What better day to do the gruelling Yorkshire three peaks than 21st June. The summer solstice offers the longest daylight opportunity….oh and this year the hottest day too? A perfect option then to do the 24 mile charity walk with 34 other NorthCare charity fundraisers and an army of other groups.

We gathered at 06:45 to sign in ready for the safety briefing. All good so far – won’t need to carry waterproof trousers, ditch the map, must carry 1.5 litres of water and drink it regularly

On then to depart at 07:15 to hike up the first summit to Pen-y-Gent. We were a group of 5 ladies, a last minute addition from another colleague who was having a water bladder emergency (you know a water container, not what your brain started thinking). It was soon clear we all had very different fitness levels. It’s 3.5 miles up and a steep scramble to the first peak.

Sarah and I both reached the peak together at 08:36. We were def on track with the suggested times are to ascend. Beautiful weather but oh so hot and humid! we were followed shortly after by the rest of our group. We all completed Pen y Ghent

Off then to cover 7.5 miles to the summit of Whernside. That’s initially an easy downward path but it’s a long slog for what seems like ages until you can even see the viaduct.

Three hours 22 minutes later, one wee stop, one water refill station and time check in with the organisers and Sarah and I reached the top of Whernside. It’s a gradual path but lots of steps and it feels like it goes on for ages. someone had given me a tip to change into fresh socks at each peak so I changed on the way up Whernside – yep! That’s a nice feeling to peel off wet socks and have lovely clean ones on.

By this time we had left our colleagues well behind. One was about 15 mins behind us but did not want us to wait for her. And I was learning that Sarah is a bit gazelle like – she just keeps going and going! By this time the rain had started – still really hot so the rain was refreshing, even if at times heavy bursts. We arrived at the summit at 13:48.

Ingleborough is the final peak and in comparison to the other distances is a short walk at 5 miles. However with tired legs and feet it’s still a LONG way. We grabbed a sit down and lunch at the top of Whernside, sheltered by a wall, having a chat with a 30 year old slim ginger guy who looked pretty shattered! He was planning to descend then stop because his body was exhausted. I confess given I’m 23 years older than him it gave me a teeny boost!

On then down a very steep descent of stone steps. These are very slippery when wet and we still had rain showers!

Ascending Ingleborough was awful!! It’s a steady walk across fields initially climbing slowly up and then you hit a set of very steep steps up. By this time Sarah and I had reached the final check in at Phipps Farm at 15:15. Hikers have to reach here by 15:30 as a cut off time. Anyone arriving after this is not permitted to do the final ascent. We therefore were now largely in the front group of hikers and one of the organisers would accompany us up. So off we went….

I confess, I did consider quitting as we neared closer to these steep steps. It’s a scramble up and I was tired. My feet and legs were still ok but my breathing was heavy and heart rate high. I carried on as both our guide and Sarah kept waiting for me and I was climbing alongside a guy who has had two replacement knees – if he could do it then so bloody well can I!

Finally, we reached the summit at 17:10. The longest 2 hours 6 minutes I’ve ever done! The summit is awful too – covered in sharp granite, hard to walk on, but we did it!

In theory you can then descent in approx 1.5 hours back to Horton in Ribblesdale, but we were definitely now tired. At this stage it’s 4 miles down and back – but the path is rocky and dull. You do feel like you are walking for ages!

Finally, 2hrs 5 mins later we arrived back at the car park to check in for the final time and collect our medals. Completing the 24.5 miles hike in 12 hours and approx 30 seconds at 19:16! A HUGE achievement.

Now, what happened to our colleagues? Well, Paula who had been off work ill for a few weeks before the walk had to stop after Whernside (what a huge achievement to climb 2). Jenny who wasn’t too far behind us for most of the way made it back at 19:45, running the last half mile as a huge storm struck! She took this photo of Ingleborough top just before deciding to run down the rest of the path!

Sarah and I were both waiting for our colleagues in Horton to check everyone was back safe but we still did not know where Miriat was.

She was with the final 14 stragglers with the rear guide. When the storm struck he stopped them all and they had to crouch behind a wall until it was safe to continue down. 13.5 hours after she started her walk we welcomed her back into Horton!

All told a very gruelling walk, 24 miles in 12 hours is tough going but what a personal achievement!

Don’t ask me to do it again though!

Finally, after The Folks planted up our potatoes and tomatoes we also got around to planting the rest of the patch.

This year it’s three varieties of carrot, full size sweetcorn, turnips, dwarf French beans, two courgette plants and one giant pumpkin.

I’m going to try a small batch of beetroot again too. Let’s see if the mice have given up and gone elsewhere!

Now we just need a bit of light rain to turn the sand back to soil….

Yesterday, in prep for the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge (24 miles, three peaks in 12 hours or less) I dragged a friend up Pen-y-gent mountain in the Dales.

It’s a 6.6 mile round trip with what is described as a “short scramble” to get to the top. Short and scramble don’t really fit the description I’d use!! More like – 2 mile upward hike culminating in a full blown climb up a steep cliff.

The path was crowded – it’s a popular route with plenty of walking groups of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels. My friend, Di has much shorter legs than me so some of the climbing proved a bit of a challenge (think giant rocks!) – BUT we did it! 4 hours in total too – good going I reckon and not a blister in sight!

We had plenty of antics on the way – having to negotiate a drone being flown above us, loose dogs getting in the way, 20 somethings just sprinting up the trail with not a jot of sweat on them and gleeful smiles.

