My home and all my worldly goods until August 
Team Buff UK kit.
This week has given me more reasons to keep going, and feel proud of what I’m working towards. It’s also re-kindled some old, and deep-seated doubts. The way I’ve tried to approach these things is in itself another step forwards, so I thought I’d share them with you. Read more…..
Prior to fitting
When I was a child, I never liked insects. There was one exception to that, and that was butterflies. These elusive creatures would seemingly appear from nowhere, landing close by, and displaying an array of colour that mesmerised me. On occasion, one would land on my arm, and I would just stare at it, transfixed by its beauty, for the short period of time it would stay. Then it would fly away once again. I never wanted to catch them, they seem to have a need to be free, to move as they wish, and make other people smile as they go about their short lives.
In 2010, I was four weeks from my first proper tour, a journey that was as big at the time as the Round Britain ride itself. I went out for a ride in the sunshine, and less than half a mile from home the front wheel removed itself from my bike, bringing my world crashing down, literally. I got through that injury, and a similar one just a few months prior to leaving on last years ride. They knocked my confidence momentarily, but I had the resolve to work around the injuries they created, and carry on. Read more
This week has flown by. I’ve been tying up lots of loose ends, and the whole plot seems to be slowly coming together. I’ll spend the weekend working with Janet Hipkiss of www.janethipkiss.co.uk, in order to get the website finished. You may have noticed that the posts are now appearing as new pages. That is to make it easier to create an archive. I’m sat here thinking about what the week has brought with it, and what it all means for the next few weeks of mad preparation. These final weeks are ones in which to slowly unwind and prepare for what lies ahead. The outside world is shrinking as I focus on the day of leaving. Read more
It has begun, the countdown. With less than six weeks to go before I leave on my next expedition, I’m getting jittery. I’ve written about it before, it’s a natural process that I have to go through in order to recognise my readiness to venture out. A myriad of things have to happen before the day arrives when I get on the bike, with a box of belongings, and pedal away for months. Read more
Even this wee blog has its detractors. People who feel they have to verbalise their negative opinions by decrying my efforts to share my experiences. To those few who say I don’t know what I’m talking about, and that I should “shut up and get on with it” I have this to say. I’m talking about my own life here, not yours or anybody elses. I’m not making any kind of academic or practicle argument about mental health. I’m simply sharing what I experience day-to-day, and how I deal with it. My life is one of contradictions and flux, never the same for more than a few hours. The stability I have is down to hard work, professional support, and management of conditions that prevent me from living a life where I work, have normal social life, or have access to an income. Read more
Riding2Recovery: a journey within a journey
As you can see, the new website is beginning to take shape. This is the new layout framework, but there’s still plenty of work for Janet to do, so please be patient. Things like the sponsor pages will combine onto one and link through to other websites. For now, you get to see the overall look of the page, and that’s it.
Last September I began to write. It wasn’t a laborious process, I enjoy it. It was something completely new. Aside from this blog, and academic essays at university, I’d never written anything. I wasn’t just writing, I was reliving a journey, a journey containing many painful memories and pivotal moments. I was telling my story in the form of a book, or at least that’s what I hope it would turn into. Read more
This week I’ve been immersed in praticalities as my mind settles once more into a less pendulous state. I’ve been concentrating on things that will get me to the start of the next ride, and keep me happy whilst out on the road. I’d like to share a few of the things that have been occupying my thoughts, and most of my time over the last seven days. It’s not so personal as other posts, but it’s as equally important in terms of managing my health. Sorting through these aspects of the ride is like ticking a long series of boxes that all need filling before I’m able to leave. I’m building a security blanket and I don’t want any holes in it. Read more
Coming to a town near you
I used to play Kerplunk when I was a child. A hollow tube with holes in would have plastic sticks pushed through from one side to the other. Once all the sticks were in place, they were used to support around twenty marbles that were placed on top of them. The aim of the game was to remove the sticks without the marbles falling down. The person with the least marbles at the end, wins the game. Read more
