There was no post to be written this day. It was meant to be a gentle and quiet journey full of excitement for Euan and Gemma’s wedding and seeing and catching up with the family. However, no plan I make survives contact with God’s plans and I end up on the most wonderful of adventures.
The journey started yesterday morning where I went to the house to go through the packing list with the children so that they could pack as they go and ensure that there are no last minute panics. All done it was over to the flat for a quick lunch of poached egg on toast with a spinach, rocket and watercress salad and a pudding or entrée, depending on which way round they decided to eat it, of raw carrots, tenderstem broccoli, cherry tomatoes and red grapes. Then James and I were heading in to Stirling to collect his suit, being tailored after being bought on Saturday. Heather, heavy with a cold elected to go back home for a nap. So it was just James and I. We caught the bus in with no incident. Found Slaters after a detour when we walked straight past the shop on the first attempt and were in. The suit was ready. The fitting was perfect. They unstitched the pockets and vents for us and on the way to the counter I saw the answer to my prayers as to how I was going to get two suits and a dress down to the wedding uncrumpled. A suit carrier reduced considerably in price to make it affordable. Perfect. All done we set off for the bus stop and realising we had an hour to spare having just missed the last bus and with James having been so good and with a few sheckles left in my budget after Heather’s beautiful and beautifully priced dress and James’ off the peg very reasonably priced suit and suit carrier I took him for a hot chocolate. I of course had a Mocha and having seen him oogling this enormous piece of chocolate mud cake went for that too with two forks and two plates. We could share it. But no flapjacks. Then it was off for the bus in good time.
A short wait and climbed onto the bus after a small queue of people. A large double decker and a rare treat we went upstairs to enjoy the view. As we left the driver seemed to be having all sorts of problems navigating the junction out of the bus depot. With excessive amounts of revving we were being lurched left and right as we pinballed onto the road. The couple in front of us and I joked about needing seat belts as we sat with the Gods on the top. We progressed a little more smoothly, but noisily and very slowly pulling over several times to let traffic past. James had realized that we weren’t changing gear. He was absolutely right. The automatic gear box revved to the highest revs and then just stayed there until we pulled over again, on a very quiet section of the road to Callander, and then the engine died. We sat there pretty certain that the bus had broken down from all the funny noises but waited for the driver to come and let us know. He did. He answered James’ question so explained the workings of an automatic transmission to him before informing us that a replacement bus was on it’s way. The day darkened and the rain fell lightly onto the windows while the odd truck roaring past rocked the bus gently on it’s axle. We started talking to the couple on the bus and before I knew it I could hear James going, ‘Oh no Dad, not again!’ I had just started on my introduction to the challenge and invited these two ladies to pour a glass of wine and enjoy a video before giving them a little more detail but the ladies turned to James and asked him, ‘Have you heard this before?’ James replied, ‘All the time. Every time we go out!!’ The ladies giggled and replied, ‘Well it sounded polished in its delivery so we’d like to hear it!! The replacement bus arrived, we transferred and James and I sat in the seat’s next to the ladies so I could finish in the few miles into Doune. They promised to go and look me up and I very much hope that they do. Like what they find and then help me raise awareness of the challenge and some sponsors but most importantly, just before getting off the bus I felt a pair of arms around my neck and a head on my shoulders. James was giving me a cuddle. It was perhaps his way of saying sorry Dad and you’re okay by the way. Certainly it made me very happy.
