Never have I been more grateful to have found something that I thought had been permanently lost. By default, I blame most physical and cognitive symptoms that I experience on Parkinson's. As a degenerative, progressive condition, it seems reasonable to assume it is singularly responsible for the insidious and relentless assault on body and mind … Continue reading Lost and Found
Tag: YOPD
Life is a Rollercoaster
'Life is a rollercoaster, you just gotta ride it' sang Ronan Keating. Now, I'm not a huge fan of rollercoasters. Come to think of it, I'm not a huge fan of Ronan Keating either. Ronan was singing about love. I of course, am rambling about Parkinson's (of which I am not a huge fan, either). … Continue reading Life is a Rollercoaster
Explaining not Complaining
I haven't written much lately. Am I bored with writing? No! Have I run out of things to say? Never! Do I have writer's block? No! I think I've got reader's concern. Over recent years, I have found it therapeutic to take a light hearted approach to sharing my experiences of living with Parkinson's, in … Continue reading Explaining not Complaining
Just Do It
Whether Nike ever intended their advertising tagline 'Just Do It' to become a doctrine by which to live or not, it appears to have become just that, extending beyond a sporting mantra to become a 'call to action' applicable to almost every aspect of life. Adapted from the words of a convicted murderer, who, when … Continue reading Just Do It
Teams, Good Causes and Outstanding Individuals
By John Anderson I start my first blog for a good reason. I am keeping Alison company. Despite having covered 115km today into a headwind, she has decided to stay in tonight to catch up on things! She is undoubtedly an outstanding individual. She has energised, planned then organised a fantastic challenge to cycle from … Continue reading Teams, Good Causes and Outstanding Individuals
‘Brighton’ – Starting Line
16th June 2023 Worthing to Brighton Brighton to Newhaven Distance: 26 miles / 42km Climb: 512ft / 254m Total Distance Cycled: 174 miles / 281km Today saw the final part of our journey in the UK as we made our way to Brighton for our long awaited gathering with the rest of the team, many … Continue reading ‘Brighton’ – Starting Line
‘Warm Up’ – Day 3
15th June 2023 Hursley to Worthing Distance: 54 miles / 88km Climb: 1328ft / 405m Total Distance Cycled:148 miles / 239km It took some persuasion but eventually everyone agreed to meet this morning at 5.30am for a 6am start. By 9am, we'd covered 30km and had a picnic breakfast. We were joined today by Julia, … Continue reading ‘Warm Up’ – Day 3
‘Warm Up’ – Day 2
14th June 2023 Ramsbury to Hursley Distance: 41 miles / 66km Climb: 1519ft / 463m Total Distance Cycled: 94 miles / 151km Today felt too hot, too hilly, too far, took too long, too late back to the hotel. I was too wobbly and too tired to go any faster. BUT it was also through … Continue reading ‘Warm Up’ – Day 2
‘Warm Up’ – Day 1
13th June 2023 Cheltenham to Ramsbury Distance: 53 miles / 85km Climb: 2648ft / 807m Total Distance Cycled: 53 miles / 85km Setting off from home this morning felt somewhat surreal. I've cycled from home, through our town and out into the surrounding countryside hundreds of times. Never before have I set off on such … Continue reading ‘Warm Up’ – Day 1
Clipless Pedalling
Five significant events contributed to my transformation from a novice to a serious cyclist. Learning the rules and etiquette of cycling as part of a group Changing from a hybrid bike to a road bike The use of clipless pedals The purchase of Castelli bib shorts and jersey Cycling the iconic 1,000 mile from Land's … Continue reading Clipless Pedalling
New Year, New Challenge
Fabulous artwork by the very fabulous Jonny Acheson (https://jonnyachesonart.com) I love a challenge and thrive on the planning, preparation and training that goes with each new one. It gives me a sense of being in control - even if I'm not, challenges my brain and body - which can only be a good thing and … Continue reading New Year, New Challenge
Reflections of The Raid Alpine
Exercise, the only thing that has been shown to delay disease progression in Parkinson's, should, in theory, be easy to commit to doing on a daily basis. Yet at times it can still be difficult to find the motivation to exercise, particularly on a cold, wet, windy winter's day. In the autumn of 2019, signing … Continue reading Reflections of The Raid Alpine
Thank You!
Time to say 'Thank You' to everyone who supported me to do the Raid Alpine challenge. A HUGE 'thank you' to John Anderson, John Wilkinson, Roland Valori and Claire Lehman for embracing this colossal challenge, all the training involved and for making it a wonderful adventure. To Callum Anderson and Rory Chapell, our fantastic support … Continue reading Thank You!
