Boots bought, it now feels real...

So the boots are bought for the trek across the Sahara, got a good deal from a very helpful young lad in a very nice shop just off Covent Garden. He asked where I was going, and when, so I told him - Morocco, October, the Sahara Desert. He considered this thoughtfully and told me it was going to be hot. I waited for him to tell me it was also going to be sandy but he didn't. Maybe he wanted it to be a surprise. 

Still, the boots were £50 off and didn't have a gore-tex membrane, so I was in, and already familiar with trekker lingo. I could possibly hold my own at a gathering of such people.  

So, the blog then. Well as anyone reading probably knows i'm doing the trek to help raise funds for North London Hospice, where I volunteer most Saturday mornings, and here it is looking resplendent in the sunshine last Saturday at 8am:

You see its very nice. The reasons why I volunteer and why I do it are on the just-giving site where all sponsorship will be gladly received:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobertDuffySahara2014 

So last saturday was a fairly typical shift, although I did spend more time with one of the patients than I normally get to do, as he needed feeding and all the nurses were busy. Its fair to say we hit it off, although my squash making skills were brought into question as it took me 3 goes to get it just how he wanted it. He was doing really well, although sadly his illness made it difficult for him to speak so conversations took quite a while ! None more so than when his wife called and I acted as the conduit - a lack of knowledge of sanding and varnishing floors on my part didn't help, but we got there in the end, with poached eggs on toast polished off and one satisfied squash drinker. 

Back in the kitchen and all the nurses were hard at work (ie striking poses):

From left to right - Gulad (the other volunteer on the breakfast shift), Katherine, Anne and Angie. All wonderful people who help make the atmosphere what it is in the place.

My training has had mixed results so far, as I try to lose weight as well as run as much as possible. The running is going well, and am up to 3 times a week running the 5 miles to work from Finchley Central to Kentish Town, however the eating well is not, meaning the weight isnt going down and the runs arent getting any easier !  

Last week I did Monday in 47 mins 39 secs then I played football on Tuesday and despite my best intentions it was pretty much impossible for me to run on Wednesday morning as I just ached ! Thursday it was 46 mins 48 secs, and here's a lovely picture of me finishing at the gym in Kentish Town at around 7am:

I do seem to be rather shocked by it all. On Friday it was much harder (2 days in a row) and I only managed 47 mins 47 secs (which im blaming on my girlfriend Su and her 'welcome home doughnut' of Thursday evening). Ah, shes brilliant - but not helping my cause there ! But I did seem a little happier - possibly because I knew it was 3 days until the next run ! 

Ok that's enough of the sweaty selfies... 

Until next week :)

Rob (sponsor me please !!)