Oops - cut off in mid-flow. Many thanks for all your support and if you meant to join the campaign for books for Parkinson's, it's not too late. Go to www.dawnmay.com and you can even get BOTH books and I'll throw your rewards in for free.

It's been a marathon but the run was worth it. 

Look here - rewards sent out and lots of happy people. Some packages all parcelled up waiting for your address - or perhaps your pledged cash

So ... lots of books are now in envelopes and the postage stamps, bookmarks, postcards, A4 and A3 prints are in the pipeline. I'll send everything in one envelope together as far as possible.

The e-books are being got ready, and when they are ready to send, I'll e-mail you with an update on your other rewards. And you might receive a nudge, as I don't have addresses for some of you. Or a nudge because I'd love to send you your rewards, but there's been a glitch in the payment ... But don't worry. The email nudge will reassure you that your "stuff" is in an envelope with your name on it, just waiting for you. Still a few copies left :-)

I am truly sorry for the delay in sending these rewards out to you. I am working on them as we speak, except for this slight interruption.

Thank you again for your support in this.

The books will be reviewed in the Bristol Post education section soon - I had a telephone interview yesterday - and "I'll do it, Granny" is being entered for the Mervyn Peake award, to be judged this summer.

So you could have a best seller in your hands very soon ;-)

Well, you could!

I love writing lists, as the family will confirm. And I only cross off the things I have genuinely achieved, such as prepared and delivered a presentation, thanked a sponsor, sent a complimentary copy of a book to George Ferguson or to the BBC Bristol presenter, John Darvall.

So next on my list is to put your book and paper rewards into an envelope and post them to you. The electronic rewards will be done by Sophia and myself next weekend. Thank you for your patience in this.

Some sponsors might be disappointed, because the payment mechanism didn't quite work - no, not hubbub's fault - and though you are "signed up" as sponsors, the sponsorship money didn't arrive. I'll send you an e-mail to explain that, as best I can.

And please, please encourage your friends and family to go for the "buy and donate" option, even if they feel they aren't part of the purchasing group. This may be because :-

- they don't have grandchildren

- they are a Grandad, not a Granny

- their grandchildren have grown up

- they can't do all the things that Jake's granny can still do

- for them, it DOES hurt ...

But if they would like to support this endeavour, they can still buy the books for their local school or library and then donate them, as a gift.

This way, Parkinson's gets the funds from the sale of the books AND more young children become aware of the condition and are able to ask about it if they want to. No more "conspiracy of silence" around Parkinson's, and that has to be a good thing.

So why couldn't I explain this to the Parkinson's branch membership on Saturday? I was so disappointed with myself. I have 1,000 copies to distribute, some to pass on to you, my sponsors who have already paid me and some to sell in aid of Parkinson's research. And on Saturday, after my passionate address to a group of People with Parkinson's, I sold just 4 copies. 

Can do better :-)

.... oh yes. It's here in my hand, on Christmas Eve. 

Look, this is my hand :-)

and here it is.

Recognise the kitchen light? The dresser? The chairs?

Phil Goss, you have done me proud. 

I should like to thank you all, wish you a very Happy Christmas and will busy myself packing up and sending you book and rewards over the next few weeks.

Some sponsors, who live outside the U.K., suggested UK addresses for me to use. If this is your situation, would you mind passing these on to me?

Thank you again.   

Happy Christmas

Dawn x

... mid-November passed.

Now mid-December but "I'll do it, Granny" is being printed as you read this.

The book is looking great, the illustrations are bright and funny.

I had to defend the idea of a children's story book covering the Parkinson's experience, to a neurologist on Thursday. Not enough information conveyed, the diagnosis given before the symptoms described ... but am I right? I think I am. 

The books aren't totally about Parkinson's, but about Jake and Granny and what they still enjoy doing together, not about the difficulties Granny has doing these things, her shake, her slowness, her leg that drags, her arm that doesn't swing properly when she walks. This is a cultural difference between medicine and fiction - I think. I was disappointed that I couldn't communicate to the professional in front of me, why I wrote the books and for whom. Oh well.

I'm only 4 months late for the publication deadline. Sorry. But you will get your book very soon.

If you want the first volume, "Does it hurt, Granny?" as well, and you aren't already subscribed, you can have both volumes for £12 instead of £16. Soon to appear on my website www.dawnmay.com, I believe. Hubbub been very busy, too.

