Kiltwalks 2014 Complete

Another year of Kiltwalks complete.  As a family we took part in all five.  Ross and myself did all 5, but not all of them were full walks.  Hats off to anyone who manages all of the full walks in one year.  A lot of people managed this year including Jock, Richard and Cameron from our team.

Ross completed the full walks at Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.  I completed the full walks at Glasgow and Dundee.  The reason for not doing full walks at all of them was Isla.  She really wanted to be part of it this year, and was just old enough to do so.  We decided that she was definitely doing the wee walk at Speyside and Edinburgh.  After doing Edinburgh in May she was desperate for the next one and so signed up to Aberdeen. At the start of the year, we didn't know exactly the walks we would be doing, but started with Glasgow in April and took it from there.  With Jock deciding that he was going for all of them this year, I felt I wanted to be there too at all of them offering team support, and that's how we ended up being involved in them all.

My last blog was written after completing the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, when Isla caught the Kiltwalk bug.  She signed up to do the Aberdeen one straight away.  The Aberdeen Kiltwalk was a longer walk at 8 miles for Isla.  Due to the route at Aberdeen there is only 2 walks rather than 3.  The walk started at Banchory.  At the start Isla and I met up with Keane and his granny Hazel.  Isla and Keane hit it off and got along the whole walk.  The walk took a long time with this pair, stopping every couple of steps, but they were funny together.  Isla was delighted at the end when her Clic Sargent social worker was there and presented her with a Clic Sargent medal, aswell as her Kiltwalk one.

With the Aberdeen Kiltwalk being at the beginning of June, there is a break before the next Kiltwalk at Speyside in September.  Isla was excited once again for her walk.  As I have already completed the half and full walk at Speyside I was looking forward to just doing the Wee Walk, Of course there was an element of guilt for just doing a Wee Walk, but I would rather walk with Isla.  If the need takes me I can go for a walk there anytime!  I would also say that the Wee Walk at Speyside is lovely, a flat route where you walk from Aberlour to Craigellachie and back again.  Speyside has the advantage of the hills in the middle, with a downhill, then a flat finish.  Speyside also boasts magnificent scenery and more importantly a brilliant after party in the Mash Tun.  Ross, myself and Isla walked along with my brothers daughter, it was her first walk.  She definitely wanted to be part of the Kiltwalk as well.  My Dad also appeared on the day and supported us by walking with us too.

Of course, we're just a small part of a bigger team for Logan's Fund at Speyside.  Here's more of them, but not all.  Go 'Logan's Tartan Turtle Army!'

The last Kiltwalk of the year was Dundee.  Our team of Cameron, Richard, Jock, Ross and myself were completing the last full walk of the year. Not forgetting Holly, who was completing her fifth and final wee walk of the year alongside mum Eli.  After walking with Isla for 3 walks, it felt very strange to walk at Dundee without her.  I really missed her and all the other kids who walk on the wee walks.  However, it's not a challenge for me to walk a wee walk and you almost feel guilty for doing so (almost).  

Dundee started wet!  There had been a few days of rain prior to the walk so the park where we started was wet.  Earlier in the year I bought myself a new pair of walking trainers online claiming to be waterproof.  The material on them may be waterproof, but the hundreds of little holes to make them breathable do not make the trainer waterproof!  So, with wet feet at the start, it caused a few minor problems for me.  I usually put  Zinc Oxide tape on my feet.  With Ross in charge of packing painkillers, tape etc, I didn't realise my tape was not packed until it was time to tape up my feet.  Instead I put on podiatry felt, which is almost good enough.  However, when this got wet, a little bit of it peeled off my foot, just under my toes.  About 3 miles into the walk, I felt I was maybe developing a blister.  I think, because of this, I was walking differently to protect that area.  Later on I started to experience sciatica.  I kept stopping every so often to stretch my back or squat to ease the pain.  The pain in my back obviously messed with my head a little and put an element of doubt into my ability to complete the walk.  This thought coupled with missing Isla, led to me becoming a little upset and fighting off a panic attack.  I stopped a couple of times trying to compose myself.  A very kindly gentleman and master tablet maker sensitively stopped walking after he passed us, allowed us to catch up and offer us a piece of tablet.  This little act of kindness helped a great deal.  He obviously could tell I was struggling emotionally, rather than offer words of comfort where I would start greeting, he offered a distraction - very clever man!  Turns out being nice to someone like me, will just make me more upset, distraction is the key!  

