SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27th - The day after.

Wake up at 7.40am. Nearly 10 hours sleep - Hooray!

Plinther at 7am is Smont (Sarah). Her page says that she has been hoping and hoping for a place since before the project began and only just had got a place. She is reading beautifully to her nephew, from Winnie the Pooh. Towards the end, she becomes reflective and mentions that when the was asked on the audio interview what the experience meant for her, she was too emotional too answer. At that point I start crying. At last. I write to her.

A really beautiful autumn morning. Drive over to cottage. What a contrast. Complete silence except birdsong. Wonderful. I'm not going to drive back today, but stay overnight and start early on Monday.

Feel weepy, short tempered and other worldly. I'm calling it PPS Post Plinth Syndrome. It feels like the aftermath of shock, but expect it's to do with tiredness, adrenaline withdrawal and effort too. Elizabeth texts, to check up on me.

Neighbour Kaet has offered to give me lunch, which turns out to be just right. Am able to take her a huge bowl of raspberries and runner beans all freshly picked. As her broadband link is rubbish, she hasn't seen the film. I'm probably a plinth bore, but try not to be.

After delicious food, wander back to cottage A beautiful day, Sunday papers and rest.

Pat texts. A friend has seen the film and enjoyed it. But he wants to know if Judi Dench got out ok!!! Was I that convincing?

At 5pm decide to go to the SeaLife centre for their wifi, but it doesn't work. So go down to seafront. Spend two hours with the laptop on the LandRover. Dusk is wonderful and it's just a great place to be.

But I just can't get started on the blog. Strange. Friday and Saturday to write up. Spend time viewing plinthers and tweckling instead. Sue Hanisch rings. She had a doze on the M1 on her way up to Derby from Trafalgar Sq. Wouldn't like to think how many miles he did in only a few hours. Up and down the UK - amazing. But then she's an amazing woman. Google her name.

Receiving more wonderful messages. It's all feels a bit much really.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH - Today's the day!

Fitful sleep until 1.30am. Get everything ready for the off. Put props outside front gate. It's mild. I am not going to need thermals. There isn't even a breeze. Remarkable and very unusual in these last few weeks.

Joe get up at 1.58, taxi arrives at 2.08. Taxi able to drive quickly through the streets. Almost empty London at night. Magical.

Arrive at O&O portacabins at the south of Trafalgar Square. Security immediately challenge us and check contents of suitcase and backpack. Very friendly O&O staff. The 'crew'.

Joe and I are welcomed into the cabin. Lots of red shirted crew, ooking at live feed, the twitter site, getting forms filled, talking to next plinther, Gav and wife. There's a very large prop in the corner. Now to fit in my props! They must have seen some weird and varied stuff in this cabin.

Joe pops out to get some decent coffee from Charing Cross and I chat to whoever comes up to chat. Seem to sign a lot of forms that I don't read properly. Have I signed my life away to Rupert Murdoch? Oh, the irony.

At 2.55, Gav leaves the hut with his props for the cherry picker. More room for mine. Coffee is good.

Lawrence, the 2am plinther arrives back in the cabin. He's been a stand in for a young woman, who thought that it was 2am on Sunday, not Saturday. Bet she's not happy. Lawrence has been causing a few raised eyebrows with his repartee with the crowd. Bit of a 'Jack the lad'.

Jack, the 5pm plinther appears with Dad. My mind isn't quite on the ball and I call Jack, Lawrence.

Gav_C is creating a memorable memorial to his son, Tom, who died at 6 years old.

Katie asks me to go into a side room for the 20 minute audio interview. It's also set up for the official photo too. I find the interview fascinating. First of all, the chairs are from Ikea and like the chairs in my therapy room. Then I am being asked the questions at close quarters in front of the mike. Funny to be on the receiving end. And what questions. Katie is very good. They include, "why did I apply, what am I going to do, how do I feel about being 60, what did I want to do in the future, what's important to me in my life?"

The photo is taken and then it's all rush to get me out of the cabin and on to the cherry picker with the props. We're off.

As we approach the plinth I can see Sue Hanisch, son Joe and Elizabeth at the base of the plinth. Sue has driven from Kendal through the night and Elizabeth has been staying around the corner. Above and beyond the call of duty in the name of friendship.

