MAY We Have Some More..?

Looking back at May, all we can see it a flurry of activity that blurs into each other. Writing now when we've already stated June, I am glad we did all that work in preparation.

May started off with Tom doing the last course required for the row. Some of the Team went to help a GlastonBeoley stand at a local community event while the rest of the team took the opportunity to squeeze in one last chance of a holiday.

The second weekend in May had us at our local Morrisons on a bucket-shake with the boat. It had been a while since we have towed the boat about, so it was good to try that out on a short journey before we took SS! to her training location down in Exmouth. We raised a good chunk of money that weekend, and got to speak to some wonderful members of the public about mutual interests and goals.

A few days after our Morrisons bucket shake, we had a massive milestone achievement. Since it was the last time the boat would be available for publicity, we decided to get all our major sponsors and charities together for a small social event. We invited The Frank Bruno Foundation, and the man himself, Frank Bruno along, together with the Amazing Arrive Alive Charity with Debbie and Ellie themselves, and the local legend Peter Martin from Redditch Self Defence and Youth Engagement and the Drop The Knife campaign. Now only that, but the BBC wanted to send someone round to record footage and get some interviews done. With an amazing photographer and media producer all volunteering their time, we felt truly blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.

With lots of photos with Frank, and one signed boat later, we all went home feeling quite wonderful and tired at the same time.

The weekend after, the boat was taken down to the M5 to its training mooring in Exmouth Marina. The journey was interesting. With Kev being the only one qualified to drive the long trailer down, he performed admirably; even after we took the van and trailer down a narrow residential street and he had to reverse it into someone's drive and turn around before we got the Marina Yard.

Steve, the harbourmaster there has given us use of their facilities, saving us thousands in mooring fees. Once the boat was stored next to another World's Toughest Row team, we set about our journey back, only having the day to get it all done. It was a long day, but an important one.

May ended with a patch of long grass in Kevin's garden that he now has to mow It was a busy month, but we all took the last weekend to decompress and chill. Kev even went as far as a visit to Benidorm, but he still managed to (re?) kickstart our TikTok account.

Next month we will be out on the sea. And as of writing this, we've already been out. So keep watching our socials and you'll see what we've been up to.