Off to London today. Not quite as relaxed and ready as I'd hoped to be. The good news is that the bee sting looks better - and without antibiotics, because I never got to the chemist yesterday. So that's was a good result from yesterday's farce.
Because the Water Aid info needed for the Saturday York stall, was in the flat, I have to get back to President Joanne's house with it this morning. Travelling across the city at 8am is a pain - but only my fault.
Before I set, I go across the road for the papers. Oh Lord. I'm on the front page: 'It's all cisterns go for Rita'. The main article is inside. Not a bad summing up of our interview and good publicity for the Soroptimists. My surname has been spelt correctly until the last mention, when 'ee' is where 'ea' should be in Leaman.
www.thepress.co.uk/news/4643297.Rita_Leaman_taking_to_Trafalgar_Square_s_fourth_plinth_to_raise_awareness_for_Water_Aid_charity/
So it was not only the Water Aid info that I was able to deliver to Joanne, but the local paper. She was pleased.
Get home and realise that I haven't filled in the event form for Radio York. Luckily they are in Bootham, so quickly go down there. As it's before 9am, the front desk isn't manned, so a young woman comes downstairs to open door. While I'm filing in the form, she talks about Jonathan Cowap's visit to the plinth in July. It turns out that she is called Katy Wright and is Jonathan's producer.
We just chatted and then she mentioned that Jonathan is doing a radio programme called Weekenders, where two local people chat with Jonathan about the week's news. She thought I might be suitable, would I like to take part. I'm somewhat surprised, but say 'Yes.'.
Amazing what doing a late job has produced!
Taxi arrives at 9.30. I have asked for an estate car. Everything goes in okay. We arrived at the station and park. The driver gets the toilet out of the car. Another driver draws up and says. " crap job, you've got there mate!". This is start of day of toilet jokes!
I'm wearing the sweat shirt jacket with info on it. A great buy, but lousy zip.
The toilet and cistern next to a news stand with my picture on the front page!
A mention here for Ann Barrett of National Express. I went all the way down platform 3 to where the guard's van would arrive. But there is a platform change and she is really great at helping me get over to platform 5, just as the train draws in.
I have put a notice on the cistern that explains the event and charity links. At York & Kings Cross, the crowd fall into two groups. 1. Looking and reading 2. Purposely not looking in that British way.
Anthony Edwards from National Express at the information counter is extremely helpful. My friend Elizabeth, has kindly bought me a train ticket for the return journey. It's for the 6.15 and I'm slightly concerned that we may only make the 7am. He tells me what to do on Saturday, should we arrive late. He's more helpful, than the usually helpful staff in York.
Really pleasant chat in the taxi queue. Great taxi driver. The cistern fits in perfectly. Don't know the driver's name, but his number is 59062. At destination, the driver rounds down the amount and tells me to give the extra and tip to ChildLine.
There's a voicemail from Gemma at Minster FM in York. Ring her back. Visit York have sent a press release to the radio station. They would like to record me on Friday for including as a sound bite on the newscasts on Saturday!! Bloody hell!
The #oneandother twecklers are joining in with the toilet jokes. I shall have heard them all by the end of this exercise. Get an email from Katy Wright confirming the invitation to be a 'Weekender'.
Leave everything in the flat and then go straight out to visit father. It is hardly surprising that I've left something behind in York. This time it's the laptop charger. More internal screaming.
Father seems frailer. He is going downhill very very slowly. Frank and Audrey Gray are there too.
Afterwards, I get a bus to the huge WestField shopping Mall in Shepherd's Bush, where I know there is an Apple store. Get new charger. Try and look for shoes. Don't like shopping malls - palaces of excess. Though I'm sure I'd like them more if I had money. See a pair of shoes I like, but there's no way I'm paying over £100. These must be London prices. My favourite shoe shop, Watkinson's, in York has a much better selection for around £60.
Feel tired. No bus but a taxi appears, so hail it. I know, I know, but it's been a long couple of days.
Jake, my Godson, is staying in the flat. He looks at my props and hears my plans. Don't why he gives me that 'she's crazy' look. Jake also uses Macs and has a charger I could use. Aaargghh! And I'm staying with son, Joe on Friday and he has a Mac charger, so I needn't have bought one at all.
The joy of being able to use the laptop again. Start writing up blog for the farce that was yesterday. Forget to get the forecast, but it's looking very good for the next few days. It will be cold, but dry at night. Hooray!
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