mum to book me a ticket on the Euro-star. I had decided that as they had all booked and paid for a to Paris for the next few days and David had also arranged a trip over on the Saturday to see the bike ride finish, and as I had arranged some time off work that I would go with them all and see the ride come in and collect my bag while I was there.
On the Saturday, Dave, mum, dad, Penni and I were having lunch at a little bistro by the Eiffel Tower when Penni spotted two guys in Discovery Adventure t-shirts! Dave and I ran over to them to ask what the best thing to do to get my bag back. They spoke to the main organiser of the day (and other Dave) and were told to ‘rock up’ to the meeting place but the fountain at the front of the tower at about 3pm and meet the ride. As I had already decided that I wanted to see it finish this was perfect. When we got there I saw one of the girls I had met on Wednesday who was very kind and said that everyone was so excited and pleased that I had gone to Paris – I was to touched for words but nothing prepared me for the emotion I felt as I saw the bikes come around the island and stop in front of the tower, I felt such a mixture of emotions, I was so proud of the guys who had completed the ride, I was gutted that I wasn’t able to do it with them and the knowledge that I probably never will be able to do it was almost unbearable. When Dave (the organiser), Laura (the administrator) and Derick the doctor came over to where I was with a London to Paris t-shirt and “said put it on and get in the photo” I nearly died! It was something I hadn’t ever expected to happen and wasn’t the reason I was there – it was so out of the blue that once again the emotion overcame me.
So how should I look at this? 300 miles will always be a challenge but 300 miles in a 100˚ heat wave is even more of a challenge and when you couple with this the route which we were given and the humidity that usually comes with the warmer weather in this part of the world it makes for an even more difficult time is one way. I fought the disease and the disease won – and perhaps I should listen to people like Debby Purdy rather than trying to show everyone that things can be different is another way but I am trying to be as positive as I can, Penni and I have decided that after she has had the baby, after my wedding and when the weather is not as hot (probably next autumn) we will ride our bike from Barry to St David’s in west Wales. It doesn’t have the same impact as London to Paris but it will be 150 miles and we will both be doing it.
As it is, am I allowed to say that I got to Paris, it wasn’t on a bike as I had planned but of all the things that I can battle and fight, as much as I would like to I can’t control the weather and I can’t fight a disease that reacts badly to humidity. I can try, but we all know what will happen and what good would it do putting myself into relapse and missing my mate’s party on the weekend and my mate’s wedding in Tunisia the week after? Perhaps this is a bit selfish and not quite accurate but I did put my MS Trust t-shirt on and stand in front of the tower for a photo because although it wasn’t on a bike, I got to Paris and I (and Penni) raised at the last count £4,009 for the charity; four thousand pounds more than they would have had if we hadn’t decided that we would try this challenge.
I won’t be begging anymore as I really don’t think that I can (and although your donations have already gone to the charity, if you want the sponsorship money back please let me know) but I hope that the promise that both Penni and I will ride 150 miles in cooler weather and the 90 miles from Wednesday will be symbolic enough for you to keep your donation to the MS Trust. And if you want to give anyway or know anyone who does the online donation page is open until October.
So thank you everyone for your support over the last year – it has been one of the most inspiring things ever and it has really helped me with training and fundraising to know that you have been behind me.
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
There were a number of reasons why I shouldn’t have ever thought about doing this challenge, I hadn’t ridden a bike in 15 years, I am not the sporty or athletic type at all and balance is a problem for me.
So, Tuesday June the 30th. We set off for London Penni, my mum, my dad and I. Loaded the bike and bags into the car and off we set. The weather was reasonably OK when we left, warm but not too bad, however, when we got to London the sun was blisteringly hot; still we checked into the hotel, stored the bike and tried to get comfortable. This was impossible and as the perfect start to the trip – we could none of us sleep because of the heat, lack of air, humidity and worry for the next day.
Wednesday, July the 1st and registration was at 6am on the heath opposite the hotel, breakfast between 6.15-40 and a briefing on the common from 6.45 until the off at 7am. The night before, we had gone for a meal as the sun was setting and as I looked at the direction in which it was, I had a clearer picture of the direction I would be travelling the next day, after all, Dover is south east isn’t it? You can imagine my dismay when instead of setting off in that direction we went the complete opposite and went north east – I think it was at that point I began to realise that we were being sent the most difficult of routes rather than the most direct. I didn’t imagine that we would be cycling along the M20 but I assumed that there would be some kind of parallel (direct) road that we could use.
The heat was unbelievable, the route was ridiculous and the promised front and back marker cyclists were non existent! It was quite an eventful morning. My chain came off twice trying to sort out the gears to get me up the ‘undulations’ (not the hills) and as I got to the top of the worst one of the day so one of the racing snake figures/ die hard cyclists who had gone sprinting off at the beginning of the day appeared at the top, covered in blood and scratched and cut to ribbons. He had gone down the wrong road and the bike that he had (a road bike) had calliper brakes which hadn’t been able to stop him and he had come off the bike and fallen 20 feet through brush, gravel and smashed into a tree. Although I didn’t know this man and I had just got to the top of a really spiteful hill (by Detling) I felt that had I been in the same situation I would have liked someone to stay with me so I and another guy that I was cycling with at the time went with him to the bottom of the hill to phone the support vehicle.
When the van arrived I met the team doctor for the first time. A nice guy called Derick who was at that point more worried than I was about the weather, my condition, the humidity and the way that they might (or may not) work together. The afternoon was less eventful; the route was as ridiculous as it was in the morning up single track roads and terrains, up unbelievably steep hills in increasing heat and humidity.
I got to Dover, day 1 done – and so was I. It was at this point that the doctor I had met earlier advised me that because of the heat in this country and the forecast for the next few days in France, I should stop the ride. I could carry on if I didn’t want his advice, but if I did that and rode against his advise, my insurance would be invalidated. I can’t remember when, if ever I have been more upset, disappointed or angry in my life. My overall fitness has not been this good for years, my general strength has increased 10 times since I have been training (one of the reasons (perhaps) I haven’t had a relapse which has meant me being off work for 18 months) and if we had had last year’s summer this year I know I would have been fine.
As you know I haven’t been one to sit in my pity pot for too long over things to do with this illness but this is one reason I would crawl into it, put the lid on and not come out for a hell of a long time.
