In my quest to get fit and lose my “meni-pot” – a not so cute term to refer to the menopause weight gain – I have started working out to www.walkathome.com DVD’s. They are fun and fabulous and I can get quite carried away – if I must say so myself – in the privacy of my basement.

This morning, I was jumping around and doing my “boosted walking” when I glanced over at all my family pictures,  framed on my bookcase. My gaze landed on a picture of my grandfather, Patrick Murphy, alongside my grandmother Emily. I burst out laughing because my first reaction was –  would he be thinking “what kind of eijit is she jumping around to this nonsense!”

My grandfather was born and lived most of his life in Ireland…unfortunately I never really got to know him too well…couple of visits to Ireland as a child didn’t really form much of a relationship…but I am sure he would have had a good laugh watching his granddaughter dancing in the basement all by herself. In his day it wasn’t necessary to have formal exercise – doing everyday household chores and walking everywhere burned enough calories.

So, grandpa, this is a shout-out to you! I hope you are dancing with Emily right now in heaven…and winking down at me!