The London Moonwalk 2017

What a brilliant night it was! 

It started on the train to London where I met a couple of the volunteers who were helping marshall the event plus another walker, Jane. As we were too early to actually be admitted to "Moonwalk City" on Clapham Common, Jane invited me to join her and the friends she was meeting up with, for supper at Nando's first. We then all travelled together on the tube arriving to this wonderous sight!

Jane and her friends let me, "Mrs Billy no-mates", hang around with them while we waited for it all to kick off. They even gave me a set of fairy lights to light up my assets! The amosphere was amazing, with thousands of people, men and women, all dressed up in their decorated bras and variety of accessories from feather boas to tutus, and all there for one cause. Many there were people who had battled breast cancer themselves, others were there walking to remember those who had lost that battle. The memory of the man who stood bravely on the stage wearing a bra to say he was doing this for his sister who had died just twelve weeks ago will stay with me for a long time. it wasn't sad... it was a joyous and uplifting evening.

Eventually by 11.30 pm my group of walkers were off. I was separated from Jane and friends by then but there was always someone to have a friendly chat to en route. A couple of miles in I was joined by my stepson James and his wife who live quite near the start. It was lovely to see them and walk a mile in their company. And the chocolate they brought was very much appreciated!

There was a bit of a bottle neck going underneath Westminster bridge but a chance to photograph the Houses of Parliment and Big Ben as it struck 1 am while we waited for the crowd to ease.

There is something magical about the city at night, especially walking along the river with all the twinkling lights. St Paul's Cathedral looked wonderful.

Tower bridge also looking beautiful all lit up too!

By about 2 am we were crossing Tower Bridge which was still full of traffic. I know New York is known as the city that never sleeps but London didn't seem to get quiet all night long either.

A close up as we walked around St Paul's...

And then around Westminster from the other side of the river just as Big Ben struck 3 am.

From there we made our way along to St. James Park, around Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park Corner and then along the Bayswater road all the way to South Kensington... those felt like long miles so it was very welcome when we started to hear the birds singing heralding the approach of the morning. Unfortunately it also welcomed some light drizzle but we were all equiped with plastic capes to keep the rain out. How wonderful it was to see we had walked 24 miles...

 

But also excrutiating to think we still had to pull another two miles out from somewhere! Shortly after this point James and Elizabeth appeared again (complete with flapjack this time!) and walked the final mile back to Clapham Common with me which once again, was very much appreciated. I crossed the finish line 8 hours and 15 minutes after starting out, which taking into account of the number of stops to cross roads, queue for the loo etc. wasn't too shabby. And despite feeling a little wobbly, a bit damp and very tired I felt fantastic too! Unfortunately I never did see Jane and her friends again so I hope they had a good walk. I think a special mention should be made of all the wonderful volunteers and marshals who not only kept us safe in the never ending London traffic but whose cheers and encouragement kept us going... even the chap who at the 7 mile mark shouted out that we still had miles to go yet! It made me smile.

I managed to stay awake on the way home (well, I might have dozed off a few times but I got off at the right stop!), I went straight to bed and slept for two hours before having a lovely hot bath and didn't feel too bad afterwards.Today I slept until 7.15 which is a lie-in for me and despite some blisters and feeling a little stiff (to be expected really) I'm fine. And would I do it all again... you bet! Although I can't help thinking there are other challenges and obstacles to be overcome that I haven't tried yet! What to do next I wonder?

I know I have given the link to my sponsorship page before but I'll do it one last time as the money raised goes to fund a variety of breast cancer charities ranging from research, treatment, equipment and services, all of which do vital work in battling this disease which will effect 1 in 8 women at some point in their lives, as well as a considerable number of men. And remember, check your breasts, have those mammograms and get walking! Because a daily walk is one of the best things you can do to stay fit and healthy! And if you can spare a couple of quid to sponsor me... then thank you very much!

https://moonwalklondon2017.everydayhero.com/uk/gina-9

Hurtling Towards Sixty

Growing older graciously... not a chance! After many years of being perfectly happy not dyeing my hair, enjoying the freedom of not spending hours at the hairdresser, of not constantly having the roots touched up, not spending a small fortune etc. etc. I decided to celebrate my approaching sixtieth birthday by having all remaining coulour bleached out and a lavender tint put in.

