BINGO!

24/03/13

Yaaay, I have reached 2000 views!

26/03/2013

Picked up my inoculation prescriptions today... I've managed to get all of them and all for free! Very pleased, that has saved me lot's of money. Time to start getting them on the 2nd April!

29/03/2013

I have officially ordered my Provisional Driving License  It should arrive within the next two weeks and then I can start lessons! Hopefully I will pass before I leave for South Africa...I've never attempted to drive a car before, is that a long shot?  I won't be able to afford a car any time soon... but I think having a license will be very handy. Perhaps on travels whilst in South Africa.

TOTAL £4830

SNAP!...

23/03/2013 

BINGO! My bingo night is quickly approaching, less than three weeks to go now. I have been told we are expecting to raise £500. FIVE HUNDRED POUND! I really can't wait, if it can raise that amount of money, it will be my biggest event yet. Not to mention I am a mere £600 away from my total! This Bingo is being arranged by a family member. I am so grateful for it, I know how time consuming organizing such an event can be. For any locals reading my blog, here are the details:

BE THERE FOR 7.40PM

EYES DOWN 8PM

WHITLEES CENTRE, ARDROSSAN

________

I realize I have not yet mentioned spending money, an important topic. So here are the basics!

As well as the £5400, Visa costs and inoculation costs, we also need spending money. Some lucky volunteers might have this money sitting around and don't need to worry about it, but unfortunately that's not me! We can't fundraise this money for obvious reasons, it is not for the charity, it is for our personal use. Whilst overseas we have the opportunity to travel, and in this time we rely on our own money. 

Project Trust advise that we take this money on a credit/debit card that can be used overseas and from home. This way parent's can put money on the card in emergencies or for birthdays/Christmas. It is also a lot easier to replace when stolen! I am currently considering a Travel Money Card from the post office, it has all the same perks and more - doesn't cost to lift cash from an ATM.

Volunteers are advised to take roughly £1000 and no more. It would be unfair for one volunteer to have £1000 and for their partner to have double that. When you think about it, £1000 for a year is not very much money, at all. So we have to use it wisely!

I have decided to start saving this money. I am giving my dad the cash to keep by for me, that way I won't - can't - spend it! So far I have  given him a grand total of....£100. Only 10% but it's a start! I aim to give another £100 in two weeks. I am also going to put birthday money towards this fund. I think I will slowly but surely be able to save the money...I hope so any way.

More on money... now that I have my training dates, it will soon be time to book my travel to and night in Oban. Thankfully, these two combined are less than £50. Oban Back Packers have recently moved to a new venue! Click HERE to visit the website. 

On to a more FUN topic, camera's! Taking photo's will be a huge part of my year in South Africa. At first, I just assumed with myself that I would take my Nikon D3000, a chunky DSLR. On second thoughts, I would be completely devastated if it were broken or stolen. So I decided to save a bit of money to buy a smaller digital camera that would offer everything a DSLR can. I ended up with a Sony Nexr, it's certainly got the same, if not better quality. It's also tiny so can be easily hidden! I even have a padlock for the case. Ain't nobody'gon pick pock me.

My new camera!

TOTAL £4830

Parent's meeting...

17/03/13

Every year, Project Trust holds a Parent's Meeting in March. This is a chance for parent's to meet the staff, ask lot's of questions and ultimately, nag about horrific thoughts. Being my nearest city, me and my mum headed off to the Glasgow event. Never have I ever seen such a beautifully grand Youth Hostel. Beautiful and Youth Hostel don't normally sit in the same sentence! It was incredible. The picture doesn't do it justice but there you go (v). After hearing of the 40, 50, 60 volunteers turning up at other meetings, I was surprised that only four volunteers turned up today. There were also two volunteer-less parents. 

Three staff were present, including John Fraser. Firstly the parents got a little brief about the charity. I was pleasantly surprised at the section about selection (yes), after assuming my mum thought I exaggerated about how tough going it was. Most of the presentation was based on insurance and what to do in an emergency: the two things at the top of any parent's mind. 

Some unfortunate stories were told about a serious traffic injury, uncontrollable volunteers and sadly, a rape. Reality checks are important to us so we don't loose our heads too high in the sky. It was very insightful and I'm glad we attended. They have encouraged our parent's to encourage us to practice hand washing clothes, cooking from basic supplies and, the best part, how to clean a toilet. I enjoy cooking and I'm sure I'll manage a bit of toilet scrubbing but I am yet to try out hand washing! 

