Update long overdue….

So many things have been happening!

Unbelievably, I am still giving illustrated talks and Powerpoint presentations about my trip, which was almost seven years ago – my next talk will be on June 5.

I am still selling books too – and eagerly awaiting progress with Collca on the e-book side of things.

People are still coming up to me in the street and telling me how much they liked the book.

Master Matthew is now being kitted out with school uniform, as he will start primary school in September – how fast did those first few years go?

Regarding the psoriasis, I have still got spots a year later, but have recently finally seen a skin specialist, who has given me a load of creams to try. I got referred to him after my legs all blew up in horrible, painful swellings – turned out to be cellulitis, where one of the middle layers of skin starts to fester because bacteria has entered through lesions in the skin (ie psoriasis spots). All very nasty, but I am top of it now!

Interestingly, the skin specialist said one of the main causes of psoriasis flare-up is stress. Now although I don’t feel stressed, the spots all started after my scarlet fever bout last April – which is a severe stress to the immune system.

Then I got married, moved house, decided to do more hours at work and upgraded my responsibilities at work. Now I am currently in the middle of selling my old house and potty-training, so all in all, it has been a busy year!

So to sum it up, I am a mummy to a lively four-year-old son, I work 30 hours a week in a busy job, I am selling one house, my husband and I run a farm and my family and I have seven horses.

The skin specialist simply nodded sagely, as if to say – yeah, that ought to do it!

I have inspired…!

A lady came to see me today and she told me that she had met me at an event in 2009 and had bought my book.

She read it and enjoyed it so much that she passed it on to several family members, some of which are in Australia.

They also enjoyed it and the lady – who is about to turn 80 – said she was so inspired by my book that she has decided to go on the Trans-Sib with some of her family.

They leave next month (August) and will be back on September 1. She was so excited about the trip and just talking to her brought back loads on memories for me. She has promised to get in touch on her return to swap tales and she hopes to arrange for me to give a talk to the local University of the Third Age group too.

I am also giving a talk at Waterstones later this month – I don’t know much about it yet, but I am always up for a challenge!

Still going!

I can’t believe it is nearly November!

I sold six books in one day at the IW Steam Show at Havenstreet in August and  I had a moderately successful fundraising time at Wolverton Manor Garden Fair in September – although it was a bit damp on the Sunday.

Since then, I have given two talks in early October – one to Newchurch WI and the other to the Bembridge Afternoon Townswomen’s Guild. Both groups were lovely.

I have slightly lost track of just how much has been raised, though by my calculations it is about £5,500. It is my intention to do a big cheque presentation (after I have given birth) at the end of the year.

After that, I have already got two talks booked for the spring and I do still have about 40 of my books for sale (out of a print run of 350), so some money will still be trickling into the hospice after my big cheque presentation. There are still books available from the hospice shops and from the IW County Press Shop too.

Apart from that, I am now almost 35 weeks pregnant and about the size of a house! I am looking forward to stopping work in approximately two weeks time – although I am still wondering quite how difficult it will be to continue to cover my mortgage payments on maternity pay alone! A challenge, I am sure, but no doubt worth it!

I haven’t fallen off the edge off the planet – I promise!

But there will be no long-haul flights for me for a while!

The reason is a happy one – I’m three-and-a-half months pregnant! It must have all happened while Hugh and I were in Turkey, which means we could be like Posh and Becks and call the child after where it was conceived.

Hmmm – Antalya – perhaps not!!!

Apart from that, I am still giving talks and have recently starred at meetings of the Ventnor Historic Society and the IW Fuchsia Society. I am still selling books and still going to some summer events – most recently the Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival. I hope to make it to the IW Motor Show in July as usual, where I will have a display and the books in the IW County Press marquee. The current fundraising total stands at £5,132.50.

This pregnancy lark is strange – I have unfortunately suffered rather a lot of sickness, which is still going on at 14 weeks, but I am hoping it will start  to fade soon. I have never been one to have a love affair with food, but I find myself strategically planning when, where and what to eat to avoid being sickie, which is rather amusing, given I used to only eat when I remembered!

Apart from that, I am still travelling short-haul – notably a few days here and there in Croatia – everyone is cock-a-hoop with the news and the 12-week scan showed one very lively baby but the downside is that I am already far too heavy to ride Twiglet, the star showjumping pony!

