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In August this year my good mate Alan & I are attempting to drive through 15 different countries in a car that cost the princely sum of £650!!

We set off on 14/08/2024 with the aim of completing the UK - from our base in Northern Ireland catching the ferry to Scotland and driving down into England with a visit to Wales before heading to London for our first night. We then head to St. Omer in the North of France via the Euro Tunnel where we will join the Two Ball Rally and other nutcases who think a further 7 countries in 4 days is a good idea. After a stop back in France - this time Nice in the south we are attempting to drive our banger through another three countries on the way home!

Our 15 countries:

NI

Scotland

England

Wales

France

Belgium

Luxembourg

Germany

Austria

Switzerland

Italy

Monaco

Andorra

Spain

Ireland

What wondrous vehicle did we chose for this mission? A 2006 Saab 9-3 convertible with 148,000 miles on the clock with zero history and... ahem... was written off in 2018... this is not only a car that isn't made any more but from a manufacturer that has been extinct for the guts of a decade!

We have dubbed this magnificent chariot BLACK SAABATH!

That leads me nicely on to the charity I am hoping to raise money for by completing this questionable trial.

I make no secret of my love of music, it is in no small way an intrical part of my identity and I know I am not the only person it helps through both the good and bad times life throws at us. Live shows in particular do wonders for my mental health, that feeling of community can't be replicated outside of religion, something I am sadly lacking. The issue is new and upcoming bands need venues to play to hone their craft and give us the music we crave. Our small grassroots venues are at an ever increasing risk of closure, in 2023 the UK lost 125 such spaces, this can't be allowed to escalate further and that's where my chosen charity comes in.

Music Venue Trust is a UK Registered Charity which acts to protect, secure and improve UK Grassroots Music Venues for the benefit of venues, communities and upcoming artists.

All costs of our trip have been met by Alan and myself all monies raised will be going to our chosen charities.

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