What is ACTIV-EAT?

Activ-eat is a health education programme for children aged 6-9 years of age, which encourages children to eat a healthy balanced diet and lead healthier lifestyles.

The programme is delivered by Bupa staff to schools across the UK and activities include children tasting different fruits from around the world, making healthy smoothies and playing fun games which highlight the importance of eating five fruit and veg a day. The children are also encouraged to increase their physical activities with the use of pedometers, which are given to each child to take away.

In order to continually improve the scheme, the Bupa Community Connections team work with the Bupa Medical team to create a series of informative booklets for the children to take home, informing parents on dietary advice for children. Community Connections have created an affiliation with the government Healthy Schools initiative to ensure that we are up to date with any government obesity research or new recommendations in the area.

What will happen on the day?

*A team of six Bupa employees will come to the school to teach a lesson to a class centred around healthy eating. The lesson will last approximately 90 minutes.

*The class will be split into four teams by the teacher and named after their favourite fruit i.e. team strawberry.

*The Activ-eat programme has five main activities:

1. Run-a-round - An active game that helps children think about the healthiest options available to them.

2. Gimme 5 - A story told by the volunteer detailing the activities of a boy over the course of a day. The children will all have cards detailing food mentioned within the story and they will have to stick the cards on a poster to show whether the food can be counted as five a day.

3. Top Trumps card game – focusing on foods, with categories such as cool rating, part of your five a day etc. Helping to teach kids that foods that are viewed as cool might not be good for them.

4. Fruits of the World - Allows children to taste fruits from around the world. They then have to point out where they think the food came from on the world map and the facilitator of the station will teach them about the fruits origin and their nutritional value.

5. Smoothies – Smoothie making table. Allowing children to choose fruits to make a healthy smoothie, showing them that what’s good for you doesn’t need to taste bad.

Objective – Why are we doing this?

Child Obesity

Figures from the National Child Measurement programme February 2008 have shown that in four children starting primary school are either overweight or obese. However, the situation does not improve when the child is at school, it actually worsens with the proportion rising to one in three children by age 11.

The scale of the epidemic is made clear by yesterday’s release of the latest results of the National Child Measurement Programme, which showed that 22.9% of four and five-year-olds are either overweight or obese, indicating that there is a serious problem before children even reach school.

By year 6, it has got worse, with 31.6% of children overweight or obese. In both age groups, boys are more likely than girls to be overweight.

As a leading health are care organisation, Bupa is concerned by the rise in obesity rates as  heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis are all conditions linked to obesity. Bupa therefore decided to create Activ-eat and invest in the health of its local communities.

What the school would get out of it?

* Free lesson centred around healthy eating aligned with the curriculum and the Government Healthy Schools initiative

*All materials paid for by Bupa

*All children participating get a free pedometer and prize

* PR support by the Bupa media team so that we can get you a piece in your local paper

*Create a link with the Bupa care home in your area which could lead to further activities if requested

* Four healthy eating booklets created by the Bupa medical team for parents to encourage the message about healthy eating into homes.

*Three week challenge – Pedometers are given out to all children, and a wall chart is used to record how many steps each child has taken, with prizes for the most active.

What’s next?

If you decide you are interested we need to book four sessions over the next year for age groups 6-9, one class at a time. If you are struggling to cover the four sessions you could include year 1 if it takes place at the end of the summer term, as by that stage they will nearly be year 2.

Recommended dates to fall in the following months:

Session 1: November (year 4 preferable)

Session 2: January

Session 3: April

Session4: June/July

Please contact ComConnections@bupa.com for further info and support.

Simon and Mark are cycling from London to Paris in memory of BJ, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. 

They are biking for Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. Their groundbreaking work has saved millions of lives. 

Simon and Mark are cycling to Paris over 4 days, a distance of  300 miles with a first day starting in London and finishing 95 miles later in northern France!  They are funding the total cost of the trip themselves so all donations will go directly to this incredibly worthwhile charity.

