By hook and by crook I will learn this skill

For this award I have to learn a new skill and I decided this would be the push to learn how to crochet. A long long time ago my Mum tried to teach me but I just didn’t get it. I could never turn the corner when doing squares and gave up and went back to my knitting. Two needles were always better than one for me.

This time I started with a book (that’s how I always start new projects) but still struggled. Someone suggested YouTube and www.bellacoco.co.uk. I tried that and hey presto after a failed Granny Square I made a Daisy. I was so proud of my accomplishment. YouTube is the modern day equivalent of having someone sit beside you and teach you with the advantage they don’t get annoyed when you get it wrong and you can just replay the same part over and over again until you do get it.

I made flowers,hearts and butterflies and eventually went back to my book and followed a pattern to make an owl (which I haven’t actually got round to sewing together yet but the pieces look good.)

But I needed something bigger to do.

In my meanderings around all the crochet websites, blogs and pinterest I found out about Yarndale. This is an event held in September in Skipton, North Yorkshire. The website (yarndale.co.uk) describes it as a "creative festival celebrating all things woolly and wonderful", I was in awe of all the wool that was there to buy and all the hand-made creations that were knitted and crocheted. After much dithering I bought 2 packs of wool to make an Attic24 Harmony blanket and bunting but once home didn’t feel ready to tackle them as I kept making mistakes when doing this type of pattern (my wonky snowflake and Christmas tree are testament to this.)

As I was looking through my books again looking for inspiration my daughter asked me to make her a cushion cover in lime green to match the colour scheme of her bedroom, so I did. Half way through I noticed it was not quite the rectangle it was meant to be but realised what I was doing wrong. I decided when it was sewn up no one would notice. I still think it looks a bit wonky but Kate is happy and that's what matters.

I decided it was time to tackle something bigger and started with a straightforward blanket with beautiful stripes of colours. After reading the Attic 24 blog (www.attic24.typepad.com) I was inspired to start on a blanket, maybe! I dithered about buying the wool for several days and then decided to just go for it and now it’s nearly done. Apart from taking 8 hours one afternoon/night to get the first two rows done (involved doing it, pulling it out and re-doing but I wasn’t going to be beaten) and then 45 minutes for each row. I am eventually getting quicker. I can take no credit for the colour combination as I am following a pattern but it’s beautiful and each new row is like a pop of colour. It inspires me to keep going to see how the next colour will sit with the previous. It is nearly finished and is quite useful for keeping me warm some nights.

Once this is done what’s next, maybe I’ll try the bunting and I want to make more flowers for a spring wreath and then the Harmony blanket is sitting there mocking me and I must stop looking at other people’s creations as I want to do them all. And as it's a New Year I've read about temperature blankets where you change the colour of your wool depending on the temperature of the day. Okay realistically I’ll finish this blanket and then I'll pick one new project, who knows what it will be!

To Orlando and beyond

After such a grey wet start to the year I thought it was about time I was transported back to Florida. One of the sections of the Voyage Award is Explore my World and to satisfy this you can travel to a foreign country. Guess where I went in July 2015. I’ve put off doing this write up for so long as I had so much to say and so many photos I didn’t know where to start. I thought now with a 6 month gap the memories may have faded and I would be able to not get carried away. But once I started thinking about it and looking at photos it brought back the memories and even small things I’d forgotten about so here goes and I’ll try not to bore you.

The Voyage Award is a challenge so my challenge was to keep everyone happy and still fill every waking minute being a tourist in Orlando . There is too much to do to rest.

I started as I meant to go on on July 4^th. It is Independence Day and this is USA we HAD to go to Disney, we HAD to be there early as the news reports said they were expecting Park full signs to go up by lunch time (I hadn’t come all this way to be denied entrance) We HAD to see the 4^th July fireworks and we HAD to see the Electrical parade. So up at 8:30 and out….we achieved everything except the electrical parade.