After passing the half way point, I was beginning to feel a bit better emotionally, just needed to keep plodding on.  I posted online and also checked up on the status of others in our group.  I reckoned that they were about an hour in front of us.  About a mile later, at beautiful Broughty Ferry imagine my surprise to discover Jock and Cameron, alongside Team Simba's Allan and Tudge, sat in front of a pub enjoying an unofficial pit stop.  Apparently it was the second one too.  No longer an hour in front!  After some banter and some pain relief supplied by the boys, it was time for Ross and I to get walking again.  Twenty minutes later we were passed by the 'pit stoppers' walking very briskly on the lookout for their next pit stop.  The scenery along Broughty Ferry, and along to Discovery Point was a welcome distraction, and passed quite quickly for me.  By Discovery Point, we decided we need some refreshment and lo and behold discovered Jock, Cameron, Tudge and Allan once again.

 Topped up with painkillers we were off again walking along to the airport, then back through Dundee to the finish.  The last pit stop was offering soup.  That soup was just ideal.  I don't enjoy eating all the sweet things offered on a Kiltwalk, so this was perfect.  Ross was struggling more towards the end with pain, but mine was bearable.  When I finished I booked in for a massage due to the sciatica I had experienced.  She warned me that as I'd been protecting the side with the sciatica the other side of me was really tight. The next morning I woke up with a sore neck, that I couldn't turn to the left!  So, getting wet feet, led to sciatica and the resulting sore neck.  Next time I think, either new waterproof trainers or carrier bags on your feet like the couple I'd seen at the start!  My neck pain lasted almost 4 weeks.

But, what's a sore neck compared to what the kids go through?  Nothing, not worthy of noting really.  Only an experience for future walks, to make them that little easier.

Our fundraising for this year is now complete and between Ross, Isla, Becky, Cerys and myself we raised £1662 without gif taid, so a big thank you to everyone who supported us along the way.

Of course, our Kiltwalk experience does not end there, there's always next year!

Oor Inspiration

Yesterday, we took part in our second Kiltwalk of the year. The first Kiltwalk was in Glasgow on 21st April, and yesterday we were in Edinburgh to do it again!

We knew after doing the full walk at Glasgow last year, that we definitely wanted to do it all again, with one change, having the day after, off work.  Luckily I'm working part-time this year, so it was possible to swap days.  This had the added benefit of being able to join in with the Kiltwalk after party!

Although keen to do the Glasgow Kiltwalk, there was one thing worrying me - a repeat panic attack.  Last year, I'd been hit by strong emotions walking through the grounds of Yorkhill hospital.  I had been caught unaware with my feelings, and I believe this resulted in me having a panic attack later in the walk.  In the lead up to the Glasgow Kiltwalk this year, I'd been reflecting on Isla's diagnosis.  It's the anniversary of her admission to hospital on the 15th of April, and I just can't avoid thinking about it.  I don't think it would do me any good to avoid it, it just makes me a little 'out of sorts' for a while.  The reflection is also a good thing, as it is a constant reminder to cherish my children each and everyday.  I also think of all the friends who have lost their lives, the families on their journeys with childhood cancer and the newly diagnosed.  I truly do know how lucky I am, especially as Isla has reached 5 year survival.

I knew the route for the Glasgow Kiltwalk had changed this year, but I hadn't paid any attention to the new route, my philosophy is to just turn up and get on with it!  This year the Glasgow Kiltwalk started at the Hydro, and then headed to Yorkhill.  Just before we got to Yorkhill, I got the biggest surprise ever, when one of the children's pictures that you see to inspire you on you on your walk was 'Oor Isla' looking happy in the photo for her first day of school, with the word 'Inspire' written at the bottom.  I was so delighted to see her face (so was Ross), that the approach to Yorkhill was a happy one.  Also, there was an added bonus of just walking around the back of the hospital so I didn't have to look up at those windows of Schiehallion ward.  Oor Inspiration truly did spur us on our walk, no negative emotions felt this time at all.  The negative emotion associated with Yorkhill has absolutely nothing to do with the care Isla received there.  It was absolutely brilliant, without their close care and dedication Isla wouldn't be with us today.  She really was seriously ill, and we came very close to losing her, that's why it's difficult to be there, it's a reminder of those scary times. Just look at her now!

