LAST UPDATE : 24 OCTOBER 05

Hello everybody

Well what an amazing experience. A very beautiful country and the people so friendly. I could have stayed there for another week as I really did "feel" the place. A truly humbling experience. It really makes you appreciate what you've got, the people over there have nothing, yet are very happy and hardworking. Makes me realise what a lazy nation the UK is. There were no obese or even overweight people over there apart from the odd pot belly which I think comes from too much rice or beer.

The first day I found pretty tough though. AM was fine but PM came and so did the sun. At 28ºC they presented us with the first of many hills. I was so frustrated as I found it so much harder than I expected. It really did push me to a point where I thought I could just stop, get off and walk. But one thing or another kept me in the saddle. My stomach was knotting and my chest was welling up with emotions I couldn't and still can't really explain. Frustration, embarrassment, feelings of failure before I had even begun. I ended up crying my eyes out (while still on the bike) to release some tension, after looking around to make sure none of the Air Force guys were there to see of course. Thank god I had my glasses on, that covered everything. I felt better but not totally with it. Legs burning, dry mouth, headache, I found it tough and felt like a big wus for having so much trouble with it but I stayed on till the end.

Day 2 was better and the climate a lot cooler. We headed up to the mountains. The big ****er Mountain was in the PM which, because of my nightmare first day, I declined to ride but walked instead. It was beautiful forestry with no sounds of traffic or people whatsoever. We were very high above sea level but not sure exactly how high. I found the rest of the trip quite manageable the further along I was going. Really beautiful countryside and for a fair amount of time I felt like I was on my own amongst it all, wonderful feeling. Everything is so green and lush out there. We got our downhill's as well which satisfied my adrenalin needs. You could really pick up some speed but had to be careful as the traffic is a bit mad. The best day I think had to be day 3 when it totally chucked it down with rain. Heavy monsoon type rain (not like here but definitely like Cayman). It was all downhill that day. Some people came back with leaches on their legs as they had fallen off the trees with the rain. Eewww It wasn't until the last day in the PM that I started to get the feelings of knotted stomach and tight chest back again. It was hot again that day and we were pushing hard to get finished earlier than planned so we could spend some time on the beach. Again I felt like crying but held off until we finally finished and I couldn't hold it in anymore. I stifled it because I didn't want anyone to see because I couldn't explain why. It was a good group. We all pushed our personal boundaries in one way or another. I felt quite deflated at the finish and instead of joining in with the group who were quite excited and in high spirits, I sat quietly with one of the guides, Demitri. I felt very emotional and can't quite explain why. Anyway, I had some rest and felt much better. We had a beach bbq to celebrate with a band, and several of the group joined them with guitar and/or singing. I just put my funky stuff down on the dancefloor! ;-) It was fun. We had an awards ceremony and I got an award entitled "Queen of the Wave". The reason for this I was informed by Bruce (representative from Action Challenge who quite happily stayed at the back of the pack with the last man - yes at times, me!) was because he noticed that from no matter what distance if I heard a child yelling or saw someone waving I would wave back. I had told Bruce that I remembered as a child how good I felt when someone noticed me and he remembered that and gave me my award based on that. Anyway, the next day we went to see the projects that our money has gone to fund. We were treated like royalty, the kids are beautiful. We had tea and cake when we arrived in china cups and saucers and then met with the girls and boys that are learning life skills and a trade for future employment. Then we visited the boys orphanage where they put on brilliant entertainment of traditional dancing. The costumes they had made themselves and they were all very fit doing somersaults and cartwheels. It was fantastic. Some great abs amongst those lot! We looked around their accommodation, etc, showers literally outside, one big hall that they all sleep in on mats. Apparently mats are a lot cooler than actual beds but it just looked so basic. It was very clean though and the kids looked very happy and content. We also saw the construction of a girls home next door that our money is going towards. I was impressed with the speed at which they work as it's a big place and since March half has been built already. We then went back to the Managers home where his wife had laid on a fantastic lunch and beer. The whole experience was rounded off well with a few tacky purchases and