Dates for your diary !

The weekend of the 28/29th November 2009 I am organising a fundraising event - so get yourselves some sponsorship and come and join in !

The whole of the Cotswold Way would take about a week to walk as it's just over 100 miles and spans the Cotswolds from Chipping Campden to Bath.  So I've decided to spilt it into smaller sections and get a group to walk each section, raising money for Abbeys Challenge in aid of St. John Ambulance and Marie Curie.  That way, we should be able to cover all of it in one day !!!! Cool !!!

So get your walking shoes on and let me know if you'd like to get involved...

I'd like to say a VERY BIG THANK YOU to the lady at The Coln Gallery & Bookshop in Fairford, who sooooo kindly donated a map of the Cotswold Way to me earlier today.  This will be very well used over the next few weeks and will also be a wonderful souvenir of the event. Thank you.

Abs x

November 1st will be the first anniversary of my Dad passing away - which makes Halloween a bit special...

On Saturday 31st October 2009 there will be a Creepy Crawl Treasure Trail around Southrop !

Meeting at the Village Hall at 2pm, I am hoping that at least 20 children (with some parents accompanying) will arrive in fancy dress to follow a treasure trail around Southrop - there will be edible treats to be found with each clue !

On returning to the Village Hall with all the clues and goodie bags, tea and cakes will be served ! If you would like to bake some cakes for the occassion I would be most grateful !  There will also be prizes for the first team to return to the hall and prizes for the best fancy dress !

This is not a fundraising event - it's just for fun ! 

In the evening I am hoping some of you may like to join me in a fundraising pub crawl around Fairford, finishing up in The Railway.  Catherine & Steve (owners !) have very generously offered to help with this event and we will be running a raffle (prize donations will be VERY gratefully received) and hopefully have a bit of a sing-song too ! So, come and join the fun around Fairford or meet me in The Railway !

Abs X

If you wish to view my photographs from Kilimanjaro, please use the following link....

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/198208716

Abs X

Can't believe I've been home this long without writting - my head was still in the clouds !!!

Well, what an extraordinary trip !  There were 23 of us in total and 60 porters !  We all met at Heathrow Airport and my journey there had not been uneventful due to a fire on the M4 at J5 !!!  The rest of the group were amazing and all raising money for different charities.  A very diverse group that gelled really well - I miss them !

It definitely wasn't an easy trek, in fact it was bloody hard work ! Camping for the first time in my life was interesting too.  It was so cold in the mornings that we would scrap ice of the INSIDE of the tents !  And I have NEVER been so dirty in my whole life !  Because Kilimanjaro is a volcano we were all constantly covered in dust, and I do mean covered !  The food was amazing though.  Bearing in mind the porters had to carry enough food to feed 83 people 3 times a day for 8 days and cope with different dietary needs it was positively brilliant !

What was really hammered home was the fact that the people out there have nothing.  We are so spoilt.  We sit about whinging at the slightest thing when we have every possible luxuary ie. running water, food, solid homes etc.  But what the people lack in material stuff, they certainly make up for in having the most amazing spirit ! Always smiling, willing to help, friendly, goodness, kindness, positivity.  We really have no idea how lucky we are.

Confession time.... I didn't make it to the top.  Apx 200 meters below the top my achillies tendon pulled and I got hurtled down the mountain - I was like a rag doll when I got to the bottom, and incredibly disappointed and upset.  I wasn't affected by altitude sickness at all and had no headache, dizzyness or anything else, so to be injured was absolutely heartbreaking.  In my heart I know I would have made it otherwise.

I will write more over the next few days, but wanted to give you a link to all the photos I took (over 1,000 !) so that you may browse them at your leisure - I hope you enjoy ! http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/198208716

Abs X

Well, it's been a pretty hectic week and I've met some amazing people.  On Wednesday I was in Lechlade.  As I've now lost nearly 3 stone I thought I would take all the clothes that no longer fit me, and some other stuff too, to sell at the clothing exchange 'Isabella'.  When Maggie sells your things you get 50% of the price and I thought I could put this towards my fundraising.  Well, a lot of the clothes I had collected weren't appropriate (jeans, t-shirts etc), but another lady suggested a charity shop in Faringdon - there is another branch of this charity store in Lechlade called the Book Cave.  This is where I met Steve Cox and Alison.  They were both absolutely lovely and I wish I'd had more time to spend talking to them as they both had loads of advice for Kilimanjaro and my other challenges.  They very kindly took the 5 bags of clothes to the Farringdon branch for me.  Thank you Steve & Alison X.

I have now also purchased what must be the worlds most expensive sleeping bag !!! I had done my homework and knew what I needed, so off I trotted to Cotswold Outdoors in South Cerney - I love that shop - the staff are wonderful and really know the stock.  So I took their advice too and am confident that I definitely won't be cold on any of the challenges !

