FINALY HOME

Well we woke this morning, didn't get breakfast this morning. ( not as keen on these digs) We set off to the designer outlet at 10 am walked round for a while went into fox where Phil new Anna who we told of our journey and she donated money in our tin. We are just sat outside waiting for our classic cars to pick us up and take us back home properly to finish our challenge in style and hopefully see all our friends and family at the club. Sue is giving us a Sunday lunch which we are totally ready for now so really looking forward too it. We have raised £1049 on the just giving web and we know there is a couple of hundred more to add so we have completed the challenge and more than met our target.
Well back home at the club just waiting for our lovely sunday lunch Jamie bought Phil and I a pint each cheers Jamie. we arrived back in a lovely 60 year old Bentley thanks so much to chris from www.superiormotorcars.co.uk We were welcomed by our family and a few friends my daughter gave us a balloon each saying congratulations and we got a certificate from my brother inlaw Stevie c from Drystone radio where we have had various radio interviews following our progress, my Mother Inlaw Barbara gave us both a silver tankard engraved with. the Diceman challenge 2009. we have now officially completed the challenge so not only did york live up to expectations so did Escrick we have had texts and emails of support from all over the country but when it comes to our home village and City we were quite disappointed after the journey we have been on we expected a little more support from our home town and village but then again !!. A little bit of support goes a Long way, no matter where we were in the country we had people giving us support and there generosity along the way so, good to be home to see my Wife, family, Phil's family, the Richardson and a couple of friends.
anyway the next blog I will do will be all the thanks we have to do so please keep looking, the rest of the pics will be on as soon as I sort the web site out so please look, as soon as we get a final figure of what we have raised we will let you all know but we have achieved everything we wanted to and raised over £1000 which was our aim. So big thank you to everyone involved in helping and of course my wife Jayne who without her we wouldn't have been able to do what we have done

The Diceman blog starts Saturday 8th August.
12.8.9. Problems with pictures loading at moment - sorry (Jayne)

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DAY 8
We have woke up this morning about 7.30 very excited because we know we can set off home today at 12. Jayne has come up trumps again for us - she got up at 6 this morning so she could get here in time for Phil to get to work. I think Phil?s boss owes her a huge drink - because without her Phil would have really struggled to get back for this one in time. Phil doesn't want to go back to work he wants to see this through to the end but we have assured him he will do. As we said earlier Jayne is just coming to take his place - that's all, she can't drive us back in the car when Phil returns - just like when staying in York on the last destination we couldn't just go home and stay there for the night - that would have been too easy and after all this is a challenge! We are going for breakfast courtesy of Premier Inn, Sunderland West and then we will await Jayne?s arrival.
Jayne made it to us by about 9.15 and Phil set off straight away. Jayne and I walked into Sunderland City centre which was about 5 miles away. We made the station at 12.10, Jayne was happy because a lady stopped us and put some money in Jayne?s / Phil?s tin. She had a little taste of the generosity of the public. We found the station manager who directed us to the train we needed - there were several Grand Central employees stood on the platform, so I asked if any of them were going to be the train manager on the train. Simon said he would be, so we asked if we could travel on his train to York, and he said yes. So we will be home real soon, then we have completed the whole challenge and made all our destinations in good time (apart from Cornwal), but the main thing is we completed everything we needed to.
We will arrive back at the club at 12 midday on Sunday and we may even get there in style! Phil is coming over to us when he finishes work tonight, then in the morning we are going to go to the Designer Outlet to walk round there to see if we can get our tins filled up!
Jayne and I got back to York about 3pm, we had already rung quite a few hotels on the way back, but no joy at all. Nearly all the ones we tried were fully booked and the ones that weren't didn't want to know! One big one near home didn't want to help at all, even when we explained to them what we were trying to do! They had availability but again didn't want to know. Anyway we set off through the streets of York, stopping at every hotel and B&B on the way back towards Escrick. No joy at any of them! Once again a little deflated with York in general, we thought out of all places we wouldn't have a problem with York - just shows how wrong we were.
We have decided that we will spend the night at our homes but we will still work at trying to get our tea (as we are still on the challenge!) Jayne and I have now arrived back at Escrick just after 5 pm and are now waiting for Phil to finish work.

It's now 9pm and we have just had Fish & Chips courtesy of Dave & Jas at the Happy Haddock in Deighton. Lovely! Been waiting for these all week! Thanks guys!

