The kids leading the way for kids at GOSH and KidsCo!

What a week! The kids here, Henry and Tabs on the 'little off-roaders' as you can see add a certain marvelous something in the style and ability stakes. Something I continue to work and strive towards!!

We are so pleased to announce that we have doubled the target for fundraising, just a month in and we're just shy of £3000 already! So, £10,000 for GOSH and KidsCo - here we come! This week we're absolutely delighted to have gained the support of GB Racing (www.gbracing.eu)- crash protection gear (hope I don't need too much of that), headed up by Graham Banks. GB Racing has generously donated and their lovely logo will being going on the bikes.

This week the interview with Liz Rhodes at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire was broadcast, Monday 21st March at 12.20 and is still on iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00fgqq7 - if you fancy a listen! I think I just about came out unscathed and sounding as if I sort of knew what I was talking about with regards to Enduro (jury might be out on that one!)?

I was also privileged to meet and be at an audience with Major Rupert Kitching and Lieutenant Charlie Pearson of the British Army. They have both served in Afghanistan and their experiences were truly humbling - both the harrowing and the exceedingly inspiring stories. One of the key messages that came across loud and clear was the undoubtable teamwork and collaboration of amazing proportions and in the sorts of circumstances that many of us (fortunately and thankfully) can't even imagine. Thanks to them and all the armed forces for all that they do.

Whilst, somewhat unlike the talents and abilities of a task force, it did get me thinking about the extraordinary things that a group of people can achieve when they galvanise and get behind something.

So, to all our wonderful supporters; TorqueRacing (www.torqueracing.net), ZeroNineMX (www.zeroninemx.com), GBRacing(www.gbracing.eu), Ocean One (www.oceanone.co.uk), The Wendy House (www.thewendyhouse.org.uk), Esse Retail & Spa (www.esse.uk.com), Special Little People (www.speciallittlepeople.co.uk), Dawson VA Services (www.dawsonvaservices.co.uk), BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and all the fabulous and generous individual donations which added together now sum just shy of £3000. Thank you so much!

And thanks of course to the team; Donna Gray, Martin Wittering, Gary Failletaz, John Kettley and Robin.

It's now just a little matter of being able to ride as competently and expertly as Henry aged 8, and learn as much as Tabs, also aged 8, did in an hour or so!

Ripping up the grass!

Had a very big practice sess' today. It's now just after 8pm - had to watch the MotoGP - top action from Stoner!

I think everything that can ache will do so quite a lot tomorrow - might have to take something soft and fluffy to sit on at work this week.

Donna and Martin arrived bright and early and set out a course. Gary supplied eighty odd track markers, fab. There were a number of surprisingly tight corners, lots of turns, a slalom, a few straights and few tyres in a pile to ride over (eek), I pretended that I hadn't spotted those!

Had to do a bit of practice sorting out my fancy footwork, have developed a habit of putting balls of feet on the pegs (a la stirrups) - great habit on a horse, bad habit on a bike (particularly of the off-road variety).

Did a bit of a pants start at one point, spitting a bit of grass and mud about the place......ultimately became an okay moment in the main because I didn't fall off the back!

More top tips from Donna and I've progressed a few more steps, every journey.........

Physical exhaustion seems to have impeded my ability to write now..........perhaps I'll have a bath instead!

The grin says it all!

I'm reading a fascinating book at the moment called 'Talent is overrated' written by Geoff Colvin, a former editor Fortune magazine. It is very interesting and one of the overriding principles, if you will, is that 'talent' is not born supreme or exquisite in the execution of whatever it is - sport, music, art, business - but that it is practice - and a lot of it - that makes the difference. There is much research and data to back up his argument from Mozart to Tiger Woods to Jack Welch.

Now whilst I've been practicing it's certainly not anywhere near 10 hours a day however when I do practice (this afternoon) the lessons I learnt on Sunday have made a world of difference.

Using the brakes properly for starters - quite important on wet grass when lovely, lively Maggie, a local pooch out for a walk came to say hello - barked first, wagged tail second. A good moment for a novice like me to have a chat and a little rest (any opportunity!).

Always having two fingers on the clutch for getting out of trouble or stopping for an excitable dog!

