Hats off tae the Soupwalkers

They say that "pictures paint a thousand words", however in this case that comment couldn't be further from the truth.

This was the raggle taggle band of Kiltwalk Soupwalkers, that I'm proud to have become acquainted with, as we started our final 15 mile 'group' training session in advance of the big day and the only reason for the 'dour' faces was that it was FREEZING!!

As before we had people travel from Inverkip, Helenburgh, Clydebank, Belshill and Houston to stride out and have a 15 mile "chat".

There was Arlene who had only got home at 03:00, there's not much I don't find out. Monica who couldn't decide whether she would make it or not but was so glad she did in the end.

We had Ashley with her Mum and Dad with Ashley complaining, shock horror, that she couldn't possibly walk with her Mum as they had the "same trainers on" . . . whit!!

So Ashley teamed up with Wilma, so no idea who won the battle of the airwaves. Wilma registered for The Kiltwalk after she was made an offer she couldn't refuse . . . . a top night out with some food and dancing thrown in and has even drummed up a team of pals to take part.

I say a team however I'm not sure if they're a virtual team as apart from Geraldine, who didn't appear yesterday, we haven't seen any of them!! Which makes it all the more surprising to Wilma that she turned up yesterday as I can't find 'physical' training in any part of the #wilmastraining manual. I can only think she's caught the Kiltwalk bug, or on second thoughts it might be the offer of a plate of soup, cause that's why I turned up :-)

Stevie and Stuart traveled from Houston to join us for the first time and I believe there's a bit of truth in the rumour they only turned up cause the "golf" was cancelled and so both needed to get out the house.

I met up with Karen and Lynne again who had brought Lesley, Lynne's sister this time and we blethered as we walked through Pollok Park. Lynne was telling me she had returned home last time and took the bull by the horns and told her husband that he could come it he wants, however she was definitely heading to New York next year to take part in the Kiltwalk, so that's him told.

It was also a case of "it's a really small world" as it turns out that Lynne, who I only met at the last soup walk, is pals with Janet Blackstock and they got talking about the Kiltwalk when Janet said "I know someone whose involved in that" and it turned out to be me!!

Janet you see is the sister of one of my best mates and I've known the Blackstock family for 34 odd years now and once you get entwined with them. You can never get rid of them :-)

Once we all got back to the Waterside Inn, Darren surpassed himself by laying on even tastier soup than the last time, or perhaps it's just cause we walked an extra five miles that it felt even better.

As we all left I had a tinge of sadness, as that's SoupwalkSunday over for this Kiltwalk event and it has been great to meet so many people and find out why they're taking part. One minute your talking to someone who has no reason for taking part other than wanting to help Scotland's children, the next your talking to Monica who has a very personal reason for taking part. I'll be sharing Monica's story with you over the days to come and I look forward to meeting up with her on the 21st, as I do with all the Soupwalk Gang.

All that's left to say is a huge thanks to Darren Wilson at the Waterside Inn.

SoupWalkSunday was Darren's idea and given it's his pub and his soup we literally couldn't have done it without him. Darren provided heat, warmth, a place to meet and chat and fantastic soup all free of charge as he just wanted to help out, so Darren, from the bottom of our soup bowls . . . thanks.