DAY 7
Nearly there now day 7 of a 9 day blog, not feeling as energetic today probably because of the beers we got in the Speakeasy last night! Phil and I had tea at Pizza Express (thanks to Ray!) then went on YorkBoat up the river. We then went to the Speakeasy, saw the guys there, then Jayne, Sue and Roger joined us. It was so good to see them, but was so hard to leave them too. We just wanted to be staying home but we can't! Today we are going to the National Railway museum for John (at the Beatles story who gave us this destination) and said it was because he wanted to go to the railway exhibition. Then at twelve we throw the dice for our final destination decided by the dice.
Todays question to people is slightly different, we can't be too far from york as in more than 2 hours or so by car because unfortunatley Phil has a work commitment tomorow dinner time and has to be back before 12. So what's gonna happen is we will throw the dice at 12 today and wherever we get digs tonight on the way - Phil will stay. He says he's determined to make this final dice destination so fingers crossed. Jayne is then coming in the car in the morning to wherever we are and Phil will take the car back with him. Jayne will stay with me and finish the final leg of that destination then get set off back towards Escrick with me at 12 on Saturday till Phil returns later that eve. Jayne will go back home (a bit of a faf I know), Phil can't get out of the work thing, so never mind. We can work round it even though his bosses knew what he was doing and that he'd booked the time off -but never mind. We've had bigger hurdles to worry about - so up we get and on we go, first stop railway museum I think.

Change of plans, just as we were leaving the hotel I got a phone call from Howard from the Minster, who invited us there. So we went. Phil had an idea of going to the top (with our packs on!) so 300 steps later we made it! We went and met my mum and dad who got bought us breakfast, then we threw the dice at 12 just outside the fountain on Parliament Street. Jean threw the final dice for us and it came up number 2, which was Sunderland. We then went to Yorkboat to thank them, and went to the Railway Museum for John (from Beatle story in liverpool). I did another radio interview with Minster FM to announce our destination and to ask if anyone could help. We have managed to get a lift by A.B. Storeys, a haulage company from Selby - who said if we can get to the Designer Outlet for about 3pm, we have a lift to Washington. Near enough to Sunderland, so thanks to them. We were determined not to use the train today so luckily we havent.

The final destination from the dice has been completed -Sunderland! We a currently in our lovely Premier Inn room just off the A19 junction on the A1231 in Sunderland. We passed a sign on the A19 saying 'welcome to the City of Sunderland' - so we have done it! I couldn't get my phone turned on in time to take the pic so I will try and take some pics later. Thanks so much to Simon Storey for getting us here and to the Premier Inn for putting us up (much appreciated). Phil is going to spend the night here, then Jayne is going to come up in the car, so Phil can drive back. Jayne will stay with me for the journey back home - we can't leave Sunderland until 12 midday tommorow to set off home.
As we have only used 97p of our emergency rations, I was going to donate the rest (£79.03) to the charity, but as we have to get Phil back for work, we are going to fill the car with fuel, out of the £79.03. The remainder will then be put in the charity pot. As soon as Phil has finished his work, he will then find out where we are and drive back to us. Jayne will drive back home and Phil and I will finish the challenge together! I know its a faf but this is the fairest way we could think of of workin it out - as we have been on such a journey together its only right we finish it together properly!

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
It was so good to see people back home and to get comments from the blog and face book. All the way along our journey we have completed it, baring getting back home, but we are sure there won't be a problem with that. You realise after spending a week with no money, how much you value the things we have at home and being able to just go to the club for a drink or the shop for a mars bar or anything you like, and having friends you can turn to when you have a problem. I know it may seem we have had it easy, but everything we have achieved we have worked for in one way or another - whether walking the streets of London for 7 hrs solid or climbing the 300 steps of the minster fully loaded with our very heavy sacks! But the people we have met along the way have all been so fantastic, even the lady who wouldn't let us on the train at Liverpool, she was still so kind. We have had the odd one or too on the way that haven't even wanted to talk to us but even so its not half as many as I imagined. Every time we have got something, the generosity has exceeded all expectations. We have been more than happy with getting what we ask for -especially at places like the Premier Inn, where they have not only given us a lovely bed to sleep in, but have fed us aswell - without us having to ask. We haven't been greedy or taken the xxxx when they say choose what you want etc, we haven't gone for a full three course or chosen the most expensive thing on the menu -because I know some people would have. When you are so greatfull for (believe it or not) a free toilet - because when your desperate and the only toilet you have cost you 30p and you haven't got or can't spend a penny ( scuse the pun ) - having to ask is hard.
We have a few mottos now we have gathered for ourselves and the meanings mean so much more to us than they will to you. You say them but you might not truly understand the real meaning of them till you have to use them in situations we have been in. They are; ` never pass a free toilet' and 'if you don't ask you don't get`.
It is an overwhelming feeling, the generosity, that there still is in this part of the world - and we can truly relate to those less fortunate to us now in a different way to what we may have done in the past. Our journey is almost at an end and we are both sat here feeling excited and very pleased that we have nearly finished, but then a little sad that its over. In a strange way we have a new respect for one another now, there are emotions we have been thru that we can't explain and may never feel again.
We will do a thank you page later when we get back, but for now a big thank you to all the people that made this all possible; Russell Harris (the original diceman) for giving us permission, and of course the Macmillan team, that do a fantastic job all the time and are fully worthy of the £1000 + that we have raised.
We are so lookin forward to be home and hopefully see all our friends and family on Sunday - thanks to everyone who has supported us.