Anything you can donate in memory of BJ, to support Cancer Research UK or simply as a mark of respect for these two mad bikers would be hugely appreciated! See www.justgiving.com/cycling-for-bj

Thank you          

Mark and Simon

Young Enterprise is a not-for-profit organisation that runs a number of business-education programmes through the support of local and national business. These include running a real company with the support of volunteers who act as mentors in the Company, Team and Graduate Programmes; and learning about aspects of business from the first hand experiences of volunteers in Primary Programme, Personal Economics, Sell For Success, Learn to Earn, Industry Masterclasses and Project Business.

All of the Young Enterprise Programmes are based on the theory of “learning by doing” and are designed to be practical, hands on and fun.

This year, over 11,500 employees from businesses throughout the UK have volunteered to put enterprise into education by delivering Young Enterprise programmes in schools and colleges, or by taking up voluntary positions on the Young Enterprise Boards.

Young Enterprise volunteers develop real transferable skills through the roles that they take on. Involvement in Young Enterprise can even be used to evidence some of the CPD/ CPE requirements of many professional bodies including ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, ICSA, CIM, ISS and RICS.

Personal benefits include the chance to broaden business and management skills in a real working environment, especially communication, interpersonal and team working skills. Volunteers also find that they develop self-confidence by dealing directly with committed people in sometimes challenging situations. Volunteers also gain a holistic view of business by seeing how a complete company operates, rather than a single function such as production or sales and can use the opportunity for creative thinking.

Who can become a Young Enterprise volunteer?

Everyone! There is no previous experience or expert knowledge required, other than individual experience of work and business and enthusiasm. Business volunteers act as role models from the world of work to young people who have, in most cases, volunteered to become involved. They work alongside teachers/lecturers with specifically designed Young Enterprise programmes and each has a volunteer pack containing information on the programme and how to present/facilitate it as well as support from Young Enterprise on hand if needed.

By getting involved you can make a real difference to the existing lives and future potential of students in your area, as well as gain satisfaction by investing time, skills and knowledge for the benefit of a new generation. Each volunteer can have a positive impact on the local economy and local employment and help to ensure a better motivated, educated and enterprising workforce.

So how do you volunteer?

It’s easy! Simply email Young Enterprise South East at office@yese.org.uk. We will then pass on your information to the Young Enterprise Representative in your location and they will contact you to discuss the options in your area.

Once you have agreed on a programme you will be asked to fill in a form and submit to a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check, which Young Enterprise manages in strictest confidence in line with its policy regarding volunteers working with young people.

Once your local Young Enterprise representative has linked you with a school in your area that would like to run the programme, you will also be invited to a briefing/ training session where you will be taken through the programme and provided with materials and guidance on preparation and delivery.

Want to know more? Check out the case studies in the “Volunteers” section on the Young Enterprise web site for first-hand accounts from some of the thousands of people who have already made it their business.

OPTION 1: YOUNG ENTERPRISE – PRIMARY PROGRAMME

Working alongside a teacher, lead the delivery of one or more themed module(s), which consist of hands-on, fun activities and games, with groups of up to 35 primary school children.

The Primary Programme modules are designed to introduce students to the world of work, business and enterprise, using sequential steps to broaden their understanding of their role in society. Each module runs either over the course of a full school day or one hour a week for five weeks, and each focuses on a different theme: Ourselves, Our Families, Our Community, Our City, Our Nation or Our World.

OPTION 2: YOUNG ENTERPRISE – PERSONAL ECONOMICS

Working with a teacher, offer groups of up to 35 students aged 12 to 15 a hands-on introduction to personal finance, credit & debt, savings, investments and budgeting.

In addition to using games, activities and role play to make financial education fun, Personal Economics aims to encourage students to appreciate their current and future role in society and the economy as consumers, employees, employers, tax payers, investors and borrowers. As a volunteer from the world of work you will lead discussions, deliver activities and enrich the programme with your own experiences and knowledge.

