2018 Fundraising Wrap Up

I've been pleasantly surprised by the level of fundraising achieved this year. It was during December of last year that I bought a restored Karcher pressure washer. Since then I've managed to sustain an ongoing effort towards funding the expedition. Within a day I had broke even - after spending 6 hours cleaning someones filthy patio ;right in time for barbeque season. So patio/garden cleaning is definitely a very viable route with some fairly accessible equipment. Additionally to address my £150 goal each month I set about car washing door to door in my local village. One thing I've learned regarding car washing is that simple is often best. Get basic equipment, high quality shampoo and your good to go. Just master the technique (which I'll hopefully post a video about soon) and bobs your uncle. You can be burdened down by fancy polishes, extortionate microfiber towels however their all going to turn out the same sooner or later after extended use. Kent car washing equipment and Auto-glym Shampoo worked wonders at a cost effective price.

In July, Harry and I set about organizing a Ceroc dance event at our village hall. After hours of sweating away on producing posters, setting a date, logistics and a small band of helpers, the work eventually payed off. I definitely took some lessons from my wonderful friend Maggie who suggested that word of mouth is a very reliable form of drumming up a crowd. People find it way too easy to drift away from a facebook notification about an upcoming event. Instead if you lure them in face to face your much more likely to get the expected results. I do plan on continuing this event on wards into 2019 which hopefully will be exceed last years buzzing fun night out.

In the colder months of October to December I worked Saturdays at Cotswold Outdoors, which should keep me afloat until the days start span longer and my studies calm down. It is my intention to keep car-washing on and off for regular customers until the summer holidays before university. On a further note, Cotswold Outdoors is a handy job for those who take an interest in outdoor equipment or don't mind talking another human beings. I've learned a lot about footwear, establishing quality of kit and how to fold t-shirts correctly (which is a big deal for an ever present teenager like myself). It's certainly developed my people skills and found other people with similar passions for our wilderness and adventure.

Lastly, it's a Happy New Year from the Travel Compass; wishing you good fortune for all your upcoming adventures in 2019. Once again thank you all for a massive show of support support this year, helping transform the vision into a reality!

- And remember that every journey is a new perspective and a more refined version of yourself so please - make this year another year to wander.