I will get on to the more serious matters in a moment, but it was such a pants time I don’t think I can’t tell you about the (slightly) funny aspects of things. (Although it wasn’t funny at the time!) Because of having to retire at Dover, my bag had already gone to France, along with my contact lenses and glasses, all I had to help me see were the daily lenses I was wearing, my medication – 3 injections worth of Beta Interferon, all my clothes had also gone and all I had were the lycra t-shirt and padded shorts I stood up in, as had my wallet with my Barclaycard all my cash bar £60 and €35 but as luck would have it, I did have my passport as I had to keep that in my ‘bum-bag’ for the ferry that day! So a quick trip to M&S to buy pants and clothes, Boots to try (to no avail) to get some more contact lenses (thank goodness for Specsavers the next day) and a toothbrush, Penni to rush to the bank to arrange some cash for me to borrow and mum to book me a ticket on the Euro-star. I had decided that as they had all booked and paid for a to Paris for the next few days and David had also arranged a trip over on the Saturday to see the bike ride finish, and as I had arranged some time off work that I would go with them all and see the ride come in and collect my bag while I was there.
On the Saturday, Dave, mum, dad, Penni and I were having lunch at a little bistro by the Eiffel Tower when Penni spotted two guys in Discovery Adventure t-shirts! Dave and I ran over to them to ask what the best thing to do to get my bag back. They spoke to the main organiser of the day (and other Dave) and were told to ‘rock up’ to the meeting place but the fountain at the front of the tower at about 3pm and meet the ride. As I had already decided that I wanted to see it finish this was perfect. When we got there I saw one of the girls I had met on Wednesday who was very kind and said that everyone was so excited and pleased that I had gone to Paris – I was to touched for words but nothing prepared me for the emotion I felt as I saw the bikes come around the island and stop in front of the tower, I felt such a mixture of emotions, I was so proud of the guys who had completed the ride, I was gutted that I wasn’t able to do it with them and the knowledge that I probably never will be able to do it was almost unbearable. When Dave (the organiser), Laura (the administrator) and Derick the doctor came over to where I was with a London to Paris t-shirt and “said put it on and get in the photo” I nearly died! It was something I hadn’t ever expected to happen and wasn’t the reason I was there – it was so out of the blue that once again the emotion overcame me.
So how should I look at this? 300 miles will always be a challenge but 300 miles in a 100˚ heat wave is even more of a challenge and when you couple with this the route which we were given and the humidity that usually comes with the warmer weather in this part of the world it makes for an even more difficult time is one way. I fought the disease and the disease won – and perhaps I should listen to people like Debby Purdy rather than trying to show everyone that things can be different is another way but I am trying to be as positive as I can, Penni and I have decided that after she has had the baby, after my wedding and when the weather is not as hot (probably next autumn) we will ride our bike from Barry to St David’s in west Wales. It doesn’t have the same impact as London to Paris but it will be 150 miles and we will both be doing it.
As it is, am I allowed to say that I got to Paris, it wasn’t on a bike as I had planned but of all the things that I can battle and fight, as much as I would like to I can’t control the weather and I can’t fight a disease that reacts badly to humidity. I can try, but we all know what will happen and what good would it do putting myself into relapse and missing my mate’s party on the weekend and my mate’s wedding in Tunisia the week after? Perhaps this is a bit selfish and not quite accurate but I did put my MS Trust t-shirt on and stand in front of the tower for a photo because although it wasn’t on a bike, I got to Paris and I (and Penni) raised at the last count £4,009 for the charity; four thousand pounds more than they would have had if we hadn’t decided that we would try this challenge.
I won’t be begging anymore as I really don’t think that I can (and although your donations have already gone to the charity, if you want the sponsorship money back please let me know) but I hope that the promise that both Penni and I will ride 150 miles in cooler weather and the 90 miles from Wednesday will be symbolic enough for you to keep your donation to the MS Trust. And if you want to give anyway or know anyone who does the online donation page is open until October.
So thank you everyone for your support over the last year – it has been one of the most inspiring things ever and it has really helped me with training and fundraising to know that you have been behind me.
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Monday, 29 June 2009
The Last Post Before I Go
Now I really don’t know what to say! I am packed, my bike is ready but I don’t know if I am! I have a super new saddle, some slime filled inner tubes and Dave managed to fit the pump to my bike frame this evening. I have some sugary drinks; some energy bars and a high visibility vest so that when I am trippin’ my head off on glucose and fall in the river – I will at least be seen!
So, at about 10.30 tomorrow morning my mum, my dad, my sister and I will be on our way up the M4 east bound towards the smoke. I don’t know what to expect but I am, as I mentioned before completely petrified! I find the thought of sharing a room with a stranger for the first time in 13 years is really daunting! All I hope is that I will be sharing with someone who is as worried about the whole things and who will be as nervous about cycling 300 miles as I am!
All I know, is that I have done all that I could have to prepare for this challenge, whether it is enough or not will soon be known and I am sure that in 10 years time I will look back and think what a brillo time I had! Although I don’t think that will make the next 36 hours any easier! I am meeting up with a great mate tomorrow night – and that will defo be a good thing and I know that between her, her fiancée, my folks and my sister I will be made to laugh and the time will just fly! (In a good way!)
Well – here we are, my final post until it is all over and I really can’t think of anything interesting to say – no doubt I will want to finish the story when I get home and no doubt it probably won’t be for a few days – but I won’t hold myself to that – who knows, I might be on such a high that my fingers won’t keep up with my brain and I will have to get typing as soon as I get in! Whatever happens – it will be alright, won’t it?! We will see!
Until it is all over; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni (it's up to £3,879 now but we still need more!)
Loadsa love, Jx
So, at about 10.30 tomorrow morning my mum, my dad, my sister and I will be on our way up the M4 east bound towards the smoke. I don’t know what to expect but I am, as I mentioned before completely petrified! I find the thought of sharing a room with a stranger for the first time in 13 years is really daunting! All I hope is that I will be sharing with someone who is as worried about the whole things and who will be as nervous about cycling 300 miles as I am!
All I know, is that I have done all that I could have to prepare for this challenge, whether it is enough or not will soon be known and I am sure that in 10 years time I will look back and think what a brillo time I had! Although I don’t think that will make the next 36 hours any easier! I am meeting up with a great mate tomorrow night – and that will defo be a good thing and I know that between her, her fiancée, my folks and my sister I will be made to laugh and the time will just fly! (In a good way!)
