This One's for Tim

We're nearing the end of brain tumour awareness month and, to be honest, it all feels a bit raw. For today, it's two years since Tim died. It's been a tough month. Training has been slow. My writing's felt wooden. I've suffered from insomnia and managed on nights of four hours' sleep. Needless to say comfort eating has returned, shaking hands, racing heart and all the other things that go with grief and anxiety. But I'm determined to get back up again. I'm better than this time last year. At least I've managed some walks - not as many as I'd scheduled and my longest only seven miles - but it's a start. I'll get back on the diet as I know I feel better for it. And I'll try to shrug off March and make a note for next year not to plan too much because it might be a tricky month. I'm looking forward. Trying not to look back. This time next year I'll be fit enough for the trek. My new hiking boots will be worn in and my supplies at...

Training has begun! I had the dreaded weigh-in and measurements on Sunday and it was as bad as I thought. I have a lot to do to get in shape for the trek: Day 1 - travel from London to Amman (the capital of Jordan), then to the Dead Sea. Day 2 - walking for roughly 2.5 hours (4-5 km) Day 3 - walking for roughly 8 hours (16 km) Day 4 - walking for roughly 8 hours (18 km) Day 5 - walking for roughly 6.5 hours (10 km) Day 6 - walking for roughly 6 hours ( 6km) Days 7-8 - sightseeing at Petra and Wadi Rum with a farewell dinner before heading home. Dream Challenges has provided a training plan which they recommend you start six months before the trek. How wonderful - I hear you cry. Yes, it is rather wonderful but it looks pretty intense and I think you need to be fairly fit before starting it. I am middle-aged, fat, and very unfit. For the last two years I have used food as a crutch. I have a lot to achieve if I'm going to be ready for the trek. So it's walking, healthy eating ( ...