news in a nutshell...

So we've finally left perth, were on day 6 of being on the road. Every where we go people are stopping in there cars and handing us donations, its really crazy. Daves been doing really well, pushing away - i think we must be up and over 200km - its much easier than miles! Hes doing really well and the team are living up to there roles. All is running smoothly.

We have three lovely support vehicles, which are all doing remarkably well. We had a couple of lucky breaks with accomodation, including staying in an old transport museum- it was the coolest place to spend the night.

Just before we left Perth I got to go and meet some kangaroos - thet were really friendly and we got to stroke them and stuff. It was awesome. The sky here is beautiful - we've seen flocks of grey cockatoos and galahs flying over, plus hundreds of green parrots. We have seen Dolphins and Pelicans in Perth Harbour. Australia really is a beautiful place.

We really are heading to the middle of no where, the towns here are so small, and I reckon were about 10 days from the nullabor. Im loving living it rough, I dont miss my phone ringing, or having a sofa or an oven, i love not knowing whats next. Its exciting.

The weather since we left Perth has been sunny and quite warm, but freezing at night.

So thats all the news in a nutshell, Sorry its so brief, but time is limited.

Just a little more....

Its Tuesday night and its not looking like were properly gonna get on the road until Thursday. But do you know what? I'm really glad. At 6pm today we drove away three vehicles. Most of the team were relieved or happy. I was emotional. George, the chap who has been fixing up our vehicles, has been an angel - he's gone way beyond the call of duty to help us. He even calls our vehicles by the names we gave them - George, Kylie and Jack/Cheech/ jacko/ undecided! Names on a postcard please. Holly and I bought George lunch today and had a beer with him. He's lovely! So, our vehicles are as follows...

Kylie - (I like to think she's mine) I named her - and I've been bombing around Perth in her - Holly took the above shot in a bus stop. She's an old Toyota pop top - and she's kitted out with a kitchen, wardrobe, and double bed. She is old but lovely.

George (named after the legend that is) is our most reliable, (prob the only one who will make it to Brisbane!) again a Toyota - but more of a people carrier than a camper, until George (1) kited it out with a double bunk bed and plenty of storage space.

Jacko/cheech/jacko/ undecided - please help! Is a jeep type thing, will act as Daves main support vehicle, as well as storage. Probably our most unreliable, but the only one with power steering. Jacko broke down on the day of the launch, in true BoardFree style. At least he waited until the end of the day. But still. So that brings me nicely to the launch.

It was emotional.Compared to John O'Groats, where the send off was a lonely carpark, Holly, Dim, Dave, Dan and Si, there were loads of people. A big breakfast bbq thanks to Rachel from Sailability, and loads of people, I managed to shake my bucket to the grand tune of nearly $500. As well as that, we raised $200 in merchandise. To top it off beautifully, the place was swarming with Skaters, and media with there big cameras. Dave set off from the jetty bridge - and right behind her were a dozen skaters. What a way to start. He had a good first day.

As I look around me, the team look tired, and slight ly frustrated. Last night we went out, got glammed up and went to a distant relatives of Si. Saowannes Place is the best restaurant in Western Australia. Home cooked Thai food, lots of good wine, the team really let there hair down. The boys wore matching flowery shirts, the girls looked elegant. It was nice. Thank you so much to Saowanee and Rob for there company and hospitality.

We need another day or so to prepare. And once were prepared we'll be away. Better to leave prepared than leave disorganized and frustrated. We're nearly there.

I love the team. The last week has really put pressure on relationships. At times I've found them frustrating and like I wanted to scream. But I think that's tiredness.

We have vans. We have all the kit we need to survive. 1 more day in Perth. Bring on BFOz

Tired but ready... D- Day is tomorrow.

5 days of solid work, jet lag, highs, lows, this week has been a roller coaster. Dave sets off tomorrow. Over 6000km of road ahead of him and his team. Sounds like a holiday to most of you. Believe me. This is no holiday - its hard work and tiring and emotional and the journey hasnt even began...

