Day 86 of the End to End in 2019 was memorable for lots of reasons. Firstly, I had Hannah and Bob with me at the beginning. Secondly it was on the West Highland Way.
Scotland can be beautiful in the wet. I remember lots of streams tumbling down the hills, some over the path. It was a day of water.
Bob and Hannah got some bacon sandwiches at the Crianlarich station cafe. I was cross, tired, wet and hungry by the time we met. Not a good combination, although I prefer bacon sandwiches to Snickers. Its important to remember the less good bits of LEJOG too.
A bit further on there was an honesty box with chocolate. There were quite a lot of gold banded dragon flies flying around too. When they met me again at the end of the day’s walk, we went for cake in a former church that had been turned into a cafe. That’s one transformation I can recommend.
Fast forward one year and it’s day two in Tameside Hospital. I found myself thinking as I was going through the scanner, about the last time I was involved with a similar amazing machine. My three year old daughter was being scanned as part of a follow up from an earlier illness. I wonder what she’d made of it all at the time: me holding her still as we went through the process.
These days, inside and outside of hospital there seems to be one common feature: anxiety.
From the remembered bible, psalm 55
Morning, noon and night, I call to God for help. God hears those moans, and groans…
Leave your anxiety with God, who is always on your side.
Outside one day, inside the next:
Care is welcome but unknown situations increase anxiety.
Snippets of conversation whirl around me.
The divisions between workers and those cared for is not so obvious at these times. Uniforms are one thing, but voices blend together.
Be with us in each word and phrase,
In each touch and gesture.
Tears and moans are trodden down
Like receding flood water.
Remind us of the free flying dove,
May we imagine safe times and places.
JAL 10.07.2020 in Tameside Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne.