Tequila Fundrise!

Once again The Pollicott Belles convinced Andy Dale, (Landlord of Gatehangers Inn, Ashendon) that it was a good idea to hand over his pub to our care for one night only - and so he did and so there was...Mexican Night hosted by The Pollicott Belles.

40 brilliant guests filled the bar and were treated to Annalise's nacho nibbles with a brave few starting the evening as they intended to go on with Vicky's tequila shots.

Build your Own Taco's by Sian kept our guests busy while in the kitchen the heat was on to prepare and serve the magnificent main: Alex's (con Steve) chilli with rice and tortilla and various alternatives (veggie by Vicky, no chilli etc.). As some determinedly battled through their massively generous chilli portions others enjoyed a quick round of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. With Freddy Holbrook in charge of tail sales this proved to be a quick cash generator.

 

As plates were cleared everyone enthusiastically joined in the Mexican Snap game and took the opportunity to sit with someone different as we served Vicky's fabulous puddings: a choice of chocolate brulee (wow) or grilled fruit kebabs with honey.

 

The final flourish came with the Piñata (containing the after dinner treats!). Now this was an eye opener as ordinarily kind and gentle guests turned into donkey bashers. Just look at the determination on their faces:

 

 

Throughout the evening a Mexican picture quiz was carefully pondered over by all - it was quite hard to find 25 questions and even harder to answer them but the Dutch contingent managed an impressive 14 points to scoop the top prize - a supremely naf Mexican Bell.

The raffle and more tequila shots continued to keep the funds rolling in for Florence Nightingale Hospice and with everyone being invited to donate an amount they felt reflected the value of their meal and the evening we raised a massive total of:

£1140

 

The Belles thoroughly enjoyed putting the evening together and we have had some lovely feedback but it was of course not wholly down to us. Firstly we say a huge thanks to all our guests for throwing themselves into the spirit of the night. Next we express our gratitude (and respect!) to Andy Dale for the loan of his livlihood and for donating the wine. Also thanks to Gill Walker for her unstinting help throughout the night and into the next day. Last (and of course not least) thanks to our boys for their moral support through our pre-planning sessions and for all their hard work on the night: Andy, Roger and Steve you are top gringos!

Roger and Andy the Bar Boys

Steve the Chef

Gill (with Alex) our behind the scenes rock (as well as chief raffle sales girl extraordinaire)

 

We now look forward to telling you all (in the next few blogs) about how our challenge walk went.

Clickety Click, Kerching, Kerching

On Friday 14th September Ashendon and surrounding villages (and a mighty fine couple from down Wiltshire way) made an impressive turn out for Belles Bingo night and helped us to raise an equally impressive £254.40p for Florence Nightingale Hospice.

Despite technical challenges Andy Dale ably called the numbers, checked the winners and kept the six games in line. We have to say Andy you have really got to grips with the fat ladies and little ducks, the Brighton Line and the blind things. We declare you the Belles top caller.

With wins for a first line and full house, a bonus second line on the final game and a well stocked raffle prize table we came close to declaring 'everyone a winner'.

We must thank Pelham Sparks of Westcott Club for lending us his number selection machine and for donating a supply of mighty fine bingo pens. The latter added to the evening in so many ways - we sold them, they added professionalism, Imo found them useful for decorating her bingo card and later in the evening we discovered they could be used for face decoration. Oh and they are indelible!

Andy sporting an indelible beard and dots.

With just over £400 in the fundraising bag we do, of course, feel more than obliged to complete the challenge. So on Friday 28th September Alex, Annalise and Sian will set off for three days to follow in the drovers footsteps from Faringdon to Oxford and Oxford to Brill.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us so far. To sponsor us on our walk please go to http://www.justgiving.com/pollicottbelles2 and please look out for details of our final fundraiser of the season which will be held on 19th October 2012 (put it in the diary - it's not to be missed!).

Beware of the Cows

When I heard Vicky wasn’t going to be available this year for The Pollicott Belles I kind of hinted to mum (Alex) that I’d be happy to step in of they needed someone else to make up the numbers. For two years I’d heard about tea and cakes, cups of coffee, and ice cream – it all sounded OK to me so I was pretty pleased when I was told I could join in for this years sponsored walk.

We set off from Pollicott at eight thirty on Sunday morning to walk down to Quainton to meet some other people who were doing an even bigger walk. An interesting experience what with cows that followed us through the fields and the road – this was the road where mum had her accident last year and this was the first time we’d been down there since then.