Back home I took James’ shoes to give them a deep polish. Then it was into the kitchen to prepare tea which was a new recipe for me but loved the look of it. They were meant to be camembert parcels in filo pastry but with Heather and I lactose intolerant it was lactose free cheddar cheese parcels with fresh chives, walnuts and lemon rind and a fresh salad of watercress, chicory, chives, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, pomegranate juice and the seeds from the pomegranate. They were great. James’ friend Dante had popped around as well and he had one too. Washing up done and the children back home it was time for me to pack and write my morning final packing list. If I don’t write it down I forget it so I made my list. Alarm clock, washing and shaving kit, ANTI SEIZURE PILLS!!!!!!!!!!!, Turmeric, mobile phone charger et al. A port glass equivalent of red wine and 4 squares of 85% Dark chocolate made ready for the news I was about to sit and tackle some messages and email before realising that I hadn’t made the packed lunches for us all. Back into the kitchen. Tuna mayonnaise sandwiches with a spinach, rocket and watercress salad, a flapjack and a veggie pick and mix bag of tenderstem, carrots, cherry tomatoes and red grapes. In to the fridge and ready for tomorrow I shot back to my list and wrote down packed lunches. Then as I turned to my computer and the messages realized that I hadn’t polished my own shoes. Back into the kitchen. Newspaper laid out, polish and brushes out and shoes out. Polished my shoes, packed it all away again, took two spare laces to pack just in case and caught the last half of the news with my wee glass of red wine and squares of dark chocolate. It felt so very quiet around the house but there was so much to look forward to tomorrow. A busy start to get all ready so with the weather forecast showing a slow improvement over the week and a glimmer of hope for sunshine for the wedding it was time for bed.
0600hrs and the alarm went off. I had a broken but brilliant 7 hrs sleep. I was straight up and once shaved and changed I stripped the bed and put the bedding and towels, flannel and pyjamas in for a wash. Made the bed with fresh bedding then pills popped I was out for a 2 mile walk litter picking around the ponds. I needed some exercise. Then straight back and in. A quick breakfast and having washed and dried everything I was then working from my list; the alarm clock, washing and shaving kit, anti seizure pills, Turmeric, and mobile phone charger were all packed and the packed lunches pulled out of the fridge and packed. Then I was working room to room turning off the storage heaters and all plugs and making sure the windows were locked closed. Turned off the water boiler, the cooker, kettle and toaster but still the washing machine was mid cycle. It was taking forever and time was getting short. I called the children at home. They were up and on target to meet me at the bus stop at 0900hrs. It was critical that we caught this bus or we missed the train and thus the wedding. I was going to pick them up from the house but they were clearly desperate to be trusted and given the responsibility so I conceded and agreed to meet at the bus stop at 0900hrs but not a minute later. Sure as eggs is eggs, although the bus is routinely 5 to 10 minutes late, the very day that the children are a minute late would be the very day that the bus was bang on time. So I was nervous and so wanted for the children to respond to the trust I had put in them. But right now I couldn’t get the washing machine to stop. It was now on rinse and had been for an hour. It still had to spin and I needed to leave in a minute to be at the bus stop with my suitcase, suit carrier with our suits and Heather’s dress, computer bag and the packed lunch bag. I gave it one more minute. Still on rinse so I switched it off but it wouldn’t let me in. I waited a minute cursing myself for trying to be so organized to come back to a clean bed and pyjamas. Still wouldn’t let me in. I had to go. I pulled the plug out of the wall. I was coming back to a clean bed but I was also coming back to a washing machine loaded with damp and probably mouldy and definitely smelly bedding. Lesson learned.
I was at the bus stop 4 minutes earlier than I had asked the children to be there which was 4 minutes earlier than the bus was supposed to be there. I was already nervous as I scanned down the road looking for them in the distance. Nothing. I fiddled with my phone and toyed with the idea of calling them but reminded myself to trust them.. They will be here and with 1 minute to go two little blond heads came bobbing down the street suitcases in tow. I was incredibly happy to see them, relieved that we were going to make the bus but also pleased that I had found the faith in them to trust that they would turn up on time despite the heavy consequences of them failing to do so. The bus arrived on time and we jumped on with our huge array of bags. We sat together and were immediately joined by the young gentleman who had only on Saturday given me a voucher for two free tickets for the circus after I had bought food for the homeless man. He was a simple enough sole, started to show us his 3-D phone before deciding that he wanted to be a magician or a comedian in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He decided to test out some of his material on the three of us:
What do you call a 3 legged donkey? A wonkey donkey.
Why did the one eyed chicken cross the road? To get to Birdseye.
