I know it's been a while, but I don't want to blog for the sake of blogging if you know what I mean, I have to have something slightly interesting to say.
So, I thought I would look back at 2013 and the highs and lows, mostly highs to be honest as I like to leave the negative stuff in the past these days.
January 2013...
Along with the usual recovery from Christmas I had a lovely busy month with work, better than this year looks to be honest. And then the build up to my birthday.
Rob and I were meant to be running the Gloucester Marathon on my birthday, sadly last minute it was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. I was gutted to be honest, it was one way I thought I could really enjoy my birthday as it's usually an anti-climax.
So I was left on my own and did pretty much nothing instead. Then I had a visit from Rob, the lovely Bay Horse landlord, he turned up with a bottle of bubbly and started the celebrations! He also treated me to a takeaway before drinking my weight in Proseco at the pub with my friends.
The next big January event was collecting the lovely loopy Lulu, I collected her on 25th January when my Mum was visiting, and I've never looked back, she is adorable, loving and cuddly just when you want her to be, and a great source of warmth on cold nights as she likes to lay right on you!
As usual I spent 28th in deep thought, my Dad's anniversary. I like to think of ways in the coming year that I can make him proud of me.
February 2013...
I started February celebrating 3 years of Boxercise in Marldon, sadly also in 2013 I had to stop Saturday sessions due to lack of interest, but Wednesdays are still going strong.
Then, Rob arrived for the Beesands Ultra, a really tough coastal ultra marathon that almost broke us, but we got through it together as Team Funkanova, as we always do. The day was finished off with lots of funky dancing in the pub!
The 15th of this month saw the arrival of Wolfy in Devon. I can still remember waiting on the platform at Totnes Station, watching his train come in, I was so nervous and excited. And now Wolfy is going to be coming to Totnes for good, my lovely friend, so close by, it's brilliant.
And then the sad news, Paddy had to go to the vets, after x-rays and tests it came out that he has severe arthritis in both hips, the news hit hard and he was on lead exercise from then on with a warning that he may need a hip replacement operation. The medication though seems to be keeping him mobile, I'd do anything to help him, he's such a beautiful dog.
March 2013...
Mum was staying around the time of Mothering Sunday, and I treated her to a lovely morning, watching me do my 3rd dan Kickboxing pre-grading.
My own students were there to watch also and I threw my all into that grading. My Mum thought I was brilliant, as did my students, sadly, my Instructor was not happy with what I did on the day and told me later that I had failed the pre-grading.
I later found out though from another source that the examiner at the time had not failed me, but had given some advisory points for when I did grade. As you can imagine, I am livid about this, I kept this knowledge quiet up to now, but I feel that as I am honest about things, then people need to know.
For whatever reason my Instructor at the time had to do this to me I don't know, but it lead me to a decision that I make in April of 2013 and it was the best thing I ever did, so maybe it had a purpose?
Also in March I spent a large amount of time in the pub garden - turfing! I got it laid just at the right time and now we have a lush new lawn out the back there.
April 2013...
We launched The Winkle Club in the pub at the start of April, just to raise some money for charity, seems to be going well, although I think Rachel has put more money in the pot than anyone else.
On the 4th of April I made the decision to leave South Hams Martial Arts and notified my Instructor on 7th of the month. On the 12th I went down to Plymouth to train in my first session at Tora Martial Arts. Best thing I did all year, Sensei, Simon Hengle is an inspiration and really puts me through my paces, it was just what I needed, to finally be pushed and tested.
Funny month April was, I built a dog kennel, missed the Exmoor Ultra marathon because I couldn't find the start and Nancy the ferret moved to her new home on Dartmoor.
May 2013...
The month of hair extensions! I spent 7 hours in the hairdressers and came out with hair like a princess! Sadly they were not to stay, mainly due to how much I have to shower each day, they kept dropping out, but they were fun while they lasted.
So, May, the month of my annual busman's holiday - The Forces March!
Team Funkanova did it in true funky style, there were foot problems and hip problems and the usual fun and frolics. I met some more new friends again this year, and was reunited with last years Forces March family. I cannot imagine May, without this event, I look forward to it for the whole year, it's just so special.
And of course, night 4 streak was great fun! Can't wait for the next one.
June 2013...
I moved out of the damp garage in into 'The Box Room' my tiny little Boxing gym in The Ark gallery. Great move, even if it is currently flooded, but I've made great use of the tiny space and it's been brilliant.
16th was Finnegan's first birthday, we had a little party for him, he's such a little sweetie.
And, I ran the Torbay half Marathon with my friend Sarah, she did really well, even if she did pass out about 2 miles from the end, but she got up and kept going and beat me on the sprint finish over the line.
Running with someone, not competing against my time or others was a great experience, and this lead to me running other races with clients just for support. It brought back my enjoyment of running.
July 2013...
I had my first event for the Veterans Charity - The Military weekend at the South Devon Railway.
Little Jo came and helped me, were seemed to be the only people there not in camo gear!
We met some lovely people there, and it was really hot, hard to think of right now as I look out at the rain, but we managed to raise £79.80 in just the few hours we were there, we were battlomg with the Wimbledon final too!
July saw little Murphy go to the vets, he was proper poorly, really sick and hunched over, he was in there for days, they still dont know what was wrong with him. He finally came home in the evening of my Mum's birthday..... speaking of which, this has to be one of my happiest days of 2013.
I packed up a hamper of lunch for us, including a chilled bottle of bubbly and we set off on the Greenway Ferry down the river Dart in the beautiful sunshine. What an adventure!