Let me set the scene its evening, its rained solid for a couple of hours so we bought ponchos, my glasses broke so I had to wear sunglasses in the dark and I wore my bucket hat to keep the rain of my glasses. But I'm still smiling. This is my favourite photo of the day.

Picture mad Englishwoman abroad and you will be close to my look.

Random memories:
Families wearing matching tee-shirts with “The xxxx family vacation” printed on. Apparently we are not doing that next time.

99% of people wearing stars and stripes on their tee-shirts on 4th July (even the family vacation tee -shirts)

South American school parties, don’t think there were anyone left to go to School in South America, they were all here.

Going to Hollywood Studios and it snowed in the street for the Frozen parade and then going to watch a Frozen sing a long and it snowed in the theatre!

My husband would say the best part was the Star Wars ride which we went on approx 6 times but he would be wrong. It was the snow. But in true Florida style it also rained very heavily and we stood again watching fireworks in the rain in our Disney ponchos.

Universal Studio memories were sitting waiting for 2 hours for the rides to re-open when they were closed as a thunderstorm was approaching and when we eventually gave up they opened 5 minutes later. Going back to the same ride on another day and it was closed for mechanical reason. Returning in the afternoon and queuing watching the black clouds roll in and with announcements that rides may close. Eventually getting on said ride and 10 minutes later getting off absolutely soaked to the skin (did I mention it was a water ride) My Disney poncho was absolutely no use whatsoever. Maybe the magic only works in Disney.

We went beyond the glitz of Orlando to NASA and a whole different world. Marvelled at the rockets and touched a part of the moon and experienced a rocket take off….and no rain!

We shopped and ate and never managed to finish the huge American portions and even unlimited Coke loses its thrill after the 2^nd glass and in a place where dreams do come true had afternoon tea with Audrey Hepburn and met the President.

 

I confused a waiter when I wanted no dressing on my salad “You do know it’s a salad” he asked me and tried several times to give me a dressing and couldn’t understand how I could have no dressing. The waitress in Bahama Breeze who asked my daughter if she could “borrow” her hair elastic that was on her wrist as she had forgotten hers for work. She borrowed it but we never got it back, does she not know the meaning of borrow?

But special thanks to the Check in man at Orlando airport who even though one case was overweight let it go as the others were under and to the security checker who held my passport up and said “Who is this?”in a very accusing manner. It’s me I replied holding my hair away from my face. Those who know me know my hair has grown a bit in the last few years

It was fabulous and 2 weeks is not enough but that was all we had. Just as well I don't think we would have lasted any longer.

I did it!

The night of the Glow Run has been and gone, my flashing bunny ears have lain discarded in the kitchen  and now I have to motivate myself on these dark wet days to go out and run. But that night in October it was all worth it.

With my super-supportive daughter we set out to find Gateshead Stadium on a dark October night. I knew vaguely the direction to go when we got off the Metro but after a couple of false starts we got there and as expected we were first to arrive. (I always get places too early).  We registered and then got ready with glow-sticks and of course the bunny ears which I wasn't allowed to put on until we were outside (only mothers of teenage daughters will know that look of "no mother that is a step too far")

Ready for action, clean and dry but not for long

As we all gathered outside for the warm up, our personal cheerleader and photographer (also known as daughters boyfriend) arrived and then the true benefit of the bunny ears were revealed, he always knew where we were. They were like a tracking device as we ran around the track

I'm confidently telling Kate it's only 4 laps of the track when over the tannoy comes the bad news "This is a fun run (fun!!!!) but if you want to do the full 3K its 8 laps of the track" I could feel my heart sink, it's the same distance but sounded so much further now.

Anyway off we went through the first spray of neon paint which was very cold and very wet. Everyone raced off but like all gold medal athletes I had my plan and stuck to it. Slow and steady wins the race. Every lap meant more neon paint being sprayed but as Kate and I continued to run I felt good passing all those who had sped off at the beginning and were now walking.

