Day Four hard work but it is so worth it, more sponsored money for victims of the floods. I am extending my fast until Monday night.

Today has been a mixed experience for me. Firstly the fast has been extremely hard with hunger pangs and tiredness kicking in, but also it has been brilliant in the sense that I have collected over £700, with £429 raised on line and £170 collected in cash. I have decided to extend my fast until at least Monday night in order to get a target of £1.000.

I had my photo taken with my work colleagues by the Slough Observer and Reading Chronicle. My work colleague, Sandra Thomas has been really knid in publicising the sponsored fast and I have received extra donations from all over Thames Valley Probation Service, sometimes it is a real privilege to work in the Probation Service with so many great people from management grades to admin staff.

I got up really well this morning had weetabix, banana and orange juice, getting used to waking up as well. However, despite all the inspirational well wishes and advice I struggled throughout the afternoon, weak and tired. I sat at Slough station waiting for a delayed train in the lovely sunshine barely able to hold the paper. A fast train came along and blew the paper although the station. I had to go around the packed station picking up the Independent with people smiling and laughing with/at me. I found it was easier to smile back and I got a sympathetic response, but I must have looked wrecked. Would you believe I only bought the Independent to read about Andy Coulson and that was the one page that landed on the rail lines, I wasn't that desperate to read about him supposedly phone hacking.

I had the privilege to attend the Reading Muslim Council iftar in Whitley where local people were invited to eat with muslims opening their fast. It was an excellent event with so many friendly people opening their fast with dates, samosa's and chicken and rice. I was able to speak to the iftar and tell them the background to my sponsored fast, from being caught taking chocolate from colleagues and challenged about fasting to receiving over £700 in sponsored money.

I found the iftar inspirational as sharing food is much encouraged in ramadan. Muslims attending tonight were very welcoming and keen for non muslims to join in the food. A few local Whitley people turned up and made to feel welcome, even one or two who had a few too many coming in for a free meal. I recognised a couple of people from my days as a Reading Probation Officer and was pleasantly surprised to see how respectful they were to the muslim hosts even though they may have been slightly intoxicated. Councillor Mike Orton, local Whitley cllr attended and made a speech, as well as my story. After I spoke people were literally chucking money at me, to the extent that I raised £80 in a matter of minutes, excellent, inspirational night.

Back in about three hours to eat my breakfast.