Anonymous, Don't You Just Love Them !

5 March

Anonymous, don't you just love them!

To answer 'anonymous', Linda is of course Sue in Neighbours, thought you had worked that one out!

Just one more thing, if you find my blog so boring, why did you read down as fare as Arthur & Dee! I also see that you come from Perth & Kinlose in Scotland and spent over 4 mins on the blog.

Now for more progress. I may have found my second vehical, this one i will be able to use my hoist in as it has a high top, also i can sleep in it. Now all i need is a second driver. Any offeres

Keeping with vehicles, Arthur from A&D and myself, are now working on what i will require in the van, storage, extra wheelchair straps for my spare chair, this one, i hansen to add, is to use only after i have finished the days mileage. Like changing your shoes..

One small purchase , i have the Black tee-shirts for the girls now to get a few for the chaps. I have chosen black because it lets the logo's stand out much better.

The next big purchase is the stove and gas bottle. I shall use my own cooking pans. I will, begg borrow or stell cutely, plates ect.

That all for now, as i am nursing a very bad headack, this i feel is due to knowing i am going to have a battle on with Social Services to get the care package i truly need to meet my care requirements. Why is life not simple!

Hope that was not too boring 'Anonymous'.!

GeoTracker

3 March

Geo Tracker

This morning i paid for my Geo Tracker. As soon as i have it on my Alber Advanture i will post on this blog full details of how it works and the time i will be giving the tracker a full workout.

Only 90 days to go to the off gun. I am now getting a little bit excited!

Do You Think What I Am Doing Is Going To Be Easy?

01 March 2008

Do you think that doing the E2E in a power wheelchair is easy?

I am having problems in getting support for this E2E challenge, 2 major supermarkets and one newspaper chain have already turned me down. Would not even give me a food voucher. Now how mean is that?

I am begging to think, that you are thinking, that to drive a power wheelchair from one end of the UK to the other is easy and that I am some what cheating. Are you, my reader, one of them? If you are, can I now put your mind at rest and say that driving a power wheelchair, especially a fast one like the Alber Adventure, is not easy to do, try it.

One is constantly been jarred by the road and pavement conditions. I can tell Newcastle City Council where all the bumps, loose paving, and not very good dropped curbs are. My whole body, and remember, I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis, is been moved/jared all the time. The Alber Adventure has extremely good suspension, so this will be somewhat eased.

My team will have to make sure, that due to long periods of time in Alber, that my body does not break down. I am in excellent nick, and after 20 years of been totally, and I mean totally, wheelchair dependent, I have never had a sore on my bottom. I say this is all due to good care, good diet and no drugs.

So the next time you think that what I am doing is a joy ride, take up my challenge and spend 12 hrs in a power wheelchair, go along our footpaths and roads, and tell me that that was easy, remember, you will have good joints…I do not..

My MP Supports My E2E Challenge

1st March 08

Went to meet my MP

Today, Saturday 1st March, i went to see my local MP the Rt Hon Stephen Byers at one of his many surgery, here in Tyne & Wear.

The reason i wanted to speak to him was to discuss my care package, well the lack of it, and the problem I am having with the Independent Living Fund. ILF. This part of the interview went very well and i feel he may well be able to help me. We shall see.

Not one for missing an opportunity to talk about my E2E challenge, i took this one. To cut a long story short, Mr, sorry the Rt Hon Stephen Bryers, has said he will come on board and support me in any way he can. Now we are really talking. Thank you Rt Hon Stephen Bryers.

I have already emailed Vincent of Arthritis Care about my new supporter. That will make is Monday morning a bit brighter

Now where is the TV remote...

Buying My Van for the Trip

28 February 2008

Buying my van for the trip.

Disabled people here in the UK, if their disability is bad enough, have what is called Motorability. This is a sum of money they receive each week from the government, to pay for transport to get around because they cannot use normal public transport. There is no restriction on what this money is used for. Some use it to obtain a new car under the Motorability Scheme, some to buy a new or second-hand power wheelchair; some use it to buy a second hand vehicle, ect. Me, I am using it to buy my second-hand van for the trip and added to this, to buy my Alber Adventure.

I am now going to start taking you on the journey that will takes me from deciding on the van I shall be buying, this I have already done. A&D preparing it for the trip and finally, my carers will be taken through a course that at the end off, they will be proficient in loading me into the van and making me secure. They will be also shown how to drive the van with a disabled person in the back. This I can assure you is a lot different from normal driving, plus much more.

From start to finish, all of the above will properly take 5 weeks, but I will keep you updated as we go along.