However, I practiced all the things that Donna and Martin taught me on Sunday, clutch control, accelerating, braking properly, standing up, sitting down, going up and down the gear box, stopping and all over again. I did, lots and lots of times. I'm going to ache again tomorrow.

Practice may make perfect - improvement in my case not perfect - however confidence on the bike has for sure gone up a notch and that's great!

Thanks Donna. Thanks Martin.

Fits like a glove.......

Well, I didn't think I'd ever link the statement ' fits like a glove' to a motorbike! Martin Wittering of Torque Racing www.torqueracing.net took my bike away for some tweaking last weekend. Wow - what a difference, if feels so different, more comfortable, somehow better balanced and as for the clutch - it's now exactly where it suits 'my' hand! Have a lovely new chain and back brake doesn't drag anymore and is in a different (easier) place - fantastic.

Martin had another bike in his van when he brought mine back, it was prepped and ready to go to Morocco for an enduro event, had roadbook and all sorts of other kit for navigating, that panicked me rather! From my humble and rather inexperienced standpoint, it did look good - very comforting having Martin looking after ones bike.

Now idly wondering if Ocado delivers to the Pyrenees for when I get lost, I don't know my left from right, let alone navigating!

.........

The wise of the young.......

What a day today has been!

We have another new supporter - The Wendy House Day Nurseries - which is fantastic! Thank you so much.

We have now raised over a £1400 for GOSH & KidsCo . Brilliant!

We were all featured in EnduroNews as well - how fabulous it that. Thanks Bob!

And another new experience. I've never been to a radio station before, let alone been interviewed. Today both happened, I was very excited and really quite nervous. I was interviewed by the delightful Liz Rhodes at BBC Radio Cambridge about the challenge - what lovely people at the radio station. The young lady on the reception desk had such a beaming smile, it calmed me no-end. However, I was so anxious on the way I went the wrong way up the M11 (towards London I hasten to add as opposed to the wrong carriageway!) , hope some-one else will be navigating in the Pyrenees!

Over breakfast I was chatting to my daughter about the radio interview and that I didn't know what to wear. "Mummy, you'll be on the radio, it doesn't matter what you wear no-one will see you". Oh the simplicity of youth, wise words on young shoulders!

That said, it did matter of course.....for me anyway......

An epiphany!

Had my first training session today with Donna Gray -well what a difference a day makes! In this case just a few hours.

I think Donna and Martin (of Torque Racing) became quite aware of my novice level when I announced that I generally get the bike off the gravel in the drive before I start it (loose surface). I didn't quite kangaroo off but it wasn't smooth shall we say.

We covered body positioning, where on the saddle, arms are in a completely different position to that which I've honed over the years on a horse. Some new neural pathways to be crafted there then. Whilst I was warming up - me and the bike! I spotted Donna and Martin put some stakes in the ground - they seemed very close. Currently I'm a biker of the wide space, very wide space variety.....eek!

After some top tuition; turning, where to put ones weight and feet, one very important lesson to always cover the clutch - something for some reason that had passed me by. It will get me out of trouble if I need it - so that lesson is firmly stuck! Lots of loops and turns and then adding standing up on the pegs on the long sides, braking, - hit the back brake and the peg together at one point and nearly catapulted myself. Use of the clutch, feathering the clutch - that was such an epiphany from a control perpsective! Brilliant.

My little bike even had a lean on around the turns - that's a first, me having a security blanket thing of being upright!

Donna also taught me how to pick up the bike when you've dropped it - something I do quite a bit. There's a technique to it - it's good - and I almost managed it on my own. Plan B of course is that you could wait until someone comes along to help - hmm quite like plan B.

From a sartorial perspective - didn't have my body armour on properly! That's now sorted and much more comfortable.

I have lots of homework and practice to do, all now written in a diary. However, Martin of Torque Racing who does all things marvelous with regards to bike tuning and prep has taken the bike away for a bit of attention. So for a few days at least, I have no homework, however I think I may well have one or two aches!!

Every journey starts with a first step and I've a very long way to go however with Donna and Martin's support and encouragement, my confidence at least is in a very different place to where it was first thing. I even had a sneaky thought about the Dakar at some distant misty point in the future (very small, tiny thought..... on some nice some grass in Hertfordshire!).