SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH - News from a friend

I want to put some paper stuff on a table. If it windy or rainy, then it will be hopeless. Find some cheap plastic wallets that will do.

7pm in the evening and the phone rings. It's my friend and colleague Sue Hanisch. We speak about twice a year. I did an unforgettable speaking tour (Human Givens Therapy www.hgi.org) of North NSW and South Queensland in 2006 with her. I have never laughed so much or for so many days. She is one amazing woman.

http://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories/suehanisch

Sue says she will come the the plinth hour. I'm incredulous. Sue will stay with a friend and then drive up to Derby afterwards. Another person who is suggesting breakfast afterwards.

I feel humbled.

Friday Sep 25	Clear Hi: 64° Lo: 49°	Sunny skies. High 64F and low 49F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA	5%
Saturday Sep 26	Cloudy / PM Sun Hi: 65° Lo: 52°	Sunny skies. High 65F and low 52F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA	5%

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER17TH - Tweckling

It really was heaven sent that the fund raising evening was cancelled for last night. It would have been one thing too much, I feel.

As a result, I've been able to take thing a little more easy at home and put more thought into the plinth activities and props. Instead of rushing the Judi Dench connection, I was able to think about on it more slowly and at 11am had something sorted.

Went off to The Archictect's Shop again, as the so convenient Wallis, have closed and they are the nearest printers. The helpful man had never heard of the fourth plinth event, so was a little bemused by it all. Item will be ready this afternoon, but as I'm not around I'll pick it up on Monday.

There are a number of people who think I've chosen the hour of 4am. NO! I had a choice of rejecting it and going back in the draw, but what a risk that would have been.

One of the bonus points of being in the dark only occured to me today, after someone remarked on my dark glasses in town today. They are photochromatic, so if I was on the plinth in the daytime, I might look a bit of a prat. I need them for reading. No worries at 4am.

Enjoying all the banter 'tweckling' going on on Twitter #oneandother. Although I do wonder what they will 'tweckle' about me. When I can't see the live stream, it helps get an idea of what's going on. PC it is not!! A young woman who finished up on the plinth in full body paint and not much else, caused a healthy reaction amongst the men. Even my sister, Carolyn, is watching the live stream at times.

London

Friday Sep 25	Cloudy Hi: 61° Lo: 53°	Cloudy skies. High 61F and low 53F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA	35%
Saturday Sep 26	Cloudy Hi: 60° Lo: 50°	Cloudy skies. High 60F and low 50F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA	35%

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17TH - Weather woman

It's a family joke that I talk about the weather. I have the nickname 'weather woman'. (That and 'bag lady', because I'm always carrying bags.) In fact, I had a letter about the weather in the Yorkshire Post only last week.

About 4th or 5th letter down. 'Our summer wasn't so bad after all'
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/letters-to-the-editor/Thursday39s-Letters-An-escape-through.5612973.jp

MSN provide a 10 day forecast. So often what is forecast never happens, but we shall see. At the end of each day's blog, I shall now add the forecast for London every day until plinth day.

Went to a regular appointment at hairdressers. CUT, in another quirky shopping street in York - Gillygate. (www.cutsalon.co.uk) It turns out that my great hairdresser, B, was a member of Soroptimists many years ago. She does crazy things too and supports the SNAPPY charity (www.snappyyork.co.uk), so understands my madness.

Treated myself to lunch in my favourite York cafe, Cafe Concerto. in Low Petergate. (www.cafeconcerto.biz) So crazily busy, that I haven't been in there for ages. It was opened by Roz and Ian at the same time as we moved up here, 16 years ago and was the first cafe that I went into. It's hardly changed, as it doesn't need to. Always busy and despite loads of cafes opening, in York in the intervening years, is still my favourite. The window seats have a great view of The Minster. I see that they have revamped upstairs into a self catering flat. I would heartily recommend it. (And they haven't paid me for this promotion, it's from the heart!)

Strangely, as I walked out of the cafe, Hayden Lewis, the York Press journalist, was passing. So we carried on walking and talking. He says someone called Richard will be in touch about the story. Says the story may get on Page 3!!!

One of the Health & Safety plinth rules is no mirrors or glass. Solve the problem with an unused picture frame, some foil, christmas lights and tape. Quite effective, not that the lights will be seen under such strong floodlights.

Send off more plinth cards to people for whom I don't have email addresses. I wonder whether they will get there, with the postal strike growing.

London

Friday Sep 25	Sprinkles Hi: 67° Lo: 55°	Drizzle. High 67F and low 55F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA	75%
Saturday Sep 26	Cloudy Hi: 67° Lo: 50°	Cloudy skies. High 67F and low 50F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA	40%

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH - The truth

It is 2.15am on Thursday morning. (I always write the blog the next day). I am awake. This is not surprising and over the course of my life, totally par for the course when I'm planning something. I can remember being awake for hours before Katie and Joe's birthday parties. My brain is buzzing, as I play out the hour and all I have to do - or rather, chosen to do.

How easy it would be to just take a book up there to read or sit and think or do yoga (if could do yoga). Little thought and effort required, just go there, do it and go home.

I'm treating this as training for going without sleep next week, which will be like night duty and flying to Australia, so I know what to expect. I'm hungry now, so eating peanut butter on oatcake. Going back to bed. But not before a quick peek at the plinth. Young girl painting.

.................................

Okay then, friends and family. I'm owning up. There have only been a few that knew the truth, but now I'm telling all.

I will be sitting on a toilet on the plinth.

