06 November 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: Colin Javens

Days to departure: 1

I'm sitting here with one night left before we set off on our mammoth expedition with the team still buzzing around me - going over all the final preparations. It is very hard to digest what I'm feeling! At the moment my thoughts are fixed on 'What have I forgotten'. What we are about to undertake still hasn't sunk in but like the swell of a new tide I'm beginning to feel incredibly proud of getting this far. Three years of planning and preparation has finally got me top the point of setting off on a personal lifetime dream. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past year working with all the Driving Home team and trustees and I have learned so much.

I truly believe that I wouldn't be at this point if it wasn't for the fantastic support from my family, friends, my team, businesses and even people who I have never met before. I know it is not much and I wish I had time to thank everyone individually but I would like to say a heart felt thanks to everyone who has shown us such tremendous support to the Driving Home project.

Our prep is done and we can do no more. We have an incredible challenge ahead of us and we aim to take this expedition step by step to make sure that it is a complete success. This definitely is a once in a life-time expedition and I consider myself incredibly lucky.

Please watch our progress and I really look forward to reporting back to you all the highlights, difficulties, dangers and much, much more. Here's looking forward to 'Driving Home' to Kenya and on to Cape Town!

October 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: Colin Javens

Days to departure: 5

Sitting in Spinal Research's office with 6 days to go and the team are buzzing around me. I've got Jo and Caroline with smoke coming off their laptops at their workstations Chrissy busily swotting up on her country profiles; Chris is laying out on his back in the Discovery contemplating the best option of stretchering either one of us out if we are in big trouble. Outside in the dark cold afternoon light of a November afternoon Woody is helping to fit and wire in the CB's and GPS's that Land Rover has kindly loaned us….run out of time.

5 days to go. I've got Chrissy sitting here in the sweatbox with me driving down to Stoke and as times so critical my new PA (literally) Chrissy is continuing to write down this diary entry draft while I drive and dictate. Time is so short that all our thoughts at the moment are focused on doing all the finishing jobs to prepare ourselves for Monday.

22-23rd October. 2nd Team Training Weekend: By Val Javens

Val visits the team 2 weeks before departure.

Silouetting the peaks of the Brecon Beacons, the setting sun daubed the darkening sky with luminescent blodges of cloud, silver-lined and shimmering orange. The team were on their second training weekend and after a day’s off-roading were practising their camping skills at the Riverside Campsite, just outside Bronllys on the way to Talgarth.

There had been incessant rain the day before; the ground was water-logged as we traipsed round the campsite looking for them. Mist was already rising from the Usk, the noisy river, gurgling and splashing, at the bottom of the site. Caravanners, with zipped up awnings, giving the appearance of mobile 4 room bungalows, were snugly ensconced for the night; their television aerials, and electrical hook-ups bringing them all the joys of ‘home from home’.

A call to Kiko guided us into the most hidden corner of the campsite; she waved us in like some Jumbo Jet with her trusty, white chopping board glowing in the gathering gloom! And there, what is to be home to the team for the next five months, was the Driving Home ensemble. ‘Beryl’, Colin’s Discovery, made one part of the ‘L’, whilst the‘Brenda’ the Defender made the other part. The boys’ tent peaked on Brenda’s roof, towering above the throngette, delicious smelling steam wafted from the large enamel cooking pot simmering away on the stove on Brenda’s back door. Awnings off both Land Rovers afforded some sort of roofing, and the pot-bellied bar-b-q from 2 Nursery Drive, filled with logs, issued forth the ubiquitous outdoor requirement - flames, and clouds of smoke which chased everyone around at the whim of the wind, giving everyone the earthy, evocative smell of campfire.

Colin’s tent, extending from Beryl’s rear (so to speak) showed a spacious place where hopefully there is enough room for him to manoeuvre in his chair. A ladder leads up to the girls’ tent; canvas alone separating them and the nocturnal sounds emitted by happy campers!

Kiko and Chrissie were busy preparing the evening meal; Ben was assembling the new dual fuel lamp donated by Dr Anne Griffiths and her husband Richard, the Doc was practising his surgical skills, using very much more primitive tools than he is used to and dismembering limb by limb a small oak tree. Woody was setting up the spot light and Cols was supervising the proceedings. Everyone had their own jobs, but they were all working together as a team.

Steve, the photographer from Avanade who had spent the day with the team was taking his final shots as the team prepared for the night. As he included me in the final shot of the team he said that he’d heard I was a ‘strong’ woman. Resisting the temptation to believe that he was referring to my wiry, muscular build, I told him that it’s not the cards you’re dealt in life, it’s the way you play them that counts!