Up and on. Changeover with Gav. Legs a little bit jellylike. Must get table up with notice about Dame Judi's supposed reading on the plinth. Speak to crowd, well, the few people below, telling them I am Dame Judi's dresser and am getting plinth ready for her.

Plinth cover won't quite fit on the Visit York end and I haven't got time to spend on it.

Now for the acting: Dame Judi is locked in the toilet. Phone Antony Gormley, Linda Snell of Radio 4's The Archers, Rachael Hodges of the Radio 5's Richard Bacon Show and finally Jenny from the Maidenhead Drama Guild. Seems to go okay.

Now my reminscing, poems, readings etc: All meant to be from the 'throne', but stand for much of it. My natural speaking stance.

I can hear Joe cheer the family photo, Elizabeth cheer the chocolate tasting mention and Sue's laugh.

Announce Holly and Joshua's birth and put up photo.

Forget names and stories, it's slight panic shutting down the brain.

I forget that the clock on the building is five minutes fast, so start shutting down too early. Could have done my *National Gallery story and *Haymarket story. Look down and see Joe do a 'thumbs up', so that's alright.

Cherry picker arrives with Jack, who I called Lawrence in the cabin. I apologise.

Down we go. Crew tell me that twecklers have been favourable especially Raideeboi. I'm amazed. Cannot really remember going back to the hut, think I was in shock.

Sue, Elizabeth and Joe meet me. Joe goes off to run 10k with his friend Billy. They are meeting at 6.30am. Sue is driving straight off to Derby, crazy woman. That leaves Elizabeth and me. Crew great in the cabin and say we can stay for as long as we need. Can remember talking to next plinther, Catherine, but really it's a blur. Katie rings and has loved it

Elizabeth and I hail a taxi with the toilet, cistern, suitcase, plith cover and three bags. We go to Kings Cross Station for 6.15am train to York . Elizabeth has very kindly treated me to a 1st class seat. We find the seats, lodge all the props and I sit down, while Elizabeth goes back onto the concourse to find some food and drink.

Messages are beginning to come in via text and email. I'm choked and very near tears, but don't cry. Elizabeth suggests I should. Try to doze, but still running on adrenaline. Train arrives at 8.30 and we get a taxi straight to Coppergate. Elizabeth goes home.

Start to set up Soroptimist's Water Aid stall, "Give a penny to spend a penny' with Rosie, Susan WW, Denise and Ann C. The plinth cover lies on the ground and helps spread the stall along the pathway under the awning. Denise dresses up in the inflatable hand, that Susan WW managed to collect from Water Aid HQ in London. More Sorops appear, Joanne and Kaet. The Mayoress arrives at 10am and has photos on the toilet. She stays for 30 mins and is excellent.

Lyn, a York plinther comes up and introduces herself. A big hug. This is indeed like family. She'd like to meet up for a coffee and talk about the plinth experience. Can fully understand why. It's the shared experience thing.

Around 1pm I noticably 'wilt'. Get taxi home and take it easy for rest of afternoon. Manage 30 mins sleep. Susan WW arrives in her mini with the toilet, cistern, plinth cover and all her stall stuff. Amazing capacity.

It has taken me until Wednesday to write this, due to what I have called PPS. Post Plinth Syndrome! As a result, I can't remember the rest of the day, except that it included tweckling, watching Strictly Come Dancing, eating and finally falling into bed at 10pm.

It's online now: www.oneandother.co.uk/particpants/rita-i-in-art

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26Th - The day before tomorrow

(Writing this on Monday at 9pm. Out of signal for w/e.)

At father's flat because I think I will get a better night's sleep there, rather than Joe and Nic's sofa bed. Now I'm not so sure. Eventually get to sleep around 2.45am. Woken up at 5.15 with searing cramp in right leg. Great. Feel yucky. Sarah Kennedy mentions me on her Radio 2 progamme at 6am. Can't back to sleep until 7.45, when I grab another hour. Feel marginally better.

Go to see father for lunchtime at noon. First, pop into Copywell, opposite nursing home, with memory stick for copies. The files won't transfer and I have left laptop back at the flat. Aaargh! Is nothing straight forward?

Have lunch with father, take taxi back to flat, pick up laptop & take bus back to Copywell. The staff are really helpful and I get everything I need.