And so ... we now have a printed draft, but still a few tweaks before it's perfect.

All should be done by mid-November - it has been promised.

We are looking forward to sending you your copy and other rewards. I'm sure you can't wait.

This volume includes a beautiful photo of our grandson, Luca, for whom the books were written. He is now in Mwanza, Tanzania where he will be living with his parents, Ben and Claire for the next few years.

I hope this Granny will continue to fight her Parkinson's symptoms, so that she can be the active and fun-loving granny she always planned to be.

Watch this space.

Thanks for your patience, folks. Pictures getting sorted, rewards getting organised, hoping you're not desperate .... ;-) The books will be printed and sent off by Christmas. Promise.

Pledges still coming in. Thank you to all you generous people for your support. Please do donate the book to your local school or children's library if you would like to share it with the wider world

It's Friday, nearly the week end... when everyone has a bit more time to browse. Thank you again to all helpers and pledgers who have supported my project. I'm going to scout around for the browsers, now. Just 2 days to go :-)

Getting there, getting there. What an incredible bunch of supporters you are. I have had so many positive and encouraging messages. Thank you, again.

A delightful group of PwPs and their partners welcomed me today in Taunton. "Does it hurt, Granny?" was popular and many members were interested in crowdfunding "I'll do it, Granny". Thank you so much for your kindness and enthusiasm. I was beginning to doubt myself, "eternal optimist" though I be :-) Well ... no prophet is accepted in her own country, so maybe I should move to Taunton!

Only 8 days to go, but so much to do. Thanks for all your support, hubbub and friends. And now I'm pressing the flesh :-) talking at Parkinson's branch meetings, visiting schools, getting more passionate about the cause. We can't let this fizzle out, can we?

You may have noticed a slight change in the end date and in the minimum amount needed before I call it a day :'(  2 weeks of Granny duty and 2 weeks of holiday have slowed down my efforts in finding interested parties. And book number 3 will have to wait, for the moment. Thank you again for all your support.

Thank you, thank you again. Going to an event at Wayra on Weds 9th waving my book and Parkinson's literature. How could sponsors resist? Got 23 days left till project ends. Only 15  days in UK though. Son Julian will be my main man.

Thanks again for this week's contributions. Getting edgy now. Any Parkinson's groups out there wanting to join in? The branches could sponsor books for 1 The Parkinson's nurse 2 the information and support worker 3 The branch "library" - then encourage individuals to have their own copy. What do you think?

27 days to go. I need a "breakthrough", too. Some ideas from Sophia - thanks :-) - and some exciting new contacts. More updates next week and more pledges. Thank you to those who have already supported me. I really do appreciate it.

Research at University of Bristol shows a genetic mutation most likely to be the cause of Parkinson's. And it looks as sthough I'm writing about it. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Parkinson-s-breakthrough-Bristol-experts-bring/story-21297880-detail/story.html  But I'm not. Just typing away and smiling.

... and now Woman's Own has the story, due out the first week of July. AND the national magazine for PeoplewithParkinson's, The Parkinson, is reviewing the 1st book "Does it hurt, Granny?", due out on 23rd July. The momentum is building ...

Many many thanks for the generosity of this week's donors - you know who you are :-) We are nearly half way there!

Please take a look at the new reward structure. You now get more for your money :-) All profits to Parkinson's research and services. I very much apprecate your support. Thank you.

Just met up with some lovely friends from 40 years back. So good to see you both Fortunee and Tasadduq and to meet Bruno. Looking forward to meeting up again in Millau. Spread the word XX

I haven't had my head down working on this for a few days - BECAUSE Luca has been here and I want to spend every waking hour with him before he leaves for Tanzania. Tomorrow will be a working day, so expect some action. Thank you to all sponsors and supporters. 64 days left and counting.

I've just come back from an event to support the MS society here in Bristol. Met a man with MS who bought a copy of my 1st book "Does it hurt, Granny". Mutual respect and support. X Oh, and I won some cricket tickets. I could auction them off - or swap them for promise of a "help" and a pledge. I know who I can target :-)

The Daily Mail article appeared on Monday 5th May in the Femail section of the paper. Please take a look if you haven't already. Many thanks.

We're off! Thank you, thank you to hubbub and your friends. May it grow and grow.