I thought maybe it would help to shoo cows away but well noticed by Alex and Sian it did look like I was praying to them – especially it being Sunday as well.

We stopped for a quick chat with some local residents safely knowing there were no cars or cows in sight.

When we reached Quainton we realised we had missed the Ashendon walkers so we sat down with an ice lolly and a refreshing drink to look at the map and plan our route home. Nearby there was a rather interesting take on violin playing from a near by house. This was what I was expecting – ice cream, drinks, and music.

On route home we came across a field with a rather large herd of younger horses. Working at The Horse Trust and loving horses as much as I do it became my job to guard Sian and Alex from them as they herded towards us in a rather excitable fashion. The Belles knew I would come in useful eventually.

Getting closer to home we ran out of map to guide us home, Sian was doing well to direct us back but mum was convinced she had hidden some directions in her bum bag.

We met a very friendly farmer who decided that maybe we looked a little lost and very reassuringly mentioned that the field we had just walked through just last week had a bull in it – well dodged I think from some of the reactions in the earlier fields.

Once decided that we already knew where we were going and the nice farmer had just told us what we already knew, I had my first piece of girlie advice from Sian. She happened to mention that when dealing with men you should act like you know nothing when really you know it all.

Taking a slight detour near the end of the walk as we had a little trouble finding the exit to the field we decided to cut the walk a little short and Andy met us at the end to give us a lift back home.

8.30 – 1.30, 5 hours for a 12 ½ mile walk. Not bad I think especially as we had to be all washed fresh and looking funky as we had a date with Lady Gaga at Twickenham rugby stadium at 7.

Sian and I looked particularly funky as we rocked the night away dancing along to the music and had a great time. Mum and Andy looking not so funky I think had a little snooze waiting for Gaga to arrive.

Was an absolutely great day and really looking forward to doing our walk later this month.

Annalise
xxx

A Warm Welcome at Florence Nightingale Hospice

And warm in every sense of the word. It was a beautiful late summers day when I headed over to Stoke Mandeville last Wednesday to meet Lindsey Fealey from FNH and the warmth of the day was easily matched by the warmth of the welcome I received from such lovely, caring, people.

With both Annalise and Vicky committed to work and Sian being dragged off at the last minute to a client meeting, I was admittedly a tad nervous about taking this initial introduction on my own, but Lindsey had me at ease within seconds.

As I entered the hospice at Stoke Mandeville I was immediately struck by the commitment and passion behind the work that goes on here, these are people who truly believe in what they do….and it shows.

The hospice itself is an incredible facility offering both ‘day’ and ‘residential’ care for the people who have come to rely on it so much. There is a great range of activities on offer including things like arts & crafts, hairdressing, and head massage, the hospice clearly goes to considerable lengths to make sure every day has something for everyone.

The memory that lasts in my mind is what I’d like to think of as a ‘secret garden’, a truly remarkable part of the facility. Somewhere at the heart of the hospice, surrounded by residential and care rooms, and the hectic world of Stoke Mandeville Hospital just a few steps outside, sits a garden full of the most vibrant colours. Open to the sky, with plants and hanging baskets surrounding you, the silence is only to be broken by the soothing sound of the water feature. This is a place where it is easy to forget why FNH exists, I couldn’t help feeling this was a very special place for so many people.

As my visit neared it’s end I was surprised to find that, what seemed like twenty minutes, had indeed been close to two hours – a truly remarkable facility that clearly means so much to so many people. As Lindsey handed me the FNH ‘T’ shirts for The Belles sponsored walk I knew we would be proud to wear them, to put something back into such a worthy cause and for our friend John Walker who cannot be with us.

Love and thanks,

Alex     x

                              The Belles in our new Florence Nightingale Hospice attire

Belles Bingo is Back

On Friday 14th September 2012 Belles Bingo will be making a big come back at Gatehangers Inn, Ashendon.

To be part of this exciting night out all you need to do is bag your Bingo Cards, get a drink and find a seat by 7.30 pm for eyes down at 8pm prompt.

Andy Dale has been practicing his clickety clicks, has his 2 little ducks in a row and is polishing his key to the door in readiness for his best performance yet. (Really!)

Alex has been touting and scouting around for prizes and there is little doubt that, as always, there will be something for everyone to win.

