Last year, we raised over £800.  This year, I'm shaking the cyber bowl again for what might be the most important thing we can do for youngsters, at least after the love, shelter and food.  I don't think any acquaintance or friend of mine needs an explanation of why it matters, as I feel it is self-evident to us.  It concerns me that with financial pressures on schools, libraries and parents, plus lives lived on screens so much, many youngsters are missing what ownership of a physical book can mean.  I remember the pride and pleasure of my first, not just in its content but also the look, smell and feel.  BookTrust gives books to children [and I am sure has better buying power than we do as individuals].  Marvellous.  I've altered last year's target to see if we can do something even more useful for, Book Trust.  A challenge indeed, but it has to be tried.

This will be my final entry into Pooley's Dawn to Dusk Challenge as it seems to become tougher each year for me and I'd like to end with fund-raising flourish.  I've planned an ambitious wiggle across the country towards Cornwall, in five legs, all to be finished by sunset.   For any donors wanting to follow progress - or lack of - on the day's flying, I'll advise when I identify the day.  The theme relates to the strange, labyrinthine nature of UK airspace and includes something special, in my opinion, that will be the final leg, requiring even more concentration than the rest.  I hope to take photographs of various places en route that will tie it all together and these will be part of the report that has to be submitted.    

Apart from finding waypoints and not upsetting Heathrow etc, my challenge will be to survive and concentrate during eight to nine flying hours, excluding refuelling breaks (planning interprets it as eight, without allowing for any wind at all, let alone taking photographs), and pretend the wrinkly body is some forty years younger.  It is a solo day, although I shall have the company of at least Vernon Bear, representing the spirit of He Who Provided of Encouragement, Moral Support and Tea.  

One aged woman in an aged aeroplane, having a final attempt to do some good and have some fun, the hard way...

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  I realise everyone is experiencing the effects of inflation and receiving requests for money from umpteen worthy causes.  I am posting it more in hope than expectation, but posting it I am.   

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