Who to support

These days hardly a day goes by without someone asking you for a charity donation. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in town doing your shopping, or on the way to work or just opening your post, there will be some kind of an appeal to your better nature in the form of a request for you to donate to charity. Only this week we had the annual Children in Need extravaganza, which significantly added to the number of times I was asked to put my hand in my pocket for a good cause. Other requests come in the shape of Big Issue sellers, direct mailing appeals to ease human and animal suffering at home and abroad and the secretary at work asking you to sponsor her daughter’s sponsored swim to raise money for a library for disadvantaged children.

All these charities are, in their own unique way, valuable and worthy. Would that I could give generously to them all! One of my favourite charities is the Breast cancer charity which I support because it is a charity which gets women involved in a cause which affects more and more women. We have all heard of the hugely public Kylie Minogue and Caron Keating breast cancers and I doubt there is anyone reading this who hasn’t known of someone close (at least one person, but often more, unfortunately) fighting this disease.

The issue, I guess, in these so called credit crunch times, is which charities do you support and why? How much can you afford to donate? Do you like to have direct debits already set up or do you like to be able to donate on the spur of the moment when the mood takes you? Do you donate to whatever you choose, or do you make sure that any significant other is happy with you sending funds? (This is especially relevant when payments leave a joint bank account on a monthly basis and I heard of one serious falling out when the husband objected to the amount of money being sent each month about which he knew nothing.)

If you have a finite amount set aside for gifting, then how do you make sure that the money is sent to the charity which means the most to you? And it is not just about the donating of money. With the breast cancer charity, the pink ribbons and the ‘Race for Life’ phenomena mean that the charity and the cause becomes bigger and about more than money. If you don’t set aside money for gifting you can consider clothing made specially to raise funds for breast cancer research by companies such as Damart.

It’s about solidarity, of standing up and being counted and of feeling an active part in something that makes a difference. I know countless women who have dedicated hours and hours to these events and feel richer for having done so. Significant numbers of them have become a lot fitter. The few pounds they are poorer for having donated is frankly inconsequential compared to the reward; compared to the knowledge that they have been part of something so positive.

Waterproof rather than water resistant

Most waterproof clothing is reliable in keeping the wearer dry, depending on quality of materials used and quality of product. Not only is this the worst summer on record, with soaring rain-falls daily and flooding in some parts of the country, many workers rely on waterproof clothing, depending on the industry they work in. Off-shore fishermen are dependent on layers of weatherproof garments. Bib & brace trousers, PVC smocks, trousers, jackets, waders and don’t forget the sou’wester! Forestry workers, Agricultural workers and those who work in cleaning and processing rely on a waterproof outer layer of clothing in order that they can effectively do their jobs.

There has been continuing research throughout the years and new materials have been developed which guarantee quality waterproof products. Materials such as GoreTex, a fully breathable, waterproof fabric (made up of three separate layers) have been developed which are 100% guaranteed to keep you dry for the lifetime of the product.

Another guaranteed material is Taslan coated with PVC. There is a British standard code for weatherproof materials and before choosing a waterproof item of clothing, it is best to check whether the fabric conforms to British Standard BS3424.

Manufacturers such as Berghaus and Lowe Alpine specialise in the production of stylish, guaranteed waterproof clothing. Lowe Alpine’s Men’s Deluge jacket, retailing at £90, is made up of Triplepoint waterproof technology, featuring draw cords at waist and hem, folded hood, and storm flap. Berghaus Jackets are of similar construction but made from Goretex. Worn together with waterproof trousers made of similar materials, and wellington boots, the wearer will definitely remain completely dry!

In my opinion it is better to choose a premium waterproof brand in preference to cheaper options. Top brand manufacturers use specialist design and skills guaranteed to keep the wearer dry and warm. They can be washed and laundered many times, keeping their waterproof credentials. Also there are products such as Nik Wax which increase the waterproof element of clothing. Cheaper waterproofs may look similar but the materials used are of a much inferior quality and after several washes, there is very little waterproofing quality left.

Of course, there is some hassle in donning all these layers of extra clothing. The off-shore fisherman has to put on jacket, waders and boots (each with lots of difficult zippers, ties and studs) before setting off. It must take ages. Before launching and setting off to sea though it is an essential part of his job.

However, for most of us who are just heading to the shops, a short walk, or to work, it takes next to no time putting on a guaranteed weatherproof jacket. Craghopper Madigan III is a stylish longer length shell jacket, made of Aquadry. Retailing at £75, it has a draw cord at the waist and would effectively keep out the worst British weather. Essentially this type of waterproof just needs zipping up, and would save the wearer from possibly being drenched in a sudden shower and sitting in the office, cold and shivering all day. Along with a pair of boots and umbrella, warmth and comfort is guaranteed.

Puddle jumping in wellies

My little girl, her name is Holly, loves going and out about with me, she is very much daddy’s little girl. Sometimes, she can be quite a girly girl, but normally, she is quite happy to get her wellies on and get a little dirty, wet or just absolutely manky and covered in mud from head to toe.

As we live on the edge of some fields, her wellies are on more often than not during the winter months and this time last year our favourite past time was to go and walk the dog and see how much of a splash we could make in the various assorted and very muddy puddles.

We would do the puddle long jump championship and the puddle high jump championship and then there was the largest splash category which was my personal favourite. Such sports are hazardous and the dreaded muddy eye, wet bum and puddle foot are all very serious complaints for us athletic types.

Returning home would also be an adventure, as this time we would be cold, wet and muddy. She would ultimately be sitting on my shoulders making me equally as cold and wet and getting home to a warm fire side would be just as good as the splashing fun. Its and old saying, but entirely true, that kids having fun don’t ever feel the cold. I am of course just a big child at heart and I’m not one of these parents that tells my kids to walk around puddles or don’t kick through the autumn leaves as long as they are dressed appropriately for the occasion.

I would be a little upset if she did this in the nicest party dress, but a pair of wellies, old jeans, thick socks and an old coat, thick scarf, hat and gloves are just what’s required for our dog walking shenanigans.

Naturally, as you will understand, her mother didn’t think that our puddle jumping escapades were quite as funny as we did. Trying to sneak in the front door, leaving a trail of muddy clothes and foot prints over the wood floors proved to be more risky than the puddle jumping.

A hot shower and a change of clothes later and its all good, but it’s these daft little moments that you remember as your children grow older. If I ever have grandchildren, I think that I will definitely take them puddle splashing and risk the wrath of the mothers and hope that they remember the days when they did it too.

In the words of Billy Connolly, there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.