End of week seven - Sunday 9th October

End of week seven and six challenges are complete.  Next on the list is my party.....I've just booked the venue, an old scrap yard in a hidden part of town, I think its rather magical!  I'm not joking.....I can't wait!
I am doing rather badly on the running and yoga challenges which is a worry as I have booked to run a 10k in December
and as for snogs..... :-(

Challenge No:42 Organise a treasure hunt for 200 students!

Challenge no: 42 was to do something different at work.  Having taken part in performance called 'Fortnight' during MayFest this year I suggested to the Head of School that we do something similar in order to engage our first years in their first week of university.  After much brain storming with my colleagues we came up with various ideas which became the treasure hunt.  It took a lot of work and planning and I can't take any credit for the success of the  final event which is entirely due to Caroline, Martin, Lesley and all our student helpers, you were all fantastic.  We sent the students all over the campus, got them to find things, do things - some silly and some sensible and send us photos along the way.  At the end we gave them pizza and beer and gave out prizes.  


It was great to watch 200 young people chatting, smiling, working together and making friends - a great reward for lots of hard work and a few sleepless nights. I do hope it has made settling in a bit easier for them.    It certainly made work more interesting and I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed bringing something creative to my job.  I'm rather proud of myself!

Driving me crazy! Challenge No: 40

On the 18th September I went on a driving challenge.  This is organised by the Firefighters Charity where you get the opportunity to drive various vehicles from tractors, jeeps, cranes, fire engines and lorries of various sizes!  I must admit its never been an ambition of mine to be a  'billy big rigger' but my Brother Paul kindly organised this for me, my Mum raised the money for the charity and the thought of meeting a fireman drove (!) me on.  So on a wet and wind swept racing track I got to drive a huge Sainsbury's articulated lorry without a 'greasy side up', a fire engine - with a proper fireman, sirens and flashing lights, a traction engine and a tractor.  Action photos below:

 You have to climb up a ladder to get in!

 'On the floor and looking for more'!

 Parking.....

 Trucker hand signal for 'did good'

 Complete with a real fireman!

 Action shot - I think I am waving.

 Fireman hand signal for 'he was nice'!

 I ran over and flattened 2 bollards - its not easy steering a traction engine!

 Traction engine hand signal for 'dirty hands'.

 There were far too many gear sticks and handles on this tractor, I didn't have a clue what I was doing and drove it far too fast!

I did it!

Thank you so much Paul for organising this and for saving the day when I had 'bubble trouble' and nearly didn't make it.  Thank you Mum and her friends for raising the money so that I could do this.   'Great big sprocket' - challenge no: 40 complete!

Daniel Kitson said....

"A fundamental human desire is to be understood and judged at all times for who you are.  This is a ridiculous desire because you can never be fully understood if you never allow yourself to be fully misunderstood and you can not simplify your life so that its accessible to the most foolish person you will ever meet.  Some things will not be understood and some things will be misunderstood its the nature of existence."


What a relief!

Coming up.....

Challenge no: 40.....Paul, my brother, has organised for me to go on a driving challenge on Sunday 18th Sept!

End of week three - Sunday 11th September

End of week three .... four challenges now complete.


On Saturday 10th September I went to the Circus, challenge no: 33.  The lovely Jude took me to see Giffords Circus for my Birthday!  This is one of the most charming circus companies you can go and see. Each summer Giffords circus take their show to towns in Gloucestershire, pitching their tent and vintage caravans in fields in small local towns, it really is like going back in time.  This years show was 'War and Peace', talk about attempting a challenging story!!  The big top is small and intimate and the players take you through the story with music, rousing song, juggling, acrobatics, knife throwing, and clowning.  There are wonderful moments with horses, geese and doves - its really enchanting and exciting.  One of my favorite memories will be when the lady with the silks daringly span down from the roof of the big top and a little girl in the front row shouted 'Ohh do it again', that little girl giggled and squealed all through the high flying act and inside I was too.  I was lead on a wondrous journey, enthralling and highly entertaining.  I want to run away with the circus!  If you get the chance go and see them next year.  Thank you Jude, it was a lovely present, I had a blast.
http://www.giffordscircus.com/


No 38: 50 hrs yoga - Nil
No 39: 50 hrs running - 2.5 hrs
No 36: 50 snogs - Still nil :-(

End of week two - Sunday 4th September

End of week two and all I've managed to do this week is add to my running total!
So here we are so far.....

No 38: 50 hrs yoga - Nil
No 39: 50 hrs running - 2 hrs
No 36: 50 snogs - Still nil :-(