My head’s in total gridlock!
The tick-o-meter is telling me that there are only 20 sleeps left till I fly to Jamaica and I’m starting to feel a little bit scared.
The Clipper final leg is looming and the reality of the exploit is starting to sink in. Thing is I managed to get through my ocean rows relatively unscathed. So far the Clipper crews have succumbed to:
2 broken legs
Several head injuries
1 knock down
1 hulling & eventual sinking
A dismasting
AND
A man over board!
All I had to contend with was a few nasty boils on my arse! I’m also not reassured by the fact that my crew on Uniquely Singapore has blogged about the amount of Spam they have on board.
Lets just say I’m making the very most of my last few days on land – eating ice cream, sleeping in and hugging trees.
Still raising money for the fabulous Children’s Trust.
Wanna sponsor? I'm trying the raise £20k!
Please go to:
Square Tomatoes
Totally
random but I’ve just launched a blog called Square ☐ Tomatoes.
It’s a ‘how-to’ for kids aged 7-12yrs.
I squealed when the kids starting sending their pictures in. It’s enormously rewarding to see the results of your hard work, especially knowing that children ‘out there’ are anxiously willing their tomatoes to be square.
It’s going to take some time to build a community but if we gather enough followers there may be an opportunity to publish a book. So if you have any 7-12yr olds who like to get creative do send them to the free blog and lets start a Square Tomatoes revolution!
Follow Square Tomatoes on Twitter
The Great Escape
The Children’s Trust and a good friend of mine, Major Phil Packer introduced me to ex-Olympic gymnast Suzanne Dando. Suzanne has organized an expedition across the Pyrenees to raise funds for the Royal British Legion and Phil recommended me as an ‘Exceptional Woman in my Field’, a humbling compliment. I’ll be one of a team of 11 women. Our message - to highlight women in war & women in conflict.
The idea came from a
remarkable escape across the mountains by a woman called Nancy Wake. At the top
of the Gestapo’s ‘Most Wanted’ list, Nancy was a spy for the Allies in WW11.
Her story is remarkable and to my surprise Suzanne has told me Nancy is now a resident
at the Star & Garter Home in Richmond, just up the road from me.
Will have more on this when I’m back from sailing.
Finally…
Rowgirls The Movie
Soon after writing Sally's Odd at Sea I decided the Rowgirls adventure would make a fabulous movie. I've been working towards it's production for two years now, but recently crazy things have been happening. My co-producer Joe Kennard and I have been interviewing scriptwriters, meeting with bods at Screen South and the Film Council and incredibly it’s all moving forward. We’ve even been advised to schmooze at the Cannes Film Festival.
Well, as ‘Schmooze’ is my middle name how can I possibly resist the offer to go hang out in the south of France?
Joe and I are thinking of hitting the Festival just a couple of days before I fly off to Jamaica.
As yet we have nowhere to stay so a sleeping bag on the beach may be the best way to go. Lets face it it’s going to be luxury in comparison to the boat bunks.
So, here’s to finding more development funds. Oh and we’re thinking of putting together an ‘all-female’ production crew.
If you happen to own a villa in Cannes do let me know asap. Also, any contacts with female filmers also drop me a line.
Until I'm back from the Clipper adventure,
Sally 'Schmooze' Kettle x