Well – here we are, my final post until it is all over and I really can’t think of anything interesting to say – no doubt I will want to finish the story when I get home and no doubt it probably won’t be for a few days – but I won’t hold myself to that – who knows, I might be on such a high that my fingers won’t keep up with my brain and I will have to get typing as soon as I get in! Whatever happens – it will be alright, won’t it?! We will see!
Until it is all over; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni (it's up to £3,879 now but we still need more!)
Loadsa love, Jx
Sunday, 28 June 2009
72 Hours and (H)I’ll be Hon my Whey!
Can you believe it? I can’t!
It is 5pm, on Sunday, the 28th of June which actually means that it is less than 72 hours until I set off – but there is so much to do still! Like get thin, get fit, get a larger seat for my bike, get Dave to fix the water bottle holder to the frame (which I have just found out, doesn't fit!), get another bag for the frame of my bike – these things all take time and I just don’t have any now!
Still – I have been doing as was suggested in the information day – I have still been training this week but I have been very careful about it all! I am not planning on going at all tomorrow (Monday) and I won’t have a chance on Tuesday and then 6-6.30 on Wednesday is registration on Blackheath ready for a 7am at the latest set off!
I am having mixed feelings about the whole thing now – they range between complete panic and a relaxed state of c’est la vie but as Penni said, when I get there the feeling of being on the ceiling will probably be with me for ever more and “I rode a bike from London to Paris” will replace “I have more letters after my name than in it” as my favourite thing to say!
Today I have been to the gym and done another hour of resistance training and I am toying with the idea of going on the sun bed for a few minutes as we have been promised 30˚ heat next week I think I should try and give my skin a fighting chance – and if it rains, I will be very annoyed! Although I probably won’t be too unhappy as I am stopping off in M&S on the way home tomorrow to buy a waterproof packable jacket – watch me spend £15 on that at the weather forecast be completely right – but then again, we know what will happen if I don’t!
The online donation page is looking really very good and is up to £3,660 and I have £166 to send in with one more collection box still out collecting but we still need more! Please keep spreading the word and thanks to everyone for their support!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
It is 5pm, on Sunday, the 28th of June which actually means that it is less than 72 hours until I set off – but there is so much to do still! Like get thin, get fit, get a larger seat for my bike, get Dave to fix the water bottle holder to the frame (which I have just found out, doesn't fit!), get another bag for the frame of my bike – these things all take time and I just don’t have any now!
Still – I have been doing as was suggested in the information day – I have still been training this week but I have been very careful about it all! I am not planning on going at all tomorrow (Monday) and I won’t have a chance on Tuesday and then 6-6.30 on Wednesday is registration on Blackheath ready for a 7am at the latest set off!
I am having mixed feelings about the whole thing now – they range between complete panic and a relaxed state of c’est la vie but as Penni said, when I get there the feeling of being on the ceiling will probably be with me for ever more and “I rode a bike from London to Paris” will replace “I have more letters after my name than in it” as my favourite thing to say!
Today I have been to the gym and done another hour of resistance training and I am toying with the idea of going on the sun bed for a few minutes as we have been promised 30˚ heat next week I think I should try and give my skin a fighting chance – and if it rains, I will be very annoyed! Although I probably won’t be too unhappy as I am stopping off in M&S on the way home tomorrow to buy a waterproof packable jacket – watch me spend £15 on that at the weather forecast be completely right – but then again, we know what will happen if I don’t!
The online donation page is looking really very good and is up to £3,660 and I have £166 to send in with one more collection box still out collecting but we still need more! Please keep spreading the word and thanks to everyone for their support!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
7 days to the off!
Now I know I said that I would update the page every day until I go and I haven’t – I am realising now that it is probably a bit on the impossible side too! I can’t do it every day – I haven’t the time to do everything else that I am supposed to do including last minute training but I did go last night. Honest!
The training guide I had said that the furthest distance I must have done by the time I go is 60 miles – and I have done that! (62 if I am being pedantic!) I also feel that with proper breaks and a bit of company I could have gone on further – surely that has to be a good thing? It also said that in the week before the ride I should take training quite easy, well, I certainly don’t need much encouragement on that point! I have been training for the best part of a year but probably not as hard as I could (or dare I say, should have!) Anyway, this week I have decided to go for resistance rather than distance in the gym. I went for a proper strength workout Tuesday and if I go on Thursday and Sunday I should be OK and I will certainly feel ready – but I don’t know if I will be!
I think I will have a slightly less strenuous work out tonight and do 5 minutes on the sun bed. That should see me right! I did an hour last night but as I say, I went for resistance to make things tougher for the time that I was there! I did 15 minutes on level 10 on the exercise bike, 15 minutes on the treadmill at 13% gradient and 5.5km an hour, 15 minutes on the cross trainer at level 10, 8 minutes on the stepper machine at level 7 and 7 minutes on the arm exercise bike going down a level after every minute and finishing on level 2. All in all, only an hour gone out of the evening and a workout that was better than doing nothing, burned 398 calories and actually managed to get rid of the headache I had gone in with!
So, a week today and I will be on my way – I am thinking to myself that if I can get through the Wednesday, I will have done the longest day and that I should be OK after that – but I am worried about getting to Dover in time – it is a long way and I am not the kind of person who thrives under pressure – I avoid it at all costs if I am honest! Still, we can but try!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
The training guide I had said that the furthest distance I must have done by the time I go is 60 miles – and I have done that! (62 if I am being pedantic!) I also feel that with proper breaks and a bit of company I could have gone on further – surely that has to be a good thing? It also said that in the week before the ride I should take training quite easy, well, I certainly don’t need much encouragement on that point! I have been training for the best part of a year but probably not as hard as I could (or dare I say, should have!) Anyway, this week I have decided to go for resistance rather than distance in the gym. I went for a proper strength workout Tuesday and if I go on Thursday and Sunday I should be OK and I will certainly feel ready – but I don’t know if I will be!
I think I will have a slightly less strenuous work out tonight and do 5 minutes on the sun bed. That should see me right! I did an hour last night but as I say, I went for resistance to make things tougher for the time that I was there! I did 15 minutes on level 10 on the exercise bike, 15 minutes on the treadmill at 13% gradient and 5.5km an hour, 15 minutes on the cross trainer at level 10, 8 minutes on the stepper machine at level 7 and 7 minutes on the arm exercise bike going down a level after every minute and finishing on level 2. All in all, only an hour gone out of the evening and a workout that was better than doing nothing, burned 398 calories and actually managed to get rid of the headache I had gone in with!
