My Last Week...

It's finally here, my last week before I have to return to my real life!!

It's going to be a sad week as I will be saying goodbye to many of the people whom I have met and worked with during this amazing 10 week adventure!

Last night I went on the soup run, we had a really good night, it was bitterly cold, so cold that we ran out of soup after the first two drop offs, but we had plenty of coffee, tea and sandwiches!

I am hoping that when I do go back to work next week the soup run will be something I can continue to be part of as it is outside of work hours. Sadly this is not the case with Hula or the Alzheimer's club, I hope to continue to support them at weekends, Hula has a monthly open day which I have volunteered to help out at and the Alzheimer's Group are having their charity stall in Stony Stratford on the 27th Nov as part of the turning on of the Christmas lights event, which I also will be assisting with. Which means I really need to stop blogging today and hurry up and finish my cross stitch Christmas cards as they need to be finished by Friday!!

The Cats Whiskers

I spent the afternoon, helping out in the cattery at Hula. An afternoon grooming, fussing, cleaning and feeding.

Quite a few cats have been re homed since I was last there and Honey is heading off soon as is Boris and Tinkerbell. The kittens have continued to grow in size and confidence and spent most the afternoon playing and chasing each other in the outside run. The most amazing thing was the improvement in Clive, (the semi feral cat who no-one could touch as he was so aggressive) he was out of his pen and socialising with the other cats. Then he came up to me and nudged me for some fuss and let me stroke and groom him, it was like a totally different cat!

Lots of new beautiful cats too; a lovely Siamese, an old tatty black cat, a pair who look just like Boris and Tink, a beautiful blue tinted cat with a tabby friend. Most of which I am sure will be re homed in a heart beat as they are all really lovely and friendly.

Honey Bunnies...

I went back to Hula this morning and it's all change in the small animal house. Still have the two hamsters, Clare and Hammy, the duck is still there, as is Tommy the tortoise and the two scared guinea pig, who seem to have grown in confidence since I last saw them. The new arrivals include; two rats, SEVEN new rabbits and a new Tortoise called Zoe who was very active for this time of year! Managed to get a just get a snap of her before she tried to make a tortoise run for it.

It was great being back and the new rabbits were all so adorable and so friendly, it really was a lovely morning.

Souper

First day back at the soup run.

After the last soup run I did, where one of the homeless guys got abusive, I honestly didn't feel like going back. But I did and I'm really glad I did. Not only because it was a really good night, we had two new helpers and everyone we gave soup and sandwiches to were really chatty and grateful this evening, but also because I found out that the abusive guy, turned up the following week, clean shaved and sober and apologised to John for his rudeness the previous week! That really made me feel better about the situation.

So it was a good run, with a good turn out and it wasn't too cold, really please to be back out there!

This Week...

...is National Adoption Week and it runs from 1st-7th November. Check out their website for events taking place, how to get involved and to see the profile of children awaiting adoption.

www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk

Walk The Walk

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I am thrilled to have my place on the London Moonwalk 2011 confirmed!

The Moonwalk began 13 years ago when a group of 13 women decided to power walk the New York City Marathon in their bras to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer. What started as a one-off fundraising event has now blossomed into a thriving multi million pound charity, raising to date over 55 million for vital Breast Cancer causes, with walks now being held in many cities across the world.

So on 14th May 2011, starting at midnight in Hyde Park, I will be taking part and Walking the Walk in my decorated bra. I'll be joining my local gym later this week, as I am shockingly unfit, to start my training.

Wish me luck!

www.walkthewalk.org

An Experience

Back from Marrakesh and what an experience that was. To be honest not the experience I was expecting. But it certainly was an experience!

I feel I have learnt a lot about myself and will be taking both the positive and negative parts of this experience and using them as I go forward in my charity work from now on.

Since being back I have reflected on what I have done so far and what I plan to do going forward to get the most out of this time I have taken off to help others and give as much as I can to the charities that want help, before heading back into the real world in two weeks time.