I’ve just got home after walking up to the beach with the Moo and back home past Crosby marina.
I was kicking myself I didn’t have my phone with me to take a photograph as the sunset across the sea was amazing – as usual.
There’s nothing quite like it when the weather is right – the sun dips down in the west behind the jagged north Wales mountains and as it goes it casts hues of red and amber upwards; the steel grey sea reflects and glistens; the sky is vast, endless; and the Iron Men statues are silent watchers.
I was having a moment – thinking – 2016 hasn’t always dealt the best of cards – but I’m so, so lucky to live here and be able to look out at that beautiful view.
It’s the kind of thing that puts *stuff* into perspective.
I thought mum and dad would have liked it.
Then a cycle bell rang behind me and I stepped aside. A chap cycled past with some big pannier bags strapped to his bike; he was wearing a reflective coat with some writing on the back – he was cycling round Britain.
I shouted *oooh, good luck* but I don’t think he heard me.
About five minutes later Moo saw him sitting down by the side of the marina and ran up to sniff his feet.
I wandered over – asked him what he was doing. He’s called Paul and is cycling round Britain, anti-clockwise, for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
He left Portsmouth in August and has even been round the Scottish islands. He’s now on his way back south, camping out when he can or jumping in a hostel or B&B when the weather’s not so good. He hopes to finish by the end of the year.
I’d only been thinking of mum a minute earlier – she’d had vascular dementia and had an unhappy last few months of her life.
About five minutes before she died she’d had a sudden moment of clarity and touched out to my face. I’ll never ever forget that.
So here was this chap, 3,000-plus miles into his self-funded trek to raise awareness and money. Its cold outside tonight; I don’t know what his plans are to keep warm.
He told me how to find him on T’Internet – so I have, and here he is below. I’ve donated a little bit of cash – perhaps you might do too, in memory of mums and dads everywhere and those gorgeous sunsets that help us remember them.
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You can donate here
… and follow Paul on Facebook below.