Vintage Day at Rigney's Farm

To help raise funds for my Kilimanjaro charity climb, we planned and ran a Vintage Tractor and Car run at our farm on June 10. My Dad is a huge vintage tractor fan, and both Himself and Myself are members of the West Limerick Vintage Club and I drive a 1986 Austin Mini. It was a perfect and very unique idea. The Vintage Club has done numerous Charity Events helping local charities since they were established in 2008.

So much background work from my Dad made this day happen. He spent hours planning routes for the tractors, checking them, and driving them, and not to mention all the work that he did on the day!! So without My Dad this could never have happened!

It was a very early start on Sunday June 10. Sun was up all day, which made a huge difference. We were all up very late the previous night, mowing the lawns, getting the yard tidy and organising places for the tractors and cars to park.
I had my registration table set up, for the drivers to sign in and pay their registration fee. Once they paid, they got a special commemorative badge which was magnetic to stick to their vehicle and headed over for a hot cup of tea, fresh handmade scones and apple tart, made by my hard working mother and Anne Drew.

The tractors drove out the driveway around noon and headed off on their scenic route totaling 13kms! That's a long drive if you are a tractor! The cars headed off on a longer route along the Coast Road and returned at almost the same time as the tractors

When the drivers all arrived back, they parked up their Mean Machiens and headed over the to the BBQ to get their reward, a delicious Rigney's Farm hot dog, made with a free range rare breed pork sausage, onions, organic salad and a choice of relish, mustard or ketchup on a fresh hot dog bun. 

Rizwan and Rachel were manning the BBQ and an amazing job they did too. 

We had great reports from the day, people said they really enjoyed themselves. Imen McDonnell from the Irish Farmers Journal paid us an unexpected visit and wrote a wonderful article about her visit on the day and her delight at seeing all the animals on the farm. Read her article here.

In total we raised €1,560!!! It was a huge total and only through the help and hard work of so many wonderful people did it happen. 

So thank you all!! 

New Boots!

After trying three different shops in Limerick, (and almost fainting at some of the prices) I finally found an amazing pair of boots. Salomon Comet 3D GTX.


Got great help and advice from the crew at Radar Stores in Foxes Bow in Limerick City today
I love my new boots, so comfortable. Going for a few regular walks in them to break them in. We have a training weekend on Sunday climbing Camaderry Mountain in Wicklow. I'll have lots of photos and a new blog post on Monday :)

Vaccinations

Had three of my jabs done in TMB in Limerick! So quick, and genuinely pain free. I actually couldn't believe it. Going back at the end of the month to get a few more! Visit Tropical Medical Bureau for more info.

Wednesday evening my arm got pretty sore around where the needle went in, but on Thursday, I was really dizzy and weak after it, so I was taking lots of little breaks. But it was all pretty much gone on Friday :)

Driving up the fundraising train now! And I'm sticking to the training, despite a weekend away at a Festival :D

Next steps

Paid the deposit on my flights to Kilimanjaro Airport this afternoon! It's all happening!
All my blood work is done and it's all fine.

On Wednesday, I'll be heading into the Tropical Medical Bureau in Limerick with my Mother (still need her to hold my hand) to get my first lot of Vaccines.
We're both getting our make up done after as a reward ;-)

I'm busy planning lots of fundraising ideas and working on my fitness plan for the climb. I'll be posting all my training on my blog, so stay tuned! (fingers crossed for good weather!!)