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September 2009
12 months may seem a long time away for you, especially when we've still got Halloween, bonfire night and christmas to go but the realisation has kicked in - can I raise the money I've promised and committed myself to raise? Will I get myself fit enough for the ride? How much off road training will I need? What equipment will I need?............ the list goes on and on!

The sale of the teddy bears has slowed at the moment so if your are reading this, please buy a bear! I'm thinking of putting some on ebay along with a few bits and pieces I've collected.

A look back at October.......
It took me longer than I thought it would to get this site up and running and yes, I know there are still some problems with it.
Please email me if there is a fault you have spotted though because it may be one I've overlooked.
I have bought some more bits and pieces for the Enduro Africa this month but this list dosen't seem to get any smaller!
Funds are still trickling in, small but regular. I have started a weekly bonus ball at work which is bringing in a few £'s each week. I had my first online donation from Roger though Paypal, thank you, and I've sold a couple more bears as well.

A look back at November.......
I've had plenty of people asking me about Ted's Task 2010 and praising me for attempting the Enduro Africa but I'm not after praise - I'm after your cash! (For a good cause though)
The donations are trickling in slowly but surely, I sold my first bear on ebay and I'm making on average £5 a week on the bonus ball game being played by some of my colleagues at work.
I wasn't able to do as much as I hoped this month due to breaking a couple of my fingers but they are on the mend and I'm getting used to typing with one hand. Plans however, are underway for a couple of challenges and I've had a couple of offers of support for fundraising dances so it looks like 2010 is going to start busy and get busier!

A look back at December
My broken fingers haven't stopped me working but they have hampered my ability to work on the website, pictures and promotion stuff. Work and familiy have also taken up a lot of my time as well.
I thought December would be the a slow month and it was right up until a couple of days just before breaking up for Christmas! Suddenly, and out of the blue, colleagues dropped in £5 here and £10 there. Rather than sending Christmas cards to colleagues I collected £70 in donations. Don't let anybody tell you that the Christmas spirit is dead because it isn't!
I also started writing a newsletter for work colleagues to try to spread the word, to fundraise and seek fundraising ideas and help. This has paid dividends as well. A proposal in the early December newsletter brought offers of help to organise a "Stars in your eyes" at a local social club (thanks Dawn!!!) where the proceeds wil be shared between Teds Task 2010 and a local charity. I also had suggestions for a venue to host a Masked Fancy Dress Dance.
Another special Christmas edition of the newsletter, which went out between Christmas and new year brought in an offer of a free dj for the dance and an offer to do the catering (Sam, you are a star!!). So February will see a "Stars in Your Eyes" night and May will see the charity masked fancy dress dance.

A look back at January.......
Well it's the new year and 9 months to go, time is starting to go very, very quickly! The fingers are starting to heal but painful in the cold. I sent another payment off to Enduro Africa and I'm ahead of schedule for meeting the £5000 I plan to raise but I would rather be in front and make more than the £5000 than lagging behind and worrying how I will make up the money.
Dave J, Rich (the ginger ninja), John (2bad), Dev (bigdaddydog), Andy (snappytt), Andy M and Joe B have put their egos aside and agreed to take part in a moustache growing competition for the month of February.
I just hope their partners won't be put off by a part grown 'tash on valentines day!!
Only had a couple of takers for an adventure weekend I'd hoped to put on in May. The organisers has offered a discounted price and a free place if I could get 7 people and if I bought the free place at the cost this money would have gone into the kitty but it wasn't to be. It's hard work finding fundraising ideas.'s

A look back at February.......
Monday 1st February saw the start of the moustache growing competiton with 7 slightly hesitant candidates lining up for their photos to prove they were clean shaven. Armed with their sponsorship forms they set forth putting their razors to one side for 28 days of growth.
One female colleague did comment that it was unfair to have the competition running over valentines day as their partners were going to have to suffer the stubble. But undauted by this the brave 7 set forth.
Within days the whinging started, and panic was setting in - will it grow? What will I look like? Then when they started to grow a common excuse could be heard in the coridoors and offices "I'm growing it for charity"
19th February saw the "Stars In Your Eyes" night organised by Dawn and put on at the Cotterils Lane Club. . I genuinely didn't think it would make much as just a day or so before Dawn had told me she still had some tickets to sell. I had in my head £50 if the night makes that I'll be happy. What I didn't realise was that the club had themselves sold a load of tickets for the night and when I arrived the place was packed! The evening made a spectacular £1,000 well, that was the cheque I received from the Club. I also had a donation from Richard L for £20 and Pritti started chrging the smokers to go outside for a cigarette and made another £27
1st March saw the 7 finish their 28 days of 'tash growing torment come to an end. Photo's taken and the razors came out. I'm not sure how much they have raised yet but this will be in my next blog.

A look back at March.......
The guys have been trying to catch up with their sponsors and pry the
the promised sponsorship money out them. Some have paid willingly whilst others it has been said, have taken to hiding behind doors, in cupboards and under desks. Be afraid, be very afraid, they will track you down!

A look back at April.......
Things are flagging at the moment. The guys are still chasing some sponsorship money so it is still uncertain how much has been raised from growing moustaches. The lotto bonus ball has dropped off at the moment as not many people have been around in the office or i haven't been around to prompt people. The couple of promises of corporate sponsorships haven't materialised either.
I've had the tickets printed for the masked fancy dress ball on May 28th so I need to start advertising the night. If you want to buy a ticket clicke here

A look back at May.......
Nervous tension.... do I cut my losses and cancel the party or do I go ahead and hope there is a last minute sale on tickets? The weekend before, I make the decision. The party is on and hang the cost. So what if I don't make any money, we're going to have fun!

The day of the party was pretty hectic transporting all the food (enough to feed the army) and setting the tables up. Then slowly and surely the hall started to fill up and those costumes!!! We had the lot, Superman (close call but he won the best guy costume) , Pirates, Spartans, Romans, Hellboy, ninja, V, a real cool Blade (those eyes and those teeth). These were just some of the guys, the gals costumes were just as spectacular.....the Queen of hearts, a devil woman, vampiress, naughty nurse, the zombie, the cat burglar, the nuns, you were all fantastic. Then there was Phil.......... the memory will haunt me forever! You know how you think you know somebody.... I was wrong, so so wrong, and Phil it wasn't just your costume; the dance, and in high heels as well. I am going to being paying for therapy for a few years.

So who's got the photo's then? I was so busy I didn't get to take many. If you have some please let me have a copy.

Seriously, I can't thank you all enough, you all made it a great night and with a little over £450 added to the coffers. How about a halloween fancy dress party then?

So far in July.......
I'm booked up for another off road days training in September. I just hope I don't get any injuries that don't need more than a month to heal!
I'm planning another car boot and I've found some bits that I think will sell on ebay.

I've sold the last Bear (thanks Peter), received a couple of donations and I'm buying bits of gear to take on the trip. Why does lightweight cost twice as much? I mean there can't be as much