March charge

Thanks heaps for the support you gave me for

March Charge........ financial, encouraging, and walking with me virtually..........

I walked 167kms total.......3 more then last year.... 

Biggest day

13kms in two walks instead of 12.5 in three walks last year....... Longest walk 9kms which I did a couple of times and a few 8kms.......

It meant I avg 5.38kms/day which is walking about an hour each day (31hrs).....
With the days closing in fast in March I lost over an hour of daylight from the start to the end of the month........it's been a challenge working full time but I absolutely loved it.......even when I dragged my butt out of bed in the dark.............so I was ready to go as soon as there was light.............
Most importantly what have you done to improve your heath, eating and fitness..........have you done your health checks for cancer..........if not go see a Drs and see what you need to do............some quick easy ones to do......get moving......

I updated my header with pics from most days of the month.........I do have a thing for sure about sunrise and sunset.............
Cancer Council has raised almost $$$$1.5million thru March Charge which I think they were under a million last year........still taking donations for a few more weeks  i need to make my own and I have a few people who said they would give me a donation that still have to come in..........
i've raised $1475 so far.....
my walking won't stop here but it will back down I just can't walk that much all the time as I don't have enough time but I will continue to walk as I have done for a long time now..............
be active love life.............you only get once chance at it..........

Catch you later...... Chookyblue.....

why cancer council and my buddy Annie..........

Its a long post but very important.........

Why have I chosen to raise funds and promote awareness for the Cancer Council.................

I've lost too many precious people to me to cancer...........

Mr Chooky's grandad, my Nan, my sister, Mr Chooky's Dad..........

Lets not go to extended family and friends...........

I cannot cure cancer myself.........not brainy enough to be involved in that but I can walk............I can raise funds and make people aware of there own health thru March Charge...........

Cancer affects everyone.........there is so much of it if you don't know anyone who has been affected by cancer be very thankful............

Cancer Council is not one cancer specific.......it covers all cancers........providing information for people with cancer........even information for people caring for someone with cancer..........they provide a phone service for information and support............anyone who has questions or needs support can phone this service........

Cancer Council promotes prevention..........healthy eating, exercise........see why I have been harassing you to get moving..........for nearly 4 years now I have changed how I eat and trying to increase exercise........it started very slowly...........I wanted to make changes that I can maintain.......permanently......

mostly this has been maintained..........gets a bit slack sometimes but overall going well............mostly I only walk...........i'm not a crazy gym person and never will be................

i have regular pap smears, check my boobs, i'm not great with sunscreen but long sleeves and a hat (sometimes) when working outside..........

Here are the regular screenings you can do........

Cancer Council also conducts research into cancer too...........

The other important thing Cancer Council does is advocating to ensure government takes action on cancer...........

I hope you never have to deal with cancer................but the chances are pretty high at some stage in your life you will have some kind of cancer........

SO the sooner we find a cure for cancer the better.........

The survival rates for cancer are now so much better then they were............treatments are being developed everyday............

things sure are looking up.........

and one day we will be cancer free............

So why have I blogged about this...............it does not matter where you are in the world................cancer does not care where you live, if you have plenty of money or none, what you do - school, work, retirement.........

My friend Annie who has been walking virtually with me on Vashon Island, Washington in America had cancer............she now drives other cancer patients to appointments in Seattle who need assistance to get there...........

These pics are from her walks on Vashon Island...............beautiful and so different to my views.............also much colder then here being winter.............

My friends Carole in America has also been walking with me................

let alone some of my friends in Oz............

Its never too late to make  health changes, have your health checks and the earlier to find out you have cancer the better it is for treatments........

So take care of your health.........

It affects every aspect of your life...........

And only you have the power and will to make changes.....

to my friends who read this and are fighting cancer now......stay strong my friends.........I hope you take some of my energy from all my walking and it gives you strength to keep fighting and it can make a bad day feel a bit better............some cruise thru with not to many side effects others are up and down and other struggle thru............one day we will be cancer free........

Only 4 days left to walk for March Charge..........

thankyou for your support it makes me want to walk even further..........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue..........

Stitchin and walking

Friday I got to enjoy a fancy walk............farming friends who live in more civilised country...........OMG the grass was to die for..............

Big trees...........

long narrow tree lined tar roads................

Beautiful views of grassy paddocks...........

stitching in the car..........first time I have picked up Lucy since my finger got jammed in the door in November last year............big break..........I had been working on Edwardsia this year once I was able to EPP stitch again..........finger nail is still growing back slowly............heaps of the numbness is gone but it is still a bit funny...........the annoying thing is I thought I had sewn all bags of pieces up for Lucy.......I found a bag not done.........and some is missing so I must have a search for the stitching bag I had with me then......................

