SPONSOR ME FOR ONE PENNY A DAY
Okay you all know me by now - that cheeky chap from London, but hear me out before you think I'm asking for more than I should. Just before Xmas our doorbell rang, and when I opened it there was a delightfully happy face looking at me - you could almost see this young lady's soul so bright was her smile - I'm used to smiles we've got some nice ones in the family. It appears this young lady was trying to drum up support for a sponsored run she is doing this month for cancer. I didn't hesitate, but said I couldn't give her any money this moment, and as soon as I went out next - remember I don't drive - I would see a fiver was put aside for her good cause which was cancer. I've put by a ten pound note really, but she doesn't know yet. Now this short but happy encounter started the rusty ol' cogs in my brain to work over time, and before I knew it a bold plan was already hatched. Now you know me I'll gab about anything especially a charity close to my heart, or should I say legs. With all the cheek of a cockney sparrow here's the plot - as the title suggests I would like as many people to sponsor me for just one penny a day, not just one day silly, but for the whole year, and as it isn't a leap year that means coughing up three pound sixty five pence each. You might think I've got a bit of a cheek - well I have, but just think how much I could raise if I get enough sponsors. You see anyone who takes on the task of helping a charity needs encouragement even if it appears the task they are about to accomplish is simple. Well that might be the case for some, but to me now it's like swimming to America and back - remember the act of being charitable is helped along by others enthusiasuim being charitable, and in this case the number of sponsors I get to help me do that will spur me on so I'm hoping most of my friends will be writing a cheque as soon as they know I'm on a mission. Okay you want to know which charity will receive the dosh? Could it be any other than the Neuropathy Trust - after all for all I know as each month goes by my task might be almost unbearable. You see as a young apprentice painter and decorator I was unlucky enough to get lead poisoning - this damages nerve end - in my case to the lower legs oh it was slow to show while I was in my prime, but as I got into my seventies it became apparent something was not right. Add looking after a very lovely lady who has done no wrong, but develop dementia and it becomes overwhelming at times. I'm not complaining because I was in it for the long haul from the beginning, but I've had to learn skills I never dreamt about. Just take putting on a pair of tights each morning - not on me daft - I'm talking about Irene. Well you should have to serve an apprenticeship before you tackle it - you've got one leg in with a struggle, and then attempting to rolling up the other leg when she smacks you in the face with her other knee, and all done while bent over double. I'm only telling you this so as you know how much my life has changed - but my hobby is the one thing that hasn't changed, but the way I tackle it has. Oh it has its funny side of course these things always do have, but it's a whole new way of life for me. Nothing can be done in the greenhouse unless someone is here because Irene cannot be left. To give you another example - she still does her own make up, but can't do the blusher - I left her once to finish making the bed, and she was just putting on her lipstick - when I came back she's put lipstick on both cheeks, and looked like aunt Sally - so I can only do hobby jobs when someone else is here. Everything has to be ferried backwards and forward from greenhouse to the conservatory. I prepare for this when one or other of my daughters are here - even the simple task of taking cuttings has three or four times the amount of work attached to it - I lost count of the number of times I walked the twenty four drunken steps to the greenhouse ferrying box after box - pot after pot last year, and now I'm about to recreate the operation. Seriously anyone who cares to help me help this particular trust will have my gratitude forever - after all charity deeds aren't only carried out by young bright and happy young people are they?
To donate please click on their name Neuropathy Trust any amount is most welcome.