First day of my journey.

@ DAY One.
Well as the title of this blog says I am a 'BIG BERTHA'. I don't want to be one, I want to be a 'Hippy Chick'. This is my journal of how I get from 'Bertha' to 'Hippy Chick'. The ups and downs of my journey. I am at least five stone over weight and I am planning to tackle this journey a stone at a time. I am calling it a journey, as I am actually visualising it as a 3D map set out before me. Like a make believe world, with rough and smooth terrain. Mountains to climb, with scenic picnic and beauty spots along the way. I am sure there are some unseen crevasses too (nasty little boogers).

So, my first destination on my journey is marked with an X, a place I am calling 'More Normal NORMA'. It is a place I was at just a few months ago, before I put on a stone in weight very quickly. I have been the same weight for at least the last 2 years, then all of a sudden I started gaining and reached 'BIG BERTHA': grid reference (15,4). So today is the first step towards 'NORMA', grid ref: (14,4). ETA approx 7 weeks (or sooner, if I get my skates on).

Let me tell you about the town of 'More Normal Norma'. As I have already said, it is a place I once lived for about 2 years, not too bad a place. The town folk are a jolly-ish bunch, not really that active, however they can be seen every so often out walking their dogs. They eat a healthy-ish diet, supplemented with oven chips, cake, chocolate, rich tea biscuits, and bowls of cereal before bed. Their hobbies are not dissimilar to 'Bertha' folk, watching TV, knitting/crocheting, socialising, and avoiding housework. The 'Norma' folk have a slightly better way of dressing than the 'Bertha's'. Whereas the 'Bertha's' have a limited wardrobe of 3 pairs of trouser that actually fit, the 'Norma's' are wealthier and have many more items to wear. Although they are a colourful lot, I would say they have an old fashioned comfortable (frumpy) charm, "bless 'em".

Anyway, that is were I am heading for a short stay, and it will be good to see the old place again.

Distance to travel: 14 miles.
Mode of transport: on foot.
Companion: one friend.
ETA: 7 weeks.
Grid ref: 14.4.
Baggage: loads, hoping to leave some in rubbish bins along the route.

DAY ONE. Up dressed and on my way, with a good food guide under my arm. The weather is good and the out look for the day is fine. At teatime I will be stopping at a small hamlet called 'Dinner @ friends house'- I will have to watch out as there is a nasty bit of stone path. This section is known to the locals as 'multiple desserts'. I will have to try and skip this section, as I don't want to fall down here and twist my ankle. So wish me luck as you wave me goodbye.