Got to sit and enjoy this beautiful garden view over a cuppa with my friend Annette..............

sunrise or sunset it's always beautiful...............

hit my walking goal this morning of 120kms for March Charge Cancer Council now lets see if I can hit 150kms by the end of the week..........

i'm at 126kms now after 7kms this morning........

6 days another 32 kms........

thats over 5kms/day........

i'll give it a crack for sure..........

what exercise have you done today???

have a fabulous Sunday........

Catch you later....... Chookyblue.....

100kms........

Pretty pleased with myself tonight......

I have done 100kms walking this month for March Charge..........thats walking that I have tracked as specific walking...........

Do you do regular exercise?

Being active can help avoid cancer.......

Click here to see what else you can do everyday to hep avoid cancer.........

thank goodness I had my hat yesterday........

Ok get out there and do some exercise...........

Catch you later.............

Chookyblue...........

busy walking busy planning...........

Life's busy............i'm so pleased I have hit 80kms tonight.....March Charge sure  is charging ahead.........it was a bit warm when I went 34deg..........but I was determined to hit a point.........

80km in 16 days = 5km/day so I am ahead of my target

Was hoping to have a big weekend walking but we shall see........its forecast to be 38-39 degs.............not ideal walking weather.....esp since it had not been to bad until the last few days...........

My kms are specific walking.............

But walking does take time and I walk about 1km/11mins.........you do the maths..........days are getting shorter and trying to fit it in and work full time and get other jobs done is a little interesting...........BUT it was not meant to be easy so lets see what I can get done this weekend............

BUT other things are taking my time too..............LIKE THE WONDERFUL PLANS FOR SCRUB STITCHIN'

OMG I am so excited..........it's less then 3 weeks now..............

Kits are all but done..........secret plans being finalised............

some plans being revealed.......

organised who's sleeping where...........food requirements........started my "what I have to take" list......(as I have heaps of extras)...........need to make a swap gift otherwise I will have to "fake it"

work out what I want to sew on my machine.........I know what hand sewing I will take...........

Its like a nervous excitement...........I know I love what I have planned with Sonia BUT will everyone else................

And I can't wait to show you all what we designed...........but you will have to wait like the girls at retreat........my  lips are sealed.......

Have a fabulous weekend.........

Catch you later..........Chookyblue.........

Priviledged...........

I posted this last night on my March Charge Fundraiser page..........
thought I would share it here too.........

Right now I feel very priviledged to be able to walk in March Charge for the Cancer Council................Just back from a good 4kms walk ending right on dark.........I had walked down the paddocks and back and as I got back to the house I did the jobs (still walking) and thought I can keep walking it still light enough..........as I walked the last few kms I was really aware of my surrounds..........the silence.......the crickets and night bugs making noises......step step step.............oh no i'm now on the crunchy noisy stoney bit.......its too loud..........step step step.........finally back on hard ground...silence is broken as my fitbit app tells me i've reach 3.5kms...it keeps me going...........step step step.........calculating in my head should I walk to the creek to make the 4km mark back at the house............I hear one of the cows moo......its so still.....no wind..........no cars........almost back to the house and the pup barks over at the kennels............step step step......i'm doing this for my health and to raise money and promote awareness of the Cancer Council..........I can walk.....I have my health.......this is how I can support others........its my quiet time to recharge me......maybe you could walk with me too........focus on your health also.....it's important........you are important........

Everyday beauty of my walks...........

Catch you later..........Chookyblue............

Grand adventure......

last week I set off on a grand adventure..........cars, planes, trains, ferries, cruise liners and the whole lot in reverse.........

It meant driving to the nearest airport an effort in itself......had to go the night before after work.........blew a tyre on the way.............thanks to a lovely farmer who heard the noise and came to help me change my tyre.........

A relo dropped me off early to the airport............

the countryside is so dry..........

love seeing the clouds........they look so soft and fluffy.........

A very different approach to the city this time............

Yep Sydney Harbour.............snapped this photo on the train coming around past Circular Quay Station.........the Sydney Harbour Bridge...........a  cruise liner was in there too........

A short ferry ride............

And here was my cruiser liner.................Noordam..........

I had a invitation from the Cancer Council to go to a special lunch............

It was hosted on the "Noordam" a Holland America Cruise ship..........

they support several cancer organisations around the world and every cruise has an opportunity for everyone to participate in Cruise for a Cause.........

they handed over a cheque with a nice donation to the Cancer Council...........

OMG it was very ornate........I've never been on a cruise ship ever so it was very exciting..............

looking down a few floors..........gorgeous stairs and the carpet............

