Abraham & The Stray Cats

Larraine and I have been busy training. On Monday Larraine went to the gym for an hour and a half. On Tuesday she went walking with Lesley Bennet from the Staines Community Centre, they walked seven miles and they plan to walk together again as much as they can. Today Larraine went to extended exercise and Pilates, which is excellent for toning and stretching muscles.

I went out training on Monday as well. My son James came to see me for a few days and decided to come for a walk with me. I found it very pleasing walking with my son, as I don't see him very often; he's normally at University in Southampton. We walked about six miles together. I think he enjoyed it as it was a trip down memory lane for both of us. Sentimental old git that I am, I probably made his ears sore from listening to me rabbiting on about the old days!

I had a day of rest on Tuesday, I just stayed in with my cat Abraham and we listened to our favourite music CDs. It’s strange, but Abraham has a very similar taste in music to me. He's very keen on an early 80's pop group called The Stray Cats!

Today, Wednesday, I set of for a ten-mile power walk, it took me a little while to get warmed up, but once I was warmed up I pushed myself very hard. I'm usually dressed in a heavy ex-army coat and a base ball cap. I often wonder what people think when they see me hurtling past them swinging my white cane. Perhaps they think I'm out water divining, or I'm out picking up litter with my cane for the local council - who knows! Anyway, I managed to do my ten miles in two hours eleven minutes, so I'm quite pleased with myself.

Best wishes
Clive x

The haunted coach and horses of St Ann's hill

I've been out training again today, I only done about ten miles today, as I'm a bit stiff from yesterday's mission.

For dinner last night Larraine cooked a home made Hungarian Goulash, considering her disabilities, she is a great cook. She does however make the odd mistake when measuring ingredients, she doesn't seem to know the difference between a tea spoon and a table spoon! So due to her ever so slight misjudgement, we overdosed on Paprika and Caraway seeds. Not knowing how this might effect my tummy, I was tempted to put a portable commode! in my rucksack, before I set off training. Luckily I survived my journey with out having to do an emergency stop!

I set off walking at about ten thirty in the morning and I headed for Thorpe Village, on the way there I have to travel up a country lane called, Ten Acre lane, on the left hand side of Ten acre lane, there is a small very well kept cemetery, where my mum and dad are buried. I always give them a little wave when I'm passing there. I also own my own plot there. I can have two coffins and six urns of ashes, so the council told me! I don't have that many relatives, so I'm considering sub letting, I've got to make some money some how! "Only Joking!"

I turned right at the top of Ten acre lane and headed for St Mary's church, which is a beautiful little church in a scenic part of Thorpe Village. I then went up a footpath called Monks Walk, this takes you on to Chertsey. The path goes through the centre of a Theme park called Thorpe Park, which I'm certain many people have heard of. As you pass through the footpath, in the distance on the right hand side you will see St Ann's hill. Its a great place to take your children, as its very green and woody, fantastic for hide and seek! It allegedly is haunted by an old time coach and horses, which are seen thundering across the hill, in the dead of night. You've probably got more chance of catching that, than the local bus in this area!

Chertsey's claim to fame is that Bill Sykes got Oliver Twist to break into a house there. I think they got away with the TV and Video!

I walked through the out skirts of Chertsey until I got to Chertsey bridge, then over the bridge and left down the river Thames, through Laleham park. Walking through there and down the river to Staines is very nice. You get to see loads of different boats and houses, which I can't afford, but its still nice to see them. One of the locks on this part of the river is called Penton Hook Island and its open to the public free of charge, and wonderful in the summer.

When I finally got to Staines, I popped into the local conservative club for a refreshing pint of coke, with loads of ice, plus a vitamin filled sausage sandwich. The club have been kind enough to allow me to put up the poster about Larraine and I doing the marathon, so I'm sure that the members there will sponsor us and Sense! very generously.

That's it for today!

Clive.

Taking up the challange

We are Clive Tyrell (aged 55) and Larraine Reed (aged 51), and on Sunday 26 April 2009 we will be taking part in the Flora London Marathon 2009 on behalf of Sense, the leading national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. This will be our first marathon and it promises to be an experience we will never forget. The reason we choose to take part on behalf of Sense is because I (Clive) am registered blind, and Larraine is registered deafblind. I will be guided by Jon Medcraft from the National Events Team at Sense, whilst Larraine will be guided by her friend Sylvia Carr.

We live together in the small town of Egham in Surrey, which is perfect for our marathon training as there are some fantastic places to go for long walks whilst enjoying the countryside. We regularly walk to Windsor along the canal paths to keep fit, and like nothing more than taking a picnic with us and a flask of hot soup! Larraine also keeps fit taking part in regular line and belly dancing classes, together with Pilate sessions. In our spare time we also enjoy visiting the theatre in Windsor for the musicals they run throughout the year.

Whilst we are both looking forward to the London Marathon with excitement, there are many challenges that we face over the coming weeks. The main one will come from being surrounded by so many people as we are not used to that in our daily lives. The noise levels and the restricted space that we will encounter will also make things more difficult but we will be relying on our sighted guides to ensure we are kept safe and the event is as enjoyable as possible.

Although we will be facing more challenges than the average runner, we are so excited about taking part in the London Marathon. We have watched the event from a young age and have always wanted to take part so it is fantastic that we will finally be living our dream on the 26 April!

If you would like to sponsor us and help change the lives of deafblind children and adults throughout the UK, please visiting our fundraising page: http://www.justgiving.com/wonderwomanandblindman.