What I've Been Up to: Pet Sitting

You may have seen in my other posts that I have done some pet sitting before, if not, I looked after a hamster called Steve. However, this time round I looked after my Nan and Grandad's dog whilst they took a weeks holiday in the Isle of Man. My Nan and Grandad agreed to pay me the same amount that they would usually pay the kennels to look after their dog to put towards my expedition (about £50). Regarding that I took the dog for two walks a day (one in the morning and one in the evening) and gave it food and water obviously! 

Not owning a dog myself, I've realised how much hard work owning a dog actually is! The dog is so strong it ends up taking me for a walk rather than me taking the dog for a walk. He constantly wants to play tug-of-war or eat your food; with those puppy-dog-eyes, it's hard to say 'no!'. I still have the dog with me until Tuesday evening when my Nan returns - I'll be glad I don't have to get up at 6:00am to take him for a walk!

Fundraiser:
If you have any relatives that are thinking of going away on holiday who have pets, ask them if you can look after them instead of them leaving their pets in kennels/catteries in exchange for a donation towards your trip.

In the meantime until my next blogpost, here is a silly photo of me, standing in a field, in a ridiculous pose.

Happy fundraising! 

x

I GOT A JOB!

Now, I'm not going to lie, it is so hard to break into the working world with absolutely no experience (other than the nonsense paper-round that I did for THREE years!). Almost every place you apply for wants you to have some sort of experience, whether it be: retail, customer service etc. 

Being young also makes it harder as we are restricted to how many hours we can do a week and how early/late we can start/finish. Though, now I'm 16 and left secondary school I am not so restricted to when I can work. What was holding me back was my lack of experience.

Nevertheless, I hit the computer (not literally..) to print out copies of my covering letters and CV's and started to hand them out to local businesses and chain stores in my local city. Unfortunately, I never heard anything from any of them which left me feeling a little bit peeved as I spent £7 something on a pack of 1st Class stamps!

It wasn't until May this year, my mum found out that one of the local businesses in my town where looking for a Saturday girl to help out here and there. The business is a cute, and dainty tea parlour serving thousands upon thousands of different teas from all over the world and lots of light snacks etc. I didn't hesitate to jump on it and handed in my covering letter, CV and reference letters (to save them writing out to them and speed up the process) the next day. It wasn't until a few weeks later when one of the girls called me up and invited me to an interview! My emotions where contradicting as I was so excited yet trembling in my boots because I had never had an interview for anything before. Plus I missed out on the mock ones at school  for career's day. Despite this, I went in smiling and acting like my normal self and it was over before I knew it! Phew!

I got a phone call a few days later from them telling me they would like to get me in for a trial shift. This allows them to see if I was capable of working there and to see if I actually liked it because behind the scenes it can be a lot of juggling and rushing around! I went in that Saturday and had a trial shift which lasted about 2 hours - I was so nervous but I tried to not let it show and did whatever they asked me to. If I saw something that needed doing, I went for it!

Now, it was just the wonder between the period of the trial shift and the waiting for the phone to ring. Eventually it did ring and they told me they would like to offer me a job with them! I was absolutely ecstatic and over-the-moon! I have now been working there for the past 2 weeks, working roughly 3-days a week (not just Saturdays!); currently learning how to abbreviate orders, take payments and make the 43 different teas that they offer! There is something different to do each day and I really, really enjoy it! 

I was so happy I finally managed to get a job, therefore I can financially contribute myself towards my Borneo trip and my mum can chill out a bit with her overtime! 

I really do recommend that you try and get yourself a little job if you are fundraising for a trip with Camps International - I know it's easier said than done! Just keep on trying, at the end of the day it's the people you know who can help get you little jobs here and there. If you get declined, don't be upset, just move on and keep on trying! 

Good luck!

Fundraising: Car Boot 18/05/14

This car boot has been my main little fundraiser this month as I'm currently doing all of my GCSE exams - however, they will all be over soon and any money I can make in the mean time is beneficial to me! On mine and my Mum's stall we sold an array of different things that we either didn't want anymore, or old clothes that didn't fit us. We woke up at 5am and packed the car full to the brim with our items and set up pitch for 8am.

The place was packed out with people as soon as we arrived, we unloaded the car and laid out all of our items. A couple of hours later, maybe 5 or so, we had sold a majority of our things so decided we would make a move.

Overall we made about £85, but only £31.75 of it was mine to put towards my fundraising. I was pretty impressed with myself though as we only sold things around 50p to £1.50 and this was only supposed to be an 'on-the-side' fundraising event and making the most of this lovely weather!

Now, I am inside revising physics, for my exam tomorrow, with a throbbing headache!

Chloé

x

My T-Shirt Came!

It's been a little while since I have blogged on here but slowly I'm making my through my GCSEs (7 down, 5 to go!) . However, the lovely Leanne from the opperations team visited our school on Wednesday to give us an informative fundraising meeting about planning our different events. Plus, we got hold of our t-shirts which I was overly excited about! 

I also finished my 'Camps International' bracelet which took me ages but looks so good now it's complete! 

I'm so happy that I've almost finished school and can have 12 weeks of intense fundraising and relaxing! August the 6th (I think it's then) I am doing a sponsored trek with a fellow fundraiser, Louis, which we are currently looking forward to completing (I hope the weather holds off!) 

Now, this is only a quick post as I will do a post tomorrow as I am doing a carboot sale! 

