Spring :)

Spring is here, undeniably. It's that time of the year when you still need the coat when you leave in the morning, can leave it in the office when walking around in the afternoon, and it's again required once the sun sets. And it's the time when the number of flirts grows exponentially with the growth in the average temperature, love is in the air...( :S cheesy, sorry...)

From egyszem

The fact that I can wear sunglasses, sit in the sun, and refill my batteries just puts a huge smile on my face, and refilling those batteries is what I need at the moment. As I am writing this, I am thinking of demanding that weekends would be 3 days long: working in the charity shop on Saturday, then doing my usual Sunday walk, and entertaining people at my flat is not a recipe for relaxation.

But fun! The weekend was so great. I had the pleasure to great 3 of the most interesting people in my flat, where setting aside, that this was a good contribution to my fundraising, I had a great time chatting, it felt like those times when I did my cooking back in Hungary, all my friends came around, we were loud and having fun, God, I love cooking for my loved ones:)

So after the meetup on Saturday, woke up early on Sunday, feeling happy, so went for a walk towards Ally Pally.

Was sad to realize that they moved the Farmer's market from the Palace's carpark, which is why I headed in that direction: I was hoping to buy some nice juicy tomatoes and fruit. Though this move means, that on my next walk I will be able to choose a new destination. So watch this space next week for my market update:)

From egyszem

As far as the fundraising concerned my idea to organize Diabetes week in June in BT locations won't work as Diabetes UK is not a BT supported charity, but I don't mind, as I already have another event in mind, either on the May bank holiday, or the Queen's jubilee and this would be a street festival at Crouch End joined by the other charities that have a shop in the area.

The fundraising is at 30% thanks to your donations, I had donations from people I least expected to receive any support: this fundraising is a lesson for me as well, teaches me to put more faith in people, and I am so happy to be positively surprised.

On this weeks's agenda I have engagement with a couple of shops to collect money to me, (have collected the money boxes last week from Diabetes UK).

How it goes, will keep you posted...

Meetups in action

Another week has past. And what a week it was. I was prepared for a nice and quiet week it being half-term in the UK, but things were busy and I even managed to get myself into a funny mood by Friday..., so I was really glad when I finally left the office on Friday, and the weekend began.

Luckily I have signed up for a Photowalk with meetup, so instead of lying in on Saturday morning, I had to get myself ready, and take the train from Victoria, to Eynsford in Kent to make a nice 8 mile walk around this lovely area. I have met a bunch of truly amazing people, so not only the scenery but the conversations were much enjoyable.

On our way there were dozens of snowdrops announcing the arrival of spring, supported by a couple of crocuses as well. I really can't wait to put my big coat away...

From egysze

But going back to the walk, Eynsford is a lovely little village in the middle of Kent, that is neighbouring Lullingstone and Shoram. There is a lovely castle in Lullingstone surrounded by a lake (for those of you who also love the meerkat adverts, here's the episode that has been filmed in Lullingstone castle) and I am pretty sure that the sign that said Kent's best farm shop on the way from the castle to Shoram was not an exaggeration either. Even though I think the world's funniest chicken happen to be living at that place...

From egyszem

From egyszem

After we have passed Lullingstone, we have stopped for lunch in Shoram, just to continue our way back to Eynsford through the golf fields. It was not a tiring walk at all, but the lessons leant were, that I will have to buy a 2 shoulder backpack for China, as this half shoulder solution is not convenient after 3 hours, and that my boots and me we still need to work on our relationship. But we'll get there. Eventually:)

Earlier in the week I have set up a Meetup group for Hungarian cooking, I have 36 members and 5 session that are already full. I hope this group will result in many donations, as the contributions to the dinners will go against my fundraising. I will continue doing the until May but I am also aware I will have to organise some more grand fundraising events. Have a couple of ideas, so will keep you posted:)

'til then.

And before I forget, I would like to thank everyone who has already donated on the justgiving site. I am really grateful for everyone's support, I feel really lucky to have the friends I have, and be surrounded by the people I work with, or met eventually. Thank you /Köszönöm.

The Gym and Fundraising begins

Well, gyms still freak me out. Actually not the gym, but guys with huge muscles, and women with huge muscles ... it reminds of the strongmen black and white pictures taken at circuses, it just looks so unnatural, but hey, tastes differ.
Anyway, have been twice now, so the preparation routine per week looks like this at the moment: 2 occasions in the gym, and 1 walk. I was wondering if I was overdoing it, as the challenge website suggested a 10 week preparation starting with 30 minute walks (my walks are around 2.5 hrs long), but when I got off the spinning bike on Wednesday, my legs shaking to the extent I struggled to walk down the stairs to the changing room that was a clear indication that I need to remind my muscles that I used to use them more extensively some time ago. So I'll be back to the gym today.
I have walked the southern part of the Parkland Walk yesterday, which is nothing as nice or interesting as the Northern part it is more industirial, and less green. The route ends in Finsbury Park though, which was full of people walking or running, with dogs or without, and squirrels trying to make a better use of the waste in the bins. To my surprise, despite the remains of snow, there was an American Football team practicing. Watching them didn't help me though to understand the rules of the game better so I headed towards Haringey Green Lanes.

