Jan Leeming - The Official Website

ESSENTIAL NORWAY - OCEANA CRUISE 18th - 25th MAY 2008

26th May 2008

ESSENTIAL NORWAY - OCEANA CRUISE

Have just returned from our cruise around some of the Norwegian Fjords.  I took my son Jonathan with me on this trip - partly because he's great company and because he's a quarter Norwegian on his Father's side of the family and also he celebrated his Birthday on 18^th May - the day we boarded the Oceana.

Our Ports of Call were to be Bergen, Olden, Flamm and Stavanger.  I boarded with a small amount of trepidation with regard to the weather conditions and wondering whether I'd have to hit the Dramamine.  On the contrary, we had the most superb weather - the Captain even announcing that we were a Lucky Ship as the Fjords are notoriously wet.  Every part of the journey was taken on seas as calm as a millpond.

Our first call was Bergen.  In 1996 I'd undertaken a working Page and Moy cruise up the West Coast of Norway to Nordkapp.  Jonathan partnered me then and we'd 'done' Bergen so on this occasion we decided against any organised tours and did our own thing.

Even the Captain commented on how lucky we were that it wasn't pouring with rain.  It did rain but cleared up in the afternoon and J and I took the  Cable Car to Mount Ulriken - the highest of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen.  The ride was exciting in itself and the views at the top were superb.  We didn't visit Grieg's Home as we'd done that in 1996 and you simply can't do everything.

That night as we sailed further North we had the first of our Formal Dinners.  To me it is an absolute joy to see people dressed beautifully - especially as we live in such a 'casual world'.  I would estimate that about 99% of the passengers take the trouble to don their D.J's and Evening Dresses.  Long may the Dress Code remain and be enforced!

Our next port of call was Olden and though we'd been there before, we decided to take the Briksdal Glacier trip. (It is quite difficult making choices because so many of the tours are of interest and as a Performer I don't get the Shore Excursions Book till I board ship)  When the coach stopped, Jonathan and I decided we were on a mission to see how quickly we could walk to the Glacier.  In the guide they estimate that the walk of approx 2.5 miles will take around 1 hour.  Jonathan completed it in 30 minutes and I managed it in 35 - not bad Eh!!! ( I also wanted to see how fit I was with regard to our possible trek up Kilimanjaro next year for the Orchid Cancer Appeal.)  The Guide declares that one needs a reasonable amount of fitness to undertake the walk - I think they have understated it and could see passengers on the coach who didn't have a chance of completing the trek which is uphill most of the way.  Although I can walk 10 kms on the flat with no problem, I do struggle slightly when going uphill - obviously no Cardiac strength - something I must address if I'm to stand any chance of going up Kilimanjaro.

When I caught up with Jonathan I could understand the look of dismay on his face.  In 1996 the Glacier confronted us with huge frozen waves of Aquamarine Ice. Twelve years later the Glacier has retreated several hundreds of metres and instead of the Wall of Waves, we saw a sort of 'dribble'.  In '96 we could actually walk right up to the Glacier and touch it - now there's a large lake of melted water.  However whilst there we twice heard the Ice cracking and on the second occasion we actually saw a tiny tiny avalanche.  By the time I got the camera out and ready, the 'avalanche' had ceased. 

Apparently the Glacier retreats and advances all the time - so it's retreat is not totally down to Global Warming. A good half mile back along the path is a sign to say that was the tip of the Glacier in 1800.

I love watching as the Ship leaves Port (and if I'm awake early enough - watching her dock).  Leaving Olden was very interesting.  The ship had to push off from the Pier, then travel backwards until out in the deepest part of the Fjord and basically do a Three Point Turn to face in the right direction. 

Flam was our next port of call.  We'd docked during the night  and once off the ship, the whole scene looks totally incongruous -  this masssive ship moored in a Fjord surrounded by mountains and a few houses -  nothing more than a concrete quay - no cranes, no containers, nothing - just a docking place for Cruise Liners.

We chose to go on the Norway in a Nutshell tour.  We commenced the tour by a short walk from the Ship to the Station where we boarded the train. The 20km journey takes 50 minutes and climbs from 5m to 867m through 20 tunnels.  We made one stop at the Kjosfoss Waterfall where we were told the tale of the Sirens who supposedly lure young men into the mountains  - all this was accompanied by some very haunting music and glimpses of a woman with long flowing hair appearing and disappearing at various places on the Waterfall. The scenery on the journey was a succession of one stunning waterfall after another and glimpses deep down into valleys surrounded by Snow-capped Mountains

(How weird - I'm listening to Classic FM and the presenter has just read out a letter from a student in Southampton where it is pouring with rain and where we docked yesterday and her request was for something from the Peer Gynt Suite!)

