Hello everyone!
Well it is almost time for our Yorkshire 3 Peak sponsored challenge - how fast has this come round! So everyone taking part ( 27 fantastic people in total ) check your rucksacks Friday to make sure you've got all your gear, don't forget to pack your lunch before you leave Sat am and most importantly make sure you've got your beer!!!
I will see you all at the Station Inn at Ribblehead Viaduct at 07.00am for our breakfast buttie and hot drink. On behalf of War on Cancer and everyone taking part I want to thank www.lostearthadventures.co.uk for leading us on our 3 peak adventure, I look forward to trekking with you for years to come! A nice stretch to warm up the muscles and off!!!
I know from conversations, everyone is getting their gear together ready for Saturday.I am so giddy for this, even though I know it's going to be very tough, and I've not had long to prepare for the event, but I am going to give it my very all to complete all 3 peaks. When we have successfully completed our trek, soup and a sarnie on our return to the Station Inn, then we can celebrate with a post peak pint!...then into the campsite for a few more beers, a laugh and a well deserved chillout!
I'm off to get the rest of the stuff I need, will pack ready for the 05.30am start on Saturday am, I think there is no mobile signal in the area, so you probably won't hear from any of us until the Sunday.
The next post I put up will be regaling you with stories of our adventure, and of course I will load up the photos onto the gallery!
I wish each and every walker all the best and good luck on this 3 Peak trek. And a very massive thank you for registering and supporting War on Cancer and it's cause.
And from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for supporting me, my idea and my dreams to reach out and raise money and awareness for cancer. Without all of you friends out there, this blog and my fundraising campaign would only be a pipedream...so thank you for making this girl very happy :)
Until next time
Tracy
Mount Kilamanjiro
Thursday 31 May 2012
Sunday 27 May 2012
Less than a week until the Yorkshire 3 Peak sponsored challenge!
Hello everyone
I hope you have all been enjoying this fabulous weather this weekend! Well here we are with less than a week until the 3 Peak Challenge. For most this weekend was the last chance to go get some serious training in, good luck to everyone who is going to be taking part next Saturday! I very much look forward to enjoying a post peak pint in the Station Inn at Ribblehead Viaduct. Here's another look at what we will be taking on and succeeding against next Saturday.
I hope you have checked the kit list and have started getting your gear together. I'm not sure which way round we will be tackling the 3 peaks, but feel rest assured we are in more than capable hands with our trek company Lost Earth Adventures. We will have our mountain guides with us, a ratio of 10:1 and a support vehicle if needed too.
So we are meeting at the Station Inn pub at 07.00 am for a breakfast buttie and a hot drink before we set off on our epic endurance walk of the 3 Peaks! So here we have Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and Whernside. A challenge worthy of our intrepid War on Cancer walkers in aid of Walk the Walk breast cancer and Clic Sargent children's cancer, I am so very proud of you all for positively and actively accepting this challenge I put out there to raise money and awareness of two very worthy charities, and I look forward to the 12 hours of walking with you all.
So good luck with any last minute preparations you are going to do, myself, I plan to get in the gym everyday except Friday and then I will give it my everything on Saturday June 2nd.....on this War on Cancer's first annual 3 Peak challenge! On wards and upwards good folks! Hopefully some of you will love it that much,( or you'll have forgotten about the pain ) you'll be back to do it again in 2013.
Until next time
Tracy
I hope you have all been enjoying this fabulous weather this weekend! Well here we are with less than a week until the 3 Peak Challenge. For most this weekend was the last chance to go get some serious training in, good luck to everyone who is going to be taking part next Saturday! I very much look forward to enjoying a post peak pint in the Station Inn at Ribblehead Viaduct. Here's another look at what we will be taking on and succeeding against next Saturday.
I hope you have checked the kit list and have started getting your gear together. I'm not sure which way round we will be tackling the 3 peaks, but feel rest assured we are in more than capable hands with our trek company Lost Earth Adventures. We will have our mountain guides with us, a ratio of 10:1 and a support vehicle if needed too.
So we are meeting at the Station Inn pub at 07.00 am for a breakfast buttie and a hot drink before we set off on our epic endurance walk of the 3 Peaks! So here we have Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and Whernside. A challenge worthy of our intrepid War on Cancer walkers in aid of Walk the Walk breast cancer and Clic Sargent children's cancer, I am so very proud of you all for positively and actively accepting this challenge I put out there to raise money and awareness of two very worthy charities, and I look forward to the 12 hours of walking with you all.
Until next time
Tracy
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Charity car wash this Saturday, 2nd fundraiser in two weeks
Hello everyone
The 3 Peak sponsored challenge is all set, the mountain guides are all paid up, and the food ordered at the pub. Anyone who is wanting a vegetarian option, please just tell them at the bar on arrival and your wish is their command!
I hope you have all had a look at your kit lists and have started getting yourselves organised?!! ( not that I've done anything myself yet ). Hoping for dry weather, so shorts and a t-shirt can be worn..but will cover all contingencies of course in my rucksack. I am really looking forward to this, even though I know I'm going to really struggle, believe me, I will give everything I've got to complete all three peaks.
Before that though, this coming Saturday War on Cancer is hosting another car wash. The bigger A2 posters have come back, a big thank you to the printing company for their generous refund of £10.00 off the bill because the posters are for charity. We will be once again at The Sun Inn at Cottingley from 11.00am. If you are passing and your car is in need of a clean....we will willingly clean it for £3.00!!! - what a flipping bargain!!
My eldest brother Graham is busy doing various events to raise money, he said he did a drinking one at the annual Army/Navy rugby weekend, he was solo and drinking from Fri eve until Sun eve...sadly the only thing he raised was a hangover....better luck next time big bro ;)
He completed the Keswick to Barrow 40 mile walk last weekend and has so far raised £250.00 for WOC...thank you brother!
And for the second year on the trot May 25th- 29th he is cycling the 500 miles in 5 days challenge in aid of The Royal Navy & Royal Marines charity. For those who don't know my brother Graham served 22 years in the Royal Navy.Good luck on this epic ride, I know you will complete it!!!
