How did it happen?
It’s certainly been a whirlwind at Oxjam HQ since the beginning of February, when the decision was made to move Oxjam to April. I can’t believe it’s possible for a group of people to actually sustain any kind of sense of humour with so much happening, but somehow the team are still all warm smiles and easy-going friendliness (and I think I’m still my usual chirpy-if-a-bit-peculiar self too, though perhaps a little worn around the edges). But maybe the pressure – that growing “help-where’s-my-life/work-balance!?” sensation – helps to explain what we’ll be doing tomorrow. Goodness knows we need some kind of excuse for it.
I’m not sure how tomorrow started! I remember a meeting a few weeks ago. Alicia suggested someone took the lead on getting something small happening at the office. Just a tiny stunt to mark the launch. A micro-event. Something to celebrate the amazing things happening around the country. I volunteered. Surely, nothing to panic about… So why am I sitting here at midnight worrying about whether we have enough waxing strips and pondering what we will do with the beard remnants?!?
We had wanted to do something a little bit musical. It is Oxjam, after all. But the noise regulations are fairly tight in an office from which people might be making calls to pretty much anywhere in the world on phone lines that don’t offer much sympathy to office singing shenanigans. So, when we were talking after the meeting about some of the brilliant fundraising ideas Oxjam Event Organisers around the country have come up with, we couldn’t help but wonder if quirky, non-musical fundraising might be worked into the plans.
About 15 minutes later, we were dead set on people losing their hair! It was like an auction gone wrong. Saan’s head was put forward for shaving, to a reaction of classic “yeah no worries” shoulder-shrugging from Saan himself. Mike’s beard was volunteered, though with a warning that it may take us the best part of the afternoon to remove it. Ed passionately declined and has since been rather carefully evading the suggestion that his beard be donated to the cause. And then somehow, and no one quite remembers how, it was agreed that Benny’s legs will be waxed – ankle to knee, both legs, every last hair – if we can raise £300!
As I write on Monday night, £175 has been pledged on the website. If you happen to read this before 1.30pm on 1st April, have a look at www.justgiving.com/oxjam_waxjam to see how we’re doing and help us out if you can (donations accepted on the page until 27th April). If you’re reading this later on, you’ll be able to enjoy the pictures (if ‘enjoy’ is the right word!), which I’ll put up as soon as I can. So we’re all geared up for the shave-and-wax-athon (‘Waxjam’, if you will). This team tomorrow, the lads will be sporting a bit of a different look. I’m off to find my camera – watch this space!
P.S. Ladies, you know that post-wax feeling when you just can’t help but keep giving your perfectly smooth pins a stroke? I wonder if that’s just a girl thing. Will keep you posted 