To get you started I am buying, drum roll, a Citroen Relay 1000D,1905 cc, 56000 miles on the clock. One disabled owner and is colour red. I am buying it from A&D Servicers Newcastle upon Tyne...

I will let you know more when I get there. I have also decided to join the AA in preference to the others. The AA covers the car not the person and are excellent for disabled drivers..

Hi Dee & Arther

27 February

Hi to Dee & Arther.

I have just spoken to two friends whom i thought were still in Australia. For those of you who are wondering who Dee & Arther are, there must be at least one of you, they are very good friends of mine and Arther is the owner of A&D Services here in Newcastle. Dee has said she would like to be the driver of stage 4, the Scotland stage. Places are slowly filling up but still need more.

Now to watch Neighbours and find out if Linda has had a stroke. Okay i will get a life some day!

My Divided Life

27 February 2008

My divided life.

I have called this entry “my divided life” because that how my life is at the moment.

The two divides are the E2E challenge and sorting out my care package which is up for review. I would love to go into great dept and talk to you all about the problems that disabled people, and I must add, elderly people have, when it comes to getting care, but I shall leave that one for another blog, another day. I will say that I am a great believer in the Direct Payments Scheme as I have been on it for 3 years now, 2 of which I have employed my own staff and would not change back to the old system. If any of you wish help with DP, then please just email me, I will help if I can.

The other me, the E2E Challenge. Do you realise there is only 95 days to the starting gun? It is only 1543 and already a lot has happened. My local parks have given me permission to practice erecting my tent. This we must get right, because the worst scenario is that the tent will have to be put up in the poring rain. Not a good time to learn how to put up a tent! I am also pleased to say, that each stage, I will have at lest one of my own cares, some times, possible two carers with me. Thanks for that guys.

Blue tooth. This I had heard about but knew little to nothing about. To all you mobile buffs, it will not be a strange word, to me it was. I have found out that if any of you ring me while I am on the challenge, I can speak to you, via an ear piece, by just hitting a button. I say hit, because I cannot use my hands in the normal way. I have also discovered that as I go along the challenge, I can send a video down the Blue Tooth to my laptop and then my blog. And we can do all this and not cure the common cold!

Now that the Alber Adventure has been ordered, we are looking at launching the challenge in 3 to 4 weeks, possible in Wakefield, this is when Graham Jeffery from Gerald-Simonds will make the final adjustment to Alber, with me in it, and will hand him over to me. When we have a date, place and time set I will place details on this blog, please come and join the celebrations and see the hand over. It should be quite a party.

I am a great believer and user of organic vegetables; I get a box delivered every week form https://www.riverswale.co.uk/ . They at Riverswale have offered to put into each box they deliver, some 300 per week, a copy of the leaflet I have made. If any of you could do the same, please email me and I’ll email you a copy. Thanks to Riverswale for that kind offer.

I use a possum control to operate all my equipment and that includes making phone calls. Well today, I was preparing for a new possum to be installed next month, and as I have to give the engineer a list of all the phone numbers I wish to have pre installed, I went through the list on the possum. One or two were no longer available, but two, who I could not work out who the numbers belonged to, were, so I rang the mistory numbers, one turned out to be Edward from ‘Run the Country’, here is the plug guys http://www.runthecountry.co.uk/ and the other George from Galloway’s Society for the Blind. http://www.galloways.org.uk/ Plug there for you George. Well worth visiting both web sites. I meet Edward at the Great North Run Show about 4 years back, Long story, and I meet George when I put out an appeal for someone to push me in, I think it was my 8th Great North Run, they have helped me ever since and have roomers here ever since, for their teams.

Well blog readers, I have rambled on too long, so I am going to say by for now and put this all on my blog.

Alber Adventure Deposit Paid

25 February 08

Alber Adventure deposit paid

At 1220 today i paid the 50% deposit on the Alber Adventure. That is one sure commitment on my side and Gerald-Simonds. I am hoping to take deliver of Alber, the name I have given to the chair, with all of my extra requirement, including the wing mirror, in 4 weeks time. The handover will be, if all is still going to plan, the 1st week in April if not before. Wish me luck..

I have been comparing Alber as the formula 1 racing chair of the power wheelchair world. It is sleek, fast and reliable. When i get Alber, i shall get a video made and i'll try and post it on this blog.

Now to prepare for my day at Northumbria University Volunteers Day.