 

I always hated hairdresser visits until I met Tom, but not only does he do a great cut he's also great fun. So visits to the hairdresser are something I enjoy rather than dread. We've been plotting this colour change for several months and I finally took the plunge this week... and I love it! Another thing ticked off my sixty by sixty list.

I doubt it will be something I maintain for long but I'll enjoy it for now. And while I'm growing older disgracefully I might as well show you my outfit for my moonwalk next week. It's not often (if ever) that I wear so little in public but it is all for a good cause. Just keep your fingers crossed that it stays warm and dry overnight on Saturday!

And if any one fancies sponsoring me the link is here:

https://moonwalklondon2017.everydayhero.com/uk/gina-9

Meanwhile I have finished another birthday cake (layers of lemon drizzle) this weekend and have another two to make this week... keeps me out of mischief I guess.

I'll be back soon to tell you all about the walk if not before!

Spinning Plates

It's a phase and I'm sure it will pass as all things do, but I feel like I'm juggling balls and spinning plates at the moment... Ever so slightly out of control. Who am I kidding... Totally out of control!

Since giving up working at the bookshop, cake orders keep coming in which is wonderful. I loving working on each individual cake, each one so different. One minute it's a sophisticated red velvet cake for a thirtieth birthday and the next, an enormous cake plus several traybakes for a party for 300 people... all recorder enthusiasts. Who would have guessed there were that many! This one was ordered by my ex-husband... I resisted telling him it had only been laced with jam and buttercream. He would never have got the joke!

Meanwhile I am also now supplying a coffee shop with cakes and scones, which promises to be regular work, (good news) I'm making my brother's wedding cake next month as well as making myself a dress to wear to the wedding, (looking forward to doing both but not sure when I'll find the time), trying to organise my own birthday party (hoping it will be fun), attempting to keep things calm and peaceful at home (which is much easier said than done... it's complicated), grabbing odd minutes in the garden when I can so it doesn't have a second year of neglect (a losing battle)... all this as well as all the usual day to day stuff like shopping, cooking, cleaning etc. And I forgot... still training for the overnight marathon walk that is just over two weeks away. I have completely lost all incentive to go out and walk long distances at the moment and I'm wondering why on earth I wanted to do it in the first place... but I did make myself do seven miles this morning.

So you can probably appreciate why I feel like I am sinking right now and barely holding it all together. Meanwhile two little girls have just celebrated their first birthdays with these cakes and I've practising my icing skills... I think my boys had a swiss roll with a candle stuck in the top for their first birthdays!

And this weekend I'm wearing my other work hat as I'll be away teaching a class on machine embroidered landscapes.

Which might have been a relaxing weekend away except there has been a problem with the accomodation and I'm going to be driving back home on Saturday evening and back again on Sunday. Oh joy!

At least June is looking like a quieter month I hope... for the moment anyway.

Easter Week

How's your Easter weekend going? The long weekend has been mostly fairly quiet for us so far... youngest son was collected from Guildford with all his worldly shackles on Friday as he he will be living back at home with us for his final term. I managed a long training walk of sixteen miles for my Moonwalk yesterday, as it is only four weeks until the actual event. Despite a broken toe, endless blisters and even being bitten by a dog last week I'm determined not to be beaten. (If you have an urge to sponsor me you can do it here). And today we've had a fabulous meal cooked by my eldest son and his girlfriend... a traditional Greek feast. It remains to be seen what tomorrow will bring!

Before Easter we had a whistle stop visit to Scotland to visit Stewart's parents. We drove up, something we've done many times before and although we always stop for breaks en route they are never anywhere very interesting... Depressing motorway cafes with the ubiquitous Costa Coffee, McDonalds or M & S Food usually! But this time we thought we would try to stop at more interesting places... and tick a few more things off my sixty x sixty list at the same time.

