Zeros and Ones - Jesus Jones

Lyric:- 'There's more to this than anything that you or I can see, The world is mine the world is yours and here's the cause' - Edwards

Song Choice:- I think Mike Edwards, summed up our world perfectly in two simple sentences here, don't you? I like the fact that the World is too big to comprehend. I love it that actually we have an amazing chance to see it and exploit it for our own benefit, and then make our mark on it. We are all in control of our own destiny.

If only we all gave it one chance, we'd all be winners. Listen here.

You don't have to be Sir Barnes Wallace or even Bruce Willis for that matter, we all know our own movie winners, let’s face it, The ‘Titanic’ wasn’t ever going to make the States on the silver screen now was it, yet it’s the second highest grossing film of all time?

So, if you were writing your own screenplay (Kiefer Sutherland, is playing me in mine btw), what would you do, Astronaut, Explorer, Racing Driver? My list is still endless….




This coming from a wheel-chaired spectator since, May 5th and it might all sound a bit poncy and let's face it you've every right in thinking so, but I've had every combination of emotions known to man since then. My hope is that I’ve seen a lot of folk go from the lowest point of their lives to go on to even greater things. I believe I will too.

And that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to see the world in a different way for a few days, and report back. It all sounds a but Glastonbury (it does on these drugs anyway) I know, but hey I'm giving it a go and already I feel a whole lot calmer and stiller today as I’ve reached that point. The only way now is UP.

So for the next few days I’ll be finding out more about my world, whether I’ll be the next British Astronaut or whether I’ll make it to the start of the #MdS17. I’ll also stop writing blogs on Morphine Oral Solution as they seem ok at the time but have to be corrected the next day Drhgfree as I sound very weird in them!!!

Life's easy, it's just Zeros and Ones...

Rory Coleman

976 Marathon des Sables, 241 UITRAs, 13 Marathon des Sables, 1 Day Walking Again, 1 Vision.

You can't hurry love - Phil Collins

Lyric:- 'But I keep on waiting, anticipating, for that soft voice to talk to me at night': - Holland–Dozier–Holland

Song Choice:- I could have chosen the original Supremes Version of '66, but being too young instead, I've chosen the '82 Collins version from 'Hello, I must going'.  A really good cover of the original song in my opinion and notably was the first track on the very first 'Now That's What I Call Music' compilation. Now how's that a factoid for the day...

But it's been a day of learning, by 10am today I was already feeling ready for the day as I had been thoroughly valeted by Ali and Claire, whom are two of the fantastic nurses that work out in the community keeping disabled people, like me, smelling nice and proper and really cheerful.

I say valeted as the main part of the programme is a huge yellow sponge that misses nowhere on your person, delivered with lashings of bubble bath and warm water. I'm sure some folk would pay a fortune for the treatment! I felt antiseptically clean...

The ladies were of course, like every other healthcare provider I've met so far during my GBS, kind, supportive and very professional.

It was a bright spot of the day, as not every moment is full of Ali and Claire's with soapy Sponges, laughing at me insisting on being washed down outside rather than in the warmth of my Mother-in-`laws dining room (that didn't seem quite right somehow) and the whole process made me think, why do we worry about such routine things as being washed by complete strangers. I have decided to try and stop hurrying myself through this time of recovery and enjoy the journey, no matter however strange or bonkers it may get.

And let’s face it, today will take some beating...and is there anything that is really that bad to worry about in life?

More tomorrow

Rory Coleman

976 Marathons, 241 Ultras, 9 Guinness World Records, 1 Hell of a Clean Butt-Crack.

Aqualung - Jethro Tull

Lyric:- Sitting on a park bench. Sun streaking cold, an old man wandering lonely. Taking time the only way he knows. 

Song Choice:- Written by Ian Anderson back in 1971, I've taken out the dubious 'Operation Yew-tree' type lyrics out, which didn't actually  leave many, but the gist of the 'Park Bench' is  the reference I really needed for my ditty today'. So here goes...

You see I went out to  Parc Cefn Onn a grade 2 listed country park situated on the northern fringes of Cardiff. The park was originally designed some 90 years ago taking advantage of the gentle valley containing the Nant Fawr stream and if you take a wheelchair to see, the streams, ponds, woodlands and other planting, you'll find out it beautiful. However you'll need to be David Weir or on serious steroids to see it as it's not very wheelchair friendly.

Now I'm not moaning as it was warm, sunny and totally stunning with plenty of park benches placed at strategic intervals for the less able to catch their breath. I did at one such bench before the final 1:5 climb only to see it was one with my name on it.

Makes you think tough, as is all that we have to look forward to - a bloody plaque covered in pigeon poop, lovingly saying how much we are missed but should have listened harder.

It's a bit harsh...

Luckily, I have the above drugs to keep me going. Shame 'Rory' of 'Rory's Bench' Fame didn't , as now he wouldn't be suffering from 'Bench Plaque'.

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - 8187 Days' Dry

976 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathons - 9 Guinness World Records

From where I stand - Chicane

Lyric:- 'I hope to find a hand in my hands from where I stand'

Song Choice:- 'Cos I'm going to need a hand as I leave the sanctuary of the University Hospital Wales, my home for the past 27 days, to regain my former fitness and get back to my normal life.

What's it been like?

It's been heaven,
It's been hell,
It's been a revelation.

I've been a pain in the arse,
I've been a nightmare patient,
I've been closer to the edge than I've ever been before.

They've been marvellous,
They've listened AND,
They've made me better.

I'm a VERY lucky man,
And I thank each and everyone of them,
From the bottom of my heart.

We don't know just how lucky we are sometimes.
Amen.

Rory Coleman - Performance Coach 

976 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 8182 Days' Alcohol Free.

Chicane - Barefoot

Walking - Well sort of...

Song Choice:- This is the perfect track choice for me today, for obvious reasons, as I've been everywhere barefoot now for three weeks! If you can take time out and listen to the track yourself, please think of me as I battle on learning how to walk again. Theres a full 6 minutes and 4 seconds of this really peaceful and thought provoking piece of music for you to do so.

Anyway, apart from the majestic walking, I did manage a full lap of the lake using the top wooded rail as a support with a circumnavigation time of minutes rather than seconds but then who cares and I bloody well did it, very bloody-minded. 

It might not seem much right now, but it felt like a full blown marathon to me and I'll be back there tomorrow doing it all over again. As it's time to take some more MTFU pills and get stuck into being my awkward, bloody-minded, determined self again.

Luckily for me, I had Jack to cheer me on whom incidentally walks a lot better than I do at the moment! So there's something for me to work on straightaway.

More tomorrow and if you are listening to BBC Wales at 8:15 to 8:45 you'll be able to hear me talk about the whole Guillain-Barre Syndrome Saga, all over again.

So more then...

Rory Coleman - Performance Coach 

976 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 8181 Days' Alcohol Free.