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[ X-Factor Narrator Voice over drum roll] Ladies aaand Gentlemen.
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We.
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Have.
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Reached.
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Our.
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TARGET!!
[Queue 20th Century Fox theme music] Da da da daa [and so on]
Audience goes wild.
"AAAHHH!!" "Woo!!" "Yeah baby yeah!" "G'WAN YA GOOD TING" "What is she on about?" "Sessiooon!"
...
Two thousand, two hundred and twelve euro and fifty two cent.
Not only did we hit this target but went slightly over a few euros which I'll give to the sanctuary anyway, every little helps! I got over the last hurdle thanks to my Aunty Ann and Uncles Tom and Joe, and the one and only Grace Deane. Thank you!!
I thought I was going to have to get a loan from the credit union to pay for what I couldn't raise!
I'm overwhelmed really and it still hasn't hit me at all. That I'm actually going to South Africa to work with wild life. I mean, I've wanted to do this since I got addicted to The Wild Thornberrys when I was 9. And this is all thanks to you.
Those who supported me via advice, sponsorship and helping me host events to get the sponsorship in.
Thank you from the bottom of my love filled heart.
^_^
Now, I think it's an Irish trait I have in me that makes me awful at all this cheesy stuff and expressing my emotions but damn, you're all beautiful people helping me help monkeys and other wildlife. The current state of things aren't making things easy on anyone's pocket, but so so many of you chipped in anyway. I can't express my gratitude enough without dragging the blog on so I'm going to shut up about that now...
Ok, so I've received all my vaccinations now. A word of warning to anyone else getting a vaccine in future (this happened to me with my diphtheria & tetanus combined injection). Just because you got a vaccine before (the Hep A & typhoid combined) that hurt your arm like hell as soon as it went into your muscle meaning you were cautious about sleeping on it and anyone touching it for the following 2 days and wincing like a baby every time the wind blew too hard on it, DON'T THINK that because you got another vaccine that didn't hurt straight away that it's perfectly fine and everything is all daisies and cupcakes and rainbows and glitter. I thought my arm was grand. Wasn't sore. Poked it a bit to make sure. Wasn't too bad. By the time I went to bed I was practically doing arm stands on the thing! Sleeping on it, rolling on it, throwing it all over the place in my dreams fighting off the X-Men and what not.
Then.
I woke up in morning afternoon, and felt like someone had broken into my room, stabbed me in the arm with a rusty knife, twisted it around a bit, healed the wound with their Yoda powers so there wasn't a scratch left, made sure any blood was cleaned up and left the room without me even waking up. I couldn't lift it passed a certain height, I was like John McCain with one arm. And anytime I forgot and went to reach for something with that arm, I looked like a nazi. So yeah. If it doesn't hurt straight away, don't sleep on it anyway. It will NOT be ok when you wake up!
Sigh.
Well apart from that, I'm currently on a trial run of malaria prevention tablets (250mg of Lariam per tablet taken once a week). 20% of people who take it generally get crazy side effects like depression/increased depression, mood-swings, forgetfulness, panic attacks, strange dreams, hallucinations and feeling suicidal to name a few! (The list is on a piece of paper as long as my arm, double sided, small font. o.o ). Now, I'm currently halfway through my second week of medicine and haven't noticed myself being anymore crazy or typically mood swingy (all part of being a woman folks) than I usually am. HOWEVER. That could just be the side effect of 'forgetfulness' getting to me and really I've been going through a whole host of things but just forget about it. Let us hope not!
So yeah, all is good in the hood really! Flights are booked, insurance is paid for, a ridiculous amount of sunscreen and khaki coloured clothes have been bought. I just need to pack my bag and print my tickets and get the mammy to make me a sandwich and I'm ready to go!
EIGHTEEN SLEEPS AWAY!!
I'm excited, but not as much as I will be in the airport on the day as I still don't really believe I'm going. I wouldn't be surprised if Ashton Kutcher jumped out from behind a bin in Terminal 2 saying "YOU'VE JUST BEEN PUNK'D! We made everyone give you fake money and made the bank and the charity go along with it for the craic! Hahahahaaw!". . . Ok, maybe I would be pretty surprised, as I'm not important enough to get Punk'd and Ashton Kutcher would never say 'for the craic'. But anyway, hasn't hit me yet! I'm sure it will when there's monkeys pooing all over me though and no sign of green fields or Tayto Crisps anywhere. . .
Well folks, I suppose the next time you'll be hearing from me, I'll be enroute to AFRICA!! Most likely ranting about the fact that the circulation has gone from my feet from sitting on planes for hours and worrying about my luggage and going through security feeling guilty for no reason but feeling really tempted to yell BOMB just to see what happens. . . You'd like that too wouldn't you? Well let's just hope I don't get turrets before then.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
If you're reading this, you're deadly, I love you.
Slán go fóil
Ceara :)
<3