It still hasnt really hit that im in Oz. In this picture we are looking at parrots in the trees - this is as common as a blackbird. Dave had his photo taken with real kangaroos. Most of the team went sailing and saw dolphins. Today I got my little piece of reality. I saw a dolphin. I was down by the yaught club setting up for tomorrow, and right next to the yaughts, the little jetty and the clear blue water was a dolphin, jumping in the water. It was amazing. It was only from a distance and the sky was cloudy and grey - not quite as idylic as it sounds, but none the less, beautiful. I'm in Australia, and i'm about to embark on something big.

The media has gona crazy, dave has been in newspapers all over the world, including in Germany, South Africa, Turkey, All over the UK (Watch the Times all you brits), and in all the massive papers and radio shows in Oz. The media boom has finally happened. Even Ghetti Images are onboard. The world is watching this now - not just people that know me.

But its not all romantic and plain sailing. The team and Dave have desperately struggled all week to find vans. Its the wrong time of year and vans go quickly over here. We've been let down time and time again. Travellers Autobarn were potential sponsors, but dragged there interests on a little too long before finally saying no, which left things very late for us. This followed by another promise from a guy, who had a beautiful van and promised to let us know if anyone made an offer, then sold it regardless. The team looked destroyed, and for the first time this week I was close to tears. Of tiredness, of anger and of complete loss. Then came George. Recommended by the owner of our hostel, he came with a van - it was just a shell, but none the less he was thinking of endless ways to "pimp our ride" Australia style. Anxious but secretly confident smiles appeared on the team faces.

And then, later, Holly arrived. I cant tell you how happy I was to see her. Holly reminds me of me. Some people even get us confused in photo's. In some ways she is like I was 2 and half years ago. In many ways shes the person I would like to be now. I was really glad to see her.

Hollys arrival meant a late night, and this morning was an early start, coupled with a bad nights sleep which equallized 4 hours of rest. I was tired, tearful and moody. We got the train to freemantle. Holly tried to take photos of me - im lost without hair straighteners, and i look tired and almost ill. We arrive at a car market Si and I found. 1 small van in sight. Half an hour later we have looked at an awesome camper with good facilities, and a Jackaroo (4x4 jeepy thing). We wanna buy both along side Georges van. George phones. He says he has something bigger and better but for the same price - and he'll kit it out. Our luck changes. We buy the Jackaroo. We make an offer on the camper. We have three vehicles - touch wood - its not signed and sealed just yet.

This afternoon we go to the yaught club. We helped Rachel from Sailability set up for tomorrow. Dim asks us to stand individually infront of his big camera and talk. I love these moments. I can be honest. I use the experience I have gained over previous years to predict and answer his questions in the best way I can - honestly, sometimes brutally, but with some compassion and emotion for a project I have come to love.

Its late here. I look at MSN to see who's online - its middle of the day and i know people are in work. Mum, Ben and Annie aren't online. I wish I could have a cuddle from them now. Or some words of wisdom. Tomorrow is the big day - and although we're ready, i'm really emotional - maybe its tiredness, even reality kicking in. Who knows, but it all starts tomorrow and the world is watching.

Im in Australia...!!!!!!!

It always felt like this journey was so far away, and all of a sudden i'm in Perth. Its 10am and im in our hostel on the net, searching for events to put on, support vans, shopping malls and trying to get everything organised.

The flights over here were hectic - they were late from heathrow - plus our baggage was a close call - thank you to the lovely people at Singapore airlines for giving us an extra 10kgs each! We misses our transfer flight at singapore - which meant a further 6 hr delay, and we finally arrived in Perth at 6am on tuesday local time - I left Hayling Island at 3pm on Sunday. A long trip, two days of jet lag, and bad motion sickness which is still with me now, but there is much to do, and I know everyone is feeling the same.

Its the wrong time of year to buy a van in Western Australia. The few that are around are either not up to the standard we need for the journey, or already sold - the good ones go quick. TNT magazine have been supporting the journey so far, and are talking to Auto barn for us - a major company - fingers crossed. Were running out of options and time.

