Keep up the good work Tommy! I just came from the Kirdford Village Stores AGM meeting where you were talked about and celebrated. Your fund raising is admirable and I am, in a few moments, donating £200 via your donation site. Mental health is indeed in need of as much support as it can get.
What's your route after Barbados? I just spent six weeks in Grenada and met some wonderful cruisers who sailed their 46' cat from Turkey to Trinidad then ended up in front of our rented house in Prickly Bay, near St Geroges in the southwest of Grenada. They were a young couple, their son of eight and a first mate and said there were tears when they saw land after the crossing as they didn't want it to end!

Good going young man! I was on a sailing course, out of San Sebastian harbour when you set out. We'd had a short chat & you let me photograph KED & y'self ..... & I tried to wonder the night before you rowed out, what on earth was going thro' your mind before you rowed out, past Fred's big ferry, on your mammoth challenge. Awesome! So, - well done you. Amazing feat. Great discipline. Now, you can do ANYTHING in life you decide you want to do. Because you know you can & will do it. Fab! Keep up the tiresome plod. You've as good as cracked it!

Tommy, Your day 59 blog indicates the superb mental conditioning of a rational mind that it so absolutely necessary to overcome lifes big challenges. The challenge you have chosen, to row solo across the Atlantic, is fairly immense and your attitude is very apt and fitting. Your blog followers are in awe and admiration of you. I for one, hope to meet you one day and shake your hand. You are truly inspirational.
Keep doing what you are doing. Stay focused, stay safe, God's speed.

Hello again Tommy.While you are along way out in the Atlantic Ocean in the heat,it is snowing down here in Bodø.It has been a very sad week end here in Norway,one of the military Hercules crashecd in the Swedish mountains,in desparet snowing and wind storm.All five crew killed.Then an avalanch up here in the North killed five from Switzerland.So it has been a tough time here. Otherwise Prince Charles and Camilla are visiting Norway for two days in Oslo.We are all very tired of the WEather as you are out at sea. How well I understsnd How you are feeling at the moment,after so many days alene at sea.No amount of preparation can prepare one for what you are experiencing at the moment.You are a very spesial person Tommy and I admire your courage and determination.We can all try and imagine your days and nights at the moment.How wonderful,that because of your big sacrifice of testing yourself to the limit,it is not wasted ,money is going into Main everyday and what an experience, Even If at times you must feel desperate and fed-up with the whole thing.Thank God the days go by and suddenly you are almost there and you see Barbados in the distanse.We all understsnd that you have enough to cope with now,without having to think of a blog,the Main thing that We get Twitter and hear that all is well with you.May God Give you the ekstra strenght and fighting spirit to carry out the rest of the journey.God bless and Take care.

Hi, Tommy

Way to go! Good man!

You remain in my prayers as I sew the 'Waves for Tommy' quilt in your honour!

On Monday I decided to dedicate the entire day to sewing... started with a 6hr stretch, broke for lunch and then continued a further 7hrs until my eyes said 'Stop'. It was fun and I made great headway with the quilt... am sewing every day so that I can try to complete the quilt for when you get home... we'll see how it goes...

The 'Mind' collection tins now make a noise when I shake them! Yay!

Furthermore, I shall start to make plans about auctioning the quilt... but of course, I think people will want to see it before they decide whether it is something they would like to bid for, so more sewing before I can make definite arrangements...

The quilt has encouraged people to donate and we have now collected £218.97 and counting... Just wonderful!

Your mum, her friend and I are getting together for tea on Monday to celebrate your Birthday! So, here's to you, Tommy! Slap on the sunscreen & drink lots of water - we'll leave the Champagne for when you get home!

Paul sends his regards and prayers.

Godspeed. May God bless you.
Catherine

St John the Baptist Church, The Vicarage, Kirdford

To follow the progress of the quilt and see clips about Tommy from Youtube, links to Tommy's Twitter and his Blog, the charity 'Mind' and links for Kirdford, St John the Baptist Church and some quilting links, please visit: www.wavesfortommy.blogspot.com

hi tommy sue and graham here from kirdford, we track your progress every day and think about your enormous efforts to achieve the goal and raise the much needed money for the mind charity. Dear Tommy hope your birthday on monday the 26th march can be marked by a chocolate bar and maybe some fishy friends looking forward to seeing you very soon lol x

Dear Tommy

I can keep sewing when I feel that my eyes may pop out, because I think to myself... at least I'm not in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat... then I just get on with it!

Hope you chuckle, I did - too many triangles! All 1166 of them!

May God bless you.

Catherine
www.wavesfortommy.blogspot.com

Hello Tom
Many congratulations on your superb progress, the tracking map looks truly exciting. As well as your progress I have been following your fathers antics on his bike, unfortunately his gps system has failed due to stationary malfunction. Off to Dubai with Oli on Friday for a trade show, going a day early to see the World Cup horse racing night. We look forward to seeing you in the near future, love from the Ghazalas.

