In July of this year I will be walking the 84 mile long Hadrian’s Wall footpath. I am doing this in aid of The Joseph Salmon Trust, a charity that provides financial support to parents who have lost a child. This might be help with things like funeral costs for those struggling to afford them, or to allow the self employed to take time off in order to grieve.
Over the next nine posts I will be showcasing the bloggers that will be hiking the trail with me.
Clair
Clair writes over at Moon in the Gutter, and before that she blogged at Sad Sweet Songs. And if you can show me two better names for blogs than that then I’d like to see them.
I’m not entirely sure how Clair and I first became aware of each other, but I suspect it was because we’re both readers of the rather excellent Becky’s T-blog (probably he finest British transvestite blog in the world. Who said blogging wasn’t diverse).
Clair is a comedy geek. A serious comedy geek. She has a passion for the Goodies and for I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue that puts my own fandom to shame. She’s also seen comedians live that I’d give my left arm to see (give my left arm to, but not travel down to London for apparently). She’s even seen Daniel Kitson who is on my all time wish list.
And of course she’s been one of the superstar DJs on my kids podcasts (and has also contributed to episode 2, which will air as soon as I get my arse in gear to put it together)
She also takes damn good photos.
Dad Who Writes
What can I say about Dad Who Writes that adequately sums up my feelings towards him? Ah yes, I know…
Dad Who Writes for President of the Internet!
Intelligent, knowledgeable, fascinating, cultured, and honest. What’s not to like about this man? Sure, some of his posts might go over my head on occasion (he blogs about Dante’s Inferno for gods sake. I blog about my top ten superheros), but he never fails in having something interesting to say.
I find him most interesting however when he talks about the anthropology of blogging, especially after the periodic storms in teacups that the community seems to go through at regular intervals. He is able to be simultaneously diplomatic, independent, insightful, and spot on the mark. Pretty impressive stuff.
He’s also a damn good photographer, although hasn’t posted anything like that up for a while (if at all now I come to think of it. I may have only seen his stuff on flickr). In fact so far every blogger I’ve featured here has an interest in photography. At this rate there is going to be a pretty impressive photo album of the walk.
But above all, Dad Who Writes comes across as an honest man writing about fatherhood. He doesn’t only report the sugary stuff, nor does he preach about the way he thinks others should do it. He just talks openly about the struggles of parenting that we all go through every day.
If you would like to learn more about the Hadrian’s Walk then you can visit our website. If you would like to donate then you can do so here.
Related posts:
Goodness you guys are nice to each other!
Hope you enjoy your trip up here – in aid of a fantastic charity by the sound of it…
Fundraiser Tip #1
Write to corporates in the area of the charity asking them to sponsor you £x amount for one mile of the walk…Then call it the (for example) Waterstone Huddersfield’s mile or the KPMG mile….and make sure you allude to it like that when you blog?…Okay its slightly selling soul but it will raise money!…
Good luck with it and do let me know if you need any more NE travel or fundraising tips!
.-= Kelly Railton´s last blog ..My first ever piece of creative writing circa 2002 =-.
@Kelly Railton, That’s a really good idea. Any suggestions on how much £x should be? I’m currently selling links on my blog in aid of the charity and always worry about pitching too high or too low.
Totally depends (I realise that doesn’t help!)…
But consider the following:
1 Are they a local branch of a very large accountancy firm for example? If so they can afford bit more….
2 Are they smaller local business or retailer?…
3 How many visitors do you get to your site if you are offering them some promotion in exchange?…And what kind of people are they (ie seems like a lot of photographers visit your site so might want to ask some retailers interested in this market for example)…
4 It can’t hurt to start high and then see what happens. Even if you ask for £500 they won’t be offended…they might just send you £50 but they won’t be offended (you could say a ‘suggested donation’ per mile of £500). And you could say if you get £1k you’ll do some PR in local press with them?…(ie give them a shopping list of options…
£1k – PR/link on blog/mention in blog
£500 – link on blog/mention in blog
£100 – mention on blog
Sorry bit of brain dump but hope that’s useful!!
Kelly
5 Companies doing well at moment – social housing contractors and providers/tech firms/cinemas etc etc…!
.-= Kelly Railton´s last blog ..My first ever piece of creative writing circa 2002 =-.
You realise I’m going to have to switch identities again now?
.-= Dad who writes´s last blog ..Me, Tori Amos and Bjork =-.
@Dad who writes, waht again? Is this an elaborate ruse to shake me off or something?
Good luck!
And, so not related to the purpose of the post, but can I just boast here that I too have seen Daniel Kitson live – twice!
@Bumbling, I’ve actually laid eyes on him a load of times as he was in the year below me at a level college and saw him wandering the corridors. But I really realy want to see him live.
The man is a comedy genius
Dan, i reckon spending a week with all these bloggers will soon revise your opinion of them. Can you do the same articles again after we’ve crossed the finish line? :)
@Craig, just be thankful I’m not writing about you.
I’m going to have to visit lots of blogs the coming weeks.
@ Craig..but..we’ll get burned!
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Micmacs à tire la larigot =-.
@Arjan, oh yes. There’s a fair few of us.