The Doc took time out to show us the footage of the film he’d shot during the offroading. J V Like, the Land Rover dealers in Three Cocks had spent the day with the team donating their time, expertise, off-roading course and several other bits and pieces for the expedition. Colin at the wheel, we watched as Beryl drunkenly skewed and swayed as she approached a very deeply rutted track, filled with chocolate coloured gunge. Gunned by Colin, she ploughed through the mire; slowly, slowly, however, she ground to a halt, water and mud up to the middle of her radiator. Our trusty photographer revealed that the deeper she had gone, the more her rear tow hook had sunk into the morass, finally stopping her in her tracks. Greatly excited, I thought we were to experience some winch practise, but J V Like, in their bright yellow Land Rover, ran a hitch through the front towing point, and hoiked her out of the mud. Despite getting stuck, I think that Colin, doing real driving at last, was secretly experiencing a little bit of heaven! His broad grin gave it away!

Benny Baracus, guiding Brenda with gentle hands, was the next to go through - Brenda lurched dangerously, a bow wave forming over her bonnet, and a silver-birch sapling brutally bent as the Land Rover fought through the mud at an angle of 45 0. Brenda and Beryl were through. Having been mesmerized by the action, it was only when another cloud of smoke crossed the mini screen that I realised it had been doing so throughout the filming. Was the Doc endangering his life during the course of his filming? Was he standing beside some fire roaring through the dried bracken and underbrush?

No!! He was endangering his life alright, but not by standing in fire - the ubiquitous fag was either clasped firmly in between his fingers, or precariously hanging from his lips, as he wielded the video camera!!

Dinner was served as we finished watching the day’s footage; chillies and coconut milk gave unusual but delicious flavour to a hearty looking curried stew and unusual but very red looking colour to the faces of both the Doc and Woody. Little rivulets of watery snot ran from the Doc’s nose, the steam emitted from his body, fogging up his glasses, and beads, large beads, of sweat glistened as Woody removed his Crocodile Dundee hat and mopped his brow on the back of his sleeve. Chrissie and Kiko, on the other hand, blithely helped themselves to another generous dollop of freshly cut chilly, their demeanour fresh and peachy!

The sun had completely gone and the temperature was dropping rapidly. Despite the stoked fire, the Everest Yak hat which became Colin as much as a bonnet would become a duck, and the Doc’s blanket draped around his shoulders, I could see that the cold was needling its way through all Colin’s layers. It was bad enough for the rest of us, keeping warm through our movements, rubbing our hands over the fire, but it just emphasised the severity of the challenges Colin will be facing where temperature is concerned. In outdoor conditions there is no way of getting warm once the heat has been lost from Colin’s body, sleep then becomes impossible and the consequent knock-on effects become serious. The aim has to be to stop that happening especially as the next time they’ll all be together will be the real thing; no more dress rehearsals.

For me, a mere mother, it was really wonderful to see the culmination of all the work the team had done in preparation for their expedition; the planning, the fund-raising, the endless wheedling for sponsorship in kind. Needless to say, with only 2 weeks to go before they depart these shores, it stirred up countless feelings of apprehension with all that can potentially be thrown at the team; not just Cols. It will be no mean feat this expedition; the vagaries of the African continent and the volatility of its politics and its people will, I am sure, present the team with challenges that even they haven’t even thought about.

Their preparation, however, has confronted every eventuality they can think of. It is really going to be an experience of a lifetime and I wish them all collectively and each individually all the very best for their journey, but more than that I hope for each of them that the experience will, in whatever way particular to them, stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

7th-10th October: 1st Team Training Weekend: By Colin Javens

With the pressure to get the Discovery ready I picked up Chrissy at Hemel Hempstead in Miranda (my van) from where we headed straight over to Steering Developments to pick up the finished Discovery much to my relief and theirs (I had become renowned for my daily 8am calls asking how they were getting on). A hasty trip home to Hereford to set up in time for the team training weekend wasn't to be. I had betrayed Miranda and abandoned her at Steering Developments in the process. Perhaps she put a curse on the speedometer which saw us cruising home at a relaxed 45mph. 2 hours later and halfway home Chrissy duly named the unnamed discovery 'Beryl' as she drove at best like an old lady.

The main aim of the weekend was to really test our planning, equipment, ourselves and everything we had learned which would then give us the opportunity and time to rectify any problematic factor that we came across before we left. Preparation began early on Friday morning. Our Bargain Hunter (a.k.a. Kiko Matthews) and the Charity Shop King (a.k.a. Ben Matthews) headed out early to stock up on food etc for the training weekend.

For me personally it was going to be a good opportunity, apart from the driving to really test how difficult or easy it would be for me to carry out even the most basic task like keeping cleaning or getting into bed. Prior to the training weekend I had sourced two pieces of equipment vital to the success of the expedition: 
- The James Bond Shower Chair - a detachable, shower chair which folds away into a stealth suitcase. I will use it for showering on the trip although the rest of the team have already noted it as a potentially luxurious throne for a long drop.
- The Pressure Relieving Anywhere Bed - We needed to source a bed that would both save on space yet secure a mattress with pressure-relieving qualities essential for lying on and this little number fits the bill nicely.

