It's official, it's a sell out!
In reality we could have sold the tickets nearly twice over and for a lot more money too. But having never really organised anything like this before, we were worried about aiming to high. Therefore in the process making the event too big or worse to expensive which would have prevented many people form attending. The real shocker to both Janet and I, is that everyone we have invited has been 100% supportive and they are all really shocked that we are actually going to make any profit form the £15 ticket prices. In hindsight we should have sold them for £20 each the extra £5 would have made a massive difference. Oh well.........we always said we would aim for £1000 and hopefully with the raffle and our sponsored silence and saree evening we should be able to achieve this.
We are now both extremely busy with the fundraising preparations. The Sitar are providing a fabulous meal, we have secured a performance form the 'Love Bollywood Dance Troupe' and hopefully a separate performance from Rajvi who is a traditional Indian Dancer. Phil Perry has offered us his services and will be our magician for part of the evening and toastmaster. We have been shopping not only in Southall but Bury Park in Luton and we have bought a technicoloured assortment of fabrics for table cloths and runners. We have now purchased the candles and table arrangements etc etc. People have been very generous with raffle prizes which has been great.
The only real thing left to do is buy our saree's and organise a test run table layouts. This, you would think would be straight forward, but nothing is straightforward. Your probably wondering. Why do this? The simple answer is, we are worried we won't be able to fit everyone in. If this does turn out to be the case, we have only four weeks to find and alternative venue. This obviously would have its advantages, mainly being we could sell more tickets and make more money. Hopefully the venue will be okay. Please make it be okay. Because changing venue at the last minute could turn into a nightmare.
Karen x
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Thursday, 17 February 2011
It's a sell out...
OMG what a overwhelming reaction. Janet and I are both amazed at the reaction and response from our family and friends. In less that 10 days we have sold over 100 tickets. (however, we still need to get the money in) LOL.
Hopefully once we haggle down the price the Sitar India Resturant will be providing the food, I have found a fabulous young lady called Rajvi who does traditional Indian dance, she wants to join us and be part of the evening too. We also have an amazing majician and toast master in Phil Perry.
We have had one set back.....And its giving me a big headache. Our venue just isn't big enough. We were hoping on 150 guests but after a visit to the venue today that is not going to be possible. The venue just would not cope. We have had to make the decision to stop ticket sales at 116, which is unfortunate. Missing out on 34 lots of £15 is not good. It also means we are now having to allocate reserved tickets on a first come fisrt served basis. If we were a company this would be great. But this isn't the case.
We could try and get another venue and increase the numbers to 150 plus, but this is expensive. Hotels are charging thousands for room hire etc and our budget is very small.
So we will be squeezing 116 people into the venue, it will be snug and cosy but the atmosphere should be great.
Hopefully once we haggle down the price the Sitar India Resturant will be providing the food, I have found a fabulous young lady called Rajvi who does traditional Indian dance, she wants to join us and be part of the evening too. We also have an amazing majician and toast master in Phil Perry.
We have had one set back.....And its giving me a big headache. Our venue just isn't big enough. We were hoping on 150 guests but after a visit to the venue today that is not going to be possible. The venue just would not cope. We have had to make the decision to stop ticket sales at 116, which is unfortunate. Missing out on 34 lots of £15 is not good. It also means we are now having to allocate reserved tickets on a first come fisrt served basis. If we were a company this would be great. But this isn't the case.
We could try and get another venue and increase the numbers to 150 plus, but this is expensive. Hotels are charging thousands for room hire etc and our budget is very small.
So we will be squeezing 116 people into the venue, it will be snug and cosy but the atmosphere should be great.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Fundraising Fun
The heat is now on to sell tickets. £15 each. such a bargin if i do say so myself. Indian themed evening, curry, music, dancing, entertainment etc.