OPTION 3: YOUNG ENTERPRISE – SELL FOR SUCCESS

The backbone of the workshop is a business game, which simulates companies competing to design, import and sell computer games consoles. Working with a teacher, your role is to facilitate a group of students who are divided into 4 or 5 teams (“companies”) of up to 30 and play two independent rounds of the game to see which ‘company’ can sell the most consoles and make the biggest profit.  During the day the students will update the development of the consoles in response to the competitive pressures of the marketplace.  In addition they must negotiate with a ‘Supplier’ the number of consoles, negotiate with a ‘Bank Manager’ a bank loan to purchase the consoles, design and build a prototype, produce marketing material and mock up a “shop” (staffed by sales and customer services personnel) which is judged by the external advisers.

Finally each group makes a short presentation to the whole workshop describing their experiences.

The groups which plan and organise their activities best and discover the secrets of good team work will tend to produce the most satisfying results.

OPTION 4: YOUNG ENTERPRISE – LEARN TO EARN

Help groups of up to 35 students aged 13 to 15 to establish a link between learning and the attainment of personal goals through leading games, activities and role play exercises, and most importantly through sharing with them your own career history and motivations in life. Your students will also be interested to hear what impact the decisions you made at school have had on your success and financial security as well as your happiness later in life. Through the programme you will guide students in exploring a range of careers and considering and budgeting for the income they will need in the future for the lifestyle they aspire to.

OPTION 5: YOUNG ENTERPRISE – PROJECT BUSINESS

Guide groups of up to 35 students through a practical, activity based insight into economic and business life. You will lead sessions that give hands-on introductions to a wide range of subjects relating to how businesses interact with investors, customers, employees and society in general. Throughout the programme, students work in teams to take on the running of an established. fictional case-study business, making decisions and experimenting with scenarios. Through a board game they take a product through development and on to Market, testing the concepts of competition, price, supply & demand and profit. Finally, they consider the responsibilities of Business in Society, and the need for responsible use of resources.

The programme ends with the “Business Under the Spotlight” session in which students will ask questions about your own business, based on the topics covered through the programme. Young Enterprise encourages volunteers to bring colleagues to this session plus supporting literature and materials from their company. Finally, there is an opportunity to host an optional business/works visit, inviting the students into your own place of work for a full or half-day tour.

OPTION 6: YOUNG ENTERPRISE – TEAM PROGRAMME

Work in close partnership with a qualified teacher to support young people aged 15-19+ who experience difficulties with learning and/ or have disabilities through the process of setting up and running their own company. Team Programme is designed to enable its students to develop skills for work and life through a real-life enterprise experience, providing the opportunity for achievement regardless of ability.

You will mentor groups of between 12 and 20 mixed ability students as they appoint management teams, come up with an idea for a product, manufacture, market and sell it, trading over the course of 1 or 2 academic years.

OPTION 7: YOUNG ENTERPRISE – COMPANY PROGRAMME

Mentor young people aged 15-19 as they set up and run their own real business over the course of one academic year. They elect a board of directors from amongst their peers, raise share capital, and market and finance a product or service of their own choice. At the end of the year they liquidate the company and present a report and accounts.

Through participating in the Company Programme, students develop their enterprise knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes in a business context. They are personally responsible to their shareholders for the running of the business but are encouraged to assess and take calculated risks in doing so.

Your role will be one of guidance and advice, though you will be encouraged to take a back-seat and allow your students to learn by doing, through making mistakes and through solving their own problems. Young Enterprise is perhaps best known for its Company Programme, which has been running in the UK for more than 40 years.

At the end of each year there is an optional competition to find the Young Enterprise Company of the Year, judged on the basis of skills development, business conduct and innovation, rather than profit. In addition Young Enterprise offers both regional and national awards for the volunteer business adviser of the year, as nominated by the students themselves.

Interested in volunteering? Email the Community Connections team to become a volunteer today!

As a Bupa employee, would you like to become more involved in your community, develop your skills and make a real difference to school standards in your local area? Then School Governors’ One-Stop Shop need people like you!