At Myrdal Station we changed trains and continued on to Voss where we lunched.  Then it was on board a coach for the return to the Oceana - More stunning scenery and the most spectacular waterfall I've ever seen - the Tvinde which looked like a massive and many tiered wedding cake with water cascading down it's myriad layers.  Then followed  a precipitous journey on which I would estimate the coach was going no faster than 5 - 10 miles per hour down the Stalheimskleivane - the steepest road in Norway.  At the valley floor we travelled alongside the Naeroy River to Gudvangen - a very beautiful spot originally a Viking settlement.  And then back to the Ship.

Our last port of call was Stavanger which we decided to explore on foot after returning from the Butterfly Park.  How strange you might think to visit a Butterfly Park whilst in Norway  but Stavanger - although a very attractive and spotlessly clean town - didn't offer the fabulous Waterfalls we'd come to expect.  So we took a taxi to Sandnes.  The official tour had been cancelled through lack of demand.  In one way this was unfortunate as the taxi rides were very expensive but in another way and rather selfishly I couldn't imagine the Park full of people.  We had it to ourselves and stayed there for over an hour just enjoying the quietness and the beauty of the stunningly coloured Butterflies.  One very large pale blue one alighted onto the back of my sweater and I'll try and get a picture on the web for you - sorry to keep apologising for my ineptitude with part of the website but I'm not the best technical person in the world. 

It's said that a Butterfly alighting on you is a sign of LUCK - so here's hoping!!!

When we got back to the Port, the sun was streaming down and we simply had to sit and admire the view and take in the ambience.  Mind you at just over £8 each for a glass of Chablis we felt we really were paying for the view.  And there was no risk of getting tipsy at those prices.

In 1996 Jonathan had partaken of a very special cake whilst on our Norwegian visit and he was looking for it in every port of call. We finally found it in Stavanger.  It has a different name in different regions but here it was called 'Success' cake - rather apt as J had been looking for it so long.

Then back on board for the last leg of the journey back to Southampton and couldn't believe how calm was the sea - it was like a millpond.

 On this trip I didn't get to meet the Captain or indeed any of the Crew - but then they really do have their work cut out docking at a different port every day.

However, once again the Cruise Director - Hughie - was a delightful character as was his wife Dee who was his Assistant.  Hughie, like Sally Sagoe on the Oriana, started out as an Entertainer and worked on ships before changing to the other side of the footlights.  However he did make the occasional appearance on stage and was extremely funny and a superb host.

Hughie and Dee looked after Jonathan and myself so very well and we hope we'll see more of them in a less professional capacity.

The Theatre Entertainment was superb.  What an array of  wonderful talent was displayed by The Headliners - five chaps and eight lassies.  I would stick my head out enough to say that I felt any of them would grace the West End Stage.  They band together for six months of cruising and in that time perform 18 different shows. We were lucky enough to see  several and the last one was my favourite - The Big Picture - with excerpts from well known film-musicals like West Side Story (which I first saw at the Apollo Theatre, Victoria, when I was 19), Cabaret, Sound of Music, Oklahoma just to mention a few. In fact we went to The Big Picture on two successive nights. The cast  have such talent, energy, verve and enthusiasm.  Jonathan and I were lucky enough to spend the last night on board with them after the show.

If you've visited this website previously, you'll know that I've only recently returned from Capetown on the Oriana where I gave Four talks on different subjects.  On this current trip I had to give One Talk twice - scheduled for Thursday 22^nd May at 7.00 and 8.45 so as to suit both First and Second Sitting Diners.  It was actually more difficult for me as, on talking with some of the passengers I got the impression that quite a number actually wanted to hear about I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here - so I had to modify the talk and mix part of my Memories of a Lifetime in Theatre and Television with some highlights from Celebrity.  Fortunately the mix went down well and the Starlight Room (seating 500) was just about full at both times.  In some ways, I wish the talk had been earlier in the week as folk appeared to respect the privacy of myself and Jonathan and not many actually came and spoke with us.  After the talks, I was inundated with passengers wanting to talk - many of them claiming a proprietorial interest because of all the years spent in Bristol and on BBC News.  I love chatting with people and the last few days on the cruise were delightful from that aspect.  Two women go or went to the same hairdresser I've been with since 1969 - Jean Mays at Portishead.  Don't think I go down every week - usually once every two months for an overhaul and a trim.  Jean has nursed my locks from Black to mottled, from long to short to long, from curly to straight and I don't know what I would do without her.  Some passengers even remembered the car accident I had on the way to take up a position with Westward Television in Plymouth - and that was a very long time ago!!