Ben and Jo had worked together planning the weekend. It was Ben's aim to get everyone navigation to and in and around Brecon using the GPS and 8 digit grid references. Jo had planned several scenarios, which she hoped would really test the team. However, all Jo's hard work was washed over by all of the calamities that occurred during the weekend.

It all began to happen on Saturday after we had a successful evening setting up camp and surviving the cold night in the Welsh hills evening. The rain and cold on that morning was enough to dampen the spirits of the hardest Welsh rugby team and then the real test started happening. First I bent the key to start Beryl and with no other key we were stranded! Two hours later a re-bent key restarted the weekend. The most embarrassing was when I locked myself in the Land Rover with the heating going full blast. In my wisdom I locked the doors when Jo and Caroline where pretending to hi-jack my vehicle. Thanks to Woody's quick thinking he had a window panel removed and the doors were open. The training weekend was a great chance to test our skills.

Not long to go.

September 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

Days to departure: 36

It seems that the dream of a trans African expedition truly runs in my blood and even better I have it in writing. It was to my great delight, as I read my grandpa's good luck letter from Texas, that at roughly the same age as I am now in 1949, he and a friend had approached Massey Ferguson to try to persuade the company to lend them a tractor, trailer and cultivation equipment to complete the 'Worlds first trans African expedition on a tractor!' They tried to convince Massey Ferguson that it would be an excellent opportunity to promote their new machinery throughout Africa. However, they received a very curt letter stating that the tractor was NOT a Trans-continental vehicle and they were NOT interested. As my grandpa said '…another brilliant idea never achieved!!!' I may hold onto that idea for the future???

Off-Road Driver Training at Land Rover Experience. 3rd- 4th September.

September started with a bang! Again Land Rover has been fantastic and kindly donated a weekend's off-road training including GPS and winch training to the whole team. I think Nigel and Martin (our instructors) realised they were in for a change of clientele when they saw the Driving Home team arrive. After a briefing in the classroom on the basic theory behind the vehicles and off-road driving we split into two 110 Land Rovers; Woody, Ben and I with Martin and Kiko and the Doc with Nigel (unfortunately Chrissy was unable to attend). Although it isn't our aim to do any serious 'Dakar Rally' style off-roading en route, I think the day's tuition on Land Rovers course was fantastic training to prepare the team for the worst possible scenario. It was great to watch the team's confidence grow in the afternoon as they meandered and bumped around the course and as they learnt exactly what the Land Rover was capable of.

We split up again on Sunday of the training weekend. Ben, Kiko and I where about to find out how a GPS worked with our new instructor Dean and Woody and the Doc where going to spend 1 day (normally a 3 day course) learning how to operate the winch, Land Rover had kindly donated to us. As Ben's role is navigator he was keen to add to his vast experience of navigation by going on the GPS course and for me it made sense that I should learn how to use it as I would be unable to help with any winching. Kiko made the most of the day and spent the morning with us and the afternoon with the 'winchers'. I think we learnt one very valuable lesson about the GPS and that was not to rely purely on it because even in the countryside in the UK we lost satellite coverage and we were unable to get a fix on our position correctly. Something we don't want to happen in the Sahara desert! 

The boys got on well with the winching course, however I think it was a bit of a shock how tiring, potentially dangerous and stressful it was. Again it was a fantastic skill to learn and could get us out of huge hole when we are en route (no pun intended). Over the next few weeks, before our departure we should have the opportunity to share with each other what we learned during the weekend and possibly improve on a few techniques. I would just like to say thank you very much to Land Rover for their continued support.

Cranfield Alumni Evening at Wellington Barracks, London. 5th September.
On the 5th Derek, Jo and I attended the Cranfield Alumni evening on the 5th. I would just like to thank Cranfield University. They have provided so much support in the planning, fundraising and evolution of the Driving Home project and have also taken The Colin Javens Spinal Injury Trust on as the charity of the year. 

The Discovery Update.

During the first two weeks in September I was beginning to feel a little bit anxious. As you may remember we had left the Discovery with Cowal Mobility awaiting the custom designed hoist that was going to get me into the driving position to be measured up, manufactured and fitted to the roof rack. If you can imagine what possible setbacks could occur with this job, they did. The problem was it was a custom built hoist and not one that could just be fitted simply, everything had to be manufactured to suit our vehicle and roof rack.

6 weeks behind schedule Ben and I picked up the completed Discovery on the 14th of September. We tried the hoist out straight away. I was dreading it. I thought it would be uncomfortable, difficult to use, take a long time and be very undignified. I was wrong! The design was so simple that it made operating it very easy. Ben had put the sling underneath me, attached the hoist and jacked me up (using a manual, hydraulic bottle jack) and into the driving seat without a problem. As Ben and I practiced using the hoist it dawned on us that this hoist was turning out to have beaten any other option we had considered in the past. It doesn't take up much room, it is reasonably light and is very robust and if anything did break we could get it easily fixed en route. Definitely the best option.

