Cometh the day cometh the opportunity. I have received a good bit of encouragement today, to put it mildly. First the Bishop of Huntingdon The Right Reverend Dr David Thomson sent me a message of support. He had seen my blog and wrote to say he would be willing to wave me off from the Cathedral the day of the walk, and even walk to the Ely boundary. Not only that, he has included a piece about the cause on his own, to use his words, "blogroll." This gave me such a lift. Next I heard that the Cambridge News was interested in covering the story and taking some pictures. Then when I was doing my lunchtime work-out at the gym the instructor promised to include a piece with a photo in the Impressions Magazine. On top of that a friend from Church has offered to walk all the way with me to Carrow Road as a walking companion. Is this what those Calendar Girls felt like? No,definitely not, I'm not doing that!!
I watched Norwich on the tele lose 2-1 to Leeds last night. Norwich were awesome in the first half but lost in extra time as a result of an unfortunate error. I thought I'd let Delia get over it before writing, so tonight's the night. On the ball city!

"Did Gump walk or run across America?" A moments doubt told me to text my son Simon. He "just felt like runnin" came the answer. Oh dear, that's the problem with blogs isn't it? I knew I should have used Pilgrim's Progress! Anyway this Gump will walk, that's for sure!

I did something unusual for me. I had to be in Peterborough so I took half an hour to walk. For some no big deal, but not for this workaholic. What a reward. The October sun shone benignly. I strolled around a boating lake and took time to watch the swans, Canada Geese and seagulls. Suddenly a heron swept down gracefully and landed on the path in front of me. When it saw me approach it started to walk like Max Wall. And those strangers with dogs,on bikes and even the man carrying a canoe actually spoke, as though it were the most natural thing to do, rather than look at the ground. Is this a sub-culture, a subversive group in the hectic twenty first century that only half an hour of walking has uncovered?

My only trouble was that I was wearing shoes for a towny and trousers which tickled my right knee, driving me mad. There's a lesson for the big walk; suitable clothing!

I must pluck up courage and write to Delia tonight. Her moral support would be great for the cause.

Gump

Forrest Gump was always in the headlines without understanding their significance. He walked too, all the way across the States; he just kept walking. People walked with him. There is something about walking which grabs people's imagination. I announced it in church today, "I shall be walking to the sacred turf of Carrow Road." People laughed. I felt it was the laugh of support. A good sport offered to walk with me. Will there be others? Is this the beginning of a Gump walk? Will I grow a beard and speak wisdom en route? Will this wisdom become a bumper sticker?

Already I can see the walk is life changing. It means practice, training and planning. It needs time, other things have to make way, work has to stop. The Bishop of Reading tried to give busy commuters an egg timer at the local railway station to get them to stop for a minute a day. Walking practice will take more than a minute a day. As a vicar I should know the value of space, time off, exercise and sharing the joy of it with others. But not wanting to stop work in case the world stops spinning is a disease I know all about. So, keep walking Forrest!

Day 2,

After the party last night, it was a short night's sleep. My first thought in the morning...what have I done? Walk? Norwich? Delia?

I drove to Ely Cathedral for a 9.30am meeting followed by a service at 11.15am. The drive across the Fen on this bright morning in October did me good. It gave me time to think. I saw in my mind those children in Uganda. The boys in bare feet kicking a football made with plastic bags tied with string or elastic bands. The little lad passing our window early morning with a yellow gerry-can on his head to get water for the family before school. The 15 year old girl who is head of her family because her parents and grandparents are all dead due to HIV/Aids. The shack of a school building with earth floors, no electric light, the need of basics like pencils and paper. Isn't it worth a bit of humiliation, a few jokes about Delia's cooking!

After a full day I spent 45 minutes at the gym, and went for it with fresh enthusiasm. I told the instructor about the blog. I appreciate my son Daniel encouraging me to write. I hope it pays off!

Day 1 , My Decision to Walk!

This morning the idea was hatched. For ages I'd been toying with the thought. Today's appointment with my gym instructor clinched it. I heard myself say I was planning (perhaps a bit strong!) to walk for the children we'd met in Uganda. As I spoke, the idea started to firm up, in fact I was making it up as I went along , but the imaginings were taking on real forms . I was going to walk from Ely Cathedral, where I am an Honorary Canon to Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City FC (I'm a long suffering fan). All this to raise some money to help build a schoool in South west Uganda.

The fact is that there is so much competition for money raising and all for worthy causes. You have to do somethng a bit unusual to earn your sponsorship!

Before the day was out, and with no little thanks to conversations at my sons engagement party, new ideas emerged. What about asking Delia to meet you? Can't the Bishop wave you off? Well, we'll see. The main thing is to keep the children in focus; their needs and their education.