DAY 6
Omg what has happened to me - the short fat one that stands at the bar. Only excercise I get normaly is lifting my pint up! I woke up this morning about 6.30 - Pphil was fast asleep so I decided to get up and wait for it ........... I went for a run round the dock for half hour! Its weird cos my legs just feel like they want to be doing something! Blisters are past hurting now and I feel so energetic I will have to see the doc when I get back - see if he can put me back to normal again (I liked been short fat and lazy)! Anyway gonna go down to breakfast in a bit when I've woken Phil then get ready to complete our task at the Beatles story - then who knows where we will end up today?
I've just worked out thanks to my blackberry, we have travelled about 830 miles since Saturday (this is done by the shortist routes on the RAC route planner and does not include the miles we've walked around and across the cities) so we are sure we've covered more.

Been in the Beatles story what a fantastic exhibition. They have given us 2 family tickets to auction or raffle off - so anyone fancies one start your bidding (e-mail richard@bgdiscos.co.uk). I must admit I stood at the end in a room that is all white, with a white piano and a guitar in it, The Lennon room. 'Imagine' was playing, the words were on the wall and it just reminded me of what we are doing and I welled up - yes I admit I have a heart and I cried. The words actually sunk in for the first time ever. From the exhibition we got another 2 destinations; Sam with Lincolnshire and John gave York! He said he would like to go to the railway museum - so we may be home tonight for a while. 1 hour before we throw the dice for the penultimate time yeh!

We walked round Albert Dock after being in the Beatles story and got our final destinations - we now have Newcastle, Lincolnshire, York, Lllandudno, Chester and Stonehenge. David the Premier Inn manager rolled the dice and (yeh) number 3 came up! David confirmed the list for us and the corresponding number on the dice - we are so pleased we are coming home even thoough it is only for a little while, but I get to see my wife! We still have to get our accomodation as we are not allowed to stay at home. Friends and family can come and see us but we have decided we are not allowed to go to them. So we are hoping that people will come and see us and buy us a beer or 2! We have tried to get another form of transport out of Liverpool but no joy. Its 1.30 and we have been knocked back by the train manager on First Transpennine out of Liverpool - she rang head office and with the red tape she can't risk it. We totally understand even thoough it was Transpennine that got us to Manchester on our first day - you would think they would be glad of the exposure for helping such a worthy cause. Anyway we are not down yet there are plenty of train managers to ask - I have contacted BBC Liverpool to see if they can help at all with an anouncement so fingers crossed but we do have till 12 tomorrow to get there.
Finally managed to get on Transpennine train thanks to Adrian the train manager - see who needs red tape when you have generosity for charity! Time is 2.22 and will arrive hopefully in York at 4.30. Adrian said we can go as far as Manchester (cos that's where he changes) but he will put a word in to the next train manager for us. So fingers crossed and believe it or not the hardest place we are trying to get accomodation at the minute is York, but luckily coming from there we know where the good bus shelters are lol (hopefully we won't need them!)

I can't believe we are on train back to York for 6th destination we have been all over and had so much help from the public and businesses alike and trying to sort things out back in our home town is becoming the hardest. The radio stations around the country have helped with announcements and interviews to raise awareness, hotel companies have bent over backwards helping our challange and the only thing we can manage to get in York at the moment is a trip on the river (very kindly donated by York Boat). So thank you York Boat for your generosity. So we still need to get accom and food for the night - the bus shelters are actually lookin apealing at the moment.

Ok York has redeemed itself to us - whilst checking in at the Park Inn hotel I got a phone call from the Minster hotel who very kindly rung to say they had a room for us if we needed it. Thank you to the Minster hotel and obviously the Park Inn for all there help and support. We are goin to try get something to eat then we have our trip on the Ouse. Then going to the SpeakEasy on Gillygate to see our band friends who helped with the entertainment night, so we have been invited there and some of our friends are coming to see us!
Yum just been fed by Pizza Express - thanks!

