Hello Mark! Well I meant to write much sooner than this, but work interrupted. It was a real pleasure meeting you, and apologies for taking up so much of your afternoon, but its rare (for me) having a chance to talk to someone so interesting. I did find it genuinely fascinating and inspirational listening to your history.

Unsurprisingly the car is a huge hit with everyone, at work and on the road, a couple of people even photographed it whilst I was in Sainsburys car park and posted it on facebook! I wanted to take some pics at work as I drive there daily, but unfortunately security doesn't permit any cameras on site. However driving through security where they do internal/external vehicle checks has brought them much amusement,and interest. People have been gathering round it during their breaks, and if I'm there, asking loads of questions, like

'Why pigeons?'

I say 'Why not!'

'Are you going to take them off?'

I say 'No!'

'What are you going to do with the car?'

I say 'Drive it, of course! Everywhere!

When they get close, reading your comments and names, it really does make people smile, and laugh. More to the point,through that it draws attention to the all important reason for the decoration, the charity. I've only made a couple of changes, removed front number plate and stuck it on top of the roof rack, and put chicken wire over rear screen, and front bumper. I'm going to get a permanent marker/black paint to redo the faded comments, but I'm not removing any,they make me (and everyone else smile). I'm also intending to put a much larger version of this QR code;

somewhere on the car which links directly to your Just Giving page ⚛Duchenne UK

I'm hoping it will make it easier,quicker for people to get to the Just Giving page, when they see the car and take a pic.

Not sure about your goodself but I do believe 'everything happens for a reason'.....(even though its not always immediately apparent!). I'm sure there must be some sort of serendipity at work, as the fact we both have/had these pigeons in 2 similar styled cars,which were both used for charity, 17 years apart, is not just coincidence (spooky! in a good way!), but fate. As I mentioned when we were chatting, 2009, myself and lifelong friend (Ray Salter, who sadly passed away unexpectedly, Feb 2026) did a rally for Macmillan.

I had a little Renault Clio 1.4, and we decided to 'decorate' it with giant wasps..........and PIGEONS!

The rally (Scally Rally - Road to Rimini 2009) was Calais to Rimini and we travelled across France,Belgium, Germany, Austria,Switzerland, and Italy, and back. For me although we were slumming it(sleeping in the car etc) it became one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences in my life, the journey, the places, the people, and all for a good cause.

So Mark, thank you for enlightening me with the charity, I'm going to do my best to continue to draw attention to this most worthy cause