Speak again soon

Lourdes/ACROSS

24 February 2008

Lourdes/ACROSS

I get a great deal of satisfaction writing about my E2E challenge via this blog for you to read. The other satisfaction is that I have the means to divert slightly to subjects that close to my heart, the Ecoflow was a prime example. Alison Pride, email address, alisonp42@googlemail.com. I am now going to do that again.

The place I love to be at more than anywhere else in the whole wide world is Lourdes. http://www.lourdes-france.com The people I love to go there with are the good people of ACROSS. http://across-uk.org/ I have asked that my ashes are taken there with ACROSS and cast in the river so I can pass the grotto for one more last time. I am now going to share with you a piece I wrote about ACROSS, I called this piece “Across Jumbulance Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The 5 Experiences”.


Across Jumbulance Pilgrimage To LourdesThe 5 Experiences


Everyone that travels to Lourdes with ACROSS, and goes on board the Jumbulance is as important as the next person, why? Because on every pilgrimage that leaves from Scotland, UK, to travel to Lourdes, carrying its cargo of 10 sick/disabled people (VIP’s as we are known) of mixed gender, 9 carers, 2 drivers, 1 doctor, 1 priest, and 3 preferable 4 nurses – depending on the degree of infirmity of VIP's and abilities of carers on board. Making a final total of 24 souls per trip, are as special and unique as the last Pilgramage and next.

You may well be asking why would anyone want the Lourdes experience by travelling with ACROSS?

I cannot answer the above question, only you can upon your return. But I can tell you what you will miss if you don’t. You see, I am one of the disabled people who have travelled to Lourdes, by ACROSS, over many years, many times.

The first experience you will have when you board the Jumbulance is the feeling of the love of the welcome you will receive from the whole group. That feeling will never leave you even when you are back home and in your usual routine of life. You will feel that love every time you think of the Jumbulance, every time you look at a photograph of the trip and every time you make contact with anyone of the new friends you have made on your trip or anyone who have had any connection with Across Jumbulance. You will never forget it.

The second experience you will have is the living the Lourdes experience. Whether you have religion or not, I am sure that at some point your heart will want to sing the hymns during one of the daily masses we have at different locations we visit in and around Lourdes. At a daily Mass your heart will probably want to read a lesson from the bible, your heart will want to just be quiet.

The third experience will be of being at the grotto in Lourdes. Your eyes will look in wonder at the place where Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary. The will hear the silence as people file pass the Groto, where the spring water is still coming out of the ground. You will want to light a candle for someone dear to you and leave it at the grotto with hundreds of others. You will walk in candle light processions with thousands of people, some disabled, some not, from hundreds of countries and Christian donations. You will pray, you will listen, you will be at peace, and you will be in awe of what you are seeing.

The fourth experience is you will laugh, sing and enjoy the social evening out in the town of Lourdes. Sit outside a café watch the life of Lourdes passing you by while drinking the local wine, eating the local food. You will experience the drive through the Pyrenees Mountains, stopping for lunch in one of the small villages we pass through. You will experience the joys of not only being on a pilgrimage, but also being on a holiday, making new friends. You will experience so much laughter that week that your ribs will hurt with the joy of the laughter.

The fifth and last experience is you will feel full up to the brim with the Across Lourdes experience, but you will feel the experience of anti climax and the missing of the group that has broken up upon our return back home. You will know you have had the Lourdes Across Jumbulance experience.

Why not contact ACROSS, they would love to hear from you, and experence the 5 Experences yourself. I am glad I did as my wall full of photographs of my trips with ACROSS will show.

Smell of Sunday Lunch

24th February

Smell of Sunday lunch.

One of the very few advantages of being as disabled as i am, is i do not have to cook my meals, just enjoy them, Sunday lunch being my favourite. Coming home from church on a Sunday, and catching the small of the roast chicken cooking as i turn the gate into my abode, thanks to Elenore been here before i get home and gets going on my dinner, i just love it

Anyway you are not reading this blog to read about my likes and dislikes in food, but to catch up with where i am, more progress has been made.

I was reading some ones blog last week and they mentions "Memory Maps". Never heard of them before, neither had I. They are a brilliant concept and one that i have all ready started to follow up on. This blog will tell you all when I know more. In the mean time go to http://www.memory-map.co.uk/ and find out more.

The other big step is i have signed the papers that will extend my mortgage, i have already explained that earlier in the blog. but because of what happened at North Rock my details will have to go to an underwriter. I am assured in my case, this will not be a problem

This week sees me putting the deposit on the Alber Adventure, and i should get it within 4 weeks. There are many modifications i am having, including a wing mirror, why cant all power wheelchair have wing mirrors. I have just been asked if i would like a Yorkshire Pudding with my chicken, would I!