THOUGHTS
Today in a way has been the hardest and the easiest (if you understand me). We have travelled from Liverpool to York and I suppose we were expecting a bit of a homecoming - because of the response we've had from the destinations we've been to (Manchester, London etc), radio stations all over and hotel companies. It's been absolutely unreal. But the reality of seeing my lovely wife Jayne on the platform at the station brought a tear to my eye - it seems like I haven't seen her for months (I know its only been a few days), then to see my son Connor walk over the bridge, that broke me! I tried to hide the emotion. Seeing Jayne at the Speakeasy was the hardest thing for me, but the best thing too. I just wanted to stay at home, but I know we don't have long till we are back again, so for us both I think York has been the hardest destination emotionally. Phil with his dad, Roger and me with my lovely wife Jayne. We have missed them both so much and words really can't say just how much we love them. Anyway doom over, we want everyone who is reading all this to come to the escrick club before 12 midday on Sunday and come on give us a real yorkshire homecoming! Remember Sue at the club is doing her 'fabulous and renowned' Sunday Lunches - but you must call her to reserve yours (01904 728481)!

DAY 5
Past the half way point now just woke up at 8.50, so had a little lie in this morning and its good to see we are definately on our way back up north - as it is persistantly throwing it down - we hope it stops before we set off. Gonna wake Phil in a bit and get ready and go for breakfast.
Well we had breakfast at the Crown Plaza hotel in Birmingham, thank you to John, Jayney and the rest of the team there. We went to put some money in the bank - that we have had donated along the way - £75! On our way we asked Michelle at the Alexander Theatre for a destination she gave us Brighton. We had to take a photo of Phil outside the Alexander Theatre for Stevie C of Drystone Radio (106.9fm) - where we keep doing radio broadcasts for. Stevie keeps asking Phil to do tasks, the first task was for Phil to have his pic taken under the Cornwall sign with his shirt off - and last night on the radio he aked Phil for a photo outside the Alexander Theatre with his shorts down! Unfortunately Stevie C it was raining sorry, but he still had the hat on for you. We went to the bank as I said and we asked Slavia for another destination, she gave us Cheltenham. Walking back thru the centre of Birmingham and Phil saw a lovely lady who was canvasing for Cancer Research UK, called Gina. We asked if she would throw the dice for our next destination, she agreed and number 4 came up - which was Liverpool. So we rang a few people to see if they were over this way with trucks etc before we went to the station. We spoke to the station manager who got us thru the barrier to the train for us to ask Heather if she would kindly let us travel to Liverpool. She agreed and we are finally on our way - its 1pm and we should be in liverpool before 3pm. So we will try and find a bed for the night so we can give Jayne an easier day today - so she can hopefully put her feet up and not worry about us for a while. If we manage to get some digs in time then we will get on the streets of Liverpool and try and do a task or too - we don't seem to have had time to ask people for tasks up to now so I think we are both lookin forward to a new challenge and not just about food or accommodation or travel.

Got into Liverpool at 3pm, wandered round Liverpool looking for digs and after trying several hotels we got to the Premier Inn on Albert Dock - where David the manager has very kindly given us a bed for the night and thrown in dinner and breakfast - so thanks so much to him. We past the Liver Building we spoke to Chris who came and asked us what we were doing - he told us we had to go to the Beatles Story. He said we haven't been to Liverpool properly till we have been there - so we decided we would make that a task (Jayne emailed them for us and Samantha Philipps said we could gladly go round there!) We got to the Premier Inn about 5pm which is right next door to the Beatles Story - so we popped in and the guys on the door were expecting us. They welcomed us in but told us to fully appreciate it we needed a couple of hours - so we have got tickets for the morning. Thanks to all at the Beatles Story. At the Premier Inn Phil was trying to chat up Nicola (lol) on reception - so we asked her for a destination for the dice, she gave us Newcastle. David, the manager was all ready for ringing ahead to Newcastle to sort us accomodation out, but we explained that we don't know if we are goin there yet. He told us to let him know as soon as we know, and he would try and help with a Premier Inn! The Premier Inn team in general have all been fantastic (in Manchester and now in Liverpool and the accomodation and service is fantastic too). Phil has struggled abit today with his back and leg (the young ones have no stamina - all that training at the gym isn't worth it - being old, fat and lazy like me is no problem if you have stamina - lol!) OK - Steve Hampshire and small as well - before you say it. Been a wet day - raining in Liverpool a bit now but not a problem.
We have both said that the big packs we have on our backs have got to the stage that they have become part of us now as we don't feel the weight much now and its weird when we walk around without them on .
Going down for dinner in a bit just having a coffee in our lovely room so will say good night for now unless something really exciting happens.

THOUGHTS
This is now a new thing on our blog after opening our feelings a bit yesterday, we have a lot of thoughts on our travels some personal and others that we share. The one we shared today was - you know when you see two buses/taxis passing each other and the drivers wave to one another - do train drivers do the same when they are traveling past each other at such high speed? Have they got chance to wave at one another - a silly thought I know but does anyone know the answer? Let us know cos we are intrigued.