So, a week today and I will be on my way – I am thinking to myself that if I can get through the Wednesday, I will have done the longest day and that I should be OK after that – but I am worried about getting to Dover in time – it is a long way and I am not the kind of person who thrives under pressure – I avoid it at all costs if I am honest! Still, we can but try!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Saturday, 20 June 2009
11 Days ‘Till the Off!
Well I was planning to update my blog every day until I go but I am very aware that I didn’t do it yesterday. There were a few reasons for this, I didn’t have anything to say really (I know, that hasn’t stopped me in the past!) but I didn’t go training, I only went on the sun bed and I don’t think that counts and, if I’m honest - I did forget! Well, Penni and Andrew came home for the weekend and so it was a bit too exciting to show Penni photos of the flowers I have chosen for my wedding and admire her beginning to show bump!
Today (Saturday) I have more than made up for not training yesterday – well, I think so! I was in the gym this morning by about 9.30 and there I stayed until about 1.30 – I am not exactly sure of the time but whichever way – I wasn’t there less than 4 or more than 5 hours and in that time, I did, among other things like the treadmill up hill and quite quickly for 10 minutes and the cross trainer for 10 minutes and the arm bike for 10 minutes 100km of cycling! 100km which I think makes it about 62 miles and all on a bowl of sugar puffs! If I had done another 45km I would have done 90 miles and I would have done the first day of the challenge! I don't mind admitting that I am feeling positive in my ability to do that as well! Especially after this morning in the gym!
The training schedule that I was sent a few months ago suggested that the longest training cycle I do should be 60 miles, having done that I am feeling more positive but I am still not sure! It seems to have come around so quickly – I know it has been the best part of a year that I have been planning this, but the last 3 months have really crept up on me and now I am off in 11 days and it is all a bit sudden! Ah well – I hope I am right in thinking that as Paris is south from London – it will be down hill all the way. I think I am probably very wrong on that one but there is always hope – isn’t there?
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Today (Saturday) I have more than made up for not training yesterday – well, I think so! I was in the gym this morning by about 9.30 and there I stayed until about 1.30 – I am not exactly sure of the time but whichever way – I wasn’t there less than 4 or more than 5 hours and in that time, I did, among other things like the treadmill up hill and quite quickly for 10 minutes and the cross trainer for 10 minutes and the arm bike for 10 minutes 100km of cycling! 100km which I think makes it about 62 miles and all on a bowl of sugar puffs! If I had done another 45km I would have done 90 miles and I would have done the first day of the challenge! I don't mind admitting that I am feeling positive in my ability to do that as well! Especially after this morning in the gym!
The training schedule that I was sent a few months ago suggested that the longest training cycle I do should be 60 miles, having done that I am feeling more positive but I am still not sure! It seems to have come around so quickly – I know it has been the best part of a year that I have been planning this, but the last 3 months have really crept up on me and now I am off in 11 days and it is all a bit sudden! Ah well – I hope I am right in thinking that as Paris is south from London – it will be down hill all the way. I think I am probably very wrong on that one but there is always hope – isn’t there?
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Thursday, 18 June 2009
And that ain’t no lie!
It took me an hour and a half to get home tonight – mostly because of the second Take That concert in two days but also because of a break down/ fire on the M4. A good job I had already decided not to go to the gym or out on the bike and only go for a sun bed instead!
The weather was something of a mixed bad anyway, nice sunshine by the end of the day but rain galore throughout which made the road wet and huge puddles everywhere and that was not something I wanted to be involved in! After my time on the tanning bed I am not quite brown but at least my skin is getting a bit weathered and should be able to stand a little bit more of the elements than it would otherwise!
Dave suggested that on Saturday we put the bikes in the car and go off and find somewhere to have a bit of a burn. (My words not his!) I think that if the weather is nice this could be a really nice thing to do! Getting ready for the great outdoors but as I say, I am only going if the weather is nice! I wonder if I could use this thought for the bike ride as a whole – I’m only going if the weather is nice!? Something to think about!
So, tonight – as long as there are no hold ups on the motorway, people dancing in the carriageway of the A470 or chickens dancing the birdie song on the Port Road I should be home at a reasonable time. Be able to get changed PDQ and get up to the gym by 5.30! (This would be cutting it very fine but there is always a slim chance!) The plan this evening is to do 50km/ 30 miles and be back by 4 for tea and buns with the chaps in the mess! (Or a cup of tea and a biscuit with my granddad as he’s not very well!) Will let chas know how I go tomorrow -
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
The weather was something of a mixed bad anyway, nice sunshine by the end of the day but rain galore throughout which made the road wet and huge puddles everywhere and that was not something I wanted to be involved in! After my time on the tanning bed I am not quite brown but at least my skin is getting a bit weathered and should be able to stand a little bit more of the elements than it would otherwise!
Dave suggested that on Saturday we put the bikes in the car and go off and find somewhere to have a bit of a burn. (My words not his!) I think that if the weather is nice this could be a really nice thing to do! Getting ready for the great outdoors but as I say, I am only going if the weather is nice! I wonder if I could use this thought for the bike ride as a whole – I’m only going if the weather is nice!? Something to think about!
So, tonight – as long as there are no hold ups on the motorway, people dancing in the carriageway of the A470 or chickens dancing the birdie song on the Port Road I should be home at a reasonable time. Be able to get changed PDQ and get up to the gym by 5.30! (This would be cutting it very fine but there is always a slim chance!) The plan this evening is to do 50km/ 30 miles and be back by 4 for tea and buns with the chaps in the mess! (Or a cup of tea and a biscuit with my granddad as he’s not very well!) Will let chas know how I go tomorrow -
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Take That have sooo much to answer for!
Well, I left work with all good intentions of going straight to the gym, I had my training shoes, trousers and shirt with me but two things I didn’t have were my membership card and TGS key! I couldn’t go in without them and so thought that I would change at home but I would still go.