Raid Alpine – Day 10
Setting off in already blistering sunshine, our last day proved one of the hottest. Perhaps a little blasé about having 'only' 834m of climb to do, by the time I was 15km into the ride, already on the wrong road, still leaning heavily on my right hand side in a very lop sided fashion with … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 10
Raid Alpine – Day 9
Distance 83km. Elevation 1700m. Our penultimate day saw us leave according to our speed. That was Claire and I setting off first for a ride that would take us 8 and 9 hours respectively. The others who are much quicker were rewarded by a slightly more leisurely breakfast and had still caught up with us … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 9
Raid Alpine – Day 8
We expected today to be our toughest challenge for many reasons. Longest rideBiggest climbSearing heatExisting saddle sores, blisters, aches and painsFatigue from the previous seven days hard cycling To add another challenge to the day, was for our support team, Callum and Rory when an erratic / maniac driver tried to overtake the van they … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 8
The Raid Alpine – Day 6
Col du Lautaret to Guillestre. Distance 81km. Elevation 1392m. What a fantastic day! Today we 'bagged' Col d'Izoard. 19.1km uphill during which we climbed 1173m. At a peak gradient of 11% and an overall average of 6%, it was tough. No nice pictures at the top as it simply resembled a building site. A huge … Continue reading The Raid Alpine – Day 6
Raid Alpine – Day 5
Distance Elevation Gain By Rory Chappell (Support Team) ‘Switchbacks are overshadowed by persistence.’ An early start for the cyclists to get a handle on the day ahead: the biggest climb so far. After breakfast, they hit the tarmac and pedalled along to the town of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. They waited for a top up of water from … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 5
Raid Alpine – Day 4
Bourg St ~Maurice to Lansleberg-Mont-Cenis Distance 83km, Elevation Gained 2,238m 'Over the Col and Far Away' By Rory Chappell (Support Team) The day started early high above Bourg Saint Maurice with a fantastic breakfast at our overnight stop, Montagn’Arcs. Joined by the fresh talent from Bolton, Neil and Jane, the cyclists set off up to … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 4
The Raid Alpine
Day 4 - 'Only' I desperately wanted to get to the top of Col d'Iseran, our 'only' Col of the day. 'Only' 2,200m of climb over 'only' 47km, with temperatures peaking at 'only' 28 degrees, with absolutely no shade. At every km on each Col, there is a marker depicting the distance to the top … Continue reading The Raid Alpine
Raid Alpine – Day 3
Day 3 - missing from our original blog series as exhaustion crept in and time ran out. For completeness, I've compiled this from a few scribbled notes to support my hazy memory, as Col after Col, the days seemed to morph into one. Today was to be our toughest so far. 75km, hilly from the … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 3
Raid Alpine – Day 2
Cluses to Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe. Distance 63km, Elevation Gained 2,200m. '20%' By Rory Chappell (Support Team) Waking up this morning to grey skies after a night of storms isn’t what you imagine when you come away to Southern France for a cycling challenge. That said, it is perfect climbing weather. Today was the first chance some got … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 2
Raid Alpine – Day 1
First Time for Everything First Day Thonon les Bains to Cluses Distance: 81km Climb: 1913m First Team Gathering Lake Geneva First Climb Col de Moises First Celebratory Beer First Day Summary Hot, hot, hot, humid,, hilly, hellishly hard, hurting everywhere, happy it's over ....until tomorrow. Personal Perspective - Alison One of our 'lighter' days today, … Continue reading Raid Alpine – Day 1
False Start
Here's hoping our initial efforts at organisation are not indicative of how well organised (or not) we are going to be throughout the trip. John W, already proving his organisational skills, arrived at the agreed time, at the agreed location with all the kit that he'd agreed to bring and most importantly with the Campervan. … Continue reading False Start
The Raid Alpine
It was Helen Matthews, the Deputy CEO of Cure Parkinson's who introduced Claire and I in 2017. We have kept in contact since and met a few times. Helen, knowing that we both had Young Onset Parkinson's and both worked for the NHS, thought we may have a few things to talk about. We found … Continue reading The Raid Alpine
Shades of Grey
Having recently watched 'Belfast' and then 'The Tourist', I was reminded of the time I met the actor Jamie Dornan, originally from '50 Shades of Grey' fame. If laughter is the best medicine, this one photograph has done much good for my health and that of many of my friends. Enjoy a laugh at my … Continue reading Shades of Grey
Outpatient DisAppointment
The challenge at a previous outpatient appointment was being asked to rate how I was feeling on a scale of 1 - 10. The challenge for my most recent appointment was to quantify what percentage of the time I was troubled by the symptoms I had just been asked to describe. Another trick question! Last … Continue reading Outpatient DisAppointment
Body Language
Being cold and having Parkinson's is not a harmonious relationship. A couple of degrees below comfortably warm and my body reacts as though I was in the Antarctic. It displays a shivering that is completely out of my control. It is not particularly uncomfortable but it is obvious to me and to others. The fire … Continue reading Body Language
Low Power Mode
When my mobile phone was new, a 100% battery charge would fairly reliably last two, sometimes three days. After a few years of regular use, I'm lucky if a full battery charge keeps my phone functioning reliably until lunchtime. Regularly running on red, I receive frequent messages offering the option of switching to 'Low Power … Continue reading Low Power Mode
Unpredictable (I)
Last week, my boxing was as good as it ever has been since I started training four years ago. My personal trainer noticed immediately. I responded quickly to instructions and was full of energy, my movements were fluid and fast and it felt fantastic. Same time, same place, one week later, same personal trainer, same … Continue reading Unpredictable (I)
Challenging Times 
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