Day 58 has seen 4 miles walked, 2.1 miles run, memories revisited and the wonderful invigorative power of friendship.
The day started with a very short 1 miles walk before having breakfast with the children and seeing them off to school. The shortly after that a burst of sunshine came pouring through the door. Siobhan and Laura had come to help keep the house clean but were so ful of energy and enthusiasm I just had to have a chat with them. We had a long chat about our various children and marvelled at the amazing cakes Laura and her sister in Law Amanada had made for Laura’s daughters Jasmine and Hollie’s birthdays. We inevitable came on to some recent experiences of the challenge and one or two of the posts written, Laura was starting to remark at how amazed she was by the positive way in which I was tackling the poor hand dealt to me in life. I thought it important to affirm that it was may faith and the amazing people I am meeting on the challenge that give me such inspiration. And then immediately jumped to mind the meeting I had with Paul. I offered to read them my post about Paul which they duly accepted. So I began, ‘ I noticed that the driver had his change so I jumped up to take his change and bring it back to this gentleman. I gave this young man his change and then took my seat in front of him for him to light up my day. His name is Paul McIntyre aged 26 and is suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. He had the most enormous smile and was interested in nothing else but me. I didn’t want to tell him what I was up to in terms of the ‘what do you do conversation’ as I thought that it would have been a little insensitive so instead tried to enquire about him and how he was managing his disability. Paul was having none of it and dragged all the info about the challenge out of me and immediately chimed in with the importance of positivity and doing what you can. He was also using Golf like me as a form of motor/cognitive training. He also agreed entirely with me about the importance of physical exercise and then I discovered that he had walked the London Marathon and even managed to do it in 3 days rather than the planned 4!! We talked and talked and my mind was reminded of a quote I once read by Pericles that states that what one leaves behind that matters is not what is engraved on stone monuments but what is woven in to the lives of others. This wonderful young man who sat opposite me for 16 miles on the bus has just woven himself in to my life with such courage in adversity, positivity and as broad a smile and love of life as I would ever think possible that not only will I never forget him but will also hold him in my mind as a memory to come back to whenever I need a little encouragement. He carried the Olympic Torch in to Stirling Castle to keep the flame alive for the city. Now he carries my flame and may it long burn in him. Thank you Paul for being such an inspirational person.’Siobhan and Laura listened intently as I choked up reading this post and then made the most beautiful comment. ‘Do you see the impression Paul has left on you? That is what you have to remember as the impression you leave on us, all of us. You inspire us all Archie.’I was hugely touched by this comment made by them both and had to work hard to fight back tears of emotion but managed to contain myself enough to ask if I could mention this moment in my post. They agreed wholeheartedly so then I asked for a picture of them and they turned and ran like startled rabbits screaming ‘I have nae had my hair done!’It was a comedy moment that lightened our hearts and they started to giggle about the big softie I was and how they could never imagine me in the Army and shouting at anyone. I confirmed that I have raised my voice once or twice but did, with the children as well as with my soldiers, try to save shouting for when it was really needed to have an impact. My reports had mentioned once or twice that perhaps I was a bit soft with the soldiers but for me, having started life as a soldier, I knew perfectly well that by the time any soldier had got to my door he had probably already had a stern talking to by his Section Commander, Platoon Sergeant and Company Sergeant Major and, like I had, developed an excellent coping mechanism of letting the choice words from the Sergeant Major, honed by years of experience, flow like water from a duck’s back. Even some of the funnier bits. So for me I thought I had far more effect by trying to reason with the young man and help him to see the error of his or her ways. Sometimes the choice expressions of surprise and suspicion when you offer this young soldier a seat were priceless but I hope I had a positive impact. Certainly I did get it wrong once or twice but at least I tried to always carry the best interests of this young soldier, within the construct of the regulations within which we operated, at the forefront of any decision I made. Perhaps it was also because I knew that I couldn’t quite shout with the conviction of a hardened old soldier when at a disadvantage from the start as I tried to speak with this very English plum in my mouth. I was reminded of a wonderfully amusing moment in the deserts in Jordan based on the fact that I had, for a Scottish Regiment, a funny accent.
We had just had the Colours Parade for the 1st Battalion The King’s Own Scottish Borderers in Cyprus and on which I carried the Queen’s Colour as the senior Subaltern on parade and was therefore responsible for the words of command on parade. We had rehearsed good and hard and all went off without a hitch. A huge honour for any young Officer I thoroughly enjoyed it and was relieved it went well.
