Celebrations

I feel terrible that it has taken me so long to write an update, but I've been sooooooooooo busy with everything that blogging just went out of the window.

At the beginning of July, G and I went to France for a week's hiking holiday. We stayed in her family's newly built pad in Brittany and despite the fact it rained and was pretty chilly most of the time, we managed to do a lot of walking and a good deal of relaxing. Over the trip I totalled about 40 miles (one 20 mile walk). The only downside was that there weren't many hills for me to practice on, so I need to get some hill action in in August sometime. Anyway, there aren't any photos because the weather put me off taking any, and it was nice to forget about recording everything for a while and to just get on with it.

As soon as I got back we had a huge family part to celebrate my 30th (which isn't until September), my Dad's 60th and my Grandpa's 90th. The evening was wonderful. I got to catch up with so many friends, family and family friends and was lucky enough to receive a massive dollop of sponsorship money and some rather special gifts (more about those soon!). We also raised money on the night by asking people to vote with their wallets on which of my parents would embarrass themselves singing Karaoke (Dad Michael Jackson's 'Bad', Mum Shaggy's 'It Wasn't Me'). Dad won by a large margin, but lucky everyone, I made them both sing! Words can't describe horror!

Here is a picture of the birthday trio...

The next day I got to count up all the donations and these, along with a fortuitously timed and extremely generous donation from my friend Jess and her Mum Kim, meant that I made my £5000 target! So its been celebrations all round!

Of course, being the over achiever that I am, I'm now looking to raise £8000, so don't think I'll be resting up now I've made the (first) target!