Thankful Thursday #16

Today I have realised how many pointless things that I buy and how I'm not thinking much about what I spend my money on. For example, last night I spontaneously bought a shirt from Urban Outfitters (which is uncommon for me to buy from as it's so pricey) without really thinking about it much. I liked the shirt, but it's just another item of clothing that would someday end up at the back of my wardrobe. Thankfully, my order was cancelled for some reason (which I don't really care why) and my card hasn't been charged. After thinking about it, I'm going to spend that money on sponsoring a child in a third-world country instead. I feel that this is an extremely positive way to be spending my money instead of pointlessly throwing it about on expensive clothing, as someone will be greatly benefitting from it and I will be helping to improve someone else's life. Just a thought.

This week I am thankful for:

- Being alive

- Booking my ticket to see Macbeth for the first time! It's one of those Shakespeare plays I have been dying to see for ages, so I'm so thankful that it's being performed in Birmingham.

- Going out for small meals with my Grandma occasionally each week

- Discussing with my parents about the skydive that I'm planning to do for Chennai Challenge. Fingers crossed it'll be happening, but I don't blame them for being hesitant. Jumping out of a helicopter 10,000 feet above the ground is kind of a big thing.

- Beginning BSL classes yesterday with Elizabeth and now knowing how to fingerspell the alphabet. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to stop. 

- Somewhat beginning to be a little more organised.

Coming back to school this week has been lovely as it's always nice to catch up with people I haven't seen for a week and it's always surprising to find out how much has happened within a week. As it's Lent coming up soon, I've been thinking a little about the things I should be giving up. I'm swinging towards the classic chocolate, crisps and McDonald's idea as I quite frankly have too much of those in my life and I could definitely do with giving them up over Lent as it'll be both challenging but rewarding. 

So that's that. I just had a terrifying moment where I thought I clicked "Cancel" instead of "Done," so I guess I'm thankful I clicked "Done" instead. What are you thankful for this week?

On a final note, here's two TOTALLY arty shots I took with my iPhone of the Chennai Challenge wristbands I have been selling recently for £1 each. You should totally buy one if you see me around. Au revoir. 

ADDED: I completely forgot about this. I am thankful of Callum Steventon buying a Chennai Challenge wristband. That's correct, ladies and gentlemen, our dear Callum has stopped being rather self-absorbed and has actually donated to charity. I think this deserves a round of applause. *vigorous cheers from a stadium filled with twenty thousand people with a cheerleader celebration in the centre of the pitch.* Happy now? 

Thankful Thursday #15 (even though it's Saturday)

I said to myself many times on Thursday that I would write this post but of course,

I kept forgetting. So you're getting this post on a Saturday instead. Wowee.

This week I am thankful for:

- Yankee Candles

- Raising £200 for Chennai Challenge within a week

- My Grandmothers for helping me so much with my fundraising

- My new map arriving

- Shopping trips to Birmingham with Matt

- Finding a hole puncher in a drawer I never venture in (I'm always in need of a holepuncher for school and now I finally have one- HURRAY).

- Buying a fresh new pair of Docs and a pinafore (yes, I spent much more than I should have done but let's not talk about that).

- Megan buying me a Mary money bank!

- Settling into work really well; I'm really starting to enjoy working there.

- Finally watching episode one and two of My Mad Fat Diary and loving it.

This week has been EVENTFUL. I'm on quite a low at the moment but I'm trying to think as positively as I can. My fundraising is going spendidly which is brilliant but quite a fair few things are getting me down at the moment which is a shame. On the bright side of things, I have a wonderful family and friends that are supporting me and helping me a lot who I am eternally grateful for. 

I didn't get Lady GaGa tickets but I'm off to see God of Carnage at the Lichfield Garrick tonight. Very exciting times.

Cake Sale for Chennai Challenge - February Fundraising!

My grandmother invited me along to her little club that she attends each Wednesday with her friends to deliver a small talk about Chennai Challenge and to hold a little cake sale! 

Myself and Elizabeth attempted to make some cakes yesterday morning and besides tasting delightful, the presentation of them was slightly incredibly disappointing.

It's supposed to be a smiley face. Gosh.

Thankfully, my mother made plenty of beautiful cakes for me to also sell and they all went down a treat (yes, even the ones me and Elizabeth made). I made a total of £37.00 (within half an hour!) which is absolutely brilliant. I'm also selling Chennai Challenge wristbands for £1 each and they're going very successfully; I've already sold 60 out of 300 within five days!

Fundraising is going splendidly, but I've still got far to go! 

Remember that you can donate online via justgiving!

www.justgiving.com/Frances-Corbett

You can also now donate over text by sending FRAC64 with the amount to 70070.

Visit the Chennai Challenge website by clicking the logo above.

Thankful Thursday #14

Ooh lah lah. It's my fourteenth thankful Thursday and it's the fourteenth of February tomorrow which means VALENTINE'S DAY.

