Tweethearts Strike a Pose for Charity - 2012 Calendar

You know the saying, “something to show the grand kids”? Well, from last November to early March this year, I frequently repeated this saying to myself, a mantra of reassurance that I wasn’t totally bonkers! Why? Well, at the tail end of last year, there was a buzz on Twitter one night between the wedding professional tweeters, chatting about an idea to make millions. The talk turned to the Calendar Girls movie, and quite soon an idea was being bandied about to produce a Twitter version, in aid of two worthy charities, PC David Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation and Help for Heroes.  A cheeky boudoir style, no doubt!

Now, I can’t quite pinpoint my volunteering, but think it fell between my second or third glass of Chablis.

Pros: Get to put beautiful faces to my beautiful tweetmate names, get to raise lots of money, get to be pampered at the prestigious and elegant country house wedding venue, Langley Priory

Cons: Get your kit off, eek!


Joking apart, we were reassured by the fantastic organisers, Gina Griffiths from ByGina Events and Jo Pickup from Sprae PR,  that the shoots would be tasteful and fun. So, in for a penny and all!

On Tuesday 1st March, Mr. Dreams and I set off for Derbyshire, staying at the nearby delightful Donington Manor Hotel, Castle Donington for the evening. The shoot was the following day at 10am, so there was no way I was setting off from Liverpool at 6am; major beauty sleep was required here! After a nerve wracking morning, Mr. Dreams literally pushed me out the door, ignoring my incoherent cries of thunder thighs, and as I set off with a racing heart, Mr. Dreams set off to watch racing cars!
Langley Priory quite literally took my breath and fears (momentarily) away. First to arrive, I was greeted with a warm welcome, warm log fire and a warm cuppa tea. Perfect! One by one my fellow models arrived, events planner Vicky Wilkin , Candice from Cerendipity Events,  Kerri from Starstruck Designs with her own star in tow, little Austin, and Laura from Little White Book.  Chris Lynn our photographer for the day arrived on cue to some pretty miserable and nervous looking ladies! The fantastic hair and makeup ladies from Branston Spa along with the gorgeous Gina completed ‘Team Langley’…and so the fun began!

Off we went upstairs, delving in the lingerie box as one by one we were beautified by the Branstons! We discussed the shots we were going to do, (inside and out….in 2 degrees please!) and hung onto our dressing gowns as if our lives depended on it. The girls all looked gorgeous. With some persuasion I opted for the funky pink stockings, but in hindsight I only hope the outcome doesn’t look like uncooked Cumberland sausages! One by one we had some individual shots with Chris to get us in the swing of things. Chris, ever the professional, soon brought the divas out in us as we took to it like ducks to water. Hmmm…water. After a few group shots on the stairs and in the study (with not a lead piping or Colonel Mustard in sight) we moved outside to the picturesque lake and waterfall. Cue high winds, spray of waterfall, wet ladies and lots of screams! With lots of giggles too.
With a short stop for lunch, more tea and Chunky Kit-Kats provided by the very hospitable Tim, we waved goodbye to Kerri and Laura and continued with a few more shots….outside! Before we knew it, we were back in our civvies, saying our goodbyes and heading off home after a very enjoyable day.

It was an absolute pleasure to meet such great Tweeple and it certainly was a different day at the office! My admiration goes out to Gina and Jo who have pulled this together and worked extremely hard to raise funds for two extremely worthy causes.  The Social Sirens rock!
There were four shoots in all around the UK, and the launch party is scheduled for September, so please watch this space! For more information on the cause or if you would like to donate, please visit Tweet Girls

Much love, Helen x