The first coming (Lapworth to Birmingham) - In the name of Thiago - Day 279
It's not quite The Stone Roses album - that will come this time next week when the journey comes to its end - but today was a very fine day indeed. I am now at home and I have the whole place to myself for the evening, which I think is a good thing.
I shall miss the sight of canal boats in the coming weeks, they've been a fairly integral part of my way of life this last couple of weeks. They've brought me happy memories, some odd experiences and quite literally a bucketload (more like four or five bucketloads) of charitable donations.
As I mentioned just a couple of sentences ago there've been some odd experiences as well. This was today's winner - a kind of dated looking space capsule just sat there minding its own. It's had some good company this last couple of weeks - my particular favourite was the man happily declaring that he was cooking up cannabis and sausage casserole. He did furnish the bucket with about a fiver as well. He definitely got my oddity vote!
When I did walk through Birmingham city centre about an hour after this, I felt rather lost. Everything was suddenly busy but I was just the same as I had been for the last three weeks, trundling through in my trainers, which are rapidly falling apart, shorts and my charity shirt (thank you to Rob Crossland as they have been an amazing touch in helping people to trust in what I'm doing). Everyone suddenly started rushing passed me rather than approaching me for a chat. I didn't like it.
And here's Luke who joined us for the final approach to Brum, quite handy really as he knows the city really well. Luke's been my go to man at the charity for the last few months and has been a great supporter for everything that I'm doing. I'm so very grateful to him for his support and for offering kind words when they were needed.
It hasn't always been an easy relationship with BCH - how can it be when you arrive with your child but never take them home? - but things are far more relaxed now. And I am very proud to be doing what I'm doing with them. And of course for Royal Stoke. They're both NHS hospitals and they both deserve our help.
My favourite donation today though came from a chap called James, who had obviously been accosted by the ceaseless efforts of Mr Simon Eastland. The donation message read: "Met you and the team with the missus and dog between the Fishery Inn and swing bridge in Hemel (Hempstead). You asked for 10p and explained your walk to us. I had no change at the time so here is 10p per mile. Amazing effort" This wonderful man donated £28.20. I'm not going to write back to say actually it's going to end up being more like 320 miles though!
There we are the two of us pictured on ward 12. It's one of my favourite photos I have of my gorgeous little boy. You simply couldn't help but fall for those big, brown, beautiful eyes could you. So, not that I need to remind you of course by now, but with a week to go until I finish this life-changing trek I need to raise all the pennies I can to honour my son and the two fabulous hospitals that looked after him. I would be so very, very grateful if you could help me do that. Tomorrow I go again.
You are doing something amazing Chris, we are both very proud of you xx
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, every kind word gives me such a fillip and just helps me put to one side the thought of the pain brought about by those bloody blisters!
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