FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST - Follow up

I ring Fran Critchley at Water Aid, York. Except that she's turned into Carla Moss. Carla has heard of The Soroptimists and the 4th plinth installation. This helps.

Carla suggests I need to talk to Jackie Sedgwick and will pass my message on. I e-mail to confirm.

Rosie rings for a catch-up. She will liaise with the Soroptimists/Water Aid contact, whoever they may be.

Over to Scarborough cottage, so back to no 'live' stream. I miss seeing what's going on.

THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST - More planning

This morning was a plinth hour that bought tears to my eyes. So simple, yet so effective. Debbie from Wales was highlighting SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death with Epilepsy). She is an artist and bought an almost life size white sculpture of herself (fibre glass?) on the plinth. The sculpture appeared to represent her grief at the death of her son, Warren at 23. She was dressed in white and sat back to back with the sculpture in the same pose. Every so often she moved to a different position. That was all, but it was so very moving. http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/DEBBIE

Back to the City Screen. This time for a meeting with Joanne, the York Ebor Soroptimist president (2009/10).

A very fruitful meeting with another surprise. We are going to concentrate on Water Aid. We talked about local interest and as a throwaway, I remarked that there wouldn't be a local office. I googled Water Aid and York - and laughed. One of the five UK regional offices for Water Aid is in ...York!

So, that's my job for tomorrow. To get in touch with Fran Critchley. We would like a speaker for our meeting on September 9th and some literature for the Coppergate stall on the 26th. We would also like to find out if there is a local project we could raise money for.

Joanne is going to source banners from region and I'm writing a PR release to explain the plinth hour to our international branches.

Despite the weather being hot through the day, the plinthers have started to remark on it being cold in the night. It's been windy too, adding wind chill. Could this mean some thermals under the 'T' shirts?

WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST - Planning

Meet with Soroptimist, Rosie, at City Screen. Rosie is in overall charge of the York Ebor SI part of the sanitation project and we need to discuss the stall in Coppergate on Saturday, September 26th. This was going to be down for me to organise, but the plinth hour has hijacked it. The plinth will play its part on the day, but I can't be in two places at the same time and it depends on the train back to York, being on time too.

What props/publicity material do we need, who is providing them, who is helping, at what time etc:?

So far; We will be outside Boots the Chemists in Coppergate, opposite the Jorvick Viking centre - a good spot. Setting up at 9am for the Mayoress's visit at 10am and finish at 4pm.

Charity collection in a toilet for impact, plus other tins. Leaflets. Inflatable hand for Water Aid.

We are also aware that we need President Joanne's input, as to the exact nature of the charity collection and awareness and final decision on title of the day for publicity purposes. Are we supporting Water Aid and Pump Aid?

A little googling tells us that Water Aid (www.wateraid.org/uk) covers 17 countries and favours variations on pit toilets, while Pump Aid (www.pumpaid.org) is only in 3 African countries and promotes something called The Elephant Pump, which is also a pit toilet.

I have been without a working toilet at home for 24 hours, due to building works. It further highlights how fortunate we are in the western world.

TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST - No signal & good news

I went away for two days into the Dales. No signal. I had to go cold turkey on the plinth coverage. Didn't like it, but no option but to get on with it and look forward to Tuesday. Said I was addicted!

Now I'm in the Scarborough house, where there isn't broadband - yet. So I am still without a picture. Lots of catching up in York tomorrow.

BUT THERE IS FANTASTIC NEWS. SilentNight got back to me and said I could have their prop with pleasure. Wow! That is a huge saving of time and money. Now to sort out the logistics of delivery.

Another case of ' there is nothing to lose by asking.'