Once again this year, we are walking as part of a team supporting Logan's Fund - Logan's Tartan Turtle Army, a wee change to the name as Logan loved turtles!  Also walking on the Glasgow Kiltwalk with our team was my family -  my 71 year old dad, my brother Richard, my 15 year old daughter Cerys and friends - Cameron Mackintosh and Jock Mckay.  We all walked the full walk of 23 miles.  Also walking for Logan's Fund was Senga Harrison (a new friend), and hopefully we managed to recruit 2 new members to our team for next year in the form of Chris Finlay (Jock's mate) and Grace Hilling (Senga's mate).  We all partied like a team at the end of the walk.

Since we've been taking part in the Kiltwalk's we've gotten to know other regulars, commonly known as the Kiltwalk family.  Just like any family, there are cousins I haven't yet met but have heard of.  This Kiltwalk family have become a great support to each other, one I'm so grateful to be part of.  It's a great feeling to come across your friends along the walk, you get a blether for a while as you walk together, you get to hear stories to motivate you to do your bit, and at the end you get to have a wee moan about your sore bits, or share a drink and a dance with.  You also get the feeling that many of these people are facing their own personal struggles, that these walks are tough, and not just physically for them.  You're all the same, but putting 'oor bairns' first.  I really do love that about the Kiltwalker's.  They are a special breed, when they find out one of their own is struggling, they'll go back after completing their walk to walk with that person.  Last week, John Grigor was spotted doing a solo Kiltwalk in Edinburgh.  It turns out John was determined to do all 5, but was away when the Edinburgh Kiltwalk was on, so decided to do it the week before, that was just a week after Glasgow.  Some of the Kiltwalk family turned up to walk with John and give him a heroes welcome at the end.


Yesterday was the Kiltwalk in Edinburgh, there was my husband Ross, my eldest daughter Becky, my brother Richard, my youngest daughter Isla and myself.  Also, part of our group was Cameron Mackintosh, Jock McKay and Senga Harrison.

I've divided us into two groups, as Cameron, Jock and Senga were brave (daft!) enough to walk a full Kilt of over 26 miles, and we just did the Wee Walk of over 6 miles.  Doing the Edinburgh Walk was a last minute decision.  Jock had decided earlier on in the year that he was planning to do all five, and to me it didn't feel right that he would be on his own, he is, after all part of a team.  Isla was also keen to get in on the act, hearing us talk about it, so we signed up for the Wee Walk that Isla is allowed to take part in.

I wasn't sure exactly how Isla would feel, as she was overwhelmed with the crowd last year in Buckie at the start of the Speyside Kiltwalk.  Isla was really keen yesterday until it came to everyone gathering together for the start of the walk, I could see her getting anxious, so we ended up standing off to one side.  When the piper started to lead us off Isla quickly moved up to the front away from the crowd.  Isla made me laugh with her comment of 'there was no pipe band'!  The Speyside start left a bigger impression than I thought.

As we started walking, Isla did have a moan about how her feet and legs were sore, we reassured her that this was no race, we would go as slow as she liked and take as many stops as she liked.  This seemed to be all the motivation she needed, as she didn't moan again for the rest of her walk.

Ross got talking to a couple who were walking beside us with their daughter Hannah, and Ross introduced them as they were also walking for a Neuroblastoma charity.  I ended up walking and talking with the woman for quite some time, to discover that she was originally from Elgin, that her friend lives in Keith, who my brother knows and she was also a teacher!  Small world.  They had had a difficult time with their own daughter in her first year of life spending most of it in hospital, but had decided to walk in support of her friend whose son was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma last April and was currently in the U.S. receiving treatment.

I'd realised with my talking I'd moved away from Ross, Richard and Isla, so waited with Becky for them to catch us up.  We had also reached the half way point.  Isla was taking the walk in her stride with a big smile on her face.

Becky was beginning to struggle at this point.  Walking a distance hasn't been easy for Becky in recent years.  Becky is double jointed (hypermobile, she likes to dislocate joints!) and she walks with her knees close together and ankles apart, this puts pressure on her knees, ankles and balls of her feet.  We had another little stop to put some moleskin on Becky's feet as she felt they were starting to blister.  Isla wouldn't stop with Becky, as she was in her stride, so Richard carried on with her.  We all met up again and carried on with our walk.  Isla was enjoying the scenery, watching the other families.

Isla was excited when she seen the 1 mile to go marker, but the delight at seeing her own picture was priceless.  I'm sure she walked faster after that!

