Historical Blog Archive

Congrats on passing the 2000nm mark you leg-ends!! Bring on 3000 and the countdown to dry land (and more importantly the beer!!) Absolute ferkin oarsome progress - keep going and keep each others peckers up!!! Petit xx

Boys - great work on smashing through the 2,000nm mark it really is down hill from here! Some seriously impressive 24 hr runs as well lately - I'd like to think it was motivated to speaking to us on Sat!! BARNS GREEN HALF MARATHON It seems like there is huge interest in running this event so (after speaking with Tom) I've volunteered to get a team of Indian Ocean Race / Orchid runners together to run the 13.1 miles and raise as much cash as possible for the boys and Orchid. Can anyone that is interested in entering (or if you've already got a place) email me at russ.jefferys@gmail.com please so I can work out numbers. And if you have any thoughts on how we can make it an event to remember and one last push on the fundraising let me know. Keep those SC lads in your sights fellas - this one's turning in to an epic! Russ x

Russ. Saw John and Gloria on Sunday, was so happy to hear you guys had all been able to catch up together. Has Guy written that Best mans speech yet? He's had some spare time so no excuses. Tx

Guys - Well done for getting this far, keep going, we're right behind you (metaphorically speaking). A fantasic effort for a great cause thats close to my heart. P.S: Please finisgh quickly as Guy's sister-in-law (Kat) is doing our heads in at work worringing about you both. Take care and may you have blue skies, calm waters and strong currents (towards the finish line). Weldon : )

Good to see you storming along! It should be a breeze from the 1000m mark. Sorry - runniing out of limp windforce metaphors. We always rather liked the force 7 description "whole trees move"! Good luck & keep going and rowing.

Ahoy me hearties, Great to see you are now coasting along nicely, that's top banana. I was quite sorry to hear about Jacko the other day as well. He was one of my favourite artists when I was younger. Name me someone who can dance better than he could, I am struggling to think. Usher is the nearest one I can think of. I have a certain stag do to go to at the weekend so I might try my Moonwalking, I hope they allow that in Newcastle. 'Alreet pet, that dancing is bonny alright'. Aye, that's champion! Dirty Diana, what a song. I think I am going to get on Napster and get some more Jacko tunes on my mp3. Glastonbury looked pretty amazing this year, I really wish I had gone now. I have decided I am definetely going next year so if you are up for it then i'm game. I particularly enjoyed the Franz Ferdinand performance, that looked mad. It made me chuckle seeing someone in the crowd dressed as a Telly Tubby. My mum and dad say they are going next year which does concern me. I am struggling to imagine them crowd surfing, especially considering they are now grandparents! Del, I just want to say your mum is fantastic as she has been a great help to me the last few days. Anyway, enough of me blabbering on, you keep on going and ride those waves dudes, excellent! From the Hammer and the Poisoned Dwarf.

Hey boys, Just checked your progress. Amazing. Not fun from SC now. Go get them. xxxx

I meant to say, not "far" from SC, obviously.

Guy & Andrew, this is so exciting and you are both doing just great. We cannot begin to understand what you must be enduring but you have our utmost respect. As the days go on you seem to be picking up more followers particularly the famous & of course the infamous! With all the experience you have gained, perhaps you will be asked to join the British rowing team. Keep up the good work - there are certainly a lot of us willing you on. Guy, I saw you're mum at work window dressing, so popped in - we ended up having quite a long chat & not sure she got too much work done that morning. Your ears must have been burning! Roger & I watched James Cracknell & Ben Fogle "Through Hell & High Water" at the weekend. It was amazing and not many people have any idea of the preparation beforehand, let alone the experiences you have endured. Amazing, admiration, respect, endurance are words that come to mind. OUr questions are: 1. Do you have spare parts for your water maker & how to disassemble, mend & reassemble it if it goes wrong? 2. Do you have spare water but get penalised if you use it like James & Ben? 3. Ben & James lost lots of stuff when they capsized - do you keep more stuff stowed than they did? (Yes, it does conjure up the lost buckets!) Perhaps you would tell us more about your preparations? Wow, you really did do well over the last 24 hours and hope this continues. We are all behind you so keep rowing. WELL DONE! P.S. Theresa, the girls & I took part in the Race for Life on Sunday and was very, vey hot, but nothing compared to what you are going through!

