It was only 10 years ago that....

When I first met Suzie she was 39 (looking like 25!!), and as I slowly got to know both her and her family it became fairly obvious that the 4 sisters took some organising!!

As she approached 40, one treat that they promised each other was a Spa weekend to celebrate...well.it only took 10 years, and Anne making it happen, but they finally made it !!

Whately Manor...or How The Other Half Live !!

 Outdoor pool...

 GONE!!!

 Emily getting stuck in:)

 Suzie has new tootsies....

Now, THAT'S a sandwich...

Strange feeling....

Now, when we went to Rainworth the other weekend, I had a walk around what was Bilthorp Colliery (as part of my #getfitordie campaign ), where Suzie's Uncle Albert worked...

When we were there last Christmas, lots of twitter rumours about Maggie Thatcher dying, and it felt right that this would be the place to celebrate that event...it was just a rumour! But now the witch has gone, and so has the colliery, completely. To get to it, you walk along the rail line that took the coal away...

Now it looks a tad different...

 This led to what is now called Boundary Wood...you would not know that people lived, survived, died here...

Wasn't until i started walking over the old slag heap that you had any sense of the industrial landscape that was at the heart of the place.  A slab of concrete here and there...

 And underneath my feet, grey sludge...

Walking....and resumption of #getfitordie lifestyle choice :))

Having been totally embarrassed in the summer by having to buy new clothes for Suzie's 50th & seeing my whale like features in pics...it was obviously time to take charge of my health!!

Running was out of the question (toooo fat !!), so power walking was the option...and I have taken to it like a duck to water !! 

Started off round our local (very local) footpaths - 3 miles or so)..Developed a bit more knowledge of the local bridleways and footpaths and now regularly 'do' 5-6 miles Saturday and Sunday mornings; ritual being go one direction on Saturday, reverse it on Sunday...:)  

Found some aliens at Waterford ...

strange statues on The New River Path...

Lots of strange mushrooms....

I've started to walk further afield...from The New River Path down to Cheshunt,,,

 Along the Fleet with this young lady...

Around London...

with a lush bier...or two :)

Along the Aberdeen coast...

Dad (!) had been there before me...(not...)

until the bridge disappeared!!

Around Sleights////

with my newest, bestest friend :)

Well, it's nearly Christmas..again!!

It's been a couple of weeks off a year since I made any meaningful post on here...and here I am again, same place, same post :)

It's Rainworth time again, here to see this wonderful lady....

 Mnnt

So, what has happened in the year since our last visit? We're a year older, Suzie hit 50 in August and we had a wonderful holiday in Wales...ALL of Wales :)

Family are growing up...Alisha appears to be a teenager before her time...I got fat, and now am thinner, due mainly to changing diet and lots of walking, of which more later...

Suzie's sister Ann is not a well bunny, and that will shape our life for the coming months...:((

Walking...I've done loads since September! Round us at Bengeo, along the coast at Aberdeen, Sleights ( being towed by a dog), round an old pit in Rainworth...surprising how how often it ends at a pub :))

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