Next up - My Bag Pack at Sainsburys Superstore in Irvine. personally hoping to raise over £300! 6th April.

Until next time! (I know the total hasn't gone up in a while but that will change soon!)

TOTAL £4830

Time...

08/03/13

1 YEAR - 12 months/52 weeks/365 days/8,765 hours/525,949 minutes/31,536,000 seconds

That will be all.

13/03/13

My new passport arrived today, finally! I have the photocopies ready to send off to Project Trust. Also this week: I have a car boot sale on Saturday, 11am at Sainsburys in Saltcoats. This weekend also brings the Project Trust parents event! Me and my mum are off to Glasgow on Sunday (17th) so she can meet the PT gang. Unfortunately my dad can't come because it's my little sisters 5th Birthday Party! 

""Members of our staff will be present at each venue and welcome the chance to meet parents and begin the process of building a relationship that will assist in ensuring the success of your son/daughter's year overseas with us."

I'm really excited about it so I'll let you know how it goes! It's held at Glasgow Youth Hostel. 

My sponsored climb has been postponed once again. It will be on the 25th May. No complaints, especially since Goat Fell has been capped in snow for almost a month now. My Bingo and Bag Pack are speedily approaching, I have a giddy feeling that they will complete my fundraising.

TOTAL £4830

Just a little post...

02/03/13

Just a little post to say that I made £30 at today's car boot sale! This is the most I have made at a Salvation Amry sale, it usually ranges between £2-£15. Everyone was lovely and a few people have even taken my leaflet! I am glad that it's getting it's use. One lady is going to see if I can face paint at a fundraiser she has coming up. I hope this happens, it's on the 30th March so would be a nice little boost at the end of the month. Sorry - I forgot to take pictures today!

The 3rd Project Trust newsletter arrived yesterday and I was very excited to see that my photograph was on it! Here it is...

Not sure why it's flipped, happy face

To read my story from the beginning, click HERE for my very first post.

To donate, Click HERE.

TOTAL £4830

March, Mandela and Rabies...

01/03/13

February has now come and gone, but it didn't fly by like January. Don't get me wrong... it still feels like my selection course was yesterday! Thankfully, February was a much more productive month - I raised a total of £955, the most I have ever raised in one month. To break it down, £55 came from my Cake Sale, £100 came from my Brother (for making him a cheese toastie, see previous posts) and then a wonderful £800 came from Charitable Trust No.6. Very happy month! I also won a competition for a bunch of Beautiful Creatures goodies (Signed by Alden and Alice). Maybe February is my lucky month...

At the last Project Trust coffee evening, the film "Invictus" was recommended to me. I have now watched it twice and it's a really good film. Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman are brilliant in it too. I have bought the book "Playing the Enemy", which the film was set around. I have been educating myself on South Africa history recently, especially around the Apartheid. 

"Nelson Mandela and the Game that made a Nation" It really is that. It is so amazing how Mandela changed the way a nation thinks through something they are passionate about - the South African Springboks. I hope I get the chance to see a game while I am over there! I recommend both the book and film to everyone.

The shot of Mandela and the captain of the Springboks

I also got Nelson Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom. It is a massive book that I am yet to start but I've heard it's a book and a half. I would like to add the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley. The film is named after the poem, which Mandela read everyday in his prison cell. 

"Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul."

-

I have now visited the Doctor regarding my Inoculations  I have already had two at school, so the ones I need to get are: Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Rabies. To my surprise, my doctor told me he worked in South Africa for 6 years and can in fact speak Zulu... how fascinating! The world is a small place, I have met about five South African's since I started fundraising, it is incredible.

At first my face lightened at the thought of four injections instead of 6. That was until I found out two of those injections come in a course of 3. So in the end, I have 8 injections to get. I am also yet to hear about the country specific injections...the joy! I have my prescription so I'll be off to the chemist soon. 

That's the end of another post. The more I learn about South Africa and it's people, the more I can't wait to go. I am more excited everyday! Car boot sale tomorrow at The Salvation Army, Saltcoats, 10am-2pm.

TOTAL £4800