School governors are the largest group of volunteers in the country – they are committed individuals who work to ensure that local children receive the highest possible standards of education. Acting as the Head Teacher’s ‘critical friend’, governors provide strategic management and support. There are currently around 40,000 governor vacancies nationally, creating a real need for enthusiastic new volunteers.

Contrary to popular belief, anyone over the age of eighteen can be a school governor, regardless of whether or not they have children of their own. The most important qualities for new governors are enthusiasm and a desire to have an impact on local education, with no particular qualifications or past experience of the education system necessary. Everyone has something to offer!

Governors are involved in making a range of important decisions about how a school is run, from managing the budget to appointing senior staff and planning for the school’s future. The average time commitment is just 6-8 hours per month and the the role gives our volunteers an opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills.

School Governors’ One-Stop Shop provide a free service, working throughout England to place governor volunteers in the schools that need them most. They can give you information on the role, find you a school with a vacancy and help you through the application and placement process.

If you would like to apply, or to find out more, please contact martin.holliday@sgoss.org.uk or call 020 7354 9805.

We are very proud to see our Miraflores Community Centre working and full of live.  There are very big news since the centre was completed by our 120 volunteers!!!

Our Health care Centre is resolving problems in children like skin allergies caused by insects, grass or water, parasites, underweight, anemia and respiratory infections such as pharyngitis and tonsillitis, and in elderly problems like arthritis, bones pain and problems with their vision.  The centre is also planning the vaccination against flu, hepatitis and to deworm children twice a year.

We are also planning workshops for birth control and we are helping preventing undesired pregnancies.

On March 10 the first baby was born with the help of the foundation. The centre controlled the pregnancy and baby´s health since January.  Mother and baby are under control all the time.

DENTAL CARE

The Dental Care Area started on March 2, 2010 and assist and average of 15 people a week, this area is healing tooth cavities in adults and children, also had a workshop of 85 people about the regular and proper use of the toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash and our children are aware about the importance of regular dental care.

This area is highly demanded, adults and children have cavities in a 95%.

This program also started working on extractions, prosthesis and treatment of nerves (root canal)

Another area is the Psychological area.  The psychologist is doing an assessment test in children of first and second grade to determine their emotional and educational part, and see if they have learning or attention problems and their learning level. The centre psychologist is always coordinating with school teacher for group therapies.

We are planning workshops to raise awareness and to educate parents that they need psychological therapy, also to improve the relationship between families specially between parents and children, therapy for relationships, violence respect and self-respect to resolve problems like depression, low self-esteem, aggression, alcoholism.

They are also determining if children need an auditory and visual evaluation, and if children who stutter and do not speak will need a language therapy

The dining room serves to 27 elderly and 85 kids from 5 to years old and 9 kids from 0-5 years old and now the centre is covering the area north and south of Miraflores.

The centre is planning all the time visits to families and planning hygiene and health conferences.

The center also started to analyze the process and data generated by doctors, dentist, teenagers and family visits to make statistical reports.

CHILDREN’S DAYCARE

The daycare began on February 22, 2010 with 15 children registered and attends everyday an average of eight children.

The daycare area  takes care of 15 children from 0-5 years old and they spend there from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon to help their mothers when they have to work. Small children enjoy the food of the centre with the help of the daycare staff.

ENGLISH AND COMPUTER CLASSES

Our School Juan Amador teaches 85 children, they are motivated to learn English and Computers and they are now practicing sports with the basketball court finished.

Children and families are learning habits of neatness and cleanliness, and are overcoming  problems of parasitic infections and allergies, and they are aware about the importance of regular oral and dental care

Also our school children learned how to take care of the Centre and keep it clean.

The children have learned education habits, solidarity and respect for themselves and others and there is a positive reaction of parents about the progress of the school and the progress of the centre .

AREAS HOLD TO ACTION

Working with the community of Miraflores, we have identified the following additional areas of help that we would like to put under your consideration for potential sponsorship, as we focus on ensuring the sustainability of Project Miraflores.