We took the Discovery straight up to Woody's dad's house. During the next two days Woody and his dad worked like men on a mission. By the time Ben, Kiko and I went back up there two days later to pick it up we found spotlights and electrics wired in and the wooden false floor with draws for storage and jerry can holders fitted. Great job and just in time for me to get some practice in over the weekend.

The pressure was on. I had been asked if I could drive the vehicle from home in Hereford to Heathrow for a meeting with a company called Avanade. That left me only four days to get the hang of driving the Discovery. To my surprise and with some help from my brother Barrie I found that the controls were pretty easy to handle. Three days later I found myself chugging down the M4 heading for Heathrow and probably dazzling everyone coming the other way with the light reflecting off my innate grin. Happy days!

Finally as there was still quite a bit of work left to do before the training weekend in October I left the Discovery with Woody and his dad to finish off the work.

The last few days of September were taken up meeting with Trustees meeting and also a meeting with Chris Swift. Chris has just received some funding for his off-road chair that he hopes I will be able to trial for him and his company Molten Rock during our expedition. Congratulations Chris.

Wow, with 36 days to go I am very pleased to report that The Foreign Commonwealth Office have lifted their advice against all but essential travel to Sudan. As I'm not the best at running away from rabid dogs anymore I've started my rabies immunisation and others. We've also got our training weekend to look forward to and I've got to get some more hours in driving. Next time I add another diary to the website we'll have seven days to go. Holy Moly!

August 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

Days to departure: 68

Sitting on a disused airstrip with Jo's arms firmly locked around my chest, holding onto me from behind my driving seat, acting as a seat belt. The unmistakable hum from the engine of a Land Rover and we're off!

It had been four long and anxious days since the whole team had met on Monday at Steering Developments, eagerly awaiting the moment that I would test-drive the newly modified adaptations in our Land Rover Discovery. However, to the disappointment of everyone it was not to be. Although the steering wheel had been swopped for a lighter, smaller one I was still unable to turn the wheel left through the whole 360 degrees. The brakes had also been lightened but adding to the frustration we found, I was now unable to physically pull back the throttle due to the large robust working parts of the Discovery! I could feel the excitement of the team deflate through the day like a slow puncture as we all realised I wouldn't get to drive the vehicle on that occasion.

Ben, Woody, Colin, Kiko, Chris and Chrissy

I was really impressed by Paul and Grant working on the vehicle. They could have quite easily have given up and fitted an electric motor to enable me to operate the throttle. Thankfully they knew that we where trying to stay away from any complicated electrics that had the potential of breaking in extreme heat and dust, and battled on under the bonnet trying to lighten the throttle. Finally at the end of the day and with no joy we had to leave. I wasn't worried about the throttle, I knew Paul and Grant could fix that. What I was worried about was the steering! During the next few days they where going to lighten the steering again to the maximum level. If I was unable to use it after that it would mean they would have to fit a totally new system with additional motors and electrics and combined with a very big price tag. I definitely didn't want that.

Jo and I met again the following Thursday. Before I knew it Jo and Paul had lifted me into the driving position and after a few tweaks to my position I was driving down the airstrip. To my relief the steering was light enough to enable me to turn left and the throttle and break wasn't a problem to control either. With a few minor alterations all that was left to do now was to get the hoist made and fitted to the Discovery. This meant we would leave the vehicle again with Cowal Mobility to carry out the required work. It is incredibly exciting to think that I will be able to drive the Discovery in a few weeks and get some real practice in.

Colin and Paul on the airstrip: hand-control test

Team Training. 'As they say, knowledge is power!'

It has been everyone involved with the Driving Home projects aim to ensure that all of the expedition team members are trained to a specific level in all aspects of the expedition from navigation to mechanics to first aid. This will ensure that if somebody with a particular skill set like Richard the mechanic is ill or hurt, then at least all of the team members should have enough knowledge to be able to carry out his job to a certain extent and visa-versa. We started to achieve this by organising a training weekend early on in August.

The team met on the Friday before at Chateaux Javens. Chris had prepared a very thorough first aid course for Saturday, including a very detailed section on the life threatening tropical diseases that will be a real threat to each of us during the expedition. It was very good to brush up on first aid and learn a lot more from Chris. Ben and Kiko also literally learnt how to set up a drip. By the end of the day there were a couple of hands that looked just like pin cushions and in the excitement of things Ben got a little carried and got dressed up in Resussy Annie's clothes. I think the underlying message regarding the diseases is that prevention is definitely better than cure and will be the rule we all stick to as the preparation and journey gets underway.

Ben's First Aid!

On Sunday morning Chris and I discussed with the team the fundamental factors that result after a spinal cord injury. We felt it was important to do because there will be definitely be times during the expedition that my injury will have an affect on the course of the expedition. For example as I have no feeling below the shoulders we are going to have to stop on regular occasions on the road so that I can do some pressure relief to prevent any sores from occurring. Therefore I wanted the team to have an understanding of why I have to do it and as a result hopefully they will not get frustrated with the delay.