We need to sell 150 tickets. I do hope all my family and friends will support me. Fingers crossed x
We need to sell 150 tickets. I do hope all my family and friends will support me. Fingers crossed x
Karen x
Hopefully the hard work will pay off...
At last, our UH Grant Application has been sent. Dozens of hours work, eight drafts, late nights and lots of stress. A very big thank you to Janet, who has worked endlessly on it while I have been studying at UH. And a big thank you to Rosie for all her constructive criticism and IT skill.
We started off with an idea to change the world in 32 days, we were totally over ambitious, but eventually we got there. We have pin pointed our project right down. It's title now being 'Our World, Our Stories'. Fingers crossed we are successful. We should here something by the middle of March.
Finally we can take a deep breath and relax.
Karen x
We started off with an idea to change the world in 32 days, we were totally over ambitious, but eventually we got there. We have pin pointed our project right down. It's title now being 'Our World, Our Stories'. Fingers crossed we are successful. We should here something by the middle of March.
Finally we can take a deep breath and relax.
Karen x
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
A strange feeling...
Today I have had the honour of visiting the Swaninarayan Mandir in Neasden, London with all my fellow BEd1 students. WOW! I rarely get lost for words but this is such an special place. I feel that visitng the Mandir is making me connect more with India and what it might feel like to be there.
For everyone who knows me, they will know that I am not religious. I would say I am spiritual and a believer in fate but definatley not religious. I have had the pleasure of teaching RE to infant children and ,I like the children enjoy the magic that surrounds religion.
Howeve,r I have never been able to answer why it is, that when I do visit a place of worship, I feel all goosebumpy and emotional. This happens to me every Xmas Eve when I visit my local church for Nativity, church weddings, funerals a christenings. It happens when I visit Amavarati the Buddhist Temple in Great Gaddesden and when I have stepped into various catherderals, basillicas and shrines around the world. It happened today at the Mandir. Such an overwhelming feeling, I find it hard to describe or put into words.
So it got me thinking, Whats going to happen when I get to India? The numerous sacred temples in Delhi, the Magnificent Taj Mahal, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Buddhist temples in Mcleodganj, and St Mary's Catholic School. Am I going to be so overcome with emotion? I have a funny feeling I will. Was I always destined to go to India? What will I really find when I get there? I know it will change me, but am I ready to be changed. The emotions I feel today have unnerved me. However as a believer in fate, I read my friend Anna's blog prior to writing my own and there she had written this:
His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama...
The True Meaning of Life:
"We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other peoples happiness you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life".
My pending trip to India has got me worked up into such excitment, but then a little part of me thinks WHAT ARE YOU DOING. The more I speak to people about my plans the more I know its going to be an amazing adventure and the right thing to do. Fingers crossed.
Karen x
For everyone who knows me, they will know that I am not religious. I would say I am spiritual and a believer in fate but definatley not religious. I have had the pleasure of teaching RE to infant children and ,I like the children enjoy the magic that surrounds religion.
Howeve,r I have never been able to answer why it is, that when I do visit a place of worship, I feel all goosebumpy and emotional. This happens to me every Xmas Eve when I visit my local church for Nativity, church weddings, funerals a christenings. It happens when I visit Amavarati the Buddhist Temple in Great Gaddesden and when I have stepped into various catherderals, basillicas and shrines around the world. It happened today at the Mandir. Such an overwhelming feeling, I find it hard to describe or put into words.
So it got me thinking, Whats going to happen when I get to India? The numerous sacred temples in Delhi, the Magnificent Taj Mahal, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Buddhist temples in Mcleodganj, and St Mary's Catholic School. Am I going to be so overcome with emotion? I have a funny feeling I will. Was I always destined to go to India? What will I really find when I get there? I know it will change me, but am I ready to be changed. The emotions I feel today have unnerved me. However as a believer in fate, I read my friend Anna's blog prior to writing my own and there she had written this:
His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama...
The True Meaning of Life:
"We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other peoples happiness you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life".