He and many members of my family are signed up for the 3 Peak challenge. Thank to all who are involved in WOC , supporting events, posting the blog out there, donating and always giving encouragement...this is why I keep it going :)
Until next time
Tracy
The 3 Peak sponsored challenge is all set, the mountain guides are all paid up, and the food ordered at the pub. Anyone who is wanting a vegetarian option, please just tell them at the bar on arrival and your wish is their command!
I hope you have all had a look at your kit lists and have started getting yourselves organised?!! ( not that I've done anything myself yet ). Hoping for dry weather, so shorts and a t-shirt can be worn..but will cover all contingencies of course in my rucksack. I am really looking forward to this, even though I know I'm going to really struggle, believe me, I will give everything I've got to complete all three peaks.
Before that though, this coming Saturday War on Cancer is hosting another car wash. The bigger A2 posters have come back, a big thank you to the printing company for their generous refund of £10.00 off the bill because the posters are for charity. We will be once again at The Sun Inn at Cottingley from 11.00am. If you are passing and your car is in need of a clean....we will willingly clean it for £3.00!!! - what a flipping bargain!!
My eldest brother Graham is busy doing various events to raise money, he said he did a drinking one at the annual Army/Navy rugby weekend, he was solo and drinking from Fri eve until Sun eve...sadly the only thing he raised was a hangover....better luck next time big bro ;)
He completed the Keswick to Barrow 40 mile walk last weekend and has so far raised £250.00 for WOC...thank you brother!
And for the second year on the trot May 25th- 29th he is cycling the 500 miles in 5 days challenge in aid of The Royal Navy & Royal Marines charity. For those who don't know my brother Graham served 22 years in the Royal Navy.Good luck on this epic ride, I know you will complete it!!!
He and many members of my family are signed up for the 3 Peak challenge. Thank to all who are involved in WOC , supporting events, posting the blog out there, donating and always giving encouragement...this is why I keep it going :)
Until next time
Tracy
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Antibiotics for the next six months
Hello everyone
How many of us have friendships that span a lifetime? I think unfortunately not that many. I am a very lucky person, I have that, and as importantly, through social media, I am very happily back in contact with old friends and school chums from decades ago! This has been a great time, the feelings evoked from this leave me almost speechless, some of these friendships were forged from the tender age of four!. When I was scanning through some of my photos, I happened upon this one, I remember the day very clearly. I had done the Ingleton Falls walk and was on the way back down, when a couple of families were just ahead....and yes these little girls were chatting happily among themselves, it was very clear these little buddies were having a great day out together. It made me smile and chuckle at them as they excitedly nattered to each other down the hill.
I was sat remembering as far back as I could to the wonderful camaraderie we had at Primary and Middle school, what a close knit little bunch of kids we were...and how awful it felt when we all went onto different Grammar schools, scattered on the winds like little seeds. It's strange how over time you forget that close knit bond you had with certain friends and school chums...how the scary unknown of a new school can make you not realise how much you are missing those people, some who of course you were closer to than others. Time and real life are a strange combination, and they can make someone or something that once was so important to you, suddenly become a distant memory locked in your past.
So I for one am happy for social media for bringing those friends who for many a year were locked away in my mind, back into my life!....I'm glad you're back, and I hope you stay!
I had an appointment this afternoon with a bladder specialist, as I've said before, I've been having problems for over 18 months. Always presenting symptoms of water infections, and most of the time, when tested it's all clear. I've been under one consultant fro 12 months, and he has just referred me to the consultant I saw today. Hopefully we will finally get to the bottom of a very frustrating and sometimes very painful problem I've been having for such a very long time.
He has said today, there are two ways this will be tackled. The first is to put me on a low dose of antibiotic for the next 6 months, so if there is a bacterial infection it will definitely clear up. He wants to see me in 6 weeks to check the progress of the antibiotic and depending on other symptoms and factors, may get me in for day surgery to have a look with a camera, take biopsies and possibly use botox in my bladder. I told him at this point and after all this time, I really don't care what he does to sort it, enough is seriously enough!
So once again, things could be on the up with my bladder, I sincerely hope so.
Until next time
Tracy
Monday 21 May 2012
Cocktail and curry event great fun despite the cold!
Hello everyone
The curry and cocktail event was brilliant despite the cold! Thank you everyone who braved the cold to attend. I hope you had as much fun as I did :) A fantastic £250.00 was raised.
The food was gorgeous, massive thank you's to Jane,Jeannie,Sarah and Summer and Joanna for donating time for making the food or the food itself. It went down a storm and despite putting to one side twice some curry for the day after....I still didn't get any!, whoever ate mine, I know you will have enjoyed it!
Big thanks to Jackie...who it seems is the unlucky lass who gets to help me at the cocktail bar ( this after been roped in to help with the making of the fresh chapati's!)...Jack is the best glass collector/ washer a cocktail bar could ever need!
Everyone had a great time ( if the wobbling and a bit of weaving about is taken into account ), so a wonderful chilled ( not just the weather )and relaxed time was had by all, old friends met new friends and again War on Cancer gained more loyal supporters. So a another day for raising awareness and money and more people to spread the word.
War on Cancer is only a small operation, not even a year old yet, still on a learning curve, but growing in depth and strength and this will put it in good stead for future years.After the 3 peaks event I will be taking a serious look about registering War on Cancer as a charity. This will certainly help with corporate sponsorship and hopefully getting companies and people to adopt us for a year ( hopefully they live somewhere warm with a bit of sunshine -- my intention is too move in with them for a bit lol ;)) I think I will spend more time popping into HODU and volunteering to make drinks for those having treatments, spending time chatting to those patients having their chemo, showing them life can be as full on as can be after it's over within the physical limitations of the individual. Show that with a positive attitude anything is achievable...we all have our own Mt.Everest's....and can reach the summit if we set our minds to it. Positive attitude and determination is what gets us to reach our goals and complete our own personal challenges. Don't wait until you are given life threatening news to set yourself goals and challenges...do it, the results to your whole outlook on life are amazing...and always in a positive light. Help unburden yourselves from a lot of the everyday stresses that get you down, believe me, you truly will feel enlightened once you have done this...by getting rid of the excess baggage we collect over the years...you will suddenly find you have time to lift your heads, stop, look around and really enjoy the very simple things in life. The way I see it, we are here to enjoy all we can and make millions of memories, not just for ourselves, but for our families, friends and loved ones....these memories live on through others when we are no longer here.....so what are you waiting for...go get making them!