Chloe x

How To: Friendship Bracelets

It's May now and if you're like me, you'll be about to sit your GCSE/A-Level exams and have only short periods of time between your revision to plan your fundraising. In between my breaks of revision I usually make a couple of these bracelets to sell at different events: car boots, summer fetes or to friends and family.

To make them you will need:

- Scissors

- Coloured Embroidery Floss (Here's where I got mine: Argos)

- Bulldog clips

- A book/clipboard to secure your string to 

First you'll need to learn the knots:

Forward / Backward / Backward-Forward / Forward-Backward

Step 1. Choose 3 colours and measure 60 inches of each thread. Then fold them in half and tie them into a knot to form a loop. 

Step 2. Secure them to your board and separate the colours from the outside to the middle.

Step 3. Create a forward knot (4 knot)using the pink string over the green string, then the cream one, until you reach the middle.

Step 4. Then using the pink string you haven't used yet (the one on the right) create a backward knot (P/D knot) over the green string and then the cream one - until you reach the middle.

Step 5. Once you've reached the middle knot the two pink strings together using either a forward or backward knot. I prefer to use a forward one - you have now completed one row.

Step 6. Repeat the steps using the outside colours until you find a chevron pattern forming. Keep repeating until the braid will comfortably fit around your wrist. You may take it off of the clip to see how much longer you have to knot.

Step 7. When it comes to the end of the bracelet, braid three off the strands in a regular braid, tie a knot so it doesn't come undone, and then trim the left over string. You now have a chevron patterned bracelet.

Once you've mastered all the knots you may want to try out the following patterns (click the captions for video tutorials *not my videos)

Alternating Leaves

Chinese Staircase

Striped

Alpha

For other patterned bracelets, visit http://friendship-bracelets.net/
Let your creativity be part of your fundraising!

Good luck!

Chloe

xx

Easter Recipe - Simnel Cake

Simnel Cake is a cake filled with mixed fruit, lemon and marzipan and is a perfect Easter recipe. It could be used to sell at a cake sale or as a prize. I was actually asked specifically to make one from a family friend who will give me a donation in return. Be sure to try it out! Here's how to make it: 

You will need:

• - 175g/6oz butter or margarine
• - 175g/6oz soft brown sugar
• - 3 free-range eggs, beaten
• - 175g/6oz plain flour
•  - Pinch salt
• - 350g/12oz mixed raisins, currants and sultanas
• - ½ lemon, grated zest only
• - 1-2 tbsp apricot jam
• -500g natural marzipan (ready made is best)

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 140C/275F/Gas mark 1. Then, grease and line a 18cm/7in cake tin using grease-proof paper.

Step 2. Start to make the cake by creaming together both the sugar and the butter until light and fluffy. If you want to speed things up a little you can use a mixer  but, if you're like me just give it some elbow grease! 

Step 3. Add in each egg one at a time beating between to make sure they are completely mixed into the mixture. Then sift in the flour and salt and mix again.

Step 4. Place your cake mix aside for this step and use a grater to grate 1/2 a lemon zest (or more if you prefer) and add to the mixture. After the zest has been added, get your mixed fruit and place into a separate bowl. Coat the mixed fruit in some plain flour before adding to the mixture. This stops the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the cake as it is cooking.

Step 5. Roll out roughly 1/3 of your marzipan on a hard surface; lightly dusted with icing sugar. Cut out a circle which will comfortably fit in your cake tin.

Step 6. Put half of the mixture into your cake tin. Smooth the top over and cover with the circle of marzipan. Then place the rest of the cake mixture on top and smooth it over leaving a little less mixture in the middle so that the cake can rise. Bake in the oven for 1 3/4 hours. Test the mixture by inserting a wooden skewer, if it comes out clean you cake is ready.

Step 7. Generously spread apricot jam on top of the cooled cake. Roll out another 1/3 or your marzipan and place on top. Then create 11 little balls and using half cut cocktail sticks insert them on top of the cake, making sure they are evenly spaced. 

Step 8. Now, if you're professional (unlike me) and have possession of a cooks blow torch (this would have been fun though) brown the top of the marzipan until it goes a slightly golden brown colour. Alternatively, heat up your grill to the highest setting and brown the marzipan for roughly 1-2 minutes checking every few seconds so that it doesn't burn (you wouldn't want to ruin all of your hardwork now!)

Good luck! 

Chloe 

xx

What's happening this week?

Hello fellow fundraisers! I thought I will give you an insight to what's happening on my fundraising journey this week!

Tonight, I am setting up my stall once again at my brother's football match selling: teas, coffees, sweets & chocolate (which proved quite popular for the kids!) in the hope to raise a little bit more towards my fund.

Then on Friday, I am baking cakes that I have been asked to bake in return for a donation towards my expedition. One of them is a bit of a challenge and will reveal my inner Mary Berry as if it goes wrong, well....don't even get me started! Keep your eyes peeled for the recipe! 

Sunday, the thought of Easter egg hunts and chocolate springs to mind, but not for me. Instead, my mum will be standing in a field selling bits and bobs from the boot of her car! Unfortunately, I cannot be at this one as I am at my dads and away in Sheffield - poor mum! But, I will let you know how it goes!  

I also want to give a massive thank you to Leanne at Camps International for sharing my blog and giving me some amazing opportunities!

Chloe

xxx