STICKY TOES

I don't know whether it's the humidity or the terrain, but my 8 miles today left my feet aching. Not sore, exactly, but thoroughly fed up with having been dragged round the countryside! I also (for the first time) had to walk through sticky tarmac today- as it's so warm some of the road surface had gone soft. My feet look as though I've painted them with tar, which I suppose I more or less have. Not sure how easily it will come off.

I stopped at a Farm shop in Defford and bumped into a friend from church who very generously stood me the apple juice and croissant I pretended to myself that I had earned. But then the last 3 miles of the walk seemed to take a very long time. Back home to a cheque for £50- I am now REALLY close to £6,000- so feeling very pleased. But also now only two weeks from "DAY 1"- and feeling a little daunted by all the things still to be organised.

A bit of inspiration

I met Catherine Hamlin today. Tall, and straight- and she has a presence you just want to stay in- I could have sat at her feet all day. Animated, interested, kind and engaged with everyone around her. And a delightful sense of humour. I felt curiously tongue tied- all I really wanted to say to her was how honoured I felt to meet her- a rather limited line of conversation: I felt for all those poor souls who have to make conversation with the Queen at state occasions!
She seems to be powered by the Holy Spirit in a way that you do occasionally see. Glimpses in particular people of what it is that we are actually all aiming at. Here is someone who, since 1959, has never stopped, never wavered in the service of others, and who has no intention of stopping "because its God's work, so it's really not a hardship". It makes my 36 miles seem very small beer. But not in a bad way.

The soles of my feet are fine but...

Everyone asks how my feet are- are they sore? Are the blistered? Infected? Bleeding? Covered in dog poo? Actually they're fine- I walked 9 miles today and while I AM now ready for my cup of tea, I am not in any pain. Except for my ankle. Left ankle-somewhere between an ache, a pull and a crunch. I can't really work out whether to be worried, to assume it will go away, or to carry on pushing it in the hope and expectation that it's just a gripe to get through.
Who knows? In the meantime, the General Election Hung Parliament Drama plays itself out- and gives us mere mortals bigger things than ankles to worry about.

Just a little longer

With only about a month to go I have to confess that the last few days I have been feeling a little short of steam- it feels as though I have spoken to everyone I know- asked everyone I know for help, and I still have so much to do. Not assisted by a four day weekend full of village festival and school fete- walking seems to have been nigh on impossible, and a cold wind has made it unattractive- not a good combination.

But today I girded up my whatsits and did another circuit- surprisingly easy- just 4 miles- and came home to another cheque. I am now OH SO CLOSE to £5,000- which feels like a huge milestone. But I also have to get off my backside and do a bit more serious organising if the whole business is not to descend into chaos on the day!
So tonight is "sit down with a blank sheet of paper and work out what I've forgotten" time.