The speaker was Tina Oldfield whose daughter had died from breast cancer back in 2004, leaving two small daughters. Tina, her husband, sister and brother in law decided that they would set up a fund to raise money for a breast cancer charity and do something that would really challenge them.......a trek to the base camp of Mount Everest in Nepal.
They gave themselves 18 months to get fit and prepare and set off over Easter 2006 as the decade long civil war was reaching it's violent climax.............. they were already on route as the government warned people not to travel there.
Her photos of the trek up the mountains towards Everest were amazing. There are no roads so everything is taken to the villages in the foothills by Yak or by manpower. The porters who help tourists and trekkers are paid the equivalent of just £1 a day........ Nepal is a very impoverished country. The lodges they stayed at during their 14 days were primitive. No electric and very basic hole-in-the-ground toilets and few washing facilities.......... They were very glad they'd taken wet wipes. Only one of the lodges had anything resembling a shower!
They were two days away from their destination when they awoke to heavy snow, very unusual for April in Nepal. On limited time and unable to continue they very sadly had to give up. Back down at the airport they got stuck there for another day as terrorists threatened to blow up the control tower!
Luckily all their sponsors paid the money and they raised over £3,000. On the way back down they decided they had to do it again the following year to complete their mission, so in 2007 they returned and in perfect weather with no civil war they completed their trek to Everest base camp.
Since then by giving talks and selling pens in memory of her daughter she has raised over £18,000.
Although most WI's no longer sing Jerusalem, there is one tradition that has survived the years......Birthday Posies.....when people with a birthday during the month are presented with a small posy of flowers.
This is mine for my April birthday.
Many thanks for comments yesterday, unless something Really Interesting happens in the next few days I shall have run out of ideas for posts by the end of the week, which is a slight problem...... Anyone got any bright ideas?
Back Tomorrow
Sue
A lovely blog, found you via you following me... thank you. So many things in common, not least the living off the land. Lots to catch up on!
ReplyDeleteLX
When we were smallholding we were pretty much self-sufficient in veg and nearly in fruit - now after illness forced the move we just grow a little
DeleteWhat a lovely thing to do,Tina raising that much money.My own cousin died of this last year,aged 42 with 7 children.They found it too late and it had spread.So that amount of money would be really useful to the charity. And what a beautiful birthday posy.Happy Birthday to you for this month,its mine on the 18th and my Daughters 40th today.Where have all the years gone!!.Also,dont worry if you cant post every day..It must be hard work doing this blogging every day...Im not clever enough..I only know how to comment,lol.Although,we must all look for you daily but understand that sometimes life gets in the way and things crop up.There have been a few people on here that have said the same...So dont worry,if you have breaks here and there.We will all still be here waiting for you!!,Best Wishes.xx.
ReplyDeleteBlogging isn't hard work but nothing much is happening to write about.
DeleteThank you for the birthday greetings, our eldest is 38 next month which seems impossible
I agree about not posting every day. I like your photos, enjoy the posts about books you read and also when you give us information from your own library. Don’t blog when it’s a chore-fewer posts and stay with us please if that would help. Lovely posy and thanks for brightening my day with that lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteWriting a blog is never a chore as long as I have something to write about
DeleteYou could post about your food plans! I enjoy reading other people's plans!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea to give birthday posies but a shame about Jerusalem - I love that song (and happily ignore any ideas in it I don't agree with) because the melody and harmonies are so lovely!
Thanks for telling us about that lady. It's a sad but amazing story.
J x
Food plans? I don't do them!
DeleteI like your daily posts, I have to say. However, I'd rather you posted, say, three times a week than not at all - so if it's a choice between a blogging-break and reduced posts, I'd choose the reduced posts (Not that it's up to your readers in any way!)
ReplyDeleteOur local WI sings 'Jerusalem' (usually unaccompanied by any music, as there's no piano/ similar at the venue) I've always loved 'Jerusalem' - along with 'I Vow to Thee My Country' they were my favourite two hymns when at school. (I love a good hymn - I'm not at all religious, but hymns are often beautiful to sing) I wanted both of them at my wedding (1995) but, sadly, our incredibly bossy local vicar had a set list of about 8 hymns which he considered suitable for weddings, and you weren't allowed to deviate from that - and neither 'Jerusalem' or 'I Vow to...' were on it.
