Fundraising

My Cheese Board!

On Sunday 17th September, I held my first ever "Wine & Cheese night" party for Alzheimer's Society; I raised £279, so I'd say it went well!

Alzheimer's Society is a charity close to my heart: my Nanna suffered under the yoke of the disease for more than twelve years, many of which were spent bedridden, unable to care for herself. My Nanna is a personal hero, for the sole reason that she raised the wonderful human that is my father, single handed,, in a tied cottage, working constantly so that he could have a better life!

I ran a half marathon last year, and made a total of £600 out of £500! So, fingers crossed, that should wangle me a place in the London Marathon - pride of place in my bucket list - for next year. It feels good to be already ~on it~ in the fundraising department!

I spent the whole morning last Sunday cleaning my room and bathroom, so that I could let my family and friends see them without experiencing deep, deep shame!! This is one of the many plates that I am spinning, in the attempt to be a regular human that has her life vaguely on track.

So I was cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. And then my family arrived first, including one friend (honourary family!!)

The Best Family in the World: The Frosts!

My family and I have a... complicated relationship. Something I will elaborate on in my next post. But most of the time, they really come through. I love having a family I can rely on, and even if they struggle to accept all of me in one go, I know they're on a journey, just like me, and they accept me for who I am right now!

Not only did my parents donate, and bring my grandparents' donation, but my Mumma made a whole ton of pastries, cakes and pates to go with the wine and cheese!

Fabulous Friends!

Eventually, people started to turn up. Not just a few people, but SERIOUS people! I had friends from my childhood mixing with friends from work - it was a clash of worlds!

We played board games (thanks to my best friend, who brought them!) and laughed - more than I've laughed in a long time.

Sometimes I feel very alone. Like I have no friends - no one is thinking of me, no one takes me into account. Sunday night proved me wrong. Sunday night showed me all the things that I have to be grateful for. I have friends who are willing to come all the way to Zone 4 for me. That's true friendship.

The night passed in a blur of laughing, of filling up glasses, of hostessing. I loved every second of it. And the experience gave me a confidence, something I've noticed in the last few days, that I've never noticed before. I like hosting. I like making people happy. It's restored my faith in myself.

It also made me think of the future: of my potential. I can change the world, even if it's one problem at a time! Having people come all that way for me - believing in me - made the quiet political passion in me swell again.

The ironic thing, dear reader, is that, writing this, I am actually quite, quite drunk on the leftovers from Sunday! Please forgive me small grammatical mistakes!

Will post properly soon,

Char

xxx