Well, I survived the Big Walk For Pudsey, and am here to tell the tale, and I am amazed, no blisters, and just a few aches and pains.
My diary for last week.
l Monday: Kidderminster Town Hall, 8am, cold but dry, with a motley crew to set off. Big John made the pace. Phil Serrell couldn't get going until he had a cigar. Some joined and some dropped out. Cecil Duckworth joined us for the last stretch, but he was in plaster by Friday - nothing to do with us.
The Worcester Male Voice Choir sang us in and out of the Mug House and all went well.
l tuesday: Ross-on-Wye 8am, cold but dry. Walked the first eight miles with two Shire horses, a dray, and Helen Thomas from Weston's Cider, causing chaos on the A49. Joined by Graeme Hick for the last stretch into Hereford, walking down the Callow on a cold but clear afternoon. Superb.
l wednesday: Evesham 8am, cold and damp, but it did clear up.
Mark Grooms and myself, went well to Drakes Broughton, where we were joined by Nick Lloyd, head honcho at Malvern Theatre, and later by the chief constable and some of his beat officers. Paul West went well and his officers are used to walking - one told me she does on average 13 miles a day.
l thursday: Leominster Corn Square, 8am, very cold but dry.
Joined by several locals who walked all the way into Hereford and by John Challis, well known on telly as Boysie. Despite a dodgy ankle, John and his wife were with us to the bottom of Dinmore Hill, when Easty took us on a hot pace up just about the biggest climb of the week. Lunch at Wellington and a good step into Hereford.
l friday: Bromsgrove town centre, 8am. Even colder but still dry. Malcolm Boyden helped kick us off and we walked to Wychbold. My old mate Les made a surprise appearance - just turned up and walked for about a mile behind us before we noticed.
At Martin Hussintree we picked up Peter Luff, who accompanied us to the edge of the city boundary where Mike Foster joined us for the last stretch to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Worcester, to be greeted by Pudsey himself.
So a great week of walking and some very generous people at the rugby on Friday evening as well.
A big thank-you to all those who walked, plus Mandi, who organised it, and the many who dropped money and folding in the buckets.
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