Day 72 saw an aerobic circuit in the gym, some really great news, some really really great news and a bloody burger.
I have a plan for a mammoth bike ride and was hoping to do it today but sadly there was to be no time for such a plan as it was Parents evening for the S1s starting at 4:30pm this afternoon. That meant that I had to have tea and everything else ready to go for when we got back or the children would be too late in to bed. That meant that I would have to start cooking and preparing after lunch to have it ready in time to leave for about 4pm so as not to be late. Working back that meant that I was not going to have time for the monster bike ride today or indeed any form of adventurous activity of any worthwhile duration and be able to get back on the bus in time for a quick shower, change and lunch to start cooking by 2:30pm. What I could do though is take the dog for a nice 2 mile walk in the morning and then go to the gym in McLaren Leisure Centre for a good aerobic machine circuit. It was a good plan. All worked well. The dog was happy but noticeably getting older this morning so 2 miles was long enough. The bus ran to time and the gym was not too crowded so a good flowing circuit followed by some stretching was had.
Got back on the bus and had some lunch quite late now but still had just enough time to start prepping the tea. That done and ready I tackled some emails before it was time to go and just as it was time to leave I opened a facebook message from Kristopher who you will remember is coordinating the Scottish Fire Service team, Team Noble, in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge row across the Atlantic. He had a chat with the team and they were all in agreement, in fact thought that it was a great idea for me to become a reserve for the row!! What an absolutely amazing and brilliant piece of news to receive before setting out for my Son’s first Parents evening at High School. I clearly still have to clear my participation as sensible through my Oncology team but it is in two years time and could be just the tonic to help me in my quest to Beat the Beast. I will find out their guidance in January. But in the meantime I am accepted as a nomination to be the reserve pending Oncology team approval. I was travelling up to McLaren High School tired but in great spirits.
Once at the school I found myself immersed in to the hugely welcoming but frantically busy while cleverly organised S1 parent’s evening. Marc Flemming the head master was at the door to meet us all and it was lovely to see him in such good spirits as usual. So many of the parents are good friends and more of the parents are becoming good friends so it was a very socially interactive evening that surprisingly quickly tired me. I never realised on how many levels the brain works in order to be able to operate and interact within the socially accepted norms of civilised society until after treatment started. One to one conversations are usually fine but just basic conversation within a busy group dynamic can be hugely confusing and tiring although something I hugely enjoy but for some reason this evening I was quickly tiring and rather unnervingly at one stage early on found myself having to sit, quietly fighting to manage every breath in to a good, deep, slow breath, as I tried to push away what felt like a building aura, while parents and children scuttled up and down the corridor in which I sat while they rushed from one appointment to another. I fought it off and was thankful for the time waiting for the next appointment before going in. And once in my slightly wobbly feelings were rapidly replaced by a huge sense of relief and thanks for this brilliant school as I learned that, like Heather and despite my current predicament James has turned a huge corner from Primary School, had settled well into High School and it’s structure, and despite one or two early hiccups, post the October Break he was firing on all cylinders and doing really well in subject after subject after subject et al. He was rounded, cheerful, helpful and a joy to teach 95% of the time. It wasn’t perfect. He found the more mundane tasks tedious and became easily distracted from such but was getting better all the time and able to sustain his concentration a little longer day by day. I was now able to sustain my concentration this evening a little more meeting by meeting. James’ and Heather’s positive approach to life and the school was proving to have a really positive impact on me right then and now. This report coupled with Heather’s previous good report is possibly the best news any Father could hope to hear as he fights for a future for himself knowing that day by day the future the children are forging for themselves is growing in strength, depth and capability while remaining firmly tacked on to a good giving and loving heart guided by a strong moral understanding of what is right and wrong as they search for their path in life.
The day finished with a quick cook up of the Beetroot, quinoa, black beans, shallot, garlic, coriander,apple cider vinegar, lime juice, oat flour and flaxseed burgers, I had made earlier, served in a bun with avocado and natural yoghurt. I was apprehensive on their reception. They both really liked them as did I. Result!!
What a fabulous day.
I will be in London for the funeral of my late Godfather Robin over the next 3 days so will not be compiling a report until my return towards the end of the week but will of course make up that time over the next two weekends. In the meantime I wish you all a very good week.
So until my next adventure….
The challenge in numbers total since the start:
Days completed: 72
Total Miles Cycled: 394
Total Miles Walked: 333.5
Total Miles Run: 18.8
Total Distance Swum: 150 metres
Total Miles covered under own steam.816.3
Total Height Gained under own steam: 28,126 feet
Mountains Climbed: 5
Hills Climbed: 14
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: 7
Aerobic Circuit Sessions: 3
Press Ups: 107
Pull Ups: 27
Sit Ups: 107
People Met and Hands Shaken: 278
Pots of tea shared: 17
Prayers joined on the top of a hill: 2
Prayers joined in the street!: 1
Pills popped: 310
And most important of all – Money Raised as at Day 65 – £5,029.
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 £77.36 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
Thank you for joining me on my own personal journey and encouraging me to walk, cycle, climb, paddle, sport and do good deeds each day to ‘Beat the Beast’ while helping to improve the lives and life chances of so many more people through sponsorship.
The Beat the Beast Challenge is self funding through my own contribution while keeping costs to a minimum with voluntary support and corporate sponsorship in kind. Therefore the entirety of every penny donated will go directly to the 5 charities listed above. Please sponsor me by completing a standing order form either through your own personal internet banking or by completing a hard copy standing order form in your branch of your bank and then handing it in to the teller.
While I hope you will encourage me to keep going by sponsoring me for every day I survive and am able to find the cognitive and physical capability to complete a day’s task designed to improve my chances of ‘Beating the Beast’ or improving the lives of others, 5 days a week, four weeks a month, for as long as ever I can any One-off Cash contributions will be most gratefully received and distributed in exactly the same manner to the five charities as the sponsorship.
Thank you for having enough faith in me to sponsor me.
Yours aye
Archie