7802/20743
The 2am spew seemed to sort me out. I was worried I had a bug or the vomit would return, but whatever had been expunged had done the trick. I hadn't slept well, so took it easy and went back to bed at lunchtime, but aside from stomach acid having burned my throat I was in OK shape.
And my one box of Can I Have My Ball Back programmes arrived - the programme is going to be a download this tour, but a few of you got special printed editions - but I have only printed 200 this time and about 70 are gone now - so I will try to make as much money for Movember as I can with the rest (see bottom of the blog for deets of the first few).
Of the 63 people who had donated enough to get the special signed and numbered edition of the programme, a good chunk of them had not fulfilled the necessary requirements to get a programme. Three people had donated anonymously (more than that had done so, but I managed to track down the others) - so if you're one of those and want your programme, drop me an email - and maybe 25 others hadn't given me an address or included their email. I managed to track ten or so down by checking old emails, but there are still about 14 programmes without an address, so if you're one of those, get in touch. This will hopefully be a collectors' item so don't miss out if you are owed a programme.
It was a nice little afternoon of detective work to keep me occupied and it was fun to be sending out programmes to some familiar names - as I've done the same thing for almost every solo tour I've ever done
There were 4 programmes that have already gone out of the country (Croatia, Netherlands, Canada and America - and there's another going to Germany) and it seems that Glasgow is the most generous city - a good few donations came from there - probably due to my Scotch heritage. Thanks to everyone who donated - you should all have a digital copy of the programme (if you gave me your email address).
There was some drama at the Post Office as the least experienced staff member was holding fort alone and I turned up just as there was an influx of workmen getting beer for their Friday night. I had put regular stamps on half the packages and they needed to be large letter, but the cashier didn't know what to do, but we sorted out the foreign ones and I got stamps for the ones that didn't have any stamps on. In her panic the lady gave me 8 more stamps than I'd asked for and I only realised as I put them all on the letters and had too many left. I could have walked away a wealthy man, but I didn't want to create another Horizon crisis and I couldn't do that to our lovely local shop. So I was a hero and returned them.
I am not always so moral of course, usually aiming for amoral, but she was deeply relieved.
The postman arrived just as I was about to put the ones I had in the post box. I was nervous about that after the kerfuffle I caused in Shepherd's Bush, filling up all the post boxes with Emergency Questions books (
see Oh Frig I'm 50 for that story - watch for free on that link), so was glad just to be able to deposit my packaged balls into his sack.
Anyway if you paid for a programme and I've got your address, they should be in the post
If you were too late to get a programme, but would like one, then I am going to give the next fifty to the next fifty people
to donate £30 or more here (I will sign them too) and then - and this is important, email your address to
herring1967@gmail.com so I can post it to you. IT's NOT ENOUGH TO PUT IT IN THE JUSTGIVING PAGE- I CAN'T SEE IT THERE. YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS! I will send anywhere in the world. I will still have programmes left after this, but they will be more expensive. All the money goes to Movember, so it's a great cause and your programme will be worth millions within months - not guaranteed, but probably more than £30 - not guaranteed.
