♫♫ Thank You Very Much for Your Kind Donation ♫♫..

My usual quick morning check of my financial situation saw me stunned again how donations come from unexpected sources.  A generous donation from a colleague in the Getting Jacqui to Kenya account was a lovely thing to wake up to.  Top that off with a donation from my very special friend Mrs J.    Mrs J had already supported me by running the Mudrun with me, she had also sponsored me but had then proceeded to bid on my disgusting muddy top, it was this money that had been deposited into my account also this morning, thanks Mrs J and Mrs O'

I've put a halt on ALL unnecessary spending, life has become very frugal, but today I did splurge out on a Lonely Planet Kenya guide.  Over the years I've travelled to a number of places and often on my own, but never felt the need to purchase a Lonely Planet book before, but somehow this trip is different, very different.

Whilst I won't have the funds to do go on Safari and see sights that a tourist would see, I hope through the lonely planet book, my chances of seeing the 'real' Kenya exists.

I checked out some flights to Nairobi today, and found they are filling up fast, naively I hadn't taken Christmas into consideration.  I had just assumed that who else is traveling to Kenya at the end of the school year? Obviously far more people than I realised. So I think I have to pull finger and make a booking.  I don't quite have the airfare yet, but I'm sure with a little 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' I will make it happen in the next couple of weeks.

Many other mind blowingly cool things to post, but you know the old adage..."chickens and eggs, chickens and eggs...."

Asante
Jacqui

The HC came through....

I've said it before, and no doubt I'll say it again and again before I get to Kenya,

"I know pretty some amazing people"

The Head Cheerleader (HC) and I chatted this morning as we often do, and again he asked if the proceeds from the sale of a domain name he sold and pledged to me, had shown up yet... and again I said "not yet" 


Then only an hour or two later, checking my banking and wooohoooooo my Getting to Kenya account is $1325.06 healthier than it had been at 06:00 this morning.  What can I say, "Thank you" just doesn't seem enough.  There is no way to describe this person he is just a genuine, good guy, and I'm lucky enough to call him my friend.  Not only had the Domain name money shown up, but a colleague had pledged to sponsor me and the money from her was there too, and more than I expected.... again "Thanks" just doesn't seem enough.  This day certainly had all the hallmarks of a good day.  

I had already planned to take a trip along to the local supermarket - Pac n Save today and chat with the manager, and thats what I did.  He was pretty welcoming, and immediately agreed to provide a gift hamper for the auction, that can be collected on Friday.  Thanks again Pac n Save Lincoln Road.  

Whilst the good buzz was on my side I also detoured off and popped into The Warehouse, I know one of the senior staff members here, a great lady, our girls went to school together and she had kindly sponsored me on the mudrun, so time to pick up that $20:00.  My plan had been to chat with the manager of The Warehouse Lincoln Road, but he wasn't onsite, but my sponsor took my information sheets and letter and said she would had it to him personally tomorrow, I'll take a trip back there and see if I can touch base with him in the next day or so.  

The beauty of having the school holidays off is all the time I've had over the years to spend with my amazing girls... Sadly as the girls get older (nearly 19 & 21) that time is diminishing especially with my eldest, she is in her final year at Uni, she is working weekends, Nannying three days a week, and doing her internship at an inner-city advertising agency.. phew just typing all that makes me exhausted... she really is a hard working, brilliant young woman.  

My youngest is in her first year at Uni, studying teaching, she too is another hard working young woman, who works both days on the weekend, but with the holidays it does give us time to do stuff during the week.  So today we grabbed the opportunity of a glorious sunny but cold day and headed north of Auckland to Orewa.  We got ourselves some hot chips and sat overlooking the beach eating them.  It was great chatting and watching the world go by, but not before discovering the best little 2nd hand bookshop with a very enthusiastic owner.   

All in all... a GREAT DAY.....

