Run Dobie Run :: London to Scotland - August 2009

Day 7

Waking fresh from party action and a decent nights sleep at 11:30, made a lovely change to waking up in an awkward and uncomfortabke position at 6am. After I got out of my place of slumber, I set about finding some breakfast. Aggie offered to cook us breakfast, but on inspecting the fridge decided that we needed to go and buy some more food. On returning, Aggie cooked us up scrambled eggs (Poland style - central not eastern Europe, if you are in her company) sausages, toats and tomatoes along with a couple of cups of tea. She can definately come again. Something like that.

After breakfast, Chris made some additions to the van; adding a few posters around so people can see what I am doing more easily. Since putting them on on Sunday, lots of people have commented and knocked on the van to talk and find out more, good work Chris.

After this, we went to Mansfield to pick up mother. Mansfield itself was a bit odd and the station design must have been commissioned by a man who only ever wanted to use one side of the station. It took us ages to meet up with mother/Janet once we had got to the station. Sort it out Mansfield. You may have seen me refer to my mother as ‘Big Jan’. Now whilst she wouldn’t argue she was Elle MacPherson I do not use that term in a derogatory way. Big simply refers to her personaility and status in my world! she has  done sterling service so far and Chris is going to have a lot to live up to when he gets back!

Matthew may have a go at me for mentioning this as he does not want anyone to think he is a softy (Most of us know he is hard almost all of the time) but I must draw attention to the gifts my mother brought with her. Matthew kindly baked me a Victoria Sponge and some flapjacks, and wrote me a charming letter detailing how amazing I was. Well, alright he wrote me a letter basically wishing me luck and encouragin me to keep going. It really was very moving.

If anyone else wishes to send me gifts of the cake variety, please do. Anyone in Nottingham can take them to Chris’s house for his return and HArpenden folk can drop them off at Ian’s who will be joining me very soon. Wishful thinking on my behalf I think!

Day 8

Today, I arrived in Robin Hood terrority; a little town called Edwinstowe. Flags were out to welcome us and also to celebrate this place being where Robind Hood and Marian got  married. We started fundraising immediately. Well I say we, my mum started fundraising immediately and I sat down to have some tea and cake!

It turns out that everyone else I have asked knew that there was a spikey thing on the end of lids to pierce metal caps. I now pronounce myself officially stupid and ask how  it is I never knew?

In other, more interesting news; a girl liked me. This would have been fabulous news, although when I saw her I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. So I did both. As I stated  in my video; it’s a start. The queue of model like girls will be forming shortly and I need to be ready!

In sadder news; my body is starting to fall apart a bit. My left foot is about as effective at supporting the leg above as a chocolate teapot is at holding a couple of pints of  hot tea. Still, in classic Dobie style, it has not failed me yet. My calves - whilst pretty sexy - are almost always sore.  But without sounding like the line that didn’t make it  in to a Rocky film for being too cheesey, I have no doubts i’ll finish and will carry on regardless - my heart is still strong! RAR!

Depending on where you stand on my bear, this will be good or bad news: My beard will not be removed until I finish my run. Yes, I am copying the great man himself; Forest Gump. But thats no bad thing. It’ll also make me like a tree. You can tell the age of a tree by the number of rings in the bark, with me you can tell how long and far I have run by the  length of my beard. Admittedly this is not an exact science, but at least you’ll know if you are watching the wrong video!

My next radio appearance is definately this friday. Many apologies for my false propoganda on this! I did not think of bringing the dates with me (Watch day 9’s video for self  deprication on this very point!) which meant I was guessing when my  appearances were. Having spoken to the Beeb, I can confirm it is THIS FRIDAY AT 4:03! I’m afraid I could not  get them to be any more precise than that…

When Chris and Dave were here, all I really had to do was run. Now they are not here, I am in charge of all the internet/video stuff! Whilst I am enjoying doing it and learning along the way, it does make my days even more ridiculously long and hard. Although some of the videos have been so good that it does not matter - apologies to Lucy for putting her on the other day, I couldn’t resist!