From egyszem

I was very pleased as I have found a Hungarian shop, that sells proper Hungarian paprika, salami, sausage, sour cream and pasta, so nothing stops me now to organize meetups for Hungarian food and this way raise funds for Diabetes UK. (It was advised to me by Niamh who is the author of the Eat Like a girl blog, that I highly recommend: great to read and for inspiration).

The fundraising pack has also arrived from Diabetes UK. It's pretty impressive: fundraising toolkit, event form, press release, advice on the physical training. If Diabetes UK agrees, I will share this with the Hungarian charity, that deals with Diabetes, as there is a lot to learn from how this material is put together.

From egyszem

And with the arrival of the toolkit, fundraising begun, thanks for everyone who has already donated, and thanks in advance for everyone who will donate. As of today 11% of the required funds have been donated... so tomorrow, I will email my colleagues, and business partners, fingers crossed.

Will keep you posted :)

The second and the 3rd week

I have meant to write this last week on Sunday, but must admit, walking for 3 hours in fresh air (my first walk) means, that I have no challenges falling asleep in the evening, so have chose sleep last week instead of writing, and then came a busy week.

The walk was quite interesting though. Having been in the UK for less than 10 month means that there are still new areas of North London that can be explored. Have decided to take the Parkland Walk this time (which is a trail on the remains of old railtracks), and walked as far as Muswell Will and back home.

There are certain parts of the path, where graffiti is allowed, which makes and interesting combination of the 19th century brickwork, modern art and nature.

From egyszem

From egyszem

It's a nice path nevertheless, and I think at least half of the runners from North London decided to come out on that Sunday.

On Tuesday I have paid my first deposit for the challenge, my attendance was approved on Friday, so I have set up my justgiving homepage. I still have to write my email to ask people to contribute, and I think it's finally time to tell Mum and Dad what I am up to:)

Have done another walk this Sunday. We had our first snow this winter in England, so I have decided to take the walk towards Parliament hill this time. The hill was full of people, sleighing, though there wasn't much snow left anymore on the top, as I think practically anyone in possession of a sleigh in the N19,NW3 ended up on that hill yesterday afternoon, (and 60% of women complusory to be wearing Hunter wellies).

From egyszem

The walk was interesting to take the photos as well. I always thought that ducks will fly away to a warmer country for the winter, so it was quite interesting to see a half frozen pond full of ducks and swans, but one keeps learning.

From egyszem

It's gym time for me this week. We'll be doing 8-12 km tracks a day on the wall, which does not sound tiring, but as quite a lot of it will be steps I need to make sure I start to build some strength to my stamina...

New Year, New Beginning, New Challenge

It's new moon today, and this time of the lunar cycle was regarded to be as the best to start new things. The Chinese new year also started today (and it's my Polish Grandma's 82nd birthday today.)

All stacks up, so here I am on the first day of the dragon's year, sitting in my bed, laptop on my lap, wrapped up, wearing my sexiest turquoise boot socks. (My body issued a slow-down-and- take-it-easy warning against my pace of life...but I think we reached a deal today).

I woke up in the morning with this winning energy, with thousand ideas in my head as to what to do next with my life, the result of which is this blog.

Yep. I decided to go for it, take the challenge, walk the wall and a raise some money for Diabetes UK, as this is an illness, that my loved ones (my best-friend-cousin, my Dad, my other cousin and my Hungarian grandma) seem to be mostly affected by. So I'd like to dedicate this trip to them, and I just hope, that whatever this UK Charity achieves, will cross the borders of the country, that I was born in, and the country where I grew up: Poland and Hungary.

From Great Wall of China.org

I am thus looking forward to 5 months of extensive fundraising and 8 months of training to be able to climb all those steps. (Walking sticks are heavily advised, which is something I need to add to the list of things to be purchased.)

What I have already done is: I have set up a new group on facebook for my closest friends, to inform them about progress, and also to be able to ask them for advice if I may be facing challenges. I have also bought 10 daily passes to the posher LA fitness club up in Muswell Hill so that I could do swimming after doing steps and cycling in the gym, otherwise, my muscles (if I have any) would struggle big time. I guess this is about finding them as well... Last but not least, I will have to pay my deposit on pay day, and then the fun of fundraising will begin, so I will have to set up a justgiving account.

So far, so good, more posts to follow...

And many thanks Zoe for the inspiration:)