a trip to the local nightclub. So I came back questioning myself about my personal abilities. Like whether I am truly qualified to consider myself humble. Could I really live without the comforts of the Western world? Would I be content to live as they do in a simple hardworking environment where nature and family are the foundations of life? What I have realised about myself from this trip is that I really don't push myself hard enough. I found out really how much I can do when crunch time comes. I just need to do it ALL the time. I want to thank you all very much for donating to this very worthy cause and giving me the opportunity to participate in something very memorable. I am looking into a trek in Sri Lanka for next year but I won't be hounding you for donations for that, but if you want to give it a go yourself, which I highly recommend, the organisation was spotless and everything went without a hitch. Look into it the different challenges on their website http://www.actionchallenge.com/index.shtml and definitely let me know if you decide to take any of them up! With much love and thanks Michelle x :-) "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything" UPDATE : 10 OCTOBER 05 Well the day is fast approaching. I went out at the weekend to buy some last minute things. Padded shorts (sexy), gloves, mozzie repellent (didn't think I'd need that again in a hurry). Recently held a joint Karaoke evening with colleagues from work in which we jointly raised £600. My first time ever on the mic! Of course the audience loved me! cough cough. But it was fun and the generous nature of Molton Brown, Body Shop, Paintballing, aswell as several individuals donated prizes for our raffle on the night. Thanks to you all. I attended a surfing weekend as I figure all types of training will help me with this challenge ;-) So I can surf now dudes, Happy Days! While I was there I had the good fortune to meet Diane Youlade (formerly Jet from Gladiators) and Cain Leatham. Cain has since been hired as my personal trainer. After all the British Champions he has trained I figure I can trust him. If anybody is interested to know more visit www.gbfitness.com. So guys I am nearly at my target, just another £300 to go (dont be fooled by the overall total raised, it includes the giftaid and I need to raise £2,500 in addition to the giftaid) and I will have made it. Please donate generously to help me reach my final destination and you will be graced with numerous pictures of the event afterwards. Take care M xx ---------------------------- UPDATE : 30 AUGUST 05 Hi Guys, I'm back with another update. My recent bids to reach my target have led me to London Underground Stations, both times with mad Su! At Warren St where the generosity of the public saw us good for £126.42 and last Saturday at Embankment where we received £272.00. Although apprehensive at first at the thought of standing outside shaking (or rather NOT as its against the law!) my bucket to passers by convincing them that my cause is greater or as important as the hundreds of other charities out there, Su soon put me at ease with her cheeky manner and ability to squeeze the tiniest of contributions out of the unlikeliest of people. I followed in her footsteps and it's been amazing fun. I have met some great people. A host of Bobbies at Embankment who were generous with their pennies, jokes and advice for the trip to ensure I didn't end up in a similar state as one of their male colleagues who recently returned to duty after unravelling a "delicate" injury! Thanks guys. Others who have been to Sri Lanka or are in the volunteering sector themselves and I cannot forget all the cuties for eye candy value, it kept me going all day! So standing at the underground for 9 hours straight played havoc with my back and shoulders, and shouting out my cause weakened my karaoke voice! My knees are giving me jip with cycling to work everyday and more oil in my system is needed. If only it was as simple as a can of WD40? But I keep reminding myself, it's for a good cause but I still need your help. I have just over £1,000 left to raise which needs to be in by 16th September. Not long. Please help me on the last leg of my journey to help give the Children in Sri Lanka a better quality of life. For all those that have promised me that they will donate, please, I am reminding you now. You have just been paid so do it quickly before you forget again!! I am very grateful that I have kind hearted people to call upon who support me in my endeavours. Thanks again to all that have donated - I really do appreciate it. Till next time......... M xx --------------------- UPDATE : 29 JULY 05 Continuing to cycle to work and butt is now feeling pain after just 3 days! Oh dear... BUT, I have reached my first target - yay! You are all fantastic, thank you so much. ---------------------- UPDATE : 27 JULY 05 Hi Guys, here's my latest shinanigans in my bid to raise £2,500. I held a Cake Bake sale at work on 26 July. All hand baked by my fair hands (apart from the Welshcakes my Mum posted up to me). I had sponges (even though they ended