So, please come along and support us and help us to raise some funds for Florence Nightingale Hospice.

It really doesn't matter if you can't play Bingo - come for the fun of a Belles night out!

See you there we hope.

Sorry, no hand signals!

OK, before we get stuck into our weekend training adventure I’d better introduce you to Oli, the latest addition to The Pollicott Belles, who featured heavily in last weekends little experience.

Think Flower Power, Jimi Hendrix, Mamas and Papas, and you’ll be on the right lines -  Oli is Sians Volkswagon camper van, in bright yellow in case you might miss it.

Oli was brought into play on what was (so far) the hottest day of the year, as Sian and I set off to Worminghall. The plan was to give Oli a good run out and to get us to the start of our first serious walk of the new fund raising campaign for Florence Nightingale Hospice – The Clifden Arms.

Given this was the start of the days training our visit to The Clifden Arms involved only soft drinks….very much out of keeping with The Belles, but work to be done.

After a quick study of the map we decided to head off in what we thought was the direction of the pathway we were after, but ‘oh dear’ – lost after just thirty seconds. Not to worry though we headed in the direction of a friendly face sat having a drink outside of the pub but, not to be, before we could reach him he was up on his feet and off into the pub.

Just as we thought we’d lost our only hope of a ‘point in the right direction’ there was the friendly face – in the open window almost next to us. ‘Hi’ said Sian, ‘we’re looking for the pathway on this map’ she said, kind of holding the map up as if that might help jog his memory. As he began to explain the best he could we realised this window leads into the gents toilet – Sian was busy holding a map in her hand as it quickly became apparent this gentleman was holding something in his – and it wasn’t a map!

‘Sorry, no hand signals’ came the friendly voice, clearly trying to help us feel at ease with the situation we had managed to get ourselves into, I may have felt a little more at ease but I’m sure my red face was radiating more heat than the hot sun.

Eventually we did get on our way and once clear of the window and out of sight of the kind man, well, it would have been wrong not to have almost fallen over with laughter. Sian and I agreed…today was going to be a good day.

The map shows the route far better than I can explain it but the basic plan was to head off to Waterperry (cake here, so huge incentive for us to make good time), then make a circuit of around 7 miles, and head back to Oli at Worminghall.

I have to conclude that walking seems to be every bit as hazardous as bike riding, perhaps because Sians warning of 'watch the rabbit hole' took on less urgency at walking speed than perhaps it might had I been riding a bike. Anyway, I failed to 'watch the rabbit hole' until my foot was well and truly stuck and I was left fighting to maintain some balance. Fortunately it was a case of 'no harm done' and I walked away unscathed but I did begin to wonder how I might have explained a broken ankle to the consultant treating my arm injury from last year - I assured him we'd be doing 'safe fundraising' this year, not a bike in sight, to turn up to his next consultation on a pair of crutches might have been awkward.

As we arrived back into Worminghall I really did begin to worry about Sian. Alongside the wall of a local church someone had very thoughtfully placed a bowl of water for anyone walking a dog, a very kind gesture on such a hot day. As Sian headed straight for it and began to stoop down I really did begin to question whether it was wise to have gone out on such a hot day - what I didn't see from the angle I was at was the fresh cold water tap on the wall above the bowl. A moment of some relief I can assure you.

Oli was a welcome sight and, after 3 hours in the hot sunshine, we sat back and enjoyed a short rest before setting off back to Pollicott. It had been a fun day....can't wait until the next one.

Love

Alex x

Planning our Route

Our original plan was to walk from East Ilsley to Thame and Thame to Pollicott to follow the routes of our Pollicott & Ashendon forbears. This route, however, had a few too many issues (not least that we couldn't find really strong evidence of what that route was and also that a significant chunk of it is on The Ridgeway/Icknield Way and we have already cycled that). So, along with our charity shift, we have trampled all over our plans and decided to follow a known Drover's Road from Faringdon to Oxford and then from Oxford to Brill.

Finding the route is still no easy matter. From Faringdon we have a rough idea of the route to Abingdon which the following images help to illustrate. We will be carefully re-tracing this route on our OS maps over the next few days. We believe this may have been known as Southampton Street or Gloucester Street and that it came across from Monmouth.

Our final push we know will be an approach to Brill from Little London (see our previous blog) but the bit in between Abingdon and Little London is still more than blurry.