I have made a power point presentation for the talks that i am scheduled to give in March. If i can put a copy on this blog, i shall. One problem i am have with the presentation is the slides move around without me doing it and the timings do not always stay as i put them. I am sure this Vetess has something to do with it. I am going to have XP put back on.

Friday saw me buying a mobile phone, just a small one. A Nokia 3110c. Should do all that i ask, when i have mastered it. At the moment I am having problems putting music on. I did manage to buy a George Formby CD at my local market. I shall be singing along to 'I'm leaning on the lampost' and many more.

Days to go to the start off are now below 100, , i still need your help in sponsorship and manual power,l so if you are thinking of doing ither, them can you please start to act asap. Thanks.

Lunch is now on the table along with a wee glass of Talabo.

Speak again soon

A Bit of This. A Bit of That!

21st February

A bit of this, a bit of that.

Today I have been doing little bits of this and that towards the E2E. My friend from the Kenya Acorn Project (KAP) http://www.kenyaacornproject.org/ directed me to a company that will properly solve my insurance problem.

I have spoken to my financial adviser about raising the monies I need. We are nearly there on that one.

I have been working on the Power Point presentation that I need when I go to Northumbria University Volunteers Day. I am hoping to at least one cyclist from this day.Lastly,

Eileen and I have been looking through the pink paper to see if I can pick up a bargain in the camping equipment. No joy.

Nearly forgot. I have ordered that all important, first aid box. Must go now, it is TV time. --

The E2E Challenge, My Care Package, University

20 February 2008

E2E Challenge. My Care package. University.

My time at the moment is been divided into three arrears. The E2E Challenge. Sorting out my care package and helping Northumbria University.

The one thing that I am finding in my work with the University, is that my experience, as a disable person for the past 20 years, they are taking that experienced, and not only with me, but with many, many others from all walks of the disabled world, and using it as a teaching aide in their students studies. This I love doing very much.

As regards the E2E Challenge and my Care package; both are throwing up different problems at every turn. You solve one problem and there is another one just around the corner.

Let me give you a for instance with the E2E Challenge. Insurance. I solved the problem with having my personal support team covered by insurance encase of accident, ect, but that policy does not cover the cyclist. Now I have to cover the cyclist on a separate cover. Where do I find that cover? All ideas very welcome.

My Care package, the very heart of my life. I like ever one else cannot got the care I fully require. I am now having to battle with that one.

Now that I have shared that with you, I had better start working on the E2E. During March I am doing the rounds of Arthritis Care groups to give talks about the E2E. If any of you would also like me to be the guest speaker and prepared to pay for my transport to the venue, then pleases send me an email.

That’s all for now folks.

Making A Pledge

17 February 2008

Making a pledge

I am blogging this morning from a beautiful cold, but sunny morning, 09.11 am, here in Newcastle upon Tyne, to talk about making a pledge to my E2E Challenge for Arthritis Care.

The one thing I disagree of in connection with the “JustGiving” site, is that they take the monies out of your account at the time you make a donation, and before the person you wish to sponsor, has completed the task that you are sponsoring them for. This I wish to put right in my case. I know that 1000 miles are a very long way in a power wheelchair. I do not speak about failure, but if I did not make it to John O’Groats and you have, through “JustGiving” have sponsored me on the assumption that I will, seems a bit unfair.

My proposal is that on the “Pledge Page” I will set up next, you go to the comments page and make your pledge there for example UK. Newcastle upon Tyne £1 per day…Completion. £30 You do not have to keep to my figures.

I know through the numbers checker, where you are from, but that is all. Your pledge will then come to me, I shall press the okay button and your pleaded will appear in the comments of the Pledge Page. Does that seem more fare?

When the E2E Challenge is completed, to honour the pledges, you then go to the “JustGiving” and honour your pledges. I hope that you all agree with that idea

Now to set up the “Pledge Page, and then it is off to church. I just hope my power chair does not slip on ice.

My E2E Pledge Page

17 February

My E2E Plege Page

To those of you who would like to make a pledge to my E2E challenge, will you now click on "Comments" at the bottom of this page stating:-
Your country. Your town or city. The amount per day. The amount on compleation of the E2E Challenge.

Thank you

My Local Ecoflow Reps Are

16 February 08

Try as I can

Try as I can, i cannot get this link to work in the Links coloum so i am putting it here. I will no be beaten by a blog...