That following afternoon Woody took us through how a combustion engine worked and how it's maintained. The afternoon was a brilliant building block to hopefully more mechanical sessions to come on our vehicles.

Monday was a perfect end to a good training session. As Africa can be such a volatile and unpredictable continent we really wanted to get good grounding of how to cope with any dangerous situations if they occur. We had kindly been donated a days 'Travel Safety Course' by a company we met at the Adventure Show earlier on in the year called Objective. The aim of the day was to impart essential skills of how to recognise danger and thus avoid it, and a 'tool kit' of what to do if it all goes wrong. Charlie who ran the course (and who coincidently trained Ewan McGregor for his mammoth motorbike ride around the world), and who is used to training journalists to go into extreme conditions such as battlefields, ran through the most common scenarios that could happen to us from how to handle difficult border crossings; how to avoid pickpockets; what material a bullet will pass through, to the worst case scenario of what to do if you are kidnapped. It was an incredibly good day and we all learnt so much. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone doing an overland expedition or someone who is about to go on a gap year. I would just like to say thank you very much to Charlie and Objective it was a fantastic course. 10 out of 10. www.objectivetravelsafety.com

We are now so close to the date of departure that the excitement is really beginning to build. I hope by next month that I can tell you that I can get into and drive the Discovery and that the support vehicle is prepared and how we got on at Land Rovers off-road driver training coarse. I also hope that the riots have ceased in Khartoum, Sudan sufficiently for the Foreign Commonwealth Office to lift their advice against all but essential travel to Sudan. Also time to start getting immunised and visas underway. If anyone has any up-to-date information on our route we would very much appreciate it. Here's looking forward to next month.

July 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: Getting all emotional: By Colin

Days to departure: 98

I was once told that, 'If you want to feel as if you are flying as high as an Eagle, make sure you are not surrounded by Turkeys!'. Right now I feel as high as an eagle. Not only have I got a great team supporting me, Jo, Caroline, Trustees, friends, family and some great supporters. I have now got a full and very, very capable expedition team behind me.

Jo and I met a young Australian girl called Chrissy Prydun at Heathrow airport 1 hour before she departed for several weeks of voluntary aid work in Ghana. Chrissy was the final applicant for the role of working with me during the expedition to help me with my everyday needs. Chrissy seems to have all of the qualities we where looking for in a successful applicant, from previous experience with working with people with spinal injuries to plenty of experience travelling abroad, plus a good sense of humour and the ability to fit in with the expedition team.

Since my accident and although I strive to be as independent as possible, I have been thrust into a position that means that I pretty much need somebody to be around me, nearly all the time, just in case I do need something. Generally the way it works now is that a PA will work with me one week and then have a week off. Being reliant on somebody else for even the small things like putting on a jumper does take a bit of getting used to. (Its funny, probably the only thing I don't have to rely on anyone else for is driving, which provides me with an immense amount of independence. Maybe this is why it is so important to me?) I find that in everyday life when making decisions I am always conscious of the likes and dislikes of the personal assistant who is with me for the week or whether they will get on with my friends. For an example, if a friend said lets go camping and I knew my PA would absolutely hate it, I would be reluctant to go or if I went, I would be very conscious that she would definitely not be enjoying herself. Therefore having Chrissy on board who has the same aspirations and who I know will get on with the team will be absolutely great. I think it will be a huge factor of this expedition that I will not have to worry about. Welcome aboard Chrissy.

The Land Rover Enthusiast Show at Billings Aquadrome
14-17th July
What a fantastic few days. The beginning of the month was all about the preparation for Billings show. John Lloyd at Land Rover was very kind enough to say that we could utilise an area of Land Rovers stand at the show and this is what we did.

Caroline was the instigator of the whole idea and it turned out to be a great one. We had both expedition vehicles present, which was fantastic to introduce them to each other. Chris (Dr) had picked up the Disco from Steering Developments and skilfully drove it down with the steering having been lightened and the push/pull accelerator/brake in place. The object of the four days was to increase the awareness about Driving Home, to source the vehicle equipment we need and to build up relationships with a number of key businesses that were potentially going to help or sponsor us.

It was an excellent opportunity to meet Tim, Claire and Phil from Trek overland and David from Howling Moon who have very kindly leant us 2 roof racks, 2 roof tents, 2 awnings and a rear tent that I will be sleeping in for the duration of the expedition, which is absolutely fantastic because they are very robust and great quality. David who manufactures the tents in South Africa is also redesigning the tent so that it will be easier for me to wheel into. Thanks guys.

The dynamic duo from Discoparts, Mark and Robbo have provided us with all the recovery gear we will need. So when we are stuck in the desert somewhere trying to get ourselves out we'll be thinking of those guys back in the UK.

We were able to source most of the equipment we needed for the support vehicle which Paul from Footloose4x4 took back up to Peterborough after the show for all of the difficult bits to be fitted.