I love seeing the pictures of all the bairns, especially at the end, it's the final motivation and reminder to keep going.  I also want to be able to identify all the kids from reading the Kiltwalk blipfoto's.  Sometimes I struggle with my emotions after reading the Blipfoto stories, but they're an effective motivator to keep on doing what you can to help. If you have something to give, then you should.  We're surrounded by reminders of how lucky we are to be healthy and able from news stories.  Last week, there were the stories of Stephen Sutton's battle, the loss of life for Alfie Sharpe and Oscar Knox - 2 Neuroblastoma warriors.  Just reading the Blipfoto of Aine the night before the Kiltwalk  had me emotional again!  There are constant reminders to treasure each day.

Isla loved her first experience of the Kiltwalk, cheering on others finishing, getting something to eat at the end, having a dance in the marquee.  She immediately wanted to know when she could do it all again.  I explained she was doing the Wee Walk in September, but that Mummy and Daddy were going to be doing Aberdeen in 3 weeks time.  I explained the Wee Walk at Aberdeen was a little bit longer with a hill, but she wants to do it and signed up today!

'Oor Inspiration'

If you want to sponsor Isla and our efforts as we try to take part in all 5 Kiltwalk's this year, you can do so here:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=simpsons4logan

Logan's Legacy

Last year, the Sunday Post had a big launch for this years Kiltwalk's, teaming up with 'Oor Wullie' as the new face.  Reading that paper, Ross suggested doing 3 Kiltwalk's - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Speyside.  I hastily agreed, and had my own suggestion - doing it as part of a team for Logan's Fund.

We always wanted to give back to Logan's Fund, just hadn't had the chance yet.  About March 2010, while stuck in hospital with a temperature in isolation for the umpteenth time, I was searching on the internet for a holiday for the family once Isla had completed her hospital treatment.  Someone had suggested the charities that granted wishes for sick children, but searching showed that Isla wasn't old enough to be eligible for this.  Someone else suggested fundraising myself to raise the money needed for our family holiday, and so my first blog began.  We were overwhelmed with the support and donations received (and still are), and one donation in particular.  We were contacted by Logan's Fund offering £3000 towards our holiday to Disneyland Paris!

Logan Reece Main was born on 16th January 2006, a much longed for child to Angela and Chris.  In August 2008 Logan developed swelling in the abdomen, and he was admitted to the local hospital and immediately transferred to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital with a diagnosis of Neuroblastoma.  Like many children having treatment for cancer, things didn't go smoothly.  Logan hardly got home.  An operation to remove the tumour was complex, and planned to happen in Great Ormond Street Hospital following further chemotherapy.  While researching possible treatments for Logan, his parents discovered other treatment that Logan could have abroad after the tumour removal, but these would be expensive, and so Logan's Fund was established to raise the money  needed.

Although Logan wasn't often well enough to get home, nothing fazed him.  He was a much adored child and patient of the hospital.  I never got to meet Logan.  When Isla was diagnosed in April 2009, we spent ten days in the hospital in Aberdeen before being transferred to Yorkhill.  That time spent for me was spent in a room with Isla with the door shut to the outside world.  Ross stayed in the parent accommodation at night, and would pay visits to the cafe for coffee etc, and had a chance to meet other parents going through the same as us.  Ross met Angela, and discovered her son Logan also had Neuroblastoma, like Isla.

When my mum came to visit us that weekend she'd brought the local paper with her, while flicking through I was drawn to a story.  The story was about Logan, and the fundraising to get him treatment abroad.  I remember the surreal feeling of reading a story like that, with the reality of the situation in our ward, and in our lives.  Many people will be like me, and be drawn to stories like that in the newspapers, and this time the story was close to home, we were just like these people in the papers.  You don't ever think that will happen to you.  It's not the natural order of things; children getting cancer.  You think it happens when people get old, or smoke too much etc.  Magazines and newspapers had been full of the story of Jade Goody, losing her battle with cancer, shocking enough when cancer effects young women.  While pregnant with Isla, two friends were also diagnosed with cancer.  The truth of people 'not old' getting cancer was now reality for us.

Once we'd been in Yorkhill for a while I contacted Angela, as she was the only other person at the time I knew with a child suffering Neuroblastoma.  She was able to offer support and advice.  Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Logan lost his life to the terrible disease.  Isla had turned a corner, and we were full of hope, and the reality of what could happen came with news of his death.  Logan received a great send off, he had touched the hearts of many in his short life.  When we returned to the hospital in Aberdeen, photos of his happy face were a welcome sight on the ward.