My local Ecoflow reps are

Val's web site is www.ecoflow.com/vbdaykin

Alison alisonp42@googlemail.com

Camp Sites Along The Route

16th February

Camp sites

I am enclosing a list of the camp sites i plan to stay at along the E2E. If anyone has connections with the Savoy Hotel in Glasgow, could you put in a good word for me and get them to donate 2 twin rooms. Glasgow is where i am taking a well earned day off. Just one small spoint i need the rooms for two nights Tell them i will include tham in my blog, that should saw it in my favour.

Now the list of camp sites

1. Land’s end
Treveda Farm
Tel: 01736 871835
Ref: 24747 6 adults £33
Deposit of £25
Sat 31st May

2. Perranporth
Treamble Valley
Caravan Club SiteRoseTruroTR4 9PREngland
Tel: 01342 327490
Booking code: TRE
Sun 1st June

3. Headland Caravan Park
Tintagel Booked and donated
01840772039
Mon 2nd June

4. Bideford
Willigcott
Woolacombe
EX34 7HN
Tel: 01342 327490
Booking code: WIL
Tues 3rd June

5. Minehead
MineheadCaravan Club Site
Hopcott Rd
Minehead
TA24 6DJ
Tel: 01342 327490
Booking code: MNH
Wed 4th June

6. CheddarCaravan Club Site
Gas House Lane
Draycott Road
Cheddar
BS27 3RL
Telephone - 01934 740207
Thurs 5th June

7. Bristol
No site yet
Frid 6th June

8. Cheltenham
Tewkesbury Abbey,
Gander Lane,
Tewkesbury okay
Tel: 01342 327490
Booking code: TEW
Sat 7th June

9. Kidderminster
Stanmore Hall Touring Park
Stourbridge Road.
Bridgnorth
Tel: 01746761761
Sun 8th June

10. Shrewbury
Lady Margaret's Park
Caravan Club Site
Chirk
Wrexham
LL14 5AA
Tel: 01342 327490
Booking code: LMP
Mon 9th June

11. Chester
Chester Fairoaks
Rake Lane
Little Stanney
Chester
CH2 4HS
Tel: 01342 327490
Booking code: CFO
Tue 10th June

12. Blackpool
Blackpool South
Caravan Club Site
Cropper Rd,
Marton ,
Blackpool,
FY4 5LB
Tel: 01342 327490
Wed 11th/ Thurs 12th June day off
61st Birthday2 nights
Booking code: BLP


13. Kendal
Low Park Wood
Caravan Club Site
Sedgwick
Kendal
LA8 0JZ
Tel: 01342 327490
Booking code: MFS
Frid 13th June

14. Carlisle
Not known
Sat 14th June

15. Dumfries
Not known
Sun 15th June

16. Cumnock
Craigie GardensCaravan Club Site
Craigie Road
Ayr
KA8 0SS
Booking code: CRA
Tel: 01342 327490
Mon 16th June

17. Glasgow ? Savoy hotel, I think not….but worth trying for, yes.

First Donation Towards Expenses Arrives

16 February 2008

First donation towards expenses.

Yesterday a cheque arrived in the post, enclosing a letter stating that the money was a donation towards the expenses of the challenge. You will never know how happy I was to receive that cheque. It proved to me that there are people out there, beyond my computer, that have faith in my ability to achieve what I have set myself. Thank you for that belief.

Today I am going to buy and sim card and send it off to Georges at Geoba. Remember they are the people who have the tracking device that will be fitted to the Alber Adventure so you can follow my progress along the E2E Challenge. The big question is which sim card I should get, an O2, Virgin, T-Mobile. I will revile that when I next write on this blog

I did not get out cold calling yesterday; my excuse was that my PA was not too well. Next week I promise at the latest.

Just to finish, you are now visiting the blog at a rate of 12 a day. That is an increase of 2 per day, and you are still visiting from all over the world. Nice to have you all on board.

In The Last 24 hrs

15 February 2008

In the last 24 hrs

To those of you who are going to do the E2E challenge this year, you will realise that it is not just a case of getting on your bike or putting on your walking boots, and going from one end of the UK to the other, it takes organising, and my attempt is no exception to that statement.

This morning, while my personal care was been given by Eileen, it takes 3 hours from waking to me getting into my Balder Power Chair. It is not as hard as it seems, some of the time I am waiting for the nurse to come and for nature to take its course for me to go on the loo, that sort of thing, I was thinking what have I done towards the challenge, it did not seem as if I had done much, well I had.