There are a few enthusiasts around whom we hope to track down to pick their brains. Bruce Smith of Syresham if you read this please drop us a note. Bruce is on the WI speaker circuit so any friends with access to WI speaker lists please help us to find an email for him. We have also been given a local contact near Brill who we hope will be able to help us piece together our journey. Any other contacts or suggestions will be gratefully received.

Please watch out for more news of our route plan and of our fundraising efforts over the coming month. For anyone who would just like to make an online donation to Florence Nightingale Hospice, we now have a justgiving page set up: http://www.justgiving.com/pollicottbelles2

Our walk begins in less than 7 weeks!

It's a Ladies Perogative

After much soul searching, Alex and I (Sian) took a decision to change our chosen charity this year and we are now going to be walking to raise funds for a local charity - Florence Nightingale Hospice, Stoke Mandeville.

We were both lacking a inspiration for the charity we had originally chosen to support this year and, to add to that, we were not getting any motivation from them. This lack of oomph was affecting our psyche and we were struggling to get excited about this year's challenge and the fundraising to go with it. So, it's a late change but we have personal connection with the charity we have now chosen to complete our challenge for.  

Florence Nightingale Hospice has been there for our friends in Ashendon and in our hearts we very much want to support this wonderful charity.

We have set a date for our walk - Friday to Sunday 28-30th September and are planning a fun, fundraiser for just before we leave. Watch this space.

Please support us any way you can.

Talking About Our Adventures

When the Ashendon WI asked us last year if us 'Belles' would be willing to do a talk about our adventures at one of their monthly meetings we couldn't refuse, so in the new year when the flyer came throught the door for the Ashendon WI schedule for the year and there we were in print for March's meeting there was no getting out of it!!

Sian is definately the most confident of speakers in us 'Belles' as she does this regularly as part of running her business, but to Alex and myself it is a daunting task to stand up in front of a hall full of WI members.

March came up quicker than ever and soon we were days away with no real speech prepared, however a hasty meeting in my kitchen two afternoons before our 'date' we bashed through a rough schedule and some great photos soon got our memories jogged and with some new found confidence we felt prepared enough to face the ladies of Ashendon!

Despite a slight village hall lighting problem we set up our projector and laptop and as the ladies came pilling in through the door and took their seats my new found confidence was already starting to slip, but with Sian getting the talk off to a very slick start I found enough confidence to deliver our account of the South Downs Way experiences. We seemed to be recieved well and we even got to partake in a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake, well Alex and I did, unfortunately Sian missed out on that bit as she had to rush off to play in a netball match!

So we can now add public speaking to our list of talents, although I for one actually prefer cycling to speaking!!

A Towering Success

Well that’s what it said on the tin…the map actually but you get the joke? The map was supplied by Sian and our walk was titled ‘A Towering Success’ – and so it turned out to be.

With our Vicky out for the count with an ear infection and well under the weather, Joe scheduled to make a choir session in Bloxham, Sian and I opted to take full advantage of a beautiful spring day (in February!!) and try out the walk from Hook Norton.

Firstly it might be worth mentioning that around this time last year all of us came to grief on the icy roads – this year Sian and I are walking out across the open countryside in ‘T’ shirts – none of this yellow ‘high viz’ stuff this time.

The walk itself was truly amazing, I love walking and I know Sian does too and even in far more dubious weather a good walk can lift your mood for the day…but in such glorious sunshine and peaceful surroundings it can be a real lift.

Did I say “peaceful?” - just as Sian and I were settling down to a decent bit of Belles Banter the girl leaps into life as if a tiger had jumped out from the hedgerow. Somewhat startled I swung round to see what the problem was only to be surrounded by about 6 or 7 cyclists out for a Sunday ride. I ask you, who goes out cycling these days…last years news for us Belles. But they were fit young chaps so we’ll cut them some slack.

As with all Belles training days there was tea and cakes lined up at the end, this time in the The Joiners Arms. Sian had given up both cake and biscuits for ‘Lent’ so the delicious biscuit that arrived with our coffee was little more than temptation to Sian so I did the dutiful thing and ate it for her. What a friend! When the teacakes arrived I did suggest these may also fall outside of permitted foods but Sian was having none of it this time – I didn’t hear her reply as she was too busy eating. Apparently teacakes don’t count.