Well, there's nothing concrete in the diary for the foreseeable future but that can always change in the life of a freelance.  However I am very much looking forward to my Tour in September and October when I'll be the narrator in a show celebrating the life of Stephane Grappelli - the Jazz Violinist.

Next weekend, my friend Doreen and I are attending a concert at which Kiri Te Kanawa is performing and then two Opera Rehearsals at The Grange down near Southampton - all this as a result of meeting Jeremy on the Oriana.  Jeremy was the very kind gentleman who gave me the Oil Painting to be auctioned in Celebrity Cash in the Attic the proceeds of which are going to Jonathan's chosen charity - The Orchid Cancer Appeal which researches male cancers.

I can well understand those people who are  addicted to Cruising and I hope it won't be too long before I'm cruising again.

Bye for now,     Jan.

And please don't forget, if you'd like to know more about my adventures with Cheetahs, Celebrity, Safari School etc. then just Email Simon Whittam with a request and I'll put the story on the Blog.       simon@simonwhittam.co.uk

AFRICAN CHILDREN'S CHOIR

14th May 2008

On Monday I went to the launch of a short video about The African Children's Choir.  I did the narration for them and so was invited to the launch on the 6th Floor of the BBC Television Centre.  As soon as I got there I realised that what is now a sort of Hospitality Suite used to be a corridor and the offices of the Chairman and other worthies of the BBC.  It was also next door to the room in which I was mugged in 1987.

The evening proved to be even more interesting than expected.  Had a fascinating conversation with Juanita Carberry - of the Happy Valley Set (White Mischief and all that) about whom a TV programme was made in the late 80's - some scenes from which I can still remember e.g. when Juanita as a child was so badly whipped by her father, her governess, her stepmother (each story is different) but whipped she was and she rode her pony to the police station looking for protection from her violent family.

The Video was shown and then we had a most interesting address by the Head of Jubilee High - a school in Surrey which has done a great deal to help the Choir and in return have reaped even more benefits than could have been expected.  I asked the Head to give me a rough synopsis of the work of collaboration being done between Jubilee and the choir and can do no better than to give you his own words.

Jubilee High is an improving school emerging from difficult circumstances, serving an area of Surrey which has had major challenges in terms of community cohesion and social issues. It was launched as a “Fresh Start” school in 2002 but a succession of Headteachers and partners have not helped to create a clear vision and stability. The current Principal, Gareth Balch, who took up the post in 2005, proposed combining International School status with an emphasis on the Performing Arts. With community support he was able to build a theatre, and use the arts as a vehicle for creating standards of appearance, courtesy, and consideration. In January 2007 the school gained full International status after just six months, and this achievement was celebrated by the British Council at an Awards Ceremony.
Through the local business community supporting the school's values an introduction was made to Ray Barnett, founder of the African Childrens' Choir. After several meetings Gareth proposed that the Choir could stay at Jubilee during the European part of their tour and to represent both features of Jubilee; the International dimension and the Arts.
 
In 2006 the African Childrens Choir stayed at Jubilee, sleeping in an Art room and the Drama room. They performed at Jubilee and in Assemblies, and the effect was electric. These Choir members had, and continue to have, a major influence on the motivation and belief in education of British teenagers otherwise disaffected and negative about education. Encountering orphan members of the choir who are still positive about life despite their harrowing experiences is life-changing. The chance for students to mentor and buddy each other, developing relationships, has been so significant that the choir returned twice to Jubilee and a new choir is visiting in May and July 2008. One former member and Choir teacher has been given a training place at Jubilee in ICT, Morris Kabuye.
 

Jubilee Principal Gareth Balch says:
 “ We are centrally concerned here with educating the poor; the poor socially, the poor culturally, the poor morally and spiritually,  the poor in family and relationships. The African Childrens Choir brings to my community rich gifts in culture, in spirituality, in motivation and determination. I cannot put a price on this, and in return we can offer them an equal exchange of riches.”That exchange is tremendously empowering for both!”