This week I am thankful for:

- My family contributing so much in my fundraising for Chennai Challenge 2014

- Finally sorting out my work experience

- Going to see Frozen at the Birmingham REP with Olivia last Friday and ending up at some after party at the theatre

- My new tartan jeans

- A new hat (which I literally can't take off)

- LUSH Body Wash

- FINALLY HAVING A BOOK SHELF!

- Mock performance of The Golden Goose at the Lichfield Garrick going splendidly 

- Free lessons which are spent doing nothing (it's bad, I know)

- Spending the night in with Lewis tomorrow

- The wonderful drawing Nola created of me

Things are stiiiiiiill going brilliantly and I could not be happier. I've had another busy week. Perhaps I'll buy some Lady GaGa tickets tomorrow.

Ah, life. 

Chennai Challenge - JustGiving

Just a quick post to let y'all now that I have now set up a JustGiving page for my fundraising for India. The donations are super secure and go straight to the charity; it's 100% trustworthy and safe. I've already raised 5% of my total amount in only a few hours which is so wonderful!

Sponsors for my skydive can also be made here.

 Every donation will be fully appreciated; no matter how big or small.
You can visit my JustGiving page by clicking on the Chennai Challenge logo underneath.

Thanks!

www.justgiving.com/Frances-Corbett

Thankful Thursday #13

IT'S THE FIRST THANKFUL THURSDAY OF 2014 (for me, at least)!

I have MANY things to be thankful for at the moment:

- I am now working part time at a cafe!

- Issue #1 of Harley Quinn

- Seeing Dealer's Choice at the Crescent Theatre Tuesday evening

- Getting good grades in my mocks

- New episodes of Kill La Kill and American Horror Story

- Sorting out a sign language course with Elizabeth

- Planning all my fundraising and my skydive

- PARTY FRIDAY (tomorrow)

- Old, blank tatty books from Camden

- Visiting the Wellcome Collection

The last two weeks have been fantastic. I've done so much and things are continuing to go really well at the moment. I would not change one single thing. 

Maybe I'd ask for no English essays though. I'm sure that would be very pleasant.

Here's an old photo from one of my first trips to London in 2012. You're welcome.

Chennai Challenge Meeting #1

Last Saturday, myself, Sarah, Mary and Chloe trekked on over to London for our first meeting for this year's Chennai Challenge. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I am very excited about this and was sincerely looking forward to the day. 

Our meeting was held at the Young Vic (where I'll hopefully be seeing A Streetcar Named Desire later in the year) and here we met the rest of our group who we'll be heading over to India with. There was a grand total of thirteen of us and everyone was very friendly and motivated for the project. It was great hearing from people who had already been before and helped explain their views on what it would be like for us when we go over. 

We had an introduction from Emma and Rob (our project leaders) and some background information about Chennai Challenge, what they have previously achieved and what they keep striving towards. We go over to India for up to three weeks, helping at the YMCA orphanage in Chennai with after school sessions and then also take them on a holiday up to Yellagiri where we give them a fun week of activities. The Blue Edge aspect of the project also sounds very interesting; helping and teaching young adults English. 

We then discussed our expectations of the project and what we think it would be like over in Chennai. As I haven't been to India before, I'm completely clueless as to what it would actually be like. From what I've heard, I'm assuming it will be loud, busy, colourful and eye-opening. 

Mary gave us a song (which is not surprising) which is going to be perfect for when we're over there. Many people said that the crazier you are, the more the kids love you and enjoy themselves. This should be a lot of fun and shouldn't be too embarrassing seeing as everyone will be in it together!

The discussion of fundraising also came up and we discussed various methods of raising money. Someone suggested to me on a train journey not long ago that I hold a variety show evening at a local theatre (possibly my school's). Isaac told us that we should focus on doing as less as possible, for example it may cost us a lot of money to rent out the theatre and then possibly not many people would turn up, causing there to be no profit! We're going to aim on breaking up our fundraising into chunks, doing little parts at a time. Mary, Chloe, Sarah and I are thinking of buying some wristbands to sell for Chennai; helping everyone get something in return for their money! We're going to get on this as soon as possible as we don't want to leave the fundraising until it's too late. 

After Emma's Thought for the Day (which is something we will be doing each day in Chennai), the meeting finally ended and I had a true sense of who I will be working with and what I will expect in the summer. After seeing many video clips and hearing many stories from people who have been previously, I know that I have everything to love forward to. Hopefully this will be a large eye-opener and will give me a different perspective on life as I currently know it.

For the rest of my day in London (as I didn't want to go home straight away, I mean it's LONDON), I visited the Wellcome Collection and then went for dinner at a fish and chip shop in Camden. The day was extremely busy, but terribly worth it.

Here's a few picture's from the day:

After ANOTHER £22.90 train ticket  (I never have any luck with trains) and a #yolo henna pattern on my wrist, I finally made it back to Birmingham successfully. I feel that I'm in London so much; time for an Oyster card. 

"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Ghandi