Joe eventually caught up with us and we set off back in the car towards Pollicott, via Lidl in Bicester. What a bizarre mix of merchandise…never before can I recall strolling the centre isle of a supermarket with jam and marmalade on one side and metric socket sets and motor cycle accessories on the other.

Eventually we arrived back at Pollicott to continue with our Sunday, more tea and cake for Annalises birthday.

Our first stressful training session over…not!

Love

Alex xxx

The Beeb inspires The Belles

Our research had a little boost from Countryfile this week - see we Belles start and others will follow!  Adam went to Wales to herd a flock of sheep along an ancient droving route, ending in the hamlet of Rhewl. The network of tracks and roads that criss-cross our countryside are still evident today - so, all we have to do is find our route. The programme did share a couple of tips on spotting Drover's routes:

• Often high banks ran alongside the route to keep out strays from neighbouring land
• Lush fields next to old inns indicate grazing used by drovers

Boosted by this a dig around the Internet has helped to identify a few facts relating to our route:

We plan to start out from East Ilsley which by 1240 had an already substantial corn-market and by the Middle Ages a major sheep fair, attracting drovers bringing their stock along the Ridgeway. (We know it well!).

A book The Drovers by Shirley Toulson provides more detail that seems to confirm that the first section of our walk will follow part of the Ridgeway in the direction of Wallingford.

Place names provide useful indications of the possible existence of drover's routes. For example Halfpenny relates to the fee drovers paid for grazing. Anything with Drovers in is a good clue (Drovers Arms and so on) and a place with London in its name is also a good indication that it was on a Drover's route and a significant place for the travelling community.

It's not on our route but it seems Little London (at Oakley just down the road from Brill) may have been established by Welsh cattle drovers. Cattle drovers established at least 70 communities established in England and Wales, many of which still exist. They were on common land, separated from local communities and were temporary homes for long distance drovers, driving their cattle to the great fairs and markets of London and other centres in England.

Then something exciting popped up when I googled Drover's Buckinghamshire. I found a map that shows Thame on a Drover's road that runs to Witney a bit far from East Ilsley but there may be a link across.

All in all a good start - we have a beginning and we know there is a route through Thame.

To finish we share a totally unrelated fact uncovered by searching for 'Ridgeway' and 'Drovers' turned up this fact on google: "Ridgeway Rovers were formed in 1979 and is famous for being the first club David Beckham played for." Hmm I feel a quiz fundraiser event coming on!!

Needles and Haystacks - can you help us?

As Alex explained, in her shining first blog entry for 2012, this year we will walk. It should come as no surprise to hear that this will not be without challenge.  So first I will explain the background to our challenge choice. 

Many years ago a neighbour, Bob Ewers (sadly now dead), told me a story of his working life. Bob was Roger's grandfather. Roger is Vicky's partner and Bob was born and bred in Ashendon. He wasn't one for 'reminiscing the country life' because it was just normal life to him. So he surprised me one day when he told me how, as a young lad, he had first been employed to drive animals (sheep and cattle) to market - along the byways to market (in Thame). Starting out, he was given money to buy lemonade on arrival at the market pub, eventually (at an appropriate age) the amount increased so that he could buy a beer and the best bit was when he was promoted from foot to horseback. His story, though brief, was of lost times and lost places and it absolutely captured my heart. I often walk out of Pollicott toward Chearsley and wonder if I am following Bob's foot/hoof prints and I would truly love to know his route. 

Having decided our charity this year would be The Alzheimer's Society we Belles had lots of 'planning meetings' and 'what to do' conversations. Memory is a good Alzheimer's theme that led us to 'a walk down memory lane' and that led to the green lanes of the past and then eventually all linked up to Bob's story. But, as attractive as it sounds, Bob's route from Thame to Pollicott is not a big enough challenge for us girls to command big sponsorship for. Our ideas did get a bit over creative with the suggestion that "we could borrow a few sheep and cows!" and then another conversation clicked into place. 

On our arrival back from the first Pollicott Belles Challenge - Cycling The Ridgeway - we were greeted in style by 'The Village' at a village 'do' in Pollicott. And it was here our challenge was destined to be. Geoff Curtis an Ashendon Farmer (who is also sadly no longer with us) was very excited to hear we had travelled The Ridgeway passing through East Ilsley where "the largest sheep fair in the country" is held. Geoff went on to chat about good times, and happy memories, of sheep market days in East Ilsley. It was one of the longest conversations I ever had with Geoff and it was, truly, inspirational. I guess also that, in past times, local farmers and their employees, will have walked to that market in East Ilsley. 

So, there you have it - our challenge is a Walk along Memory Lane from East Ilsley back to Pollicott, via Thame - it may be subject to some variance but in essence that is the plan.  

Fittingly, given our charity this year, the initial challenge is more mental than physical. I thought the easiest way to explain why is to share the 2 responses I have had so far to an e-mail sent to several local history and archive organisations. 

Here goes:

FROM ME: Dear (Local History/Archivist)

I am hoping you may be able to help me kick off some research into ‘droving’ routes in Bucks and Oxon. I would like to find out more about the routes used from villages to the local market towns to drive sheep/cattle and about the recorded routes between market towns and central markets. Do you have records of the routes generally used or know where I could find out more?

The purpose is to plan a charity walk from Upper Pollicott, Ashendon to Thame and from Thame to East Ilsley following the route a neighbour/grandfather used to take when driving sheep to market.

THE REPLIES: 

Dear Ms Miller, Thank you for your email enquiry regarding droving routes in Bucks. That sort of historical information is more likely held at the ... 

AND 

Thank you for your email and enquiry concerning routes used by drovers to drive livestock to market. Unfortunately the routes that drovers used are difficult to recreate, except when, as in your case, they have been passed down by word of mouth. You are very fortunate to have this information.

A few months ago we came across some papers of a drover who had gone bankrupt. Two of his account books had been kept amongst the Quarter Sessions papers. It was lucky for posterity that we had them, because in the books he wrote what he paid at each toll gate to pass through as well as the charges he had to pay to overnight his livestock. In this way we were able to plot his route which ran from near Aylesbury to London, via Amersham and Little Chalfont. I don't know of any other routes drovers used. You could try...

That's the total result of our research so far - oh and I have a book that lists drovers' routes from Brill to Oxford, Oxford to Wantage, and Wantage to Goring with a cut off to East Ilsley. So there is a way but it's just not quite in the right direction!

We will share what we learn over the coming months. However, this time round The Pollicott Belles would really appreciate it if anyone can help us to piece together a route that genuinely follows in the footsteps of our forbears. Please get in touch if you can. Many thanks. 

Sian  

2012 - The Belles Are Shining As Brightly As Ever

“And that's it, all over. Watch this space. 2012 is just around the corner”.

Well…I have news for you…2012 is well and truly here and the Belles are well and truly back.

Well almost...as Sian has already mentioned I had a bit of a mishap leading up to Christmas.

Hundreds of miles on a bike, sleeping in tents, freezing to death, and dodging Sian throwing her bike about….nothing! A quick walk out the village on a Saturday afternoon and BAM!!…two days in hospital with my arm being stuck back together. We usually go to The Gatehangers on a Saturday but opted this day to go for a walk…never been hit by a car in The Gatehangers so lesson learnt.

The bad news is that bike riding has been given a thumbs down by my new found friends at the hospital…too risky apparently should I fall off and take an impact on my wrist. So The Belles have had to do some serious thinking…we can’t have 2012 pass us by without some serious fund raising for another good cause.

“If we can’t ride then maybe we should walk” was the suggestion.

“Walk where?” was the question.

So the 2012 Pollicott Belles fund raising challenge was born…’A Trip Down Memory Lane’ is the theme. We’ll leave it at that for the moment as we have some really great stuff to tell you about as the ‘master plan’ unveils itself.

Without all of our friends and supporters The Pollicott Belles would be nothing more than three girls out on their bikes and this year we’re hoping you’ll bring us all together once again to raise money for The Alzheimer’s Society. We’re looking forward to this years challenge and you’ll be hearing much more about this in future blogs.

In the words of The Terminator “I’ll be back” (hey…I have as much metal in my arm as Arnie ever did) but before I go just a quick word on Sians concern about ‘taking the shine off The Pollicott Belles.

The South Downs Way was a monster challenge for all of us, we’re not professional cyclists and to be honest none of us would choose sleeping out in cold rain as a weekend break. We were all tired, hungry, cold, and thirsty…and The Belles are a team…we were all in the ‘same place’ that day and we would never have got as far as that ridge without Sian pushing us along. As I said in the title – The Belles Are Shining As Brightly As Ever and ready to go.

Love

Alex xxx