We got Dirty, & We liked it

        

What better way to spend a stunning winters day in Auckland than with an amazing group of friends who came along to support me (and have a lot of laughs) 




Waking up this morning we were greeted with an 
abs-olutely glorious winters day, it was chilly with a light frost on the ground, but I could not have asked for a better day to go do my first Tough Girl Tough Guy challenge.  


The ever smiling Mrs J picked me up at 09:00, with her beautiful daughter in tow, the laughing started before we get to the end of my road... and it didn't stop until we all went staggered in our doors at the end of the day... 

Who could ask for better friends? Certainly not I.  

On arrival at the Woodhill Equestrian Centre, there was already a considerable crowd gathering with registration stalls handing out the goody bags and hundreds of eager mud runners ready to have some good old dirty fun.  

"These $3:00 Aviators are going to keep me clean and dry all day, just you watch."

"Bugger I've got mud on my new white t-shirt..."


4026 was going to be my lucky number... I could just tell. 

Here we go the first of a million mud swamps, and this was just a small one to get us into the swing of things..... BRILLIANT, loving it already

Who is that masked man?........  No really who is.. Peter 4680 ? 

 

Nearing the end now, sorry but there are no mid way photos, our lovely photographer wasn't able to get along the course, but there were many professional photographers, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the one of Mrs J and I stuck waist deep and laughing our heads off, just might have been captured for prosperity

Cold, deep and muddy doesn't even come close to describing the last mud'stical sliding down the bank into what quickly became thigh deep mud, only to be faced with a cargo net to belly crawl under, was a brilliant way to finish off a fantastic 6km run, slip, slide, splash.... bring on 2013, I can't wait..

   

Floundering

Not sure why, but I'm floundering a bit this week... 

My contact at Mitre10 just keeps being an amazing superstar, another message last night about what he has got for me for the Silent Auction.  As soon as these items become a reality I will be listing them all on the Acknowledgements page.  Meeting this person has been a Godsend, but still I'm feeling just a little bit flat.  I'm not sure if it's just a culmination of a very busy term at school combined with a whole lot of other stuff I've had on my plate, or if the monumental task in front of me has finally become a reality.  Either way I don't seem to have much direction.  


BUT I WILL.....   Already there are lots of little things that need to be done, I need to arrange pick up of all the bottles of wine that people have kindly pledged.  I'm thinking of asking my daughter to collect them for me as she is on holiday from Uni this week.  If not, another holiday job.  My Head Cheerleader who suggested the Silent Auction, told me I need a team of about three or four people to help co-ordinate the organization of the event, but if the truth be told, I'm finding it hard to ask people to give up their precious personal time, just to help me realize my dream, it's compliment enough that people are being so supportive.  

My daughter decided water walking was the time to give constructive criticisms, she told me to ease up on the Facebook updates re: abs-olutely otherwise people will get sick of hearing about it and not want to help... fair call.  So I'm cutting back to once or twice a week on the FB updates, even if I do update here more regularly... 

AsanteJacq
x

All You Good Good People

It, was Friday and I'd promised the Mega Mitre10 guy a beer. 

To say it's been a tough week, is a bit of an understatement, lots of rubbish going on, that just drags you down, but it was Friday so no complaints there.  

But I just knew it had to be a good sign, that this was going to be a good day, when I got a very positive message via Facebook re: a my guest speaker, I'm not counting my chickens before they've hatched,  so fingers crossed.  I've mentioned the guy from Mega Mitre10 who generously offered support last week, well I promised him a beer for his generosity so far.  He had messaged me during the week to say already a number of items were starting to come in, I know I keep saying it, but I am astounded by how supportive people are.  

I'm constantly hearing "You're brave to be doing this!" it's not brave, it's just the need to fulfill something that has been burning inside me for 25 years.  I can't guarantee when I come back, I won't be looking for ways to return and continue helping there, or maybe once will be enough, who knows?

What I've learnt more than anything since starting this, is it really is about connections, the old adage of it's not what you, but who you know (or maybe who I'm getting to know, as I travel down this road to Kenya)  being the type of person who can talk easily to strangers has helped, and the passion inside me to achieve this, is what makes it even easier. 

