The plan for summer!

I'm not sure how many people will check this, but I thought I'd just do a quick post to say that we've received a list of what we expect the money will be spent on this summer.

The lady who runs the orphanage, Lillian, seems really excited to meet us and is wanting to plan how they'll greet us when we arrive - it's only 6 weeks away now!

The information about materials and costing is in the file available to download at the link below. The total comes to almost £14000, which is more than we expected but we hope we'll be able to make it to that amount so that we can finish the building and leave them with a fantastic place to live until next year, when we can give them even more.

So, if you'd like to see what we'll be up to, there is an Excel file here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9N27Y0AA

Click the link, type the letters in the box at the top right, and there you go!

I'm in France!

Seven weeks, 14 swims, 1416 lengths, 22 miles... I'm in France! But they wouldn't have me because I'm still waiting for my new passport, so I've had to come home.

My dad came to swim with me tonight and mum was watching from the side (as usual, she found someone she knew to talk to). There were the usual ones getting in the way but one of the things I've learned is just to head straight for them and if they don't move - tough!

It still hasn't sunk in that I've done it!

Thank you to everyone who's sponsored me - the total from the swim is £664 which is so much more than I ever expected.

And now I'm going to have a glass of wine!

The most ridiculous thing happened.

Just as I was running out of things to write about on here, something almost spectacular happened.

I go to the pool at Barnoldswick. I pay. I get changed. I have a shower. I head for the pool. But wait... why is there a shutter down?! I can hear people in the pool - but I can't get to it!

I was totally confused. Why had they let me pay if the pool wasn't open? Who was in there with no way of getting out? What was going on?!

I decided to go and ask at the front desk, which meant getting changed again. Just as I was getting things out of my locker another lady went into the changing rooms. Then another. I began to think that maybe I was a bit early... It was 8.10, and I thought the session started at 8pm, but maybe it was 8.30. I went back to the showers and hung around there for a while, and then a few more women appeared. Everyone was a bit confused by the shutter, but they opened it at 8.30. Thank goodness!!

It was very busy for a while and I was sick of people getting in my way, but slowly they all left and I was on my own for the last 10 minutes. Lovely!

I swum another 2 miles, meaning there is only one more to go!!

A very uninteresting swim this time... it was relatively quiet and I had enough time to do 2 miles, then a bit extra - in total I did 142 lengths. Actually, I think I did a bit more as I kept losing count and going back to the lowest amount I thought I was on!

This means I have exactly 3 miles to go - 192 lengths. Almost there!

Getting closer (to France, and to the fundraising target)

Once again I've been slow in updating this, sorry.

I think the main reason is that I feel like I've finished already, because of the amazing amount of money I've raised so far! On Saturday we held a coffee morning and the total from that alone now stands at just over £425!! I never expected it to be so much and it means that, when added to swimming sponsorship (providing I finish and everyone pays up, of course) my total is about £1,100. As a group of 12 we are aiming for £12,000, so I'm well on track! Thank you to everyone involved in the coffee morning, particularly my mum for all her hard work.

I was at the pool again on Monday, and it was a bit of a performance. Tom dropped me off at Colne, where I knew there was swimming club but thought there would be lanes open for public swimming... guess what? There weren't! So I had to ring home and ask for Tom to be sent back (he hadn't even made it home yet!). He then drove me to Barnoldswick for attempt number 2. Mum had rung to check whilst I was waiting for Tom, and been told I could swim between 8.30 and 9.30pm. I arrived at 8pm, so I had to wait for half an hour before I could go in!

When I did make it into the water it was relatively uneventful. There were 2 lanes, which on first inspection both looked like slow lanes. I decided that wasn't fair so I invaded one which contained 2 other ladies. One was swimming as slow as the people in the other lane, but the other was swimming at exactly my speed. We got on well! Although we did have to keep shuffling around and overtaking the other lady, meaning I couldn't get as much done as I wanted to. I have no idea why she didn't move to the other lane, as she was clearly annoyed at us.

In the end I only had 50 minutes to swim so I got 80 lengths done. And just to top it all off, mum missed the turning into the pool and had to drive around Barlick!

Apologies for the delay...

... things have been busy and I had a slight disagreement with my computer. All is now resolved, and today's update brings you not one, not two, but three blog posts! The most recent follows here, and two more can be found below.

Today I was back once again in my trusty Byker pool. I dislike the swimming experience, but I am growing quite fond of the sauna.

I didn't really have a particular aim for today - I thought 2 miles might be pushing it after Monday.

I started out in a great position next to a wall. This is the best place to be as it means you can only find yourself under attack from side, and it's quite easy to fend them off. However, today I discovered the one great weakness of this spot - the steps. People get in the pool, can't be bothered to move far and start swimming in my space! I don't understand how they think this will ever work. It's not a multi-storey swimming pool. You can't go under or over me. You have to go round. And inevitably I am the one who ends up going round, because most of the people in Byker are pretty scary looking.

Then, something a bit strange happened. Everyone in the pool except me gathered in one corner. I thought, "great! I'll move to that gigantic empty space", and did so. All at once the group in the corner disbanded and attacked my lovely space. It was very odd, and I take it as further evidence that there is a conspiracy.

The rest of the swim was the same as usual - people swimming every way except in a straight line from shallow end to deep end and back again, and using some of the most insane strokes I have ever seen. One man's attempt at butterfly was little more than flopping into the water in a star shape. He didn't move very far.

So, I am at 1002 lengths or 15.5 miles, and I am now back at home for Easter so there will be all new pool experiences to report on next week!

On Monday afternoon I journeyed to Killingworth once more - this is definitely my favourite pool.

My aim was 130 lengths, as I knew this would take me to 14 miles. It would also be the furthest I have ever swum!

Things got off to a good start, but soon the children were arriving (I always forget how early the schools finish!). There were 2 lanes but I was in neither due to lessons taking place, so the large leftover space quickly settled into half for adults swimming lengths and the rest for children messing around. Until... girl + father arrived and proceeded to wander around amongst the sensible length swimmers! At one point I was treading water next to this man for a full minute as he had his head half under the water and didn't see me. He was just standing there. He kept coming up for air and looking around but somehow not seeing me. I couldn't go round him because of other swimmers on one side and his daughter flailing about on the other. When he eventually spotted me he did an amazing comedy jump and splash - I must have terrified him! He did at least have the decency to apologise and move himself and child out of the way.

Both lanes emptied after I'd done the first mile so I moved into the nearest one. I was quickly followed by 4 of the slowest breaststroke swimmers I have ever encountered - with astoundingly dry hair, and probably quite severe neck ache - so I moved over again, and had a whole lane to myself until I hit 130. Can't believe I made it!