Last message is to Chris. I stayed at your house the other day and got made a beauty of a breakfast by your girlfriend. Dave had cooked a few times last week and my mum turns up with a home made Chilli. I challenge you sir - suprise me!!

Ciao for now, brown cows.

Day 5

The work that goes in to making the videos! Finding internet etc!

As most of you know, I had ME for many years. Getting out of bed this morning was genuinely as hard as it was when my ME Was at its worst. Every time I tried to move,  I pretty much fell asleep. This trend continued whilst I was walking my first 10k of the day, I almost fell asleep twice. The route this morning was fantastic and the scenery great, but I really did feel awful. I hoped that this would not be the way of things to come and it was just a momentary blip. As has mecome increasingly evident, my calves dont like  mornings. On the other hand, Aggie likes my calves, so all is well (sorry CVS!). One quick point; it didnt really take 36 years, but it felt like it.

The day continued to follow a depressing and sad path as we had to say goodbye to Dave(id)! Although throwing David out of the van meant that there was more space for  the Melton Mowbray pies I was to collect later. I refuse to answer any questions on whether I would prefer David or pork pies in the camper…On a erious note, David was a rock this week. Whilst CVS would have loved to able to run with me, if we are all honest he might have died. David on the other hand came out with me every night to  help me through my final run and to keep me going. For that my friend, I am truly grateful.

So, David has gone; cooking duties over to CVS.

Hang on…cooking duties over to me it seems. Using the forzen veg I had been rubbing my legs down with (!) and various other bits and pieces I came up with a meal fit
for kings. Well alright, it was a couple of cups of tea and a cookie each, but I tried!

Day 6

Day 6 dawned and I was feeling a lot more positive. This was because of a number of things. Firstly, I only had to do two runs today. Secondly, I was going to a party in the evening. Thirdly I was going to get a bath at Chris’s house. Fourthly I got to sleep in a massive, comfy double bed for the night. It promised to be a fab day.  My first run of the day was quite good. My calves were not too bad and I did my distance in a decent time, well done me. The first stop off point of the day was Lowdham, a lovely little village. Again responsibility fell with Co-Op for our fundraising needs and again they did not fail us. They have been magnificent! Overall, Lowdham was hugely generous and we took over £80 in the morning - fantastic! One lady in particular was extremely generous. Not only did she give us as financial donation, she also  provided Chris and I with a packet of chocolate chip cookies.  In 30 seconds, the kind lady worked out what one of our (many?) vices was!

Not only was Lowdham generous, but I was too. Chris has worked hard all trip fundraising and this was the same in Lowdham. I took him out a cup of tea and some Soreen! Yum! Thats love for you. I keep having to remind Chris that the marriage laws in England have changed now and we do not have to spend a huge amount of money going to Vegas…

You may have noticed a recurring theme in the videos - actually there are a few: camp innuendo, calamities, eating cookies and cakes, breaking beds etc etc - but for the  point of this paragraph, I am focussing on my directional sense. Pidgeons are widely known to have GPS like directional sense. Andrew Dobie is widely known as having PS  directional sense: pretty ****.   Every running session begins by me asking Chris, “where am I going?” He still has not shouted at me. We’ll see what happens when my mum  takes over! But I did make it to Oxton - eventually.

Once I had arrived in Oxton, it was off to Chris’s house to freshen up, eat and go to a party/BBQ thing. This meant that I got to have a bath. This meant that I was excited. This meant that I needed lots of bubbles. Ok enough now, I don’t have Chris here to censor me. The bath helped no end in my quest for less leg pain and it set me up for the night ahead. The BBQ was fab and I met lots of nice people. I also met one complete tool who had a go at me for literally 15 minutes in front of about 10 people about how I  should be running there quicker and that he could do it better, swearing at me and so on. I did manage to get £10 out of him though!

I have not mentioned or begged for fundraising too much in my videos or blogs so far and I know many of you have already donated, which is great - thank you very much.  Whilst I can not force you to give me money (because i’m all the way over here - not because I wouldn’t punch you) any donations that you could muster would be very much appreciated by myself, the charities and the people who benefit from the work that they do.

That is all from me for now. I will post another blog on Tuesday. Ciao kids.