We also had the pleasure of a talk by Morris Kabuye - now a 25 year old young man whose time in the Choir has turned his life around.  As a young boy, he witnessed his father's murder as did so many of the other orphans who form The African Children's Choir.  He is now training in IT and wants to return to Uganda to give help in his own country.  He is a tremendously charismatic and likeable young man and it was great to hear him talk so positively and optimistically.

I do hope you found the above of interest - I certainly did and will probably be visiting the school at some time in the near future.

 

Bye for now,  Jan

A REQUEST FROM ME TO YOU

13th May 2008

Dear All,

I've noticed more and more people hitting on my Website - which is very gratifying.  However, I'm mystified as to some of the hits from countries in which I know no-one. 

At the moment, there's not much going on in June/July and August, so if you would like me to tell you more about my work with Cheetahs or my Acting days in Australia - in fact anything you might pick up from my Biography, please pass on your request via my Manager Simon Whittam  - you only have to click on the Contact button.

I'd be delighted to 'Talk' to you through the Website.

Affectionately, Jan

STATELY HOMES AND BRAINSTRUST (Neuro-Oncology) CHARITY

11th May 2008

STATELY HOMES -   PORT ELIOT (Cornwall)  and  HIGHCLERE CASTLE (Berkshire)

I've been fortunate these last two weekends - not only has the weather been glorious (almost nothing can beat a sunny day in Spring when every tree and hedgerow is shimmering in newest green) but I've visited two very interesting and totally different Stately Homes.

Last weekend I went down  to stay with friends Simon and Des who live in lovely Kingsand/Cawsand near Plymouth. Not far from them and  earlier this year Port Eliot opened to the public for the first time.  It is the seat of the Earl of St. Germans and in lieu of death duties they are opening up their house for 100 consecutive days in order that the public can visit, enjoy and peruse their large collection of Sir Joshua Reynolds paintings.  They also have a large room decorated with murals by the recently deceased artist Lenkiewicz - not to the taste of everyone but certainly interesting.

 The house was a Priory and at the dissolution of the monasteries the building came into the domain of the Earls of St. German.  As we walked down the drive I commented that the adjoining church was disproportionately large for such a 'relatively' small house. Then I discovered that the Church (the third on the site) had indeed been much larger and very important in its day.  King Athelstane conquered the Celts in Cornwall in 936 and appointed Conan the first Bishop of the Saxon Diocese of Cornwall.  And to this day there is still a Bishop of St. Germans which is hardly more than a  tiny village.

The grounds are extensive and visitors may wander freely plus dogs who on Wednesdays are allowed off the lead.  You can picnic there too.

We met a very interesting guide called John and, as is my wont, I started questioning him about the house and church and, as he was going off duty, he accompanied us to the church and gave us a brief run down of its history.  He also told us that in the middle ages the house was called Port Priory and was a flourishing port.  The Eliots had the river sort of 'covered over'  so that the lawns sweep from the house to the distant horizon.

The Guide is £6 and I wish I'd had it well in advance.  It's one of the best Guides I've ever purchased and has some beautiful pen and wash sketches - though look as I might I couldn't find them credited to anyone.  Perhaps they were executed by Lord St. German.

The House is open until June 10^th and I very much hope to get down again before the shutters are closed until next year.

WELL WELL WORTH A VISIT.

This weekend I was invited to a Charity Ball in aid of Neuro Oncology.  The Brainstrust Ball was held at Highclere Castle nr. Newbury and I wondered that having lived in Buckinghamshire for over 20 years I never visited the place.  It is the seat of the Earls of Carnarvon.  The current building is, I think, Victorian - can't be more specific as there were no guide books to be had.

We were greeted by the Earl and his Wife and given free reign to wander around the downstairs rooms - magnificent they were too.  There were some fabulous paintings and I spied three Canalettos in one room alone. The place was dripping with wonderful Tapestries

BUT for me the highlight of the evening was being taken on a tour of the Museum celebrating the finding of the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun.  Because of course it was the then encumbent Lord Carnarvon who discovered the tomb in 1910 (I think that's the correct date).

I've always been fascinated by Egyptology.  And in 1966 whilst returning from Australia by ship , we had the choice of staying on the vessel through the Suez Canal or going on Nasser's Coach Tour.  I chose the latter and visited the Cairo Museum  where the accountrements and findings from the Tomb were displayed in a frightfully haphazard way.  I still remember that wonderful Funerary Mask.  Then some years later in the early 70's the Tutankhamun Collection was on show in the British Museum - and it was superb.