What did one cracker say to the other cracker? You crack me up.
What did one Christmas tree say to the other Christmas tree? Timber.
Knock Knock. Who’s there? Ice Cream. Ice Cream who? We all scream for ice cream.
‘How many pokemon can you fit in a bus? Oops I forgot the line’ he said. ‘I’ve forgotten the joke!!’ (This was definitely the funniest moment out of all the jokes!)
I once got some touch screen gloves from the pound store. Guess what? They didn’t work!!
What do you call a man without a dog? Doglas.
What do you call a man with a spade on his head? Dug.
Then my only effort. ‘What do you call a deer with no eyes. ‘I don’t know he replied.’ Odd I said, ‘I’ve simply noideer’
And so it went on until mercifully we were at Stirling and our new friend had to get off to get to his job for the day. We were jumping off at the train station. At the train station and with time to spare I took the children for a hot chocolate while I went to try and sort out my tickets. I had 5 cards, all of which looked like tickets but there was only 3 of us so I wasn’t 100%certain what was what. I wanted to check. The harder I looked at the tickets the less the lettering seemed to make sense. At the ticket barrier I asked an attendant for help. She checked the tickets and explained that I had 3 seat bookings but only 2 tickets. I couldn’t understand this as clearly with 3 seats booked I must have bought 3 tickets so surely the seat bookings were tickets. No, she explained gently, you need 3 tickets. I thanked her for her help and flummoxed walked to the window of the next available window for tickets. The lady behind the window was moving her mouth but I could hear nothing. Not a bean. I leant forward to hear her better and she was looking increasingly frustrated. I shouted at her. ‘I am so sorry but I am deaf. I can’t hear a thing’ She flicked a switch and started shouting so loud I had to take a step back. Then she calmed. ‘You need to flick through the tickets to show me what you have’. She said, ‘you’re missing the third ticket but I can see that you’ve bought it from your seat reservation. You must have lost a ticket.’ ‘I checked very thoroughly but when they arrived I thought the seat reservations were the tickets so didn’t notice I was missing one but it appears that I am. Can you print me a ticket as you’ve said you’re happy I have bought it?’ I smiled hopefully. ‘No, she shouted. I can’t print individual tickets.’ I looked pleadingly at her. ‘You’ll just have to hope you have a sympathetic inspector!’ The train was due in 5 minutes. I thanked the lady politely then turned to get the children. One thing was for sure, I couldn’t afford to buy another ticket especially at full price.
Another things for sure. Why can’t the tickets and seat reservations be issued as one ticket per seat as they used to be. Surely that would be easier for everybody, especially those struggling with cognitive function at times and save ink and card as well. Better and cheaper for everyone!! Children gathered we went to the ticket barriers and the helpful attendant let us through. The train arrived and on we sat with the children on their booked two seats but a lady was sat in my seat in the row in front of them. I sat in the spare seat on a table next to the children. Computer out I sent some texts to friends and wrote a report on the website development for the marvelous Martin who has been working so hard on the website. Then at York a gentleman who had booked the seat I was now sitting in arrived. I stood and moved my stuff and was about to ask the lady who was sat in my seat to wiggle over when the gentleman sat behind the children stood and offered me his seat. I thanked him and reorganized my stuff before fetching 3 flyers. I turned to the two whose table I had been sat on and with whom I had had a potted casual conversation, I handed them both a flyer and invited them to enjoy a glass of wine and watch a video. The other gentleman listened too so I handed him a flyer and invited him to join my journey too. All 3 were delightful and I very much hope that they do come to join me on the journey, help me raise awareness of the challenge amongst their friends and family and maybe even sponsor me. It was wonderful to meet Lewis, Jim Toland and Mike and even better they agreed to a photo on the train! As we approached London King’s Cross station it suddenly dawned on me that I had 2 children, 3 suitcases, 1 suit carrier, 1 packed lunch bag, 1 computer bag and a sense of humour to carry through London on the underground from King’s Cross to Waterloo. I talked about catching a cab with Jim but I was ahead of rush hour and knowing that the tube would be an adventure for us all we went for it. At the underground I discovered that the tickets that I thought included a transfer on the underground from King’s Cross to Waterloo didn’t but I could use my contactless card like an oyster card to travel on the underground!! The children needed a ticket though so back to a ticket machine and then back to the barriers. We were off again.
