Thursday 8 July 2010

Arctic Challenge - AGE Concern Exeter WLTM volunteers with GSOH, NTW please!

Last year, our very own Penny went to the Arctic with two student volunteers, and spent seven nights surviving in the wilderness, and, what's more, she's lived to tell the tale...

This year we're hoping to recreate this Swedish adventure, on a much larger scale! Age Concern Exeter is recruiting, yet again, for brave souls to venture into a place where you are tested to the limit, can experience somethinglike nothing else, and have a massive amount of fun. We're going in April 2011, and we cannot wait!!

The goal is to raise money for Age Concern Exeter; we want to get enough sponsorshi money to make a difference to those people that we're trying to help daily. This is a massive challenge for all of us who are going to do it. We're going to be getting down and dirty with everything from snowmobile safaris to Husky dog sledding, shelter building to ice fishing, and loads more greast stuff! It's a jam packed week, with a hot tub and sauna day to finish with! It looks to be a once in a lifetime thing, and definitely not something to miss.

You don't have to be super fit, you've just got to be prepared to give something new a go! It's all about having a great time and raising money at the same time. Give us as ring on 01392 202092 and ask to speak to Penny, Corinne or Jen if you want to find out more...

Jen goes skydiving :-D

Just over a month until jump day...6 weeks and two days until jump day...44 days until jump day...63,360 minutes until jump day...3,801,600 seconds until jump day...any way I look at it, it seems rather close! But, out of all of the above, time time in seconds is the most reassuring so far! I think I'm focussing far too much on how long there is before the actual jump; it's making me far more nervous than it should be!

Still going with the fundraising - am up to about £300 now, which is great! Have had a bit of a lull in getting sponsorship, need to do the final push to reach the minimum of £400! It's very much a case of grovelling for money from my friends...as a student myself, I know how hard-up we can think we are, which makes it much more difficult to get anything for sponsorship! If one particular friend reads this, thankyou for so kindly emptying out your purse into my sponsorship envelope; it is much appreciated!!

A weird mix of apprehension, dread and excitement has crept up on me - I still can't believe exactly what it is that I've signed up for! I'm sure all the others that we've got on the books for this are feeling the same way. It's going to be a fantastic day - I really hope the weather holds so that we can get a great view of the Devon countryside.

We're still recruiting people for the skydive - if you're interested, it's not too late! If you can't do the 21st of August, but still want to skydive for Age Concern Exeter, there is not another date - the 25th of September...any takers?! Let us know...01392 202092...I very much hope to jump out of a plane with you!

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Cheese Tasting Evening

Last week, we held a Cheese Tasting Evening at the Bridge Inn in Topsham and what a lovely evening it was. 

It was a sellout event with 50 people eager to taste cheese from Topsham's own Country Cheeses.
The cheeses available were: Sheep's Tor; Sharpham Brie; Beenleigh Blue; Keen's cheddar; Rachel and Trelawny - all different and flavoursome in their own ways.

As well as the 6 tasters which came with crackers, there were scrumptious breadrolls to go with cheddar at the end of the evening if anyone was still peckish, and a blind taste competition where 3 other cheeses had to be identified.

Our good friend, Dave Pollard, produced a cheese related quiz and other puzzles to keep people pondering during the evening. He also did a rather splendid job of compering the evening.

Thank you to everyone who supported the event. We raised £304.15 and enjoyed an evening of lovely company in the process :-)