What a Wednesday!

I had a bad day yesterday and was determined not to have another one today. So, when Nick phoned to say he was coming home earlier than expected because of a thunderstorm, I thought I’d better do something. It suddenly dawned on me: What do we need to keep the Buddy Bus on the road, travelling the UK? Fuel. Diesel. Who sells fuel? Petroleum companies. Who did I phone? BP. Yes, I did a bit of online research to see how approachable they are (they’re global, so… big corporation calls for professional mind-set, right?) and found that they are very concerned about educationan and the environment.

I found the head office number and dialled. I told the telephonist that I’d like to speak to someone about sponsorship and she put me through. The lady I spoke to was so kind and warm; she encouraged me to tell her all about what Nick is doing and then how to apply to them about sponsorship (I’m after a Fuel Card). Then she told me not to be put off if they turned me down, as they usually sponsor their own staff when it comes to raising money for charities, etc. She said to tell Nick she admires him and not to give up! She also said, “Never say never!” So I sent BP an e-mail. I felt quite daring, I can tell you!

Then I sent an e-mail to a local marketing company who specialise in promotional leaflets, etc. to test the waters, including all the aims, goals, urls, etc. I also phoned Summerlands Tackle in Westward Ho to speak to Nick Laws about the Buddy Bus Road Trip and promoting it – perhaps by going to his store for a day and talking to anglers. Unfortunately, Nick wasn’t there, but they know about us because of Bideford Angling Club (thanks Stuart and Nielsen!) and my Nick can phone him tomorrow.

I got a lovely e-mail back from Mark Charman of Freebird Design by the time DH was home and they had a meeting this afternoon while I was at the dentist, praying for the treatment to end! Suffice it to say, I’m very happy with what I did today and am once more very optimistic about the future of Reels on Wheels.

Hugs to the boys…

… at PC Plan-IT in Holsworthy. Today, Daryn and Andy sponsored Nick to the tune of £50 for fuel and will continue to do so for the duration of the Buddy Bus Road Trip – they’ll donate that amount every couple of months. Aren’t they great? That was unexpected and absolutely wonderful – made our day. So we went straight back to the Bank and paid their cheque in. We filled out the form for the Reels on Wheels Bank Account and hopefully it won’t take too long to open – a week or 10 days they said.

Clint at White Acres was lovely too! He and Nick had a good natter on the phone and I think they’re going to get on really well, when they eventually meet next week. I tried Billy Nott’s fishery again and left a message on the answerphone, but no joy, yet. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow. Speaking of which, the photographer from the North Devon Journal’s coming to take pics at 11 -ish and then we’re taking Lester with us to Bude and I’ll leave Nick to chat to Stewart while I head up to the newsagents’ to get my June copy of Craft Stamper

(Manic Stamper) Sheila Oliver’s in it this month and I’m travelling over to Totnes to meet her and watch some demos with DD the Saturday Nick’s away. It’ll be great to meet her, ‘cos she’s an amazing cardmaker and I’m so in awe of her talent! It’ll also break the weekend up for me while he’s away.

I am going to miss him terribly, but then he’s doing something he really believes in and everyone should have the chance to follow their dream, shouldn’t they? Life would be full of regrets if we didn’t take chances now and then, wouldn’t it?

On another note, I phoned T-Mobile’s Disability Services Team to try and find out if anyone had a clue as to how to get hold of someone in Marketing about the sponsorship I’ve applied for. They were so helpful and so enthusiastic about the Road Trip and the Buddy Bus, they were almost turning somersaults trying to help me! It turns out that all that sort of thing is done by e-mail, but the girls checked for me and said they’d managed to confirm that our e-mail had been received and passed on… so here’s hoping. I did point out what a wonderful marketing opportunity it would be to raise their profile even more, as they’re the only network who have a Customer Service Team dedicated to disabled users….. etc, etc. I also mentioned the Marlin World Cup, next year…

Come on, T-Mobile! I’m rooting for you.

Media Circus!

I feel like I’ve been stuck on a Merry-go-round all day – I spent the best part of this morning on the phone to local radio stations, newspapers and West Country News. I followed up each telephone conversation with an e-mail, which gave the relevant urls for the website, the forum and the blog. I’ll give you a rundown of who I contacted and their rating, as far as I’m concerned…

Lantern FM:: ***** Tim is our local news contact. He originally aired an interview with Nick a few short weeks ago and I contacted him to thank him and to update him on our progress so far. He was astounded by what I told him and will be phoning next Tuesday (8th May) to speak to Nick again before he leaves on the Buddy Bus Road Trip. Good man!

Pirate FM:: ***** Ditto – very enthusiastic and genuinely interested… perhaps they’ll come down and see him off!

Western Morning News:: * Mildly interested, non-committal, unfriendly and curt – lacking people-skills and an appropriate telephone manner… maybe she doesn’t fish?

North Devon Journal:: ***** Spoke to Kathryn Fell – Community Editor – who already had Nick down as a ringback tomorrow. She was very keen to do an interview and will be phoning us tomorrow – she actually remembered the original concept – thumbs up!

West Country News TV:: ** Whoever I spoke to on the newsdesk sounded extremely harrassed, so I just sen the e-mail. We’ll see…

Then I had to contact the fisheries and check that access for the Buddy Bus would be okay and did they mind. All three of the owners I managed to speak to were lovely, warm and welcoming. One lady is particularly looking forward to meeting Nick!!

Asda in Bodmin:: *** I have yet to speak to their Bodmin store’s Events Co-ordinator, who should ring me tomorrow, but provided they don’t have anyone booked in who’ll clash, Nick should be able to spend some time there chatting to people outside the store and handing out his Buddy System leaflets.

Whiteacres:: ****(*) They get four because I have yet to speak to the Fisheries Manager, Clint Elliot, but the lovely Kirsty Byrne assured me that she didn’t see a problem and promptly gave me her e-mail addy so she could see what it’s all about. She was great – thumbs up!

T-Mobile:: ***** I approached them because they are the only Mobile Phone Network who have a section on their website dedicated to Disabled People and a Disabilty Services Team – well done! I spoke to a lovely Geordie lass called Lisa who was very enthusiastic about our objectives and then I tapped her for some sponsorship! I’m after a Web n Walk Data card for Nick so he can send me images and e-mails and keep in touch while he’s away on the Road Trip. T-Mobile offer the best deal on such an item. She wished us luck and went off to talk to her Manager (who also thinks it’s a great idea!) and even rang back to give me precise instructions on how to apply to them for sponsorship – a very definite thumbs up!

Here’s what the Buddy Bus looks like – almost finished, with Lester working away like a good ‘un …. I am so proud!