1. Made enquires about the insurance
2. Been to Newcastle to buy my tee-shirts to wear giving talks in
3. Bought 2 safety vests for the cyclists
4. Spent time with Eileen looking at camp sites along the route
5. Sent an email to Max & Sheila booking one camp site
6. Answered & Wrote emails to various people
7. Worked on my Power Point Presentation.
8. Booked my membership to the E2E Club, thought it better to be in the Association & E2E club
9. .I am now catching up with my blog
10. This afternoon it is out there cold selling the challenge to various businesses. This is not what I like doing.
11. Finally in this 24 hrs I will do more work n the Power Point Presentation.
12. Nearly forgot, Eillen folded up over 100 leaflets about the E2E for me to give out. Thanks Eillen.

So in all, what I thought was an E2E free day was infact, rather full one!

A Gift From a Caravan Park

15 February 2008

Gift from a caravan park

On the highly recommendation of my friend Eileen who, is helping me put together the names & address of the caravan and camping parks for the challenge, I contacted Max & Sheila Frances of the Headland Caravan Park, Tintagel, Cornwall, web site http://www.headlandcaravanpark.co.uk/ sending them my booking requirements and details of the E2E Challenge and asking her to book us in for Monday 2nd June, fully expecting an invoice and request for a deposit.

I am very pleased to say that, Max & Sheila have offered to donate a nights camping for all the team at Headlands.

Thank you Max & Sheila,

1000 Visitor to my Blog

15 February 2008

1000 visitor to my blog

1000 visitor to my blog was at 11.23. 03 pm 14 February 98 and came from UK Perth. Perth, Kinross. Who ever you are, and I know you have visited a few times, may I say a sincere thank you for helping me reach this milestone of being the 1000 visitor to my blog.

Visitor no 1001 was on the blog this morning at 7.37.50 am. You came from UK Bathgate, West Lothian

Both of you have a great day

Choosing the Music to Take With Me

14 February 2008

Choosing the music and songs to take with me.

When the road is long, still many miles to go, there will be times that I shall want music, hymns and songs for company and to sing along to, and of course on Sunday morning, I must have Ambridge, the Archers.

I personally have well over 100 CD’s to choose from, so here is a taster of the contents of my mp3 player.

Today I did something that is rare for me, I bought a new CD. If you are like one of the millions of us, that watched with me, Andrew Lloyd -Weber’s Joseph, and if you like me, shed a few tears when one by one our boys were voted off the show and experienced tears running down your face as the ones left took off that coat; then you like me will be pleased to know that 5 of our boys have formed a group called ‘ Dream On’ That’s right, our boys are now on CD and I am listening to it as I type, so ‘Dream On’, will be on my list.

Next in the music section, will be Newcastle Youth Orchestra. I have a friend who, in her young days, played a violin in this Orchestra. I shall get great pleasure in listening to their music.

Vera Lynn. White Cliffs of Dover, Wish me luck as you wave me good- by. I could not do a selection of songs without including Dame Vera Lynn. Dame Vera besides been well at the top of my list was also my late dad favourite and an ex boyfriends as well. I am sure that my mom and dad and aunty hoo will be there singing along with me.

Spring Harvest. I am a Christian and I do not think I could do this challenge without my Lord and Master at my side, so I must have in my selection hymns. I go to Lourdes most years with a group I love very much, called ACROSS. This being the 150 year of the anniversary of Mary appearing to Bernadette at Lourdes, I will be including music from Lourdes.

In fear of boring you with my selection, you will be please to know that I shall have Will Young, Frank Sinatra, Leona, what an amazing voice, all I can say is thank God for X Factor…Mr Blobby, I just love Mr Blobby, Alex, what ever happened to Alex who won Fame Academy, and many many more. George Formby must have ‘I’m leaning on the lamp post’ with me...

Well there you have a small selection of the hours of music I shall be singing to as I roll back the miles. I hope some of you will be joining in

Movement Returns to Left Elbow Thanks To Bioflow

14 February 2008

Movement returns to left elbow

I am not the sort of person who promote a product just for the sack of it, so you can believe what I am going to write is true

When I had my left elbow replaces about 10/12 years ago, though I got some form of movement back, I could never bend my arm more than 2 to 3 inches, that was up to now, here comes the plug.