We got there and found a lovely little seat in the rock at the Battery, with a view of the river, it was perfect. We laid out the picnic, popped open the bubbly and ate whilst watching the boats go past. there were a few envious faces from other visitors, it was an epic picnic and an amazing day.
A week later and I was at my favourite place ever, Longmarsh for the canoe festival. A few ciders were had and it was really really hot! I went home and took the dogs down to the river, and encouraged by my neighbours who were down there drinking Gin and tonic I decided to go and swim in the river with my dogs, and the seal! It was an odd decision, but fun at the time, swimming around with little Finnegan.
And a week later, another afternoon of cider at the Totnes Show with my friend Sarah, it was hilarious!
August 2013...
August started with a hilarious night with Vicky after watching Wolverine at the cinema, I can't divulge too much about the night, but needless to say, it was great fun and a lot of drink was consumed! However, the next day I was still slightly drunk and had to run the Totnes 10k with Claire. She had to endure alcohol fumes from me the whole way round, but we got through it and she did a great time.
This was the first of my 'ghost run' races of the year! Why pay if you dont have to?!
The next event in August has it's own blog, so read back, it was my 24 hour silence! Never again.
At the Bay Horse Beer festival I met 3 guys, we all got on great, good banter, fun times, so much so that I offered to take Mark and Steve for a trip to Dartmoor with the dogs and we ended up at Wistmans Wood, in the stream having a little picnic, it was great fun. New friends are brilliant eh?
The same weekend was the Steam Railway Beer festival and I took Little Jo on her first steam train trip! Always good fun.
September 2013...
I got a new sofa!
And then there was the Colour Rush Run - Nicci's first 5k race.
Wearing all white, I met Nicci and Liesa at the start. Mum and little Jo were there to watch and take photos and we were off!
There's always something that will mentally keep someone going and evetually I found out how to motivate Nicci and make it easier. We got absolutely covered in the multi-coloured paint and I made it onto the video getting my bum spanked with orange paint! Great fun and Nicci was epic.
Another run in the same month, the Dornafield Ladies 10k with Claire, my second Ghost run of the year! Again, she did an amazing time getting her 10k pb and I managed to dove off up the stairs instead of crossing the finish line!
And then........ Fighting Fit Devon's 2nd Anniversary!
I had arranged a 5k and a 10k run for my clients and the night before I was stressing about getting up early to mark the route. A few drinks in the pub with Mr Starbuck and I decided that I would mark it up that night, i the dark, and the rain, on my mountain bike! Well, it was fun I have to say, I could barely see in front of me but sprayed up the starts and finishes and tagged tape onto trees. I must have looked like a right loony in the pissing rain doing that, but it's all about the adventure, living for the moment!
The run went to plan and we finished off in the Boating Association clubhouse with some funky dancing and hoovering! A great way to celebrate, thanks to all who helped me.
October 2013...
War Horse in Plymouth was an experience I will never forget. Mum and I went down with Dusty and I pretty much cried my way through it. Those puppets are amazing.
Then, the third ghost run of the year, the Dart Vale Half Marathon with Claire again. Again as before, I dived off just before the finish line to watch Claire finish!
I am certainly getting a buzz off of not paying for races!
And the biggest event and my most favourite time of year - New Year, known to most of you as halloween or Samhain.
Spent at the Bay Horse, dressed as a witch (I know, I do that every day) and I saw the New Year in, in style, all ready for my upcoming trip to North Devon.
November 2013...
What a month, new year, new starts and some very big decisions made to make my life more healthy, from a mental perspective.
You see, I like a bad boy, but I had to ditch them, all of them! No more going to see them when they want to see me because they are at a lose end, none of them were happy to be seen in public with me, or even admit to seeing me! Losers, the lot of them, in particular that martial arts instructor from the Paignton area! He was the worst, so they got deleted, blocked and removed not only from my phone and facebook, but from my life.
Best decision ever, a clean new start, and the only people I want are the ones who are proud to say they are with me, and it's not just about them, it's about us. I broke free from years of ridiculous men and their petty lives.
And this all happened in Appledore, the place that inspires me so much to write. And what an amazing weekend I had there, I made some new friends in the pub, got asked out on a date and started to believe in myself properly again.
On the way home I found a lovely beach called Welcombe Mouth, and Paddy went off the lead for the first time in months, it was a happy time.
I joined Forces Penpals in November too, and by the end of November, following a stream of emails and then later, phone calls, I had an amazing weekend with a very lovely fella, who made me properly laugh for the first time in ages. A weekend to remember for sure.
December 2013...
Not long ago, but still poignant!
I started off in Appledore again, but this time I had a very disappointing writing experience, sometimes it just doesn't happen, but the dogs and I had a great weekend, and I ended up joining in at the jam night in my Appledore local, The Champ.
I decided that because I can't afford presents for people, I didn't want to have any presents and asked for people to donate to the veterans Charity for my Christmas Presents appeal. I managed to raise £130 and got hampers out to Veterans in Dartmouth, which made me happy, however, at the same time I managed to upset my Mum, which I would never want to do. Sometimes when you are wrapped up in your own things, you forget what is causing other people grief too.
But, all is sorted and I will do my best never to upset Mum again, it upset me too.
21st, the Solstice I welcomed back my forces penpals chappy, I spent most of Christmas with him and anamazing Christmas dinner with him and his Mum, she's a legend! It was amazing, but as with all good things, he had to go back home. Have happy memories of it though.
And then to see Mum in Surrey, and we saw 2014 in proper style, Mum jiving, me shaking my hips about, what a perfect end to what appears to be an interesting year!
Let's see what 2014 brings eh?
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