Monthly Archives: April 2012

BRILLIANT DAY

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Just had the most fantabulous day ever! I’ve stuffed myself with gorgeous cakes, had 2 hennas and also had my nails done! All whilst raising £366 with donations still coming in! I had now gone over my total target of £1600 by £66 so I’m very, very happy!

It took a lot of planning, cutting out little notices and telling loads of people loads of times what I’m doing, when I’m doing and repating it over and over again for the people who came that were quite deaf! But it was a fabulous day and I’m now absolutely buzzing but slightly shattered from baking a few last minute cakes last night, cleaning the house and going to band this morning! It was definitely worth it, as I now have about 3months to raise even more so we can do more work out in India!

I can’t wait! It will be sooooo much fun, and I’m really looking forward to next weekend and seeing my lovely team members again! Although I’m dreading the thought of how absolutely boiling hot it is going to be in Chennai! Ridiculous! But hey! I’m also buzzing about the fact that my gran has made me 2 gorgeous chududars (I think that’s how you spell it!) to wear whilst I’m out in India, made from really thin material so even though I’m covered I hopefully won’t get too hot! :D

So all in all, raising £366 was a brilliant end to an absolutel fantabulous week!!!!

Visa

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Generally, the more you do something the better you become at it. As you repeat things time and again, it becomes easier for you to do, and you can do it faster. That is the idea any way.  If you are good at something it makes sense that you should do it, and keep doing it.

Indian visa

Indian visa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is possibly why I am now filling in visa applications for the Chennai Challenge team. I have done it before, I know what the questions will be, I know what they mean. I wish i could say that it is a job that brings me joy, except it doesn’t really, it is a bit of a chore.  Also, in real terms I haven’t actually done this very often. There seems to be subtle and not so subtle changes to the process every so often, although this year it is the same as the last. The thing that doesn’t ever change, is that you have to fill in quite a lot of information in order to get your visa. This wonderful bureaucracy that has to be followed. In my experience there is always a lot of bureaucracy in India, maybe a a little imprint left from the days of Empire.

The strange thing is, as awkward as it can be at times, and also frustrating and bemusing, I sort of like Indian bureaucracy.  I can’t really explain why, I feel it it just one of those Indian things that makes modern India, India. There are heaps of things about India that I love that are a bit odd, or some times may seem a bit outdated. I just love the country and all of it’s little idiosyncrasies.

However, I have also found a brilliant thing that most of us will not appreciate is there. The British passport is wonderful. And my favorite part is the inside front cover, where you have the passport note:

  Her Britannic Majesty‘s Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.

The fact that I am calling on the name of the Queen in order to have safe passage is fabulous. You could go in to a study on the power of names, just from this. You could question why it is written only in English, which is potentially useless in foreign parts. You could question if it is any help at all, if you try to wave this at someone who is offering hindrance to your journey. But I just love this quirky little part of the British passport. I to my knowledge, no other country puts a similar statement in, so it is uniquely British. The uniquely British thing is important, not for some jingoistic reason, but because I think it is good to celebrate those things that make countries unique. And so, even though bureaucracy is not unique to India, I like the way it it is very much done in an Indian way. Now, back to the visas, and reveling in the process!

A taste of South India

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In the UK there is no shortage of Indian restaurants. It has been said that the Chicken Tikka Masala  is now the national dish. Yet so few of the restaurants serve authentic Indian food. A very small number seem to serve food that is anything like as good as that you will find in India. Then try to find a good South Indian restaurant, you could be struggling. However Chennai Dosa could well be here to rescue you.

I love South Indian food, and so paid a visit to the newly opened Chennai Dosa in Stretford Mall, Manchester. It was a little bit of a drive, and on first arriving at Stretford Mall, I was a little disappointed. A wet, northern day and an uninspiring shopping mall. Yet in this a little gem with a taste of South India. We walked in to a restaurant that straight away made us feel like we were in the canteen style dining places of Chennai. It was a struggle to not say ‘Nandri’ instead of thank you. The menu has all the things we would want from a South Indian restaurant, and more than we could try in one sitting. Vadai, Uttapam, Paper Roast, Gobi 65 were all there. Non-veg options are available with the likes of  chicken 65 and the intriguing crab dosa. However, between us we had Masala Dosa, Poori Masala and idiyapam with veg kurma.

