Saturday, 15 August 2009

BALLOONS!

I still don't know exactly what I'm going to do on the plinth. I have missed phone calls from both cancer research and One and Other but I'm sure I will catch up with both soon.
I do know that I want to act my shoe size not my age! I want to be surrounded by balloons. I'm hoping I can get some cancer research balloons to give away from the plinth.
Having decided on balloons and mentioning this on twitter @mykitchenstore recommended that I follow @balloonbaboon and so I did. I checked out the website and was very impressed with their balloon gifts. The more I thought about it the more I wanted something like that on the plinth with me.Several direct messages followed and then emails as 140 characters weren't really enough!
Julie from balloonbaboon and I put thinking caps together and came up with an idea for a display. Its not going to be big but will sit on the plinth with me. It will involve a sleeping fairy,a candle and a heart and ribbons. In my mind it represents a candle in memory of my mum and others who have died from cancer,a fairy looking after those suffering and the heart for all who need support. I'm not sure everybody will understand and I'm not sure they have to. I know how much I miss my mum and how this means something to me and I guess that's what really counts. I think others affected by this horrible disease will see something in it to.
Balloons wont be my only childish behaviour. I need to get the balance right between serious message and childish behaviour and I'm working on that in my mind. I know that twitter will also be on the plinth with me.
I don't have a phone so I can't do my follow fridays the proper twitter way so instead I plan on writing my follow fridays on a flip chart of sorts and hold this up to the camera. Hopefully those viewing on the website can then follow my recommendations on twitter. I will have a flask of tea and home made biscuits and cakes with me too. Those who follow me on twitter already know how much those items represent me! I will go bare foot as I can never find my shoes and I may well have my keys on a chain around my neck. Again my twitter followers will understand!

I don't think a day goes by without thinking about the plinth and my plans are being revised on a daily basis but these are things I have pretty much confirmed in my head. I hope you will watch me on the plinth and also sponsor me in aid of cancer research.

Tuesday, 11 August 2009

What Happened Next

Before I knew what I was doing I had registered to go on the plinth. My twitter friends and I continued to watch and make comments on those participating. We made fun of the girls wearing skirts, commented on the boring people and moaned at those whose voices irritated us.
I joked that when I got on the plinth I would hide under a blanket and jump out and shout boo. I said I would take a water pistol and squirt everybody walking past. I joked about doing an Ann Summers demo.
1st August came and I heard nothing. I assumed I didnt have a space. Then on 5th August the email arrived saying I had been unsuccessful. I breathed a sigh of relief and continued teasing those on the plinth. The following morning I got up ready to drive to London to a funeral but checked my emails first. To my astonishment there was an email telling me I had a place on the plinth on 11th September 1500-1600hrs. Well I screamed and started shouting "Oh My God" over and over. My 4 children came running to find out what was wrong.
When I told them there was laughter and giggling. I phoned my husband at work and told him. He asked if I had accepted the place and I said not yet. "What are you waiting for" was the reply. I took that to be approval and sat down to accept.
By now it was gone 8am and we had to be on the road by 8.30. I pressed accept and started filling in the forms. There was no time to really think what I was saying - I just typed. I knew instantly that my time on the plinth would be dedicated to my mum who died of cancer 15 years ago and I knew also that twitter would be blamed.
I submitted my form and let everybody on twitter know. There was no time to talk as I had to travel to London to a funeral. The children and I travelled up talking about the plinth all the way. Silences were filled with the occasional "Oh My God" from me and an accidental foot on the accelerator as I bounced in the seat. The funeral itself bought me back to earth and no more plinth planning took place until the following day.
The word was spread around my twitter friends and time and time again I was asked what I would do on the plinth. My answer was always the same "I don't know" I want to do my twitter follow Fridays from the plinth and I want to support cancer research but how is still a mystery to me. I sent a tweet to cancer research UK and they sent me the contact details for somebody who would like to talk plinth with me but as yet I have heard nothing from them. I have set up a just giving site so people can sponsor me on the plinth too. The site is www.justgiving.com/penny-nash and all donations are welcome.
When I know what I am going to do I will let you know!

The Plinth!

Twitter made me do it! I didn't mean to register for a place on the plinth. I was egged on by my twitter friends. I hadnt even heard about the plinth until then!