Challenge accepted....and conquered!

 The last day of September has arrived. At the start of the month I took on the challenge of walking 100 miles  in order to raise money for Women's Aid.

And yes I am aware that sadly, men too are victims of domestic abuse and coercive behaviour.

I awoke this morning to the gentle pattering of raindrops on my window pane. Not a monsoon or a downpour. Rather it was Irish rain, that "is down" for the day and is fine enough to get into your bones.

Oh feck I thought I have only four more miles to go. What will I do?

I got up and checked the weather app. Rain was forecast for the day. Then I had a strict talk to myself.

I didn't HAVE to go on the walk. I GET TO go on a walk. How many people woke up this morning unable to go because of injury or hiding bruises or not "allowed" to leave the house.

I put on my rain gear, got my cheeriest umbrella and set off.

Once I got started I was delighted that I did. And guess what? I didn't dissolve or rust! When I got home and checked I reached my total of 100 miles. Go me!

Thanks to everyone who sponsored me. If the money raised helps to get one person out of a toxic, dangerous situation, it will have been well worth it.

There is still time to donate. Don't feel you have to donate one of the amounts suggested. You can donate any amount. As they say in Tesco

Every little Helps!

https://fundraising.womensaid.ie/fundraisers/noeleenlynam

You'd think I'd have learned my lesson

 After last week's attempt to help my neighbour backfired, you'd think I'd be more wary about offering help. No.

I was in Tullynally Castle and gardens which are about to close for the rest of the season. It's really beautiful there. I was sitting on one of the garden seats, surveying all that lay before me when a woman and her mother walked towards me. I heard the woman say

"Stand over there by that beautiful tree and I'll take your photo."

Knowing how much I now cherish photos of me and Mam I piped up

"Would you like me to take a photo of the two of you together?"

"Oh would you? That would be lovely,"

I stood up and put out my hand to take, what I presumed would be her phone to take the photo. But no. She handed me this kick-ass camera and started to explain to me all about focusing and light exposure and what not.

I nodded as if I had the faintest idea what she was talking about and took the camera in my shaking hands. They took up their position in front of the tree and I started to point and shoot. I mean I could see (roughly) what I was aiming at in the screen. I figured if I took enough of them at least ONE photo should turn out okay.

 I handed the camera back and they thanked me profusely. I said my goodbyes and took off. I turned around once to see them hunched over the screen examining my handy work. They were probably muttering

"For feck sake these are all out of focus. I thought she knew what she was doing!"

Who the hell uses a camera to take photos anymore?

Ah well I tried to be nice. To quote Elphaba from Wicked

No good deed goes unpunished!

Lending a Neighbourly Hand

  

I went for my evening walk. As i went past a neighbour's house  I could hear the children playing football behind the high hedge.

It was dusk by the time I was passing back on the way home. I could hear their dad talking to them, saying it was time to come in but they were having too much fun to listen to him. He then used the age old threat.

"If you don't come in now the bogeyman is going to catch you."

I decided to help him out so I let out my best panto Wicked Stepmother cackle from behind the hedge.

There was silence for a moment and then I heard screams and running towards the house.. I looked over the gate and saw that Dad had won the race to the front door, leaving the kids in his wake.

"Hi, it's me" I called out as I didn't want to leave the kids traumatised. The smiles lit up the children's faces. We had a laugh about it but I could see the utter relief on Dad's face.

I guess I won't be trying to help my neighbours  out like that again!