Three Months Go West

Other than a post for the sake of a post towards the end of June it occurs to me that I've not updated this blog now for over three months.

One or two of those few who noticed have asked me why this is. The simple answer is that I have just been too busy - busy trying to earn a living, busy with the kids, busy being busy.

During this short period I have been away once again to my beloved Isle of Wight, staying at the Park Resorts site Thorness Bay with the family. It was the first time in a couple of years that we'd been based at Thorness Bay despite having visited the site once or twice since. More recent trips to the Island have involved stays at Landguard, Rookley Country Park and Gurnard Pines. Whilst I like all of these sites there was a certain "coming home" feeling about spending four nights at Thorness after such a long absence.

I have also undertaken to do a 95-mile sponsored walk between Isleworth and Abingdon along the Thames Path early next month to raise some funds for the sports department at Joe's school, St. James School for Senior Boys in Ashford. St. James has been really kind to Joe, and to us his parents, and I wanted to do something to repay that kindness. For more details of the proposed walk please see my new sponsor site at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PhilipAndrews.

If you would like to sponsor me by making a donation, no matter how small, so much the better and many thanks. Please just follow the instructions on the site.

Oh, and on Friday the doctor confirmed to me that I have Type 2 Diabetes. Whether it was knocking 80% of the alcohol on the head, losing nearly two and a half stone, improving my exercise routine or adopting a low-fat vegetarian diet that brought it on I guess I will never know.

On the community front things are relatively quiet. The ICG has circulated a newsletter throughout Syon and Isleworth wards to leave our calling card but the libraries are still open and residents continue to organise over issues of concern such as a proposal to open a Sainsbury's store in South Street, which would be devastating for many local businesses.

More on this, and other things, anon.

Please sponsor Chris on HIV/AIDS Walk For Life

Isleworth resident Chris Boucher will be taking part in a 10km sponsored walk on June 6th to raise funds for Crusaid, an international charity supporting people affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.

Crusaid has been running as a charity for 21 years supporting people around the world with HIV and AIDS. Since 1986 Crusaid has distributed more than 47,500 hardship grants to sufferers in the United Kingdom. Globally it has funded projects as diverse as medical centres in Israel and soup kitchens in Africa, and operates four "Points of Light" community centres in South Africa.

Chris hopes to raise as much money as he can, firstly because he has seen so many friends struck by this terrible illness, and secondly to try to raise awareness that HIV/AIDS does not discriminate.

To sponsor Chris please visit www.walkforlife.co.uk and follow the links to sponsor. His team name is Outwest, and his registered walker number is 1101346.