I'm a farm girl nothing like this at my place.........

silver service......4 course meal.............OMG it was amazing watching them work...........nothing was a trouble........

Entree...........the food was sooooooo delicious.............

I got to meet Heather..........she is the ambassadoor for March Charge this year.....shes only 93.........a spring chicken........competes in Masters games too..........if only I am that well at her age.............she was lovely..........

got in trouble for taking these pics...........something about a customs area but I still don't understand............

A huge ship...........

A view of ANZAC Bridge while i enjoyed lunch............

And to finished the day I made a new besty............Meena is another fundraiser and she was lovely......She does a biggest morning tea at her workplace......

 she has lots of people working there...........

we hit it of while waiting to board the ship.........

&&&&&

I'm doing March Charge once again...........If anyone wants to sponsor me or walk with me that would be great but I will do another post about that soon..............

Walked 7kms this morning.........

Anyway my adventure continued last week and I didn't fly home............I flew north.............but you will have to read the next post about that..........

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.......

Stuff.....

ThAnKyOu  for all the the beautiful comments on my blogaversary/blog birthday post...........11 years is a lot of memories.........blog friends have come and gone to the darkside or disappeared altogether so I appreciated all those that still blog and I have lots on my list still...............I updated my pic from that post to my header...........

Life is a little hectic with a quick trip away for a family funeral.............this bible above is a family bible............given to an ancestor many generations back i'm not sure of the line as it's Mr Chookys side...... the ancestor was given this bible on his 52nd birthday from his mother......way back in 1879.....there is currently 4 generations alive.........

so it was a very long way and very quick trip............

along the way we saw some wind farms................

they are huge..........

missed the pic but I did get some EPP stitching done on the way home................

I'm a little busy over the next week........so blog posts will be quick phone ones or none at all...........

Also a little busy and terribly excited about Scrub Stitchin'.............all the fabrics have arrived for the little kits.........secret plans are still being squirreled away with my partner in secrets Sonia @ Forever Always........

I've been trying to work out what I want to take..........

some hand stitching and some machine....

we still have a few beds if anyone is interested.............

39 sleeps to go.......

then it will be 4 days of fun.......all meals prepared....no cooking or cleaning involved just heaps of chatting and stithin'

And I signed up for March Charge (Cancer Council walking fundraiser) again...........was still thinking what to do when I found out a special feathered friend has cancer so that made my final decision..........we've lost two family members to cancer in the last few months.......

I've commited to 4kms/day..........lets see what I can do.......I set 3kms/day last year and did stacks more.............

I know Julie @ Simple Stitches is doing it too......

So as usual I have tooo much going on........but you only get one crack at life so need to fit in as much as possible........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.......

So how did I go...........

So I think an update is due here as quiet a few of my online friends supported me during this challenge.....

I learnt things about myself......

pushed myself further and further as I raised more money.........

realised it is ok and essential to push yourself out of your comfort zone.......

I can do more then I thought I could do..........

found new friends connecting thru this walk...........

Goals                v                 Actual

93km (3kms/day)             reached 164km

$1971                               $5017

Best day 12.5kms

Best single walk/run 8kms

Best speed 8.05mins/km 

Started a walking group after work and that is continuing on........

about 6 of us now........

encouraged some of you to get moving.........

hope you are continuing on..........

thankyou for your support be that monetary, emails or comments.......it all added up to me doing something i never thought possible and raising great $$$$$ for the Cancer Council

please take care of yourself 

you are the one that makes the decisions for your health and future

mental health, physical health and gut health all make a difference as to how you feel and only you can want to make a difference.....

I've been working on "me" for a few years now

slow and steady making the difference........goodness me for the first 6 months or more I didn't even put joggers on to walk.........lets just say good joggers are the best investment ever.........my friend gave me a new pair.......she brought the wrong size and could not return them.........

I now eat better, feel better, exercise regularly..........

most importantly there is 25% less of me.......

I have crap knees but with all the extra exercises I have been doing (this year) albeit some modified to suit me it must have really made a difference to the muscles and they have behaved so well this month.........

And after this month I also realised life is better taking asthma puffers.......my allergies really hold me back...........

I didn't walk far to start..........

I didn't have time for exercise.......

i've fallen off the wagon a few times but picked myself up.........

brushed the dirt off and headed off again............

I know if you want it you can do it too........

every little change adds up over time........

Go for it!!!!!!

Catch you later............

Chookyblue..........

Keeping the love of blogging alive

Aim high...............

See previous post or this post back in Feb

So I thought about it........I can do this...........

I will get my walk total to 150kms.....

