Back to June again, one year on and quite a poignant weekend for me. This time last year saw me making the final leg of my journey from London to Newcastle, after eight months of working away in Africa. Eight months can seem like a drop in the ocean in some respects, in others it can seem like a lifetime. No matter which way it is felt though, we are all constantly evolving with time, with experience. There is no fight against time, once you relinquish to the fact that change, evolution, it happens whether you fight it or not. In that sense, it seemed quite an appropriate moment to add to this cumulation of writing that had fallen prey to inertia.
I remember the confusion and panic that arose when I woke back in my old room, but was I really? The overstimulation I felt. Too much noise, too much fuss, too much everything. Sleep was hard to come by, daylight too long, food unappealing, yet this was the place I’d missed in my heart. Yet I so loved Africa and to the end of my life, there will be a part of my heart residing out there. Biding it’s time and beating to a more natural, synchronous rhythm.
It’s great to be back and I love and appreciate Newcastle possibly more than ever, however I’m not the same person who left two years ago,nor am I entirely the same person who arrived back a year ago. After being catapulted through a multitude of various other experiences and emotions, in what could have well have been one of the fastest years yet, I’m here on this June eve.
The year has been filled to the brim with gigs, festivals, trips, friends, losses, gains, tears and laughter. I’m happy to say the laughter the laughter has started to outweigh the tears, though occasionally if I laugh too hard….
I’ve taken on another new clinic, made an abundance of new friends, some of whom I suspect will be there for years to come. And finally, I’ve started to “get serious” about my art. In the last two weeks I’ve had several requests for sales and commissions. It’s looking good! I aim to find a suitable exhibition space and to live out my worst nightmare…“ultimate exposure”…
I joined a cycle club too, after a couple of months back. One of the best things I could have done. Occasionally leading to the biggest headaches, but thankfully they’re few and far between. They’re a rare bunch, whose smiles and banter keep you going over the miles and up the steepest of climbs.
Tomorrow, on the anniversary of me arriving back in Newcastle I decided to take on the Virgin Cyclone sportive. It’s no race, I’m not the strongest of cyclists even, but to complete 106miles, it’s going to take a bit of grit. I’ve only been back on the bike for 10 months, I tend to forget that amidst me trying to keep up with the more seasoned riders.
I’ve trained hard for that ten months, in some respects relentlessly, after having rehabilitated a fracture to my forth metatarsal. It finally gave way during a ridiculously steep trail run, during the Wacky Wine festival in SA last year, after months of trail running. Back to the gym and although my running activity has been pretty quiet for the last few months, cycling has taken up a big chunk of time; right throughout the poorest winter weather, literally rain, hail or shine. You learn to keep pedalling through the roughest of torrents spilling over into the road (thoughts return to Angerton) spawned by adhoc flooding of the fields. You never know how deep it’s going to be until you’re in it. Bit of a analogy on life in there somewhere.
I’ve had crashes and with a little help from others scraping me off the road, I’ve persisted in getting straight back into the saddle and carrying on. That’s just me, there is no other way. Whether you overthink it or not, the most important thing is to carry on doing.
So all that aside, decided to dedicate tomorrows ride to the fundraising efforts of Team Evie. An amazing charity, who help to support families and wards who care for sick babies. Evie was born tof - tracheo-oesophageal fistula and chd - coronary heart defect. In her six months on this earth, she underwent 14 operations to give her the best chances of survival. She spent only three weeks outside of hospital, at home with her family. Team Evie have made it their quest to raise money to buy equipment to make the lives of these families and children as enriching and and as easy as possible.
A fair bit of work has been put into this charity since the loss of Evie in September last year. Founders and parents Jill and Greg Johnston have worked tirelessly to promote and raise funds in Evie’s memory. She left behind a beautiful legacy, Evie’s Life Lessons. Take note, they’re applicable to us all!
2# Appreciate what you have
3# Surround yourself with love
I think tomorrow that is enough to get me through, so thanks Evie! Always moving forward, that state of evolving, being pulled forward. As long as the wheels are turning, I’ll get to where I’m going.
I feel unnecessarily wired about the whole event, but perhaps this will go someway to explaining a little of why.
The infamous Alan Lamb, (Team Evie mascot and renowned social butterfly) will be joining me on my little outing tomorrow, so expect to see a few pics of him admiring scenery and give me pep talks when the going gets tough!