I kept in touch with Angela, and as I said we were overwhelmed with the offer of money for a holiday from Logan's Fund.  It had been decided to keep Logan's Fund going, in his memory, using the money raised to help other children and families in a similar situation.  Logan's Fund have donated to the Schiehallion Ward in Yorkhill, MFR Cash for Kids, CLAN (Cancer and Leukaemia in the North), Families Against Neuroblastoma, to help buy suits that enable children with a hickman line to swim.

Logan's Fund also started an annual family fun day, held in Lossiemouth every August.  The fun day raises money to donate to charity.  In 2010, money was raised for FAN, in 2011 for Make a Wish and in 2012 for the Neuroblastoma Alliance (NCCA).  This years one will be held this Sunday 25th August from 12 - 5pm, with a car boot sale at 10am.  So, if you're in the area, please do pop along!

Logan's Fund have helped families with a child affected by cancer, and want to continue to do so.  Fundraising in the name of your child is not an easy thing.  You share things, hear things and answer peoples questions and it's difficult to do that.  Being a family affected by childhood caner is difficult, people who you have become friends with through the shared experience suffer terrible loss.  Angela and Chris have suffered their own loss, yet want to keep Logan's legacy alive fundraising and supporting others.  In gratitude to the support they offer, we wanted to give something back, so one way is doing the Kiltwalks for Logan's Fund.  If you haven't yet donated to us, please consider a donation, so that Logan's Fund can continue helping others, leaving a lasting legacy of a beautiful wee boy.

To donate to our 3 Kiltwalks for Logan's Tartan Army, you can do so here:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=simpsons4logan

Or to donate to the team doing the Speyside Kiltwalk for Logan's Fund, you can donate here:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=LogansTartanArmy2013&isTeam=true

The big day has arrived!

I've just sat down at the computer after eating my breakfast, I've uploaded this mornings photos to the computer, and I'm sat here now trying to make sense of the many emotions I'm feeling just now.

Today is a big day for us - Isla's first day of school.  I'm a little bit lost without my best friend at my side, supporting each other.  Ross is a few hundred miles away across the North Sea on his first stint with his new job.  I know he'll be feeling lost being so far away from her.

I keep thinking back to a comment that was made to us in hospital over 4 years ago, when Isla started to get better after being seriously ill, when she started smiling and making happy sounds after weeks of lying unwell with a cry or a moan as her only sounds.  The doctor said to us "bet you never thought you would see her smile again", or something to that effect.  I was thinking, I never thought I wouldn't.  What was harder to imagine for us was her being just like lots of 4/5 year old's in Scotland today and going to school perfectly healthy.

No smiles, having been through a lot just a month from diagnosis.

We were lucky that after Isla pulled through from her first couple of chemotherapies, suffering multiple infections, being close to organ failure, suffering with chylous ascites, the rest of her treatment was easier.  It wasn't a breeze, but we never had the scary times again that we had at the start of treatment.  We will always be so grateful to the care Isla received on Schiehallion Ward at Glasgow's Yorkhill hospital.  They really did look after our baby girl, carefully getting her through the worst, so we could experience the best.

When walking the Hampden Kiltwalk this year, we had to walk through the grounds of Yorkhill, once I got round to the front of the hospital I couldn't walk fast enough to get out of there, so many memories came flooding back, I'm sure that's why I experienced a panic attack later on in the walk.  I was taken aback at the emotions that were triggered just walking through the grounds.

We spent a lot of time in hospital that first year from diagnosis, and many times after being allowed home from hospital or after a clinic visit, our time at home was cruelly robbed away with mysterious temperatures, infections etc and back to hospital we went.  When our stays in hospital did come to an end I treasured all my time at home with Isla; enjoying our days just sat cuddling on the sofa with a DVD, baking, adventures, lunch out with daddy.  Ross has been lucky that he's got to spend a lot of Isla's life with her too since having terminal leave with the RAF.

Since the day the C word entered our lives, I vowed to take life 'one day at a time'.  It gave me the strength to get through the worst.  Maybe it's why I never really imagined today up until recently.  I've been scared to picture today in case it was cruelly taken away from us, like it has to so many of the families we've got to know.  Unfortunately too many families suffer from a diagnosis of childhood cancer, and the worst happening.  I can never think of our journey with Isla without thinking of all the other families we've met, and what they've had to go through, and the loss they've suffered.