I have long admired the imposing statue The Angel of the North as we whizzed past on the A1 but we've never stopped there before, always saying "we must stop and see it one day". As sixty x sixty is all about doing the things I'll get around to doing "one day" we took the short detour off the motorway to see the statue. At 20 metres tall, the 200 tonne steel statue, created by Anthony Gormley, is Britain's tallest sculpture and just as imposing as you might imagine. I thought it was wonderful!

After a couple of relaxing days in Dundee, taking Stewart's Mum and Dad out and about, it was time to head home again and after checking the tides we decided to take a little detour via the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

It was absolutely beautiful, remote, wild and rugged and we both thought it would be lovely to return one day and take time to do some walking.

However, despite what it may look like from my photos, it was absolutely heaving with people, all trailing along the various paths with their children, dogs and grannies. I don't know what I expected really, in a tourist location on a beautiful sunny day in the Easter holidays... but I couldn't help feeling it would have been really lovely if it was deserted. But very beautiful nevertheless.

We were back on the road in plenty of time before the causeway flooded and our next little detour was to another spot neither of us had been before...

 

A section of Hadrian's Wall, possibly not the most imposing section but we were happy to have found it and to walk along this well preserved section. I was amazed we could clamber right up and over it but maybe it doesn't get that many visitors?

Of course now I'm thinking I'd like to walk the entire 75 mile length of the Hadrian's Wall path from coast to coast... but probably not before I'm sixty! And that is the lovely thing about doing these sixty x sixty projects... they keep throwing up more things I'd like to do! 

Maybe tomorrow we will venture out and about or maybe we will potter around the house and garden but all in all it's been a good week. I hope your Easter week has been fun for you!

Walk the Walk

I keep mentioning walking and training so though it about time I told you what I'm walking and training for! Ever since Gill and I did our Starlight walk, over four years ago, I've had an idea that I would like to do the London Moonwalk... which has nothing to do with Michael Jackson but is an overnight marathon length walk around the streets of London.

And as this is my sixty x sixty year I thought it was now or never. So I am training to walk 26.2 miles, wearing only a decorated bra on my top half... although I'll be doing that during the actual walk, not while I'm training, lest I attract undue attention to myself. And besides it's too blimin' cold for such scanty dress at the moment! I'm hoping it will warm up by May.

The idea is to raise money for breast cancer charities and as I have had three friends battle with this disease it seems a worthy cause for which to raise a bit of cash. I promise I won't keep nagging but if anyone out there fancies parting with the odd pound or two I have an online fundraising page here:

Gina's Fundraising page.

It was all going so well until I stubbed my toe and now that seems okay I'm plagued with blisters. In all the years I used to run I never suffered with blisters but I'm currently sporting three! It's okay I won't subject you to photos of my feet again. Part of the problem is I've been wearing new shoes which are taking some breaking in... they were fine in the shop and around the house and fine the first couple of times I wore them out walking. Then having lured me into a false sense of security they rubbed like mad when I went out for a six mile walk on Saturday. But it will take more than a few blisters to stop me and I am quite determined that by May 13th/14th I'll have another achievement to add to my sixty x sixty list.

 

 And talking sixty x sixty... I added something else to the list on Saturday. I gave a short presentation about wine at a wining tasting event on Saturday evening. It was a fun, informal evening in the village hall to raise funds for the local church so nothing serious but I was still very nervous beforehand. And although it may look like my friend Peter would rather be somewhere else, (I'm kidding Peter!) mostly people laughed in the right places and seemed to be listening... and even if they were just being polite, at least I didn't go on for too long!

 And this was the wine I presented... a rather nice Italian Merlot from the Veneto region... which we are not downing from tumblers should you wonder, but from some rather lovely "stemless" wine glasses that we won in the raffle!

Saluti!

