Update: Tomorrow!

Hey everyone,

I'm starting my 2 day trip to the Cayman Islands tomorrow!

I'm wondering how I'll cope with the time difference, because I'll end up waking up at about 4am over there when it's 9am here in the UK!

I'll keep you posted!

Update: Over Christmas....

Hey everyone,

I'm going to see my family in the Cayman Islands over Christmas and New Year, due to illnesses to my Auntie.

Despite the worrying news, the trip will help me understand how the difference in time (5/6 hours) will be like, and how it'll have an effect on my body, as well as how I'll get used to the heat.

Whilst I'm there, my Uncle might so some diving with me so that'll help massively!

I'll do my best to keep posting whilst I'm over there!

Update: Scubadiving?

Hey, 

A few friends and I were looking up diving courses so we can get our scubadiving documentation, meaning we can simply get straight in with the work, rather than doing the classes there and being restricted to certain activities, but it turns out, my school are making everyone do their scubadiving qualification in March time! 

It's an extra £200 on top of the trip cost, but it'll definitely be worth it, as we'll all be able to jump straight in with coral ecology etc.

I look forward to it!

Thank You TWLOHA!!

Hey guys,

So I finally got my shirts from TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms) and they're great! They're the right colour for the rainforest (decent camouflage) and they're a good fit! 

Here they are:

Update: Tips!

Hey, 

I've been looking up what to do concerning food, drinks etc, whilst I'm in the rainforest.

I'm NOT to take any water from any stream, lake or waterfall, and I'm only to take large bottles of clean, natural spring water or mineral water (despite them being bad for you in large amounts).

Food should really only be eaten when in times of extreme hunger etc, but I'm sure I'll keep on top of that!

I'll most definitely have to wear protective, but loose fitting, cotton clothing to keep me cool and to prevent any mosquitoes bites. My pants will have to be long and tucked into my walking boots to prevent any bites from ants to snakes.

I'll have to bring some waterproof ponchos or something to help me keep dry, as the rainforest can get particularly wet during the very long rain hours. I've also seen that talcum powder is quite helpful to put on my feet to keep them dry for putting on socks and shoes.

I'll be looking other stuff up soon, for other things such as what foods to bring and eat (although I'm sure we'll be eating something with the group anyway) and any good gadgets I can use to help me during darkness or anything else.

Update: WiFi!

Hey,

So I've just realised that there might not be any sort of generator in the campsite, which would be beneficial for me to update this blog, and talk to friends and family etc about how things are going.

Apologies!!

Hey everyone,

I apologise for the lack of posts these past few weeks, despite saying I'd post every 2 days. I've been caught up with school work, mini tests I'm doing at home, university applications etc etc etc, and I've simply had no time to update!

I promise to update more regularly with anything I find that'll be beneficial to my expedition!

Future Plans for Fitness!

Hey!

So I've been going to my school gym every Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunches for an hour, and I've been coming home, doing work and then going on either a short run or doing some weightlifting with my Dad, who had gladly joined me in getting fit!

I've recently been considering doing the INSANITY challenge, otherwise known as the "world's hardest workout, without the use of weights or a gym".

It's one years worth of training, all packed into two months! You should see the results from some people, it's amazing and also quite weird to see someone so clearly physically unfit, become covered in muscles!

I don't know whether to do it yet, as it's 45 minutes a day, 6 days a week, and the only time I can do it, will be past 9pm, when I'm too tired to do anything and I'm watching TV with the family haha!

Fitness and stuff!

Hey everyone,

So I'm starting a fitness plan to help benefit my stamina etc for when I'm hiking up the inclined terrain in the rainforests of Honduras!
It'll also help me feel better about myself and my mind etc, so I hope to feel and look good!

I've looked at protein products, for the extra muscle bulking, if needed, like smoothies, bars and powders etc. I've also been trying to start my own calorie counting and diet etc, and I've started doing my exercises. I've got to keep fit!

Been a while... Update: Clothing Companies etc

Hey guys, 
So I've been emailing a few clothing companies for donations of tops that I can wear whilst in Honduras, take a photo and then help them boost their status etc!
Many companies haven't even replied, but I got a reply from TWHOLA (To Write Love On Her Arms) and they're happily sending two tops for me to wear and take pictures of!
This has really made me happy and I can't wait to go on the trip!!

Update: Glucose Tablets??

So I've found some glucose tablets, and I'm really surprised at how cheap they are! 
I can get some Lucozade glucose tablets for 50p at Tesco etc, and then dextrose tablets for a bit more, but then I can get a tub of 50 for around £4 which isn't too bad!

Update: Raffle???