The events are still been tried, tested and tweaked and over the next 12 months I believe great leaps and bounds will be made on this front. As long as the events are interactive and fun then we will still do them.The idea is to eventually settle on 6 events a year. These will be a mixture over the year of fun, laughter and even a serious commitment to the cause by an endurance event. The Yorkshire 3 peaks will be an annual event where you really have to commit in order to achieve it. I say than everything you have to work hard for will always give you the greatest satisfaction. The euphoric feelings you get when successfully completing an event like that will be hard to surpass...the memories of the pain in your body, the blisters and everything else you suffer on that journey are soon distant memories and all you're left with is a deep satisfaction knowing you worked so hard to be able to say...."I did that" I hope to see you over the coming years out walking the 3 peaks with a steely determination to complete it.
This coming Saturday, we are holding another charity car wash ( please be warmer than the one in February) ...Mike the landlord of the Sun Inn at Cottingley had kindly donated the water and part of the car park for this again. Thank you very much for your continued support. The car washes will spring up periodically when we have a few volunteers available and will not be part of the planned events.
And then of course.....the 3 Peak challenge! on June 2nd....many of us are staying overnight and will enjoy a couple of drinks cheering our success of the day.
Until next time
Tracy
The curry and cocktail event was brilliant despite the cold! Thank you everyone who braved the cold to attend. I hope you had as much fun as I did :) A fantastic £250.00 was raised.
The food was gorgeous, massive thank you's to Jane,Jeannie,Sarah and Summer and Joanna for donating time for making the food or the food itself. It went down a storm and despite putting to one side twice some curry for the day after....I still didn't get any!, whoever ate mine, I know you will have enjoyed it!
Big thanks to Jackie...who it seems is the unlucky lass who gets to help me at the cocktail bar ( this after been roped in to help with the making of the fresh chapati's!)...Jack is the best glass collector/ washer a cocktail bar could ever need!
Everyone had a great time ( if the wobbling and a bit of weaving about is taken into account ), so a wonderful chilled ( not just the weather )and relaxed time was had by all, old friends met new friends and again War on Cancer gained more loyal supporters. So a another day for raising awareness and money and more people to spread the word.
War on Cancer is only a small operation, not even a year old yet, still on a learning curve, but growing in depth and strength and this will put it in good stead for future years.After the 3 peaks event I will be taking a serious look about registering War on Cancer as a charity. This will certainly help with corporate sponsorship and hopefully getting companies and people to adopt us for a year ( hopefully they live somewhere warm with a bit of sunshine -- my intention is too move in with them for a bit lol ;)) I think I will spend more time popping into HODU and volunteering to make drinks for those having treatments, spending time chatting to those patients having their chemo, showing them life can be as full on as can be after it's over within the physical limitations of the individual. Show that with a positive attitude anything is achievable...we all have our own Mt.Everest's....and can reach the summit if we set our minds to it. Positive attitude and determination is what gets us to reach our goals and complete our own personal challenges. Don't wait until you are given life threatening news to set yourself goals and challenges...do it, the results to your whole outlook on life are amazing...and always in a positive light. Help unburden yourselves from a lot of the everyday stresses that get you down, believe me, you truly will feel enlightened once you have done this...by getting rid of the excess baggage we collect over the years...you will suddenly find you have time to lift your heads, stop, look around and really enjoy the very simple things in life. The way I see it, we are here to enjoy all we can and make millions of memories, not just for ourselves, but for our families, friends and loved ones....these memories live on through others when we are no longer here.....so what are you waiting for...go get making them!
The events are still been tried, tested and tweaked and over the next 12 months I believe great leaps and bounds will be made on this front. As long as the events are interactive and fun then we will still do them.The idea is to eventually settle on 6 events a year. These will be a mixture over the year of fun, laughter and even a serious commitment to the cause by an endurance event. The Yorkshire 3 peaks will be an annual event where you really have to commit in order to achieve it. I say than everything you have to work hard for will always give you the greatest satisfaction. The euphoric feelings you get when successfully completing an event like that will be hard to surpass...the memories of the pain in your body, the blisters and everything else you suffer on that journey are soon distant memories and all you're left with is a deep satisfaction knowing you worked so hard to be able to say...."I did that" I hope to see you over the coming years out walking the 3 peaks with a steely determination to complete it.
This coming Saturday, we are holding another charity car wash ( please be warmer than the one in February) ...Mike the landlord of the Sun Inn at Cottingley had kindly donated the water and part of the car park for this again. Thank you very much for your continued support. The car washes will spring up periodically when we have a few volunteers available and will not be part of the planned events.
And then of course.....the 3 Peak challenge! on June 2nd....many of us are staying overnight and will enjoy a couple of drinks cheering our success of the day.
Until next time
Tracy
Thursday 17 May 2012
Decision time is rapidly approaching, my heart is warring with my head.
The time is rapidly approaching to where I won't be able to put off deciding if I am still going to go attempt my second challenge I set myself of climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro this year. There is quite a lot of disquiet and concern from members of my family and friends.More are now voicing their concerns over the timing of my challenge to climb in 2012.
I truly understand where their worries are coming from, in all honesty I haven't had the best of health, in fact it has been more than a little poor in the last 12 months, and this has only started improving in very recent weeks, and only after I made the decision to stop the cancer prevention drug 3 years early. So I am feeling what seems like daily improvements in the last 7 weeks or so. However I'm been quietly urged to delay my Mt.Kilimanjaro climb as it is felt it is far too soon in my road to recovery for me to be attempting it.
