Kili prep

October has been about training, certainly, but also about getting travel vaccines, buying equipment and other trip prep. Otherwise, there was a dinner with Eddis.

Eddis has spent years raising thousands of pounds for a charity in Malawi run by one of the many asylum seekers she has befriended and championed. I'm also adopting this charity as the beneficiary of fundraising tied to my hike. That required creating a GoFundMe page and then distributing the link to friends (none of this easy for me). Two hundred and twenty pounds raised so far – thanks mostly to my generous golf buddies. Many more people to send the link to.

On 12 Oct. there was a 6.5-hour hike in the Mournes with the Wee Binnians. We started below the clouds then, surprisingly, ascended above the cloud layer to a clear peak, passing these sheep on the way to the peak of Slieve Donard. We took a route to the top I've never taken and I really enjoyed it.

The Wee Binnians are a friendly group. There are hike groups A, B+, B and C. I hike with the Bs and I doubt I could go any faster. This photo from the top of Donard.

There was a weird cloud formation where the Irish Sea meets the land.

Two days later was a round of golf raising funds for a hospice. I couldn't play well due to a deep cut to my finger two weeks earlier. But I enjoyed the closing night dinner, when I was presented with the singles trophy, the McKee Cup, and the Marina Trophy, from one of the Tuesdays when a trophy was at stake.

I've enjoyed coffees with Ann and Marek and hiked Cavehill and Redburn multiple times. I have a healthy appetite. And an audience. Daphne continues to mature into a star. Love my little ginger snap.

I've been enjoying The Traitors, seasons 1 and 2, preparing to watch the celeb version currently on offer. At book club we discussed Fresh Water for Flowers, recommended by me and liked by half of the club members. This past week has involved two rounds of golf with my friend Stuart, visiting from England, and a dinner party featuring Stuart and neighbours Christine and Andrew. And their dog Crumble. Crumble decided the Sutherland table, next to her idol, Andrew, was the place for her. No arguments. My dogs were in the car until after dinner, when they joined the party.

For posterity – ever keen for the finest detail – dinner was a sweet potato and parsnip tagine with cous cous and a pumpkin pie. I even made the shell – proud moment.

Yesterday started with a Redburn hike with a heavy backpack. Then 1.5 hours at the gym with my trainer/torturer Michael McCavanagh. He is turning me into a beast. I'm now doing squats with 110 pounds on my shoulders. My goal was to reverse my decline into a squishy old lady. Tick. Then 12 holes of golf with a friend. I felt my legs melting as I walked up each hill. I was so tired I couldn't sleep last night. Today has been a big shop at an outdoor shop. And two dog walks, natch.

I had hoped to join the Wee Binnians tomorrow for another Mournes hike but the weather outlook is bad and I'm just not that hard core.

25 oct