The challenges, they are a-comin' in

Well, we've got off to a flying start. Quite a number of quests have come in already, and the walk has become more purposeful already. We've had to reject a few of them, mostly because they necessitated our being in places that are nowhere near the route between York and London. However, so far we have agreed:

• to collect a copy of a Luton Town programme, newspaper or other paraphernalia in order to make Dunc's recently-bereaved friend happy, in exchange for a pizza. Extra satisfying because we benefit pizzawise and a complete stranger (to us) benefits happywise.


• to do our best to wipe Nottingham from the face of the earth, as a special favour to Marc and in recognition of the substantial number of prizes he donated to our contest last year. We've got nothing against Nottingham - in fact we quite like it - and we won't be walking very near it either, but nonetheless will try as best we can. Precise method as yet undecided.


• to purchase a genuine Yorkie bar in York and take it to Nick in London, because he's heard there's a difference. After a stern reminding of the rules, Nick has agreed to buy us a drink in return.
  Nick was also kind enough to write about us on his blog, which earned him a few more:
  
  • to photograph ourselves with the person with the biggest mutton chops that we can see on our journey
  
  
  • to count how many dogs we see either swimming or with their heads sticking out of cars
  
  
  • to obtain items that represent as many towns that we pass through as possible - a lute from Luton, a hat from Hatfield, etc. Now, we certainly like this idea but it could get very expensive and bulky once we get to Safeland and Grandpianoville, so we may have to limit it at some points.
  
  
• to photograph every single thing we eat on the entire venture, in the style of Ellie Harrison's "Eat 22" project, in exchange for which Helen will endeavour to cook us a meal incorporating as many of such items as possible.


• to visit Wicksteed Park in Kettering and take photos to show to Pam's nostalgic mum, in exchange for which Pam will produce a knitted replica of a souvenir of our choice.

So, this is shaping up nicely into a purposeful and industrious project. Needless to say, there's been a great many impossible suggestions - mostly emanating from Nina, who is at home sick and clearly has too much time on her hands - but nonetheless, pretty good progress.