Merry (Belated) Christmas

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I have to say this year has been one of the best Christmases I’ve had! Next year is going to be completely different. I’ll be spending it in the South African sun with people I haven’t even met yet! Although I bet it’ll be the most memorable Christmas I’ll ever have.

Since the Christmas Fair on the 10th December I gave out refreshments at the college Performing Arts Christmas show on both nights in exchange for donations and got a total of £22.75. I put up Pete’s tree for the balcony getting me an extra £10. I sold a couple of the reindeer hot chocolates from the Christmas fair and an Angel my Nan made. Also very generously Pete and his golf friends donated £50! By doing odd bits and receiving a donation my running total is now £3034.10, hitting my deadline 34 days early. I am very happy and put me in a great position to hit my final target before I leave in August.

Even though its Christmas and I have spent a lot on presents, my savings are doing well. My family gave me £135 towards my spending money as well as 1220Rand which is the South African currency, which is equivalent to £72.03. I also received a lot of presents for my travels. My granddad and Sue gave me a Travel Journal which I love. My parents got me a penknife, travelling cutlery set and sleep eye mask and ear plugs. I picked up my secret Santa present from work today and it was a memory foam travel pillow and lovely luggage tag. Thank you Santa! Its safe to say my family and friends have been very thoughtful this year and are definitely very supportive for my travels.

I haven’t decided on what my next event will be but I will definitely be sending letters,emails and asking face to face about bag packing in the new year. I am looking into doing a sponsored skydive soon too. My friend James has also volunteered to pay for his own skydiving and gather sponsorships for me which is amazing of him.

Its very nerve wracking that in just a couple of days I’ll be saying ‘I’m going to South Africa this year’…. However I couldn’t be more excited about it.