In 1995 I went on a trip down the Nile with my husband Eric - we visited many Temples and had the opportunity to enter King Tut's tomb. Perhaps I was less superstitious than my husband because I went into the tomb - he didn't.  Three months later he left me and I couldn't help wondering if the Curse of King Tut had been visited on me!!!!!!

But I am neglecting the Charity - Brainstrust was set up by a delightful couple - Helen and Peter Bulbeck  who had a fight on their hands to get treatment for their young daughter Meg who had a Brain tumour.  They are now working very hard to raise funds and awareness of this Cinderella of the Cancer World.  They are working closely with Professor Geoffrey Pilkington who is Professor of Neuro Oncology at the University of Portsmouth.  I can't begin to explain the  details of it all so why not click onto

www. port.ac.uk/brainlab

Oh, nearly forgot to mention the lovely Claire Barnett - Events Manager at Highclere.  Somehow or other Professor Pilkington, his wife and I found ourselves the last to leave and without 'Carriages'.  We did order a taxi which didn't appear and, as I don't think the Countess was going to offer a bed for the night and the walk down the drive was a good two miles, we were rather at a loss. Then the lovely Claire came to our aid and offered a lift back to our Hostelry.  Thank you Claire

Must close as I've a million things to do and always the paperwork.

Go on my next Cruise on the 18^th May. I'm taking Jonathan with me as he is part Norwegian and I know will enjoy seeing the Fjords.  This time I only have to give two talks on the two days at sea - for the remainder of the time we are in various ports.  So I should have some lovely photos to post on the web - providing it isn't raining all the time. In 1996 I gave talks on a cruise up the Norwegian Fjords for Page and Moy and the weather was appalling.

Bye for now and if you're down in the West Country before 10^th June DO visit Port Eliot.

CASH IN THE ATTIC - CELEBRITY AUCTION

7th May 2008

CASH IN THE ATTIC - CELEBRITY AUCTION

 The day at the Auction Rooms in Chiswick was very enjoyable.  My goodness, the team work hard.  They record two programmes back to back so they were recording the auctioning of my donations and also those of Julie Peasgood ( Emmerdale etc.)

 My offerings fetched £2,278 and then a 'fan' of mine very kindly left a cheque for £250 for Orchid.  As he'd already bid for my Silver letter opener and my watercolour - it was extremely generous of him.

 My Eurovision Song Contest Dress - which I modelled and auctioned personally - fetched £230 which was a lot less than I had expected and I now realise I should have kept it for an Auction at a Ball when everyone is fired up to be generous and not left it to dealers who are only in it for the money.  In fact, we gave away a photograph taken last week of me in the Dress and when I asked the buyer if he'd like it personally signed he declined on the grounds that he'd bought the dress with Charity funds - so I guess it will be auctioned off at a future function.

 The painting which Jeremy Burford so kindly gave me for the Auction fetched £1050 so that boosted the funds enormously.  Although I was a trifle disappointed I learned that what I'd raised was among the top amounts raised by 'Celebrities' - oh! I do hate that word - but how do you get round it.  I remember once trying to get round the words 'Famous - Celebrity - Personality' when speaking to the husband of a very dear friend.  I was trying to explain that I'd been invited to an important function and not wanting to sound boastful said that I'd been invited as 'a person of note' and dear Ian, forever after when I phoned would call his wife Sue and say 'There's a person of note on the phone'!  If only he were still around tacking the 'Michael' out of me.

 Still, never mind it was a goodly sum and  Orchid has got a profile it wouldn't have received otherwise - so that's all to the good.

 I'm off to a Charity Ball this Saturday - this is another Cancer Charity in which I'm getting involved - Neuro Oncology (Brain Cancers).  And I may be going up in a twin-seat Spitfire for this Charity - in the next few months.  Should have done it last year but somehow it never got arranged.

 Then next Sunday, Jonathan and I board the Oceana for our cruise up the Fjords of Norway and my two talks.  It should be fun.

 I'm sorry you can't directly contact me, but should you want to make a request - learn more about Cheetahs or ask a question about “I'm a Celebrity .......” You can always address it to Simon whose address is under Contacts - and I'll always respond.

 Bye for now,  Jan.

FOR MY FRIENDS AND VIEWERS IN AUSTRALIA

5th May 2008

 FOR THOSE OF YOU IN AUSTRALIA  WATCHING 'I'M A CELEBRITY ......