I have said the real tester for me is in fact the Yorkshire 3 peak challenge that will take place in 2 weeks this coming Saturday. This walk will give me a clearer indication as to how much more work I need to get a level of fitness and stamina I think I'll need for my epic self-set challenge. You may wonder why it is an issue, and the answer is I still suffer from fatigue,and I struggle to reign myself in and not to overdo it. I know it is a big ask of myself after the year I've had, especially the 6 months where not only I couldn't go to the gym, I was struggling to get myself out of bed, and even more distressing was the fact I was really struggling to dress myself. Not an easy thing to live with at 44 years of age. So although I feel like I'm coming on leaps and bounds, I know how far I've been knocked back by the last 12 months.
It for me is a really hard choice, if I'm been logical, the best course of action would be to delay my climb and give myself a few extra months to build my fitness and stamina back up. However, I am struggling with this, even though I would only have to delay until between Jan - mid March, it still feels a lot like failure to me. When I think back to 2010 when I set these challenges for myself, when my body and health were at their weakest, not doing this challenge never once entered my head, it was the challenges that motivated and drove me to get out there and pound the miles. It was a really hard slog to get going after the invasive treatments and pneumonia,but slog it I did.
You may think, what's your issue, it's only a delay of a few months, but for me it's the psychological barrier of 2012 verses 2013, even if it is Jan 2013, it's still a year later. I really don't know if anyone else will still be coming on this climb with me, many have dropped by the wayside. It was never a major concern to me, I set myself the Mt.Kilimanjaro climb and I'm comfortable going on my own, after all it is my personal challenge.
I guess I have to hope when the time comes, that I remain honest and true to myself and make the decision based on whether I truly believe I can achieve it this year or not. And if the truth is I think I will struggle to reach the summit by going ahead this year, I will have to delay and try really hard not to consider it a failure. Either way, I have to be able to live with my decision, because standing at the summit on the "Roof of Africa" is the only outcome I will accept.
Until next time
Tracy
I truly understand where their worries are coming from, in all honesty I haven't had the best of health, in fact it has been more than a little poor in the last 12 months, and this has only started improving in very recent weeks, and only after I made the decision to stop the cancer prevention drug 3 years early. So I am feeling what seems like daily improvements in the last 7 weeks or so. However I'm been quietly urged to delay my Mt.Kilimanjaro climb as it is felt it is far too soon in my road to recovery for me to be attempting it.
I have said the real tester for me is in fact the Yorkshire 3 peak challenge that will take place in 2 weeks this coming Saturday. This walk will give me a clearer indication as to how much more work I need to get a level of fitness and stamina I think I'll need for my epic self-set challenge. You may wonder why it is an issue, and the answer is I still suffer from fatigue,and I struggle to reign myself in and not to overdo it. I know it is a big ask of myself after the year I've had, especially the 6 months where not only I couldn't go to the gym, I was struggling to get myself out of bed, and even more distressing was the fact I was really struggling to dress myself. Not an easy thing to live with at 44 years of age. So although I feel like I'm coming on leaps and bounds, I know how far I've been knocked back by the last 12 months.
It for me is a really hard choice, if I'm been logical, the best course of action would be to delay my climb and give myself a few extra months to build my fitness and stamina back up. However, I am struggling with this, even though I would only have to delay until between Jan - mid March, it still feels a lot like failure to me. When I think back to 2010 when I set these challenges for myself, when my body and health were at their weakest, not doing this challenge never once entered my head, it was the challenges that motivated and drove me to get out there and pound the miles. It was a really hard slog to get going after the invasive treatments and pneumonia,but slog it I did.
You may think, what's your issue, it's only a delay of a few months, but for me it's the psychological barrier of 2012 verses 2013, even if it is Jan 2013, it's still a year later. I really don't know if anyone else will still be coming on this climb with me, many have dropped by the wayside. It was never a major concern to me, I set myself the Mt.Kilimanjaro climb and I'm comfortable going on my own, after all it is my personal challenge.
I guess I have to hope when the time comes, that I remain honest and true to myself and make the decision based on whether I truly believe I can achieve it this year or not. And if the truth is I think I will struggle to reach the summit by going ahead this year, I will have to delay and try really hard not to consider it a failure. Either way, I have to be able to live with my decision, because standing at the summit on the "Roof of Africa" is the only outcome I will accept.
Until next time
Tracy
The cocktail and Curry event is almost apon us!
Hello everyone!
I am praying to any and all deities for decent weather this Saturday!...someone shine some sunshine our way! My phone is forecasting rain on Saturday...BBC weather says cloudy...I of course are following the BBC at this time haha!!
I don't really care if it's not sunny ( although it would be great ), as long as it stays dry...I'm putting the gazebo up over the decking anyway and a big umbrella over the bar....but it would be nice if folks could sit around outside enjoying their cocktails!
Well whatever the weather may be, the day starts at 14.00pm until late, food will be available whenever, and the cocktail bar opens at 16.00pm ( this is to make sure I have a chance to chat with people before bedlam kicks in ) When we did the cocktail bar at my sisters garden party last year, I hadn't even finished setting up properly before people were ordering cocktails and I stopped 9 hours later!
So for those of you who are coming, here's the deal....you bring with you your choice of drink for the day. For the food, you pay £5.00, and for that you get a choice of curry ( until it's gone! ) chicken, lamb or vegetarian potato and dhal, a couple of starters, a couple of fresh homemade chapati's and a popadom! - now you must agree that is a bargain!
From 16.00pm - the cocktail bar will be open, there will be a choice of 6 delectable cocktails to tempt you.
We have the James Bond supercool Vesper Martini, we have a Harvey Wallbanger, always a favourite Strawberry Dairquiri, a refreshing Mojito, the back by popular demand the Frazzleberry and of course the Tickled Pinky!...all to be mixed and served by my very own hands.
