Micheil Gordon returns home

I drove back last night from London having at last finished the job, and I went straight into the Finance Committee meeting at 7-30pm, which I had to chair. I was, and am, utterly exhausted and hardly fit for the purpose, as we had to agree a budget for the next financial year. We finished at about 10-40pm.

Instead of a lie-in, I had to return to the Council offices for another Working Group meeting at 10am, which was actually very productive. We finished it by going to look at the approach road to the Station, which is the site of the project we hope to institute next year. While we were there, I took a couple of other councillors onto the platform to show them some other issues we might consider too, including how to get disabled access across the railway tracks, as the Brunel designed footbridge didn't and doesn't address their needs, yet.

On the other platform, we saw a group of press photographers and reporters had assembled to greet the homecoming of Michael Gordon and his bike from the Paddington train. He had just returned to England by plane, after completing a cycle ride from Britain to Hong Kong. I sidled up to the group, whom I knew many of, including our Mayor John Marjoram, who was at the Finance meeting last night too.

Apparently Micheil and his friend Jon Lee, who is from Bristol, had decided in 2010 to do the ride to raise funds for WaterAid. 259 days on the road and 9,780 miles later, he was greeted by his mum and a motley collection of Stroudies. Having already raised £18,520.43, they are still is trying to raise more even money, so you can find out more about that and their trip at their Blog.

I am so glad to be home with Helena and Bomble and all the birds in the garden, looking out across the misty valley and enjoying the loud sounds of the peaceful countryside. It also seems so easy to find an unusual Blip when you are least expecting it.