And We're Off!

This is my starting point:




Okay, the starting point was actually home but, seeing as I spent the morning in the office, my real start time is here.

David headed off first thing this morning because he was asked to help move the narrowboats. He made it to rugby, despite almost getting on the wrong train. I don't think his caffeine intake had kicked in yet.

I didn't sleep very well last night, to be honest. I think I was more nervous about trying to get all of myself from point A (home) to point E (the narrowboat) via points B (the office), C (New Street Station) and D (Rugby Station) than about the walk itself or anything connected to it.

Tori has already made a good start to the week, but in a completely different way. Seems she had a bit of a Pre-Walk 4 Matt Celebration last night which has left her a wee bit hungover. I think she needs to stay off the narrowboat as long as possible. The canals aren't tidal but there are still waves from other boats and the wind!




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My Personal Challenge

It's time to get my backside in gear and do something about my physical fitness because I'm a lazy so-and-so. I put on a few pounds, take off a few pounds but I never seem to make a real difference.

I know this makes me like most other women. None of us are ever happy with our bodies, not really. But we should be.

Marilyn Monroe was not a stick thin model of femininity. She was a real woman with a real woman's curves. She is often said to have worn a US dress size 12.

I don't want to lose my curves but I do want to get rid of the lumps, bumps and muffin top! I have, therefore, set myself a challenge of losing half a stone (7 pounds) during Walk 4 Matt. The hard part will be sitting in the pubs in the evening with David and the others sticking to water and fruit juice!

Well, it's worth a try because, at 46, it's not going to get any easier!


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Walk 4 Matt 2013

First of all, I must be a better blogger. I must be a better blogger. I must be a better blogger.

Okay, time to move on.

I've been trying to run two separate blogs - one for travel and one for general randomness - and I have failed with both so I'm going to combine them into one. This is the winner because the title lends itself well to including all of my travel blogs, particularly in relation to my next trip.

The next trip is another chance to have a holiday with a rugby element but this time with a twist. I'm not jetting off to the South of France, Rome or Dublin this time. Instead I'm going on a long walk from Rugby, Warwickshire, to Twickenham along the Grand Union Canal.

Whilst I love British canals and narrowboats (and we get to sleep on narrowboats at night), I'm not walking 110 miles just for that reason. I'm doing it for a wonderful charity, the Matt Hampson Foundation.

I am so close to my target of £1,000 thanks to my wonderful friends and David's company, Legal & General (positive advertising plug there) and David has reached his goal of £500.

But we're still hoping to do more because it's a wonderful charity.

A year ago, my then 15 year old son was spear tackled in a "friendly" rugby match and rushed to hospital in an ambulance to be checked out. X-rays revealed absolutely no damage and, a few hours later, we were on our way home with Ricky's first comment out of the hospital being "I'm hungry."

He was so lucky. Many young people are seriously injured through sport, as Matt Hampson was during a training session for the England Under 20s team, and now I am pleased to support the Foundation.

I wouldn't be offended if you visited/shared/donated on my Just Giving page!

You can always check back here during the walk from 17 May to 25 May to see my progress, including my thoughts on my beloved Leicester Tigers playing in their NINTH consecutive Premiership Final!

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