As you can see, I have finally made it to Oxford. Only ‘slightly’ behind schedule. On to Bicester next and then up the M40 to Stratford-Upon-Avon! Hopefully the police won’t object to an exercise bike very slowly being moved along the motorway.
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Parklife 2021
Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS) regrets to announce that it will not be present at, or supporting, the Parklife Festival in Aylesbury on 28 and 29 August. Our own Covid impact assessment for this event shows that the Parklife event would lead to hundreds of people becoming infected with Covid and, as a disability charity, we could not in any circumstances support an event which credibly might lead to hundreds more people becoming ill or disabled. BuDS has formally asked the event organisers to cancel their event in the interests of public health, but they have declined to do so.
Read MoreBack in the Saddle – Update 11
Thankfully it wasn’t far from Salisbury to Stonehenge, so I’ve already reached my next checkpoint on my exercise bike challenge. It’s going to be a while before my next update as I need to get all the way up to Oxford and that’s 110km away. Should be there by October though.
I’m glad this is a virtual challenge, I’m not sure I’d take a real bike up the A34! I guess I could at least take a break at Chieveley services like we used to when we did collections and drop offs of the kids with my parents…
Read MoreBack in the Saddle – Update 10
Still slowly pedalling on with my exercise bike challenge. Just made it to Salisbury. I’m now 25% of the way through my virtual journey from Lands End to John o’Groats.
Obviously still very behind – 466km to be precise. The red marker, just beyond the half way point, shows where I should be by now, if I were to try and reach the finish by my original target of 24th January 2022. However, life does like to throw extra challenges at us all and over 20 weeks (so far) of fatigue flare has definitely been a whopping challenge for me this year.
John o’Groats will still be there when I do eventually get there. I shall continue to channel my inner Dory and just keep pedalling… pedalling, pedalling… pedalling, pedalling, pedalling, pedalling…
Read MoreHigh Wycombe Food Insecurities
A new study has found that High Wycombe in Bucks is the worst affected area for food insecurity across the UK. The research was carried out by the University of Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food and used data from the Food Foundation which had surveyed people from across the UK.
Read MoreBack in the Saddle – Update 9
Yippee! I’ve finally made it to Ringwood! The hare and the tortoise approach is working well. I really don’t mind how far behind schedule I am, because I know I will get there eventually. I’m especially proud of keeping going yesterday and today, bearing in mind swimming might have been a better option! Nothing quite like a burst in a mains pressure water pipe, a non-working stop cock and sorting the ensuing mess that all causes to add to the gaiety of nations…
On to Salisbury I go now…
Read MoreMeeting Safely Out Of Doors
Even with the high numbers of people infected with Covid-19, BuDS is not recommending that people go back to or continue shielding. By shielding, we mean completely self-isolating yourself and never meeting other people. We recommend that everyone – even extremely clinically vulnerable people – think about their mental health and continue to meet family, friends and loved ones safely out of doors. This article by the expert BuDS team provides the fact-checked information you need to help you meet people safely out of doors.
If you need help or support or you’re anxious about Covid-19, BuDS is here for you. Please e-mail buds-support@buds.org.uk, call 01494 211179 (voicemail) or message us and we’ll do all we can to help.
Read MoreLong Covid July 2021 update
It’s VITAL that everyone knows about LONG COVID, long-term conditions that over a million people have developed after catching the Covid-19 virus. The Government and media are saying that precautions to stop people catching Covid-19 can be abolished because vaccination means only a small number of people will have serious symptoms. However, the Government have not mentioned the EQUALLY important risk to people’s long-term health from Long Covid. But BuDS cares about your health, and we think you need to protect yourself against Long Covid too. Read on to find out more.
Read MoreBack in the Saddle – Update 8
5 months and 4 days after I started my daft quest of completing the virtual Lands End to John o’Groats challenge on my exercise bike, and despite my ongoing fatigue flare, I have now made it to Bournemouth! If I’d managed to keep to my 5km a day target, I would be up past Leicester by now. However, life had other plans for me this year. I am proud to say though, that I haven’t missed a single day so far, and even a 0.25km distance achieved chips a little bit off the overall distance. I will get there eventually.
My next unofficial target is to get to Ringwood. I’m sure I will receive a warm welcome when I get there.
Read MoreBack in the Saddle – Update 7
I have finally made it! Just 47 days behind when I thought I’d get there, but yes, I am now finally at Durdle Door! This may be one of the slowest journey’s from Lands End to John O’Groats, but it’s not about the speed. It’s about persevering and eventually achieving the goal, despite all the obstacles that life tries to throw in the way.
Next stop is Bournemouth. Thankfully that’s only just over 36km away. I wonder how long that will take me?
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