Hey everyone!
Just a quick update to say that things are going well-ish and Operation Wallace sent out an email to do with raffle tickets to give out to older students etc, with the first prize being a brand new car!!
It sounds pretty good to me!
I'll update soon!

Biology Field Trip finished!

Hey!

I've just got back from my field trip in Yorkshire with my school's biology department, that lasted from Sunday to today.

It was great and fun and I really enjoyed every moment of it! I hope to do more of things like that before I go to Honduras!

Here are some photos from the trip!

Update: Biology Field Trip on Sunday!

Hey everyone!

My biology field trip is in just 2 days, and I'm already packed and excited to be walking through mud and stuff and doing population work etc.

From now on, I should be posting at least once every 2 days, if not, then maybe every 3 days. I'll simply be posting about my future plans, or even things like brand new products I can buy and will be able to use them whilst walking through the rainforest!

Update: Biology Field Trip

Hey!

So in a week's time, I'll be off to Cranedale, in Yorkshire, to conduct A2 Level field work, like estimating populations of insect species in the area and using quadrats etc.

I've been given a list of things to take, all of which are similar to what I'll be taking to Honduras with me, like flasks, waterproof clothing, bags and sunglasses, among other things!

This field trip is going to help massively!

Update: Biology Field Trip (and workouts)!

Hey!

So on the 21st of this month (my Nan's birthday) I'm going on a biology field trip up hills etc, so, for the first time, I get to try out my leather walking boots and hiking clothes ready for my Honduras trip!

I'm also doing cardiovascular training so i have a good stamina ready for scaling the rainforest mountains, as well as other hills and things, ready for my expedition!
I definitely need to get fit, so the diets and workouts start!

Update: Car Boot Sale is Done!!

Hey guys!

We did the car boot sale! We surprisingly made £152.25!!!! It was a fun day overall, despite the odd argument on prices haha (some people wanted to buy our 50p items for less than 10p)

Holding the Honduras poster I used for the cake sales!

 Nearing the end of the day

  A CUSTOMER OMG

 this is father

this is mother 

 Look at the amount of cars, and that's only half of the field!

Update: Sunday!

Car boot this Sunday!!

I hope it goes well, as it's only a small one, and of course if we don't sell all of the items, we'll do another some time this year or next!

Update: Car Boot Sale Soon!

Hey again,

I'm going to be doing a car boot sale soon to help me rake in some extra money that'll go straight to my fund. 

I'll update this as soon as it's done, and I'll tell you all how it went! I hope it goes well, I need this to work out for me, we have a lot of items to get rid of for, I hope, reasonable prices!

While you're here, I'd appreciate if you could share this to your friends and families, to help raise a bit of awareness for my fundraising etc!

Update: Excitement!

Hey guys, just a quick update to say that I'm extremely excited that my Honduras trip is less than a year away! 
Yes, I've mentioned that before, but just stirring up conversations with friends and family about it makes me feel ecstatic about jumping into the cloud rainforests, performing the species conservation, scuba-diving by the coral reefs and finally finishing off in New York for a few days, as an extra little treat for staying the damp and moist rainforest air for so long (to which we have to raise extra money for)!!

Don't forget to check out my JustGiving page, and feel free to comment on my updates etc!

Family Travels

I found out that my grandparents might be moving, which although is sad to see them moving from their family home of over 30 years, it's good for me in some sense, as I'll be getting some stuff for my car boot sales and tombolas etc!

Also guys, feel free to leave comments on any of the posts, I'll gladly comment back.

Update: Research, Diets and Achievements?

Hey guys!

Over the holidays, I've been doing more and more research from sugar tablets, to finding and applying for grants from companies etc.

I'm also going to be starting a new diet and I'm going to be going to using my home gym (a few weights and stuff in my garage) a lot more often, to help me with my expedition for climbing the mountains etc!
It's also going to be a personal achievement to get myself in good shape, and I'll be keeping it that way from then on!

Talking about grants and donations, I've recently been emailing companies and people that may help me! At this moment, I am in desperate need to help get grants and succeed in my goals and finally pay off this trip and pay off the gear I'll be buying, as well as diving lessons and things.

Also, don't forget to take a quick look at my JustGiving page, and tell your friends and family to help, it'd mean so much to me! 

Update: JustGiving.

Hi guys.
All this summer I've been doing other activities to help raise more money for my Honduras fund.

Recently, I have come into troubles with raising more money, as many fundraising events I have planned to attend, have been somewhat cancelled.

However, I have now set up a JustGiving page, to help me raise more money, and for any of you good people to donate, if you want to.

