SHINE

2 years ago today I undertook the most challenging thing I've ever had to face..the Shine marathon for Cancer Research. Whatever possessed me to agree to it was simple, I'd seen so many friends , family and parishioners suffer at the hands of cancer and I wanted to try and honour them in some small way. 2 years later I faced Shine again but this time the half marathon to ease me back in after having Elijah. Again, it was a truly wonderful experience, this time without the pain and agony but still with the heart ache of more friends and family members suffering at the end of this cruel disease .

What was so amazing on Saturday night was seeing the 17,000 people all there with their own stories and reasons why they were walking, whether it was for themselves or for a loved one each walking with their own memories and thoughts.
The world can so often divide us but sometimes tragedy can unite us, bring us together in the companionship of mutual experiences. I've only experienced this twice....at Shine and during the 7th July bombings...a time when people were so scared in London they actually turned to each other in conversation for comfort and support. It makes me sad that it takes bad things to bring us humans together...maybe we should try and make a conscious effort to smile at someone tomorrow, say hi to someone or even invite someone for a coffee...you never know just how much that act of kindness may mean to them.

As for me...I'm stupidly thinking of doing the full marathon again next year but also on my list is to climb a mountain....any takers???

Change of plan

Since we came back from holiday it has literally been non stop...literally from the morning after the late night arrival home. So today I managed to rearrange a few things to try and have a much needed day off , Marc had made some lov lay plans for us to undertake once Dan had been safely delivered to school. Well you know what they say to best laid plans....we were rudely awakened at 2am with Daniel in agony quickly proceeded by him being sick, this continued all night!

So plans quickly cancelled Marc took Elijah out for the morning to avoid the bug (hopefully) and to allow Daniel some rest. Whilst Dan slept I felt myself getting more and more stressed about the things that need doing in the next 10 days so rather than stress about them I decided to face them head on. Day off postponed I have managed to get ahead with quite a lot, and this got me thinking, I spend a lot of time out and about, which I love dearly don't get me wrong, but not a lot of time sitting, reflecting and preparing . Of course I would never ever wish for Daniel to be sick it has been agonising watching him writhe in pain and agony, but amidst that we've found some sense of life perspective !

Tomorrow plans change again as I'm not allowed into our special school in case I'm carrying any bugs and Dan hasn't been 24 hours clear yet so is very very sad not to be able to join in Roald Dhal day at school but it means I get a long awaited day off ( albeit spent nursing a Sick son!)

Life can be full of disappointments , heck I am a Spurs fan I know  it well ! But it's what we make of them that counts...especially the quite times !