A Mind Runs Riot…

After looking at the website about the burger in space yesterday, I had a conversation in the shop today and experienced one of those moments when everything becomes clear.

One of the customers was telling us about his planned cycle ride to Skegness and back next weekend. It’s about 180 miles.

That was when I asked if he’d like to do it to help Julia raise funds for the polytunnel cover. I thought if he’d do a ride for her I could organise the fund-raising and we could raise a good portion of the money. I thought it was a good idea. He didn’t. But it got me thinking.

One of my thoughts is that he can kiss goodbye to any thought of future discounts…

My next thought is that we could try for sponsorship for sending a novelty carrot into space. Fundraising is a dog eat dog world and you need to go out there with a big idea. I’ve just looked at an internet guide to sending a balloon into space.

After looking at the cost of cameras and satnavs, I’ve decided not to pursue this. For one thing, you need to buy decent ones if they are going to be useful, and for another, when I tried out the flight path planning software the results weren’t encouraging. It depends on the weather, but if I’m going to spend £300 on electrical gear I’d rather not dump it in the North Sea.

If we set it going, for instance, from the Peak District at 9.30 on Monday morning, it will cross the country, burst at 80,000 feet over the North Sea and drift back by parachute to land just inland from Donna Nook, where we go to see the seals. It’s a bit close for comfort.

At that point I started thinking of rockets. I can’t think of a way of  raising money with rockets, but it looks good fun.

I found a link that offers rocket assisted ash scattering, but haven’t found one that has fund-raising possibilities. Yet.

No pictures – I have to take Number Two Son to work.

See you tomorrow.

 

22 thoughts on “A Mind Runs Riot…

  1. derrickjknight

    You seem to have your energy back. Before my son Samson Knight rowed the Atlantic solo in 2004, I approached Samsonite for sponsorship. They refused. He won the race. Served ’em right

    Reply
    1. quercuscommunity

      It sounds like a perfect match for sponsorship. 🙂

      I remember reading the autobiographies of Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent – even after they were well-known it seems that many people they approached for sponsorship just ignored them. It can be tricky getting support.

      Reply
  2. tootlepedal

    I sympathise with the cyclist.

    Ten years ago, we cycled from Land’s End to John o’Groats and people found it very hard to believe that we were just doing it for fun and were not raising funds for some cause or other. It puts pressure on you if you have to continue for the sake of the sponsorship rather than just because you are enjoying it and it puts pressure on your friends too who feel they have to chip in even if they don’t support the cause. But things like a new polytunnel need funds so it is a tricky situation. Good luck.

    Reply
    1. quercuscommunity

      Parting with money for causes you don’t support is just part of life. I have money taken from me every month, which the government squanders on things like bombs and cycle paths.

      In general, I agree with your point of view about not putting pressure on people, but in this case there are limited options.

      Reply

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