What have I done so far?

Well, not as much as I would have liked. I have made lists and done some research but all while sat on my butt!

I can't wait!

DD and I are starting to cut things from our diets in the vain hope of getting into a better state of health.
I have realised I will need to keep barefoot for the foreseeable future to stop my feet reverting to their sappy softness as they do over winter. I have had my first few forays of the season out and about without shoes, and have realised, unlike DD,  I have a way to go yet.
I've been quite surprised by the amount of people who are shocked we are planning it barefoot. Don't they know DD and I? We wouldn't consider doing it any other way!
The sponsorships have started to trickle in. I'm very encouraged by this as we have 14 months to go.
A huge thank you is due to my dear friend, Ren.  The first words of encouragement and the first generous donation. She really is a wonderful person and I love her lots. I shall be holding her to her promise of meeting us at the end with a chilled glass of fizz!

Soapy Sensations' lovely foot scrub!

Obviously DD and I need to look after our feet and prepare for the long journey. DD is a bit prone to cracked heals and my feet have a tendency to become fibro sore on hard surfaces. Apart from the endless training we need to do, I have also invested in some wonderful soap to help us along the way. It comes from a lovely lady named Helen (all the best people are named Helen). She can be found here on Facebook. You can buy her wonderful products here, in her on-line shop. She hand makes all of her product and is a pleasure to deal with. Do check out her ducky soaps. Ducks hold a special place in my heart, ducks with soap? how perfect!
DD and I are also going to try to make sure we have plenty of photographs of our endeavours so they will, no doubt, end up here. Or perhaps on DD's website and blog.
FMA UK have been wonderfully supportive and have offered to cover both our progress and the walk itself. they have even offered to supply us with company and/or supporters from the various support groups. We will be sporting FMA UK t-shirts for at least part of the walk (five days in the same shirt could become a bit ripe).
We will be looking into B&B's or hotels soon enough. I wonder if any hotels would like to put us up for a bit of promotion here and through FMA UK? Worth asking do you think?
I also need to look into emergency shoes. I need something light that will stow away, suitable for walking and reasonably priced.
I doubt, and hope, I won't have to wear them. But if an hour in shoes enables me to do a few more hours walking, and many more miles, I may have to be sensible.
Although I am doing this to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia. I must not forget that I am a sufferer myself. I must keep an eye on my limitations to make sure I finish. Failure is NOT AN OPTION!

My next task is to cut the walk into sensible bites over five days. To plan our accommodation and stops.
Time to get my head down and start researching.

Charitable Challenge.

DD and I were sat listening to the radio on Sunday. There was a man on there who was proposing to walk the length of Hadrian's Wall for Sport Aid.
DD was saying how he would love to do this barefoot. Being a part time barefooter I agreed, and said that I would love to join him, but would my health allow it?
So here is the challenge. I don't for a second think I am going to leap up and walk 73 miles from the North Sea to the Irish sea.
But could I do it in a year's time?
Well, I think DD could probably walk  it over quite a short period of time. I don't see that as much of a possibility for myself, but what if I gave myself a few days? perhaps 4-5 days? or maybe less?
So it started as the idea of a holiday, then it grew and grew.
Why not start training with just a mile or two at a time to begin with?
Take in mini challenges along the way. Things like getting up Thorpe Cloud, at Dovedale. Walking from Oxwich to Three Cliffs Bay?
Most importantly why not get some sponsorship and do it for charity?
The obvious charity, considering the personal challenge would be FMA UK.
So here it is. Details of where we will be staying will be brought about at a later date.
Monday 6th May 2013 will see the start of our journey. Of course I will be sharing all my experiences with the training and the journey itself here on this blog.
If you wish to speed us on our way please give freely here

A day out at Dovedale.

