Thanks to Fierce Monkey Custom Clothing...The girly girls visit Acorns Hospice

What a fabulous day!  Simon Greenfield called me leaving a voice message sounding as pleased as punch, "Lisa, call me! your charity challenge t-shirt is ready."  From here on everything went to plan.  I called Dee, my volunteers manager, to book time to visit the hospice with girlfriends from site.  Ticking through my works to do list, I had ample time to drive over with Ess (the sexy lady above in the blue t-shirt) collect the promotional t-shirt "HOT!" off the Fierce Monkey Custom Clothing press.  

Appointment booked to meet Dee at 15:30 hrs., the three of us arrive on time.  Jay (sexy lady 2 in high viz) drives to Acorns with me.  Ess, recently passing her driving test, although has skills and confidence of an experienced race track driver (can see her and Jay burning the tarmac with their mental driving!) meets us there.  The generous donation from the Selly Oak New Road Phase 2 team is handed over, and accepted with appreciation.  We grab a photo shoot opportunity for me to promote the trek, hospice and team donation in my next project newsletter www.sellyoaknewroadphase2.co.uk.  Killing two birds with one stone I can also use this to thank Simon, Fierce Monkey Custom Clothing for donating my Dalai Lama t-shirt and spare gifted branded top.  His gift will be worn and captured by the Himalayas and visit to the Taj Mahal to post pictures on his costumed blog sharing the adventures and travels of friends and customers.  

I have had such a wonderful day and cannot thank enough Simon (LOVE the t-shirt), Jay and Ess for their support, encouragement and sharing a wonderful day being part of my mini adventure waiting this November 2011.  

High Five to Simon Greenfield....THE! "Fierce Monkey Clothing" Dalai Lama Charity Trek t-shirt

Further to my meeting with Simon Greenfield, he has produced and sent the above artwork draft for approval. Only requiring a few alterations my personalised t-shirt to promote my next Acorns Children's Hospice charity trek will shortly be in my hands, ready to wear and hot off the printing desk! Next "to do!" organise a donation trek handover to Dee, volunteers manager at Selly Oak, the girly girls I work with on the Selly Oak New Road Phase 2 project, for a photo shoot and news flash in my project stakeholders letter.   John D, my boss man, has kindly given a project team donation, since the success of an environmental awareness scheme site in house initiative . He has also achieved our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), by sponsoring a member of staff with their choice of charity event, and our local children and families at Acorns near to our project SONR Ph2 (Selly Oak New Road Phase 2).  Hopefully this should encourage more sponsorship. If not at least I can spread the word of Acorns Hospice. 

Return to the Malvern's...not listening to Return of the King..(Lord of the Rings Orchestra)

Avoid, avoid and for too long avoiding walking the Malvern Hills.  I craved driving to, parking up and hitting the hills.  However, due to concerns (once again, history repeats) of my fitness level/stamina I found reason(s) to avoid.  The Malverns had been a regular venture when training for the Sahara Desert September 2010 charity trek.  God  I learnt to love those mini treks, and certainly appreciated how they had helped me prepare for the Sahara trek.  My numerous trips and treks to the Malverns came to mind during the various diverse challenging times experienced September last year.

Sunday 26th June my fear of facing my fitness level was out weighed by the urge to re-visit, reflect and focus on my new training schedule.   Eventually after procrastination, procrastination and that last little job that needed to be completed, there was nothing stopping me.  Boots laced up, water bottles filled, great music selected to play during my drive to the hills, I hit the tarmac in Cherry Corsa.  My, my it was bloody HOT! and that was just driving to greenery, space and me time.  I found another excuse to avoid longer (procrastinate, I am so skilled at this), stopping to buy food my body was craving thinking of completion of walking the hills.

