bigfoodiemama

So, on the last day of the year, I made the decision to go "On the Dry" for January. If you think this was some resolution, health kick or weight loss plan, you would be wrong. It was a decision made early in the morning, where the consumption of Dingle Gin and tonic followed by some excellent red wine, in the company of some wonderful equally drinking girlies, had led me to spend December 31st in a state known to most as "hungover". At 46 years of age, this infrequent occurrence reminds me of my frailty and the fact that my whole body gets a hangover now, not just the head of my twenties or the head and stomach of my thirties. The FA, who had attended the event the night before and slept over, was the first to suggest it, having successfully manged it before, so I declared my intention to join her, proud of myself and, in case of any wobbling later, posted it on Facebook to ensure my compliance. I am not a quitter ! On New Years Day, as we all headed off to the pa...

So Facebook have compiled a video for me to share, apparently capturing the highlights of my year, but of course, Facebook only gets highlights, photo shopped smiley moments, so I thought I should take a look at 2016 as it actually happened. Like Christmas now starting at Halloween, I am bringing NYE forward to December 10th , as I will be far to knackered at New Year to write a blog ! 2016 - a short history January - Jaysus ! Engine of the much loved Peugeot 3008 died......€6,000 down in value overnight.....bought a Mazda....my old back hated it...had to change it for now much loved Hyundai ix35....car loan of €17,500 instead of my plan to own the Peugeot in 2016 with no car loan for the first time ever....happy f*****g days !!!***@@@ February - Feeling Fabulous Off to Dublin with the KOK's to do the Operation Transformation 5k run in the Phoenix Park in the cold and rain....was just wonderful. Met all the OT team and leaders but RTE decided that we were not fit for tele...

Oh yes, yes, yes, yes , yes....oh God, oh God, oh God,....I'm nearly there....so close......YEEEEEEESSSSSSS ! Up and over Rathmullen Hill. What a feeling, what a day, what a course....what an achievement ! The KOK's did themselves proud on Sunday last, accompanied by my baby sis The Ambassadrice. Months of preparation, planning, conversation, panic and hope brought us to the climax of our running career to date...the Boyne 10k. Heralded by most as one of the most challenging 10k's to take on, we arrived in Drogheda to an electric atmosphere and an air of quiet fear and excitement. We did our statutory toilet visit , and then another one, some gentle stretching and joined the throng outside the church for the warm up. Now the boy band who warmed us up must have forgotten that we were actually due to do a run after the "warm up", so as soon as our first bead of sweat broke and our breathing got laboured, we retired to a quiet corner and finished our more yoga-like ...

In exactly 2 hours and 40 minutes, I will take on the biggest physical challenge of my 45 years on Earth...the " challenging " Boyne 10k. What in January was a whimsical thought and a wee plan for 2016, is now a very real personal goal, which I want to achieve TODAY ! Stop thinking about Rathmullen Hill. I am bricking it ! The KOK's have been on messenger all morning with inspirational and hilarious messages for each other, most of them having not slept with nerves, whereas I, thank God slept very soundly thanks to the antihistamine I took to alleviate my ever present sinusitis, so that I can clearly breath in the cool May day air today, as I travel along a very familiar yet somewhat scary route. I am writing this blog to try to calm me down and coming up with mental strategies for the day. Stop thinking about Rathmullen Hill. I have packed Jaffa cakes, bananas, water, a pair of flip flops for my poor feet later, a change of clothes so that my sweat laden leggings don...