Joys & Sorrows!

As you go through life its a long long road there’ll be Joys and Sorrows too.  Every week during the football season that line is sung at least once by fans from the only football team in the second city. (The only team that counts that is!)  Birmingham City FC have had their many Joys and Sorrows over the seasons more Sorrows unfortunately but we persevere every season.  There isnt much to shout about being a Birmingham fan this season so far apart from the hope that the Villa will be joining us in the Championship next season!!!
Any way enough of the football this blog is not written for that purpose although Im sure it wont be the last time I make reference to it during it.

2012 nearly over and not even six months since the biggest challenge I have ever undertaken and entries are already open for 2013 Parish Walk.  This is a special year this year being its centenary year.  Having completed the Parish Walk on my first attempt this year I vowed never ever to do it again or even think about having a crack at it again.  However.......... The Parish Walk is like child birth you obviously forget the pain and anguish and concentrate on the good times and the joys. Lets face it Im sure women wouldnt go through that pain more than once if they didnt forget it first time round!!!
Having spoken to a friend who had completed the Parish for the second time this year and in a very good time may I add!  He is now looking forward to completing a triple next year in an even faster time sub 19 hours!!!!  We were discussing our walks this year and I could really only think of twice when I was in real pain, they were Rushen when I got my first blister and coming out of Bride when my legs felt like lead! There were more joys I could think of, great day, great people around, great support, sausages kindly given out on Orrisdale Loop Road, music playing, people cheering, friends supporting and obviously finishing!!!!!
So where does that leave me???? Well Entries were opened two days ago and by the looks of it there is already a steady stream of people putting their names down.  I haven't done much walking since the End to End, my aim was to continue walking each week throughout the winter so I would be ahead of the game come Parish Walk Day.  This tapered off quite quickly with me only going out a couple of times, my heart wasn't in it, the weather hadn't helped and then this morning Sunday 2nd December I got up, kit on and went out for my favourite 4 mile loop completing it in a respectable 48 minutes.  Nothing to report during the walk, it was crisp, fresh and quiet, in fact just lovely.
Following a shower I logged onto the Parish Walk Website and put my head above the parapet and signed up!!! Its a focus for getting me back into shape and being more mentally and physically prepared for 22nd June 2013.
Why continue to write a blog? you might ask, for those of you who followed my blog for this years Parish, and a big thanks for those of you who did, will know that it helped me focus mentally, there were some funny moments and some very low moments and documenting them within the blog have set them in stone for my children and their children to and see that I completed the Parish Walk with my brother on our very first attempt!
I hope to share my experiences, funny stories, hints, tips,photos, music and rituals throughout this blog from now till just after the Parish and beyond as I will attempt to complete the triple!!!, having done the double this year and just missing out on finishing the End to End I was gutted but will have another go next year.

I hope that you will enjoy reading my blog and will share it with others.