It’s all going on…

Well, there’s not much mojo here at the moment – apparently it’s very hot in Wales at Peterstone and the Team haven’t had a bite yet, so… that’s a bit depressing – though when I spoke to Nick he did say only 4 fish had been caught in 24 hours.

Had a call from Claire this morning to say she’d got her copy of the Angler’s Mail through and there was a whole half-page devoted to Nick and Reels on Wheels! Yay!! She took a great photo of it and I managed to read the entire article – fab! Thanks to Ben Weir for his ongoing support – apparently they’ve been getting feedback on the articles they write about us, so they’re making it ongoing – brilliant!

Had a call from Karen about a newish fishery she visited a while ago. She was invited over to take a look and judge its accessibility for Reels on Wheels and she’s going to write a complete review and email it to me later for the DA blog. (Complete with pics!) I’m looking forward to that, as it’s always good to feature relatively unknown places and give them a boost, especially if they care enough to try and provide as much access as possible for the less mobile among us.

We had a great result on the Buddy front this week too – thanks to Darren putting his name and phone number on the RoW poster he’d put up at Bradshaw fisheries in Lancashire… A senior citizen called Sid rang me to ask if he could join us, but he’s not online, so I mentioned Darren to him and he’d got his number written down… so to cut a long story short, they’ve arranged for Darren to ring Sid and let him know when he’s going fishing and Sid can go with him if and when he wants – which will save him a massive £40+ in taxi fares.

This Buddy System rocks, doesn’t it?

100 Degrees of Disability

There are so many disablities which are invisible to the naked eye, aren’t there? We often refer to these people who suffer not-so-obvious disability as “The Walking Wounded”. You probably know at least one of them… people with heart problems, head injuries, bowel or stomach issues, depression… the list goes on.

So, just because they don’t use a wheelchair or sticks, or crutches, it doesn’t mean they are less disabled than Nick or other wheelie anglers.

You’re probably thinking, why is she banging on about this particular subject, when her own husband is a wheelchair user? Well, because you have to appreciate that access is a minefield… Now Nick is able to transfer (from his chair) and roll about on his butt and uses his knees, if he needs to. I know there are people who can’t… and there are people who, as I said before, don’t even “look” as if there’s anything wrong with them, who struggle with tackle, swims, walking – sometimes just getting out of bed.

So, let’s not expect every fishery or venue to be able to cater for every disabled person in the world shall we? It’s like the 100 degrees of disability – some places will be easier to adapt, some places will be impossible – then there’ll be the help and support of the people who work at the fisheries which more than makes up for the imperfection of “access”.

Let’s not forget – this is all about the shared passion for angling – not the DDA, the political correctness or empire-building.

PS – Sometimes I get a bit pissed off with certain parties… (can you guess who they are?) so it’s good to vent on my blog.

A new week begins…

Well, another week has flown by and thank heavens DD’s gone back to school,and I can get back to working on everything I shamelessly avoided doing last week during half term! The house is a tip, I have a stack of filing and quite a bit of data entry to catch up on… just not all today! After all, I have to go to the Post Office and mail some cards, invoices, etc. and then I want to take the dogs to the woods for a good run, just in case the weather changes again.

I also have the accountant to track down – it’s always difficult to do that on a Monday morning for some reason!

Nick’s doing a fish-a-thon in Torbay at present, but he’ll be home again sometime tomorrow night. He’s enjoying it so far and I’ve been on the phone this morning, arranging for the Buddy Bus to go in for a service this week. We were both a bit worried about the task he’s undertaken and the amount of people who want to meet him when he’s in their particular area/county. The Bus needs a health-check and a friend who owns a garage business has kindly agred to service and maintain the BB for the rest of this year as his way of sponsoring Nick – Dave, you’re a star! Now all I have to do is create you an ‘Internet presence’, as I promised you yesterday

I have enjoyed making cards so much since I encountered Sheila Oliver, it’s almost as if I seek an excuse to produce more – but on the other hand, it’s a lovely feeling when you know exactly what you have in your stash that can produce that special card for someone. Then you have to hope that they like what you’ve done… although it’s supposed to be the thought that counts, isn’t it?

Right – time to hoover a dog or two – or maybe I should brush them and hoover the carpet? Decisions, decisions!! It can be so demanding, being a blonde – hehehe!

It’s been a while…

… since I’ve posted, but that’s half term for you!! Luckily, DD’s been pretty much occupied, so things haven’t been too bad. On Tuesday we had an ‘official visit’ from TDC, to check we’re not secret billionaires and that Nick’s really a wheelchair user! Never mind, these things have to be dealt with and it all went smoothly.