I hope you enjoy yourselves at our little get together, I hope you have a chilled out relaxing time, enjoying home cooked food, while listening to some music and supping your cocktails. Remember to get your RESOLVE in for Sun am!!! Thank you for coming together to show your support for War on Cancer, everything it is about and to raise not only money, but awareness for this years chosen charities...Walk the Walk breast cancer and Clic Sargent children's cancer charities.
For the following Saturday ( May 26th ) we are holding another charity car wash at the Sun Inn at Cottingley. This will start at 11.00am until 16.00pm Mike has graciously donated the space and water again for us to hold the event. The poster designs are back from the printers...large A2 and laminated so they can be used over and over. The printers gave us a £10.00 discount because we are fundraising for charity!...I thank you very much!
Until next time ( photos loaded to the gallery )
Tracy
I am praying to any and all deities for decent weather this Saturday!...someone shine some sunshine our way! My phone is forecasting rain on Saturday...BBC weather says cloudy...I of course are following the BBC at this time haha!!
I don't really care if it's not sunny ( although it would be great ), as long as it stays dry...I'm putting the gazebo up over the decking anyway and a big umbrella over the bar....but it would be nice if folks could sit around outside enjoying their cocktails!
Well whatever the weather may be, the day starts at 14.00pm until late, food will be available whenever, and the cocktail bar opens at 16.00pm ( this is to make sure I have a chance to chat with people before bedlam kicks in ) When we did the cocktail bar at my sisters garden party last year, I hadn't even finished setting up properly before people were ordering cocktails and I stopped 9 hours later!
So for those of you who are coming, here's the deal....you bring with you your choice of drink for the day. For the food, you pay £5.00, and for that you get a choice of curry ( until it's gone! ) chicken, lamb or vegetarian potato and dhal, a couple of starters, a couple of fresh homemade chapati's and a popadom! - now you must agree that is a bargain!
From 16.00pm - the cocktail bar will be open, there will be a choice of 6 delectable cocktails to tempt you.
We have the James Bond supercool Vesper Martini, we have a Harvey Wallbanger, always a favourite Strawberry Dairquiri, a refreshing Mojito, the back by popular demand the Frazzleberry and of course the Tickled Pinky!...all to be mixed and served by my very own hands.
I hope you enjoy yourselves at our little get together, I hope you have a chilled out relaxing time, enjoying home cooked food, while listening to some music and supping your cocktails. Remember to get your RESOLVE in for Sun am!!! Thank you for coming together to show your support for War on Cancer, everything it is about and to raise not only money, but awareness for this years chosen charities...Walk the Walk breast cancer and Clic Sargent children's cancer charities.
For the following Saturday ( May 26th ) we are holding another charity car wash at the Sun Inn at Cottingley. This will start at 11.00am until 16.00pm Mike has graciously donated the space and water again for us to hold the event. The poster designs are back from the printers...large A2 and laminated so they can be used over and over. The printers gave us a £10.00 discount because we are fundraising for charity!...I thank you very much!
Until next time ( photos loaded to the gallery )
Tracy
Sunday 13 May 2012
Three busy weekends coming up for War on Cancer
Hello everyone
Hope you are enjoying your weekend. I went to the gym this morning, I was more than a little tired today, not been sleeping particularly well. I did my workout, but I must say with not the same level of enthusiasm as normal. I got back home and went out to clear the decking so I could power wash it, and low and behold the beautiful sight that was in front of me. These pictures shows what lifted my spirits and soothed my soul. I felt revitalised.
What a sight for tired eyes indeed! I looked at this Rhododendron and the vivid pink flowers and felt my aches fade away. Right I was now ready for action!
War on Cancer has three busy weekends on the trot starting next weekend. On Sat May 19th We are hosting a Cocktails N Curry event at my home, hence the power washing of the decking etc!.. The day starts at 14.00pm until late. It is going to be a fun day with food, music cocktails and laughter abound. For a fantastic fiver...you get a choice of three curries, chicken, lamb or potato and dhal for the vegetarians, a couple of starts,a poppadom and a couple of chapati's.....now that's a bargain for sure!
You bring with you, your choice of drink for the day and when ready, if you want, you can come see me at the cocktail bar..... I will mix you up one of six cocktails which are priced between £2.00 - £2.50!...I'm no Tom Cruise....but I can get by behind the cocktail bar ( I should hope so after last years charity BBQ event at my sister's when I did a 9 hour shift!! ) Here's the cocktails on offer to tempt you with ;)......
Mojito , Harvey Wallbanger , Frazzleberry , Strawberry Daiquiri , Vesper and Tickled Pinky!!... get your lips around one of those beauties. There will be Vodka jellies and shots also available.
Big thank you's to Jeannie and Sarah for cooking the curries, Jane for helping Jeannie with the chapati's. Bec for the Raspberry and Plum vodka's :)
The Sat after May 26th....see's us having a charity car wash. Again Mike has kindly donated the water and wash space down at The Sun Inn at Cottingley. We will be lovingly willing to wash your cars for a very fair £3.00!...We of course will willingly accept any donations :). This event will start from 11.00am until 16.00pm....at which time, the car wash team will happily drag themselves into the pub for a well earned pint!....at least it will be warmer than the one we did in February!! So please bring your dirty cars and we will happily give them a clean for you :)
Well I don't know about you lot, but I am getting really giddy now, less than 3 weeks until the 3 Peak challenge! This will take place on the third weekend of events on the trot for War on Cancer. Sat June 2nd will see 25 of us hoping to complete the walk in around 12 hours. For those walking, we meet in the Station Inn pub at Ribbleshead Viaduct at 07.00am where we will have a breakfast buttie and hot drink before setting off on our 24.5 mile trek in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. On completion there will be soup and a sarnie waiting for you and of course your certificate to say you took part in WOC's first annual 3 Peak trek!. Thank you to our hosting trek adventure company Lost Earth Adventures who will be looking after us all day, we will have a mountain leader for every 10 walkers and a support vehicle in case anyone cannot complete the trek or is injured. The support vehicle will take you back to the Station Inn. For those of you staying over, I look forard to enjoying a Post Peak Pint with you ( although you may have to put a load of straws together to reach my drink if I cannot lift my arms up !! )
So a busy three weeks with a mixture of fundraising events, after each event we host, War on Cancer gets some new friends who support the cause, or in some cases me...either way I'm grateful as it all raises awareness :)
Until next time
Tracy
Hope you are enjoying your weekend. I went to the gym this morning, I was more than a little tired today, not been sleeping particularly well. I did my workout, but I must say with not the same level of enthusiasm as normal. I got back home and went out to clear the decking so I could power wash it, and low and behold the beautiful sight that was in front of me. These pictures shows what lifted my spirits and soothed my soul. I felt revitalised.
