What Has Made Me Cheerful This Week?

Reasons to be Cheerful - Mummy From The Heart

 

Yet another week has sped past in a flurry of school runs, rain and picking up (lots) of puppy poopy.  But a lot of changes have happened in the fast paced week.

 

With the arrival of October, much Halloween discussion has started on Facebook.  Some people have even dared to start discussions on the 'C' word.  In our house we are not allowed to mention the 'C' word until after J1's birthday in November.

 

The heating is scheduled to come on for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening - just to take the chill off.

 

The 'Winter Warmer' recipes have been cracked out of the cook books in preparation for walking in from the cold to a smell of slow cooked meals to melt in the mouth.

 

Yes, a season has truly changed this week.

 

One thing has stayed the same however.  That is, it's Thursday and time to think about things that have made me cheerful this week.  This is a blog hop with Mummy from The Heart - if you need lifting hop on over and read some other happy and grateful posts.

 

So, what has the last seven days meant for me?

 

* I participated in Race for Life and it was truly inspiring.  I was also very happy with my time!

* J2 and I have been baking this week.  We made fairy cakes from 'Jo Wheatley A Passion From Baking'.  I made the cakes and J2 did the toppings (well a few he lost interest after that) but they were all yummy.  There are many more recipes in this book that just look amazing and I can not wait to try them out.

* The Puppy is settling well.  She is very playful and eating well.  She is getting used to sleeping downstairs.  Now she has had her first set of injections she can go out in the garden - which means less poop hunting indoors.

* A couple of writing opportunities have come to light which is very exciting.

* I purchased my Mumsnet Blogfest ticket and am very excited about seeing Mush Brain Ramblings, The Digital Baby and Older Mum in a Muddle in November for a reunion.  One of my best school friends also said she is hoping to attend, if she does it will be the first time we have seen each other for about ten years.

 

We have quite a busy seven days approaching so hopefully there will be lots to be cheerful about next week too.

5,000

I saw the little girl first.  The pink unmissable sign on her back read 'I am running Race For Life For ... My Mummy'.

I was participating in the local Cancer Research Race for Life.  It should have been held in July, but the monsoon like rain that heralded for most of that month meant that the park was completely flooded, thus the race was postponed until Sunday 30 September.

I have been involved in the run, at this particular venue a few times before.  I knew that if I didn't want to get caught up behind a lot of walkers I needed to be brave and get myself in the runners group at the front.  The announcement was quite clear - if you can do this course in around 30 minutes, please follow the blue runner sign.  Walkers and Joggers please stay where you are and you will be called shortly.

As everyone was assembled it was great seeing the array of pink outfits being donned by happy, jovial ladies.  The race started and the pace went off quite quickly but soon settled after the first bend.  That is when a group of three girls, who clearly should not have been in the runners section clipped the back of my heels leaving me stumbling as they then went around me and a second of the third cut me up.  Tutting loudly, one turned around and apologised.  30 seconds later they were all walking and panting, holding up the section.

"This happens every year," I grumbled to myself "I don't think I will do it again."  Then the little 'good angel' popped on my shoulder 'This is supposed to be a fun run." she reminded me.  Soon anyone not running was overtaken and a pretty clear run was to be had for the first lap.  And that was just when I saw the little girl, with those words scrawled in her little handwriting 'My Mummy' - the sign didn't say whether Mummy was a survivor - or not.

 

I couldn't see who she was with, she seemed to be running on her own but I knew that wasn't possible due to the rules of the race.  A few minutes after I over took her, we turned a corner where she shot past me again "Mummmmeeeeeeeeeee!" she yelled "Wait for me!"  A lady a few runners up jogged on the spot and held out her hand.  It was a magical moment to see and the biggest inspiration for running.

 

Shortly after, a second incident occurred.  On lap two I started lapping the walkers.  A little boy sat on a small bank of grass "I am not moving!" he snapped "I don't care if I am last - it's not like I am going to WIN is it!" he yelled at the women and other children who had stopped to move him along.  The women put her hands on her hips and bent down to him "You will get up and walk this race and you will do it with a smile.  Your sister will NEVER be able to do this because SHE is not with us anymore!"  The little boy stood up and starting walking, hanging his head in shame, that I think will live with him forever. 

 

There was the two ends of the spectrum.  Before my very own eyes.  A survivor of cancer and the remaining family members of a victim of cancer.  All at the very same place.  Walking and running the same route.  For the same thing.  To raise money for cancer research.

 

And that was all I needed to see to know - I will be taking part next year.

 

Maybe you should too.