Bunny ears in action

Apart from the actual running the hardest part was keeping count of the number of laps we had done. We kept checking with each other how far we had gone and luckily always agreed. I've no idea how long I took but who cares, my target was to do 3K and finish and that's what I did.  I felt so good even if I didn't look so good at the end covered in paint.

We didn't plan for the end very well, I didn't expect to get wet right through to undies and never thought of a towel to get dried with. Nor travelling home through Newcastle on a Friday night with neon paint in our hair and clothes but in true British style, apart from one woman who had a brief flicker of a smile no-one looked twice.

Huge thanks to my running partner Kate who stuck with me all the way through even though I know she can run faster and longer than me and thanks to the official photographer Bashir who I covered in neon paint giving him a hug. Finally thanks to everyone who sponsored myself and Kate, we both exceeded our target of £100 each.


So what's next I hear you ask, I've discovered I'm a fair weather runner but I've bought some warmer and waterproof running gear so plan on carrying on but I'll have to find another target otherwise I'll not go out in the winter. But don't suggest The Great North Run, that's a step too far!

I don't like running

Way back when the Summer was still new and excitement was still high in the McHugh household for our holidays I got a call from my Doctor's "Hello Mrs McHugh, you are entitled to a free health check, shall I make an appointment for you" So off I went and when the results came back apparently the health check told me that I wasn't healthy. Next step, the Nurse to tell me all about healthy eating and exercise. Although I am active that is not enough, it seems for exercise you have to actually increase the rate of breathing.

So exercise was my aim but what should I do? I couldn't see me going to a gym or going to classes, spare time is not plentiful. Walking  briskly to work 3 days a week was poo-poo'd by the Nurse so what did that leave?

I am happy walking anywhere but should I up the speed and dare I say it run. It costs nothing and around here we have quite a few paths where I could go and run unseen but I'm not a runner. From school onwards I've never been able to run. When the Great North Run started many moons ago I tried the training plan but never got further than the first week - walking for 20 minutes.

I did a bit of research and decided to do the NHS Couch to 5K plan. (If you feel inspired here is the link NHS couch to 5K) Decision made, cue several excuses why it couldn't be started that week and the following weeks.

Then on Facebook I saw an advert for the RNIB Glow Run and finally I had something to aim for.

My Dad, who died at the ripe old age of 93, had age-related macular degeneration and there was nothing that could be done for him. Slowly his sight deteriorated and he always thought if he could only see clearly than he could cope with everything else. Losing his sight didn't kill him but it certainly stopped him from enjoying his life. Doing this run will raise money for further research and hopefully prevent others from losing their sight.

My target is to be able to run 3K and raise money in memory of my Dad, who I'm sure will be watching me and cheering me on. I've persuaded my daughter to come along as well so we'll keep each other going on the night.

Do I need that encouragement - oh yes! For the last 6 weeks I have followed the plan. Starting with jog  for 60 seconds and walk for 90 seconds for 20 minutes.

 Many thoughts go through my head when running:

• why when I am putting my heart and soul into this is time standing still? I'm not allowed to so why should time.
• why is the walking bit so much shorter? (for some reason time speeds up when walking, it's a fact)
• why have I never noticed that this road goes up hill?

Every other day Laura (my podcast best friend) and I go out and slowly the running times have accumulated.

Until week 5 run 3 when Laura casually tells me today we (really) will run for 20 minutes with no breaks. Did I do it......YES.

It wasn't easy and when Laura tells me "If you find it difficult slow down but don't stop" My conversation with her goes like this "If I go any slower I'll stop, so tough" but I kept going. Before this long run I had watched the Great North Run and Mo Farrah doing his famous kick for the final few yards. When Laura told me I had 60 seconds left I decided to do a Mo Farrah kick and speed up.

Finally 20 minutes was over I've done it and felt proud of my achievement. The bad news I have to do it again, several times but I'm told it will get easier. But you know, I still don't like running but the Voyage Award is making me stick with the plan and I will get fitter.

