Every day for the past week, parcels have been arriving at my house. Books, arts/crafts materials, paints, pens, skipping ropes, PE equipment etc etc etc.
Tomorrow, Janet and I will be sorting it all out and thinking about how we are going to get it to India.
Very exciting...
Karen x
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
44 day count down
Not long now.
We have started spending the money we raised on resources and my conservatory is starting to look like a school stock room. I didn't realise just how stressful spending the money would be.
I have had most of my innoculations and my arms hurt.
My new passport arrived last week and that has now been sent off to the Indian Embassy via Trailfinders for my visa.
Its all go.... Not as manic as orgainsing the fundraiser but equally as stressful.
It really has begun to dawn on us what we are about to do... No backing out now...
Karen x
We have started spending the money we raised on resources and my conservatory is starting to look like a school stock room. I didn't realise just how stressful spending the money would be.
I have had most of my innoculations and my arms hurt.
My new passport arrived last week and that has now been sent off to the Indian Embassy via Trailfinders for my visa.
Its all go.... Not as manic as orgainsing the fundraiser but equally as stressful.
It really has begun to dawn on us what we are about to do... No backing out now...
Karen x
How much!
When we set out to raise money for resources for the children of St Mary's, we had hoped to raise £1000. I am happy to say we actually raised £1300 plus an extra £500 from HSBC which will go direct to St Mary's via Mind the Gap to help pay towards an interactive white board.
Thank you to everyone who supported us. I hope you had a great evening.
Karen x
Thank you to everyone who supported us. I hope you had a great evening.
Karen x
The morning after the night before.
What a wonderful evening.
It flew by so quickly I rarely got a chance to absorb the atmosphere.
The hall looked wonderful, I was amazed at how many ladies came in fabulous sequined Saree's and the men all looking like James Bond look a likes (Doug & Joe) I'm talking about you.
We were greeted by such admiration by all our guests. Everyone I spoke to marvelled at what we were doing.
Gopi and the Love Bollywood dance troupe were fantastic, Mamma and the Indian cuisine was delicious. (I actually didn't have any) but I was told numerous times from friends.
Janet had planned a speech, I let her go first as I hadn't even thought about what I would say. I had a lump in my throat as I stood by her side and watched our 106 guests look up to us. Soon it was over to me. I just spoke from my heart. I caught Doug & Abbeys eye and thanked my family for allowing me to do this. I then looked at Anna & Hamish. Anna as I have mentioned in previous blogs is an inspirational teacher and I thanked her. I was really aware that my Geordie accent was getting stronger and stronger lol.
I then asked Anna & Hamish to join us and they said a few words about Mind the Gap Travel and St Mary's. Everyone starred on in amazement.
The evening was really getting going, everyone was merry on the alcohol they had been drinking. The food and music was lovely as was the company. Chatter and more chatter. I looked around the room and saw all our guests smiling and laughing it was such a wonderful night.
We ended the evening with a raffle and the silent auction. Everyone was yet again so generous. Finally for the last 45 minutes we played some music and ladies danced.
What a night, I will remember it forever.
Karen x
It flew by so quickly I rarely got a chance to absorb the atmosphere.
The hall looked wonderful, I was amazed at how many ladies came in fabulous sequined Saree's and the men all looking like James Bond look a likes (Doug & Joe) I'm talking about you.
We were greeted by such admiration by all our guests. Everyone I spoke to marvelled at what we were doing.
Gopi and the Love Bollywood dance troupe were fantastic, Mamma and the Indian cuisine was delicious. (I actually didn't have any) but I was told numerous times from friends.
Janet had planned a speech, I let her go first as I hadn't even thought about what I would say. I had a lump in my throat as I stood by her side and watched our 106 guests look up to us. Soon it was over to me. I just spoke from my heart. I caught Doug & Abbeys eye and thanked my family for allowing me to do this. I then looked at Anna & Hamish. Anna as I have mentioned in previous blogs is an inspirational teacher and I thanked her. I was really aware that my Geordie accent was getting stronger and stronger lol.
I then asked Anna & Hamish to join us and they said a few words about Mind the Gap Travel and St Mary's. Everyone starred on in amazement.
The evening was really getting going, everyone was merry on the alcohol they had been drinking. The food and music was lovely as was the company. Chatter and more chatter. I looked around the room and saw all our guests smiling and laughing it was such a wonderful night.
