Ten Questions - Jo

What time did you wake up this morning? At quarter to seven, half past seven and again at five to eight.
Who did you last receive a text from and what did it say? Emma complaining about the hailstones!
What was the last thing you ate? Salt and vinegar hula hoops - carbs innit?
What do you dislike most about yourself? I've got no patience
When was the last time you really, really laughed? Earlier today, but my laughter was tinged with hysteria
If you were invisible for a day, what would you do? Ooh, visit the Millwall training ground and hover around the changing rooms cos, y'know!
If you could be a celebrity for the day who would you be and why? Davina McCall, she's a bit mad
Apart from your house and/or car, what is the most expensive thing you've bought? my new DVD camcorder baby!
What was the last white lie you told? that I'd read through a document that I hadn't
What's been the most embarrassing moment of your life? Far too many to mention, am a bit of an embarrassment magnet!

Having a break....

.....one each!!!! As it's just over a month to go before our epic trek around The Heaf, we've decided to take a step back from, erm, all the training we've been doing. So far, between us we've walked dogs, strolled round IKEA, trawled round the shops in central London and run up and down copious stairs at work. We're exhausted and so taking a well-earned break.

Fear not though! Our stamina and fitness (!) are at a peak. We're mean, lean, keen Race for Life machines and are raring to go (who's laughing?) on 15 July 2007. We hope you're coming along to cheer us on.

Not that I'm pushing (much) but I'm about to send out another email shot to all those of you who, for whatever reason, haven't yet sponsored us. It may be that you're waiting until nearer the time to really bump up our coffers, it might even be that you're amassing great wadges of cash for others and are going to donate all in one go or it might be that you're only able to offer moral support on the day - in which case, get there early, we'll be there from half nine doing the warm up session.

So the intrepid team (still nameless, I'm sorry Hilary but there was little enthusiasm for "Team Fast and Loose"!) are taking a few days to relax and chill before we hit our final month of training. And yes, we still do need to arrange the Training Session at The Rye. I fear Trainer Nigel is losing patience with the Social Sekkretery. Whoops. Lynn is currently at Butlins Bognor (I'm cat sitting - Wisey is very dubious of me and Bruno has yet to appear) and Sally and I are off to Harvesters tomorrow night for some early carb loading.

My lovelies, we need to sort out a team bonding session before too long so we can discuss what we're wearing etc (we're such girlies!) - Lynn has suggested we do it in fancy dress by the way.........

Written by Jo

A blonde moment.....

....which is unforgivable really, seeing as I've had June and Ron's cheque in my hot little hand for a week and haven't added it to either site - in fact I can't even blame the fact that I've had three different shades of blonde streaks added to my hair today. Done by a professional hairdresser in a salon I hasten to add, I haven't just been busy with the bleach. It's on the sponsorship site now though and here - hope you got the addresses of both sites June!

Thank you both for your cheque and lovely message - I hope the weather's kind too! Not too hot, a nice breeze and, if it can be arranged, a nice cooling refreshing rain shower at about, ooh half one would be lovely. Y'know, just to cool everything down! Can you see what you can do for me? Ta! I'll take pics for you and send them on - that goes for all of our lovely sponsors too, including Pat and Pete and Jan. And Lesley - I got your sponsorship money! Hoorah for the internal post! Can't add it onto the main site yet because of a "technical problem" but will soon!

I saw Sally yesterday for coffee - me and the Mad Labrador. She has laminate flooring, he has long legs and claws. If you could picture the scene: he couldn't walk without slipping, couldn't sit without sliding and lying down was out of the question. Sally's buying him a rug for when we next visit. He left, not with Pai's sock that he'd been playing with on the sofa, but with a nice covering of black fur over everything.

And I saw Marian and Lynn today - Marian for a hug on the doorstep this morning and Lynn this afternoon at the hairdressers - we're both nicely blonded but it weren't half hot under the "highlight developing machine".

So, I've seen the whole team these past couple of days - we have yet to all do a training session together but we're very much together in doing this - and we're looking forward to it. And the "training session" in The Rye public house too!

Heat

Phew! The heat has returned with a vengeance. I'm currently sitting here with nice cold drink and pondering the total amount raised which is now £697! That's without June and Ron's contribution but more about that later!

More walking round the park tomorrow night - hope we go past the 3 mile barrier (we found a cute little cafe type place last week btw!).

More off-line sponsorship in the pipeline and more on-line. Thanks to Carol and Karen and to Ben Maguire - much appreciated and Ben.....I sincerely hope I don't injure myself which will prevent me helping out with The Big Waldron Move......hm, there's a thought! Haha!

Written by Jo

What's up?

Our set target, that's what! It's been upped to £800 and we've raised £677 so far. People may say that we're moving the goalposts BUT, it would look very odd if our "amount raised" exceeded our set target would it not? And I do like a bit of balance, Ying and Yang and all that.

More on-line sponsorship from Mrs JMB aka Julia, Lady Bob and Nicky who will also give us the loan of the team physio. But he doesn't know that yet.

More off-line sponsorship from Lynn's friends at work based at 22 Kingsway, Somerset House and Bush House. Thank you all and I hope that you're coming to cheer Lynn and the team on.

Lynn and I did a 2.5 mile walk round Dulwich Park yesterday evening amid gambolling dogs, over-excited children and the always present threat of rain. Lynn proposed that we do the Race for Life in fancy dress. Hm! Although she did suggest we go as angels which grabbed my interest. Oh yes, can see myself in wings and a halo.

Am seeing Sally tomorrow to go through some training ideas (always helps to have tea and cake on occasions such as these I find) and am planning on showing my beloved woofer the delights of Dulwich Park over the weekend.

Written by Jo

Saturday Night's......

.....alright for exercising. Dear me. Have just tried a few exercises that Sally and Lynn and I used to do at the Lions Centre whilst Victor (our personal trainer....ooh, get me) wittered on about Liverpool being fab and Millwall.....not. This was a mistake. Especially after just eating a cherry Mueller Fruit Corner.

I attempted The Plank. You lie face down on the floor before raising your upper body up onto your forearms. You then raise the rest of your body onto your toes and thus you balance on forearms and tippy toes. It tones your whole body and your whole body clenches. And eventually shakes with the effort of not flopping to the floor. At the Lions Centre, I managed 70 seconds in this supine position. Tonight I barely made it through one of Chandler's (I was watching Friends at the time) one liners. This doesn't bode well. I then moved onto the stomach crunches. I managed eleven and now have a stupendous ache in my neck and left shoulder. Something tells me I did it wrong. Sally has just texted me - she's got a neck ache too.......half of Team ______? are carrying injuries!

More on-line sponsorship from Alice, Julie and Dawn - thank you ladies!

Written by Jo

Speechless - make the most of it!

There was I, merrily composing an email to send to all our sponsors (current and potential) sharing my witterings with them about whether or not I should bump our "target to be raised" to £600 because we've exceeded our original target of £400 by 70 quid thanks to Dad's fantastic sponsorship last night when along come Dave R and Dennis and take our total up to £530.

What do you reckon? A target of £1,000?

Written by Jo