We are extremely grateful to the universe that we've reached today and Isla walked into school without a care in the world or a glance back at mum!

Ready for her first day of school.

I'm going to enjoy the afternoons this week, before Isla is full-time at school next week.  I know how lucky I am that we're getting this time together.  In less than two weeks time I'll be doing my third Kiltwalk this year, and my second Speyside Kiltwalk.  The walk is not easy, but I know it's easier than Isla's journey, and so many other children and their families suffering from illness and loss.  I will think of that when I'm struggling on my walk.  I will be reflecting, it will get me through, hopefully Ross will be home to be at my side, supporting each other.  The Kiltwalk is exactly that, supporting families suffering with childhood illness in Scotland.  Hopefully, many families like ours will know the support of the charities that the Kiltwalk helps, and many families will also realise just how special a first day of school is.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=simpsons4logan

New jobs, new house, new play group, new child minder, new life! Oh and it's scan week.

Last time I blogged I was telling you a bit about our training for our first kilt walk and our impending house move.  A few days after the last blog I started a new job in a different school.  I did hit the ground running the first week, and it's hard to believe I've been there 5 weeks now.  Isla had started her new playgroup the same day and new child minder that week, so we had a lot of running around the countryside for the first two weeks until our house move, and change to adapt to.  Six days after starting my new job I took part in 2013's first kilt walk from Hampden to Loch Lomond.

I'm going to do a separate blog on the Hampden kilt walk when I get the chance.  Ross and I completed the 26 miles (28!!) for Logan's Fund along with my Dad, Brother and 3 of his friends and Cameron Mackintosh from Logan's Fund.  I know there were others walking for Logan's Fund that day, so it was a great effort by all.  Three days after the kilt walk and we received the keys to our new house.  Unfortunately the house wasn't clean enough to move into, with carpets needing shampooed and other jobs, so we spent the next few evenings after work cleaning the new house and moving some boxes.  On the Saturday, Ross and two of his friends moved all the furniture and large items in a hire van while I ran the car (in engine safety mode) back and forth across the countryside once more with boxes.  We did achieve a lot that weekend moving enough to live in the house, but it was tiring (not having recovered from our walk!).  Luckily I was allowed a day off work for a house move, so was able to finish emptying and cleaning the military quarter we were in, in time for the official 'march out'.

Then it was officially Ross' last day in the RAF, and then job applications, interviews and college deadlines for him.  Luckily, I wasn't travelling too far for child minding or work.  My eldest started her study leave after the May Day bank holiday.  Weekends have consisted of sorting things out in the house and car.  Unfortunately the cooker doesn't work in the house, nor does one of the showers, so everyone in the household has to use our en suite just now, while we have to shop for new items etc in any spare time.  

The internet and phone was supposed to be turned on a few days after we moved in, but the order was cancelled (something to do with previous owners not having notified of house move when I had), nobody had told me, so the order was not actioned again until I phoned to enquire why we weren't online!  I did manage to get online with mobile internet, but it wasn't great, and not good enough for those people studying.  One time I did manage to get online, I read of the very sad news that another local cancer warrior who was in hospital at the same time as Isla, gained her angel wings. She was a special girl, who had endured so much, I know she leaves a big hole.

The new job has been busy with me in various roles, and sorting/gutting out rooms, helping with exam arrangements and researching new courses to offer pupils for the new curriculum.  I have achieved a lot in a short space of time.  Isla, thankfully has settled into her play group and child minder, like she has always been there, which is a blessing.  I did manage to squeeze in my blood donation the other week with just enough haemoglobin.  

Ross received a job offer, and started work last Monday, so he is currently away from home Monday to Friday on a ten week training course and plans to come home at weekends.  While the timing has not been ideal, it's great that Ross has not been out of work long and his new job sounds really interesting.  Having my other half away from home has been a little stressful, dealing with everything and keeping everyone organised, but it will be worth it.  Isla was upset during the week, missing her Daddy, as he has been her main carer since September while I have worked full time.  However, I think she'll adapt, she gets to speak to him every night on the phone, and clings to him when he does get home.