1. Farming equipment: Tools for crop planting (including seeds, bulbs) and animal farming. , so we can give something sustainable for the community.
2. Crop trade: Building a relationship between local farmers and fair trade buyers, so we can grow relationships and sustainability
3. Transportation : Bikes for the children to get to school or adults and children to get into town (including bike riding lessons). A Van (for 25 people) or a bus for taking the elderly adults and children who live far away and can not walk to the centre.
4. A  (Basic) pharmacy near by to buy medicines because the Doctor gives them prescriptions and there is nowhere to buy.
5. An ambulance. We are working on the agreement  with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, it will help with our Health Center and to exchange services with this agreement of cooperation.
6. Books. Educational books (dictionaries, maths/science/English books) and fictional books (to help with reading skills, or a small library.

We love to see all the progress in Miraflores and center full of action, and all of the areas working.

Miraflores is a big challenge and we will continue serving the community.

Always thanks to Bupa for all the support.

As we post this blog two tired but content ocean rowers are approaching the island of Antigua tracking the light of Cape Shirley lighthouse.

We might think the time is nearing that our 3 year journey concludes as the last few miles to are Antigua are completed.
But we would be wrong, We started our campaign nearly three years ago and the main event of rowing from one side of the Atlantic Ocean to the other is only 20 odd miles away from being completed.

However, we know this journey will be remembered by us for many years thanks to the unending support from many quarters.

The build up to event has been tough and within difficult recession times it has not been easy. Our challenge seemed to spark great interest amongst our community and we would like to express our gratitude to the following…in no particular order

For the signage to our boat we would like to thank DMA signs of Leatherhead, especially Graeme who was so accomodating and helpful to get the stickers together as they were needed….
Cath Allaway, for the hours of advice on how to row the big water and putting up with a rowing newbie, enough to get him across in one piece
Andrew Edwards, for the constant support, you don’t know how profound your messages were during the darkest days, we can never thank you enough
David and Jax Wilson, for causing some much pleasure, pain and grief with the daily stats and constant messages of support they were an esential part of our campaign
Gabriel, your jokes and messages were a constant comfort and it was you I believe that introduced us to eating the elephant
Pete Warren, for the sports and news update…couldn’t have lived without football info.
Hannah Levin, for the trivia and jokes to help in the dark moments
Fiona at CNP, for the text messages of support
Hans, for sharing your experience of the sea and ocean weather…you were totally correct, we should have gone South from the start, we hang our heads in shame
James Glaysher, for the comprehensive weather reports that helped us battle the elements
The team at Bupa, who supported Richard with a fantastic farewell party and constant support during the row, even Annie for her cheesy jokes Without the support of Bupa it wouldn’t have been possible. Special thanks to Iain Colledge for sorting out the Bupa blog pages
The guys at Robbins Timber, for essential supplies of paint, plywood and fibreglass to help upgrade the boat
Pete Ronald of Sphere for being a most enthusiastic supporter to our extreme challenge…thanks Pete and look forward to our next meeting as always…
Rex Resorts for providing accomodation to our families in Antigua.  This is a fantastic and lovely facilty to welcome us and our families on arrival..
Brookcourt for their support to our campaign, without which we may have had to compromise on the quality of safety equipment and that means alot to us and our families..
Sam Jordan and Simon Jordan,, Surrey Litho for providing such fantastic enthusiasm to our dream and more obviously the tireless efforts that went into organising two great fancy dress parties..
Mike Hickey of Building Supplies for providing essential tools at the last minute and of course Gary for machining components for the boat.
Byfleet Boat Club members (including Rodney) for accomodating and entertaining us whilst we restored our boat in their boat house..
The Patni, Sapient and iGate teams who supported us with the funds required to purchase essential equipment
Barbara Clarke for weather info and keeping B+ B+
Stew Allan for his technical support and engineering expertise,
The Feedstation for carbohydrate drinks,,
The Nevilles for just being great, enthusiastic & oarsome rigger makers.
David Sarjent for his tireless PR campaign.
Simon Yates, My business partner for holding fort  of CY Landscapes.. Ta,, two beers,at least on me,,,