My good friend Kerry-ann got the ball rolling last night, she came to meet me for a quick drink after work and we shared a laugh or two (always a lot of laughing with Kerry-ann) I head to the bar to buy the beer I owed the Mitre10 guy, only to return and find her not in our seat.  There she was happily promoting me and my cause to the table of 5 guys behind us, all of whom proceeded to be very generous in their monetary donations and their offers of support. "Thanks" Kerry-ann for being the kind of friend that gets off her butt and helps people, "thanks" random guys in the bar who gave generously, and bought me a wine.  

“When we're connected to others, we become better people.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

The aim for today, my first "door knocking" to local business, if the truth be told, I'm a little scared.  But nothing ventured, nothing gained.  

Watch this space

Asante

Jacq

x

I entitled this post All You Good Good People, because anybody who knows me well, will know the importance of music to me.  I love the song of the same name by the band Embrace, but had never seen the video.  I had intended to link the video clip in via YouTube, but after going and finding it, I just couldn't, it has to be the saddest music video I have ever watched, it moved me to tears, but not in a good way.  So I just couldn't end my positive vibe on a negative note.  Brilliant song though.

In a quandry

After getting really positive feedback on the flyer I'd created I was feeling inspired.  I had asked a good friend to look it over and be as critical as needed.  This friends area of expertise is management, promotions, events and marketing, so he knows what he's talking about, so I know if he makes a suggestion its probably worth listening.  He's also been hugely encouraging in my decision to chase this dream - I'm blessed to have such good people in my life. 


When he rang to give me feedback on the flyer it was all positive, a few "tweaks" suggested here and there, but on the whole all really encouraging.  Then he dropped a bombshell of an idea that sounds nearly as daunting as the Kenya trip itself..... 


The idea if successful would probably raise around half the funds required in one single evening.  "Brilliant" "It's a no brainer" "go for it!!" I hear you say say. But REALLY...? 


If I'm honest I think I could organise it, I think I could make it happen, I'm good at that stuff, but for someone else, I'm not so sure about doing it for me! shameless self promotion isn't my strong point.  I like being behind the scenes. 


By the end of our conversation, I had been sold, I had to agree it sounds like a brilliant idea, and who am I to question the person who thinks this stuff up for a living?  So with his advice ringing in my ears, I am set to try to organise a single event that will hopefully generate approximately $3500.. Last night I started by sending out a few emails... the plan for today, sit down and brainstorm what I need to do, who I need to ask to help me, and work out the way forward from here. Eeeeek. 


Jacq
x

So here's what I did..

I thought to myself, "well Edwards, you can either sit on your chuff and keep saying you want to do this stuff, or you can actually see how you can make it happen"


My life has been a good one, but one thing I wasn't gifted with, was an abundance of self confidence.  I can encourage the next guy to the end of the earth, but when it comes to myself, self doubt creeps in pretty quickly.  I came from a upbringing that didn't really push the 'dream', but luckily over the past few years I have been blessed with a couple of friends who really believe I can do it.  


One of these amazing people has already inspired me in more ways than she can possibly imagine.  She lives a life I can only aspire to, she is not only beautiful both inside and out, but a mentor to many, and an inspiration to me. Life has thrown her some pretty tough situations, but every time she has risen to the challenge.  She has taught in places such as Samoa and Tanzania and she now works as a mentor to teachers in the the less travelled parts of Malaysia.  I'm also blessed to have another friend who tells me repeatedly that "I will achieve this dream, I will make this happen, it will happen because I want it to" this might not sound much, but its not a message I've been on the receiving end of very often.  


On arrival back to Auckland after my couple of days away, the first thing I did was look up Cassandra Treadwell's charity So they Can  and from here I emailed her, and explained my dream.  I was fortunate enough to receive a reply back within the hour, thank you Cassandra, it was just the the encouragement I needed to realise this could actually become a reality.