What a sight for tired eyes indeed! I looked at this Rhododendron and the vivid pink flowers and felt my aches fade away. Right I was now ready for action!
War on Cancer has three busy weekends on the trot starting next weekend. On Sat May 19th We are hosting a Cocktails N Curry event at my home, hence the power washing of the decking etc!.. The day starts at 14.00pm until late. It is going to be a fun day with food, music cocktails and laughter abound. For a fantastic fiver...you get a choice of three curries, chicken, lamb or potato and dhal for the vegetarians, a couple of starts,a poppadom and a couple of chapati's.....now that's a bargain for sure!
You bring with you, your choice of drink for the day and when ready, if you want, you can come see me at the cocktail bar..... I will mix you up one of six cocktails which are priced between £2.00 - £2.50!...I'm no Tom Cruise....but I can get by behind the cocktail bar ( I should hope so after last years charity BBQ event at my sister's when I did a 9 hour shift!! ) Here's the cocktails on offer to tempt you with ;)......
Mojito , Harvey Wallbanger , Frazzleberry , Strawberry Daiquiri , Vesper and Tickled Pinky!!... get your lips around one of those beauties. There will be Vodka jellies and shots also available.
Big thank you's to Jeannie and Sarah for cooking the curries, Jane for helping Jeannie with the chapati's. Bec for the Raspberry and Plum vodka's :)
The Sat after May 26th....see's us having a charity car wash. Again Mike has kindly donated the water and wash space down at The Sun Inn at Cottingley. We will be lovingly willing to wash your cars for a very fair £3.00!...We of course will willingly accept any donations :). This event will start from 11.00am until 16.00pm....at which time, the car wash team will happily drag themselves into the pub for a well earned pint!....at least it will be warmer than the one we did in February!! So please bring your dirty cars and we will happily give them a clean for you :)
Well I don't know about you lot, but I am getting really giddy now, less than 3 weeks until the 3 Peak challenge! This will take place on the third weekend of events on the trot for War on Cancer. Sat June 2nd will see 25 of us hoping to complete the walk in around 12 hours. For those walking, we meet in the Station Inn pub at Ribbleshead Viaduct at 07.00am where we will have a breakfast buttie and hot drink before setting off on our 24.5 mile trek in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. On completion there will be soup and a sarnie waiting for you and of course your certificate to say you took part in WOC's first annual 3 Peak trek!. Thank you to our hosting trek adventure company Lost Earth Adventures who will be looking after us all day, we will have a mountain leader for every 10 walkers and a support vehicle in case anyone cannot complete the trek or is injured. The support vehicle will take you back to the Station Inn. For those of you staying over, I look forard to enjoying a Post Peak Pint with you ( although you may have to put a load of straws together to reach my drink if I cannot lift my arms up !! )
So a busy three weeks with a mixture of fundraising events, after each event we host, War on Cancer gets some new friends who support the cause, or in some cases me...either way I'm grateful as it all raises awareness :)
Until next time
Tracy
Thursday 10 May 2012
I stand firm behind my decision to stop the cancer drug
Hello everyone
It was my six monthly appointment at the breast clinic today and this time it was my annual mammogram. I ended up at the hospital for two hours, some of the time due to normal delays and most due to a lengthy, shall I say lively discussion about my decision to stop the cancer prevention drug completely. This decision wouldn't be the right one for everyone, for me however, it definitely is, I have suffered greatly on the two different drugs I tried over a two year period. I have not even being in a position to work, I have had problems with many side effects, and quite a few very debilitating. Many people sail through the 5 years on the cancer prevention drug with no problems at all, for those it is okay to stay on the drug. For me, I believe I did the only sensible option available to me, stop. I had no end of problems, which in actual fact were still getting worse. The improvement in myself, my joints and my mobility in such a short period time, has validated my decision.
I went into the examination room, prepared for my physical and then a chat. The chat obviously revolved around my saying I'd stopped taking the Letrozole around 6/7 weeks ago, the doctor asked about the joint stiffness and pains. I said I'd seen the Rheumatologist and from that appointment it was confirmed that my problems were medication based and thankfully not inflammation, which would have indicated arthritis or rheumatism. I said it has only been a short time, but my joints,bones and muscles are getting better on what I believe is almost a daily basis.
I was getting statistics thrown at me, how the drugs show good long term survival etc. My stance was about quality of life, I said I understand the risks I'm taking, but on the cancer prevention drug, my quality of life was almost no existant, so if the drug increased my life by a few years, then I have gained nothing as I was too poorly to live them.He tried to talk me into trying another or even going back on Tamoxifen, I said no, I'm done with the drugs, they've caused enough long term problems for me in such a short period of time, some problems like the Osteoporosis that will never go away now. I said I'm hoping over the next 12 months to get back to the most physically fit I'm going to be, but definitely no more cancer drugs. Eventually the doctor conceded that yes, quality of life is the most important thing. Wow it was a right debate!
I had my annual mammogram and then went to wait until they quickly check them over, I was called back in for another film to be taken after the original set. I should hear within 3 weeks...normally it's 2 weeks, I think they have a bit of a backlog, anyway, if I've not heard anything in 4 weeks,I'm to contact them.
