Day 4: Postman Pat's windy day

Well, today has certainly made up for any slacking earlier in the week. I felt slightly sick when I looked out of the window at 7am and saw the trees bowed over in the wind and all the branches that had come down in the night.

I set off from home on the Brompton bike, wrestled it into submission to get on the train to Victoria, fairly speedy rebuild on platform, and cycled to Cavendish Square for meeting with Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the RCN and an old chum. Amongst other things, we discussed how nurses make great NHS leaders and what we could to do to support them. Thinks: maybe we are a bit biased?

Great rides to and from Victoria via Hyde Park Corner and through Hyde Park, Grosvenor Square, a tiny bit of Oxford Street and round the back into Henrietta Place and Cavendish Square. There were lots of people on Boris bikes, and I was glad to see most bring their own helmets. I love living in Brighton (I've been here 32 years) but still have huge affinity for our beautiful capital city.

I got back on a train to West Worthing, and then cycled to the office - various meetings, phone calls, letters, reports. I set off home at 6.15pm into the howling wind. It took me nearly two hours to ride 18.5 miles home. There was a lovely tail wind along the seafront but the bits in between were very blustery, plus visibility not great with small front light.

I really like the Brompton, even though I keep having a mental block about which bit to fold or unfold first. I know others use them for touring, but I have to admit to preferring my trusty Roberts for the longer runs. I will be cycling to the office on it first thing on Monday.

No more blogs till then, as I will be having a quiet weekend going into town (on the bus), listening to Brighton and Hove Albion hopefully winning away at Bristol Rovers on Radio Sussex, and making 6lbs of marmalade. I've lost a bit of weight already, so think I am entitled to a treat on Sunday...

It was hugely encouraging to get home and see the sponsorship had grown while I was pedalling through the wind. If you would like to make a donation to help children affected by the floods in Pakistan, please click HERE

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