Stronger......

I could feel my stomach starting to flutter a bit on Sunday as we prepared to go for our sea dip. The surf forecast wasn’t good........well,  actually it was great if you’re a surfer but not so good if you’re a (not very strong) sea swimmer! I was dreading going down, seeing the conditions and having to come home disappointed. It had been a long week and I was really looking forward to my sea therapy.......

We got to the beach and it was raining. It was also choppy. Big, breaking waves. Not generally good conditions for me. But with hubby and a dear friend by my side I decided I’d give it a go. 

Previously when conditions had been like this, the waves would hit me and knock me down. This week you had that risk, combined with clearly visible currents pulling swimmers in all different directions. What if I fell or got pulled out into deeper water? But this week I felt physically strong and it turns out I was right to trust my instincts. In we went. 

Yes, it was choppy. 

Yes, the waves were sweeping us back inshore.

Yes, the drag was then pulling us back out to sea. 

And yes, it was brilliant!! 

Instead of being knocked over, I could feel my legs so much stronger than they’ve been in a long time. The waves pushed me back towards the shore and I literally ran with them. It was fantastic! My friend and I laughed and squealed when we got caught off guard by unexpected breakers. We joked with other bathers as we found ourselves suddenly thrown into their paths and we all tried to avoid bumping into each other!

When we eventually dragged ourselves out of the water, we were glowing...... and not just from the sea slapping we’d just had! There were smiles on our faces and complete contentment in our hearts. The rain couldn’t dampen our high spirits!

It’s such a simple thing to do, it doesn’t cost a penny, you can make it fit your own schedule or join in with others, and it leaves you exhilarated, happy and feeling strong and proud of your morning’s endeavours. 

Get yourself some therapy with Vitamin Sea!!

Patience is a virtue.....

Patience is a virtue that carries a lot of weight/wait....... Final total (I think!) of £4,625. 

Absolutely brilliant!! Grateful from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helped and supported this year’s triciafest for Macmillan.

Complete awesomeness:)

£4,620. How incredible is that?? Given without question by hard working folk. Passed to Macmillan Cancer Support to provide vital services to local cancer patients and their families. 

If ever there was an example of people coming together to do a good thing, this is it.

The world needs more people like these people.

It takes a village

It takes a village to raise a child.

And it takes an army........ to organise a charity gig! And what an army I have!! 

Last night was our charity gig for Macmillan. We had 6 awesome local bands giving up their time and energy (lots of it too!) for charity. IT WAS CLASS!! The bands were all on top form and the crowd were loving every second. People won some cracking raffle prizes, had loads of fun and, most importantly, we’ve raised a lot of money for Macmillan. (Exact amounts to follow when we get our heads lifted)

It was a big build up and I was a bag of nerves in the days beforehand. It’s kind of like organising your own birthday party and then panicking that no-one will turn up. But it’s not about me, it’s about Macmillan Cancer Care. It’s about making good out of something bad. Taking action and not lying down to cancer. 

The sleepless nights were all worth it. The Club was packed. The bands were on fire. The donations were rolling in. The raffle tickets were flying out. 

The army marched. Our wee corner of the world has been improved just a little bit. It’s difficult to articulate how grateful and proud I am of our organising team, helpers, bands, venue, prize donators, money donators, raffle ticket buyers, gig goers.... FRIENDS. So much so that I have just spent a few minutes cuddling my amazing husband and having a wee weep.

Overwhelmed. 

Fundraising frenzy!

The day is close...... only 2 more sleeps until triciafest2!! Six local rock bands playing live in a wee club in Ahoghill. 1901, Lo Mejor, The Bonnevilles, Nasa Assassin, Trucker Diablo and Fragment...... All playing for sandwiches... literally. Venue generously provided free of charge again by the Diamond Rock Club, including door and bar staff. Amazing raffle prizes donated by a wealth of generous people and businesses. For the second year in a row I am genuinely humbled by peoples’ generosity.  There’s only a couple of days to go so if you haven’t given already then please feel free to give us some of your hard earned cash at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/triciafest2  

Every penny goes to Macmillan Cancer Care.

It’s been a pretty amazing day all round. My day off work was spent enjoying breakfast with my rock of a husband before doing a 3 hour shift holding a donation bucket for Macmillan in Marks and Spencer. People put so much money in it that I had to balance the bucket on boxes of mangoes to stop my arm from being bruised by the bucket handle!! That can only be a good thing. I got through two rolls of stickers and heard so many people tell me of their experiences of cancer. It was a stark reminder of the local statistics...... According to research carried out on behalf of the NI Assembly (back when they were still speaking to each other...) “By 2020, almost one in two people [in NI] will get cancer at some point in their lives.”

While politicians bicker and take wages for a job not done, public services struggle, relying more and more heavily on charities to fill funding and resourcing voids. If standing sharing stories and kind words with people for 3 hours helps then I’m happy to do my little bit. 

After that we were off to the hospital to show them the sketches for the wall murals to be hand painted onto the walls of the family room that’s being refurbished from last year’s triciafest fundraising. The artist is amazing and his Wind in the Willow sketches made me cry with joy. They are perfect and I am more excited than ever to see it all done in the hopefully not too distant future. I’ll be sure to post up photos when it’s all done!

Preparing for the gig has been tiring but it’s going to be so worth it. We’re making a difference. In our own wee way.......our fantastic friends and family are helping local cancer patients and their families. You guys are fantastic; organisers, prize givers, band members, raffle ticket buyers, donators, gig goers, bar and club staff....... thank you. I love you lot (and I don’t even drink anymore so this isn’t a drunk post lol!!) xxxx

Anonymouses 🐭

Someone just donated for raffle tickets and a donation but it was anonymous...... let me know who you are or else I can’t put your ticket stubs into the raffle!!