We ended the evening with a raffle and the silent auction. Everyone was yet again so generous. Finally for the last 45 minutes we played some music and ladies danced.
What a night, I will remember it forever.
Karen x
The day arrives at last!
After months of planning and preparation the day is now here. I loaded the car this morning and planned to meet Janet at the hall at 4.45pm. We had two hours to lug fourteen tables and 106 chairs out of the cellar and up a narrow stair case. We then had to decorate the hall and set the tables.
Luckily we had four strapping fellas to help us. In no time the table were upstairs and we began setting them. While Janet and I did this Mark and Doug, hung fairy lights and bunting. Mamma from the Sitar even joined in to help us.
Mamma organised his kitchen and the smells of India started to waft around the room. We said goodbye to our husbands and we were left alone to finish the tables. With less than an hour to go before we ourselves would have to get ready we set one table at a time.
Table cloth, runner, gold charger, candle, napkins, name cards, cutlery, favours, table names, silent auction forms etc etc and finally once all the tables were set. I sprinkled fresh rose petals on the tables.
7.05pm panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
We rushed to the ladies toilets and stripped off, having a quick wash in the sink isn't the best way to prepare for an evening out. But that was our only choice. I heard voices. Oh no guests arriving early. How dare they... We were in luck it was Phil our compare and Polly and friends. Polly and her lovely friend, helped us by lighting the candles and putting up pictures of the children at St Mary's. Just as well they arrived early or we would have still been in the loo getting ready.
7.25pm more guests arrived, we were nearly ready. I have never wore a saree before and had only had a few test runs putting it on prior to this evening, but safety pins to the ready and I was off.
7.30pm Ready to greet our guests, NAMASTE...
Luckily we had four strapping fellas to help us. In no time the table were upstairs and we began setting them. While Janet and I did this Mark and Doug, hung fairy lights and bunting. Mamma from the Sitar even joined in to help us.
Mamma organised his kitchen and the smells of India started to waft around the room. We said goodbye to our husbands and we were left alone to finish the tables. With less than an hour to go before we ourselves would have to get ready we set one table at a time.
Table cloth, runner, gold charger, candle, napkins, name cards, cutlery, favours, table names, silent auction forms etc etc and finally once all the tables were set. I sprinkled fresh rose petals on the tables.
7.05pm panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
We rushed to the ladies toilets and stripped off, having a quick wash in the sink isn't the best way to prepare for an evening out. But that was our only choice. I heard voices. Oh no guests arriving early. How dare they... We were in luck it was Phil our compare and Polly and friends. Polly and her lovely friend, helped us by lighting the candles and putting up pictures of the children at St Mary's. Just as well they arrived early or we would have still been in the loo getting ready.
7.25pm more guests arrived, we were nearly ready. I have never wore a saree before and had only had a few test runs putting it on prior to this evening, but safety pins to the ready and I was off.
7.30pm Ready to greet our guests, NAMASTE...
Anna's Blog
During her time in India, Anna wrote a blog as I am doing. In part the blog is to keep friends and family updated with the goings on of our trip. The planning the preparation, the ups and downs and when we finally get their, our impressions, views, tears and laughter. Its really a diary of events. Something for us to look back on in years to come and reflect on.
Anna's blog was magical, I sensed her feelings and emotions through her writing. Her blogs became my new drug. No more Big Brother or X factor just Anna's Blog.
I hope you enjoy reading ours as much as I did reading hers.
Karen x
Anna's blog was magical, I sensed her feelings and emotions through her writing. Her blogs became my new drug. No more Big Brother or X factor just Anna's Blog.
I hope you enjoy reading ours as much as I did reading hers.
Karen x
Feeling sick with nerves and excitment.
Today our lovely friend Anna, who has been travelling around India for the past two month and has been working at St Mary's School came to see us.
OMG we couldn't get the words out quick enough. We were all talking over each other and flitting from one topic to another and then back again. She brought fabrics and gifts she had purchased in Pushkar and Mcleod and this just fuelled our delight and wonder about our pending trip.
EEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Karen x
OMG we couldn't get the words out quick enough. We were all talking over each other and flitting from one topic to another and then back again. She brought fabrics and gifts she had purchased in Pushkar and Mcleod and this just fuelled our delight and wonder about our pending trip.
EEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Karen x
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