On Wednesday, we had to be in for a delivery of some super baits for the man to use on his 24 hour visit to Town Parks. I know how much he’s looking forward to returning now the fish have stopped making babies and are hungry again!

Me, I’ve been busy rewriting the ROW Mission statement and preparing for Friday’s meeting with the guys at Freebird Design – more ideas and brainstorming about the whole Buddy System and Reels on Wheels. Plus, I’ve spent quite a bit of time on the phone with the accountant, dealing with the Company accounts which are due at this time of year.

However, I did manage an Elsie Flannigan LO in the new rave format – which I dislike – and I’ve been making mini-cards too! Completed 5 altogether: A Thank you card, a Happy Father’s Day card and 3 more fishing cards in a new style for me. I’m quite happy with all of them (perfectionist that I am!!) and I like the watercolour pencils a lot.

Here’s a peek at the fishing cards which will go into the ROW shop for £1.50 each.

The bottom one reads “Tight Lines!”, embossed in black. It’s clearer in R/L!! They were all made using the Tandastamps Fishing set that I bought for this purpose and you can tell how good the quality of the images is from the photos, can’t you? I’ve just bought another sheet and I’m looking forward to using them with my Luna Magick images – should make a lovely combination (fingers crossed!!).

That’s all for today… have a good night all!

Loads of news!!!

Well, where do I start? Lots to share today… Nick’s back from Torbay and judging by the traffic yesterday evening, not a moment too soon! This is the “Run to the Sun” vintage car rally weekend and a friend of ours is taking part in his fully restored VW Beetle. What a fabulous car she is, too! However, Dave also has his own garage business in Okehapmton, called Transmobile and he agreed to sponsor the Buddy Bus by servicing and maintaining her till the end of this year. What a star! Thanks, mate. Good luck with the Run to the Sun and let’s get your vinyl sticker sorted and it can go on the bus (till the end of the year – hehehe!)

I collected new Reels on Wheels promotional leaflets – double-sided, postcard size and business cards – from Freebird Design yesterday lunchtime, which are outstanding! I met Mark Charman and Peter Guest while I was there and we had a very illuminating, exciting chat about the future too. Mind you, I did get a bit carried away by my own enthusiasm, but I’ve promised to put a rein on my tongue and just smile a lot at next week’s meeting

Aren’t these just brilliant? Well done Mark!

I had a lovely chat with Karen, the lady angler from Norwich, this morning and then she had a talk with Nick about the forthcoming East Anglian leg of the Road Trip. The upshot of it all is that she’s helping promote the Buddy Bus and Reels on Wheels in her area, but she’s quite happy to help me later on with PR, as and when I need her – thanks so much Karen. Girl power, hun!

Another sponsor has come aboard the Buddy Bus: Auntys Forum – yay!!! Good mates Sally & Rich have decided to sponsor the Buddy Bus and www.auntysforum.com is being painted onto her in bright pink as I write this post. (I do think Lester was gobsmacked when Nick told him about the pink writing, but hey, that’s Auntys – think pink, girly and wonderfully supportive. And it’s my home-from-home where I go every day to check in with my extended family!!)

Auntys Forum is primarily about crafts, but it’s so much more than that to we auntys’ members. Lots of the ladies and the occasional chap, are ill and the forum is a lifeline for us all to share our passion for all manner of crafting, but it’s also the warmest, friendliest support group of caring, sharing women I’ve ever come across. Think hot chocolate, pink fluffy slippers, warm and cosy… that’s Auntys – it’s a bit like “Cheers”, a place where ‘everybody knows your name’! And I love it. Thank you Sally & Rich, very much for your donation to keep those wheels a-rollin’!! I shall post a pic when Lester’s finished painting…

Playing catch up!

I have deserted my blog over the last few day – sorry! But in my defence, we have been busy… after the flurry of activity on Monday seeing Nick & Lester off to fish locally, I got caught up with all the crafty things I’d had waiting in the wings – CJs, LOs, a card or two – you know what it’s like!!

On Monday evening, I got into trouble with my family too! I announced I was going up for a shower, coming down half an hour later with a few tags in my hand!! Yes, I’d got distracted on the way to the bathroom and just had to answer the call… I was making a Tim Holtz style pocket/tag book (2 actually!)  with a fishing theme *rolls eyes* for this month’s Design Team challenge on Auntys Forum. I only had 3 or 4 tags to finish off before uploading it to the gallery and earlier in the day, they’d started looking too “samey”, so I’d left them alone.