Last night i had my first fundraising event - a backpacker night in one of the local bars. Its an established event - but the bar manager allowed us to go in and leaflet and run a collection. It turned out to be an amazing night - we raised $70, and Simon entered a pool competition. Not only did Si win the tournament and a $100, which he gave straight over to the BoardFree Charities, but he also won a bike - legend! Check out www.mustangbar.com.au - and a big thank you to the Pat, the staff and management at Mustang Bar, Perth.

Not only did we raise a $170 in the bar last night, but the crew (except Si and I) spent the day at the yaught club and raised $70 insponsor a section, plus, a lovely chap at breakfast yesterday gave me $10 - he had seen dave skating the final leg of BFUK in cornwall. You see, you can come to the other side of the world and still not escape the BoardFree phenomenon. $250 in one day - thats over 100 quid to you brits. Thank you to everyone that donated.

Perth is a strange place. Considering its the only city in an area twice the size of the uk, its very quiet and relatively small. The hostel is nice, clean, friendly and has fantastic facilities. Its awesome. The weather is vet much like March in the UK - still quite cold, sunny and showery. Its ok though. I still cant believe we leave on Sunday. So much to do, so little time to do it.

I know I blogged this morning (see below....)

Isn't Australia Massive?BIG THANK YOUS TO...

Chugga -Leg waxing - you were so brave! £93
Stubbsy - Chest wax - im sorry! £135
Students - Hendre carnival bucket £60
Annie - for your coin jar - thanks babe! £22
Shona, Jeff and the boys -The coin jar and sponsored Karaoke £22
Students Union - Shane, Stu, Elaine, Daniella, Martin, Mike, Nath, Sabbs, and everyone else! Thank you for sponsoring me for karaoke! £130
Family, friends back home -Thank you for sponsoring me for karaoke!
Mum and Dad Couldn’t have done it without you! £250 +merch
Meg, Sam and Tom For sponsoring me and supporting me £20 +merch
Chris and Rik Cheers for sponsoring me for karaoke! £50
Annette and Dave For buying t-shirts and sponsoring me! £40 +merch
Reva and Rob For buying loads of merchandise and sponsoring me! Abbie and Luke thank you for the lovely cards £10+merch
Shiela and Dave for buying t-shirts, and always supporting me! £30 Jean and Terry Thank you for supporting me! £50
Auntie Eileen Thank you for supporting me! £50
Auntie San & Uncle Roy Thanks! £20

Thanks to all you lovely people, we got to a total of £1000 !

The final Countdown...

This morning I woke up at 8am. Its the first morning in months that I haven't had to be woken up by an alarm or my Mum. Excitement has kicked in. We fly on Sunday. Today is Wednesday. For the first time ever, I feel ready.


I missed a special occasion in my last blog. It was my 30th Blog. My 1st blog was on the 21st of December 2005. That was 241 days ago - almost 8 months ago. The time has flown by. I wish i'd had the time, energy and money to work on BF full time, but life isnt that simple. I know that I have given my all to this trip, to the charities, to Dave - and now I can go to Oz and work endlessly on getting the funds raised, and getting Dave and the team across Australia.

This week I finally hit my £3000 fundraising target, with a little over to buy the things I need for Oz. I went shopping with my Mum, and bought bags and other essentials for the trip. I now have everything I need.

I'm at home. By the time I left Swansea i'd never been so happy to be driving home. I was looking forward to seeing my family and my pets. I needed some space and some home comforts before leaving for oz, just one last time - something I hadn't had since leaving the flat. Im going to miss all my mates, especially Annie and Ben, who have held my hand through it all and never let go - something that you would expectonly family would do - im gonna miss them. (Thanks for the leaving do guys!)

Theres so many "thank-yous" to do - im going to do a whole blog dedicated to thanking before I leave.

Theres been highs and lows over the last 8 months, you'll see that if you look back over my blogs. Its not all been straight forward and as clean cut as it seems, but somehow the team and I have got through it, and BFOz has suddenly arrived. And its scary, but exciting.