Let it snow let it snow let it snow

Lo siento para la mas tarde post, tengo español en martes noches - sorry for the late post, I have spanish on tuesday nights :)

Not alot to report today, other than it's now -3 and just a tad too windy/cold for a bike ride, a lame excuse I know but...

Had another £30 in sponsors today, thankyou!!

Emailed the South Wales Argus to see about getting some local media attention. Should help generate some more donations. Even been working on a press release... certainly a first for me :)

Brought (ordered) Camelbak hydration system for those longer rides, no more stopping, unclipping, bending just to get a drink... still need to get a helmet though. Don't care how daft I may look, after seeing some of those drops at Cwmcarn, I'm not risking my noggin, that grey matter is expensive stuff!!

Also started emailing some big company's to see about getting sponsors, alas the replies so far don't look promising. The big company's tend to allocate a certain amount for charity and won't share that budget with small fry like me :(

Ahh well, was worth a try!! if you don't ask you don't get!!

Will try and keep a tally on the miles and funds raised on every blog entry, so you can keep upto date from the latest entry!! Something like:-

Total fundraising to date: £590.00
Miles Rode Today: 0
Miles Rode Since 16/02/06: 29

Until tomorrow...

Monday, said Mr Kipling

Had another £50 in sponsors today, thankyou!!

Got my kit ready for the mornings ride. No way was I doing it this morning, didn't get to bed til gone 2 last night!!

Early night tonight (si es posible)

Have been working on a "press release" and getting the basis of a letter I can use to write to company's asking for their support... It's hard work but all worth it!! If you don't ask, you don't get!!

PS didn't quite "give" the smokes up... but i did manage to half my normal daily amount, 1 day at a time!!

PPS Forest of Dean confirmed for Saturday :)

Artic Sunday

We had Siberian winds last week, now we have Artic... we're in Wales... why can't we have Welsh wind?? Where-ever the wind has come from, it's freezing!!

Had a bit too much drink on Friday to go out on the bike Saturday, a lame excuse i know. Was good to see England get brought down a peg in the Rugby though, even though me Dad is English through and through, alas Scotland just played the better game and deserved the win LOL!!

Today (Sunday) well... no excuse really, was going to go out this afternoon (even though it's registering 1 degree C, but i've started watching the Wales V Ireland 6 Nations match and it's just too intense not to watch.

Going to try and give up smoking tomorrow, i got the chewing gum!! Also need to start thinking of a decent diet, no more fatty foods and processed junk, and i'm gonna stop drinking the 10 cups of coffee a day in work!! More fruit and water, i don't do veg!!

Also, being as it's starting to getting lighter earlier and darker later, may even try and get out on bike before and after work this week. Theres a nice 8 mile trek along the canal down to Newport and back, that's 16 miles a day. Do that for 5 days, that's 80 miles this week :)

Hopefully going to Forest of Dean this weekend coming, failing that, i'll be taking on Cwmcarn again!! .

Score so far, Ireland 24, Wales 5

:(

Thank Crunchie it's friday!!

£485 so far, thanks to all those who have donated!!

Took 2 big boxes of ink cartridges down to Christine Harris at St Anne's as they can get these recycled and in return get some money for them. Met Brian from the fundraising dept. and in a strange twist, found out he used to work with my Grandad when he was in the Police force (Newport). It's true, it is a small world... (bet i won't be saying that when i'm cycling through Vietnam!!)

It's friday... my Dad's come down from London for the weekend (alas golf is out, can't see a golf ball in the snow!!), Sisters birthday tomorrow so a few drinkies and a family meal tonight!!

Also would have been my Grandads birthday this Sunday (26th) so i'll be getting some flowers and a card and visiting the gardens of St Michaels. I miss him so much, still hard to beleive he's not here any more, but i know he'll always be in my heart and mind forever!!

Hope to get out on the bike tomorrow morning (if it's not too bad on the snow) and get about 20 - 30 miles on the clock

Thankyou

Wow... I've been posting on a few forums i regulary visit to let people know about my challenge, the traffic to my site has been great!! And so far I've had just over £300 in donations, THANK YOU!!!

