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Flat land Andy

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  1. Flat land Andy

    To Hot

    By Flat land Andy,

    Been planting fence posts in Spalding today, the heat (humidity) has been hell. Sorry its been so long, but things have been busy. Little man has completed the Three peaks, this is a must read. When things start slowing down I will start posting more again.
  2. Flat land Andy
    Friday night always follows the same routine, finish work chill out for an hour or two, then when the supermarket has quietened down we do our weekly shop. This means we normally get home at about 7.30 pm. Because of the late hour and it being Friday we treat ourselves. Last Friday was pizza and garlic bread Friday. After preparing the feast I divided it equally leaving the two hard ends of the garlic bread on the chopping broad on the kitchen side. The meal was consumed in front of the TV where we watched “Just the two of us”. After we’d finished tea, Adam drifted off upstairs and Sarah drifted off in the chair, I continued to watch TV. A short while later I become aware of a noise coming from the kitchen. This is not uncommon because our cat can often be heard in the kitchen. After about 20 minuets I realised that the cat was a sleep on Sarah's lap and I could still hear the noise coming from the kitchen. I got out of my chair very quietly, a challenge because it’s a squeaky swivelling rocking chair and tiptoed to the kitchen door. Peering around the corner at first and then slowly creeping my way to where I thought the noise was coming from, I found nothing. I continued to have a good look around but I could not find a thing. Intrigued I made my way back to my chair. Yet again after a short while the noises returned. This time I decided on surprise, so I dived out of the chair and ran into the kitchen, again nothing. But on closer investigation I realised the chopping broad, which should still have, two garlic bread ends on it no longer did. One lay there lifeless, but one was definitely missing. I carefully examined the side first checking behind the utensils pot and then the oils and finally the spice rack, but nothing. At this point I noticed to the right of the spice rack jammed in between the cooker and the side the missing garlic crust. I pulled out the crust, which had been firmly jammed in place, holding it between two fingers I turned it round so I could examine it closely. At this point I noticed the familiar signs that we now had a new lodger. As before when the weather turns cold we are usually visited by a mouse, and as like in-laws they never want to leave. So we now have to go down the road of first humanely and then a violent removal of said intruder. I will keep everyone posted on our progress.

    P.S. cat for sale will swap for mousetrap!
  3. Flat land Andy
    Good luck trying to read this.
    Appeared in Friday 24th February's paper.
    This is the 3rd and final story that a local reporter completed regarding Adam's walk of the Macmillan Way. Have only had 1 response from the 3 articles. <_< Bit disappointing really but if people just sit up and think about the good work that Macmillan Cancer Relief do then at least it will have achieved something.
    The local paper have said that they will run another story when Adam is about to embark on the 3 national peaks in 24hrs.
  4. Flat land Andy
    Have had a nice quite weekend at home and it has made be very pleasant. Oh well back to work tomorrow at least the weather is going to make things interesting this week. Sorted out the bag for the lorry, clothes, food, cooker (gas stove), sleeping bag plus the other odd bits I might need to spend the night in the cab. The lorry only being a baby its not designed for over night stops, the weather for the beginning of the week does not seem to bad so hopefully I will not need it. I am working in Lincolnshire next week and we might catch a shower as they pace down the East Coast. Wifey sorting the things she needs for the car as well.
    Adam (number one son) is spending 3 days on a school trip this week so we are going to have a nice brake in the middle of the week, he’s have a geography field trip, 31 ten year olds in a field by a river, how would be a teacher!
    Finished the walk last week end and fund raising is going farley well £1600 so far and we still need to get the sponsorship forms back in. We have been contacted by a national magazine how wants to print the story. So hopefully this will fall right to promote the three-peak challenge. Finished down loading the photos into the Macmillan Way album and have updated the diary on the web site as well
    Time to go, hopefully now we have finished the walk I will have more time to post more blogs.



