The expression goes.......

......that if one waits until one is ready for something, the readiness never comes. So, with that in mind, bring it on! I'm ready enough. 12 days to go, the bike's ready, mousses fitted, roadbook 'thingy' fitted, went on a wee shopping spree this afternoon for jerry cans, metal putty (cold chemical weld I'm told - not that I have any idea what to do with it!!) and enough zip ties to go around the world twice.

The bikes are being trucked to France in the next day or two, so when a window of opportunity appeared today for a practice I took it! It was also at the precise moment that the heavens opened on Cambridesghire - real Welsh rain it was!

My little Honda is on top form, Martin at TorqueRacing has worked his magic, the forks are 'lovely' (technical term), a lowering link on the back and a couple of bar risers. Perfick! Martin's the man.

The CRF 250 isn't as torquey as the 400, still need to work on my throttle control on set off, wheel span just the once - oop!

Had a fabulous outing, one of those 'big smile in the helmet' jobs. It was very slippery and I just love big puddles, they're as irresistible as dark chocolate! Played 'chicken' with a few young pheasants or maybe it was 'pheasant'! Had a major wobbly skid and just averted a spill - tee hee! I was absolutely soaked to the skin when I returned - not one item was dry. Jet -washed the bike, it was very satisfyingly grubby!

Very excitingly, we've raised a current total of £6207 for GOSH and KidsCo, the target is near! Thanks very, very much to everyone who has so generously donated, it means such a lot and personally has been such an incentive when the going's got tough (and that's been quite a lot of times!!) and to our wonderful sponsors; GBRacing, TorqueRacing, The Wendy House, Esse, Ocean One, SLP, ZeroNine, SupremeBeing, Eagle Performance, Dawson VAServices and my No. 1 trainer Donna Gray.

I'm wearing a rather lovely shirt tonight (bear with?!) which has been signed by Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, James Toseland amongst other notable legends of MotoGP, TT, WSB & BSB - hoping some expertise will rub off!! Kindly donated by Steve Parrish and it's going up for auction soon - watch this space.....

£5500 for GOSH and KidsCo.....

What a fabulous evening raising a further £1300 for GOSH and KidsCo.

Thank you so much to everyone who came and those who bid in the auction.

Thanks to Tim McEwan, our fantastic auctioneer - a natural!

Michelle Hunter for hosting the auction at The Queen Adelaide.

Steve Parrish, Charley Boorman, Bloodhound SSC, The Goring Hotel, Taylard House, Chris Evans, Cyril Despres, SupremeBeing,

Ed Blum, Billy Ward and Graham Banks for generously donating such fabulous auction lots.

Caroline Failletaz for collecting the cash! Elly Hanna for capturing the event on film!

Martin Wittering, Donna Gray and Gary Failletaz for endless support and encouragement and picking up my bike and sometimes me on numerous occasions!

And of course the girls and Mr T.

Adding a sprinkling of Film Director glamour to the challenge.

I'm overexcited...........again!

Went to SupremeBeing, the very cool clothing company with my daughter, to take the challenge T-shirts signed by the lovely Ross Noble and delightful Steve Parrish (who is also kindly donating some MotoGP goodies - what a stonking race this weekend) to be finished with the charity logos this afternoon. Big thanks to Billy Ward for making it happen and also for the signed copy of the Long Way Down by Charley Boorman . Piccy's attached - the auction from 7.30pm on Saturday 30th July at The Queen Adelaide, Croydon, Cambs. We met David Newman, MD and one of the creative genius' behind this fabulous brand and they have also very kindly agreed to donate some clothing to the auction too! (Possibly encouraged by my daughter who rather loudly whispered that we didn't have any non-bikey, girly stuff for it?! -oop). Thanks so much David and all the team at SupremeBeing.

Then, I spoke with Ed Blum, a BAFTA nominated Film Producer & Director, you may remember 'Scenes of a Sexual Nature' with Ewan MacGregor, Hugh Bonneville & Catherine Tate to name a few. Ed has another movie on the way, though under wraps at the moment, very exciting .....so watch this space..... He has very kindly agreed to be our auctioneer for the evening, which is marvelous - thanks Ed, brilliant.

Now I just need to get that minor detail of practicing in and frightening-self lessened! I'm out with Gary one evening this week and of course in 9 days time on the 15th June, we'll all be at The Royston & District Motorcycle Club Show......hope to see you there?

Hard as nails in the new helmet!!?!

So, so delighted that SupremeBeing, the uber cool clothing brand, have generously agreed to provide the T shirts that are going to be signed by some equally uber cool people that I can't reveal........yet! All so exciting! Thanks Dave....so much!

As I mentioned to my mate Claire, when that particular email came through, along with a few others agreeing to sign said T shirts, I'd just come out of a cafe with my favourite coffee and so excited was I, I nearly dropped it!!

More excitement, we also have x2 British Superbikes Premium Paddock Passes which have been kindly donated by GB Racing for the GOSH & KidsCo fundraising auction (date to be agreed tomorrow) in the summer. Thanks Graham...brilliant!

On Tuesday, I was a guest of Liz Rhodes of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, one of our earliest supporters and encouragers of this fundraising challenge for GOSH & KidsCo at the afternoon' chatroom' which was great. Thanks Liz for your unwavering support! I also had the real pleasure of meeting Molly Blackburn, a co-ordinator for OpenOut a scheme which supports the victims and witnesses of hate crime in Cambridgeshire, a wonderfully enthusiastic, optimistic person with a fantastic joie de vivre and outlook on life.

So, back to the bikes. I read an article today about two strokes not being that environmentally friendly due to the burnt 'lube' oil that they produce and that they stink when you're behind them. No-one's ever behind me ....... yet!!

Many of you know that my knowledge mechanical is somewhat limited and so a lively discussion with Mr T ensued over supper. He commented that a lot of diesel ships are two strokes, bet they've got big pistons!!! Some ships, like the one Mr T used to be an officer on (before Mrs T!) produce 32,000 shaft horse power( oo er missus). That would make stalling a thing of the past, if of course, it fitted between the wheels. Of course, picking it up would need more than Mr Failletaz and several marshalls. Flippancy aside, why would you choose a two stroke to propel several lots of tonnage through the water if it wasn't vaguely efficient. Discuss?

Stalled several times this evening, I blame the excitable new spark plug - fortunately however I didn't stall in front of several friends I think I spotted outside the local pub and a lady with a gorgeous young English Setter.

Took my new helmet out for a spin this evening. Loved it ...so light... However, now my goggles don't fit?! Hmmphh.

'Hard as nails?' not me as a biker.....working on it though - teehee! I have Shellac nails provided by one of our supporters, Esse retail and spa. Great nails for bikers apparently - 4 days on - no chips yet?!!