Ok just a bit more more of a mix of thoughts and blog really. When we get to a destination we don't really seem to look at it properly, we are rushing round trying to get sorted - I know london was different - I think because we were sorted in good time we had the time to look at the main attractions in the city. But then panic set in and we just wanted to get out of there as quick as we could, it was as we expected it to be. Manchester was just a city, it looked ok from what we saw of it but just like anyother really. Exeter, we saw most of it from a bus so again it was ok. Cornwall, well we literally stepped in it by about 100 yrds that's all. Plymouth was nice but very very hilly. Birmingham City Centre was lovely, a very nice place and nothing like I expected. It is somewhere I would like to go back to and spend more time there. Liverpool is nothing like I expected either, it is a very pretty place, very modern with the twist of old. The buildings are all very tastefully done (not all in your face or out of place) - I would love to spend more time here too. But one thing that links all these destinations is the generosity of the people we have met along the way, whether they were putting money in our tins on the street or stopping and askin if we needed help. Or there was one lady we met in Plymouth who said she wanted to give some money but she would prefer to buy us a coffee or tea as she said we looked like we needed it! (But we asked her to put it in our tin.) The businesses we have been to: from the guy in Subway Plymouth (for filling our water bottles up) to the train managers, station managers, hotel managers and friends of friends that don't know us from adam (like Mike and Cindy in London). Thank you all for helping our cause and helping us keep going -we are going to make the 8 days I have no doubts now - no matter where we end up. The support we have had from Russell Harris from Little Planet Productions (who was the original Diceman in 1997 with the tv series the Diceman) has been fantastic - and every now and again I get an email from him after he has read our blog or heard where we are - saying ?good luck guys I'm envious?. We are so very greatful to you all.

DAY 4
We woke up about 6.30 had breakfast then set off just after 7.30. We went to the services on the M5 and asked a few lorry drivers if they were going to the Cornish border but no joy. We then headed towards the A30 to try our luck there - on the way met a very nice bus driver who rang his control room and asked a man called Jason if they could help us at all, and they could! We got on the number 52 bus to the station and went to see Jason who asked Richard McCallister if we could get on a bus to Plymouth - he said yes no problems. The bus has set off at 9.40 and will be in Plymouth about 11.30. We then have 8 miles roughly to get over to the Tamar bridge. Once we cross the Tamar bridge apparently we are in Cornwall. So fingers crossed. Jayne has emailed a few radio stations down here and we have had a call from BBC Cornwall who are goin to interview us, by phone at 10.30. So just chillin now waiting for the call hopefully we can get some response from the people that listen to the radio. We haven't got all our destinations yet so gonna ask a few people on the bus on the way down. The sun is out, it is a glorious day & we are bitten to death with midgies but spirits are high at the moment.

11am and its definetly touching the wire - we are still 15 miles from Plymouth on the bus - we have no nails left! Been on BBC Radio Cornwall and they have put announcement out to help us get from the station to the other side of the river. If not then I may have to run which I said I would never do in case I got black eyes from my manboobs and belly. Luckily the belly has gone down a bit with all the walking we are doing - I just wish this bus kept going and didn't keep stopping!
11.05 and I can't believe phil is asleep on the bus again lightweight lol.