I left work at quarter past 6 expecting a clear run home as rush hour should be over by that time but something I wasn’t counting on was the traffic going into Cardiff to see Take That. So, after spending 40 minutes to travel a distance that should have taken about 10 – I wasn’t in the mood for the gym. Not content to do nothing I did go out on the real bike.
This was quite good because it was the longest I have been on the road for ages and it was the first time out on my own. Every other time I have been with David or Penni but last night I was alone! I left at about 7.10 and was back having done 6 and a half miles by 7.40. Did the old route that Penni and I used to do (left out of my street, over and around the island, back along the Parade, down to the Knap, along the prom, up the bas*ard hill in front of Romily Park, over the top into the one way system, down the down hill and back over the island to repeat the route) done twice this makes 6.5 miles. I was quite pleased with my performance – didn’t need to stop at all on the way around (even to blow the old hooter!) and the new tyres certainly made peddling easier – although there is not so much comfort in them and you definitely feel every single bump! Had it not been so late in the day I would have stayed out longer, but the evening was beginning to draw in and as it was my first time out on my own I didn’t want to push it!
The biggest worry I have now is that my bike may be too small after all! I really hope that we can find a way of putting my seat a bit higher because I couldn’t stretch my leg fully on the pedals yesterday and it was not the most comfortable thing I have ever known! I tried standing up and leaning forward to try and stretch my legs a bit, as I would do on the bikes in the gym but this proved to be a very bad idea! Balance is usually a problem for me and this showed that it would be a bad balance thing!
On another positive, I found that cycling wearing contact lenses is a lot easier than wearing glasses! I found that when I am cycling, to relieve tensions in various areas I lean forward but look up and this often meant that I was looking over my glasses, not the best thing to do when I need to see where I am going, what is coming towards me etc, but with the lenses this isn’t a problem! I think they are fantastic and although I don’t think I will wear them every day – they are perhaps the best £75 I have spent in a long time!
Although I am really starting to worry and hope to goodness that the training I have been doing will be enough, I am not planning on going to the gym or out on the bike tonight – instead I am going to have a few minutes on the sun bed! The other thing that has been worrying me a bit is the possibility of getting so burned that the pain from the cycling is the last thing on my mind! I burn so easily that I really think I need to give my body a fighting chance and hope that a couple of 3 minute sessions on the sun bed will be enough to help avoid this! If only I had given this much thought to the rest of it! Ah well – something to tell the grandkids hey!?
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
I left work at quarter past 6 expecting a clear run home as rush hour should be over by that time but something I wasn’t counting on was the traffic going into Cardiff to see Take That. So, after spending 40 minutes to travel a distance that should have taken about 10 – I wasn’t in the mood for the gym. Not content to do nothing I did go out on the real bike.
This was quite good because it was the longest I have been on the road for ages and it was the first time out on my own. Every other time I have been with David or Penni but last night I was alone! I left at about 7.10 and was back having done 6 and a half miles by 7.40. Did the old route that Penni and I used to do (left out of my street, over and around the island, back along the Parade, down to the Knap, along the prom, up the bas*ard hill in front of Romily Park, over the top into the one way system, down the down hill and back over the island to repeat the route) done twice this makes 6.5 miles. I was quite pleased with my performance – didn’t need to stop at all on the way around (even to blow the old hooter!) and the new tyres certainly made peddling easier – although there is not so much comfort in them and you definitely feel every single bump! Had it not been so late in the day I would have stayed out longer, but the evening was beginning to draw in and as it was my first time out on my own I didn’t want to push it!
The biggest worry I have now is that my bike may be too small after all! I really hope that we can find a way of putting my seat a bit higher because I couldn’t stretch my leg fully on the pedals yesterday and it was not the most comfortable thing I have ever known! I tried standing up and leaning forward to try and stretch my legs a bit, as I would do on the bikes in the gym but this proved to be a very bad idea! Balance is usually a problem for me and this showed that it would be a bad balance thing!
On another positive, I found that cycling wearing contact lenses is a lot easier than wearing glasses! I found that when I am cycling, to relieve tensions in various areas I lean forward but look up and this often meant that I was looking over my glasses, not the best thing to do when I need to see where I am going, what is coming towards me etc, but with the lenses this isn’t a problem! I think they are fantastic and although I don’t think I will wear them every day – they are perhaps the best £75 I have spent in a long time!
Although I am really starting to worry and hope to goodness that the training I have been doing will be enough, I am not planning on going to the gym or out on the bike tonight – instead I am going to have a few minutes on the sun bed! The other thing that has been worrying me a bit is the possibility of getting so burned that the pain from the cycling is the last thing on my mind! I burn so easily that I really think I need to give my body a fighting chance and hope that a couple of 3 minute sessions on the sun bed will be enough to help avoid this! If only I had given this much thought to the rest of it! Ah well – something to tell the grandkids hey!?
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
2 Weeks or 13 Full Days and 14 Sleeps to go!
You don’t need to say it – I know what you’re thinking! You’re thinking will she be ready to go in 13 days 14 sleeps and the answer is an unequivocal, yes of course I will what a thing to say! (eek!)
OH I JUST DON’T KNOW! I feel a little happier about a lot of things – I have now spent a king’s ransom on padded shorts and bum bags for the trip – I even managed to come away from one shop paying £7 less than I thought I would have to – it’s only seven quid but ‘every little helps’ and when you are spending a load of cash £7 can go one of 2 ways – either think to yourself it’s only £7 and what is that against £100 or as I am spending £100 I am pleased that I was able to spend £93 and save £7 – whichever way you look at it, it’s a bit of a bonus!
I am also reasonably happy with the training. On Sunday I did 50 miles/ 80 kilometres in the gym. I got there at just after 9.15 and I left about 12.40 so I was there for the best part of 4 hours but I also did some time on the cross trainer in between my 2 sessions of 40km. The thinking was that if I ask the bike to let me ride for 80km straight it might seem like a never ending task and I find the exercise bike boring enough as it is – 80km might have seen me giving up and thinking ‘to hell with it!’ 40km x 2 was difficult enough. While in stage 2, I was pleased to bump into a girl that I was at school with as I wasn’t doing so well when I saw her, I couldn’t get comfortable on my bike, there was not much left in my legs, I had filled my water bottle up twice and was still like a prune and things were not going my way at all! But chatting to Heledd gave me a boost at the right time and sometimes a bit of company and conversation can be the best thing. I think that is what I will miss most without Penni – besides the looking out for each other thing that would have happened, conversation with someone you know can really be a lifesaver – especially as it can be so boring when you don’t know anyone and you know you have a huge hill to climb or, in my case try and ride your bike up! I know there will be other people on the ride and so I won’t be alone and I used to be able to make friends quite quickly and I generally find it easy to speak to people – I just hope that everyone is as chatty as I am (because, let’s face it, I don’t shut up) and I hope that I can find someone in the same situation as me. I have a feeling that most of the folks will be!