Parking ticket bought, back pack on, one trekking pole to help encourage me to improve posture and not trigger off the nightmare back and hip pain or next day suffering paralysis from resurfacing old muscular kung fu day injuries :o$ (ouch, they hurt!).  Walking my last years regular route I go from trio avoid to natural recall and a rush of the many times I walked this same route.  I am a little surprised.  Breath needs improvement, more cardio at the gym and more visits to the Malverns.  Legs? hmmm mulling over that! not too bad! I notice weak moments and my footing in particular on my weak side of my body, the right side.  When an area of terrine is challenging I notice on my right foot I have a habit of treading on toe.  I focus on heel and putting the entire foot into action to strengthen.  

I arrive to the top of the hills.  Not as bad as anticipated.  Plenty of training required and essential, but for once I cut myself some slack.    It is extremely hot today.  Sweat beading on my forehead and back, from a simple stroll, I find myself smiling and asking myself "Was that you that completed the Sahara Desert Trek, in soul destroying heat!?"  It was! When I trekked with the team the Sahara sands last year I continually tried to record many moments, visual, feeling, sound, taste and smell.  I kept saying absorb, embrace, feel, remember to go back to in mind.  I can recall, very good at visualisation and sound (even with limited hearing :o)) but I still can't quite believe for some reason, I completed that challenge.  

Trapped in commercial?...escape on the towpath........

The previous Sunday was abundant with heavy showers, and what felt like excluded training focus, to ignite and start building foundations for physical, mental and general switch off mode training. Sunday 19th June was a welcomed contrast. Sun, breeze and a busy towpath. Last year when I walked the towpaths, training for the Sahara trek, as a stranger to these grounds I learnt to be courteous of cyclist's, runners/joggers, like minded towpath trekkers, but had no interest of capturing strangers in my camera's memory.

Reflecting on the Sahara experience shared with many wonderful, unique friends, my training this year seems to be more observant of people I meet and pass. Instead of focusing on aching feet, or nature I became more aware of characters ahead, that past and became distant and those near to me. Amusing, as I listened to selected tracks on my MP3, passing romantic couples, chilled out fishermen, tourists and families finding a scenic resting spot for a picnic. A little lesson I learn't today. When I observed strangers in harmonious moments they are more than accommodating to approve your requested consent to capture their sharing through the eye and camera lens.  Which kind of makes you feel like you're invited and sharing an element of that special moment becoming memory with them.

Go Greenfield!

A big thank you to Simon Greenfield, for listening to my ideas and viewing my mock charity challenge promotional t-shirt for my second challenge and adventure in support of Acorns Children's Hospice November trek 2011. I highly recommend Greenfield from experiencing the personal, customer focused touch and eco friendly products Simon provides. We met, talked about my ideas, he looked at photographs I wanted to add to my t-shirt and produced a proof. I was offered numerous t-shirt styles, colour, fit, very bespoke! check out the FIERCE MONKEY CUSTOM CLOTHING link..........


To be added my proof and the agreed produced charity promotional t-shirt.........

Time flies.....

Sunday June 12 although the heavy rain showed no signs of surrender my trekking boots needed time out! At long last, my urge to walk the Worcester and Birmingham Canal towpath was stronger and more determined than the showers equally on a mission. MP3 charged to maximum, I set out from Birmingham central walking city streets heading toward seclusion offered by the green corridors. Not completely kitted out in appropriate trekking gear, it wasn't long into my journey when my non-waterproof trouser clung rain soaked. Hair and footwear also drenched I actually felt very refreshed and energized. Drifting into a rhythm of movement and music beats I soon found myself on the towpath deserted by pedestrians and narrowboats. Utter bliss! a clear opportunity to pre-visualise my future trek and predict some of the challenges this particular adventure will provide.

I had programmed my pedometer to commence a new training routine. Lost in time, switching off from the usual daily routines my goal post seemed to arrive too soon. I stopped to capture a few moments on camera, to recall a few visual points that distracted me from my walking meditation. At the end of my target journey, pen and paper in hand ready to log the distance walked, I was gutted to read monitored distance walked "00000." MARVELLOUS! GREAT! aarggggh how frustrating!!! Amazing how I suddenly went from contentment to feeling peed off. Recognising this I couldn't help but quickly once again loose that feeling of frustration, replaced with amusement how when one small little, unimportant intention doesn't quiet go to plan one can forget the positive moments and of simply being.