Got to plymouth bus station at 11.25 and ran for a bus that would take us to Saltash just over the Tamar bridge. The bus driver said he should be over the bridge by 11.56 according to his schedule! Anyway he put his foot down for us - the people on the bus were really interested in what we were doing and put money in our tins! Thanks to them we made the Tamar bridge at 11.57am so only minutes to spare - but we did it! We ran to the sign on the bridge that said welcome to Cornwall and luckily there was a family just passing over - so we asked if they would throw the dice for us. 10yr old Olivia Fleet and her brother Michael threw the dice for us at precisely 12 - number 5 came up which was Birmingham - so off we went back over the bridge to Plymouth.
After walking from Cornwall all the way thru Plymouth to the sea, after following directions from several people, we ended up miles from where we needed to be 3 hrs later! Blisters really hurting now. We ended up at Plymouth station where we spoke to Andy the train manager for Cross Country trains and asked if we could get on his train to Birmingham - after a bit of persuation he agreed. So we are now sat on the train waiting for it to set off to Birmingham - so today looks like we have made our 4th destination - result! We still need to find accom and some food again (nothin to eat other than a bowl of cereal and an apple we knicked from breakfast -thank you Exeter Arms hotel). It has been the hottest day so far and we had to dip in our emergency fund (97p for bogof diet pepsi from the co op in plymouth) and subway very kindly filled our empty bottles with water, as we have drunk loads today.
We have arrived in Birmingham thanks to Crosscountry trains and Jayne has come up trumps aswell - she is really looking after Phil and I (and I think Phil loves her nearly as much as me!) With what she has managed to do for us over the days with helping tell us where to go to for trains, looking on maps on the internet and ringing and emailing hotels and train companies. Without her we wouldn't have been able to do what we have done so far. She has managed to get us digs in Birmingham upon our arrival - but these are no ordinary digs - its only one of the top hotels in Birmingham, the Crown Plaza (thanks to John Wong & Mark Kelly at the Hotel). On the train Phil said to me it was his turn to have the double bed tonight if we get a room with a double and a single. When we walked into the room it wasn't a problem - I asked him which double bed did he want, as it had 2! The room is fantastic, the hotel is excellent! We looked like a couple of tramps walking in the main entrance. We are now going to freshen up and try get some food - as we need to try and do somethin for ourselves!
We have just been round the streets of Birmingham and with the recommendation of Anil (the receptionist at the hotel) we went down a street where there were lots of restaurants we finally found the 'Around the world buffet' had a word with Dal the manager explained what we are doing and asked him if we could eat. He agreed and sat us at a table bearing in mind we haven't had a proper meal since sunday at the Angel (this was like heaven). I think we have realised that our stomachs have shrunk because although the food was fantastic we didn't eat a right lot but felt rather full - so thank you to the Around the world restaraunt. We asked Mark the waiter for a destination he gave us Snowdonia. We have thanked Anil for the recomendation - we got to speak to John wong who jayne had been in contact with and who has put us up for the night and again thanked him for his fantastic generosity - we asked him for a destination he gave us Liverpool and he told us to make sure we have a full english in the morning!
THOUGHTS
I didn't expect when I came up with this idea it would be like it has been - its definately had its ups and downs along the way. I am so glad that Phil came with me cos we keep each other going when we are feeling down for what ever reason. I know there are some people out there that think we are just on a jolly boys outing but it has been much harder and much more draining and stressfull than I could have ever imagined. There are times when I could cry, an overwhelming emotion comes over you when the generosity of some people turns out how it does. Every time we throw the dice a little bit of excitement and joy come over you but then the reality kicks in 'how the hell are you going to get there and where are we going to stay tonight, when will we get our next meal'. The thoughts kind of go after you set off walking but about an hour in you then think are you ever gonna get there. Will the train manager let you on the train if not how the hell are we gonna get home let alone to our next destination and who will help us along the way! Today day 4 has been a very long day we are loosing track of what day it is and how many days we've been doing it cos it seems such along time ago we were sat at our club enjoying a pint. If it wasn't for my wife Jayne back there in the wings (who again without her help we really wouldn't have got this far and probably wouldn't be carrying on), yes we might be in a fantastic top hotel but without our friends and family here it doesn't mean a lot to us. Its nice to know that the top hotels and the little B&Bs all pull together for what is the most important thing, that people are seeming to forget, and that is charity Macmillan Cancer Support, and the £1000 we are trying to raise. Anyway that's it from me tonight goodnight all and big thanks to all that have helped and donated along the way your the ones that keep us going.

DAY 3
Well I awoke this morning at 6am and woke Phil at 8.30 - we got ourselves ready and Mike made us a bacon butty. He gave us a destination of CardifF, we set off for Tower Bridge at about 9.45 and tried to get on the eye again - but again the queue was too long - so we carried on along the way. We met Germaine Greare who gave us a destination for our dice which was Stumpcross off the M11. We finally got to Tower Bridge at 11.45 very tierd and achy from the walk with our heavy packs. We met a Beefeater called Colin at the tower who named Edinburgh as a destination. At 12 o'clock Colin rolled the dice for us and number 2 came up which was Cornwall. We headed over to Paddington station all the way accross the other side of london - which took us another 2 hrs. We spoke to the station manager there again called Collin who wasn't very helpfull at all. Jayne had rung ahead to first First Greatwestern and spoke to a man named luther who tried to help but the press department said they wouldn't do anything for us on the trains at all on any of our destinations. So brick wall hit! We are currently sat lookin at the map in paddington station deciding how to get out of here!
After leaving Paddington we went to Victoria station to try and get on a coach - National Express (nope no joy). We then started to head for the A4 out of London to hitch but then a nice man stopped us and gave us some advice which we followed and headed to Waterloo after passing Big Ben for the third time today!
Well after trawling the streets of London for nearly 7hrs no stop, low on drink and had no food (other than the bacon buttie that seems such a long time ago) we have got to Waterloo station and are now on a train to Exeter. I know its not Cornwall but its a hell of a lot closer than London is and we still have tomorow morning to try and get the rest of the way (so fingers crossed). I have blister under my other foot now and I'm sure I must of lost pounds cos I have to keep tightening my trousers (and if its possible I must be even shorter than before too). Steve Hampshire has trouble seeing me now cos I'm so short - so there's no chance of him seeing me when I get back (if we ever get back)! Jayne has worked her socks off for us today trying to get us sorted. We have been a little more down today because we knew our luck had gone as far as it could go - but we may be down but we are not out yet. A very nice man at Hyde Park Corner helped us and gave us some good advice and put £20 in our tin. We have just worked out that we have walked about 22 miles today. We are exhausted and not looking forward to tomorrow, trying to get out of Cornwall. The time is 5.20 and train has just set off don't know how long the journey will be but Exeter is the last stop so we can go to sleep and get kicked off at the other end!
This seems like the longest day ever - we knew we had had it quite easy so far, and the hospitality we have received upto today has been unreal. Plus we also knew it couldn't last and today was that day. We have certainly worked for it today and we still haven't got a bed yet or food. I think I have a bag of crisps left from Ollie yesterday on the train. This journey has seemed a lot longer than it is - we are loosing track of the days can't believe yesterday we were in Manchester and done so much since then.
Finally in Exeter its now 9.45 - we managed to get in the Exeter Arms Hotel and a free taxi ride from Mike and Streetcars taxis (thanks to Jayne for sorting all that out). We made it to the Exeter Arms Hotel where we were given a room and a sandwich which we enjoyed - had a bath and then got our heads down. Today has been a real challenge and we were both starting to get a litlle worried but we kept each other going and stopped each other from giving in. We are now only 60 miles away from Cornwall and 500 yards from the Granada services so hopefully we will be truckers tomorrow and blag a lift at services. Anyway gonna have our sandwich now which the hotel have very kindly given us and they are gonna give us breakfast too in the morning. Gonna have scran then bath then bed. Good night all see ya tomorrow and thank you all for your supportive texts etc they really did keep us going today.

