Upstaged but not Downtrodden

Parking up in a busy market town square (Tavistock, Devon) on a Saturday with a flashily stickered up motorbike in tow, and you'd think that you would have to beat back the adoring, donating, masses with a pointy stick. But it is my sad duty to inform you, dear reader, that this is not the case. Not far from me was a contingent from the Royal Marines Association, who have a far more urgent need than I, as they help bereaved families needing immediate financial support. Last tour of Afghanistan for 42 Commando equals 14 families. This may not sound like a lot, but is actually very poor odds. We're not told this, naturally, mustn't frighten the public, eh? I felt like a bit of a fraud next to the guys with medals and berets, but ploughed on as I was there and I knew some of them anyway.

Seven hours of handing out cards and plugging the cause brought a local press interview (good on you, Tavistock Times), sixty Blog cards dished out and about fifty quid in donations. The harder I work, the luckier I get, as Sinatra once said...