I then went round to HODU (Hematology and Oncology Day Unit )to say hello to the medical staff...these fantastic nurse's looked after me throughout my chemo, and I love them!...we got on great, I was always kidding them on and we all bonded really well. So I went and Pip, Kathy, Audrey,Marie and Denise were on duty, I got big smiles, hugs and kisses from them all...how great is that in the hospital. I always pop in to see them whenever I'm there to show them how well I'm doing and to have a quick catch up. There has been some work done in HODU, new treatment rooms, the lounge area revamped and the such. It's looking good. That area is a great place when your a patient, the nurses and doctors really look after you.
When I got home, I have my referral appointment to see Mr.Flannigan who is taking over from the consultant Mr.Porter to see if he can get to the bottom of my bladder issues, I have been under Mr.Porter for 12 months, been suffering for 18 months and really would like an end to it all now. So Mr.Porter believes I need more tests,tests and a biopsy to see if they can get to the bottom of it, and apparently Mr.Flannigan is the man to do that.....I sincerely hope so :)
Today's photo is one of the many hundreds of Tulip varieties, I see Tulips and Daffodils and I finally think the dreary grey days of winter are over for a while. Everywhere you look is an explosion of colour, the trees in blossom and new leaves are sprouting everywhere, the variety of flowers in bloom...it cannot do anything but lift your spirits and sooth your soul. Wherever you are, stop look around you and absorb the colour. Hope you are all having a great day.
I want to wish my big brother Graham all the best for this coming Saturday when he is taking part in the annual Keswick to Barrow walk. This is a massive 40 mile walk!!!....Go bro, I know you can do it!....This is one event I've been considering adding to War on Cancer's fundraising calender...what do you think folks?...would you be willing to take it on?...now that would be an achievement! One for me to think about.....
Well I'm off. so until next time
Tracy
It was my six monthly appointment at the breast clinic today and this time it was my annual mammogram. I ended up at the hospital for two hours, some of the time due to normal delays and most due to a lengthy, shall I say lively discussion about my decision to stop the cancer prevention drug completely. This decision wouldn't be the right one for everyone, for me however, it definitely is, I have suffered greatly on the two different drugs I tried over a two year period. I have not even being in a position to work, I have had problems with many side effects, and quite a few very debilitating. Many people sail through the 5 years on the cancer prevention drug with no problems at all, for those it is okay to stay on the drug. For me, I believe I did the only sensible option available to me, stop. I had no end of problems, which in actual fact were still getting worse. The improvement in myself, my joints and my mobility in such a short period time, has validated my decision.
I went into the examination room, prepared for my physical and then a chat. The chat obviously revolved around my saying I'd stopped taking the Letrozole around 6/7 weeks ago, the doctor asked about the joint stiffness and pains. I said I'd seen the Rheumatologist and from that appointment it was confirmed that my problems were medication based and thankfully not inflammation, which would have indicated arthritis or rheumatism. I said it has only been a short time, but my joints,bones and muscles are getting better on what I believe is almost a daily basis.
I was getting statistics thrown at me, how the drugs show good long term survival etc. My stance was about quality of life, I said I understand the risks I'm taking, but on the cancer prevention drug, my quality of life was almost no existant, so if the drug increased my life by a few years, then I have gained nothing as I was too poorly to live them.He tried to talk me into trying another or even going back on Tamoxifen, I said no, I'm done with the drugs, they've caused enough long term problems for me in such a short period of time, some problems like the Osteoporosis that will never go away now. I said I'm hoping over the next 12 months to get back to the most physically fit I'm going to be, but definitely no more cancer drugs. Eventually the doctor conceded that yes, quality of life is the most important thing. Wow it was a right debate!
I had my annual mammogram and then went to wait until they quickly check them over, I was called back in for another film to be taken after the original set. I should hear within 3 weeks...normally it's 2 weeks, I think they have a bit of a backlog, anyway, if I've not heard anything in 4 weeks,I'm to contact them.
I then went round to HODU (Hematology and Oncology Day Unit )to say hello to the medical staff...these fantastic nurse's looked after me throughout my chemo, and I love them!...we got on great, I was always kidding them on and we all bonded really well. So I went and Pip, Kathy, Audrey,Marie and Denise were on duty, I got big smiles, hugs and kisses from them all...how great is that in the hospital. I always pop in to see them whenever I'm there to show them how well I'm doing and to have a quick catch up. There has been some work done in HODU, new treatment rooms, the lounge area revamped and the such. It's looking good. That area is a great place when your a patient, the nurses and doctors really look after you.
When I got home, I have my referral appointment to see Mr.Flannigan who is taking over from the consultant Mr.Porter to see if he can get to the bottom of my bladder issues, I have been under Mr.Porter for 12 months, been suffering for 18 months and really would like an end to it all now. So Mr.Porter believes I need more tests,tests and a biopsy to see if they can get to the bottom of it, and apparently Mr.Flannigan is the man to do that.....I sincerely hope so :)
Today's photo is one of the many hundreds of Tulip varieties, I see Tulips and Daffodils and I finally think the dreary grey days of winter are over for a while. Everywhere you look is an explosion of colour, the trees in blossom and new leaves are sprouting everywhere, the variety of flowers in bloom...it cannot do anything but lift your spirits and sooth your soul. Wherever you are, stop look around you and absorb the colour. Hope you are all having a great day.
Well I'm off. so until next time
Tracy
Wednesday 9 May 2012
Less than four weeks to go!
Hello everyone
Hope you are all well and enjoying your week. Wow we have less than four weeks to go until War on Cancer's first annual Yorkshire 3 Peak challenge! - have you been sensible training regularly over the last few months? or are you just hoping to get through the day?...whichever one you've done...I wish you all the best on this tough but World famous trek - we will be walking just shy of a marathon and our target is around 12 hours. Thank you www.lostearthadventures.co.uk for guiding us safely on our 3 peak trek. Check out their website....they host all kinds of fun adventurous things...you may want to participate in one of them.
If any of your friends are still wanting to do it, there are a few places left. I look forward to enjoying a drink afterwards toasting our success at completing the challenge. Remember if you cannot do the challenge, but wish to show your support for everyone taking on the challenge in aid of War on Cancer's two chosen charities for 2012 - Walk the Walk breast cancer and Clic Sargent children's cancer charities, then please go press the donate button here on the blog....it links directly to Paypal and is a safe secure way to transfer money over the internet.