The challenge’s second birthday!

This weekend has marked the second birthday of the Trans-Siberian Writing Challenge – and I must say I have had a ball!

I would never have expected to talk to so many nice people  who have been amazed and inspired by the trip, nor would I have ever thought I might have a book in print, or be giving talks, but all of these things have happened and better still, I have raised lots of money for a good cause.

On Thursday, for example, I spent a happy afternoon talking to members of the Chillerton Mothers’  Union and as well as chatting to me for ages afterwards, five members bought books and one even emailed me at work the following day to say how much she was enjoying reading it.

How nice can you get?

Reached £5,000!

What a week! We have finally reached £5,000 for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice!

Last Thursday night I gave my powerpoint presentation and talk to the ladies of the C.A.M.E.O. group (that’s Come And Meet Every One) in Brighstone. About 40 ladies turned up and a very entertaining time was had by all. I was particularly heartened by the fact that they found the trip fascinating, even though the autumn of 2008 was a long time ago now.

Whenever I deliver the talk (which is probably once or twice a month), I really do re-live the trip – even now it strikes me as a fantastic adventure and Nikki and I certainly did get into a few scrapes!

The book is still selling well and I believe I have sold more than half the print-run already (not bad as it was only launched on May 1st). If you haven’t got your copy yet, you can purchase one at the County Press Shop in Newport, in the hospice shops or by catching up with me at one of the many summer events I will be at this year. For anyone not on the Island, see the page entitled ‘The Book’ on this blog for more details about ordering off of the website.

Elsewhere, the online petition to save the PS Ryde (aka Ryde Queen) is still going well – please put your name on it asap if you haven’t already! You will find it on http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PSRyde

Help save PS Ryde (aka Ryde Queen)

There is now an online petition you can sign to stop the historic paddle steamer, PS Ryde (aka Ryde Queen) from being scrapped. Visit it at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PSRyde

I have already signed it, as have many other people and the list of signatures is growing – but you need to add yours asap!

Elsewhere, I gave a talk to the ladies of East Cowes WI last night (Tues) and they were very enthusiastic about my trip and my efforts to raise money for the hospice.

On Sunday, Twiglet and I scooped the Novice Pony of the Year showjumping championship at Brickfields – this is the fourth time we have competed at this premier show and the fourth time we have come home with a trophy. Twig has now won the Purewell 13.2hh and under championship twice (2007 and 2009) and the Novice Pony of the Year twice (2008 and 2010.)

End of the Ryde Queen?

This week it looks as if the Ryde Queen (aka PS Ryde, the historic paddle steamer) may be scrapped. However, I understand it is likely that a further appeal will be launched to save her, so watch this space.

Elsewhere, the snow has FINALLY gone, I am up to my ears (and drowning!) at work, I am showjumping at the weekend and I will be giving another Trans-Siberian talk in East Cowes on Monday night.

Wonderful Wootton

I had a great talk at Wootton last Friday night and loads of people came out – despite the rain and the numerous fireworks displays that were on.

Hugh was brilliant with setting up and dismantling my equipment, as from the word go I was so busy chatting with people – some of whom had been on the Trans-Siberian or had visited China.

Amazingly there was a fabulous collection and I was astounded to be handed £104 – then there was a book sale or two, which was great! Added to the running total so far, we have reached almost £4,800 for the hospice!

Next Monday (Nov 16) I will be talking to Vectis Railway Enthusiasts and other railway-related clubs – I don’t know lots and lots about trains, so I hope they will bear with me!

Inspirational

I had a great time in Bath yesterday – it was fantastic to see Nikki again and to see her book, ‘Trans-Siberian Travels’.

She has created this poetry book as a companion to mine and I am thrilled to announce that it is also being sold in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, which is really nice of Nikki. (The book is also in memory of several of her friends who have died of cancer recently).

I had also not quite realised how my challenge had spurred Nikki to write too – it’s brilliant that both of us have produced a book from the trip.

Together, we gave a talk and poetry reading at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution yesterday and sold several of both books to raise another £56.50 for the hospice!

We are now thinking of doing a joint reading/talk on the Isle Of Wight at some point.

If anyone would like Nikki’s book, email me on kate.drom@googlemail.com or call me on   07791 803449  and I will put you in touch. You can also find out more about Nikki’s work on her website at www.nikkibennettpoems.com