Day 174 has seen a return to golf, running and a visit from a very old friend.
After several weeks away it was interesting to watch myself try and re-establish the old routines of just two weeks ago. Sure enough, the old grey matter was struggling as I worked to establish what I should be doing and when and in what order. It was if the entire admin/routine file had been wiped from my hard drive. Nothing was instinctive anymore, but slowly and surely as I started, then stopped something, then started something else, then started something else, things started to fall into place. There were a few errors on route though. I normally start breakfast with a banana cut up into the bottom of the bowl, followed by the oat based cereal, followed by the flaxseed, followed by the blueberries on top. But this morning I ate my banana as I walked to the church for morning prayer, and on arriving at the church realised that I had forgotten to take my anti-seizure medication. So walked back to the flat and on arrival poured the milk into the bowl before the cereal. Then I realised that I had only come back to take my drugs, not eat cereal. So took my drugs and went back to the church for morning prayer. The organ playing was painful but slowly and surely became a little more reasonable. I am pleased to say that I did at least manage not to walk to church in my pyjamas and that I did in fact shave with a razor and not a toothbrush, which I have caught myself trying once before, and I did make it to the Drs on time and picked up the right additional anti-seizure drugs. So things were a bit of a muddle but by 1003 hrs I was on the No.59 bus for Stirling to catch the No.38 to Bannockburn to go and hit some balls on the driving range, and attempt some holes on the Par 3 course before another few holes on the putting green. I actually managed to arrive at Brucefield’s Family Golf Centre with my 7 iron and a sand wedge. Not a cricket bat, so all was looking good. 50 balls on the driving range which saw a slow improvement but I am still a long way off my new meter of consistently hitting the ball with a 7 iron straight and true to beyond the 150 yard marker. I had had a two week break so it was expected that I would have taken a few steps backwards but it wasn’t a disastrous morning. A couple of holes done, a few putts made, and I was back on the buses and heading for home. Just enough time to get home, fit in a run and get started cooking tea for the children before Heather was shooting off to Ballet.
A great run done. 3.04 miles around the wood of Doune and Doune Castle climbing a light 295 feet. Done in 27 minutes and 20 seconds it was done at 8mins59 seconds per mile which is really good news as that is a significant improvement on previous times.
Tea cooked for the children of coconut and clove rice served with oven baked salmon with pancetta and lemon and a spinach, rocket and watercress salad. It went down a treat while we caught up with each other and bang on time a dear old friend, George Triplow arrives. He was up visiting friends in Scotland so was able to pop up and say hello. Heather’s Godfather, it was so great to see him and catch up while he was able to catch up with the children. A great evening to cap off a slow and difficult start to the day but a good day of golfing and running.
Really great news though that I have now gone 26 days without a seizure or even a near seizure. Nothing from the epilepsy for nearly 4 weeks. That is fantastic. So, after 2 weeks away it is time to catch up with the challenge in numbers:
Days of challenge activity completed: 173
Total Miles Cycled: 953.11
Total Miles Walked: 967.31
Total Miles Run: 180.67
Total Miles Paddled: 7
Total Distance Cycled, Skied, Run and Rowed in the gym: 55.53 miles
Total Distance Swum: 5,020 metres
Total Miles covered under own steam.2,168.62
Total Height Gained under own steam: 90,913.71 feet
Mountains Climbed: 8
Hills Climbed: 33
Days of Voluntary Activity: 11.5
Organ tunes learnt and performed: 5
Salmon Caught: 0!
Bats Found:4!
Curling Matches played in: 8
Curling stones placed on the button (the centre of the target): 3
Weight Training Sessions: 15
Weight shifted: 10kgs lifted over 624metres or 12,480kgs moved over ½ a metre,
Aerobic Circuit Sessions: 9
Press Ups: 859
Pull Ups: 43
Sit Ups: 1379
People Met and Hands Shaken: 590
Pots of tea shared: 36
Prayers joined on the top of a hill: 3
Prayers joined in the street!: 4
Prayers joined in a Train Station: 1
Prayers joined in a Café: 2
Pills popped: 1204
Days until Driving Licence (lost to epilepsy) possibly Returned: 664
And most importantly – Money Raised as at Week 52 – £9,580
Considering I started this challenge 12 months 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. That is £55.38 for each and every day that I have managed to find the will and energy to take on an activity designed to help me Beat the Beast 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. May I also ask however that if you are not sponsoring me to please consider it for as much or as little as you can afford.
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 give me 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 Five Charities that I have selected to support are:
- Cancer Research UK – My Father Succumbed to Lung Cancer; a couple of friends are currently fighting cancer and I am fighting a brain tumour. Let’s Help to Beat Cancer Sooner.
- The Prince’s Trust – Inspiring and preparing disadvantaged Young Lives for success.
- British Red Cross – helping those in need around the UK and the world whoever and wherever they are.
- World Wide Fund for Nature – For a Living Planet and a Future Where People and Nature Thrive.
- Help for Heroes – Support for our Wounded and their Families. To learn more about my story that brought me to this point, how I plan to ‘Beat the Beast’, what activities I plan to do within the challenge and why, please see my welcome video on this page.
How to Sponsor Me
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.
It is entirely up to you how much you would like to and are able to sponsor me for so do please give as much or as little as you can. Every penny will be very gratefully received.
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. Any one off donations can be made by BACS or cheque.
Thank you for having enough faith in me to sponsor me.
Yours aye
Archie