Thursday morning I got my Yellow Fever jab and the certificate - I won't be able to get into Tanzania without it... and my passport arrived back from the Tanzanian High Commission with my Visa in place - all set to go now...

I did some of that 'work' stuff on Friday and taught an Appointed Persons Certificate to a really fun group of 8 - wish I had them for a longer course as it was a great day !

The Eastleach Fete was on Saturday. I ran the Hoop-La stand and also took a game called Bottle Stand (I'll explain that one another time - remind me !).  My neighbours' Neice and Nephew (Sarah and James) helped me and I couldn't have done it without them ! It was a fab afternoon and we were lucky with the weather - it was sunny but quite windy and everything needed extra 'tying down'.  May I also just say that the sausages for the BBQ were from Sam Wade and were ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS !!!!

I was the First Aid cover at the Siddington Village Fete and Steve Dark (my friend Sally's Husband) came with me so he could observe.  He is a new St. John Member and will be through his exams soon and out on the road too - plus I like to have a 'Crew-Mate' !  It was a great fete but the weather wasn't too favourable - bit of a miserable day.  Chatted to the PCSO's on duty - Angie and Mike.  Laurence & Jackie Llewellyn-Bowen were there too - they both looked fabulous and they participated in the whole thing, which was really nice !

I was going to write this last night - but that kind of got away from me... The Victoria Inn in Eastleach was having a Karokke (however you spell it) night and it was a blast...!!! So, better late than never - let's see what this week brings...!

Till soon, Abs x

Oh good grief... it's less than 3 weeks to go and I'll be on my way up Mt Kilimanjaro !!!

Bought my sleeping bag and thermarest mat today - can't believe how much money I spent - but I'll need both for the Arctic Challenge and Base Camp Everest too, so money well spent...

Of course I went to Cotswold Outdoors based at South Cerney, I just love the staff in there, they've all done stuff and are a fountain of knowledge and really know the stock too.  So I'm very grateful for the advice !

Training is going well and I'm feeling reasonably confident... we'll see !

I've been reading a really fun book called 'High Heels and a Head Torch' by Chelsea Duke - She's back-packed all over the world and has some really useful advice and hints & tips for a successful trip - it's funny too ! So I'm off to buy some squeezy ketchup and a jar of Marmite !

My friend Beth has been an absolute saviour and has lent me her sking stuff - nice warm/waterproof trousers and two really good coats - and they're pretty colours too !

Luckily, having done the Great Wall of China last year, I've got most of the stuff I need, like boots and walking poles, back-packs etc - in fact I think I almost ready !!!

Becky and Bridget are coming over later - I'm making pizza, first time for everything - so watch the press for reports of the 'Southrop Poisoner' !!! - just leaves me time to go for a run....

Till soon... Abs X

Well, Mum and I had the most fantastic holiday, until Alitalia completely trashed my suitecase... I have to go back to Venice, Rome & Portofino.

Lucia was the Personal Trainer on the ship - and she was brilliant !  We did a few 'body composition' tests and my body fat is down to 21.9% - V happy with that !!! Can now do 1hour on the treadmill, but my knees are shot to bits ! I've missed my spinning bike so will be back at Le Spa today... Can't believe that in less than a month I will be on my way up Kilimanjaro !!!

I also had 3 seaweed wraps while on board, with Kira and Jennifer - fabulous - pure luxury.... and a good detox !

The food was a bit of a challenge, but I actually managed to lose weight !!!  But it's good to be back to my HerbaLife shakes.  So the serious training starts here....

Well, I'm off on holiday today ! Mum and I are going on a cruise around Italy !  But I won't be slacking... there is a gym on board and a running track.  I will also be doing the hike up Mount Vesuveus and walking the city walls of Dubrovnic.  Becky has just rung me to say that there is a big article about the Challenge on page 13 of this weeks Wilts & Glos Standard (Cotswold Edition) - so be sure to check it out !  Haven't seen it myself yet....

I will be back and blogging on 14th August, hopefully I will be able to get the odd blog in while away....

Best wishes to you all, Abs X

Well, yesterday was absolutely amazing !  I was quite nervous in the morning, but got going bang on 11am !  A photographer from the Wilts & Glos Standard came in about 11.30 and we did a photo-call.  Ian, the Gym Manager, joined in and I think we got some good pictures... (check out the pictures posted) A few people popped in during the day to say Hello and actually the time went quite quickly !  My friends, Becky and Bridget, were there to support me the whole time and were trying to encourage people to part with their cash !  The last hour was amazing and the Staff at Le Spa came in to cheer me on for the finish line !  The last piece of music was the theme to St. Trinians and a huge cheer went up at 5pm !  Then, after a good stretch I relaxed in the hot-tub outside with a glass of 'something fizzy'.  I really enjoyed the Spin-a-Thon, it was definitely blooming hard work and certainly not something you could do on a regular basis - unless you are completely mad - but it hasn't put me off and will remain part of my training for the other challenges.  Next stop, Kilimanjaro !!!