    Macmillan way albumwww.dodsonchallenges.co.uk

  5. Flat land Andy
    Nightmare day trying to strip asbetos with the wind and cold at least it was dry. Finally managed to get the roof watertight by 6pm, was very glad to get in the truck and home.
    We are making final preparations ready for tomorrow. We will be travelling to Somerset ready to start the final legs of Adams walk. We are taking advantage of Adams half term to finish the walk. He only has 81 miles left to do, so if he walks 13.5 miles a day for 6 days he can have 2 rest days and finish on the 18th at Abbotsbury. After walking 290 miles in 21 days (over 4 months) according to Macmillan Cancer Relief Adam age 10 will become the youngest person to ever walk the Macmillan Way. To find out more you can visit his website www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk
    We are hoping for good weather, so we would appreciate it if everyone could lay off the snow dances until the 20th of Feb. Must fly have to pack bags, wife thinks she's going away for a month.
  6. Flat land Andy

    A Weekend Off

    By Flat land Andy,

    Has been a very long time since I have made an entry in here. But this weekend I have the time to catch up with a few things that I have not been done around the house.
    My son Adam is walking the Macmillan Way and we are at the stage where we are having to travel 150 mile to each stage and staying overnight before walking the next, before traveling home to work. But this weekend we are having off to recharge before traveling down next friday where will stay until we have finished, there are 81 miles left. We have done 209 miles in 15 days over the course of 3 months.
    Adam is bearing up well but one little concern is that he has not put any weight on for the last 3 months but we are keeping an eye. Fundraising is going well and we have had good coverage in the local paper (the Evening Telegraph). We have taken 96 photos so far which you can see on the Macmillan Way gallery, as well as the diary which you can find on our website www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk . If you find the site interesting please tell other people as this will help increase our coverage.
    What has happened to the weather, has been the same now for 5 days grey cold and damp, have not seen the sun for 5 days. Work has been well intense, have been dressed up as Oompa-loompas while replacing asbetos roofs, great fun.
    Must dash before wifey finds me sitting around doing nothing.
  7. Flat land Andy
    Today Adam and I walked the sixth stage from Braybrooke to Teeton, yet another 15 miles knocked off the 290 miles of the Macmillan Way. We have now completed 90 miles which is a great relief after the concerns we had about Adams ankle. He pressed on like a true trooper with only a few moans, but we still walked the 15 miles in the quickest time so far, 6 hours and 30 minutes, this included 30 minutes breaks. The highlight of the walk was the 900m we did underground. 5 miles of todays route followed the Brampton Valley Way along a disused railway line, which included two tunnels. As we approached the first along the cutting which was lined with trees, the mist was hanging in the air. This alone got Adams cogs turning and as we stood looking into the tunnel at the 10p size dot of light at the far end, Adam only words were "this is spooky". 50m in and all you can see is the dot of light, all I can hear apart from the echos of the stones we were catching with our feet is " dad dad slow down, dad dad where are you, dad dad is that you, dad dad what was that", and then half way through we could see a patch of light on the floor only very slight at first but it got bigger and bigger until, we were standing in the middle of it and above us was a 5m wide chimney (a ventilation shaft) which rose above us 40/50m. As we looked up the water was seeping through the walls of the shaft and dripping down, landing with loud spats that echoed around us. That was it, if Adam could have seen where he was running he would have! Adam was first out into the dapelled sunlight, relieved we stopped for lunch before we attemped the second.
    Kelmarsh tunnel was much more clinical. He held on to my shirt all the away through and still had to check that I was still there. The rest of the walk went well and we even got home in time to have a fully sunday dinner, the first time for a long time. Time to start planning the next one, next week.
    If you would like to find out more visit our website:
    www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk

  8. Flat land Andy
    This week has been quiet at work, things seem to be slowing down ready for christmas. Wifey helps with the village christmas post, each year we put 3 post boxes in the local shops in the village. People can post their christmas cards in the boxes for at least 5p each and the parents and explorer scouts deliver the cards. Last year we raised £120 for the scout group(beavers, cubs, scouts and explorer scouts).
    Tomorrow we will be starting the 6th stage of the Macmillan Way, we will be starting from Braybrooke to ? On Tuesday Adam managed to shut his foot in the car door, to be on the safe side we took Adam to A&E. The doctor said Adam only had soft tissue damage and prescribed limping, resting, elevation of the foot no football, but light exercise. Things are looking good. Adam is walking well and is very keen to walk, so the answer to how far we are walking is hopefully 15 miles to Teeton. Adam will be carring a light bag, a walking pole and as soon as he shows any signs of discomfort we will stop. The weather for tomorrow is good and the paths seem to be along a disused railway and tracks, so not to many ploughed fields.
    If you would like to find out why my 9yr old son is walking 290 miles along the Macmillan Way visit our website www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk
  9. Flat land Andy

    A Great Day Out!

