I am delighted to announce that Jonathan Morrell, of Real Radio (and formerly of Tyne Tees) has kindly agreed to join us as our special guest host at the Charity Event, in aid of Marie Curie (Newcastle).

Furthermore, we would also like to welcome local band, Toxic Melons, who have generously donated their time to provide live music at the event.

Remember, the event is to be held at Blaydon Rugby Club on 5th September 2009 and begins at 7.30pm. Admittance is strictly by ticket only and they are available for only £10 per person.

So, for a tenner, we’re offering: a door prize raffle entry, a buffet, a prize quiz, live music, a celebrity host and the chance to win numerous fabulous prizes. There will be optional raffles, tombola, name-the-bear stall and a craft stall, featuring some stunning hand-made jewellery. To purchase tickets for this event, please contact me via the form on this website and I will be delighted to sort them out for you. You can pay by credit or debit card, using Paypal or cash/cheque/postal order.

We have catering to arrange, so would be grateful if you can reserve tickets before 30th August, if possible. We look forward to seeing you!

We finally have a venue for our charity evening and, IF it works out as planned, what a fantastic evening it will be! If you’re in the North East of England and want to have some edfa fun, all for a good cause, contact me for further details.

Tickets will be on sale soon, and will include a buffet and entertainment. I will tell more as and when things are confirmed, but it’ll be worth it for one of Catherine’s entertaining quizzes alone - and maybe your team will win a prize, too? There will be (almost) all the fun of the fair, with tombola, raffle and ‘name the bear’ stalls and I know that there are already some great prizes on offer.

We aim to raise as much as possible for Marie Curie in Newcastle, and I’d like you to help us do it!

So, it’s ME/CFS Awareness Day today. Were you aware? I’m disappointed to say that I have seen nothing in the media today about ME (or CFS, the now preferred term for the condition). Surely the entire point of having an Awareness Day is to raise the profile of the condition among people who don’t know about it. Sufferers are well-aware already. Everyday is ME Awareness Day for us, and our families/friends.

It’s ironic that that day seems to be invisible, as that’s how many people discribe the illness: an invisible disability. Look at my gallery, for example: do I look ill to you? No? Yet, some days it is hard just to get out of bed. Some days it is hard to hold a conversation. Some days are just plain hard. However, some hours are fun. Even knowing that you will ‘pay’ for those hours, they are still worth while. Our lives are one long balancing act: balancing rest and activity; balancing rest and too much rest; balancing need for company and need for solitude; trying to be ‘normal’ while trying to get people to recognise that we don’t feel ‘normal’.

A difficult thing to take is the misconception that ME/CFS tiredness is like being tired. It is not. It is an, often overwhelming, physical and mental fatigue that will not be helped by a nap, pulling ourselves together, or getting some exercise/fresh air. It can be exacerbated by activity, but is not necessarily in proportion to that activity. It is unpredictable, making it difficult to make plans, and making it difficult to socialise (although the internet has been a Godsend in this respect). There are other physical symptoms that sufferers experience to a lesser or greater degree - perhaps this is one of the reasons why we are so disheartened when people describe ME/CFS as a mental illness or liken it to depression. Whose mental state would not be affected if their normal way of life was snatched from them? Anger, frustration and sadness is not the same as depression; depression is a different, and common, condition, which some sufferers do experience.

That’s the way I view the condition, and if you want to chat about it, feel free to join our Facebook group.

I am only getting started with regard to trying to get donations for the event, but I have a feeling it will be very similar to the process an author goes through when submitting work to an agent/publisher. First, you are cautiously optimistic. Then you send off your work/letter, and the doubt sets in. Then there are the rejections. Is it all worth it, you ask yourself. Well, hopefully it will be. This is as nerve-wracking as last year’s Tyne Bridge Abseil.

If I was famous, I’d be so overwhelmed to think that my mere signature on a photo or something, was enough to make money for a charity. I’d sign everything, thus devaluing said signature! Sports clubs are very generous with regard to charity donations, but what makes them help one charity and refuse another? I wish I knew the secret, as each charity is as deserving as the next. How do you say no?

That’s why it’s fortunate that there are some generous people in the world. Just ordinary individuals, happy to help a good cause in some way. We have already secured a beautiful (and suitable huge) teddy bear, and lots of signed books (I will be roll-calling these lovely authors on my revamped website). I know there’s plenty of time, but I want to make sure that this event is a massive success, not only for the charity but for the people who attend.