So, just yesterday, it was our second kilt walk of 2013, four weeks after Hampden (again, will do a separate post).  Originally we had planned on doing the full walk again of 26 miles.  During the Hampden kilt walk, Ross was really struggling with pain in his knee for the last few miles.  Ross had been involved in a few accidents in his time, and has had lots of broken bones, and as a result suffers from aches in some joints.  Ross felt at the time, that he just wouldn't be able to do the full walk at Edinburgh.  While I had struggled at Hampden, I still wanted to complete the full walk at Edinburgh.  But, after a lot of consideration, and a lecture from my mother, I decided I would stick with Ross to do the half walk.  After a very busy month, the last thing we wanted was to exhaust ourselves completely in time for this week.  While I have felt guilt at just doing the half, I know I've had to keep some of 'me' in reserve.

This week, Isla returns to hospital for her routine scans.  I have managed to get a couple of days off work, with Granny stepping in on Wednesday (Maths exam day at school).  Unfortunately, Ross has a busy week at work, with apparently, the most intense week, and lots of assessments.  He has managed to get Friday off work, in order to sit his final exams at college.  I know he's going to be a complete 'stress head' this week, with lots of studying and wondering how his little girl is getting on, and stressing over the fact that he's not with her for the first time.

You could say I'm a little tired with all that's happened in the last 5 weeks, and I am a little stressed with the change and impending scans, as I know Thursday will be a difficult day with sedation and her MIBG scan.  

I have settled into a new job, watched Isla settle into her new playgroup and childcare, settled into our new home, completed 2 kilt walks, thought about how another beautiful soul who has left the earth, coped with the changes to hubby's work life, so let the 'scanxiety' begin!

Kilt Walk Training

As usual it's a long time between posts.  Our training has been sporadic lately due to the stress of buying a house!  We should have been getting keys to a house on the 29th of March, then the date was changed to the 12th April (tomorrow), now the date has changed again to the 24th of April.  I had visions in my head of getting the house move done during the school holidays, but this hasn't happened.  Instead just some packing and cleaning.  After stressing about it, I've just given in to it, it's out of our control and we'll get it eventually.  It would have been ideal to move in the holidays, as I'm starting a new job near the house and Isla is due to start her new pre-school.  It just means extra travelling for 2 weeks.  Life has dealt us worse blows.

Back to training.  One recent walk that we did was the 16 miles from Fochabers to Aberlour, just like one of the walks for the Speyside Kiltwalk and the one that we did last year (see earlier post).  It is definitley not an easy walk, there's not much flat, either up or down hill with some corkers of hills at Cafally, Boat O' Brig and Ben Aigen.  My Dad who has just turned 70 joined us, and it's fair to say he's much fitter than us (still working as a Builder's Labourer makes sure of it).  My Dad is joining 'Logan's Tartan Army' for the Hampden Kiltwalk and possibly the Speyside one too.

One thing that has NOT been enjoyable on every single one of our walks has been the weather.  It's always cold, sometimes wet, sometimes windy and sometimes snowy.  I'm just thinking that we're definitely due the sun on our actual  Kilt Walk's.  If not, we're used to walking in bad weather is still nothing compared to what sick kids have to put up with.

The walk out of Fochabers up to Ordiquish

 Snowing up the hill.

 My view most of the walk.

 Spring Lambs

 Ahead for once after Boat O'Brig

 The difficult part

 The magnificent view

Dad happy, we've done the climb.

 Criagellachie - the home stretch

Nearing the end!

The Speyside Way is not an easy walk, and we'll try to get plenty training done throughout the summer before the Speyside Kilt Walk so that it's not so difficult, although during the summer there is planned work at Ben Aigen so a diversion will be in place.

When we walk we use an app on our phones to track distance, speed etc.  We've discovered that although we have identical apps, Ross phone is more accurate, mine must pick up my GPS less, and ends up cutting a couple of miles off my walk as a result.  We have one more large training walk to do before our first Kilt Walk on the 21st of April.  The weather has been forecast to be nicer, I'm hoping that will improve our speed.  It's only 10 sleeps until our Hampden to Loch Lomond Kilt Walk, and 4 weeks after that we tackle the Edinburgh Kilt Walk.  We have a good gap before the Speyside one in September and lots of opportunities to tackle the Speyside Way, and hopefully no more snow on the route!

I will try to blog again before our first Kilt Walk.  If not, this is what my 70 year old Dad will look like at Hampden stadium doing the Slosh!

Oh, I almost forgot, we're still looking for donations.  You can do so here!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=simpsons4logan

Endomondo Walking Workout

Endomondo Walking Workout: was out walking 12.77 miles in 3h:51m:46s using Endomondo.