Masala Dosa from Chennai Dosa

The Dosa was very good, the masala inside was less spicy than in India, possibly to try and please the British palate, and we had some discussion on whether or not it was crispy enough. It was overall very good.

Poori masala from Chennai Dosa

 

The Poori were huge, wonderfully puffed up, and again served with masala.

The veg kurma served with the idiyapam tasted almost exactly like that served in the Doveton Hotel in Chennai, it was wonderful.

These delights alone would be enough, but it did not finish there. There has to be

A Gulab Jamun, hiding under ice cream

a dessert, for which we had payasam, pista ice cream and gulab jamun with ice cream. Of these the pista ice cream was the least exciting, being served on a stick and looking distinctly manufactured and bought in. The payasam was nice and authentic, the Gulab Jamun was heavenly.

So far, so good and with all of the items so far costing less than £3 each, very good value. Well, unless you compare it to India, then my Dosa cost at least  six times the normal price.

Overall then, a very enjoyable meal and at a reasonable price, what more could we ask for?

 

Delicious coffee, mid pouring

Coffee. We could ask for coffee. So we did, hesitantly, do you have coffee? Is it South Indian coffee? Yes, Yes is the answer, proper real south indian coffee, served as it should be in metal cups, you had to add your own sugar, but then, after a short time of mixing you have that wonderful sweet, milky, hot coffee that is the fuel to South India, a sweet nectar that lifts your spirits and energy. A wonderful coup de grace to finish the meal.

 

 

 

A great way to see a part of a culture is to eat their food. On Chennai Challenge team members get the chance to eat the food in India, with little chance of avoiding it. If you want to get an idea of South indian food, then go to Chennai Dosa. There are branches across the UK, so have a mini-immersion in a new culture, go and try some real food.

 

Minimum effort, maximum yield!

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This is a common phrase used amongst fundraisers!

Basically, the most productive way to fundraise is where you put in the least effort you can, yet raise the most amount possible.

So here are my top five ‘minimum effort, maximum yield’ fundraising ideas;

1) JUST ASK!  - The simplest way is to ask people you know.

Set up an online account where people can donate! Then send a message to all of your friends, family and colleagues!  Remember – if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

2) WRITE LETTERS! - A really simple way to raise some money.

Write a standard letter explaining what you are raising money for and why. Then send out to companies, local MP’s, schools, organisations, businesses etc. Remember make them personal to each place you are sending them to. Is there a link between you and them which may make it more appealable?  Sometimes they may not be able to give money however they could provide prizes/items for a raffle!

3) GET OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED!

Ask friends and family to help with fundraising. Could they complete a sponsored event? Could they help run an event you are holding? You will find people are always willing to do silly things for charity!

4) HOLD A RAFFLE!- People love raffles!

Everytime you hold an event, make sure you include a raffle. You can ask people and businesses for prizes (it is good publicity for businesses if you have their products!). If you have amazing prizes to be won, that people really want, they will then  buy as many tickets as they can get their hands on… So think long and carefully about what prizes you will get!

Bracelet Fundraiser

Simple but effective!

5) BRACELETS! - Simple concept that works well!

The really great thing about silicone bracelets

is that they are so popular, and  not only amongst the youth, but also for the older generations! Selling them will not be a problem! They will also raise the profile of your charity! Remember make the design appealing and popular – a design that people really want to buy!

So go and enjoy some hassle free fundraising!

Let us know which of the 5 proved most successful or any other ‘minimum effort, maximum yield’ fundraisers you have found to be a success.

Here are a couple of other blog entries that are worth reading for fundraising tips:

http://rhinoinspirations.com/2012/03/15/tips-to-a-successful-fundraiser/

http://westsidetnt.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/donation-letters/

http://www.justgiving.com/tips