Sit with father until 3pm. Try to doze when he does. Then back to the flat. Taxis are a bit illusive around 4pm, until Jake comes home and tells me to use Barnes Taxis from the station. It works and everything gets packed into yet another taxi and we go to Joe and Nic's.

1 toilet. 1 cistern. 1 plinth cover 14'5 x 5'. 1 suitcase. 1 small card table. 1 backpack. Me.

Props outside Bracken View for taxi.

Nic comes home and looks bemused at the props in a sort of 'What on earth is she doing?' way.

Joe and Noah with the toilet.

A quiet evening watching TV. Aide's niece, Fiona rings. Lovely surprise. She tells me that she and Chris were planning on coming up to TS, but Chris has a knee injury from hockey. How kind of them to even think of coming up. Get text from other niece, Amy, too. All so kind and thoughtful. Hope they like the surprise tomorrow.

Joe goes off to bed early after ordering taxi. I decide not to try to go to bed or use sofa bed, but just lie fully dressed on sofa. It works - to a point. Wouldn't have been any better in a bed anyway.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH - Fantastic theatre

I feel that some things today addressed the craziness of the previous two days.

As I have been coming down to London to see my father regularly, I have left clothes in the flat over the time. I found a pair of short boots, that will be perfect. I need not have spent a despondant hour looking in WestField last night.

I also need some more printing done, as I have left two pieces at home. This may be a blessing in disguise as I can now tweak the print to be a little larger. But where can I find a print shop?

Answer: Opposite Nazareth House, the nursing home where my father is living, I find Copywell. They can do all the lamination I want tomorrow. I have remembered to bring the memory stick to London, which is remarkable in itself.

I step out of the shop and think, this day is already going more smoothly than the last two.

I go into London and meet, my long term friend, Pat. The weather is beautiful. We find an excellent lunch place near Drury Lane, called Wolfes. It does a really good £10 for two courses lunch. Delicious and plentiful.

Then we go to The New Theatre to see one of the most remarkable pieces of theatre I have ever experienced. The War Horse. The standing ovation is well deserved.

Click on the link for a short video.

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/warhorse

Back to the flat. Jake cooks dinner and Joe arrives to start work on writing all the info I require on the plinth cover. Jake lends a hand too. Wonderful work, thank you. I tell them that they will now be able to say that some of their artwork has appeared in Trafalgar Square.

Tomorrow Sep 25 Details	Partly Cloudy Hi: 64° Lo: 46°	Day: Mostly clear skies. High 64F, humidity 55%. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 3	5%
		Night: Clear skies. Low 46F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.	5%
Saturday Sep 26	Partly Cloudy Hi: 66° Lo: 47°	Mostly cloudy skies. High 66F and low 47F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 3	5%

WEDENESDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD - Down to London

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!

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22ND -...and even madder

I was driving home tonight and thinking about the day. It occured to me that it was like a dot to dot picture, but unfortunately the pen had slipped and the result was - a mess.

1st dot - The printers - another poster to laminate. Leave to collect later.

2nd dot - The GP’s - Bee sting - possible infection. Antibiotics.

3rd dot - ‘T’shirt shop, not ready. Come back before 5pm.

4th dot - Press offices - interview with Richard Catton

5th dot - Home

6th dot - Back to printers. Forgot purse, go back home. Have lunch.

7th dot - Drive to printers. Collect poster.

8th dot - Drive on to North York Aids Action for display boards for city centre stall on Saturday

9th dot - On to Ann C's house. Meet up with Anthony, the press photographer. Over 300+ photos in street on toilet.

10th dot - Take toilet home. Phew. Now to sit down and write blog and clear up chaos. Still haven't been to chemist.

This is where the day starts to go badly wrong.

4.30pm. Oh s**t! I've forgotten to pick up the sweat shirt. Got to be there by 5pm. I must be back by 6pm because Soroptimist Rosie is is coming round to pick up the stall stuff (Table, old ceramic toilet, display boards and Water Aid info)

Ring up the shop and tell them leaving immediately. Rush out of door with keys Shut door. SCREAM!!!!!!!! They are my car keys. I've locked myself out again. Twice in 12 days. This is not funny. Not funny at all. Rushing too much.