I am off to the gym from work tonight – have my tracky bums, trainers and tee to get changed and go straight, it is too hard to go to the gym if I have been home first! Too easy to sit down and watch Neighbours or Diagnosis Murder on the Hallmark channel and think ‘tomorrow, I’ll go tomorrow’. Tomorrow has its own set of tasks and chores and things to do that you again end up thinking to yourself, ‘tomorrow’, what I need to do is remember that I will be just as bone idle tomorrow as I am today, so better go now while I think about it!
The one bonus of doing long stints in the gym like the one I did on Sunday is that it gets you ready for long days on the bike and now that I have done 50 miles in under 4 hours I know I can do it again, because I have already done it! Albeit in the gym and not on the road – I know that it is going to be very different, but I am doing more training than I would be doing if I was relying only on the open road! Penni said ages ago that dad had offered to pay for us to use the gym, although he never mentioned it to me I wish we had taken him up on his offer and that I had been doing this for longer – still, every little helps hey and I am certainly glad that I am going, can you imagine if I wasn’t? Doesn’t bear thinking about really does it?! I do know that when I had done the 40 miles the other week, I really felt like I had worked my legs and they were, I don’t mind admitting it – rather tender! This time when I had done 50 – I felt completely fine and after a bit of a break and a change of scenery I think I could have carried on for a while! That has to be a good sign! Doesn’t it? I am going to aim for 50km tonight which should make it just over 30 miles, only hope I am home in time for the news at 10! (Working until 6 so won’t get there until about quarter to seven!)
The other BIG news I have about the ride is that I have finally found the right glasses to wear – none! That is not as bad as it sounds, I have moved to contact lenses and I love them! They are taking a little time to get used to and so I am practising now, but no more messing about worrying that if it rains I will be stopping every 2 seconds to wipe my specs and if I play my cards right, David might buy me a pair of fantastic designer sunshades! (He might not but there is always the chance hey!)
Sponsorship is still on the slow side and we won’t be having the jewellery party before I go after all. We may still have one and do it as a fundraiser but closer to Christmas. Otherwise, the online donation page is still at £3,475 but the form at my desk is now worth £130, I have collected the penny pots from the various places in which they were left, David now has one on his desk at work and I have been promised some cash from various members of the family – all in all, I think we can be proud of the money raised and happy in the knowledge that the MS Trust desperately need it and will use it well!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
OH I JUST DON’T KNOW! I feel a little happier about a lot of things – I have now spent a king’s ransom on padded shorts and bum bags for the trip – I even managed to come away from one shop paying £7 less than I thought I would have to – it’s only seven quid but ‘every little helps’ and when you are spending a load of cash £7 can go one of 2 ways – either think to yourself it’s only £7 and what is that against £100 or as I am spending £100 I am pleased that I was able to spend £93 and save £7 – whichever way you look at it, it’s a bit of a bonus!
I am also reasonably happy with the training. On Sunday I did 50 miles/ 80 kilometres in the gym. I got there at just after 9.15 and I left about 12.40 so I was there for the best part of 4 hours but I also did some time on the cross trainer in between my 2 sessions of 40km. The thinking was that if I ask the bike to let me ride for 80km straight it might seem like a never ending task and I find the exercise bike boring enough as it is – 80km might have seen me giving up and thinking ‘to hell with it!’ 40km x 2 was difficult enough. While in stage 2, I was pleased to bump into a girl that I was at school with as I wasn’t doing so well when I saw her, I couldn’t get comfortable on my bike, there was not much left in my legs, I had filled my water bottle up twice and was still like a prune and things were not going my way at all! But chatting to Heledd gave me a boost at the right time and sometimes a bit of company and conversation can be the best thing. I think that is what I will miss most without Penni – besides the looking out for each other thing that would have happened, conversation with someone you know can really be a lifesaver – especially as it can be so boring when you don’t know anyone and you know you have a huge hill to climb or, in my case try and ride your bike up! I know there will be other people on the ride and so I won’t be alone and I used to be able to make friends quite quickly and I generally find it easy to speak to people – I just hope that everyone is as chatty as I am (because, let’s face it, I don’t shut up) and I hope that I can find someone in the same situation as me. I have a feeling that most of the folks will be!
I am off to the gym from work tonight – have my tracky bums, trainers and tee to get changed and go straight, it is too hard to go to the gym if I have been home first! Too easy to sit down and watch Neighbours or Diagnosis Murder on the Hallmark channel and think ‘tomorrow, I’ll go tomorrow’. Tomorrow has its own set of tasks and chores and things to do that you again end up thinking to yourself, ‘tomorrow’, what I need to do is remember that I will be just as bone idle tomorrow as I am today, so better go now while I think about it!
The one bonus of doing long stints in the gym like the one I did on Sunday is that it gets you ready for long days on the bike and now that I have done 50 miles in under 4 hours I know I can do it again, because I have already done it! Albeit in the gym and not on the road – I know that it is going to be very different, but I am doing more training than I would be doing if I was relying only on the open road! Penni said ages ago that dad had offered to pay for us to use the gym, although he never mentioned it to me I wish we had taken him up on his offer and that I had been doing this for longer – still, every little helps hey and I am certainly glad that I am going, can you imagine if I wasn’t? Doesn’t bear thinking about really does it?! I do know that when I had done the 40 miles the other week, I really felt like I had worked my legs and they were, I don’t mind admitting it – rather tender! This time when I had done 50 – I felt completely fine and after a bit of a break and a change of scenery I think I could have carried on for a while! That has to be a good sign! Doesn’t it? I am going to aim for 50km tonight which should make it just over 30 miles, only hope I am home in time for the news at 10! (Working until 6 so won’t get there until about quarter to seven!)