It's a bit rusty at the moment, as I haven't particularly added any photos or videos yet, but here's the link for you to check it out.


https://www.justgiving.com/leonshondurasexpedition/

It'd be helpful if you shared my JustGiving page to your facebook, twitter, whatever to help me!

Restart!

Hey everyone!
For the past week I've been doing my work experience, and now it's back to school for another week and a half to finish off the beginning of A2. That means I'm back to doing my research into weird equipment that I don't understand!

This Time Next Year...

In exactly one year, I will be departing England and starting my Honduran Expedition! It's rather frightening, in all honesty.

Hopefully, during this summer, I'll be taking part in more fundraising activities, so I can achieve the £4200 I need for both the expedition and vital equipment and the crucial diving lessons I need.

I hope this next year sails smooth!

Tombola is done!

Hey guys, today, my family and I hosted our tombola! We made a total of £75 (expected and achieved)! We sold tickets for 20p each (5 for a £1 obviously).

Here are the advertising posters we used to publicize my Honduras expedition, the prizes and the stall itself: 

Here is a picture of our first winners, and Hannah, our luckiest tombola prize winner, managing to win 5 prizes with 5 different tickets!

Tombola!!

Hey again, here's a couple of photos with some things that are going into the tombola we've organised with the TYO (Trafford Youth Orchestra) and their Music Centre on Saturday 5th July!
We have approx. 75 prizes that will hopefully help me raise up to £100 towards my Honduras Expedition. Hopefully, it'll be sunny all day and we'll have no problems in selling every one of the tickets and getting rid of the prizes! Some of the prizes include music stands, teddy bears and photo frames!

Thanks to everyone who is involved! My running total now is £1600!!!

Update: Exams Season.

Hey guys, it's been a while!!
I've been doing my AS-level exams and have gone straight onto A2-level (Year 13) work. It's been a stressful month hahah!!
I'm going to restart my research and make more lists of needed things, like special tablets or cool gear!
I'll update soon enough!

Another quick update.

Hey guys! Just a quick update to say that we've sorted out our stuff and put everything in bags and boxes ready for car boots etc. I feel we need more!

I've been researching boots etc ready for next year, gotta be ready!

Update.

Hey everyone, just an update to say that I've been doing odd bits of research, around my as-level revision and the gigs I've been attending.
Everything's getting back to normal, no gigs for a while! I'm going to be doing more research, and it's possible I'll be sending more letters to companies asking for grants and/or raffle prizes.
I've got a to-do list, and one point is to look at a website called Just Giving, that helps people fundraise over the internet or by text.

Quick Update!

Hey! Just a quick update to mention that I've been searching up some typical expedition things, from hiking boots to glucose pills and vaccines and innoculations! 
My mum's talking to companies about raffle prizes as well.
Thanks to my grandparents for leaving us with all their unwanted "antiques" ready for the raffles as well!
Catch you all next week!

Another Cake Sale!

Hey everyone, just a quick update to say that I'm likely to start the cake sales again, to raise another £20-30 extra :)

Just a quick update!

Sorry, it's been a while since I last posted an update.
I've recently been with my family on a short holiday during the half term, as well as revising for my AS-Level mocks. Just to let you all catch up, I have managed to obtain a £20 gift voucher from the intu Trafford Centre towards the raffle prizes I am going to be giving away to lucky winners in December. My mum has been promised raffle prizes from two of her contracts - Camerons Brewery and Cobevco. We're not particularly sure what we're getting yet, but many thanks have been given to both companies.
I have sent letters to The Rotary Club, P&G and the Masons, for now. I am awaiting their reply.
As I am a member of UHSM NHS Trust, I have also wrote to the governors for support.

Money towards Opwall!!

Today, my Uncle, who works for SkyWheels (that's the logo), gave £200 towards Operation Wallacea!

My Uncle is a great guy; he's very generous, and I'm glad he's given some money towards Opwall. I can't thank him enough :)

Another TYO Bake Sale

This week we had a moderately good bake sale, raising over £20. Here are some photos we took. Enjoy the sights of the beautiful cakes we sold.

 Me clearly sitting all alone, ready to sell these cakes to the young folk.

 Some very satisfied customers.

LE CAKES YESSSSS

Weekly Update: Feb 2nd.

Hi people. Another busy week has passed. I've been preparing my letters, to send off to lots of different businesses, in order to (hopefully) succeed in obtaining some grants, sponsorship's and raffle prizes. 

The total I have raised, so far, is £1100. 

Experiences.

Here's a load of random pictures that describe what I'll be experiencing when I enter the rainforest, when I'm scuba-diving and what animals I'm likely to find.