The exercise in the desert in Jordan was a hard and demanding,yet hugely rewarding exercise, in which I felt I had grown as a young Officer, punctuated by the most dramatic electrical storm I will probably ever see, and in which we also had the opportunity to experience some culture. I was hoping to be able to join the trip to Petra but this proved to be the most popular with a full bus so I went instead to the Dead Sea. Not expecting to be going swimming in the desert I had no swimming trunks so on arrival had to purchase whatever I could find. Speedos!! The skimpiest pair available but it was that or miss the opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea. I did try to nip in without being seen and thought I had been relatively successful. Anyway we returned for the rest of the exercise and looked forward to the Battalion Barbeque in which each Company was preparing a sketch to be performed in front of the Battalion. The exercise finished with some joint training with the Jordanian Army and we were all very happy with how things had gone. The Barbeque was met. A fire was burning to provide some light and heat in the cold desert night for the proceedings. Food eaten and mugs of tea collected we settled down for the sketches and it was to be Alpha Company first. The Battalion fell silent as we strained to see or hear something then from the pitch black of the desert came a shout, ‘Color Paartee, color paaarteeeeee, shuuuuuuuuuunt’. Immediately it was clear from the wonderful impression of my plummy drill voice from deep in to the darkness that I had left an impression not from the professional clipped sergeant major like way in which I was supposed to deliver drill commands but in the drawn out, over accentuated manor in which I did deliver drill commands. Already we were tittering as they went on ‘Byyyyyyyyyyyyy the centarrrrrrr. Quick Maaaaaaaarch’. Then the pipers kicked in and out from the desert night and in to the light of the fire was one of the most hysterical things I have ever seen. An entire Company of soldiers dressed in nothing else but speedos with broom sticks, I think it was, for rifles and blankets somehow tied to thicker ash poles to represent the colours marched in to the light of the fire. The Battalion and I fell about laughing. The timing and use of the light of the fire to create that all important comedy visual moment of surprise was executed to perfection. I received a thoroughly good ribbing for my accent, poor delivery of executive drill commands and my failure to pack swimming trunks. It was all thoroughly well deserved, brilliantly executed, and I did in fact, as a young Officer in the Battalion, garner a real feeling of acceptance from such banter. It is a very fond memory that I shall never forget. Thank you Siobhan and Laura for reminding me of it and bringing such fun in to my morning. Soon it was time for them to go. I had to have a quick hug first then waved them cheerfully on their way.
The rain had stopped and I even sensed a hint of sunshine so flung on my running kit and went for a run. It was a great run through fields, alongside the river, winding through some of the narrower streets of the village, over a wee burn, through a wood, up a hill, over some more wee burns, and through some mud and as I slipped and slided through the mud the sun came out and I was reminded of that wonderful book We’re going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen that I used to love reading to the children. That made me smile as I struggled to remember the words but made up my own and before I knew it was back home after a lovely 2.1 miles run. 3 over arm pull ups and 12 push ups and sit ups later I was in the shower and thankful for the wonder of brilliant people.
A bit of admin done and it was time to walk the dog for a 3 miler this afternoon, cook Pan Con Tomate by Deliciously Ella for the children before rushing out to my first evening engagement since Brain Surgery 18 months ago. I am going to the Cricket Club Annual Dinner in the Red Lion and am thoroughly looking forward to it. It might be late so will let you know how I got on tomorrow.
So…..
The challenge in numbers total since the start:
Days completed: 58
Total Miles Cycled: 288
Total Miles Walked: 237
Total Miles Run: 12.3
Total Distance Swum: 50 metres
Total Miles covered under own steam: 537.3
Total Height Gained under own steam: 24,006 feet
Mountains Climbed: 5
Hills Climbed: 9
Days of Voluntary Activity: 5.5
Organ tunes learnt and performed: 5
Salmon Caught: 0!
Curling Matches played in: 3
Curling stones placed on the button (the centre of the target): 1:(
Weight Training Sessions: 5
Aerobic Circuit Sessions: 1
People Met and Hands Shaken: 211
Pots of tea shared: 10
Prayers joined on the top of a hill: 2
Prayers joined in the street!: 1
Pills popped: 246
And most important of all – Money Raised as at Day 58- £4,029.
Considering I started this challenge 9 weeks ago very quietly with no target beyond a fiver, thanks to the brilliant advice from a friend of mine, I am absolutely thrilled and again thank you all. So far that is £69.46 for each and every day that I have managed to find the will and energy to do something worthwhile and my goodness it has been worth it for my peace of mind, for my healing and for the five wonderful charities you are supporting through your generosity. Long may it continue.
Thank you all for your incredible comments and support. Please continue to spread the word.
If you see me around do please give a cheery hello and shake my hand or toot your horn and give a cheery wave to show your support and encourage me on.
Thank you
Yours aye
Archie