I would like to say a HUGE 'thank you' to all the Staff at Le Spa, Cirencester.  Firstly, for letting me do the Spin-a-Thon and for all their support and encouragement.  And, of course, another HUGE 'thank you' to all my friends and colleagues who have spurred me on !!!

Had some really good news yesterday evening.... My good friends and neighbours, Beth & John V, have been approved to adopt a little boy and they will become his parents next month - how fabulous is that !!!!

So, until the next blog.... Abbey X

What a crazy week !  Since my last blog, my dentist is really pleased with me ! Because of the Herbalife diet I haven't been eating all the usual junk and my teeth and gums are much better - less pain !!!  After that I headed off to Le Spa for a workout - I did 5hrs on the spinning bike, so I'm confident for the Spin-a-Thon on Friday.  Yesterday, I was going to go the gym again, but my body was soooo tired.  I popped into Cirencester to see my friend Joan at Crystal Springs then picked up some food and headed home for a rest... Curled up on the sofa with Basil, my mini dax.  One of my closest friends, Sally, came over in the evening and we spent our time trying on clothes and were totally excited cos we could both fit into a pair of size 8 jeans I have from Next !!! This time last year I wouldn't have been able to get them over my knees !!! 

I did get some bad news on Tuesday evening... While chatting to Ian Blythe, the Gym Manager at Le Spa, he told me that he has been made redundant and his last day is Friday.  Ian has been so supportive, enthusiatic and encouraging.  He is an excellent Trainer and he will be greatly missed.  I wish him every success and happiness for his future.

So with just over 24hrs to go, I'm off to work this afternoon.  I am assessing a group of First Aid students - as usual I'm expecting the standard will be very high !  Then I'll head to the gym....  So, untill tomorrow evening, if I have the energy, I'll put up another post to let you know how the Spin-a-Thon went and hopfully a couple of pictures too !

Best etc, Abagail X

Blimey, it's Tuesday already ! It's absolutely pouring with rain today and to top it all I have to go to the dentist !  Then I will be heading to the gym.... Need to try to do 4hrs on the bike today, same tomorrow too.  I did 3h 10m on the bike on Sunday, but only did 2h 30m yesterday.  I won't go to the gym on Thursday, my body will need a day off and I have to do some of that 'work' stuff too !  I'm looking forward to the Spin-a-Thon on Friday, but I'm sort of dredding it too !

Till soon, Abs x

Hello, I'm Abagail.  I am an Instructor and Assessor for the St. John Ambulance in Gloucestershire.  Last year I trekked on the Great Wall of China and raised just over £5,000 for the Charity.  Things are a bit different this year... I was meant to be going to Peru in September to trek to Machu Picchu on the old Inca Trail, however it proved not to be financially viable so I've come up with something else... That's what 'Abbeys Challenge' is all about.  My aim is to raise £20,000 to split between the St. John Ambulance and Marie Curie Cancer Care (because they looked after my Dad sooooo well before he passed away in November 08).  I'd like to present both Charities with a large cheque each in time for Christmas 2010.

A lot of this has been made possible because I have been through some big changes since Christmas 08.  I was very unhappy in my own skin and wanted to do something about it... at 5'8" I weighed 13.7 stone and wore size 16 jeans.  One morning, early December, I saw an advert in my local 'What's On' - 'I can help you lose weight', so I rang the number and spoke to a lady called Melissa.  She came to my house that evening to introduce me to Herbalife products.  I figured I had nothing to lose except lbs so I signed up.  I haven't looked back yet !  I now weigh 11 stone and wear a size 10 jeans !!!!  In April this year I joined a gym - Le Spa in Cirencester, where I am doing the Spin-a-Thon.  All the staff have given me so much support and encouragement and helped me to get my fitness level up.  One of my friends, Beth, helped get me into 'running' and I go 'rollerblading' too !!!  I've had to try and fit some of that 'work' stuff in too !!! 

But my training is going well, my average work-out in the gym is 30 mins on the treadmill followed by 2(ish) hours on a spinning bike, finishing with 20 mins of Pilates and a good stretch !!!  Yesterday I did 3 hours on the bike after a 30 min run on the tread-mill !!!

So, this blog is to let you know how my training is going... if you've got any tips or advice please let me know !!!