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Day 86 has seen me travel 432 Miles on 3 different trains with not a train missed. Some wonderful conversations, and a succession of rail staff who could not have been more helpful. But has unfortunately seen a seizure. 

The day started well as I took Georgie for a 2 mile walk on a pleasant warm but breezy morning.

Janet and George on the Stirling to Evesham Train
Janet and George on the Stirling to Evesham Train

I was all packed and ready to go to Mum’s for Christmas with Mum and my sister and brother. The children were all ready for school after such a great weekend so the house was calm as I bade them farewell and wished them a very happy Christmas with huge hugs. They skipped down the road happy and shortly afterwards the wonderful Liz who had offered me a lift to the station arrived. I avoided the ticket machine opting to go for the window instead. All done I was ready to go. The train arrived and I lugged my big red suitcase, rucksack packed for adventures in the Cotswolds and computer bag with my laptop for my posts on to the train. A short journey from Dunblane to Stirling but an excellent opportunity to rehearse the lugging and loading of quite a surfeit of luggage. A short stop at Stirling then on to Newcastle. 3 flyers handed out initially then a gentleman from Dundas sat across the carriage from me for a chat. He had been sat across and behind from me so had heard my patter and wanted, I think, to know more but also get my views on a number of subjects most of which were focused on our current threats and how to deal with them. We were both deeply engaged in a fascinating conversation on an empty train carriage and before we knew it we were in Newcastle. He took my flyer and parted with a Happy Christmas. I wished I’d taken his name but then jumped off the train in Newcastle hoping the gentleman I had been chatting to comes to find me on facebook, say hello and join me on the journey. With time in hand I wandered around the station, lugging around my luggage, in awe at the simplicity of the station within a wonderful old building. On to the next train for the leg to Oxford. I found a comfortable seat and seeing the signs for WIFI in the carriage started to try and connect in order to tackle the emails only to find that I was to be charged more for the WIFI on top of an already significantly priced ticket. No WIFI I switched to mobile. Did what I could on that then felt the need for the loo. They were clean and well appointed except that I did leave the loo finding myself wondering why they put the soap dispenser next to the automatic water outlet. So each time I tried to get soap the water would turn on and wash the soap away before I could rub it into my hands. Eventually I designed a funny twist in the elbow joint that allowed me to beat this particular conundrum as I braced myself next to the sink, legs spread wide, Mr Bean like, ready for the next set of uneven railway lines. Then I found myself wondering why they had put the automatic hand dryer next to the water outlet so that having worked out how to get the soap without the water I then had to work out how to get the water without the jet engine of a hand drier blowing the water away so I couldn’t rinse off the soap properly. The solution was all in the twist of the elbow again. Back in my seat I ate my packed lunch of an egg mayonnaise and cress sandwich chased down with a chunky kitkat and some water. I was at peace. I knew very well, after the weekend, that I had nothing to worry about. I started to read, then dozed, then woke feeling very odd. I tried to pray but couldn’t clear my mind to focus on prayer. I texted Allie and asked her to pray for me ‘Can I ask a huge favour please. I am feeling very close to a seizure on the train. My vision has gone all 3D. Struggling to type. Can you pray for me please. Sorry’. Then I got a very strong desire to try and connect with Allie through prayer almost like a Vulcan moulding of minds. I had not seen Star Trek in years so had no idea where the idea came from. Maybe just fright and desperation as I descended into the melting pot of random sensations that can spiral completely out of control. Perhaps I knew that the gospel is clear that prayer joined together is far more powerful a force than just prayer from one. So perhaps if I could find Allie and join her in prayer by channelling through the Holy Spirit we could end this seizure. Allie’s text. ‘Praying now’. My next text. ‘Crying now. I tried so hard to visualise you praying. To connect with you through the energy of the Holy Spirit. This is going to sound really weird but as I did so It felt almost as if I could feel our energy connecting through prayer. It was a powerful emotion that brought huge big fat tears rolling down my cheeks. It worked. My eyesight is clear now. Typing quicker. Headache, feeling weak but I think it has passed.’ I was feeling significantly weaker and very fuzzy but was convinced it had worked. I searched for a rainbow out of the carriage window as a sign of hope but none came. Instead I started to feel my left arm go numb. I grabbed for the evening pills from my bag and swallowed them but the bees were back working their way around my body under my skin, buzzing in a sort of irritated hive frenzy. My next text, ‘Another one coming. Left hand going weak. Fuzzy lips.’ Allie’s Text, ’I’m praying.’ Allie’s next text, ‘Hardly any battery left on my phone. I think the tears are the Holy Spirit. Don’t panic. I’ll keep praying.’ The bees were getting closer to my neck. I felt a strong urge to get up. Turned up the carriage in no particular direction and in a joint between carriages I bumped into a lady in a blue uniform. I tried to speak but couldn’t. My lips were buzzing. The hive was round my neck. I was struggling to swallow. ‘Scuse me must are you stuff on the twain?’ ‘ Yes replied the lady. Can I help you?’ Her eyes searched my face quizzically. My mind was screaming. Please don’t think I’m drunk. ‘Yes pease’ I replied. ‘I have epiepsy. I have taken my peels but am having a seiza. It wiw pass but need to wawk awound.’ She somehow understood entirely and grabbed me some water. She stayed with me and let me pace like a caged animal as I fought to get some feeling back in my left side.  She then brought in another gentleman and slowly I started to return to normal. The bees had gone. I could speak. I was so thankful that I had found the need to get up and make my way up the carriage in a random direction in order to bump in to this lady. I had to let her know. I am just going to get somfin for you.’ ‘ Gosh there is no need for that’ said the lady. ‘Don’t worry. Not money’ I exclaimed. I brought back a flyer and asked if she wouldn’t mind pouring a glass of wine and watching a video as it would answer all the concerns and queries she now had after what she had just witnessed. I thanked them both hugely and took their photo. Thank you Janet and George for staying with me when I needed comfort and company. I very much hope that Cross Country trains read this and realise just how great you are.

