Tuned into Channel 4 last night to watch The Air Hsopital, hopefully many of you did too! The programme showed the RAF's CCAST (Critical Care Air Support Team) and the amazing job they do transferring critically ill service personnel back from the front line to Selly Oak Hospital. We are all too aware of the tragic deaths of our brave guys and girls out in Afghanistan and until recently Iraq, however, little is reported on the MASSIVE amount of truly HORRENDOUS injuries that our troops are recieving. Many of the front line Soldiers/Royal Marines are in their late teen's/ early twenties and are fresh out of basic training, how on earth does a young, fit 19 year old cope with waking up in Intensive Care to find that 3 out of his 4 limbs are gone?? I can only imagine.

Help for Heroes is one of many service charities but is perhaps the most widely know, aside from maybe the Royal British Legion. The work that they do is truly fantastic, they have already built a new gym at Hedley Court, the rehabilitation hospital for injured service personnel, and are now focussed on building several Personnel Recovery Centres, designed to help seriously injured personnel achieve their potential and equip them for the future. These centres will be maintained by the Royal British Legion for 10 years and they have pledged £20 million to the project. Being from a military background, my father and father in law both served, as have I and my husband is still serving, this cause is something that is close to my heart.

In support of both Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion, Palmer Events Planning is holding a summer chairty ball on Saturday 19th June 2010 at Boathouse 7 in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard. The ball is WW2 themed as it falls between D DAY and Armed Forces Day and will consist of a drinks recpetion with photgrapher, 3 course meal with some wine, raffle/auction and entertainment by a swing band, hopefully the RAF Squadronaires, subject to Military commitments. Tickets for the event are priced at £60 with proceeds being split equally between the two charities. Tables seat 10 people. Dress code for the evening is cocktail dress or period costume. We have opportunites for sponsorship available and any donations to our raffle and auction would be greatly appreciated! This will be the second event of this nature that PEP has held. We hosted a black tie ball in aid of Help for Heroes at the Royal Marines Museum in March 2009 and we are hopeful that this will be an even greater success. Hope to see you all there!!

Had a meeting with Clare from The Wedding Club in The Circle, Harborne. She has a truly fabulous selection of designer dresses from Jenny Packham, Temperly London, Elie Saab, Manuel Mota, Pronovias and Jesus Peiro, plus some gorgeous shoes, jewellery and accessories.  A definate must for the discerning bride!