My younger daughter Helena and I are marking the end of her first (largely virtual) year at Edinburgh University by heading off this Friday 21st May to walk the 100 mile South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne in the South of England.  'Downs' is a misnomer as there are a fair few 'Ups' as well.  We have selected the days to coincide with a bout of unseasonably wet weather - it currently threatens to rain on us each day to remind us that this is a fundraising trip and not a jolly.  But we are taking with us our canine companion Tess for warmth, and we will be jolly nonetheless.  I am assured that there is nothing like a night in a tent with a wet dog for the good old father-daughter relationship.

We are doing this for two charities: one big, one small, both close to our hearts.  I am supporting the British Red Cross which you probably know (https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do).  It brings kindness to people in crisis and currently has its work cut out.  I have to declare an interest as I sit on the Board, but as an insider I can tell you it is a great charity and I trust that anything you can contribute will be well spent.

Helena is walking for the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre - another great set up supporting victims of sexual violence and working with young people to improve attitudes and behaviours.  Her page is at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helena-shilson.

So if you are able to contribute you have our heartfelt thanks.  And in any event think of us as we drag ourselves up yet another chalk hill in the driving rain wondering why we didn't wait for Summer to arrive first.