Day 8 - hats off to commuters

The only challenge today was getting up at 5.30am and not getting home until just before 8pm. As chair of the Mental Health Network, I am also a trustee of the NHS Confederation. I was in meetings from 8.30am: the confederation is undergoing a lot of change, so big decisions are needed.

Here I am at London Road station awaiting the 6.36am to Brighton, snapped by a lovely art therapist who commutes three times a week to Clapham. Hats off to all commuters, it is a tough life.

In fact, hurrah for anyone who gets up in the small hours - milkmen, postal workers and refuse collectors. And double hurrah to night shift workers such as bakers and nurses. I've done a lot of night duty in my time; it was lovely to have a Gregory Isaacs song dedicated to night nurses, but it didn't completely make up for permanent tiredness.

Without the kindness of Southern Trains, Brighton and Hove Buses and Stagecoach, I would be spending my own money on tickets during February, because part of the challenge is not to use NHS resources on train or bus journeys I would usually do in the car. So I've made a decision to boost my fundraising (currently £845, creeping up daily, thank you very much all you generous donors) and will make a donation at the end of the month equivalent to the amount I have saved.

No blog tomorrow, but a double feature on Thursday evening, when I will hopefully have completed my biggest bike/train/bike adventure to date. Wish me luck....

If you would like to make a donation to help children affected by the floods in Pakistan, please click HERE

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