We don't have birthday posies at our local WI, either - 'big' birthdays (ending in a 0) are marked by a bouquet, as are significant wedding anniversaries. I like the idea of a small posy each year instead, though
I do so wish we still sung Jerusalem. We sang it at Big WI AGM and it was lovely to hear again.
DeleteI thought birthday posies were something everyone did. I guess it depends on the committee.
Like everyone else has said please don't worry if you can't post everyday. We enjoy whatever you can find time and inspiration for. Ideas for posts - you rarely mention animals - have you had dogs/ cats/ smallholding animals? Do you have a seasonal plan for homemaking? How far ahead do you plan/ prepare Christmas? How do you manage food waste? Are you reducing plastics etc and how?
ReplyDeleteIgnore these if you want! Just trying to help out with ideas.
We've had lots of animals....but that's all in the past. Now just 1 small black cat who sleeps half the day
DeleteHave a break and both of you enjoy the sun that we are promised in the next few days!
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to seeing the sun
DeleteHappy April Birthday Sue...sorry I haven't a post of flowers to send you...but the thoughts are there! x
ReplyDeleteThank you.I may have another posy from small WI next week too
DeleteAs a US follower I am always interested in how prices on pantry items and fresh veggies are in the UK and I would love to know what a custard tart is....."As Time Goes By.
ReplyDeleteWell, it would be easy to share prices but it wouldn't make a very interesting post and I'm no good at working out pounds and pence into dollars and cents, but I could certainly give an idea of prices if you like.
DeleteI shall buy some Custard tarts next time I shop and explain what they are. Col loves them but they are a bit fiddly to make!
Happy birthday, Sue! That was a remarkable thing that family did. I can't imagine how scary it would have been at the airport. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteThey had a frightening time as soon as they arrived in Nepal too but decided to carry on - very bravely
DeleteMy birthday is next week and I might get another posy from small WI too.
DeleteI'm glad they were able to complete their trek - and well done them on raising all that money.
ReplyDeleteThe tradition of the posy is really lovely. A shame about not singing Jerusalem - please don't tell me that they don't make jam any more! If today is the day, have a lovely one.
Well I make jam, but I'm not sure about everyone else!
DeleteMy friend's WI in North Yorkshire sings Jerusalem at EVERY meeting! I think it's lovely...
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous - I love singing it!
DeleteWhat an achievement to get as far as they did the first time never mind to return and do it again. I'm sure her daughter would be very proud.
ReplyDeleteMitzi
It sounded a really difficult trek and the conditions were terrible. Not something I would ever have done
Delete*H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* and what is WI? When I have no blog ideas I just look around and something pops out! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteWI stands for Womens Institute an organisation that's been going for 100 years in many parts of the English speaking world. If you google it you will find lots of information.
DeleteSinging Jerusalem brings back memories of living in England. Haven't heard it since the mid sixty's. What a nice idea to give the little posy of flowers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gift. Happy April birthday.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That is a sweet bouquet. Happy Birthday and many happy returns :)
ReplyDeleteI pop in most days to see your blog, but first time comment. I like all you posts, but love to see you home made cards, (card maker here), recipes, hamper posts, would also like to see more posts on growing veg, am starting to grow, but haven't planted yet as up to last week still had frost in the mornings. (Live up on Dartmoor), and not sure when to plant up here. Helen S.
ReplyDeleteHello and thank you for your very first comment.
DeleteVeg growing is getting off to a slow start here as it's been so cold,grey,damp and foggy. Spring should arrive next week I hope
Your blog is the only one I read. Please don’t disappear! Just post when you feel like it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not stopping anytime soon!
DeleteI love your birthday post 🙂
ReplyDeleteI meant to add ... try taking some random photos, around the house, out on a walk, of a stack of your favourite books, ornaments ... anything really and build a blog post around a photo. That's what I always do.
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