.....that means 5kms/day for the next 11 days left in March..........

Not only is Cancer Council March Charge about raising funds it's also about promoting health.......walking or running is good for your health and you raise money while your at it..........win win situation.........

It is proven that 1/3rd of cancers are preventable by a healthy lifestyle - eating healthy and doing regular exercise............

SO HERE IS MY CHALLENGE FOR YOU

Yes that's you on the other side of screen reading this........

I can see you.........

What are you going to improve your health and fitness this next 11 days......come on........who is going join me.........what are you going to do to 

you don't have to do 5kms............

do something more then what you do now........

I have a few friends who have been walking with me some days in town and we have decided to keep walking after work once this is finished.........

this has been the motivation they also needed.......

I know Janice will be riding her bike..........

Googy Girl might go to the gym or for a walk......

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?????

Don't ignore me............

Get moving.....walk around the house yard 20 times..........walk down to the park or the cattle yards, what ever it is........

Cut out fizzy drinks (except for soda and a piece of lemon)

MOVE........

come back and tell me what it is you have done...........

Catch you later.............
Chookyblue..........

Keeping the love of blogging alive..........

PS yes I am very motivated at the moment..........the more I do the better I feel.......2,5 yrs ago this was not possible..........it's been a long slow journey but OMG so worth every second to be where I am now..........

Hit my goal.....

Here are some pics from the last few days when I walked..... Up and down hills and around town.....

Been great to have company over the weekend...... Today it was me and the sheep.....    I did 5kms and meet my goal of 93kms so now onto more kms......how many more can I do in 11 days .......

So excited......

GDITC post to come but need to sort pics and get posts organised......

Catch you later.....

Chookyblue.....

Keeping the love of blogging alive

Stunning end to summer

Pleased to see the end of summer..... Nothing over 34 this week.... Heaven.......

Summer finished with a stunning sunset yesterday......

Thanks heaps to those who have sponsored me the March Charge Cancer Council fund-raiser..... I'm going to have to raise the bar higher...... And walk even harder......

A short walk this morning on my own then a long one with a work colleague after work.... I don't usually have company when walking except for the cows and sheep.......

Anyone else doing the walk.....

Shez is waking with me and also Annie in Washington..........

Catch you later

Chookyblue......

Jetstreams and prepping

Lots happening here as usual...........

Working on Lucy but run out of creams and blue squares I need to make the fillers with and put around the Lucy blocks.........

So its cutting, gluing and prepping bags to sew.........

Talk about prepping I'm trying to up my walking in preparation for March Charge a Cancer Council fundraiser...........

I headed out the gate and looked up........OMG the sun was not up yet but a jet and its short jetstream were catching the rays.............

Here it is further away.........it was a stunning sight and thinking of my walking and working out distance goals to go to I decided to walk the loop to the sheep yards...........I know if I go down and back the same way it is 3kms but I was not sure if I did the loop..........it's just under 4kms so glad I did it now..........

Dust catching the sunlight about the 3km mark.......the sheep had just crossed my path heading to water at the dam..........

&&&&&&

NOW BACK to the MARCH CHARGE for cancer...........

I am walking.......I have registered to raise funds.........

I am walking for many people in my life...........

ones I have lost - my sister, my nan, my uncle, my aunty, mums cousin, dads cousin, my great aunt, one of my best friends, Mr Chookys grandad, friends mum

Survivors - BIL, cousins grandson, friends husband

Fighting now - FIL for the second time, 

many others to numerous to mention but these are closer ones

&&&&&

In blogland I know of friends who have battles to close to the heart

my friend who lost her husband to lymphoma

my friend who's son is currently battling melanoma

  my friends mum battling lung cancer

my friend who beat breast cancer

another friend almost clear on cancer

another friends who's husband battled cancer 

So WALK WITH ME

but most importantly 

sponsor me......

Crazily I said I would walk 93kms avg 3kms/day.

I usually walk 1-1.5kms sometimes 2km if I have time.......I walked 4km this morning and my knees are hurting (they are crap) but you know what my sore knees is nothing compared to cancer so I'll just live on panadol or nurofen if need be for the month........

Any amount of support you can give will all add up..........

if you have someone special tell me and I will walk for them too..........

I don't normally ask for anything like this but cancer affects way to many people and it is not just the person who gets it it is their whole world affected......family, friends etc....

Out here in the bush there are pretty much no services so you have to travel great distances just for treatment and Drs............

 

See what the Cancer Council does here

####  SPONSOR ME ####

please.........

leave me your email and I can email you a link if you can't find me online

Is anyone else doing this challenge?????

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.....

Keeping the love of blogging alive