We also made a staggering £2150. Partly by a large donation from Land Rover as a result of their off-road driving course, selling raffle tickets and through selling Driving Home T-shirts (which are fantastic), which where designed and donated by a certain Ms Barlow from Gilgil.

It was great to have both vehicles and pretty much the whole team there. Everyone worked extremely hard in the fantastic weather to increase our profile and as a result we met some fantastic people (if any of you guys are reading, I would like to say hello to all you guys). So thanks to the team for all their great work

Discovery Hand Controls at Steering Developments

Following the show the Discovery went straight back to Steering Developments to await my arrival and for me to get into the vehicle to have my first fitting. I met Chris and Jo there and was introduced to Grant and Paul. Paul is the number one man who is working on the Discovery and between him and Chris they had soon lifted me into the driving position (with out my trousers coming down. Great). After all the days, weeks and even years of planning this was very exciting for me to actually sit in the driving position.

From my previous experiencing of adapting my van I knew that adapting one vehicle is never the same as another vehicle so I thought that the adaptations may not be ideal straight away so I hadn't set my hopes too high. And unfortunately I was right.

What we found out was that due to my lanky legs, the tight doorway and the lack of room as a result of steering column being in the way it was quite difficult to get me in. That was quickly resolved by Paul saying that we could fit a detachable steering wheel (I was thinking great anti theft devise and we could have some fun with that in Africa). They had also lightened the steering but I found that because my triceps no longer work I had great difficulty of turning the steering wheel at the furthest distant away from me. This should be resolved by attaching a smaller steering wheel to steering column. It seems that they can work around any problem. It is really exciting to think that I may be driving the vehicle in the next week and a half.

Its been another busy month but thoroughly enjoyable. Here's looking forward to our first team training weekend covering first aid, the effects after a spinal cord injury and a self awareness course kindly donated by Objective. Also I have an opportunity to test drive the adapted Discovery on a disused airstrip so tune in next month to find out how we are getting on.

June 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

Days to departure: 129

The excitement of having the Discovery parked outside my house at the beginning of the month, but being unable to drive it felt just like being a small boy who had been banned from opening any presents on Christmas day. The combination of excitement and sheer desperation to drive meant that I wanted to ensure that vehicle adapters were prepared to receive the vehicle to start work on adapting the vehicle to enable me to drive it straight away.

Before any work could be done the one big question was 'Where should I organise the Turney seat that had kindly been donated to us to be sent to be fitted?' The Turney seat is probably the most dignified option of getting into a high vehicle like the Discovery. Instead of being lifted in manually when 8 out of 10 times your shoes fly off and trousers embarrassingly drop to show your bare arse to the whole world (not a great sight). The turney seat is a driving seat that electrically lowers out of the vehicle and down to the same height of the wheelchair enabling an easy sliding board transfer from chair to seat. By a series of conveyer-belt chains and electrics the Turney seat would then lift me straight into the driving position…job done.

My hopes sank when I got off the phone to a company who are the most experienced in fitting the seat having been told that the Turney will definitely not fit into a Discovery due to the small space in the driver's door and the seat physically being unable to turn out of the door. After previously being told by 2 other companies that the seat would fit into the vehicle I had really set my sights on this option. It would have made the support teams life so much easier as well because it meant not having to manually lift me at all, which is OK once or twice but for 5 months, I couldn't ask anyone to help me do that for such along time.

Its been back to the drawing board this month, which has been a little pressurized as we are on quite a tight schedule regarding getting the vehicles prepared and testing in time for departure in November. The problem of getting into the vehicle has however now been sorted. I've found a company could Cowal Mobility who will build a hoist that will mount on roofrack of the vehicle. The team will then be able use a sling and the hoist to lift me into the vehicle. Its not ideal but as Derek would say 'It's a solution to a problem!'

(I wonder if anyone is still reading this or am I boring everyone to death? If you are dropping off fancy dropping me a note on the message board and coming back to this later?)

Today I had a strength assessment by Peter from Steering Developments (another conversion company, who were one of the pioneers of hand control design in the UK). He came out to my house to test my strength in my arms with a portable steering wheel, hand-control throttle/brake and a computer programme to access exactly what hand controls I would physically be able to use. I have been so impressed with this company that I've now asked them to covert the Discovery. So here we are already 4 weeks behind schedule but we are making progress!

Summer Ball 18th June
The early part of the month was also the lead up to the summer ball Ben, Kiko and I organised for 160 people at the Shirehall in Hereford. The evening was in aid of our African Beneficiaries and as a result we decided to theme the whole evening on a 'Touch of Africa'. The night began with complimentary Champagne under the sun-drenched pillars of the Shirehall followed by the excellent food cooked by Christine Waignwright and a hilarious auction carried out by Adam Parsons (BBC auctioneer). The night was then danced away to the sound of two excellent live bands Gentleman of Jive and The Chameleons.