Afternoon boys, Well done the last few days...excellent progress, just keep going and it will happen for you. Australian cricket team in Worcester this week playing England Lions, drove past the ground with Ali this morning, then watched a bit on TV. 1st test starts next Wednesday and I'm going on the Sunday. Ashes fever! After failed attempt at 'balls out' rowing the other day, saw a bloke in the gym trying 'balls out' stretching after his session on the treadmill. Not great! Still, have got twelve lovelies lined up for 'ladies spin' at 6.30pm so that should serve as a refresher. Lovely job. Better stop Ferkin around and do some work "one second my love!" Trumpet xx

Trumpet ~ marky in de parky "Balls out rowing" ~ nothing on the Bexhill Boys at the very start of the race!!! We were all waiting for the race to be officially started, a mile or so out from Geraldton beach, when suddenly all four boys stood up in their boat, starkers each with very long white socks attached to you know where ~ wonder if it was caught on camera? Our boat rocked with laughter!!! Tx

Hee hee Tina that is hillarious - wish i'd been there for that!!! ;) x

Dione....could make that happen for you when you and the boys come to stay next weekend (no jokes about needing only ankle socks to cover up!)!

Trumf i would never suggest you boys would need ankle socks......was actually gonna suggest foot socks......lol!! I was gonna warn the lads that they might need to remove this blog as you were so carried away with the 'balls out' rowing i thought this 'naked' rowing may push you over the edge!!! Boys - keep up your fantastic efforts and hope you're not taking too many pics at the moment as the encore from the sores doesn't sound too appealing - to me anyway, not sure about Trumf!! Bring on the last 1000nm - go for it!!!

Well it's all happening here in the UK, we've hit 1st July ...........what a summer: Ascot's been and gone, we are well over half way through Wimbledon and isn't your namesake Murray doing well! And it's Henley this week with the annual trip to the river this year without you .................we are going to be doing a lot of 'this time last year' ...... in 2010. We are on countdown for the final 1000.............x

Couldn't sleep .... was thinking about how you are getting closer and closer and closer to the finish. Just came to the blog to say: keep going! keep rowing!! keep smiling! :) :) x

Hi guys, So sorry to hear that the"sores" have come out again..tell themto go away and not come again!! Fresh air and Z+ C oil cream may help...not a pretty site I'm sure. Sarah's in good spirits again...I believe you have a spot of good wind coming your ways soon. Hope it will last and last so you can all get to Mauritius soon. GB has come oput in sympathy with you all....very hot weather at the moment.maybe someone thinks we need training for when we pop out to meet you all!!. I am so glad I am not playing tennis in all this heat.the sweat was literally dripping off th eplayers today.........I can't play it very well anyway...couldn't at school either. Here's to the final push ..well final 1000 nm then..nearly the final push. Take care, God speed and Good Winds!!! Helen

Hi guys Am so pleased to hear the end is in sight and you have managed to find a few more apple crumbles to keep you going! As always Orchid is so grateful to you both for taking on this incredible challenge and in turn doing so amazingly well. We cant wait to hear all the stories when you return. Take care and stay safe Caz and The Orchid team x

Boys Was out on a night ride the other night and thought of you two clowns in the middle of the ocean. You are getting there so keep hammering away…… Also caught up on the blogs and saw the MJ stuff and appropriate songs for you both: Rock With You Speed Demon Just Good Friends (?) Can’t Let Her Get Away Keep the Faith You are Not Alone and finally……as two apparently straight men, alone in a boat for 3 months……rowing naked.......BEAT IT?!? ; ) SB

Gents, I can only reiterate my friend, colleague and brothers comments - you are doing so, so well. Saw a clip of cracknell and fogel's atlantic challenge the other day and you are making them look like amateurs! Keep those oars moving and beat it! AB