Ring 'T' shirt shop. They will leave sweat shirt in restaurant opposite. Will collect after Soroptimist meeting tonight. Try and get hold of Brian, the locksmith, who came out 12 days ago. It would have been easy to get in with the old Yale lock, but not this one. I do try though, with various items I find in hall cupboards.

Rosie rings. She's had an accident and got a head injury from a bad fall. Will not be coming. We decide we will take stuff to meeting and hope to pass it on there. Leave message for President Joanne. Now notice the phone is losing charge.

Fortunately I have my car keys. I can get to the meeting and all the stuff except the Water Aid info is downstairs already. We have a car phone charger - phew! Start charging.

I'm hungry. I know man in the shop would give me credit, but I'm too embarrassed to tell him what I've done - again. He helped me out before. I find 41 p in my pocket and a £1 coin in the Landie ash tray. Go over to the shop and buy a pork pie. It does fill the gap.

Having a lot of trouble getting Brian. The firm say he's working somewhere. I'm not going elsewhere.

Obviously I'm not going to get in before I have to leave at 7pm and Soroptimist Helen is turning up soon for a lift to the meeting. Not so worried about the clothes I'm in, but the new deodarant isn't working. Thank God for Wet Wipes in the Landie. Give myself a all over wipe over. Nice.

Speak to President Joanne. If there is no-one to take the stuff, I can take it to her house. Helen turns up at same time as Brian rings. He laughs and laughs. He will wait until I'm home after the meeting.

Drive to meeting, 10 miles outside York. Leave early at 8.30 to drive to Joanne's house in the centre of York. After Joanne's, drive to the restaurant to pick up the sweat shirt.

Back home and wait for Brian, who is on another job.

Brian turns up at 10.20. Takes less than a minute to get in. He won't charge me because he finds me entertaining!!!!

Get text from Adrian. There is a once in 70 years red dust storm in Sydney. No planes. No ferries.

Friday Sep 25	Fair Hi: 64° Lo: 45°	Mostly clear skies. High 64F and low 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 3	5%
Saturday Sep 26	Clear Hi: 66° Lo: 47°	Sunny skies. High 66F and low 47F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 3	5%

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST - Getting madder

Woke up with major butterflies in my stomach. This is the week and so much to do.

The bee sting that I got on Saturday is beginning to irritate.

After chocolate tasting, I spent the time collating pieces that I want to read out and sorting posters. Back and forth to The Architect Shop.

NB: to people who look at the posters etc: and think that they could be better sized and aligned. Yes, I know. But I leave for London on Wednesday and without a printer down there, have to sort it now. No time for the finer details I'm afraid. The main thing is that they are laminated, so rainproof and windproof.

But now I'm wondering if the floodlights will reflect on the laminate?

The mail brings a card from someone my sister worked backstage with in the theatre nearly 40 years ago. Colin is going to get the night bus from Twickenham and come and see me on the plinth. Mad, quite mad! But wonderful too.

I also get the 'War House' tickets for Thursday, which is lucky. I thought they'd got lost in the postal strike.

At 5.30 go into town to meet up with old work colleague. I am early so pop into the chemist and speak to a pharmacist. they suggest seeing a GP. Bother!

My friend and I arranged a meeting on Facebook and stupidly do not have each other's mobile numbers. I stand at the arranged point - for 30 minutes. No show. Give up waiting, go to the restaurant we had talked about. Nothing. Go back. No-one. So decide to go home and leave a message on Facebook.

At 9pm my friend rings. She was standing outside the arranged building, but round the corner!!!! She had given up at the same time as I did, but as I turned right, she turned left and walked to my home.

I'm sure that happened many times in pre-mobile days, but not too often these days. Crazy!!

My head is spinning and the sitting room looks as if a bomb has hit it.

A colleague's daughter is on the plinth tonight at 9pm - Jane Gauntlett. She's so pretty and delights the twitter crowd. Not an easy crowd to please.

Friday Sep 25	Cloudy Hi: 66° Lo: 48°	Cloudy skies. High 66F and low 48F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: 3	5%
Saturday Sep 26	Cloudy / PM Sun Hi: 65° Lo: 48°	Sunny skies. High 65F and low 48F. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA	5%