Unless you've read my biography, you probably don't  know that I lived and worked in Sydney and Melbourne in the 60's.  I was the first woman newsreader for Channel Ten-10 and appeared in many Theatrical Productions in Sydney and also with the Union Rep. in Melbourne.  I absolutely adored living in Sydney and had it not been for the death of my fiancé (and a generous mother who sent me the fare back to the UK) I fully intended to spend the rest of my live in Oz.  On returning to the UK, I realised what a huge mistake I'd made but one thing led to another and I began to carve a career in Television here.

I have a few very dear friends in Sydney and one of the closest - Michael Laurence rang me last night to say a friend had seen an episode of 'I'm a Celebrity ...... ' and couldn't continue watching it - whether that was out of sympathy for me or whether he thought the programme so awful, I don't know.  I also didn't know it was being shown in Australia.

I always intended to end my days in Sydney but I'm afraid I didn't get an Australian passport  - not necessary at the time.  Now, your Government makes it impossible for older people to settle in Australia unless they have pots of money.  Fame I've had but the money wasn't around in my heyday - so my dream of retirement in your lovely country has been dashed.

I undertook 'I'm a Celebrity ..... ' purely to put money in my rather threadbare pension fund but I have to say the experience was LIFE ENHANCING.  I faced a lot of my fears and realised I'm capable of doing a great deal more than I ever thought possible.  I have to say that - as with all reality shows - it was, in my opinion, very negatively edited but I can assure you there was also a lot of fun and some lovely experiences like washing under a waterfall and cooking very basic ingredients over a huge campfire.  So, if you are watching, view it with slightly different eyes.

Before Celebrity I took part in a programme (20 part) training to be a Game Ranger at Shamwari in  South Africa.  Since Celebrity I've husky-sledded, snow-mobiled and Wingwalked (the latter for the RAF Charity)

If you've been reading the Blog, you'll know that on Tuesday 6^th May I am having auctioned - among other personal items - the dress I wore to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 1982 - and it still fits.  The Auction is part of a series called 'Celebrity Cash in the Attic' which transmits on BBC 1 and the money raised goes to a Charity of one's choice. 

I've chosen ORCHID - which is a small charity devoted to research into and treatment of the three main male cancers - Testicular, Penile and Prostate.  My son had testicular cancer three years ago and recently raised just under £4,000 doing a Sky Dive for Orchid.

There is a possibility that ORCHID will be organizing a trek up Kilimanjaro next year.  Jonathan and I are hoping to take part - I'll have to start training in a gym now (Grrrh ..... I hate organised exercise, preferring to walk and swim) - and also check that I'm not susceptible to Altitude Sickness.  Then I think I'll have to hang up my boots - I may feel and act like a 30 year old - but my passport says otherwise!!!!!

I've written this letter because I saw that a large number of folk in Australia have logged  into my Website - so thank you and keep reading.

Affectionately, Jan

CASH IN THE ATTIC - AUCTION DETAILS

1st May 2008

Just a brief word to let you know that the items I've given to Cash in the Attic will be auctioned on Tuesday 6^th May. 1, 08

My Eurovision Song Contest Dress will be there and some other lovely evening dresses  plus a few items I've made at my Jewellery and Silversmithing Classes and other bits and pieces. A stunning Oil Painting of a Belgian Bull was given me for the auction by a passenger on the Oriana - so I'm hoping that will fetch at least £1000. 

What my Eurovision dress will fetch is anyone's guess - it could be a lot or it could be a little!

If you are interested the Auction is at:

Chiswick Auctions
1 Colville Road (off Bollo Lane)
London W3 8BL
Phone 020 8992 4442

I shall be wearing the Eurovision Dress and personally Auctioning it - wish me luck.

ALL THE MONEY RAISED WILL BE GOING TO 'ORCHID' - A MALE CANCER CHARITY DEDICATED TO RESEARCH INTO THE THREE MAIN MALE CANCERS - TESTICULAR, PENILE AND PROSTATE.  

You may remember that my Son did a Skydive for Orchid whilst he was with me in Cape Town.  He raised just under £4,000 AND we are hoping to do a trek up Kilimanjaro next year - for Orchid - providing I can get myself fit enough and don't suffer from Altitude Sickness

Will let you know how the Auction went.  Fingers crossed that we raise a great deal more than expected.

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN