It has been almost three years since the Belles set a challenge. We haven't stopped, we simply need to re-set and re-focus and find time to get ourselves back in the zone.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Your 5 Minutes of Fame?
I mentioned before that I do the Santa's on the Run event that Helen & Douglas House hold every year in Oxford. To promote this they are doing a photograph and need willing volunteers - wearing red T-Shirts I think. If you can spare the time please go - it will be fun. Or if you know someone who may be able to then pass it on. If you go please let the team at H&DH know that The Pollicott Belles sent you!!
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Places We Will Discover - Cheesefoot Head
We have Dinah Mason to thank for pointing out the fabulous name of one of our waypoints on the South Downs route. I was intrigued so googled to find out if there really was such a place.
Cheesefoot Head is a natural ampitheatre and place of outstanding beauty - wow, nice, they have a horse box parking area as well. However, it is also a place of special scientific interest (and not for it's name). It is, it seems, regularly the site of crop circles. The best bit is that, in 1989, there was the Cheesefoot Head incident involving the first ever crop circle investigation unit and UFO's. Google it if you dare - there were news paper articles and all sorts. The whole team experienced strange things - a feeling of force, an inability to break free, the head of a small ET, people moving at an angle or moving backwards and so on.
But, they ain't seen nothing yet - the Belles are on their way and UFO's have nothing on us. We have witnessed some UFO incidents ourselves - Alex on several occasions and has been known to land in unidentifiable circular objects (OK it was a patch of stinging nettles but it was strangely circular). Vicky and Sian have, what seems now, a suspiciously common denominator in the form of Isalda who was there to swerve and pick us up in our most dramatic of flights. Vix managed an unusual levitation from her bike on the Chilton road and Sian took to the air over Little London in Oakley. Isalda is, of course, an alien and on both occasions we felt the need to 'phone home'. It's all coming together now - Pat Delgado and Colin Andrews may wish to make a return trip in June for scientific interest as the Belles land at Cheesefoot.
In the meantime can anyone give us lessons in crop circle making - we feel the force!
Cheesefoot Head is a natural ampitheatre and place of outstanding beauty - wow, nice, they have a horse box parking area as well. However, it is also a place of special scientific interest (and not for it's name). It is, it seems, regularly the site of crop circles. The best bit is that, in 1989, there was the Cheesefoot Head incident involving the first ever crop circle investigation unit and UFO's. Google it if you dare - there were news paper articles and all sorts. The whole team experienced strange things - a feeling of force, an inability to break free, the head of a small ET, people moving at an angle or moving backwards and so on.
But, they ain't seen nothing yet - the Belles are on their way and UFO's have nothing on us. We have witnessed some UFO incidents ourselves - Alex on several occasions and has been known to land in unidentifiable circular objects (OK it was a patch of stinging nettles but it was strangely circular). Vicky and Sian have, what seems now, a suspiciously common denominator in the form of Isalda who was there to swerve and pick us up in our most dramatic of flights. Vix managed an unusual levitation from her bike on the Chilton road and Sian took to the air over Little London in Oakley. Isalda is, of course, an alien and on both occasions we felt the need to 'phone home'. It's all coming together now - Pat Delgado and Colin Andrews may wish to make a return trip in June for scientific interest as the Belles land at Cheesefoot.
In the meantime can anyone give us lessons in crop circle making - we feel the force!
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
And the 2011 Pollicott Belles Cycle Challenge is....
The South Downs Way - another ancient route where we will ‘experience some of the finest countryside great views, attractive wildlife, visible prehistory, fine pubs and pretty villages.
The 160 kilometre (100 mile) South Downs Way follows the old routes and drove ways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs, between Winchester, the first capital of England, and the white chalk cliffs of Eastbourne. It’s promising to be another Pollicott Belles classic event.
We have thought very long, and very hard, about our charity this year. Macmillan Cancer Support remains close to our hearts. We have all witnessed the wonderful care and advice their nurses have given to special friends. We know it’s a charity people are pleased and proud to support. We love our green T-Shirts and we very much like the fundraising team in Launton. And yet, though we will all personally continue to support Macmillan, we have decided to focus our joint energies this year on a charity that is close to home.
Why? Alex was the catalyst – she placed a leaflet on the table and told us about the man who had inspired her to think about supporting a local charity (more about him from Alex in a later blog).
And so, we have registered as fundraisers for Helen & Douglas House and we intend to raise £1000 for this fabulous local charity. We know it's going to be harder in many ways but we also know we can help to make a difference in difficult lives.
Coincidentally, I have supported Helen & Douglas House ever since I heard the founder - Sister Frances Dominica – telling her story and I was captivated by her (again another blog). Every Christmas Andy, Joe and I dress as Santa's and run round Oxford. We even starred on their 2009 Christmas card. So it wasn't a difficult decision for me to support them some more. And, guess what Alex and Vicky will be roped in to do this year!!
Helen & Douglas House provide hospice care for children and young adults. They provide respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. On their website is a list of useful resources - I looked at it thinking it would have a logo and it's not that sort of resource - it's a list of other charities and support groups for parents dealing with the horror of a very ill child. That brought home to me just how fragile life is and how lucky we all are to be fit and healthy enough to do the things we do.
There is a marvellous story to tell about the work at the 2 houses and we will tell it as our blog unfolds. In the meantime we ask you all to support us through our training, fundraising events and the challenge itself and help us to raise £1000 once again.
The 160 kilometre (100 mile) South Downs Way follows the old routes and drove ways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs, between Winchester, the first capital of England, and the white chalk cliffs of Eastbourne. It’s promising to be another Pollicott Belles classic event.
We have thought very long, and very hard, about our charity this year. Macmillan Cancer Support remains close to our hearts. We have all witnessed the wonderful care and advice their nurses have given to special friends. We know it’s a charity people are pleased and proud to support. We love our green T-Shirts and we very much like the fundraising team in Launton. And yet, though we will all personally continue to support Macmillan, we have decided to focus our joint energies this year on a charity that is close to home.
Why? Alex was the catalyst – she placed a leaflet on the table and told us about the man who had inspired her to think about supporting a local charity (more about him from Alex in a later blog).
And so, we have registered as fundraisers for Helen & Douglas House and we intend to raise £1000 for this fabulous local charity. We know it's going to be harder in many ways but we also know we can help to make a difference in difficult lives.
Coincidentally, I have supported Helen & Douglas House ever since I heard the founder - Sister Frances Dominica – telling her story and I was captivated by her (again another blog). Every Christmas Andy, Joe and I dress as Santa's and run round Oxford. We even starred on their 2009 Christmas card. So it wasn't a difficult decision for me to support them some more. And, guess what Alex and Vicky will be roped in to do this year!!
Helen & Douglas House provide hospice care for children and young adults. They provide respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. On their website is a list of useful resources - I looked at it thinking it would have a logo and it's not that sort of resource - it's a list of other charities and support groups for parents dealing with the horror of a very ill child. That brought home to me just how fragile life is and how lucky we all are to be fit and healthy enough to do the things we do.
There is a marvellous story to tell about the work at the 2 houses and we will tell it as our blog unfolds. In the meantime we ask you all to support us through our training, fundraising events and the challenge itself and help us to raise £1000 once again.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Phoenix from the Ashes
The warm weather back in the first week of June seems, and is, a long time ago. Mid-September and the cold nights are drawing in. Some things are a distant memory, some are not!
"Oi you lot" screamed 'Military Miller' "are you ready for another challenge"? Being the Pollicott Belles is pretty explanatory, we all live in Pollicott which means dear old Sian is never too far away.
Vicky and I were intrigued and before we knew it all three of us sat to reflect on the great fun we had back in the hazy days of Summer doing our little bit for the great team at MacMillan.
Sure there were cuts and bruises, but there was generosity and support in far greater proportions, as we recalled our favourite bits of those gruelling months of training it became a certainty that the Belles would 'ride again'.
I find it difficult to recall a single favourite memory, I do know the commitment, that Sian showed me I possessed, has changed my life forever - I pushed myself into achieving things that I never thought possible.
There was already friendship long before The Belles was born, but simple friendship was brushed aside as even deeper relationships were forged. We were there to support each other when the going got tough: for every mile further Sian convinced me I could go, Vicky was there with support and a shoulder to collapse on when the need arose.
Today is Friday 17th September and tonight is a rather special occasion because the Pollicott Belles are about to rise again - like a phoenix from the ashes.
Watch this space good people - time to hose the bike down and get the chain grease out!!
Alex xx
"Oi you lot" screamed 'Military Miller' "are you ready for another challenge"? Being the Pollicott Belles is pretty explanatory, we all live in Pollicott which means dear old Sian is never too far away.
Vicky and I were intrigued and before we knew it all three of us sat to reflect on the great fun we had back in the hazy days of Summer doing our little bit for the great team at MacMillan.
Sure there were cuts and bruises, but there was generosity and support in far greater proportions, as we recalled our favourite bits of those gruelling months of training it became a certainty that the Belles would 'ride again'.
I find it difficult to recall a single favourite memory, I do know the commitment, that Sian showed me I possessed, has changed my life forever - I pushed myself into achieving things that I never thought possible.
There was already friendship long before The Belles was born, but simple friendship was brushed aside as even deeper relationships were forged. We were there to support each other when the going got tough: for every mile further Sian convinced me I could go, Vicky was there with support and a shoulder to collapse on when the need arose.
Today is Friday 17th September and tonight is a rather special occasion because the Pollicott Belles are about to rise again - like a phoenix from the ashes.
Watch this space good people - time to hose the bike down and get the chain grease out!!
Alex xx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)