I have being wearing a Ecoflow bracelet on my left wrist for about 6 months and my left arm now bends almost to it’s full bend, say to reach the 3rd button on my polo shirt. I also have an Ecoflow dog collar on neck and I have found that movement returning. I have a Ecoflow dog collar on my right knee which as meant my knee is now bending a lot more, by the way, both my knees have both been replaced. Just though you might like to know

The lady who looks after me here in Newcastle upon Tyne, is Alison Pride, you can contact her on alisonp42@googlemail.com and she will send you a free brochure. I must add that that one of the reasons i chose Ecoflow above others, was because of their money back guarantee. A must for me..

My Local Pub Starts My Fundraising Off

9 February 09

My local pub starts my fundraising off.

Today I did something that a do not like doing, I went cold calling. I need not have worried, my local pub, the Flying Scotsman, were only too please to hold a fundraising evening on the Friday 7th March 08. The monies raised will be shared 50-50 between my expanses and my target for Arthritis Care. You are all welcome to come and join us. .

There are many other venues in my area that I shall now approach, thanks to the bust the Flying Scotsman has given me.

Thanks

--Posted By Mary Laver to World Record Attempt in an Alber Adventure Power Wheelchair Lands End to John O'Groats at 2/04/2008 10:39:00 AM

Milestone Reached

8 February 08

Milestone reached

Today I reached a mile stone on this journey to do the E2E challenge in an Alber Adventure Power Wheelchair, I booked the first nights camp site for Saturday 31st May 08 at Lands End. This campsite is not in the Caravan Club so I had to pay a deposit of £25. It was well worth it as I know that when I get to first base, Lands End, I must have in place that first campsite and there will be a lot of other people planning to do what I am planning and wanting the first night at Lands End. This act also helped me to realise that this E2E challenge is really going to happen with help from my friends that I do not know yet.

Today, the rest of the campsites were also logged on the map. I am hoping that my team will be staying some nights, not under canvas but in proper beds. Any B&BS willing to donate a spare room? Please email me. mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com Thank you. If anyone else has a spare bed along my route and can put a team member up, please also let me know at the same email address.

I have a request to make. I need two cooking stoves. If anyone has one that I can let me beg, borrow or steal them, again, can you please let me know at the above email address. Also on the shopping list are 6 blow up single beds, with pumps.



I have also put in place a request to an insurance broker to find me suitable 3rd party insurance. I will report back when I have more news on that front.

Today I have my first request demined for help from a major supermarket, not, I hasten to add, the one I personally approached. Why is it hard for someone like me to get sponsorship? Where has that support for the British sense of adventure gone? I must admit that the last time I tried to raise funds for an extreme marathon that my friends from ‘Run the Country’ were going to take me on; I got a negative reply to my request for cash help. Still this is not going to happen this time is it!

That is all the news for now. Will blog soon.

Good night

Oasis 700 Tent

7 February 08

Oasis 700 tent

An update. Jane will be very pleased today. The maps she has been working on, on my behalf, arrived today. You can see Jane and Hadley to the left hand side of this page. For those of you who would like to meet this part of my support team, the will be joining me on the last three days and crossing the finishing line with me. What a great finish to this great challenge. I hope that Jane and Hadley are not the only ones on the last leg with me and crossing that finishing line at 1200 noon.

So what else has happened to-day?One of my biggest problems was, is finding a tent that is high enough inside to allow me to use a mobile hoist. Remember, I cannot stand up. Well I found one in an end of line sale at my local caravan and camping outlet. An Oasis 700. I got this tent reduced from £350 to £100. That problem is now solved. I did try to get this company on board, but like most large companies, they are inundated with requests such as mine. Anyway, I left them a handout package. Who knows, they may have second thoughts. Getting the tent in their sale was well worth the trip.

If you are like me, it is the little things in life that count the most. Well today, I had a little thing happen, a person who cared for me and took me from the life I was living 20 years ago, to the life I now live, but alas is not longer working with me, asked that her email address be passed onto me. That really stated me off on the right foot. Thanks you friend.

You are still visiting the blog at the rate of 10 per day, some of you I have noticed, have come back time and time again. One person from Doncaster. I would love to know who you are. You can make contact via my email address mary.laver.e2e@googlermail.com we are nearly at the 1000 visit. Take off say 100 of them been me before I managed to workout how not to include me in the account, and we shall have quite a mile stone. So I am looking for visitor 1100. Will it be you my special person!Well that is all for now.