Must admit though, my Dad (my other childhood Hero) has very kindly donated £200 of that :) thanks Dad, knew you would believe in me!! I won't let you down!! (PS I thought i'd leave you to be the "parachutist" in the family)

Sent a few emails to people in work, had a great conversation with our Dell business manager (Martine Sable - a godsend!!), really is encouraging when someone you don't personally know gives their support. If you read this, thanks Martine and... enjoy the holiday, you deserve it

Also, being as i'm turning into a charitable person, I got over my fear of needles today and gave blood... what a wuss i was!! Even Charlie (from accounts) managed to do it with no fuss.... me though, prfff apart from nearly fainting, talking complete gibberish (out of fear), nearly being sick, being told off by the nurse, having to lye back down for another 15 minutes, nearly fainting again, having a drink and being sick, now feeling like i've just done a marathon... it went well. My first blood giving donation... dunno what all the fuss is about, it was easy :)

Woo Hoooo

Sponsor me pages are now live... what you waiting for??? Get over to www.cycle4charity.org and click the SPONSOR ME link :)

Spoke with Randi at ATD (Across the Divide), confirmed it was OK to go ahead and create sponsor pages, been doing it since i got in from work.

Tweaked the site a bit more, now added a £££'s link where you can see the current fundraising total. I'll keep this updated as and when donations come in.

Don't hang about, sponsor me now :)

Just added direct links to JustGiving sponsor pages on menu ------>

2 down, 1 to go

Had confirmation from Across the Divide for my registration today. Waiting to hear from them now regarding the setting up of the SPONSOR ME pages on JustGiving. Should be tomorrow :)

Also had some pictures sent to me from Randi at ATD, they were taken from the last trip to Vietnam and pretty impressive to say the least. Will upload them ASAP.

Roll on saturday

Roll on saturday... say's it all really!! I hate mondays!! :(

It hasn't rained on me today, it's just been one long monsoon!!

Sunday - Nice n Easy

After yesterdays battle, todays ride was nice n easy. A bit cold, windy even wet at times, but in comparison to yesterday...

20 Miles (32Km) along the canal, just under 2 hrs.

Back to work tomorrow, ho humm

Steve 1, Cwmcarn 0

Ouch is all i have to say... man was that hard!! I've been riding approx 30 miles a weekend for the last couple of weeks along the canal, no problems. And I like to think I'm semi fit, Cwmcarn though... only a 15K (9.3 miles) trail but man what a 15k. Theres a distinct difference between riding along a canal and then taking on a mountain... my lungs were coming out my ****



Shouldn't really complain though, i do smoke after all, but not for long!!!

The weather was perfect, had some good people along for the trip and the views were fantastic, no i really mean it!! And, if you listened hard enough, you could just about hear a mouse fart, it was amazing, not the mouse fart, but the quietness/tranquility etc.. The only sounds were of rivers running and birds singing. Not a car, phone, radio or humm of a server to be heard, sheer bliss!!

Anyway, take a look yourself :)

I ain't riding up that!!

Even the pro's have a break!!

Me struggling to get on me bike!!

Ahhh, the river...

Dave takes a wrong turn...

Forest view

Top o the world

Risca, far far away...

Don't fall left!!!

Was an amazing day and certainly an eye opener on my current fitness. Course took us approx 2.5 hrs to complete, but that was with photo's and several 3 minute-catch-our-breaths-back breaks :)

St Anne's Funding

Had a meeting with Christine Harris of St Anne's Hospice fundraising department this afternoon. Decided to buy some flowers for the "girls" in St Anne's before i arrived (i always do :) Got quite upset just walking into the ward, then when i saw one of the nurses i recognised, i welled right up.

Introduced to Christine (funding raising dept., had plenty of tissues...), had a really good chat about why i'm doing the challenge, my grandad (everyone knew him, or should i say his stories), what i intend to do etc... went really well. Helped my confidence no end, knowing the funds raised will be put to very good use. Besides which, it's all been a dream, but now, meeting and contacting people and companies... it's ohh so real

Posted Across the Divide registration form, medical and reg. cheque this afternoon

It's all starting :)

Nevermind, tis the weekend now and i got a battle with Cwmcarn mountain trail to take on tomorrow!! Piccies to follow

Cwmcarn - let the training begin

going here on saturday, if the weather holds out :)

Yup, i love photoshop :)

Steve Lee

A new dawn

Well, this is it. A new dawn... Doctors have given me the go-a-head and i'm fit to go. Just need to get the registration forms and cheque in the post.

Sponsor pages should be going live on monday :)

Time to start seriously thinking about quiting smoking!!