The other BIG news I have about the ride is that I have finally found the right glasses to wear – none! That is not as bad as it sounds, I have moved to contact lenses and I love them! They are taking a little time to get used to and so I am practising now, but no more messing about worrying that if it rains I will be stopping every 2 seconds to wipe my specs and if I play my cards right, David might buy me a pair of fantastic designer sunshades! (He might not but there is always the chance hey!)
Sponsorship is still on the slow side and we won’t be having the jewellery party before I go after all. We may still have one and do it as a fundraiser but closer to Christmas. Otherwise, the online donation page is still at £3,475 but the form at my desk is now worth £130, I have collected the penny pots from the various places in which they were left, David now has one on his desk at work and I have been promised some cash from various members of the family – all in all, I think we can be proud of the money raised and happy in the knowledge that the MS Trust desperately need it and will use it well!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
OH MY WORD!!!
Can you believe it? This time next month it will all be over!
This event has been in the pipeline for so long that it almost doesn’t seem real anymore but here it is 3 weeks (and 1 day) to go! This time, three weeks from now and I will be in London (or very near it if not there yet!) ready to leave at silly o’clock the next day! My dad has bought a bike carrier for the back of the car and the other day, we tried it out. Now, considering that we are both (reasonably) clever people (and that dad is an engineer) it still took us the best part of 2 hours to put the thing together and assembled on the car! Could have been worse (especially with the instructions that were provided!) we could have left it until the day we left!
Penni, my mum and dad are coming to London on the Tuesday and are going to try and follow the ride to Dover. Then, when I am on the boat they are going to my aunt’s house in Kent for the night and are going to travel to Paris the on the Thursday. There was talk about 6 months ago that they were going to hire a Winnebago and follow the ride all the way (although I didn’t ever expect that to happen!) but instead they are going to make their way straight to Paris, stay at my cousin’s flat and I will meet them there (hopefully!) on the Saturday. David has arranged a flight over on the Saturday morning and a hotel for that night and the plan is for the 5 of us to go for a meal that night as it will be Dave’s birthday before travelling home on the Sunday. So, one way or another we are sorted. It is nice that my parents, sister and Dave will be there when (if) I arrive under the Eiffel Tower but it seems to have been one of the most difficult things in the world to organise! It has made the training seem reasonably easy!
On that subject, training has been going well. I am averaging 20-25 miles every time I go to the gym as well as doing some of the other exercises to try and build up some other muscles and the other day I did 40 miles but that is the furthest I have done and I know that I need to build the distances that I do, but my heart has really not been in it – especially since I found out that Penni can’t come too! Don’t get me wrong I am over the moon at being aunty Jo, but we were spurring each other on for the bike ride and it would have been brillo to do it with her – but as I said in my last post, this is the only thing that I would let her off for!
Fundraising has taken a slow turn recently – my mum is planning a jewellery party to raise funds but we are still waiting for the lady who runs them to get back to us with a date – hopefully it won’t be too long – but I am still being delighted by people’s generosity! The just giving page is up to £3,475, I have a sponsorship form at my desk with £75 worth on it, there are still donation pots to collect from 2 shops in Holton Road and a pub run by the sister of one of my colleagues and the receptionist at the campus I used to work in has a form for me as does the campus office of my current campus so I think we should more than meet the £3,500 target we set when we broke the last one of £2,500 – but as you can imagine, (and as I always say) I want to raise as much as I can!
Still – I can’t be too down hearted, the money side of things is looking very good, the folks are going to meet me in Paris and it is a very worthy charity that is getting the money! Although I am really starting to worry about the physical act of getting there! It certainly will be a challenge – I think I will jump out of a plane next time; at least it would be all over and done with, no preparing mentally and physically for months!
Oh, enough – I’m sure it will be fine – in 3 weeks I will be wondering what in the world I was worried about and will be enjoying going to the gym to get thin and fit for the wedding instead! 300 miles in 4 days – I ask you, what kind of fool was I in the first place? Penni said last year when I came out with the idea that it wouldn’t be as easy as I thought – why didn’t I listen?!! Ah well, no good thinking like that now – need to be the train in Dumbo (I feel like a Dumbo!) “I think I can I know I can”!
Right, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page http://www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
This event has been in the pipeline for so long that it almost doesn’t seem real anymore but here it is 3 weeks (and 1 day) to go! This time, three weeks from now and I will be in London (or very near it if not there yet!) ready to leave at silly o’clock the next day! My dad has bought a bike carrier for the back of the car and the other day, we tried it out. Now, considering that we are both (reasonably) clever people (and that dad is an engineer) it still took us the best part of 2 hours to put the thing together and assembled on the car! Could have been worse (especially with the instructions that were provided!) we could have left it until the day we left!
Penni, my mum and dad are coming to London on the Tuesday and are going to try and follow the ride to Dover. Then, when I am on the boat they are going to my aunt’s house in Kent for the night and are going to travel to Paris the on the Thursday. There was talk about 6 months ago that they were going to hire a Winnebago and follow the ride all the way (although I didn’t ever expect that to happen!) but instead they are going to make their way straight to Paris, stay at my cousin’s flat and I will meet them there (hopefully!) on the Saturday. David has arranged a flight over on the Saturday morning and a hotel for that night and the plan is for the 5 of us to go for a meal that night as it will be Dave’s birthday before travelling home on the Sunday. So, one way or another we are sorted. It is nice that my parents, sister and Dave will be there when (if) I arrive under the Eiffel Tower but it seems to have been one of the most difficult things in the world to organise! It has made the training seem reasonably easy!
On that subject, training has been going well. I am averaging 20-25 miles every time I go to the gym as well as doing some of the other exercises to try and build up some other muscles and the other day I did 40 miles but that is the furthest I have done and I know that I need to build the distances that I do, but my heart has really not been in it – especially since I found out that Penni can’t come too! Don’t get me wrong I am over the moon at being aunty Jo, but we were spurring each other on for the bike ride and it would have been brillo to do it with her – but as I said in my last post, this is the only thing that I would let her off for!
Fundraising has taken a slow turn recently – my mum is planning a jewellery party to raise funds but we are still waiting for the lady who runs them to get back to us with a date – hopefully it won’t be too long – but I am still being delighted by people’s generosity! The just giving page is up to £3,475, I have a sponsorship form at my desk with £75 worth on it, there are still donation pots to collect from 2 shops in Holton Road and a pub run by the sister of one of my colleagues and the receptionist at the campus I used to work in has a form for me as does the campus office of my current campus so I think we should more than meet the £3,500 target we set when we broke the last one of £2,500 – but as you can imagine, (and as I always say) I want to raise as much as I can!
