SV-Wolf's Bike Blog

[Sev]

Set up a paypal account.

I think they charge you a bit to take money out of it. But it automatically does all the conversions and stuff without a charge to you. Perhaps ask Paypal what they have to say. It makes for easy donations and hopefully easy pick ups of $$.

[blues2cruise]

[quote="sv-wolf"]

As a visitor to this blot (blot!!!!!??? - Do I mean 'blog?' - I hope I do) you will already know that I am never satisfied using ten words where three hundred will do. I assure you that you will be regaled with many mighty tales of adventure and derring-do in these pages over the next months (and that's only my commute to work!!!)
quote]

It's good to see you still have your sense of humour. I must concur...why use ten words when three hundred will do.

[sv-wolf]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the suggestions. I've taken some advice from the crowd at Enduro India and they have advised that the best way is to open up a Pay Pal account - so, spot on, Sev!

I'm just waiting for PayPal to answer my query about how people could send sponsorship money from a blog. Usually they would suggest putting a button on a website. A Pay Pal button might work on a blog if it were located in the signature - and if Mike agreed to it.

Phew! I haven't done so much electronic fiddling around since late in 2003 when I spent half an afternoon working out how to 'quote' someone else's post on a TMW thread. (In the end, Mike very politely pointed out that there was this little button at the head of each post which said 'quote'. ) Well, I'll be...!

[sv-wolf]

Wow! scary moment this morning. I'd just come down the hill out of Hitchin (my home town) on the way to work and was sitting on my bike waiting to turn left onto the-by pass, when I noticed a load of ash and smuts in the air. Someone, it seemed was having a bonfire, nearby. The ash was blowing about all round me. It took a few moments, but it gradually dawned on me that what I was seeing wasn't a load of ash but a huge swarm of very large bees. Eeek! I'm not bothered by bees, individually, but a whole swarm...? That's different. I had my lid on of course and my leathers, but it was a hot day so my visor was slightly open and my neck was uncovered. I slammed down the lid, hunched my shoulders and then glared at the car in front of me.

I was neatly boxed in. The car in front was close up to the left hand kerb; there was a car directly to my right and there was the downward slope of the hill behind. Short of getting off the bike and bolting for it, there was nothing I could do except curse the long line of traffic coming down the road in front. It's not only other road users that cause road rage.

I was also late getting to work. Late, that is, for an important appointment. Keith, the Communication Department's photographer was going to get some pics of me on my bike, so that the Media Section could run an article on my EnduroIndia escapade for Link, the council staff newsletter. So, of course, I didn't want to be late (except that I hate having my photograph taken)

Eventually, there was a gap in the road a head and I managed to get away, leaving the swarm behind. As I throttled off, I gave the swarm a quick last look. I've never seen a swarm that big before, nor individual hive bees that were so massive. They couldn't have been normal honey bees. I've seen some huge solitary, ground dwelling bees, but solitaries don't swarm like that.

OK. One to add to my list of biking hazards.

[Myself002]

wow, great escape.

[blues2cruise]

Just for you, Richard. For some reason biking and coffee stops and food stops just seem such a natural fit. My frienda and I stopped in here for a bite to eat. Yummy.

[sv-wolf]

Hi folks

I think (fingers crossed) I've got this thing sorted out. If any of you would like to sponsor me to do the Enduro India challenge, you can make a donation using the Pay Pall button below. All money received will go straight to Enduro India to be distributed to the four charities nominated by them for this year: the Rainbow Trust for terminally ill children and their families, the World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society (India) and The Mother Theresa Educational and Charitable Society, India.

A percentage will, inevitably, go to Enduro India for costs, but the more I raise the greater the percentage that goes to the charities. I have to raise a minimum of £3,350. Anything over this will all go to charity. I'm aiming to pull out all the stops and double that amount by organising all kinds of stunts.

If you would like to receive news of my fundraising activities (I'm sure there is plenty of opportunity for humour in this), how things are going, and a diary of my trip to India you can join the new User Group that Mike has kindly set up for me: "Wolf in India"

Thanks to everyone who has already offered to sponsor me.

And now the button. This is an exciting moment for me. Being a complete computer novice, it's like a major achievement.

Here goes:

[Edit] Hmmm! Having a bit of technical trouble here! I'm just getting pages of code instead of the button. Will keep trying.

[zarakand]

Good luck with the technical difficulties, and I commend you for not running from those bees. I don't think I would have stayed on the bike!

[sv-wolf]

Just for you, Richard. For some reason biking and coffee stops and food stops just seem such a natural fit. My frienda and I stopped in here for a bite to eat. Yummy.

Hiya Blues

Deep fried fish - mmmmmm!

I agree with the fit. Sometimes I think we should call ourselves the Stevenage and District Motorcycle, tea and luncheon club. Doesn't have quite the same macho ring though, somehow.

Richard

[sv-wolf]

I think I'm going to have to set up a basic website and then post a link to it to get this technical stuff sorted. Life is full of challenges at the moment. So now I need a book on how to do it.

But first I need to get a new desktop home computer. The laptop I've been using is driving me nuts, and I need some new equipment. I was on the phone for over an hour yesterday to someone who I was told could advise me on how to get the best set up. Brilliant! This guy was a total anorak - of the best kind. Talk about a steep learning curve! Looks like I'm going to get a comp. built to spec. This is all virgin territory for me. Could be... 'interesting' (?)

The fundraising is going well. I've got pledges of nearly £500 from club members to do the pub run in early July. I've approached a number of local schools to see if I can get them on board - the deal is, they do some fundraising and in return I give them a talk on the Enduro, on the work of the charities, on the bike etc. etc.

One friend is organising a sponsored walk, another is doing a barbecue. I'll be doing a barbecue of my own in August. Several offices at work have put up a small change jar. I'm doing the round Britain ride and the performance of 'Reynard' in September. (Reynard is going well. I've now learned over 1/3 of it - that's 26 pages to date.)

I've talked the union 'learning reps' at work into doing an India day for me (yoga demonstration, indian head massage, an Indian lunch and a lot of other stuff). I'm talking to the sheltered scheme wardens next Wednesday to see if any of them will do a fund raising event. I'm seeing the town centre manager tomorrow to talk about which local businesses might be into sponsoring me. And next week I'll go round a couple of restaurants to see if I can hire them for a night midweek for a 'curry night'.

I've contacted a friend who is into the local music scene about getting up a benefit concert. There are a couple of local Indian groups I must contact to see if there is any room for anything there.

Now I just need to get the money in!