Starlight

The stars were out and the threat of rain never materialised as over 400 walkers gathered at the start of the Starlight walk last night. Gill, Tony and I got ourselves at the front of the pack and at 10 pm we were off...

 

 

Two hours and 59 minutes later we crossed the finishing line among the first 15 - 20 walkers.

We ached rather a lot and were feeling our age but still felt rather pleased to realise we are probably a lot fitter than we imagined. The cup of tea and danish pastry at the end were very welcome!

 

Ten miles and over twenty three thousand steps...

 

With a medal to prove it!

Between us we have raised over £575 for the Garden House Hospice and I know there is still some more sponsorship money to come in. So to everyone who has sponsored us, thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. It is very much appreciated.

Our Justgiving page will remain open until December if you would still like to contribute.

 

As for Betelgeuse... well he did complete the circuit. However it turns out he is a lazy little blighter and I had to carry him all the way.

 

So he really doesn't deserve to wear this medal.

 

And as promised I did the "names in a hat" thing... and Betelgeuse is going off to live with Thelma. Thank you Thelma for sponsoring me... and I hope you enjoy Betelgeuse coming to live with you. He may not be up to walking very far but at least he doesn't eat much.

 

I confess I do ache a little (well perhaps more than a little) this morning but I did walk another two miles to the local shop to get the Sunday paper. I fear if I sit still too long I might seize up completely.

But all in all it was a brilliant evening and a great way to remember my Dad

Cutting it Fine!

Following the success of these little canvases at my Open Studios in July I received two custom orders. Both for little canvases with spotted red jugs, not actually needed until September... so no rush!

 

 

The first one is needed for this afternoon... and I finished them yesterday. To be absolutely truthful I also started them yesterday. Where did I read that "Nothing makes me more productive than the last minute"? So True!

 

And not only did I start and finish the two that were ordered yesterday...

 

I've just completed a third which has now gone into my Etsy shop. These really did fly off the walls at my Open Studios so I thought I would see if they appeal to a wider audience. And if they do I'll make some more! Each one is unique and the designs vary slightly on each.

 

Little wall canvases 6" (15 cm) square

 

Appliqed and free machine stitched by me...

 

and could be owned by you!

 

Other news... tonight is the night of my Starlight walk. Think of me as you are settling down with your cocoa this evening at 10 pm because I'll be heading out for a 10 mile stroll accompanied by Gill, my brother Tony and Betelgeuse the sock monster. I've just popped out to the  post office and there is a definite nip in the air and there are dark clouds looming so fingers crossed it doesn't actually rain.

 

There is still time to sponsor us on my Justgiving Page. And remember... if you would like to win Betelgeuse, after you have sponsored us leave me a comment on this post letting me know.

Wish us luck!

 

http://www.justgiving.com/Gina-Ferrari1

Star Gazing

Let me introduce Betelgeuse... a star studded monster.

Betelgeuse will not be coming with me to sit on my sales table at the Ashwell show on Monday, nor will he be appearing in my Etsy shop... that is beacause Betelgeuse has donned his very smart walking boots to accompany me on a Starlight Walk.

 

 

We are both in training to walk the 10 mile nightime Starlight Walk around the streets of Letchworth on September 7th to raise funds for the Garden House Hospice.

 

It is a year next week since my Dad died of cancer and I am doing this in his memory to raise money for the hospice which offers help to suffers and their families.

 

If you would like to sponsor me you can do it by visiting my Just Giving page (just click on the link). And this is where Betelgeuse comes in... if you would like Betelgeuse to live with you, just sponsor me for any amount you like (every little helps!), leave me a comment here to tell me that is what you have done and after our walk I will put names in a hat and Betelgeuse move house and live with you.

 

Of course I understand that you might not want him to come and live with you... he does look a little bit scary.. in which case you can just sponsor me! I'll only include you in the draw if you let me know that is what you would like.

 

This morning it was raining so he stayed on the sofa and listened to his music and left me to walk on my own. He won't get away with that on 7th September!

 

http://www.justgiving.com/Gina-Ferrari1