I will now run the spell checker and speak again soon. If there are spelling mistakes, I cannot see them, my eyesight is nay too good due to cataracts and I am blind in my right eye. Such is life... --

Planet4pictures Come on Board

6 February 08

Update

Today has been good news day. Planet4pictures have come on board, they had read about my challenge and wanted to help. Add to this Arthritis Care’s publicity department, equals a great deal as regards the media coverage of this challenge. A very big and sincere thank you to Planet4pictures for your help, interest and support. You can visit their web site by going to http://www.planet24pictures.co.uk/planet24pictures

Next I have had an email from gerald-simonds This is the company dealing with supplying the Alber Adventure. We are moving forward in getting the chair and setting it up for the challenge. I am arranging, in the very near future, to go down to their offices to meet them and get the chair fitted to my requirements. You can read more about the Alber Adventure by visiting their web site http://www.gerald-simonds.co.uk/acatalog/Alber.html Also if our diary will allow, I am also hoping to meet up with a reprehensive from Arthritis Care there.

The device that will enable you to track me on your mobile or the web, is called a Geoba. This is a remarkable piece of kit that will be attached to the Alber Adventure. It also can be attached to other wheelchairs and the wearer can be tracked anywhere in the world. If you wish to find out more please visit their web site at http://www.geboa.ch/en/index.asp

Today I also confirmed that I shall have a stall at the Northumbria University Volunteer Fair. Tuesday, 26 January 08. The Venue, 1st Floor, Students Union Building. 11 am – 3 pm I am hoping that at least one or two students will be joining in the challenge.

Drinkup are working on the drinking adapter for my Alber. You can find out more about their Drinkup jug, which I use all the time in my home, by visiting their web page on www.thedrinkup.com

Well that is quite a day in the day of this E2E challenge. It is now coming together thanks to the support of a lot of strangers. To you all, thanks.

Visits to Blog Average 10 per day

5 February 08

Visits to the blog.

You are visiting the blog on an average 10 per day. That is great news. I just hope that one special guy is one of you. You know whom you are!

An update.

The Caravan Club of Great Britian have sent me a map with all of their camps sites on, thank you for that. All I have to do now is match up the camp sites with my route and get the team booked in. If any B&B's can offer a free room then I am sure we can put a very tired head upon its pillows.

Today I told my story to a well know suppermarket. The persona I spoke to was, to say the least amazed at the challenge I have set myself and pleased with the charity I choce to do it for, and has taken away the blurb. As I know the person will read this blog, I hope you are finding it intersting. I hope you will come on board and I can display your logo on my pannel. Other than that I will say no more. I am not the sort of person who puts people on the spot.

I am also in contact with Northuimbria University who have put me on their lists of organiasations, not that i am an organisation, seeking volunnters. I truly believe that this E2E would be good fun and experence for any student, especially the ones working in the caring field.

My plans for the rest of the week are to approach one or two organiastions for help, not suppermarkets. If the one I approached today come on board I shall be very happy with just the one. Work on my power point presentation and design a hand out.

Have any of you been watching 'Extrem Dreams BBC 2'? I have. it is truly remarkable where people get that bit extra something that takes them to their goal when all they want to do is pack in and go home. I am sure there will be times like that for me, but with the support that I am getting from all of the branches of Arthritis Care around GB, i am sure I will be able to drive through any wall that I may hit.

No where is that remote!

The Importance of Maintaining My Excellent Health

1 Feburary 08

The Importance of Maintaining My Excellent Health

“You are looking very well” is a remark that I relish. Yesterday, at my Care Assessment, my general health was once again commented on. It is almost as if they expected me to look, well, arthritic, what ever that look is! And yes I do feel extremely well.

To those of you know anything about Rheumatoid Arthritis, (RA) you know how painful and disabling it is. You will also understand how I have ended up in a wheelchair, but what you may not know is though I am in a wheelchair I am completely pain free and use no drugs, never have done. I will admit to having the very odd pain killer, but that is so rare that a bottle of Paracetamol can last a year or more.

So how do I keep pain free and look and feel so well? The main thing I do is to give my body all the help I can to fight off the symptoms of RA..

How do I do this? The answer is a combination of things. A very good diet, organic where possible, dairy free – I use organic rice milk, chemical free, mainly fruit free, I can only eat pears and melons. I only eat chicken-free range or organic. I eat some lamb and of course fish. I do not smoke, drink. I get out as much as possible and I have a very positive out look on life. I also have a very good care package with great people looking after me. Finally and I think most importantly, I also take responsibility for me.

As well as all of the above, I also wear a pulsed magnet, and use the one provided by Ecoflow, that is why they are on my blog.

If I was not in as good as condition as I am now, I would never be thinking, never mind attempting, to do the E2E challenge in an Alber Adventure Power Wheelchair.

The snow is now falling in Newcastle upon Tyne