January 29th 2011

First, a bit of great news. The Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral have given the final go-ahead to the 'Went the Day Well' Anthem which means that Ben Parry has started composing. This fills me with a sense of great excitement but, at the same time, panic because it means that Alex and I really have to get going on the publicity front so that as many people as possible know about it. I know that it is going to be a wonderful piece of music and I cannot wait to hear it for the first time, but I so want to make sure that everybody else gets to listen to it as well. So please make sure you tell everybody about it.

Just imagine: complete silence; anticipation; vaulted ceilings; then the first simple melodic phrase of the organ; the whisper of an accompanying solo French horn (that will be me!); the brilliant, crystal clear, first note from a treble soloist introducing the haunting question, 'Went the Day Well?'; and answering chorister voices in perfect unison. Is that how it will sound? I don't know but I am really looking forward to finding out.

What else has happened since my last blog? We have had a couple more written articles entitled, 'Went the Day Well?': one from my Granny who has written a fantastic piece about a day she went to see the ballet during the war; and another, only posted yesterday, from Alex's Grandfather about a perfect day on the edge of Exmoor. We are trying hard to get more contributions to this part of our website; I cannot help but get excited about it as I know that people would love to write about a day that meant something to them and share it with everyone if only they knew where to send it! Look no further. Let everyone know that this is where they must come.

I am looking forward to today. The Ealing Youth Orchestra are playing this evening at St. Paul's School in Barnes and we have a fantastic programme including the Planets. It is going to be great!

If Jono can put a few photos of himself next to his blog I am going to do the same!

January 23rd 2011

After a strenuous revision-filled month followed by an even worse exam-packed fortnight (topped off by a wonderful whole-of-Saturday celebratory hangover), I thought that it was finally time to introduce myself to you all. I am Tom’s big brother, and my role in this money raising venture for Help for Heroes is modest compared to the other two. They will be getting up early every weekend to cycle for miles on dark, cold winter mornings whilst I do practically nothing, other than contribute an occasional blog (if time allows during a busy university timetable), until summer when I will eventually be called upon to drive slowly behind them on their journey, take the occasional photo and eat maltesers to keep my strength up.

I see that Tom has suggested in his blog of 17th December 2010 that my contribution to the actual trip might be a little more arduous.  I think not!  I might just about be able to manage a daily blog but a daily massage is out.  He also told me the other day that the rubbing of chamois butter into his and Alex’s cycling shorts will also be a daily requirement! ‘Is that some sort of joke?’ I said.  ‘No, I’m being perfectly serious, it’s called Nubutte’, came his straight-faced reply.  I have looked it up on the internet since.... he is not joking.  Somebody with a big sense of humour came up with that name.

I’m going to stop there for today and leave that fact for all you non-cyclists to think about whilst I go and do university student things.

Thank you to all of you who have donated so far.  It is relatively early days and the response from family and friends has been marvellous but we need more people to take an interest in Tom and Alex’s efforts.  Please let your friends know about us and direct them to this site and all its pages.  Remember that there is not just this fantastic blog but also the ‘Went the Day Well?’ stories and news of the ‘Went the Day Well Anthem being composed by Ben Parry for the Choristers of St. Paul’s Cathedral!

January 18th 2011

Hello all.  This is, as you keen blog readers will know, my first post on the website and so the first matter to attend to is thanking Tom for the diligence displayed in keeping you all up to date with the goings on in the Went the Day Well world.
 
The second thank you of the day must go out to everybody who has donated so far; we are now around 5% of the way to the target.  Good Effort.  We do, however, still have a long way to go so any donations are still much appreciated.

Training for the cycle ride continues to be tough and although the feeling of warmth has faded from my memory it continues to be fun.  If any of you live in the South-West of London then you may see us blasting around Richmond Park in our Help for Heroes cycling jerseys.  If you do cheer us on – we most probably need it!

Alex’s Great Big Interesting Fact – 1

The oldest known goldfish lived to 41 years of age. His name was Fred.

January 9th 2011

I am sorry about the silence but all that holiday homework that I meant to do before Christmas - but didn't - required my attention.

Firstly, thank you so much to everyone who has donated to Help for Heroes via our JustGiving page; we are, at the time of writing, up to 5% of the £50,000 that we have set as our target which is fantastic.

Secondly, a big thank you to Mr. Bill Sharrock, an old school teacher of Alex and mine, who has contributed a fantastic 'Went the Day Well?' story called 'The Winger'. Those of you who have not already read it, please press on the WENT THE DAY WELL button now.

We have written a lot of letters to local businesses over the Christmas break asking for their support. If you are one of them, and are looking at this site now trying to make up your mind, please say yes!

By the way, as I have said before, it won't just be me contributing to this blog. Alex is now back from holiday and will be writing soon. My brother Jono, who will be providing vehicle support during the cycle ride, has just returned to University but has promised that he will send me a blog entry to put on the site as soon as his start-of-term exams have finished. Don't hold your breath!

I apologise about the picture today but I could not resist taking it!

January 2nd 2011

Well I have just about recovered as you can tell from the photo. I hope that your New Year celebrations were as good as mine.

I wanted to let you all know about a new addition to our website. Alex and I thought that it would be great if we were able to get some people to write a short (less than 1000 words) article entitled: 'Went the Day Well?' in which they describe a factual or fictional event which either did or did not 'go well'. We have invited several well-known individuals in the arts and media world to contribute (no names yet so as not to embarrass them) and will let you know if they agree to do so. My Dad has very kindly started things off and has written a very moving piece about my granny (his mum) who has unfortunately recently been diagnosed with leukaemia. Please click on this link or on the WENT THE DAY WELL button above to read it.

January 1st 2011

Happy New Year!

That is all I can manage for the moment.