Yet again this event was a fantastic tribute to our friends, family and the people and businesses of Hereford who are continually supporting us and being incredibly generous. The night would also not have been possible without the hard work from Ben, Kiko, Barrie, Woody, Lloyd and Luke. Therefore I would like to say thank you to everyone and well done for helping raise an amazing £8000, which will go a very long way at the projects in Tanzania and Zambia.

Expedition PA
The final week of the month has been allocated to finding a PA who will assist me with my day-to-day needs during the expedition. Caroline, Jo and I interviewed 6 great people at Stoke on Tuesday and we're off to Heathrow tomorrow to interview two more potential candidates. I am really looking forward to getting the whole team together. It will really feel like everything is falling into place.

I never forget what a wise man once said to me 'You can't Hoot with the Owls and Scream with the Eagles my dear boy'. Well, we seem to be doing a bit of both at the moment. IT'S ALL GO!

By the way if anyone is reading this you have noticed my diary is getting a little more flowery it's due to Caroline and Jo urging me to get 'All Emotional' in my diary section. I don't know whether it is working?

May 2005: Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

April 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

Days to departure: 186

Apologies! A 1000 mile drive to Dingle (Ireland) and back again for my first proper holiday was the reason why I didn't get the diary out in time.

Expedition Medic
The two applicants who applied for the role of the expedition medic/personal assistant to me both dropped out just before the interviews due to personal reasons. It was a bit of a blow because they both sounded great.

We've now re-advertised the role everywhere we can think of and have set a closing date of the 13th of May for any applications. If anyone would like any more information about the role please email jo@drivinghome.co.uk Fingers crossed now.

Expedition Vehicle
Great news! After weeks of searching we've finally found a suitable automatic Discovery 300 Tdi with air-conditioning (which is vital as my body is no longer able to regulate its own temperature). We need to ensure that the vehicle is mechanically capable of completing such a trip and that is why the vehicle is currently in Keith Gotts of Alton workshop getting a thorough mechanical going over.

On 1st of June it is booked in at Jim Doran's in Coventry to have the hand controls fitted and following this it will go to Footloose4x4 in Peterborough to be prepared for the expedition.

The Ladies Night
Kiko's ladies night in the Imperial, Hereford was a great success, raising just over £2000. I would like to thank John and Alison from the Imperial, Kiko, Anne, Val and everyone who went for making the night such a success.

The Hereford Lions Club 
Many thanks to the Hereford Lions Club who have decided to award us the Geoff Lewis Bursary. The bursary is worth £500 and is in memory of Geoff who was a founder member of Hereford Lions Club 45 years ago and appropriately was their "transport manager" organising and driving their minibuses for many years.

Summer Ball 18th June in Aid of our African Beneficiaries 
We are currently in the process of organising a summer ball in Hereford. It should be a great night so if anyone would like to attend or help out please email colin@drivinghome.co.uk It is all go! Please log on next month to find out how we are getting on.

March 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

Days to departure: 221 

The month started with my first talk on the Driving Home project to the 'Retirement Club' in Burghill, Hereford. A fully prepared PowerPoint presentation with maps, facts and photos galore failed to work in front of sixty members, tightly packed into the hall. Slightly embarrassed, the show went on and ended with a promise to return after the expedition with a fully functioning presentation. Many thanks to all the members who kindly donated an overwhelming £200 to the project that afternoon.

18th March, Charity Dinners in Aid of our Beneficiaries
Two charity dinners on the same night, in London, in two different locations, a challenge for any project manager! For me it meant giving two speeches after some excellent training from a certain Mr Tony Suckling a week earlier.

The first, Cranfield University Sportsman Dinner, was organised by a committee from the MBA rugby team. Charlie, Alex, Jono and Robin did a fantastic job (good luck on rugby tour boys!) and with their great effort and with some very, very generous donations of auction prizes the night raised an excellent £18k.

The second, a Dinner, Dance and Auction at the Radisson Marble Arch Hotel organised by Caroline and Jo and a determined committee consisting of Jonny, Will, Charlie, (togged up in Lion outfits) Lucinda and Magda. Freya Mitton the auctioneer from Sothebys did a great job. The night was a tribute to the whole team as well as Caroline's family whose decorations ensured there was a distinctive African theme to the night, and raised a staggering £17.5k.

I met some great people on the night and I would like to thank everyone for coming and being so generous and to thank all the individuals and companies (http://www.drivinghome.co.uk/html/ballsponsors.shtml) who donated a prize. The night wouldn't have been possible without them.

Expedition Planning
A trip to the Royal Geographic Society, a meeting with John Lloyd from Land Rover and a presentation to the Hereford Lions Club all took place this month. We are also still struggling to find an automatic Discovery (300 tdi) that is suitable for the expedition.

Hereford Fundraisers
Kiko, Anne and Val are in full swing organising a 'Ladies Night' in Hereford for the 22nd of April. All ladies invited (Men Beware!)! For information email info@drivinghome.co.uk

February 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

Days to departure: 251 

The Good News or The Bad News?

