The Psychology of Giving.....

It's apparently true that Men who give generously are more likely to have a rewarding sex life.  A fact well demonstrated by the Chimpanzee.  In a study of Chimpanzees it was apparent that those which gave freely, in either food or attention were rewarded with higher status in the group, and sexual favours. 

So, armed with this, I have quickly studied my friends list on FB and I have discovered that I have 67 male friends who are clearly missing out, and only 5 who are living up to their potential?

Now I'm not suggesting that you either;

a - wander over with some fresh fruit, and a hair brush, expecting to check me for nits!

b - wander over with a wicked grin on your face expecting some sexual favours! or

c - wander over with a copy of animal farm, and a video camera!!

It is the art of giving, which on it's own makes you immediately more attractive to a partner, who will see in you someone caring, thoughtful, unselfish...all qualities likely to engage a partner, and persuade them to perform gymnastics in your bushes to ensure that it is their branch you hang on to.

This is easily corrected of course.... click the link, donate a £tenner & watch your sex life blossom as you shake the receipt at your beloved.  www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

Which way is the wind....?

Well, that was the question....Not that it was blowing a gale, it was a beautiful day.  Twice now, I've been to the Malverns and I have to say I'm quite falling in love with them. 

So, anyway, I looked at the Sun....above, but just to my right...so its heading West, the time is about 1:30pm.  The wind is coming over our left shoulder, and I confidently announce it's coming from the North East!....Really?...you got that from checking where the sun was?  I would have checked where the M40 is?

Laugh...absolutely....but I often do that with her.  She is so fantastically daft, and stubborn you have to laugh. 

Of course it's self indulgent, but in this blog I thought I would share another of the very important reasons I have chosen to forgo chocolate, pizza, chinese takeaways, Guinness (you'll like this link :-) )....the list is endless, and instead to punish myself with healthy living, exercise, and HILLS!! 

There is an inspiration in my life who I now have the pleasure of watching daily as she works herself far too hard....she's completely unaware of just how fantastic she is, but I've seen it most with how she deals with Sam....who, by the way can now spell 4 letter words ending in "CK" with some talent, and will be taking his first Judo grading belt in January...this despite his tutor telling her in May that perhaps he would be better doing something different, something easier, something he could manage?...hmm big mistake... of course I'm writing about Liz....and you should get to know her!

If there is one thing I have learned, it is do not, I mean, do NOT tell Liz that there is anything that Sam cannot learn to do for himself.  Independence has many forms, but being able to shower himself, ride to school on his own, go to the corner shop and bring green topped milk are measures of just how far Sam has come.  There are so many people involved in this achievement, not least Sam's SET, but it is Liz who I watch, joyful when Sam spells "sock" correctly, or when he counts the numbers in 10's from 10 to 70.  

When he writes his own name, or reads a new word it's Christmas every day in this house.   Liz is absolutely amazing with all the kids. Stories have to be read, homework HAS to be done, (even if it sometimes takes 2 hours to write 10 words) and above all....Sam will do this, he CAN do this....it is the achievement I think that spurs her on.  Not her's, his!!  

When I first met Liz, Sam was diagnosed as severely autistic, now it's moderate!!  That's her Kilimanjaro right there!  Liz has climbed it, and she continues to climb it!!   That's why I'm climbing it in March 2011. 

Like Liz, Autism Concern dedicate every waking hour to helping children, or adults come to terms with their autism, and help them lead absolutely the best life that they can lead.  Independence comes in many forms, we are all unique, but some are more unique than others.....please sponsor me generously :-)

Ernie....who Els

Sometimes life throws you up the most wonderful surprise.  Ernie Els, twice winner of the US Open Golf Championship (1994 & 1997) ,  Winner of the British Open in 2002 and three times winner of the World Matchplay Championship has offered to support my fundraising with a fantastic donation, which I will be auctioning soon. 

Ernie, known in the game as the Big Easy has been one of the world's greatest golfers for over 20 years.  In 2008 Ernie's own son Ben was diagnosed with Autism, and since that time he has been dedicated to helping with fundraising support for Autism Charities.   Chuffed to bits only begins to describe how I feel.  

I grew up watching Ernie...not the fastest milkman in the west, but the greatest golfer between 1997 & 1998.  Ernie Video  <<<<<  please follow this link

If you want to get ahead, get a head......

My Auction for the weekend tickets at Silverstone, donated by the British Racing Driver's Club was a great success and I'm delighted that they have helped raise £84 towards my target of £3000 for Autism Concern. Hopefully, I will be able to twist the arms of a few more marketing directors to contribute more prizes as the next few months go by.

It's been a busy week and Mr Wii is not happy with me at all, as my training quota for the week has been just a little over nil, unless you can include 10pin bowling, and a drive to Truro & back as exercise.  Still, it could have been worse, I avoided the "so why do you think you put on weight" question, merely standing still at my now fighting weight of 12st 12.  It's very symetrical, so I'm quite pleased with it, but I know that I need to get back in the gym this week. 

Anyway, if you want to get ahead, get a head!!  So I did...courtesy of my talented sister in law.  Now I'm not really sure what to do with it.  Actually there were 5 of them lined up on her kitchen counter, scared the living daylights out of me, and I only went to put the kettle on.   

Check her out she's good !! http://www.helenbutton.com/ 

They're for an exhibition, she says....at least 3 of them were, so I decided I would nick one and try & make a little contribution to my fundraising.    Sceptical, Helen thinks I will never find a home for this.....help me prove her wrong.  If you like it, or if you have some ideas about how it could be used, leave me a comment.  If you want it?  Even better....This is an original art sculpture from the best ceramics artist I know....ok, so a little bias there....but if you want it £50 in my donations pot and it's yours. 1st come 1st served!! 