Still – I can’t be too down hearted, the money side of things is looking very good, the folks are going to meet me in Paris and it is a very worthy charity that is getting the money! Although I am really starting to worry about the physical act of getting there! It certainly will be a challenge – I think I will jump out of a plane next time; at least it would be all over and done with, no preparing mentally and physically for months!
Oh, enough – I’m sure it will be fine – in 3 weeks I will be wondering what in the world I was worried about and will be enjoying going to the gym to get thin and fit for the wedding instead! 300 miles in 4 days – I ask you, what kind of fool was I in the first place? Penni said last year when I came out with the idea that it wouldn’t be as easy as I thought – why didn’t I listen?!! Ah well, no good thinking like that now – need to be the train in Dumbo (I feel like a Dumbo!) “I think I can I know I can”!
Right, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page http://www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
7 Weeks Today!
Oh my word! Today is Wednesday, May the 13th and I leave London on Wednesday, July the 1st! What was I thinking? I think I should have had a serious word with myself on the day I thought it was a cool thing to do to ride a bike 300 miles from London to Paris!
I was in an information day on Saturday in London which was supposed to put your mind at ease but I am not sure if it did or not! There were some people there who think of this as an easy time – who are so used to cycling for miles and miles who actually asked how for ahead of the group they could go on! All I could do was sit, listen and think of all the other things that I could have done – as I always say, if I had jumped out of an aeroplane I would have done it by now and it would all be over! There were a number of people who didn’t look very fit at all and some who looked a bit like me – sort of rabbit in the headlights thinking is it too late to say forget it, and how much have I raised so far and is it possible that I could reclaim the money from the charity or pay everyone back myself? Although nobody actually said these things, I know it wasn’t just me who was thinking them!
There were some handy hints passed on by the organisers, things like don’t forget your high visibility jacket because if it rains while you are cycling in France and you don’t wear it they will charge you €35 and make sure you have a ‘bum bag’ at all times so that you can carry your passport, money, camera, water, sun cream, waterproof jacket, a jumper if you get to the rest stop and have to wait for any amount of time because you don’t want to catch cold, inner tubes and a tyre pump. Is it me, or does that seem like a lot of stuff to fit into a bum bag? Other handy hints included my personal favourite – “wear padded shorts, go commando and plaster yourself in ‘sudocream’”! Nice!
The best thing that was said and the thing that will be the spur for me to get on and do it is the way that the finish was described! She said that there will be 127 people going on the ride and setting off in groups of 10 we will all go at our own pace and just enjoy the ride (apart from on day 1 when you must be in Dover by 4pm – no question, hence leaving between 6.30 and 7!) but at the end of the ride, everyone meets about 5 miles before the finishing line and as a huge group everyone then cycles around the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs Elysees around the Plas de Concorde and around to the front of the Eifel Tower. Now, that does sound fab doesn’t it!?
When I get there I know that David will be there and I hope he has a really unhealthy sort of cake and a giant glass of sherry (or, as I am in Paris, perhaps Champagne!) because I think I will need it! The only other thing on that point that would be brillo would be if Penni was there too! Yep, you have guessed it – my little sister is going to make me a real aunty Jo! (She must have known that the only way she would get out of the bike ride and the only reason I would forgive her for not coming would be if she was pregnant!) But if she can’t make it – on this occasion, I will forgive her! It will still be Jo AND Penni's fundraising event!
Otherwise, training is going well, but there are a lot of things going on this month which I know will have some sort of impact on the number of hours I can put in at the gym but it will be fine! Donations are up to £3,315.00 but we still need more – please keep telling everyone!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
I was in an information day on Saturday in London which was supposed to put your mind at ease but I am not sure if it did or not! There were some people there who think of this as an easy time – who are so used to cycling for miles and miles who actually asked how for ahead of the group they could go on! All I could do was sit, listen and think of all the other things that I could have done – as I always say, if I had jumped out of an aeroplane I would have done it by now and it would all be over! There were a number of people who didn’t look very fit at all and some who looked a bit like me – sort of rabbit in the headlights thinking is it too late to say forget it, and how much have I raised so far and is it possible that I could reclaim the money from the charity or pay everyone back myself? Although nobody actually said these things, I know it wasn’t just me who was thinking them!
There were some handy hints passed on by the organisers, things like don’t forget your high visibility jacket because if it rains while you are cycling in France and you don’t wear it they will charge you €35 and make sure you have a ‘bum bag’ at all times so that you can carry your passport, money, camera, water, sun cream, waterproof jacket, a jumper if you get to the rest stop and have to wait for any amount of time because you don’t want to catch cold, inner tubes and a tyre pump. Is it me, or does that seem like a lot of stuff to fit into a bum bag? Other handy hints included my personal favourite – “wear padded shorts, go commando and plaster yourself in ‘sudocream’”! Nice!
The best thing that was said and the thing that will be the spur for me to get on and do it is the way that the finish was described! She said that there will be 127 people going on the ride and setting off in groups of 10 we will all go at our own pace and just enjoy the ride (apart from on day 1 when you must be in Dover by 4pm – no question, hence leaving between 6.30 and 7!) but at the end of the ride, everyone meets about 5 miles before the finishing line and as a huge group everyone then cycles around the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs Elysees around the Plas de Concorde and around to the front of the Eifel Tower. Now, that does sound fab doesn’t it!?
When I get there I know that David will be there and I hope he has a really unhealthy sort of cake and a giant glass of sherry (or, as I am in Paris, perhaps Champagne!) because I think I will need it! The only other thing on that point that would be brillo would be if Penni was there too! Yep, you have guessed it – my little sister is going to make me a real aunty Jo! (She must have known that the only way she would get out of the bike ride and the only reason I would forgive her for not coming would be if she was pregnant!) But if she can’t make it – on this occasion, I will forgive her! It will still be Jo AND Penni's fundraising event!
Otherwise, training is going well, but there are a lot of things going on this month which I know will have some sort of impact on the number of hours I can put in at the gym but it will be fine! Donations are up to £3,315.00 but we still need more – please keep telling everyone!
So, until the next time; take great care and don't forget our fundraising page www.justgiving.com/joandpenni
Loadsa love, Jx
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