On Day 65 of the End to End in 2019 I crossed the border between England and Scotland. Easy enough to do, even for a lone walker. The back road alongside the M6 is the route for all non-motorway traffic so I saw quite a few other Lejoggers. Each on their own journey: two police officers cycling for a cancer charity, an older couple celebrating the joy of still being able to ride (he was 80), and of course the most amazing Mel Nicholls on her hand cycle world record run. It’s no spoiler to tell you she smashed the world record to 6 days, 22 hours and 18 minutes, from Land’s End to John O’Groats by hand cycle. My admiration is boundless.
(above: view of the M6)
Meanwhile, I stopped at the Metal Bridge for lunch with Bob. It was life in the slower lane. It was also life in the same trousers: now getting on for nearly two decades old the blue trousers were the same ones I’d worn in 2012 when Hannah walked into Scotland. I still have them.
The sign on the border says Welcome to Scotland and that felt brilliant. But not every border holds out such a welcome. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to be a refugee but I can have the compassion to say ‘Welcome’.
Meanwhile in 2020 I am still writing my first novel. Set in thirty years time, crossing the border from England to Scotland is part of the story. Some of the dystopic signs that are built into the plot are currently getting a bit too close for comfort. The current pandemic seems to have confirmed that we ascribe little value to the elderly and disabled population. The language used by government ministers too often lacks compassion. Numbers are cited but real lives are over looked, something that is also true of black and ethnic minority people. What sort of border have we erected? What sort of welcome are we offering?
From the remembered bible: One gospel writer mentions Jesus being taken to Egypt as a baby. ‘Out of Egypt I have called my Son’.
No travel documents, no rights, even after decades of living in community.
Trauma, health impaired, all down to injustice,
Too many people over looked and excluded.
This is not right: Holy One may your kindom come,
and may we be its workers and welcomers.
JAL: 17.06.2020 in Longdendale.