3 Peaks and the god damn hoover!

So tomorrow is the day when myself and the 3 Peaks team travel up to Scotland ready to begin the 3 Peaks challenge this Thursday at 5pm. Cast your minds back to the last fundraising initiative I had - the Dorney Lake 10K........... And you will remember how I stupidly twisted my ankle in my heels the evening before the race.

No, no, I haven't done anything that silly this time. However, have been doing a little spring cleaner in the house this evening (cleaning therapy is my bizarre 'Monica' tendency as my friends like to (affectionately!) refer to). Anyway, whilst carrying it down stairs I have managed to drop the big lump of a thing on my big toe - D'Oh!!

Its very sore and looks like it will be nice and black ready for the decent up Ben Nevis!

Ow well, I guess I am not happy with just a 'normal' challenge, I have to add an injury factor into the mix as well.

Anyway, whatever the bruised toe, weather, conditions etc bring I guarantee that I will be up and down all 3 of those mountains as whenever I feel like stopping I will think of my big brave man and keep one foot marching in front of the other. Either that of hop on the back of one of my team mates!!!

www.justgiving.com/mrbaldy

Sammie x

Mistakes

You're going to make them. A mistake is the best way to learn.

Learning is our goal. We want to learn fast and big. Therefore we want to make lots of mistakes and big ones.

Answer: Don't make the same mistake twice!

Richard Wildman

Dancing by Richard Wildman

Most people are rubbish dancers. Very few are good. Main problem and what makes the worst dancer is the worry that other people think that they can't dance. Kettle calling the pot!

Be bold. Get out there. Like any skill you get better with practice (or think you get better with beer!)

Plus sides - If really crap then you get to meet people who comment, you got to get better and you get to learn about walking your own path and ignoring people with nothing useful to tell you. You learn to be bolder.

Or find someone truly awful and dance next to them!!

Richard Wildman

Being Ready by Richard Wildman

You never are quite ready. If you are then it is too late!

Feeling ready to ask out the girl you've been obsessing over for weeks, feeling ready to apply for the job that looks harder than you can comfortably do, etc.

A window of opportunity opens and then it closes. Gone. Often forever. Thats a long time!

When it opens, it may seem to be the wrong time. You may shrug and say "Oh well". Dont. Its not the wrong time. Jump! Why?

1) Its never the right time........ever. There is always something you can use as to convince yourself of that (sometimes pretty good sounding ones too). Ignore them all!

2) Life expects you to stand up and do things before you think you're ready. Its a test.

3) You're always so much better than you dare to think

Richard Wildman

Decisions by Richard Wildman

The sign of confidence, of leadership and also a very attractive male quality (or so I am told) is being decisive.

"Ooh I dont know what do you want to do?" Can be a great second date self destruct option for the wuss man!

Just like confidence, decisiveness can be tricky. But as with anything that looks to be difficult there is always a simple (but imperfect, (but hey, life is way too short for perfectionism, sorry but it is look at 80/20)) answer. Here is what happens:-

Choice 1 see-saw- Pro/con- = Forever dither
------------> ^ ^
Choice 2 ----- -----


Rule: If you cant decide in X then pick option 1

You'll soon know if its the right decision - this is not about flip flopping but being able to change a decision

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I found this in a notebook of Richard's. The diagram is not posting correctly - its basically 2 choices then arrow to a circle of see/saw decisions and circle of pro/cons which equates to forever dithering! I think Rich would want me to share his words of wisdom with you all!

3 Peaks & a Gr8 Company!

As you all are probably aware myself and my friends are doing as much as possible to raise money for charities in Richard's name.

The next challenge is the 3 peaks - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24hrs! I am completing this with a number of my work colleagues. As it has not been that long since the 10K run I did not want to broadcast an email to everyone again asking for more sponsorship so thought I would put a note on here to do it in a more subtle way!

We start at 5pm on Thursday May 14th - and fingers crossed will complete by 5pm on the 15th.

So if you fancy sponsoring myself and the team taking on this challenge then logon to www.justgiving.com/mrbaldy

We dropped a note to our exec team at the company I work for (Cable&Wireless) and they have generously donated £1000. Our total to date is now over £4000 for Lymphoma Research and we also have collected money for Lymphoma Org and Make-A-Wish foundation. Our grand total is over £5000. However! It cant stop there so if you are feeling generous then please dig deep! (I promise not to twist my ankle the night before this one!!)

Thank-you
Sam
xx

Nanny D

As you will know from a previous post I lost my Granddad a few weeks ago and I have sadly now also lost my Nan. My Nan passed away a couple of days after Granddad's funeral, she had been poorly for some time so whilst it was not a complete shock it is still terribly sad.

My Nan was such a great character and I have such great memories from spending lots of time with her when I was a little girl. My favourite memories are from the holidays we use to take in Lanzarote, I remember me and Julie being embarrassed as Mum and Nan would always sunbathe topless! But being even more amused when she would have a dip in the sea with her incredible floating boobs!

She also use to make the best pickled onions - boxing day dinners will never be the same without them.

I take a lot of comfort in the fact that whilst we may not be able to see my Nan she is re-united with my Granddad who she had loved dearly for so many wonderful years - something they were very blessed to have.

God bless Nan and give Granddad a kiss from me x x