If you're close enough I'll deliver...if you happen to be the owner of a Moscow Art Gallery?  I'll deliver too :-)

Hey ho....Kilimanjaro still waits...

A Weekend of two halfs....

And so it was, that on Saturday, Liz & I joined a strange cult...it's called Champney's where people wander amongst you in just a brilliant white gown, bare-footed, often, except where health & safety won't allow.  Like rabbits trawling the halls, brilliantly white, with exaggerated tails, letting the lush carpet tickle your feet.  It's not grass, but a blue deep pile, Some choose to just lounge on one of many settees, quietly enjoying the mini heaven.   People whisper, not to be heard, and just occasionally, someone breaks free...dons a new uniform, made of lycra and heads off to another room, where you work!! On treadmills, bikes, step machines, and the biggest beach balls I've ever seen.  It felt earily like a scene from Blade Runner....only without Arnie. 

Anyway, it wasn't long before we were called to our preparation room...."take off the robe, I'm going to smother you in butter" she said...it sounded fair enough, so I complied..Basted like a chicken, and covered in foil, I cooked slowly for 30 minutes, while having my temples felt.

"Did you enjoy that?" said Liz....also removed early from the oven....I did, but I really don't think I'll cook in just 30 minutes, not even in a microwave, and not even though Mr Wii is now reporting I'm 15lbs lighter than I was on July 27th!!

Well, I'm off for some more, and so she went....meanwhile I was called to the labour room.  No...not that labour room fgs??  The HARD labour room, and my carriage awaited....for the second time in my life I "enjoyed" spinning!!  45 minutes like a gerbil on a wheel, only sweating profusely, and trying hard to keep up with my lycra mistress....anyway, I'm still not convinced by spinning, but it did leave me with legs that for 10 minutes were just an imagination...I was walking on jello (oh, a chance to play that clip again, for those of you that missed it)....just click the work jello & all will be clear.

Meanwhile, Liz was being pampered...she had risen up the ranks of the warren, deserving of special status where glamourous fingers would rub enriching gels all over her....phew....so that was Saturday....

Sunday, was a different matter....just a few friends had invited me to come & do some training, while helping them raise some money for Cancer Research...and so it was, that for the 2nd time in a Month I was climbing Snowdon. 

Not that Charlie minded....this time we headed off up the Llanberis path, 9 miles apparently around....4.5 of them are easy...4.5 of them are hell!!   Coming down is hell....it's a loose path, and my knees now feel like that of a 43 year old!!  (Oh?  They are those of a 43 year old?) 

We did see a little more of the train than the last time, as the Llanberis path crosses the line twice on the way up.  Not quite the tranquility of Saturday, but it was good to catch up with some old friends, and share their first experience up this particular hill.  Congratulations Phil & Claire, and well done with your fundraising.

3 weekends time til Ben Nevis....it would be great to see you there!! 

Of course this week has been a fantastic one for my fundraising....Silverstone Race Track, and the British Racing Driver's Club have helped me with a donation of some tickets, for 2 adults, and up to 8 children to enjoy a weekend of racing at Silverstone in 2011.  Imagine the joy....your 13 year old son is going to have the best 13th Birthday of his life, and all because you stumped up enough to win these tickets.  You are now the proud owner of the greatest 13th Birthday present in the world.  He will thank you forever, and the 7 friends he invites will now think "You are one cool Dad!!" ..... so....Derren Brown moment over, wake up, and make a bid :-)  Click on the word "bid" to  access the auction page.

Numbers....

Some numbers are very important. Others?  Well they are just a number, unmemorable, unassociated, and unloved.   50 for example, half a century.  If you're Kevin Petersen you'd be delighted with 50, but if you were born in October 1960, you're probably dreading it. 

100  wow...get your letter from the Queen, or a standing ovation at Lords!

17 - learn to drive...(well, actually 20 in my case),  18 you can vote!! 

1953, the Queen's coronation, Roger Banister breaks the 4 minute mile and Edmond Hillary conquers Everest....important, and memorable!  Well tonight my number is 3.37 and 20.  (km's in 20 minutes!!) 

I'm actually amazed, 6 weeks into my training, tonight was my first run of note.  On July 27th I think I could have managed 400 meters at a push before crumpling under the pressure from heart, lungs & body to give in.  So 20 minutes at 6 minute km pace has chuffed me to bits!!  

There have been other numbers; 60 - the number of Kilometers we walked for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, in 2007.  How about 121,769 a nice big number!  This was the number of wheel turns in the 157 miles of the Coast to Coast path from Whitehaven to Sunderland.

12,000...feet, that we chucked ourselves out of a plane in March this year.

Numbers have always been important...every day, there are important one we plan for.  Birthdays, Anniversary's,  the time your alarm is set for, or the time your favourite program starts on the box. 

There are only two more numbers to mention.  The numbers I'm planning for;

£3000 - the minimum amount I would like to raise for Autism Concern.  (This is the important bit for you to help with....please follow my link & donate)

5895 meters - The height I want to be sitting at on March 25th next year.

oh....actually, there are two more numbers worth mentioning....27 - 19.  This was the score in the Northampton Saints opening game of the Rugby season, against Leicester Tigers.  Why is it important??   You'll need to keep reading...I hope I have an update to give you in the next few weeks :-)

In the mean time, please help me towards number 1 (£3000), and encourage me towards number 2, (5895 meters).   Please share my blog with your friends.  Autism Concern is hugely important for us, and for many Northamptonshire families, so your help is invaluable.