- 04/09
- Wishing I was “Jake the Peg” Published under | 3 Comments
Huge congratulations to 16 year old Tom Webb who completed his solo circumnavigation yesterday, Saturday 3rd September. Along with many of his supporters, friends and family, I couldn’t resist popping down to Langstone Sailing Club to share a celebratory drink on his return. Tom is a really nice guy and I can tell he’s destined for great things. For more on Tom and his fantastic voyage visit his website CLICK HERE
Huge thanks to the amazing charity SHELTERBOX for making me so welcome at their HQ in Helston, Cornwall. If you don’t know, Shelterbox provide aid worldwide when natural disasters strike like the tsunami in Japan or earthquake in Haiti. Each box contains a tent, cooking utentsils, a stove and basic tools and each box costs just over £500. In the past ten years, they have dispatched hundreds of thousands of boxes worldwide. To see more about their work CLICK HERE.
Congrats also to the Rose Road Association who were raising awareness for their selection as the nominated charity for Ladies Day at the PSP Southampton Boat Show later this month. They held a competition in West Quays shopping centre and were timing participants on a rowing machine. I hadn’t realised how hard those things were to pull so I stuck to smiling for the camera. The Boat Show runs from Friday 16th September to Sunday 25th September. Ladies Day is Thursday 22nd. For more info on the Rose Road Association (of which I’m a proud patron), CLICK HERE
Don’t forget my new wheelchair accessible powerboat Wetwheels makes her debut at the Southampton Boat Show on the Suzuki Marine berth on the marina. Do pop by and say “hello” and we will take you for a free ride. CLICK HERE to “like” Wetwheels on Facebook and to see all the latest photos.
You’ll notice from the above photos that seven weeks on from breaking my leg, and I’m still sporting the “half-trouser”. Unfortunately it is still not healing very well which is a bit of a nuisance. I took the above photo of my X-ray this week whilst waiting to see the consultant. The metal rod through my tibia is obvious but if you zoom in (trust me, some of my friends like this detail), you can see that the tibia is still snapped across the shin and the fibia is still snapped just below the knee. It’s going to take a long time.
Thought I’d share this photo I took at the weekend of the Halfords store in Havant. I challenged the manager about their canopy blocking a disabled parking bay (on a busy Saturday) but he just shrugged and said “it’s only blocking one space”. In France they have great signs – see below – I’ll let you translate.
Two great events for you;
Saturday 12th November, 7.00pm, Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth. “An evening with Geoff Holt”. Black tie fundraising dinner in aid of the Ellen Macarthur Trust and Simon Says plus great auction and live band. Full details, CLICK HERE
Tuesday 13th September, Access to Disability Sport Conference, Southampton University, all day, range of great speakers and workshops. More information, CLICK HERE
Geoff
I didn’t get to see TomWebb return to LSC as I was cycling and drinking my way around the Cotswolds. Would have been good to see you again. Interested in your comment about Halfords inHavant. I have been past there numerous times and never noticed their intrusion on the disabled space. The site owners are quick enough to send fines to anyone who parks a minute too long in that car park but obviously don’t care about blocking disabled spaces. I think I might just make an issue of it with some of my contacts locally.
Cheers
Gerry Woods
Delighted to take on Halfords on your behalf. Outrageous behaviour! I am truly stunned.
Great read as ever and hope to make it to the boat show. Hope your leg is better soon..
Jo
Great as always to receive your news, hope you’re well and that the leg starts healing, might start getting chilly sporting your “half-trouser” look in Autumn. Ignorant behaviour by Halfords, makes my blood boil.
Tiffany