My pending trip to India has got me worked up into such excitment, but then a little part of me thinks WHAT ARE YOU DOING. The more I speak to people about my plans the more I know its going to be an amazing adventure and the right thing to do. Fingers crossed.
Karen x
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Bollywood Dancing and Ibuprofen
Another fantastic day of planning!
Janet and I have spent a few hours brainstorming our grant proposal again. It changes eveytime we talk about it. With a bit of constructive critizism (Rosie, thank you!) we have decided that our original proposal was a bit OTT. Totally unrealistic in terms of time. So we have slimmed it down a little. Our project is now going to be themed 'Our World thorough Story Telling', this makes more sense. Seven continents, books and associated artefacts. Obviously its not that simple. The resources list alone is going to be vast, we need to raise the money, source the products, order the products and then ship the products to India. We really are going to be on a tight schedual. But if anyone can do it, we can do it.
We headed off to Watford at 2.30pm today, looking for a little bit of Bollywood. Well, what a drama! We turned up to find a sparkly 'Bollywood' dancer stressing in the carpark of the Centrepoint Community centre, this turned out to be Gopi, the lady who runs the Love Bollywood Dance Troupe and dance school. Watford council had booked her to take part in a community fun day and Janet and I were going to see if we could sweet talk her into performing at our fundraiser. Gopi and her dancers had turned up to find the community centre locked up. I was a bit gutted to say the least. So while she was stressing and frantically trying to contact the events co-ordinator, Janet popped into the shop and bought nan bread and a pint of milk??? and I strolled over to the community centre to read the flyers in the window. There staring at me was a poster, inviting the local community to a family fun day. I called Gopi over. Gopi I said,' Your at the wrong venue'. Panic over but with only minutes to spare we all got back into our cars and rushed to Meriden Community Centre. Ten minuted later we were sitting in a hall watching Gopi perform. It was lovely. So to cut a long story short... We have asked Gopi to perform at our fundraiser. I just have to email her the details. Fingers crossed she is free on the 2nd April.
We also decided today to organise a sponsored silence. Yes SILENCE....... Janet and I silent. Silent meaning no talking. Well this could be a challenge. More details to follow on this unrealistic idea. lol.
I have also today, finalised the invitations for our Indian Themed Dinner Dance and these have now gone to print. We have 150 tickets to sell at £15 each.
Karen x
Janet and I have spent a few hours brainstorming our grant proposal again. It changes eveytime we talk about it. With a bit of constructive critizism (Rosie, thank you!) we have decided that our original proposal was a bit OTT. Totally unrealistic in terms of time. So we have slimmed it down a little. Our project is now going to be themed 'Our World thorough Story Telling', this makes more sense. Seven continents, books and associated artefacts. Obviously its not that simple. The resources list alone is going to be vast, we need to raise the money, source the products, order the products and then ship the products to India. We really are going to be on a tight schedual. But if anyone can do it, we can do it.
We headed off to Watford at 2.30pm today, looking for a little bit of Bollywood. Well, what a drama! We turned up to find a sparkly 'Bollywood' dancer stressing in the carpark of the Centrepoint Community centre, this turned out to be Gopi, the lady who runs the Love Bollywood Dance Troupe and dance school. Watford council had booked her to take part in a community fun day and Janet and I were going to see if we could sweet talk her into performing at our fundraiser. Gopi and her dancers had turned up to find the community centre locked up. I was a bit gutted to say the least. So while she was stressing and frantically trying to contact the events co-ordinator, Janet popped into the shop and bought nan bread and a pint of milk??? and I strolled over to the community centre to read the flyers in the window. There staring at me was a poster, inviting the local community to a family fun day. I called Gopi over. Gopi I said,' Your at the wrong venue'. Panic over but with only minutes to spare we all got back into our cars and rushed to Meriden Community Centre. Ten minuted later we were sitting in a hall watching Gopi perform. It was lovely. So to cut a long story short... We have asked Gopi to perform at our fundraiser. I just have to email her the details. Fingers crossed she is free on the 2nd April.