Similar to opening exam results I received a letter from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust on the morning of the 10th of February. The nerves rose! The news? There is no bad news! We are all delighted! Out of 1072 applications we are one of 107 to have been awarded a 'Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship'. 
We have been awarded this fellowship on the merits of our proposed expedition, Driving Home. This living memorial to Sir Winston Churchill operates a travelling fellowship scheme every year, which enables British Citizens from all walks of life to acquire knowledge overseas to the benefit of the Community and Country (www.wcmt.org.uk ). 

I am very proud to have been awarded this fellowship and it has made me even more determined to make the most out of this 'Chance of a Lifetime' and to learn and give back as much as I can as a result of this expedition and our objectives.

Expedition Team and Medic

We have had some people apply for the role of the medic and we hope to interview them in April at Stoke Mandeville. Expedition planning continues. Kiko has been working on our contact list through Africa (if anyone has any useful contacts along our route can you please email Kiko, info@drivinghome.co.uk). Woody has been looking into vehicle documentation. Footprint Travel Guides have kindly donated several country guides for along our route, which has really helped Ben and I plan out our contingency route plans.

Expedition Vehicles

We are still trying to find a vehicle sponsor. Although this is in aid of a good cause vehicle manufacturers are bombarded by charitable request, which has made it very difficult to get any vehicles for free.
We can understand this so we believe the best option now is to buy second hand vehicles, recondition the engines and then sell the vehicles on our return (with the proceeds going to our beneficiaries). So much needs to be done but it all depends on us having the vehicles. More progress on this I hope next month.

January 2005. Pre-Expedition Diary: By Colin Javens

Well the year started with a Bang! 
First mission; to find a medic for the expedition who will also assist me with my everyday needs. So straight into Miranda (my Ford Transit van), heating on full blast to simulate sub-Sahara conditions and a 2.5hr drive down to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to meet Caroline and Jo (Driving Home's project managers) and my consultant Dr Ali Jamous.

Ali was happy that from a professional point of view all the criteria in the job description would meet the requirements for the role of medic/PA on the expedition. Jo was content to get the job description in the Nursing Times for Thursday the 27th of January and Ali was happy to let us use Stoke Mandeville to hold the interviews and to carry out some additional medical training with the successful applicant. I am really keen to get somebody on board as soon as possible so that they can get involved with the team activities and all the preparations.Expedition Team meeting. 'The years plan'

The expedition team met the following Sunday. Ben, Kiko and Woody in my front room (fire going) filling in a Gant chart prepared by Ben and myself a few days before. This would help everybody get a visual image of what their roles are and what needs to be done through out the next 10 months and by when. A lot to do and sourcing the vehicles was very heavy on the agenda.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Interview for Expedition Grant.
The Driving Home expedition had been short listed after applying for a grant from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and then got through to the interview stage on the 12th of January. Being 11am in the morning meant getting down to the 'Village' (London village) the night before ready for the next day. The 15 minute interview was in front of Sir Terrance English, Mr Nick Danziger, Mrs Boyd and Air Vice Marshal Nigel Sudborough CB OBE. The nerves rose as I wheeled through the door. It was very difficult to read into their reaction towards the expedition, but 25 minutes later it was all over. I hope it went well! The grant could be vital to helping us on our way to fulfilling our aims, so please cross your fingers for us and find out on the 11th of February.

The Adventure Show, Olympia London.
For anyone planning a trip The Adventure Show is really worthwhile. The following Friday was a return trip to the 'Village' accompanied by Ben and Kiko. The aim was to meet up with Caroline and Jo to gain as much info and contacts as possible with regards to doing a trans African expedition. There where 3 floors of stalls at the show, it was a great success and the team left on a real high.

'The Best, Worst Joke Award' of the month has to go lift attendant. When I ask him how his day was going, he replied 'Oh, Up and Down! (I thought he was funny, especially after surviving a whole day in his lift!).

Prior to the trustees meeting I met with Caroline and her good friend Lucy Rivers-Bulkeley who gave the both of us some great advice and ideas with regards to fundraising. She also performed one of the best wheel spins in the mud I have ever seen. Thank you.

Project selection at the Trustees meeting, 27th January.

All the trustees for the new charity, 'The Colin Javens Spinal Injury Trust' (CJSIT) where present at the meeting. Dr Tom Meagher was there representing Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Jonathan Miall represented Spinal Research. Both gave very good presentations on the projects they would like the CJSIT to help fund. I also updated everybody on the projects in Tanzania and Zambia we would like to fundraise for (details will be on the website in due course).

We have got a huge challenge ahead of the whole team, but I am really happy in the direction the Driving Home project is taking. We have had some truly great support in terms of encouragement and fundraising from friends and family ( past fundraisers) so I would like to thank everybody for their support.

Hopefully February will see the arrival of the expedition vehicles and we may get lucky with the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. Keep logging on to see how we get on.