We got to Waterloo with the children having learned the art of the game of sardines on a moving platform with a suitcase. We Caught the train and texted Euan. ‘On the 1705 train see you soon.’ Euan texted back. ‘I am already at Christchurch to meet you. You told me that you would be here for 1753. You are 2.5 hours away!!’ I struggled with this initially. I couldn’t understand what had happened and then slowly it dawned on me. I had got my 12 and 24 hour clocks confused. I had said to Euan 17:53 when I actually meant 7:53 pm. 2 hrs later. I let Euan know. I discovered that they had planned my young Nephew Alex’s birthday tea for this afternoon so we could be there too. But we were never going to be there but I had got their hopes up through my own stupid muddled head getting silly timings confused. I felt awful to have let them all down. I had also let down Heather and James who were so looking forward to seeing them all. Euan texted back. Despite having driven 40 minutes through rush hour to get to Christchurch, then 30 minutes through lightening traffic back again to enjoy Alex’s birthday tea he was going to drive the 20 minutes back in light traffic to pick us up and give us a lift to the premier Inn and grab something to eat. It was too late for the children to do the tea. He was a star doing that and arrived bang on time with my niece and one of the children’s cousins and Heather’s great friend Sia to collect us. Huge hugs and into KFC for tea before checking into the hotel.
I apologized profusely to Euan over the mixup and we discussed how frustrating this disease can be when the simplest of tasks like navigating, like folding maps, like telling the time, like leaving the house in good order to go somewhere or do something, like basic problem solving tasks, like keeping things tidy and in their proper place without having to spend hours hunting around the house looking for stuff, done without any problems for so many years as a part of the routine of working and daily life suddenly become the route cause for so many errors and failures and frustrations both for me but also for my friends and family. Euan reassured me that all was fine and that we would have lots of time together tomorrow. So with the children settled in I went back out with one of the door cards to bid farewell to Euan. I came back in to the hotel and went straight to my door. I stood and presented the card to the door and turned the handle. Nothing. I did it again. Nothing. I did it again after reading the instructions in detail by the door handle. Still nothing. I was about to turn to go to reception to get the card checked when the door was opened. ‘Are you trying to get in?’ asked the man stood at the door. I put my hand over my mouth and apologized profusely. I was at completely the wrong door. In fact I was 40 doors away from mine. We parted on good terms and I went to my correct door. The key worked first time but then I couldn’t settle. I was yet again frustrated with my incompetence and stupidity. I was starting to doubt that I could do even the simplest of things. Started to question as to whether I should be trusted out on my own. But through this mounting frustration I received a very loud prompt to go back to the gentleman I had just disturbed and tell him about the challenge. I fetched a flyer and not wanting to ignore this very powerful prompt to go speak to him I walked the 40 doors back. I found his door again with no dramas at all. Knocked on it and after a short time the door was opened. The gentleman looked at me quizzically and I started to explain myself as I handed him a flyer. Quickly, very quickly I realized that I hadn’t gone to the wrong door by mistake or by an error of gross stupidity. I had been taken there and when I left without telling him about the challenge I was sent back again. Roger Parrett from Surrey had one extraordinary story to tell of the many twisting and difficult diseases he has had to deal with and of the harrowing circumstances involving cancer and young deaths that have so haunted him as he trod his tough path and yet through it all he reiterated that he refused to give up and that there was always somebody far worse off than he. I hadn’t been sent back to inspire or encourage him. God had sent me back to be inspired and encouraged by him and I truly was. Thank you Roger and I very much hope that you come and join me on my journey.
So with 2 miles walked, 6 wonderful people met and hands shaken and 2 happy and tired children I go to sleep. A family filled day tomorrow as the clan gathers!!
Yours aye
Archie