Blot on the landscape

  How  did you get so  very high You got so high  you almost touched the sky Lady luck couldn't wish you more luck than I So take a jump and steal your piece of sky The Wonder Stuff - Piece of Sky Today is a day that in one way seem so normal and in other ways so unimaginable. Five months ago I couldn't imagine being in the position I am. Today, I find it hard to recollect the thoughts and feelings I had then. I've just been discharged from Mental Health services. I'm happy, healthy and enjoying life. On reflection its probably been several years since I've felt so good, released from many of the self made stresses, I feel excited and optimistic about the future, not only for myself but also about my family and friends. We've made some big life decisions over the past few weeks and are now well along the route of moving house to spend some time enjoying living by the sea and taking life a lot easier. Not to say I'll be retiring, but I will be getting a very ...

 Ok, let’s get the awkward bit out of the way first. If you can spare some cash to support mine and our team’s effort to pedal from Halton Haven Hospice to Blackpool Tower and back, a massive 125 miles on July 3rd, any donation would be massively appreciated. Please donate at  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pedalwithpaul3 I’ve multiple reasons for taking this big challenge on. This time last year, the Hospice’s patron, Paul O’Neill took on a challenge with his friends to cycle 2,500 miles. At the time, I was really struggling with my mental health, with treatment resistant clinical depression and a huge dose of suicidal thinking. Getting involved in the challenge, by riding 25 miles a day on a static bike at home was a godsend for me. It gave me some time away from feeling tormented, thinking nothing other than keeping pedalling. Through getting involved in the challenge, albeit virtually, it led to meeting some really lovely and supportive people on social media, who ...