Yes, it's true. My dignity is out of the window for the cause of Water Aid. And here it is, as a work in progress.

Work in progress.

Went out Paragon Creative at Elvington, to see it in it's basic, polystyrene, state. It's still to be added to and finished off. The cistern is not attached and the pipe will be shorter, for obvious transport reasons. We hope it's windproof. I cannot thank David Bloodworth enough. Soroptimist Ann is going to the factory on Monday to do the finishing and I'm picking it up on Tuesday for trip to London on Wednesday. Isn't it going to look great being transported from York to London by train!!! Really should have someone filming it. *Ping!* I will ask a Soroptimist if they can do that.

There have been two ceramic toilets on the plinth, so far. None twice as large, with a cistern attached though!!!

It's hardly surprising, that the York Press want a publicity shot with me with the toilet and that's planned for next Tuesday. Oooh Aide, bet you're pleased to be in Australia next week!!

Now, what on earth has this to do with Dame Judi Dench? No-one will know that until I'm up there. Picked up the photo from York Press this morning. Thank you Ann Wood. Please be assured that Dame Judi has nothing to with the toilet.

The photo is just perfect for my needs. I went along to the printers to find out cost of printing and laminating (rainproof) what I want.

Found the perfect suitcase in the garage. Poignant when I opened it. From the addresses on the inside of the lid, it looks as if my uncle used it for his travels, before my mother used it to go Switzerland in 1937/8. Appropriate that a little bit of family will be on the plinth with me. I have to buy some luggage labels today.

An email was forwarded to me from the Soroptimist International Yorkshire Region secretary. The news of my plinth adventures is going far and wide. Good. That's the idea.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH - Fossgate in York

A successful pre plinth prep day. Another beautiful day in York, while it rains, if not pours down on the plinth all day. On my visit last week I noticed how yellow Hyde Park was looking, so they really haven't had that much rain in the city this summer.

I do wonder if I'm tempting fate raising money for Water Aid!

Chocolate panel very supportive and interested. Our leader is Laure, from France. I'm not too sure what she makes of it though. The mad English probably. On Monday, there was a man doing wine tasting on the plinth, I wonder if I should have taken a chocolate tasting session?

Sue Cottingham rings me from the council's Licence department, with some queries about the collection form. As I'm in the city centre, I visit her office. The regulations are so tight now, that she has to see the accounts for Water Aid. Fortunately, I find out that the accounts are published on the website.

As I'm in the area, I decide to go down Fossgate to the York Press office. I used to go down this road regularly, but haven't looked around there for some years. It's fantastic. Quirky food, book, gift and clothes shops. Plenty of cafes and restaurants too. Just a stone's throw from Marks and Spencer. I shall go back for a longer browse.

I visit the 'T'shirt print shop, Zik Zak, and order a sweat shirt for my trip south. I decide on a big black sweat shirt. It has to take the charity websites, which are very long. The owner says that as it's for charity, he will give me extra colour lettering at no cost.

On to the York Press offices. (wwwthepress.co.uk) The staff were so helpful, that I told them I would mention them in this blog. Linda Cuddy on reception, Ann Wood looking for photos and Hayden Lewis, a journalist. Hayden took notes and thought to story of the plinth visit and Soroptimist Day would be of interest and provide a photo opportunity. Someone will be in touch.

As I left the office, I noticed big adverts in the window for their photos. Boing!! I go back in. Would they have a picture of Judi Dench? Why didn't I think of the local press office before? York Press love Dame Judi, as she was born here. In fact there's a major story today about whether the replica Rose theatre could come to York and Dame Judi is involved. Ann Wood bought out 50 years of photos, but the best pictures were all copyright to film or TV companies. We found one that belonged to the Press and as long as I promise not to use in a negative way, I am allowed to use it. Ann is going to do a head and shoulders A3 size for me for £5. Fantastic!

Getting involved with the plinth Twitter site - what a time waster. Thank God there is an end in sight. Hello any fellow twitters out there on #oneandother.

For anyone who has experienced or is experiencing abuse or is moaning about life, I suggest watching Louise. I think it should be played in schools. Watch with tissues. http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Louise_W

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH - Nestle

Told the Nestle chocolate tasting panel today of this project. There are four new members, who are not in the original list that I wrote in August. So, hello and welcome to the chocolate tasting family to Denise, Melissa, Nicola and Julia.

Surprised by how many people have written messages of goodwill and support on my plinth page. (http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/rita-i-in-art) Thank you so very much. It really does mean a great deal.

Followed up the licence for the charity collection in Coppergate on Saturday 26th. Must fill in the forms about the mayor's visit.

Phone Sarina from Water Aid. We have had to plan how to get all the info and resources we need in York for the 26th, from London, where there is a growing unofficial postal strike. Now I have to see if I can find someone to collect the inflatable hand! Send an email out to the Soroptimists. Liz G responds, so hope that she can arrange a meeting with Sarina.

Water Aid are running a 'Loo have been framed' site of photo fun. I'm sure we can add to that next week!

http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get_involved/campaigns/take_action_now/7772.asp

I've summed up some reflections on my work over the last 12 years in a short story that I plan to read on the plinth. I have written 80%. It needs finishing and tidying up. I've been working on it today.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH - Plinther Alex

I liked Alex at 7am. http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Alex_Gibbs

So simple, but effective.

Alex came on the plinth with long hair. Cut his hair and left as a short haired young man. He looked very different and no doubt people's reactions will be different. But it's only superficial isn't it? He's still the same man on the inside.

Maybe it reminds me of when I went from a long haired to very short at 19 - and wish I hadn't!