I decided that these books are a lot of fun and fairly simple to make, so I photographed the stages of the stamping and folding for anyone who wants to make one and doesn’t have access to the DVD, which is where I first saw these. I have a mental wish-list of stamps that I’d like to own and I think some large collage-style stamps would be cool, but I’m waiting to see what Tanda’s new postage sheet is like – that and the flourishes may turn out to be vital to my well-being!

And then, I’d love more ink pads, but I must be sensible, so I’ll have to be content with what I have now and use my imagination for the time being!! I’m sure a lot of crafters feel the same. I have learnt not to impulse-buy. Now, if I see something I like/want, I make myself wait 2/3 days before I go back and look again/buy. It’s not so much a case of self-discipline as it is being skint and sensible – LOL.

Nick and Lester have gone to Bideford today to fish a local club lake that is totally disabled-friendly (they’ve even got a disabled loo!) and they’re going to have a great day. He won’t be home much before 7-8pm I don’t suppose…

I’ve asked someone to get a disabled angler who’s a fly-fisherman to teach me to fly-fish! It would mean that when Nick’s away and the weather’s good, I can bundle the dogs, DD and my rod into the car and head off to a local reservoir on the edge of Dartmoor and try my luck with some ‘brownies’. I might even catch our supper – who knows?

Just think of the peace, the fun and the photo opportunities which every avid scrapbooker longs for… fingers crossed I get the hang of fly-fishing and enjoy it! Mind you, if Gary won’t teach me, what then? Hmmmmmmmmm…. oh well, let’s be positive and think that he will, eh?

On the up and up again!

Well after yesterday’s low, Nick’s feeling good again. We had a lovely time with Nicola and Pete – it was good to see them again after such a hectic few weeks… she also opened one of her pressies and the card I’d made her! I think she was happy with them – she did love that card!!

The altered photocube went down well too, although I expect she’s wondering how I did it, as much as liking what I did – suffice it to say, some things are best kept secret!!

This is it, before I varnished it!! I used matt varnish, but glazed the top so that the Diana and sabbats were highlighted. This had to be my most ambitious altered project to date and I may well send Marina an e-mail to thank her for her inspiration – after all, I have been inspired by the images on her stamps to create some lovely cards and projects!

On a different note, I am so touched (we both are), by the generous gestures of the peeps on the Angling Times Forum who have pledged £70 so far to keeping the Buddy Bus Road Trip alive. With the £10 from one of the Auntys Forum girls, we’ll have £80 in the Reels on Wheels account, which is almost 2 full tanks of diesel! Woohoo!

I have begun a ‘hit list’ of companies to target on Monday again, asking for sponsorship. If anyone out there can offer suggestions or practical help I’d be very grateful. In the meantime, there are more forms to be filled in, more lovely cards to be put into the R.O.W. shop on Freewebs, some sewing to be finished and a couple of cards to be made for market tomorrow. I shall also be selling my Dragonfly Box to raise funds for Reels on Wheels and I think I know someone who’ll buy it!! Fingers crossed!

Mlle B Bovy

What a beautiful woman she was… from the photo I discovered in an old frame at a Car Boot sale, I completed an Elsie Flannigan challenge on Auntys today. I tried my best to discover what I could about this lovely lady – Pathe Freres, Phonogravure, you name it, I googled it – best possible scenario from what I managed to discover – she could well have sung with a Canadian Jazz Band in the 1920s.

This is such a beautiful image – though tatty and marked by the ravages of time – it was crying out to be scrapped. (As in scrapbooking!!) And here she is in all her glory – my “Car Boot Beauty”!

I’ve been working hard setting up a site on Freewebs to showcase the wonderful greeting cards that have been sent to me by the lovely ladies onf Auntys Forum, which are for sale to raise funds for the Buddy Bus Road Trip.

Thank you one and all, more than I can ever say.

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.

More cards!

Aren’t the Auntys Forum ladies just amazing? They’ve been beavering away making Nick more cards to sell and these three are a great example of the diversity of their styles: Left is Tracey’s card, centre is one of the three sent by Jo and on the right is Julie’s card. They’re really fab and we thank you girls!

Now this next one is very special – LMAO @ Jo’s very un-PC card… it’s wonderful and I’m afraid it won’t be for sale, as Nick is keeping it for himself (just to remind him what he looks like on the bank!!)  BTW Jo, I sold your “Wanna be my Buddy?” card yesterday at the Booty. My mate absolutely loved it – and your sense of fun!

And here’s a pic of the wonderful Sheila, who towered over me (I’m only 5’2″!!), but is so lovely!! (Thanks for giving your consent to me posting this one, Sheila!)

Isn’t she grand?! Hugggggggssssssssss Sheila – we’ll see you in October mate.