Here's my picture of the day....I posted this yesterday on Facebook, have a look and think back to the last time you saw the Bluebells out....life and work run at about a million miles an hour these days and it's easy to let the little things that give pleasure in our lives pass us by. There are things that may happen in your life that make you take stock of what's important, or what you've been missing while every day life pushes you from day to day. Don't wait to be told something bad like a life threatening illness, or the loss of a loved one to make you realise there's more to life than work,work,work.....try lift your head now and then, take a step back and relax taking in the simple pleasures of life. Try to remove the negative aspects of your life....live as positively as possible, you will love the life you then have.
I took this picture in the woods by my house, Bluebells are one of my favourite flowers, I love to see them blanket the ground, while all around them new shoots are coming up, the ferns, the new leaves on the tree's such vivid greens! I love nature and I'm lucky because I get to go out there daily. You can see something beautiful where ever you are. Stop take five and look around you!
I have been having a swell time reconnecting with old friends from school....I am talking friends like Coleen from Primary school, we were four years old when we started school! I remember Coleen was the oldest in our year because of her birthday being in Sept, all these years later and I remember that - a miracle with me, after all my nickname for years has been Jelly or Jellyhead!...I think nothing else has to be said :) ...I love it, and I am in awe of her memory. We went onto the same middle school too, it's really strange, we chat a bit and it doesn't feel strange, it doesn't feel that we are reconnecting decades later. It almost feels like I've been transported back in time...weird, but fantastic all the same.Friends like Maggie, Wendy, Ian, Mark, Barrie, Bryan......oh what great kids we were - then we were scattered like seeds apon the wind all over to different grammar schools, this is when we all lost touch, so it's fantastic talking as adults and laughing at the stuff we got upto as kids....I thank you all for coming back into my life and making me laugh!!...this side of social networking I love very much.
It's really strange, but now I'm back in touch, I've realised how much I have missed these people being in my life.....I am very grateful for this chance to catch up with everyone, and who knows meet in the flesh again, let's be honest the fashions can't be as bad as our class photo from 1979!! A reunion as Coleen suggested would be great fun.
So all of us can have changes come apon us quickly....most are very positive and lift our spirits and hearts. Those that are more negative need dealing with quickly and then discarding, move onto better things that keep us uplifted.
For those who cannot make the Curry n cocktail charity event on May 19th.... I will have a drink or three on your behalf....lets hope it doesn't end up with me as drunk as a skunk!!
Until next time
Tracy
Hope you are all well and enjoying your week. Wow we have less than four weeks to go until War on Cancer's first annual Yorkshire 3 Peak challenge! - have you been sensible training regularly over the last few months? or are you just hoping to get through the day?...whichever one you've done...I wish you all the best on this tough but World famous trek - we will be walking just shy of a marathon and our target is around 12 hours. Thank you www.lostearthadventures.co.uk for guiding us safely on our 3 peak trek. Check out their website....they host all kinds of fun adventurous things...you may want to participate in one of them.
If any of your friends are still wanting to do it, there are a few places left. I look forward to enjoying a drink afterwards toasting our success at completing the challenge. Remember if you cannot do the challenge, but wish to show your support for everyone taking on the challenge in aid of War on Cancer's two chosen charities for 2012 - Walk the Walk breast cancer and Clic Sargent children's cancer charities, then please go press the donate button here on the blog....it links directly to Paypal and is a safe secure way to transfer money over the internet.
Here's my picture of the day....I posted this yesterday on Facebook, have a look and think back to the last time you saw the Bluebells out....life and work run at about a million miles an hour these days and it's easy to let the little things that give pleasure in our lives pass us by. There are things that may happen in your life that make you take stock of what's important, or what you've been missing while every day life pushes you from day to day. Don't wait to be told something bad like a life threatening illness, or the loss of a loved one to make you realise there's more to life than work,work,work.....try lift your head now and then, take a step back and relax taking in the simple pleasures of life. Try to remove the negative aspects of your life....live as positively as possible, you will love the life you then have.
I took this picture in the woods by my house, Bluebells are one of my favourite flowers, I love to see them blanket the ground, while all around them new shoots are coming up, the ferns, the new leaves on the tree's such vivid greens! I love nature and I'm lucky because I get to go out there daily. You can see something beautiful where ever you are. Stop take five and look around you!
I have been having a swell time reconnecting with old friends from school....I am talking friends like Coleen from Primary school, we were four years old when we started school! I remember Coleen was the oldest in our year because of her birthday being in Sept, all these years later and I remember that - a miracle with me, after all my nickname for years has been Jelly or Jellyhead!...I think nothing else has to be said :) ...I love it, and I am in awe of her memory. We went onto the same middle school too, it's really strange, we chat a bit and it doesn't feel strange, it doesn't feel that we are reconnecting decades later. It almost feels like I've been transported back in time...weird, but fantastic all the same.Friends like Maggie, Wendy, Ian, Mark, Barrie, Bryan......oh what great kids we were - then we were scattered like seeds apon the wind all over to different grammar schools, this is when we all lost touch, so it's fantastic talking as adults and laughing at the stuff we got upto as kids....I thank you all for coming back into my life and making me laugh!!...this side of social networking I love very much.
It's really strange, but now I'm back in touch, I've realised how much I have missed these people being in my life.....I am very grateful for this chance to catch up with everyone, and who knows meet in the flesh again, let's be honest the fashions can't be as bad as our class photo from 1979!! A reunion as Coleen suggested would be great fun.
So all of us can have changes come apon us quickly....most are very positive and lift our spirits and hearts. Those that are more negative need dealing with quickly and then discarding, move onto better things that keep us uplifted.
For those who cannot make the Curry n cocktail charity event on May 19th.... I will have a drink or three on your behalf....lets hope it doesn't end up with me as drunk as a skunk!!
Until next time
Tracy
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