Granny in Training – by Sheila

People regularly ask me about how my training is coming along.  At an early stage the people at Exodus Travels did hand me some pages about suggested training, including working out in the gym and climbing what mountains there are in this country.  However, their proposed training didn’t really fit in with my life – but I do seem to have evolved a programme of activities which fits round my social life admirably!  Many of my friends have rallied round to do active stuff with me, rather than sitting chatting, putting the world to rights – after all, it is possible to do that while on the move too!   I often wonder how I actually managed to fit in time to do a full time job as well – but I wasn’t a Granny-in-training-for-Kili then.

So here is what I did by way of Kili preparation on one day recently.

First off, I walked across Canterbury to my Pilates Class, which is great for building up strength and suppleness, as well as warding off the aches and pains which seem to come with age.  My friend (and occasional Guest blogger) Pat and I fell about laughing when we saw each other at the class: we were wearing identical T-shirts, both purchased at bargain price in Aldi.  I have actually bought a lot of my Kili kit in that great emporium – their wet weather and sports gear is good stuff and very well priced.

Sheila and Pat in their identical Aldi t-shirts outside pilates
Sheila and Pat in their identical Aldi t-shirts outside pilates

The last time that Pat and I wore identical T-shirts was literally half a lifetime ago, on a fun run through the centre of Canterbury.  Pat remembers that it was in 1981, when we were 34: we are both 68 now – and not wearing so badly, all considered.

Pat and Sheila on a fun run in 1981
Pat and Sheila on a fun run in 1981

I then headed off on foot towards Whitstable, and met my friend Anne, who accompanied me from her home in Blean on the Crab and Winkle Way towards Whitstable.  It is a lovely footpath well away from the traffic.  It is probably about seven or eight miles by that route from Canterbury to Whitstable, so we felt quite justified in heading into a pub for a “senior citizen’s” cheap lunch when we got there.

Anne and Sheila on the walk to Whitstable on the Crab and Winkle Way
Anne (who always looks elegant – and not like she’s thrown on a t-shirt out of the bargain bin!) and Sheila on the walk to Whitstable on the Crab and Winkle Way

I then said goodbye to Anne and jumped on the bus to Seasalter, where our caravan is.   There are two such buses each day – and I knew that Maureen, who cooks with me at Catching Lives, would be on that bus. Right enough, she was – planning to participate in the U3A swim arranged for that afternoon.  We had time for a cup of tea and a blether in the caravan before another four oldies joined us for a dip in the sea.  It was a gloriously warm day – just perfect for a swim.  However, as we entered the water, the two or three other people on the beach accosted us, asking us whether we knew about the jellyfish.  I had heard that there were some around this year – though I have never encountered one on our beach before.  The other people said they hadn’t swum for fear of getting stung, but we U3A stalwarts were all stripped and ready and were not about to be put off.  I did feel like I brushed against something a couple of times while swimming – it felt rather like a carrier bag full of water, but I suppose it was a jellyfish.  When we came out, we could clearly see one on the edge, and happily one of our number was able to confirm that it was not a stinger: we were all absolutely fine.  I have often seen Portuguese Men of War – enormous purply jellyfish – on the Scottish coast, but never down south.

A jellyfish on the beach
A jellyfish at the water’s edge

The U3A group repaired to my caravan for the usual post-swim cuppa – someone had brought some very classy biscuits along too.  I got out the jar which the group had decided to put some money into for the Kili charities each time, by way of payment for the cuppa.  They were amused to see the jar’s label, recently made by Katie: it is now called the Kiliman-JAR-o!  I took the time to count how much is in the jar – nearly £20!  A lovely bit of lolly bringing us that much closer to our fundraising aim.

Kiliman-JAR-o

After everyone had left, I joined my friend Caroline and her extended family at her caravan, which is close to mine, for an Indian take-away meal.  Caroline and I worked together nearly twenty years ago, before she moved out of the area.  It is lovely to have the opportunity to catch up with her occasionally, and we enjoyed sitting outside in the sun with a curry and a glass of wine.

Then it was on to my bike, which had been left at the caravan for Caroline’s use, for a ride back to Canterbury, as the sun gradually dropped in the sky.  A lovely summer’s evening at the end of a fairly energetic day.

Cycling home at the end of the day as the sun goes down
Cycling home at the end of the day as the sun goes down

So that was one hour of Pilates, a seven mile walk, half an hour’s swimming and a ten mile bike ride, encountering and chatting to about a dozen or so friends in the course of it.  Now that is my sort of training day!  Lets hope it stands me in good stead for Kili.