The Final Despatch for 2012

Well Monday was THE final day. The day the lorry came and was packed up by our trusty volunteers ready to start its journey to Bosnia. However, first we had more shoeboxes, Ellie and Steve arrived with even more. They have collected so many over the three weeks and you can see the delight on people's faces as they hand their precious shoeboxes over.

 Ellie and Steve on their collections.

Poor Carolyn sadly could not make it, as she was still unwell which is a shame with this being her last year heading up the GU operation. After her trip to New Zealand next year she will no doubt be back to be part of the team. Heather claims she can't swim but with Carolyn's absence this year she was truly thrown in at the deep end in taking on one of the key roles. She kept afloat admirably. 

Heather 

STOP PRESS Honeymoon in Bosnia, yes this bride and groom were found all cosy in a shoebox. Today they leave to go on their journey together, it can therefore only be their honeymoon. Whether they were put there or are stowaways we wish them well for their future lives together in their new home. 

So the lorry arrives and with so many helpers it took only an hour to load up and in our usual fashion it is packed so that not even a cigarette paper can be put between the cartons. How many cartons you may ask? ...... 1013 which equates to 10,314 shoeboxes to be added to our earlier consignment which is making its way to Kyrgyzstan as I write. No wonder we are proud of ourselves. 

Every year we have a collection of goodies for our driver who is normally from Eastern Europe. This year was no exception and we managed with everyone's generosity to have, not one, but two boxes for him, ranging from baked beans to luxury chocolate biscuits, Being quite young (his own words) too young he thought to be married, he didn't have a wife and children to take the goodies back to. We are sure he will share with his family as there is so much there. 

POSTSCRIPT: Hot off the press! One of our volunteers, Malcolm Gates, is featured in this week's Alton Herald after he make a shoebox collection from Andrews Endowed School in Holybourne, where he was a pupil many years ago.

Thank you to everyone who took part this year, gave their time and effort to support such a worthwhile cause. See you all next year!

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