    By Flat land Andy,

    Adam completed the 5th stage today from Belton-in-Rutland to Braybrooke a total of 14 miles, of his Macmillan Way walk. The weather could not have been better, a cool start, lots of sun, dry and very light wind, which was great but the walking conditions across the cultivated fields was a nightmare, very wet and sticky. Adam brought most of the fields home with him. All in all things wasn't too bad and we did the walk in 7 hours, there was not a great deal to take photos of, and the phones no good for landscapes, so only took 5 photos which are in the gallery. you can see more by visiting the website www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk Must say thank you to wifey. Shes driven 160 miles today dropping us off and picking us up. A very tedious job but essential, soon we will be too far from home to drive back and forth and Sarah will have to wait around all day. Starting to fall asleep and must go to bed.
  10. Flat land Andy
    Left at 10.0am to go to Addenbrookes with Wifey-again! Before we went to her appointment we called into the Cambridgeshire fundraising office of Macmillan Cancer Relief to update them on our progress of the Macmillan Way. Again they were very supportive and said that they would contact Anglia TV and local radio stations on our behalf to assist with the fundraising. They still seem to be in awe of Adam's efforts which is nice.Popped into a book shop to get the next 2 maps that we need for the next 2 weekends walking then off to Addenbrookes. Was hoping to have lunch before we went to Sarah's appointment, but was running a bit short of time so we just grabbed a quick drink and then went to see the consultant that would be doing the reconstruction on wifey if we have this operation. Am not sure whether this op is a good idea but he did put our minds at rest about a couple of things so that was good. Wifey was hoping to have a tummy tuck when he does this op, but again, as last time, he doesn't think it is a good idea because of all of the scars on her tummy from some of the other operations she has had to undergo. Never mind, girdles here we come!?!ha ha I don't think so she would go mad if I suggested this.Anyway we await the results from her genetics testing, that was started quite a while ago, to try to help us make a decision about this op. The other one that we went to see a different consultant about last week, we have sort of made a decision on its just a acse of when she has it rather than if. People wouldn't believe the things that have happened if we were to tell them. They would think that it was impossible for so much to have happened so quickly or almost at the same time and to be such bad luck, but she's still fighting!
  11. Flat land Andy

    A Hell Of A Week

    By Flat land Andy,

    It has been one of those weeks where you really wish you had done better at school!
    I've really struggled to motivate myself this week, feeling tired, lethargic and generally washed out, with the added bonus of having crap jobs. The last three days I've been clearing 2 voids (houses where the tenants have left or been evicted) in these cases, they had left.
    Thankfully the working week is over and tomorrow me and wifey are off to Addenbrooks to see another consultant above elective surgery, which could increase wifey life expectance, (not to sure about this one?)
    Finally finished last sundays diary today and added it to the website
    www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk
    As I said it's been hard work this week.

