"Fat to Fittie"

Very apt that May is mental health month, because I’m struggling a bit at the minute. Not sure if it’s because I’m sixty on Wednesday or despite swimming three times a week, drinking far less and not eating much crap, I still can’t shift the weight as much as I’d like. I was supposed to be going on a road trip to Ireland today with my sons, but that got cancelled, not wanting to spend my birthday doing the same stuff, I thought it would be a good idea to go on an adventure, you know, something different that gave me a challenge, so I started planning a trip to Scotland. Thing is I got a bit carried away and now I have seven nights booked and paid for, three in a glamping hut, two in a pop up tent, one in an air B&B and one in a lovely hotel. The route I’m taking is over 1200 miles, which in itself is a bit stupid, I love driving but been in the same position for ages is painful, hopefully I don’t forget my oramorph. It also takes me to the most rural parts of Scotland, add to that the fact I’m driving an electric car, only up’s my anxiety.

Obviously I’ve spent time carefully planning, especially where EV chargers are concerned, but as well all know, best laid, mice and men etc………I’ve just seen the weather forecast as well, typical, we’ve had a lovely week but from Sunday, the day I’m going, the temperature drops about 10 degrees, couldn’t make it up. If I want to join the great adventurers though, can’t let a little thing like a bit of a cold breeze put me off, didn’t hear Shackleton say, “Stuff it, I’ll freeze my tits off if we go for help, lets just stay in this warm trapped ship”. I know what you’re thinking, he’s only off to Scotland, hardly a trek to Antarctic, but let me try and explain, my mobility is very little, I can’t bend down to put socks on and it takes me five minutes to get in and out the car. Because of this issue, stopping for a wee can be a problem, so when I’m on a long journey I’ve been carrying an empty milk bottle with me, the plastic kind with a lid. So far I’ve managed fine, but when I began planning the trip, I thought it might be an idea to upgrade and get a proper pee bottle. It arrived yesterday and I was a bit surprised, the hole that you pop it into is twice the size of the milk bottle, not sure how I’ve been managing all this time, in my defence, it has been winter and a bit cold.

I’m currently packing the car, trying hard not to forget any essentials, especially my best friend, Mr grabber, completely lost without him, because as we all know the law states that if you’re unable to bend down, everything fall’s on the floor. Despite it all being very exciting, I realised I needed some motivation, something to spur me on and keep me going, both mentally and physically, so decided to continue my fundraising drive for Sands. I’ve just walked up the 199 steps at Whitby for this charity who look after bereaved families, they were a great help to my son and partner when they lost their daughter and it’s in Margot’s memory that I’m raising money. I originally set the target at £199, but is now over three hundred, I’d love to get to five and ask if anyone wishes to donate, please click the link below to the Just giving page.

I’m feeling a bit sad that no-ones coming with me, not because I need the company or help, but the scenery is fantastic, seems a shame that nobody else will see it, guess that’s why I decided to carry on with the fundraising, it means that hopefully it won’t feel I’m alone and can use the power of social media to share my adventure with. So if watching a fat disabled guy talk crap while struggling to get around Scotland sounds like your thing, then make sure you watch on Tik Tok, you never know, it might inspire your own adventure!