DAY 2
We awoke this morning about 8.30am. I slept like a baby but Phil had a restless night due to my snoring apparently! We went to reception to speak to David the duty manager, to see if he could sort us some breakfast and asked him if we could do any jobs as payment - but no it was compliments of Premier Inn!
After breakfast we went to the streets of Manchester and asked 2 P.C.S.O's if they could give us destinations for our dice. Louise said Blackpool and Mike said London. We then went to the art gallery and spoke to Geoff who gave us our final destination which was The Wirrall. We went back to our room and freshened up ready to throw the dice at 12.
At 12 we went to ask David if he would throw the dice for our second destination. Number 5 came up - so we were on our way to London! David said he would try to ring ahead for us to Premier Inn in London so we would have a bed for the night! Again unfortunately he couldn't, but he said to go in and try when we get there.
We got to the station and asked at the ticket office again but the guy there said we need to ask the train manager direct as they couldn't issue tickets for us. So that's what we did, we spoke to Gary the Virgin train manager, told him what we were doing and he said "fine the First Class carriage is at the front of the train go down there and make ourselves comfy!" So we did! We have had complimentry brunch, tea, coffee, juice, and our waiters Ollie and Anthoney said they would give us some biscuits and crisps to help us on our way! It is now 1.30pm we arrive in london at 2.50pm so once again we have succeeded in our second challange! The generosity of everybody is so overwhelming.
We are going to make sure whilst in london we see as many sites as possible and take plenty of photos.
On the train to london we got a call from Jayne telling us she might have found us a place for a meal she had done some ringing around and found that Laura from Drystone Radio (where we did an interview last week) her dad had a pub called the Angel. We arrived at Euston about 2.40 pm and had rung Mike and Cindy from the Angel who gave us directions on how to get there. We finally arrived at the angel at 3.45pm only to be greated with ?is steak and ale pie ok?? Well mine and Phil's eyes lit up but we were still full from breakfast and lunch so mike said would we like it a bit later. Mike then asked us all about what we were doing on our challenge. Mike pulled us a pint while we were chattin and he said "we have a bed for you I will show you up in a min". Phil and I couldn't believe our luck in 4 hours we had made it from Manchester had lunch and tea and a bed was sorted. I know it may seem hard to believe but Phil and I started to feel a little guilty so we finished our second pint and headed off into London to see how many sights we could see and take pics off. We headed in search of the Queen and made it to Trafalgar Square down the Mall and stood outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, we then went wondering down the road and bumped into Big Ben. Just outside Big Ben an icecream van pulled up, I looked at Phil and said ?do ya want one ?? He said we would never get a free icecream so I walked up to the nice lady serving and asked. She looked at me rather strange then said "why not". I think she was more suprised by the cheek of it but as my dad use to say and I say to my children, if you don't ask you don't get. Anyway icecream in hand we then found a porta loo at the side of the road, where there was some work goin on, I was bustin for a pee after my 2 pints earlier, so I went! Phil once again looked at me in amazment and said we will get arrested - anyway we didn't and Phil went to the loo after me! We then saw the London Eye so we walked over the river Thames and tried to blag our way onto the London Eye. When we got there the queue marker said waiting time 3 hours - so we gave it a miss. We walked along the river past the oxo building and up to near St Pauls. Getting rather achy feet by this time, we decided to head back for our steak pie. We finally got back at just after 8 told mike where we had been and he said we went the long way round - and had probably walked about 15 to 20 miles round London. So we didn't feel as guilty now. We had tea then Mike invited us to join him in the bar so it would have been rude not to! Again getting supplied with drink we got chattin to a guy at the bar called Justin who again was buying us drinks - after about 5 pints Mike challanged Phil to play chess while he locked the door! Yes it was now 11pm - after about 2 more pints (I think ) we finally got to bed (seperate rooms this time so phil could rest without me snoring). It was about 1am when we got to bed so hence that is why I am writing this blog on my blackberry at 7am in the morning. Just woke up on day 3 and wondering what is instore for us today.
Forgot to mention we didn't just get a free meal and accom from Mike and Cindy - we did actually do some work for them bottling up, changing a barrel and pulling a few pints for customers. I forgot this bit cos it was at about 1030 and I was well on mi way....

DAY 1
Well its been an eventful first day, starting this morning 8th Aug 2009 - 10am the Summer Fayre opened - slow to start with but plenty of friends and family were there to see us throw the first dice. Emily Hinds threw our very first dice and number 1 came up which ment we were on our way to Manchester.

We started our journey from Escrick on Arriva buses, which took us to the Designer Outlet. We got on the bus, courtesy of Arriva Buses, Selby. Everybody on board started putting money in our tins! We got to the Designer Outlet, had a walk round and again people kept putting money in our tins. We finished and set off down the A64 with our sign saying Manchester, but no takers for a lift!. We got off the a64 at the Bishopthorpe turning and started to make our way to York station. On the way up Tadcaster Road a car pulled up and Martin offered us a lift to the station.

We arrived at York station at about 2pm (we went to the toilet) then the ticket office to see if we could get a train to Manchester but were told no way we would be on a train. So disheartened, we went to Station taxis to see if they had a pick up to do at Manchester Airport, but again no joy.
We then set off back towards the A64 stopping at Fleetways taxis to ask if they could get us somewhere near Manchester or the A1, again we were told no way.

We set off again and stopped at the mount to think about what we were going to do, Phil phoned a few people to see if they cud help us but again no luck. Jayne got intouch with the radio stations and train companies - she finally had a result and we headed off back to the train station and were told to ask for the duty station manager, which we did, he was called Paul. Paul took us the the Transpennine Train which was leaving for Manchester and spoke to the conductor who very kindly said he would take us (result). Nigel the conductor showed us to a seat. Phil got talking to the guy sat next to him called Dennis, we asked him for a destination he gave us Eastbourne (and said if we end up in Halifax he has a pub and would gladly feed us and put us up for the night). Thank you dennis.

When we got to Manchester, Jayne had rung ahead to a hotel called the Garden Hotel, where apparently they were going to give us a room, but when we got there the manager Eddy said he couldn't help us. So once again we went on our way - we wondered down the street, Manchester is heaving this weekend for the football apparently. We went to Portland Premier Inn where Laura the receptionist passed us to the manager Siral, who couldn't help us enough! Laura felt sorry for Phil and I, and gave us a bag of nuts to share! Siral said he couldn't put us up himself but he would try the other Premier Inns around to find us a room. While he was doin this he took us upstairs to the brasserie, where he gave us a lovely chicken wrap and a huge cup of coffee.
He returned to tell us he had got us a room in the Premier Inn round the corner but the room wouldn't be ready till 8pm, but he could give us a room in his hotel until then for us to have a wash and put our feet up! Which was great - so we watched tv and rang eveyone to let them know what a result we got.

At 8pm we went to reception where Siral rang ahead to Gmex Premier Inn to see if our room was ready and it was so we wondered round the corner to our hotel, where we met Gaz, the duty manager - who again was very helpfull and showed us to our room. At about 830pm we went off to see what we could get for tea (as I said Manchester was very busy so we found it hard as the restaraunts were all full). We eventually went to Peekin Court in china town, an all you can eat buffet, where the manager Wilson said he couldn't give us a table but he gave us a take out tub to fill with what ever we wanted! And gave us a beer each too!!

We went back to our hotel and ate our chinese, watched tv and then had a bath. Now I'm writing this laid in bed with a blister on my foot already! But what started out as a no hope kind of day turned out rite in the end. There is a recesion on but its good to see the generosity of the British public is not dead - so a big thank you to:
Emily for throwing our dice
Martin for takin us to the station
Dennis for our number one dest for tomorow
Paul and Nigel from York station and TransPennine Express
Laura, Siral, Gaz and all the team who helped from Premier Inn
Wilson for our tea

The destinations so far for the dice tomorrow are Eastbourne (Dennis), Brighton (Laura) and Western Supermere (Gaz). We will find 3 more people tomorrow before midday where it all starts again ...............