Our parents..Gill Hoyland, who let me out late to row an ocean told you I’d be back safe and well. To the family in Scotland, see you real soon, my laminated picture of you guys on a mountain stood the test of time
Steve’s Mum, Dad, Sister and Brothers(and Nephews) for not stopping him going out to row an ocean, and for the caring support

Also, we have received many many many emails from all over the world, If we have made one person smile then that has made it all worthwhile……thank you and goodnight, tonight we store our oars for the final time and bid farewell to the Atlantic.

Finally there remains two people who should be titled the unsung heroes for keeping the families together whilst we sun ourselves in a big swimming pool..

CLAIR AND LOU

Sun rose this morning..

Another day on the oars is nearly over, and as each rowing  shift and day goes by we have to be a little more inventive with seat arrangements to make sitting on the rowing position bearable,, The accumalitve pressures sore is constantly pushing us to find new ways to provide comfort,, beleive it or not, I have almost gone full circle and now the minimum cushioning appears to be working, I have cut up a micro pore towel and form layers to act as the cushion, Still PAIN is temporary, so someone keeps telling me.

Weight wise, I think i have lost some weight but feel in pretty good shape apart from a niggly back muscle strain, which is constantly being challenged by the persistent and irritatating south winds which have been blowing almost constantly during the last few days. The wind stirs up the seas and these relatively small waves knock the boat side ways and some times hit the boat with quite shocking speed and force,, So far I have been knocked off the rowing seat ony twice, which is pretty good, The other effect of the side swipe waves is you have to brace yourself really quickly and in doing so all your muscles contract primarily too minimise the bottom cheeks from almost seperating i two,,. great fun!

Longing to reach shore and gorge on fresh fruit,,,,,,, yum yum,

Cant wait to get back in the saddle and take on those surrey hills again,

Thanks to Jackie for looking after boys today while Clair rode 100k bike ride,, hope they were good as always!!!

Rich…
So, who had breakfast in bed this morning? hopefully all Mothers are nodding at this point..Happy Mothers Day to you out there with little ones.
These such significant days don’t make much difference to the row slaves of No Fear….same rowing until your fingers and bums are numb…actually numb would be good

The shores of Antigua are tantalisingly close and getting closer…in around 30 seconds we are going to pass the 350 to Antigua point and are aiming to chip away the remaining 50 in the next two days at the very latest, to get us into the two hundreds. We have a new focus, in a few days time our families start to decamp to Antigua to await our arrival…and we must be there…so that we have an arrival to remember (plus a cold beer waiting). This must now drive us forward despite the lack of Easterly wind of any sort…we’ll row through gravel to make it there

Last night was a prime example of our bad luck…I’m sitting on the oars in the pitch black, but it’s a lovely night, when I hear a very disturbing noise. Sounds like a thousand espresso machines have been suddenly turned on…and the penny drops that it’s a rainstorm and the water is torrential…it dumps it’s tonnes of water down then disappears as quickly as it came. The build up to this had been an hour of headwinds and it’s legacy was further headwinds…needless to say we were on the anchor again!!
BUT, we have decided to get there in the next two weeks, so let battle commence

Tomorrow is a rather important day and I wanted to send out a big shout of thanks and a big hug to my mother…as Sunday is Mothers Day. I look back on all the inspiring holidays, activities and adventures we had with my parents with a smile and can honestly say…that it’s your fault that I’m stuck out here (joking) As children we always had the kind of attention that kids need, we learned to sail, canoe, climb etc…. and I have to blame my childhood for letting me feel that I could succeed at such a challenge as this one…thanks to Mrs Hoyland sat over in Sutton. We will catch up soon when I return shortly.
Also a big thanks to Louise for the last 3 months you have been mother and father to the family and have done a fantastic job. The baton is nearly ready to be passed back and you can have a much needed break Hope the guys give you breakfast in bed. Likewise for Clair over in the Coe household…you have both been an inspiration in how you have carried on without us…happy mothers day, hope the Coe boys get you breakfast in bed.

