Jools

Hey, it’s my birthday, I’m 45 already. Where did the time go? It doesn’t seem that long since I was at school and sitting my exams and yet in reality that was 29 years ago…scary or what?

On a good point I have had quite a good day, although I know the evening will involve several phone calls to and from my family. Hubby has to go on a night shift so any idea of going out to celebrate, or even staying in to celebrate, went out the window a week ago. I’ve had loads of birthday greeting from friends over on the John Howe forum, which really made my day. There has been quite a pile of cards and several presents too….I got Johnny Depp in a box, well Sweeny Todd dvd to be more precise, but that will have to wait a week or so before I’ll have chance to sit and watch it in peace.

One of the best presents was the French version of the book Fantasy Art Workshop by John Howe. I got the book as a gift from hubby  and amazingly he had arranged to get the book signed, how cool is that?   A friend in Paris helped with this gift so I have to say thanks to her and also to JH himself for  signing the book.  Fortunately I have the English version already  so that will help as I try to read and translate from French to English.

There will be more presents on Saturday when my family arrive, I’m a big girl now I can cope if I don’t get my gifts on the big day itself….hehehe.

Well, off to eat more yummy chocolate cake

Today when I got home from work I sat waiting with G for a big delivery. It arrived after a couple of hours waiting and we unpacked and assembled the thing. What was it? I hear you ask, well it’s a treadmill/running machine/instrument of torture, call it what you will

The reason for this machine is that after watching this years London Marathon I decided to enter. I have entered the ballot at least and must wait now until October to find out if I have been accepted or not. In the meantime I need to start some training. From my house I can either run downhill (too easy) or uphill (too hard) and as petrol is so expensive at the moment driving to somewhere more level is not a good thing to do. The treadmill is my birthday present, and part G’s late birthday present too.

So why the London Marathon? It looks fun that’s why. I’ve watched it every year on the tv and said to myself that one year I will run in it. I want to do this before I reach 50, as I turn 45 this year I thought if I didn’t apply now then I probably never would. Also it gives me 5 years to be accepted in the ballot. Along with this I will run for charity, not 1 but 5, for several reasons. The charities will be…

Cancer Research

The Stroke Association

The British Heart Foundation

The Alzheimers Society

Diabetes UK

The reasons I picked these charities are as follows…both my parents have diabetes, the chances are quite high that if I don’t keep on top of my weight and fitness that I will get it too.

Graeme’s grandfather and many friends relations have suffered Alzheimers, it’s a frustrating illness and I wish there was a way to prevent it.

In the UK strokes are the 3rd biggest killer, many people on my post round have suffered strokes, some survived, some didn’t.

Heart problems are also in my family, another reason to keep my fitness levels up, and my Mum and Dad wouldn’t be here if there hadn’t been so much research done in the past.

Cancer affects too many people, again a few people on my post round are battling this and a friend has recently had her grandmother go through a serious operation to remove her cancer.

I’m no scientist and I can’t find a miracle cure for any of these illnesses but maybe, just maybe, the money I raise for these charities will help some clever person to find a cure or a treatment in the future.

If I get a place in the London Marathon then I plan to gather the names of the people I know and also friends relations who have suffered from these diseases and put the names on my running shirt so that all those people know I’m running for them. Having the names on my shirt will be a way of keeping me going through those 26miles 385 yards (42.195k). At the moment I can run the 385 yards no problem, it’s the 26 miles I need to conquer