First of all, I'm sorry about the title of this post. It seemed appropriate to the content but it's really bad.I am sorry.Just not sorry enough to change it
Just 3 more days to go before it all begins & there are still countless loose ends to tie up. Least of all the flag itself! Despite the seemingly basic nature of it, it's still not ready,so didn't make it to Goodison last night. However, it simply has to be ready in time for a 'practice run' at Man City on Saturday. If its not, I've no idea what our alternative is,but we're getting used to thinking on our feet. Our budget is at pretty much bursting point,if we're to maintain that side of the challenge,& we've no fallback money in it for when things,inevitably, go pear-shaped on the continent. We've allowed for our (increasingly restricted) spending money & the tickets/travel we need to arrange whilst out there,but anything else means we lose out on this aspect. In the grand scheme of things, who cares? We're on the adventure of a lifetime,& these little challenging ground rules are only a little fun factor anyway. The main purpose now is raising the profile of the Oscar Knox Appeal & I apologise to those involved with it for not spending more time doing so at this stage. I promise that,once were on the road, its all about that. His cause is a great one so please share our story where you can, but more importantly, share the links at the bottom of this page to his blog & the justgiving links. Every little helps
On the subject of the challenge aspects,the Ryanair flights only proviso went by the wayside recently anyway, but this was a lot more important than any budgetary issues.
In the last blog, I mentioned that Jamie had received some bad news of his own.
Unfortunately, his sister-in-law lost her battle with cancer last weekend & we had to sort out some flights back to the UK for Jamie to attend the funeral. Her funeral will take place on the Thursday but due to the timing of the service,Jamie will be flying home from Paris on the Wednesday,instead of onto Barcelona with me & Deano. I'm particularly gutted for Jamie because I know the Nou Camp was the part he was looking forward to most, but he is 100% right to be there for his family,especially his brother,at this difficult time. Our thoughts will be with them all,as well as Jevs, on that day. Jamie will be rejoining us on the Friday, in Hamburg.
I'm starting to get mixed emotions with it all now. We're determined to get Oscar's flag pictured in some of the top stadia in Europe to try & promote his appeal, so there's a focus.
There's also a great deal of anxiety as to what else could possibly go wrong. I wince at every single weather forecast I'm seeing at the moment (Please, for the love of God, tell me the flooding/frost/snow couldn't possibly affect travel in & out of Newcastle?or(Ryanair) flights out of Glasgow? Paris/Barcelona/Milan are tropical hotspots this time of year, no?).
There's also a great deal of excitement seeping in now. Beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel (famous last words)
**********in this place was supposed to be a video of Everton fans singing in Amsterdam,when we were away at Alkmaar to represent football fans trying to keep warm in Holland in December, but I only had an hour to search YouTube to find a safe video with the keywords 'Everton fans Amsterdam'
I'll get back to you if I find one*******
As I said when this blog began, it's been hard work adapting to fixture changes initially, but even more so when real life gets in the way of something like this. I apologise that this blog hasn't exactly been a barrel of laughs at this point, but I promise that,from Monday night onwards,knowing these lads the way I do, it will be more interesting, & there will be a 'witty' anecdote or 2, as Jamie & Dean will be taking over the blog at some point next week, although sadly you'll now be deprived of the story of when Jamie Franklin was on the Curva Nord.I expect the climax to this tour to be nothing short of legendary to make Jamie's efforts worthwhile
Lastly, the justgiving page is up & running now,so please take a few minutes to read Oscar's blog (http://oscarknox.blogspot.com/)
& then donate to ours,(https://www.justgiving.com/7ma7ches7coun7ries7days) or Oscar's justgiving page (https://www.justgiving.com/donation/sponsor?process=1&queryId=cABhAGcAZQA9ADQAMQA1ADYAMQA4ADcA), follow the wee fella on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Wee_Oscar) & like his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OscarKnoxAppeal)
His story is truly heart-breaking, whilst his courage is truly heart-warming. For for those of you I haven't bored to death in person by bleating on about him, please read it & familiarise yourself. This is now the whole purpose of this trip, & as the banner says, if every person that reads his blog donated a pound, it could save his life. The same sentiment applies to those of you still reading this. From small acorns & all that
I will update tomorrow & there'd best be a picture on a flag. If not, expect a pic of a hastily painted bedsheet
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