up being a bit of a jigsaw puzzle after sticking to the bottom of the tins and Delia (Smith that is), you didn't document your recipe properly because they were a little on the FLAT side honey?), bread & butter pudding, fat free banana cake (yes it is and no its not full of sugar instead!), cup cakes and chocolate rice crispy thingamajigs. So far I have not heard of anyone falling ill - phew! A success I feel. I received £95 in donations. In total I have raised £1,098.10 (just shy of my first target of £1,200 for Friday 29 July). But I still have a further £1,300 to raise thereafter to reach the £2,500 target. I have started (as of today) to cycle into work to aid with my training. It takes about an hour, but I must get myself a rainmac and remember to bring in my towel for showering. I think work will start to notice the missing 101 paper towels I used this morning! Hey, good news though, butt is getting used to the saddle :-) So even though you guys have been fantastically wonderful and generous with your donations, I still need to ask you to help me reach my final target and anything you can spare would be very much appreciated. You could get a cake in exchange! --------------------------------- UPDATE : 13 JULY 05 OK, so my endeavours into the realm of cycling so far have left me with several physical scars. I decided that because I don't have a bike just yet, that shouldn't stop me from training in the gym on a bike. So I took part in my first spin class. Half an hour later I came out red faced, jellied legs and shin bruised and scrapped to bits by the peddle that wouldn't stop revolving when my foot slipped out of the straps! Butt's ok though :-) Onto my next drama.... buying a bike. Took a trip to my local sports shop last night, not far to get it home I thought. Got myself a bike, helmet, gel seat and lock. Excellent stuff I thought - real bargains. Now, how do I get it home? The London Underground service do not allow bikes on their trains. OK, I have my gym gear with me I'll just change and cycle to Greenwich where I can pick up the Docklands Light Railway service. One 20 minute wrong turn later and I'm on my way only to find that the DLR does not accept bikes either. Shit, now what. It also strikes me at this point that I live on the other side of the Thames. I ponder the local map with the assistance of a more adept cyclist and decide to take the river pathway rather than take the foot tunnel now as I would have to deal with busy main roads and dual carriageways and I haven't been on a bike for a while and don't know my way around East London so well. So off I set on the "Thames Path" which is more like a maze than a path, and a smelly one at that. If I knew then what I know now, I would have stopped at every pub along the way to slowly work towards numbing my butt cause its one bumpy ride taking the scenic route even with a gel seat. So sore butt, calloused palms, 3 hours and another helpful cyclist later I arrive at home and proudly park my bike in our allocated car parking space under our block of apartments. Next purchase will be a MAP! So come on I'm in pain here guys, help me along with your donations and words of encouragement - please. ________________________________ Hey, Happy People Thank you sooo much for visiting my fundraising page. As some of you know I like to challenge myself from time to time and for the most part there has to be a worthy cause involved. So what am I doing now? Well, this October I have decided to put my fitness to the test and join the International Childcare Trust ("ICT") in a gruelling 5 day cycle course through Sri Lanka's hot and humid mountain ranges. I've been told it's a challenge trip not for the faint hearted, with between 7-9 hours cycling per day, I think I agree with them! And as its about a year and half ago since I was last on a bike, its gonna be a toughie! But the cause is worth it and one close to my heart. With your help in sponsoring me, we will directly help the local children in a country that is still recovering from the effects of the Tsunami. Please help me raise the funds I need to complete this challenge. It's a daunting amount which scares me more than the trip itself! But wouldn't it be great to exceed it? To donate online is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ICT will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Be sure to check back to follow my progress during training leading up to my challenge, and ultimately to see how I do in Sri Lanka. I will be posting photos and updating my site regularly doing my best to keep a journal of my thoughts, emotions, etc (I'm not going through this alone, y'all gonna feel it too!). Please DO USE the comments box to its fullest with questions, things you wanna see me do in order to get your donation(!), tips on how to avoid a sore butt - greatly appreciated, general encouragement or (in the case of my siblings more likely) teasing and REVERSE psychology motivational tips! ;-) Thank you again for helping me to help these children. Love Life - Stay Happy Michelle xx (aka: Shell/Meesh/Mish Mash/many others!)