  12. Flat land Andy
    Finally got home after a longs days walking. After walking an hour and half in the dark we finally got to our pick up point in Belton in Rutland. We had a good days walking and managed 16 miles. Adam did extremely well considering he had to carry the extra weight because of the possible conditions that we may have found ourselves in, due to the unpredictable weather. The change in the landscape is phenominal with the rise and falls of the valleys along the limestone ridge that we are following to Abbotsbury in DORSET! If you would like to find out more as to why my 9yr old son is walking 290 miles to raise money for MACMILLAN CANCER RELIEF, visit www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk to find out more.
  13. Flat land Andy
    Getting everything ready for tomorrow, the forecast a couple of days ago was looking a bit bleak.Thankfully things have improved! It's still going to be cold and there will be showers in the morning and evening, this we can cope with(we are prepared for any thing)!
    We will be walking from Ketton to Belton in Rutland about 15 miles.This will take us round the south shore of Rutland water which has a good path all the way round. Today I sorted out my album in the gallery and hopefully we will email photos back to wifey to post as we are walking (theory).
    I said to wifey she should put a few things in the car in case she gets stuck. (A few years ago she was getting Number one son from school, a 8 mile round trip, when it snowed and a few idiots ran into each other, and it took Sarah 5 hours to get home). So I had a quick look in the car, it looks if shes going camping! Best to be prepared!
  14. Flat land Andy
    Had to take wifey to Addenbrooke's after being advised by our genetics consultant, that it would be in our best interest. Sarah was told as it stands she has a 50/50 chance of the cancer returning. After talking to addenbrooke's the consultant said if sarah had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy it would reduce her chances to 1/200! and they could do it at christmas. Hell of a christmas present!
    Our appointment was one and a half hours late, in my mind this is a small price to pay. Thanks to Addenbrooke's, Peterborough District hospital and Edith Cavell I have a loving wife and a beautiful son, if it was not for the staff of these hospitals I would have neither.
    Cambridge center was quiet so we had a good look round the shops. a good day out all in all.
  15. Flat land Andy
    A lightly foggy on the way to work in Boston this morning. First job of the day was to clear a flat, on the third floor. Just what I needed after a days walking yesterday, running up and down 3 flights of stairs. After that the rest of the day got better.
    The drive into Peterborough was spectacular with the sunset in amongst the banks of fog. I had to go to Dogsthorpe tip to empty my lorry, where I managed to get a couple of pics of the mist in amongst the buildings with the sunset behind them.

  16. Flat land Andy
    Early start, to the third stage of our walk, which took my 9 year old son and I from Thurlby to Ketton. A brillant days walking: started with a hard frost, followed by sloppy fields, then deer darting into woodlands: seeing dad in Stamford on a cold sunday afternoon and ending with walking into a misty sunset over Ketton( and its cement works).
    If you would like to know why a 9 year old boy is walking 290 miles click on this web link http://www.dodsonchallenges.co.uk

  17. Flat land Andy

    A Quiet Day In

    By Flat land Andy,

    today 19/11/05
    Had a quite day at home. Adam had football today, he scored a goal and his team won. Luckly the frost lifted so it was not to cold. Getting ready for tomorrows walk, this will be our third. which will take us from Thurlby to Ketton about 14 miles. We will be off the fens which will make the walking much more interesting. the weather is looking good, clear, dry, and light winds. which will make a pleasant change from the last two legs which were wind and wet the last time.
  18. Flat land Andy
    17/11/05
    Had yet another day at Skegness, Last day this week. had a change from concreting, today I was fence erecting. Just off the sea front opposite The Sea Life Center. The sea front was dead, clear blue sky, 6C. On the way home had to drive into the sun, very low and very bright. Gave every think a golden yellow grow.
    last job of the day was clearing old carpets from a " care in the community" home, a surreal experience!
    Soak aways in Kirton tomorrow.
  19. Flat land Andy
    15/11/05
    Spent another day levelling uneven slab paths at the seaside. conditions were good dry and mild. popped of to get a bacon butty, sat in my lorry eating, when a red 4X4 pulled up behind me and a man with a rifle got out. I watch enthralled as he plus several men from an abattoir next door, tried to heard a Irrate bull into a corner. Where I assume the bull started its journey to local butcher shops. Apart from that the day was pretty boring.
    The only other thing was the wet mud covered A52 on the way to Skegness, which turned the trip up into a rally. FARMER They will be expecting me to wash the lorry again!
  20. Flat land Andy
    13/11/05
    Spent the day in skegness working.
    had to replace front path, nice day for working.
    cool and fresh, with the bonus of a unusual sunset.
    going back to Skegness tomorrow,
    hope the net-extra 16 day forecast is wrong
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