Sounds like you are continuing to do really well despite the weather!! At least you are sending us an early Spring!

Off to Colorado next week but hear its really warm there and the snow is melting so don't rush back for the skiing!!! I'll try and do a few runs for you.

Keep up the great work.

Johnny

Hello Tom I am rushing about tomorrow and did not want to forget to say Happy Birthday, you won't forget this one in a hurry! Keep trucking Tom, love from us all. Phil

Happy birthday for Monday Tommy!
Have you got enough candles!
Love jack

Happy Birthday Tom,I hope our card arrives on time! Don't party all night.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Peter and Sue.

Happy Birthday Toms. We are so proud of all your achievements but none so
much as this epic journey. We are looking forward to welcoming you into Port St Charles. We will be the ones flying the flags! HAPPY 23RD BIRTHDAY FROM ALL OF US. DAD MUM LIZ XXXXXXX

Hey Tom,
Happy Birthday!!
You are doing really well. I'm sorry me and the others can't meet you in Barbados!
From Luke
(your cousin from France in case you forgot!!)

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to Tom
Happy Birthday to you....

Happy Birthday Tommy, an interesting way to spend your birthday!
Hope you've got a cake!
Love Soph, aged 7! - not ready for school! xx

Dear Tom
Happy Birthday
I hope you've seen lots of dolphins,
Love Annie xxx
(still having breakfast, not nearly ready for school!)

Dear Tom
Happy Birthday to you!
I promise to eat some cake just for you today Tom!
You are doing great!
Love Alice xx
(Completely ready for school!) xx

You'll remember this birthday like no other!! Row, row, row your boat. Love from us all, Simon, Luce, Mark, Harry and Josh xx

Happy Birthday Tommy! You will probably never have another birthday like this one so make the most of it with you fishy friends! Sorry about the water maker, that's tough but we hope you have a beer for today! We'll have to eat the cake for you but no doubt there will be one waiting for you in Barbados! We are flying a special flag for you today in the garden so if you can receive photos we'll send one to you! If you are rowing in your birthday suit don't forget the suncream!
Lots of love from Angie and Nick X

Happy Birthday Tom, You are doing brilliantly.... stay strong and keep going.... cannot wait to see you and have a catch up!!!

Lots of Love xxxx

Happy Birthday Tommy! Have sent you a birthday song over Twitter. So sorry to hear about your troubles with the water maker.Wish that I had a magic wand.........Have sent a little birthday present to Main on your behalf,and I appeal to all your followers to do the same,we know that this is something that means so much to you and what better way for us all to show our appreciation and how tremendously proud we are of what you are doing. My best wishes to your family and friends on this your 23rd birthday. What a wonderful unforgettable day it will be when they all meet you in Barbados.You can think and dream about it and it will give you even more determination and strength the rest of the tour. Hope that you are having nice sunny weather,and all is perfect ,specially to day and the days to come. Today in Bodø it is pouring down,and we all are suffering from heavy colds.My God bless you and take extra good care of you and make everything go right . All that know about you here in Bodø and on my Facebook are so very proud of you.Bye now .

Happy Birthday Tom, we think about you every day, you are doing amazingly well. Make up for today when your back in UK.
much love Cam and Pete xxxxxx

Brilliant effort so far mate, can't begin to tell you how impressed we all are by your challenge, and the way you've been dealing with it. We knew you were no ordinary lad once we'd met you for that channel crossing on board the Devils Advocate, but how you have proved yourself has been nothing short of amazing.
It would appear you share a date with Ma and Pa too, as today is there 54th 'Daffodyl' wedding anniversary, called that because they had to pluck Daffodyls from the Pavillion Gardens back in 1958, just before going in to the registry office to get married. The wedding proper happened on the 3rd May, but we always celebrate them both, so there'll be some bubbly at the Trough tonight, and we'll raise a toast to you at the same time.

I'm going to make a donation in a minute or two, but if you wish Ma and Pa a happy wedding anniversary in your next blog, I'll double that amount, (probably will anyway, but they'd be chuffed to get a mention when they read the blog, which I print out for them).

Happy birthday Tommy, and good luck for the rest of your quest, all of our thoughts are with you, willing you on as always)

Andy, Ma, Pa, Dave, Stig, et al

Hi, Tommy!

Happy Birthday! Roz, myself and two friends of ours had a little party in the garden for you - with cake and balloons! Such a beautiful day, too.

Sorry to hear about your water maker! May God give you the strength to do the extra work!

Just about to complete the main part of the quilt top today - on your special day... so pleased about that... a milestone for me with the sewing!

Keeping you in prayer - not long now...

May God bless you.
Catherine
www.wavesfortommy.blogspot.com

Keep sending over the good weather!!! Am headed over you on Friday so will wave as I pass by!!!

A belated happy Birthday.

Johnny