Meeting Honor Boyd on the Stirling to Evesham Train
Meeting Honor Boyd on the Stirling to Evesham Train

I returned to my seat. But what was bothering me was why was it that so soon after feeling the power and energy of prayer that made me feel so much better was it that I suddenly felt so weak again and descended into a partial seizure. And what was it that took me to Janet to get the help I so desperately needed as these bees were slowly making their noisy and uncomfortable way up my neck and constricting it. As I looked around me I saw the signs. I was on the WIFI carriage. All around me were passengers busy as bees tapping away on their computers, texting on their mobiles, I was texting and now making notes for my post and then right next to me I saw a man with a huge signal amplifier right next to me working away at something that looked like he was editing a film of some kind. I was being bombarded by Microwaves at a time in which I had invested all my physical and emotional energy in to trying to join with Allie in prayer. This seizure was man made. I was sat on an epilepsy timebomb. I was nearing Oxford so gathered my stuff and stood by the door ready to escape the microwave oven. As I stood there I still hadn’t answered the other question. What led me to Janet. I was almost in a blind panic so just went where I was led not really knowing where I was or where I was going and bumped immediately in to Janet. How? My phone buzzed. I had earlier texted my photo of Janet and George to Allie to let her know I was in safe hands and feeling better and received this text back from Allie, ‘So glad they were there to help you. They were an answer to prayer too. I did pray for the power of the holy spirit to work and I think that may have brought the tears. And I prayed for people to help if you needed that. God led you to them though not me. I just prayed.’

All my sudden needs and urgent desires for help, caused by the microwave oven I had been sat in, were answered through prayer. We mustn’t underestimate the power of prayer. Allie thank you once again for dropping everything and being there to hold my hand when I needed it so much.

At Oxford I jumped off of the train and searched up the carriages, looking through the windows, for Janet and George to thank them and wave goodbye. I couldn’t find them and the train departed. Soon however I was boarding my final train for Evesham and found a seat in front of the delightful Honor Boyd. Her face was warm and welcoming, her eyes eager to find out who I was with a twinkle of openness and good humour. I had to tell Honor about the challenge. She was intrigued and will I hope come and find me to join me on this journey. She left and I found time to reflect on today. I was immediately reminded of a quote, sent to me at the start of this journey by a friend. Powerful and absolutely correct as a template for how we should aspire to lead our lives I share it with you here:

“Take time to think, it is the source of power. Take time to play, it is the source of perpetual youth. Take time to read, it is the fountain of wisdom. Take time to pray, it is the greatest power on earth. Take time to love and be loved, it is a god-given privilege. Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness. Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul. Take time to give, it is too short a day to be selfish. Take time to work, it is the price of success. Take time to do charity, it is the key to heaven.”