He's a determined chap as you can see. Although if the below picture is to be believed, I also think he believes he can fly. Who knows, maybe he can ?
Joe is the guy who showed me round on my first day back in August 2012, and tried his best to scare the bejesus out of me with one of his stories. He almost did. But his help and guidance was absolutely invaluable in my first few weeks as I got used to the hospice and its unique environment. He's one of the nicest people I have ever met and a big reason as to why I'm going on the trek.
Now if you asked Joe, he would tell you he is going as my interpreter, however Joe is barely able to speak English himself, being that he is from 'ooop north' in some god forsaken place called 'Bolton' (at least I think that's what he said) where for example they have a word 'hurrr' which describes what Joe has on his head and I do not.
No, he is a big reason for me because Joe gives so much of himself to the hospice. After his wife received care here, Joe retired from work and is either here at the Woodside Park hospice or at the Enfield day centre, most day of the week, for several hours at a time. He can always be found in patients rooms chatting to them or their families (he literally has no idea what happens in the 'kitchen') or taking them out for walks, bringing in papers and reading to them. He has meant so much to so many families over the last few years that he has been asked to give talks and presentations on behalf of the hospice and recently won the 'Volunteer of the Year' award from the International Journal of Palliative Nursing Awards 2014 (http://www.northlondonhospice.org/north-london-hospice-volunteer-wins-international-award/) and rightly so.
Joe is always in a good mood and infects the place with his cheerful enthusiasm and his desire to help others. He means so much to so many people and I am privileged to call him my friend. Without people like Joe and places like the North London Hospice the world would be a much lesser place.
"Whose turn is it to do the dishes ?"
Mr Attridge, I salute you sir !
Now the running. Now thats not been going so well ! Still havent managed to beat my PB of 46:15 and have had some difficulties it might be said. Paula Radcliffe style difficulties. And before you jump up to say 'what, wondering how on earth you can beat the women's world marathon record ?' well no that wasn't the issue. Lets just say that the fully kitted out film crew trailers outside Hampstead Heath that morning rescued me from a potentially very embarrassing situation. Working on the Banksy principle of 'its easier to get forgiveness than permission' I made use of the facilities. As I went to leave a posh looking film type chap was coming in but rather than question what a sweaty runner with a backpack was doing there he stood aside to let me out like a quintessentially polite chap. Thank you my friend ! I hope he only needed the urinal...
Out for a run shortly and going for the first trek in my new super comfy trekking boots tomorrow - Hampstead Heath here I come !
Please sponsor me here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobertDuffySahara2014
Toodles...
No comments:
Post a Comment