Today heralded a clear, blue almost spring like sky. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and only the most nocturnal among us wouldn't desire to be outside.
I long for the warm balm nights of Summer time and the hot humid days. I crave the sunshine and feel so much more a part of the human race in the warmer weather. I also love to see the spring bulbs poking the heads above ground, the spring lambs dot the fields and watch the green hills turn from bleak brown/green to such a lush green you feel the urge to roll down hills with the kind of abandon you had as a child (well I did anyway)
On a day such as this there was only one place top be, Dovedale!
After a late breakfast of scrambled eggs oin toast we loaded the chillun and pooch into the car and made our merry way there. The view of the rolling hills of the Derbyshire Dales as our backdrop, even the drive there was a pleasure.
Of course in try fibro flare up style I was exhausted before we even arrived but, I still had a smile on my face. A day out was just what the family needed. Time to relax and enjoy each others company.
We parked up and there came my first challenge. I got out of the car and eyed the crutches I had loaded into the car with loathing. Now, I faced a choice. I could shun them as I have done thus far. To proud and stubborn to give them a chance. Or I could use them. As ever, DD came to my rescue. "What if I carry them and you can use them if you really feel you need to?"  He really is perfect :)
It didn't take a great distance before the pain in my back, hips and legs wiped away any trace of vain pride and I was using them.
"Well DD, this is the day I admitted defeat" Was my comment with a rueful smile.
"Not at all! This is the day you used the tools you have to improve your health"
I do believe that every girl diagnosed with fibro should be prescribed their very own DD! Anyway, enough of singing his praises ;)
Unlike a recent trip to Carsington Waters, I made it for a good mile and a half or so. We crossed the stepping stones and the Pooch had a wonderful run. Although, she did act the tart. She is clearly coming into season and one or two less gentlemanly pooches noticed.
The Chillun climbed Thorpe Cloud while DD and I took the pooch along the river, and then back to wait for them at the bottom of the wee, little mountain.
We had a leisurely drive back home and I decided I would have a quick 40 winks before making dinner. I ended up sleeping for two hours but felt better for it. I made us a hefty cottage pie with gallons of veg. then the chillun hopped off to bed.
I have had a splendid day. I am in agony now (of course) but I feel like this time I have earned it.
The chillun may have climbed Thorpe Cloud but I have also conquered one of my own mountains today. The crutches may not be my idea of chic style but they do at least get me from a to b with less fuss.
Throw out the pride and embrace achievement!

A walk on the wild side.

Yesterday evening saw myself and DD with a rare evening out. It was bliss to be out and having fun. We accompanied his Ma and Pa to a wine tasting evening. 72 wines and only 2 1/2 hours to taste them in. Can you imagine? However, sensible DD and I merely chose the few we thought we would like and those we were curious to try. I assure you, we tried some truly delicious wines.
After standing near the wine counters for around ten minutes in my wonderful killer red heels I started to gaze with longing at the central table and chairs. I dragged DD's ma, J, along with me on the pretext that she would be better off sitting while the men waited on us. Let's face it though. We all of us with fibro know it was an alternative motive that sent me tableward.
we settled ourselves down with out charts and glasses and the men fold did a sterling job of looking after us. (I'm not such a feminist that I can't accept help from my DD) Unfortunately we appeared to choose the table with the crazed drunken Irish woman sitting at it. There is always one and they always find me. She proceeded to tell us at least 30 times that she would never spend over £5 on a bottle of wine and she was only there for the craic. now is it genuine human nature for her to aggravate me like sand paper being rubbed over my teeth? Or was it the "aggravate everything" syndrome showing it's ugly head? Fortunately I have been raised to put on a polite mask and be nice so I didn't tell her to push off. To be honest she was vaguely amusing.
After our civilised gentle tipples we decided to go and find something to eat. We went to the Royal Hotel in Nottingham. It had all the ambiance of a morgue when we arrived. It was so empty they had shut the restaurant and just opened up a few tables in the lounge. Unfortunately I was finding the back pain caused by walking unbearable so we stayed and ate there. Luckily the ambiance picked up after half an hour or so as more people arrived and dinner was lovely. An evening meal that threatened to be a bit flat turned out to be very nice indeed.  It irritated me somewhat the DD's older parents could have quite happily moved on to a better location but my pesky pain put a dampener on out hunt of a suitable eatery.
God damn you fibro. Stop making me look like I'm an aging cripple. I'm still in my 30's for goodness sake. Give me a break!
A fab evening with DD and co though :)