This enforced rest was comforted by a much travelled and resisted treat.  We were due to open this number when we reached the half way point, but the timing or our moods were out of kilter,,

Last night seemed appropriate and in defiance  we cracked open the bottle of champage.. all be it a mini one (thanks to the team from Bupa…this was part of your Christmas present).

For our dinner we pushed the boat out and even had houres douvres,, peanut cluster in honey nut galze,, For main course rich had Beef Bolognais and I had Chicken and Pasta followed by Chocolate chip pudding and Custard with Pineapple peices,, we retired to the poop deck for coffee..  Wow,,

The evening and throughout the night we on the anchor although we upped anchor several times eager not to miss an window in the weather,, all to no avail,, we were hit squals and wind from every direction. Still things settled by about 11 this morning and we were on our way again, pushing a light head wind but otherwise calm seas.. Oh whatever next.. it such a mystery tour..

We were dive bombed (well a bit dramatic) by an albatros today,, magnificent and easy to identify. The Frigate birds (4 in total) are hovering around us and its fun to whatch these gangly prehistoric looking birds dog fighting in the skies..

Another blistering hot day, made interestingly hotter by the high humidity..

Oh one more thing.. I have to thank every body for your supporting messages and appologise if i have not replied,, You have been noticing our battle and you have all been fantastic in words of support.. keep em coming,,

One more thing,, Thanks Jean (our lovely trusty neighbour) for looking after our  chickens (and just for being a great neighbour) enabling Clair (my wife) to take our boys away.. The network of support for our families while we have been away is far and wide and much further than ever considered.

Finally, washed beard today..

Rich…
I’m much simpler in my drivers than Steve, I’ve been dreaming of the things that I am going to eat when we hit land this month (notice the positive declaration that we will arrive in March!). My quayside menu….

If we land at anytime day or night….One pint of ice cold beer, with condensation building on the side, the glass has been pre-frosted so the beer has ice forming in it, in a tankard style glass with a handle on the side (essential)
If we land at breakfast time or in the night…Eggs Benedict…got this picture on the sidewall of the cabin
In the afternoon or Evening…One Steak (rare) and thich cut fries, pepper sauce…followed by Ice Cream (I hear that you guys have cold food out there in the real world…what will they think of next)

Not sure how I’m going to get used to knife and forks again…I’ve been using a spork out of a packet for three months…maybe I will need training to get back into society…it is acceptable when it’s hot in the real world to put a teatowel on your head? Not even sure if my claw hands can use a knife, doorknob, pen etc…..picture Danny Devito in Batman (as the penguin) only I’m a little taller.

Oh Oh…looking out of the cabin and there’s a big storm coming..and it’s my shift in 30mins…always happens to me In the words of the song..why does it always rain on me?

We are both now very focused and determined to push hard now for every mile.

To all the Ash Cubs of Bookham, surrey, Hello all the way from the far side of the Atlantic Ocean, We are many thousands of miles away from you, our homes and our family,, We have been surrounded by miles upon miles of open water for some 60 odd days and each day we have rowed our boat for pretty much 24 hours each day.. This needs alot of discipline and determination. It means sacrificing some comforts, like a full night sleep. The good bit are, we have got to see many sea creatures including, whales and dolphins, even a shark which was bit scary, I have swam with the dolphins and whales but they were a little shy. With hind sight perhpas i should not have got in the water with the two baby whales, it was only after that i thought mummy or daddy whale may feel threatened and possibly come to there side or feel threatened.  Of a night time a whale exhaled nearby and i new it was a whale because of the very strong fishy smell from its stomach,, not pleasant, but still this is there world and it is nice they come and say hello..

We are within 500 miles of our destination now, and looking forward to walking on steady ground and eating whole some fresh food.

I suspect it may take us a while to reaclimatise to life back on land meanwhile, we will continue to do our best right the end of this epic journey.