Bring on the 30th October and the Glow Run. In the meantime I need to do a bit more running, but not today as it's raining!

If you want to sponser me follow this link  https://www.justgiving.com/joanna-McHugh/ and thank you

The Sweet Shop Challenge

Quite often the best activities I do with Rainbows spring out of an impulsive idea.

Although we have a kitchen in our meeting place, we are limited in what we can actually cook due to time restraints. So the impulsive idea was why don't we have an activity day devoted to cooking. The team I work with are brilliant and were quite excited at the idea so rather than waiting for the summer holidays to do it we decided to run it in the May half term - giving us 3 weeks to organise...no problem.

I've learnt with Rainbows that its not always what they do but what you call the activity. I found a challenge badge called the Sweet Shop Challenge and thought that's our hook - which child could resist a day all about sweets.

I sometimes felt like the day was all about how many ways to use melted chocolate and sprinkles but we still managed to send the girl home with many edible goodies. During the day they made Marshmallow Pops, Butterflies, Lollipop Flowers, Ballerinas, Truffles, Rainbow cakes and Giant Buttons I'm not totally stupid, I wasn't going to let the Rainbows eat sweets all day with us. We ate Skittles in the morning and used marshmallows for a game of Sweet Shop Bingo which they then ate when we finished the game.

One minute it was 10:00 and we were starting then it was nearly 2:00 and we still hadn't done the Rainbow cakes which was the think that had set me off on this sweetie extravaganza (I know they are not sweets but I really wanted to make them!) So Steph made up the mixture ready so the Rainbows could add the food colouring. Rainbows only go at one speed and could see no urgency when stirring and adding the colouring. Adults on the other hand were clock watching and could see the minutes ticking away. Anyway soon it was 3 o'clock and parents arrived to collect the Rainbows as the cakes came out of the oven and they all commented on how lovely the smell of baking cakes was, if only they knew.

And that's my second Teamwork event completed for the Voyage Award. Although it was another Rainbow event it was a totally new experience to organise a day of cooking and baking so I'm happy that it was a challenge for me.

Where did the summer go?

I cannot believe that my last post was in June (although I have found a draft that I forgot to post). The year is going past so quick and I haven't had the time since then to sit and compose posts and sort out photos. I'm going to put that right now. The silver level of the Voyage Award has to take at least 12 months and I started it in January 2015. I've done a quick tally up of the hours I've spent on each section and I'm on track for completing it in the year (although it can take longer, the 12 months is only the minimum time). 

This is a catch up and over the next few weeks I promise I will put more details.

The Voyage Award is split into sections and for the Silver Award this is what I am doing:

Service:

taking on a new role as a Girlguiding Trainer 

Myself:

trying something new with Colouring-in for Adults and getting fitter by learning to run
Skills: 

learning to crochet

Teamwork: 

organised two events for Rainbows

Explore my World: visited Florida

4th July at DisneyWorld Florida

A Spring Adventure

Part of the Voyage Award is Teamwork and to plan and participate in two events of at least ten hours' duration.

With the help of four other Guiders I organised an event for our Rainbows called  "A Spring Adventure" 

Many more hours are spent planning these events than actually taking part but that's part of the fun.

We trawled the internet and Baker Ross for ideas. I learnt how to set up a Pinterest page that we could all save ideas to and we finally agreed during a planning meeting at the pub our final activities.

Although the girls paid to attend the event we were donated some materials from friends and family. Frontline Audio donated plant pots. Morrisons donated the grapes and tomatoes for our caterpillars

It was a very hectic afternoon but we fitted it all in. They made birdhouse sun-catchers, butterflies, ladybirds, caterpillars, windmills, planted a fairy garden and searched for fairy doors and even had time for a picnic.

67 Rainbows went home with bags full of their crafts, smiles on their faces and a new badge for their uniform.