Aung San Suu Kyi is awarded 'Freedom' .. if only

Well well, the Freedom of the City event has finally happened, the past three months my superb boss, Council colleagues and I have put many, many hours into organising this civic event where Edinburgh could award their highest honour possible to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi! It has been an fantastic experience and the day when she is freed will hopefully come a bit sooner thanks to all the international press coverage this has given Burma.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4105274.stm
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1723822,00.html
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=662402005
I met Daw Suu's son and wife, a few Lords and Ladies, exiled refugees from Burma who had to leave as their name was on the blacklist, worked next to directors of large organisations such as Amnesty UK / Scotland, and learnt a lot about myself with regards to Zimbabwe, so many people are in the same situation! Daw Suu is a shining light for the democratic world!

Back to fundraising .... I had a very positive responce from The Raj Restaurant where celebrity chef Tommy Miah makes his famous curry! http://www.despardes.com/newsmakers/tommy-miah-feb24.htm On 2 September we shall be having a buffet for 100 people at the Raj, hmmm, theme might be turbans and saris, so much to think of. Flatmate Marc has agreed to help design the tickets for me and those should go to print next week, £20 a head ... see you there!

To my blonde and tanned work-mate, thanks for the money, and thanks for making work a bit more interesting everyday, and thanks for the toast you make in the mornings!

Cheers Sandra for your kind donation! You are an angel and an inspiration doing all the work you do, Africa is a better place thanks to you! Hope to visit you in the States .. one day soon!

I have started approaching bigger companies about this, as I'm doing it all by myself I'm kinda going on trial and error here, hopefully they will recognise my passion for the cause.

I put an advert on the Edinburgh Gumtree website, and result! Over the next few months I will be helping a woman pack up and move flats whilst she donates £6ph to Mind for my assistance. Her and I have been emailing to get to know a bit about each other and it sounds like we have a lot in common, will find out for definite on Thursday during my first shift.

I used to think spare time was a 'must', now I realise how much of a luxury it really is! Saying that, today I did spend my lunch break having a colleague give me a guitar lesson, when anyone asks where I learnt to play the answer will be in a random office cubicle in Edinburgh. Anyone want to place pledges on when I will finally be able to perform my first song???

£333.05, and lots more in the pipeline!

I must admit this is rather daunting! As I said it's June already! and I have to find another £2289 before October!
I bumped into Craig and Dan from Pivo on the way home, told them what I was doing and Craig said I must go in with my 'sales plan'. ooooh how exciting

It's June already!

Well doesn't time fly!

I have been doing an online marketing course with 'Working for a Charity' based in London, the course gave me a basic overview of to how market voluntary sector organisations adverts, campaign for change, etc. All very interesting, and it gave me a small bit insight into how to go about this fundraising too.

I haven't really been focusing on it much as there hasn't been a spare second in the day ... but today were letters sent out hot off the press, it's my first attempt at this so not sure what sort of responce I will receive ...

Monday was a good fundraising day, my 'weird friend' pledged £50, and Anne and Elaine from the Council both kindly donated £20 each. I sponsored Anne and her husband Dave as today they set off on a long trip - they are cycling from Land's end to John O'Groats, better them than me, I will stick to my camel! Best of luck to them!

Wooohooo it's nearly the weekend, but once again I won't have it all off as I am helping run one of the water-stands for the Edinburgh marathon ... please may it be a sunny day :o)