We also decided today to organise a sponsored silence. Yes SILENCE....... Janet and I silent. Silent meaning no talking. Well this could be a challenge. More details to follow on this unrealistic idea. lol.
I have also today, finalised the invitations for our Indian Themed Dinner Dance and these have now gone to print. We have 150 tickets to sell at £15 each.
Karen x
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Inspirational People
Excited is not the word!
In life its not always what you know, but who you know. These people can help you discover things about yourself and the world we life in, in a flash. People come and go in everyones lifes, but some people we meet on the way leave a lasting impression. They have a thirst for life and living. These people to me, are creative, inspirational, warm hearted and caring and passionate. They don't sit back and wait for things to happy, they grab life, give it a shake and take a leap into the unknown.
Janet Holdsworth and Anna Mullock are two of these amazing people. Without them I would not be sitting here writing this blog.
Janet is bonkers. Bonkers in a good way. I've know Janet since I was 21, at first she was just my boyfriends, sister in law. Now she is mine. I always wanted a sister and I have one in her. Our Indian journey so far is bonding us in a way I could not have imagined. Laughter is the best word to describe our relationship. Nothing is impossible in our eyes. We might be diving into the deep end, but we wouldn't want it any other way. India is looming and we are becoming more excited by the day. It's not an excitment like when you go on holiday in the summer, its an excitement like when you remember how it felt as a child on Christmas Eve, the anticipation of Santa Clause and all those presents. Thats what this experience feels like. We are not going to India on holiday, we are going to India to change the lifes of over 500 children. And if anyone can do it we can.
Anna is in India as I write. If you want to be inspired read her blog. wwwbackpack-3kids-mountaintoclimb.blogspot.com
Anna is truly inspirational, as a mother and teacher. If you read her blog you will understand why I say this. Not only is she travelling with her wonderful husband Hamish (mindthegaptravel.co.uk) she is travelling with her three children. There is not a mountain to high that she will not climb. She will not sit by and see others suffer, especially not children. She wants to make this world a better place for her children......... and single handed she will do everything in her power to make this happen.
In life its not always what you know, but who you know. These people can help you discover things about yourself and the world we life in, in a flash. People come and go in everyones lifes, but some people we meet on the way leave a lasting impression. They have a thirst for life and living. These people to me, are creative, inspirational, warm hearted and caring and passionate. They don't sit back and wait for things to happy, they grab life, give it a shake and take a leap into the unknown.
Janet Holdsworth and Anna Mullock are two of these amazing people. Without them I would not be sitting here writing this blog.
Janet is bonkers. Bonkers in a good way. I've know Janet since I was 21, at first she was just my boyfriends, sister in law. Now she is mine. I always wanted a sister and I have one in her. Our Indian journey so far is bonding us in a way I could not have imagined. Laughter is the best word to describe our relationship. Nothing is impossible in our eyes. We might be diving into the deep end, but we wouldn't want it any other way. India is looming and we are becoming more excited by the day. It's not an excitment like when you go on holiday in the summer, its an excitement like when you remember how it felt as a child on Christmas Eve, the anticipation of Santa Clause and all those presents. Thats what this experience feels like. We are not going to India on holiday, we are going to India to change the lifes of over 500 children. And if anyone can do it we can.
Anna is in India as I write. If you want to be inspired read her blog. wwwbackpack-3kids-mountaintoclimb.blogspot.com
Anna is truly inspirational, as a mother and teacher. If you read her blog you will understand why I say this. Not only is she travelling with her wonderful husband Hamish (mindthegaptravel.co.uk) she is travelling with her three children. There is not a mountain to high that she will not climb. She will not sit by and see others suffer, especially not children. She wants to make this world a better place for her children......... and single handed she will do everything in her power to make this happen.
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