Di had help from a lively gentleman who aided her with a shove up a particularly nasty rock step which was almost as high as her.

We diverted to visit a waterfall and hidden cliff called Hull Pot. It’s a lovely spot, very peaceful.

A fun day, great weather with a good friend. Legs are fine today too!

Last night was our first meal out in Ubud. So far we’ve spoilt ourselves with dining in the hotel in its fabulous restaurants. So off we went to Ubud to find a place to eat.

Our driver who shuttled us down to the town suggested a small traditional warung called Sun Sun. A warung is a small family run eatery, often hosted in their own home. It will serve traditional Indonesian food and they are often very cheap. So off we went to find it.

The first we see is this ornate doorway that looks like the entrance to a temple.

The only giveaway that it’s a restaurant is the large board on the street.

Oh what a joy to enter. This is very traditional comprising of different raised covered areas that would traditionally been the living areas of the family. Now it’s setup as a restaurant. Plenty of food choices too

We went very traditional (apart from the wine and beer) with a set menu! Delicious!!

Sadly one of us has a delicate tummy so one whiff of different and hey presto this morning I had to reach for…..

Still…..so worth it!!! Food and place was wonderful. We might just have to go again tonight. Did we mention the total cost was circa £14 for it all??

And given the delicate nature of Mrs Fogg, might be staying very close to the loo

This is the view from our hotel room, just as a storm starts descending onto Singapore. Amazing view

It’s June and it seems that for half this year it’s either been raining or I’ve been poorly with colds or flu. No surprise then that our super large garden has gone a bit rogue with giant nettles and endless weeds invading the borders.

The worst borders are near the house on the dreaded slope. No problem says I, I’ll sort a gardener to come do a full clear out and to strim the bank. Great idea…..

I’ve called 5 local gardeners who advertise their services. No response. I’ve called a further 3 – oh you are 10 miles away, that’s too far for me, sorry nope. I’ve actually had a gardener come round who even lives in the same village. Got a quote, agreed to proceed and then……silence. I’ve tried a further 4 leaving messages and sending texts and still no replies.

So, it’s a do it ourselves job then. On the warmest day of the year so far I donned long sleeved stuff, long trousers and gloves and set to work fighting 6 foot nettles and thistles. I’ve stretched and stings everywhere but after about 3 hours I can see progress.

The border is not yet finished and the worst bit is yet to come. Where the spring ends up is an utter quagmire. I stuck the garden fork in to dig out a persistent sucker of a weed and it almost sucked the fork in with it.

Wellies required then. I’ll have a go another day. But, progress is progress. Who needs a gardener eh??

It had to be done….we found a Harley Davidson garage in Crete. Well, a Harley Davidson chop shop so we had to go to try to get a Crete Harley T-Shirt. So a 2 hour drive to Chania this morning.

Chania is lovely! It was first taken over by the Ottomans in the 1600s and then by the Venetians who wanted a ship building area so they built a huge set of warehouses large enough to build their ships in – a few are still there. The ancient Ottoman walls and mosques as well as Venetian architecture are all present and it has a feel or Venice or Rome about the old town.

Food was pleasant down in the harbour and a great spot to people watch. Although it was our first cloudy day temperatures are still really high and well into the 30s

With a 2 hour drive back to the villa it was my chance to practice Greek driving, Nigel Mansell style….such fun apart from the bits where I closed my eyes.

We wanted to do at least one winery visit while in Crete so found one close to the villa called Lyrarakis Winery. They offer wine tastings and a local Cretan food picnic so we decided to go on spec.

Luckily they were pretty quiet so after a brief wander around one of their cellars (it’s pretty much for show we reckon), a fuss of a local stray dog that’s moved in (so friendly and cute) and a welcome wine we were provided with a huge picnic hamper and taken off to the picnic area in the middle of the vines.

What a fab experience! We sampled three different wines with our brilliant picnic all explained by our host – accompanied by stuffed vine leaves, fried and stuffed courgette flowers, pork gyros in pitta bread, feta and spinach cheese balls and a mix of cold meats, nuts, cheeses, figs, bread and fresh feta and tomatoes.

For dessert, we had Greek pancakes stuffed with creamy cheese covered in local honey served warm with walnuts and accompanied by a glass of fizzy wine.

What a wonderfully relaxing afternoon, in 35 degree heat sat in a shady spot in a vineyard with the mountains in the distance.

And yes, of course we bought a few bottles to bring back to the villa….it would have been rude not to.

Tonight Mr Fogg has fired up the charcoal BBQ and is about to have a go at cooking what the butcher described as baby cow chops – veal to you and I. They look delicious

Today was my turn to drive. We opted for a mini road trip up to a couple of mountain villages I’d read about. The first one was Tylissos which is a very old village with an impressive set of excavated ruins of a large Minoan town. Unfortunately despite it supposed to be open every day it was all closed up and locked. However we wobbled around the village and enjoyed the small square.

The old fountain and church in the village square are beautiful and even better – not a tourist shop or tatty tourist gifts in sight. This is just a local village with at least three old coffee shops and about 50 cats. Peaceful

On then to Rogdia or Rodia, another village based in the mountains with incredible views of Heraklion and the sea (and equally perilously narrow winding roads that snake up the hillside). We hoped to grab a bite to eat at a couple of Tavernas I had read about but unfortunately despite the views they offered they were closed. However, we had a peaceful day driving around

And that bloody cough of mine is back again. Today I’ll be mostly sounding like someone trying to kick start a seal.