Reasons to be Cheerful: Dancing, Adventure and Steam Trains #R2BC

Its Thursday which means its reasons to be cheerful with this month's host Michelle. Next its back to me so I will have to get organised! Here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:
1) Steam Train
A group of photographers had booked our local steam train to run up and down the line at the same time as we were at parkrun this weekend. How many parkruns have one of these:

2) Parkrun Marshalling

My son and I volunteered together as marshals on the meadow hill and I had taken along my camera to capture some of the action. It was lovely to get smiles out of the runners and walkers as they took on the climb:

3) Ceilidh

On Friday night I went to a ceilidh with my mum and daughter. Us youngsters were out danced by the U3A folk and Scottish dancers but we had a really time:

Having Fun Raising Money for Charity

tI've been quite a busy bee this weekend and helped raise money at two different charity events both of which were great fun. It's always much better to not only feel good about helping others but making yourself feel good at the same time.


The first event was the Kendal Oxfam "bit of a do" ceilidh on Saturday night to which I took my daughter. Around 12,000 people across the country took part in various fundraisers to raise money to help women:

About the Do

Can’t. Shouldn’t. Mustn’t. Incapable. Incompetent. Unable. Hopeless.

Too often the world tells women don’t.

We want to celebrate women who do.

Women who are achieving incredible things, against all odds.

At the ceilidh a range of people from 6 years to over 60 had a really good time Stripping the Willow and doing a few reels. Some of the teenagers had baked yummy pink cakes in honour of the occasion which were very popular.

Then on Sunday I joined about 100 other women in Ulverston for a Fabulous, Fit and Fun Fundraising Aerobathon in aid of Rosemere Cancer Foundation and the North West Air Ambulance. This was organised by my Rosemary Conley instructor Caytie and involved a total of 2.5 hours of exercises. We completed an aerobics class, a belly dancing session, one of kick boxing and rounded off with a salsa class.

We all had a good laugh, got very hot and sweaty and raised lots of money for the 2 charities. If anyone wants to add to what we raised then please pop along to NW Air Ambulance or Rosemere Cancer Foundation Just Giving pages that have been set-up for the event.


With Comic Relief coming up on Friday its the perfect time to mix fun and charity altogether so go on have a laugh and raise some dosh.

Do si do your partner

Yes I have just been to a Hoedown with my family! I don't think I'd done any of that style dancing since my wedding 8 years ago but I've always loved it since I was a kid.It was a chance to introduce my own children to the fun that country dancing can be. To complete the fun we took along my dad who has also always enjoyed a reel or two as no previous skill is needed.

The event included people from age 2 to 80+ and most people got up and had a go. It doesn't matter if you have 2 left feet, or don't know your left from your right. As the caller was heard to say "no your other right" as children got themselves all mixed up.

My two gave it a go and did seem to enjoy themselves:

In one dance I started off in the lady role and somehow ended up as a gentleman as in Lucky Seven dance we all got very confused and it went hilariously wrong. But that's the great thing about country dancing you don't have to be a perfect dancer although a sense of humour is essential..

So dig out your dancing shoes and come on down to the next hoedown or ceilidh that comes to down and take your kids, parents and grandparents with you!