Rachel Colenso

  We are attempting to scoot the length of the Thames River to raise funds for the Red Cross International Disaster Fund . By coincidence, today we scooted passed one of many areas where The Thames has burst its banks and flooded homes. The area is Laleham, near Staines upon Thames. People, many elderly were notified at 4am last week by the environmental agency to get rations and warm bedding and to move into the upper most rooms or attics of their homes. They were instructed to fill pillow cases with earth from their gardens and create barricades to prevent flooding where possible. They have spent a week in freezing winter conditions without electricity. So extremely sad to witness this disaster. We spoke to one man who's 74 year old sister was told to go into the garden and fill pillow cases with earth. It was 4am, and pouring with rain at the time. People have been afraid to evacuate their home. Many have had nowhere to go to. This has given us a tiny insight into

It was an unlikely meeting, but one I will never forget. New Years Eve 1999 - the eve of the Millennium. To mark this auspicious event some friends and I planned a climb to the summit of Table Mountain at night, with head torches, clinging to the 200m sheer rock face that plummets vertically beneath the line of the cable car. The aim was to surprise the SABC TV broadcaster who would be poised near the edge ready to comment on the millenium celebrations at the Tip of Africa by popping our heads over the cliff top at 2 minutes to 12. Hopefully we would also avoid the shower of champagne corks heading off the mountain. We spent the afternoon organising ropes and equipment and some rather fetching outfits to go under our harnesses. One of our three person team painted their body gold! Enroute to the start of our climb we made a quick stop at a shopping center in Claremont (a suburb of Cape Town). In the joie de vivre of the moment I left my purse on the shop counter. As I left the shop d