1 April - Day 26 - Blood, sweat and deers

I know - the puns get worse - but at least it means I stop talking about the weather and how cold my feet were again this morning (How much things can change in a day!)

It does, however, provide the opportunity to explain the phrase ‘Blood, sweat and tears’, often incorrectly thought to have come from a speech by Winston Churchill. It actually goes back to 1611 when the English poet John Donne wrote in ‘An Anatomy of the World.. ‘thy Teares, or Sweat, or Bloud (and no - I haven’t turned off the spell-checker) . The current usage, however, suggesting the effort and suffering involved in a task, did seem fitting when I was battling the headwind this morning

By the end of today I will have cycled 780 miles, with 3720 left to do. If you are interested in another useless fact - 780 miles is the same distance from Sheffield to Monaco. Despite my moans, I am really enjoying it and the things I get to see on the way here - I would never have noticed the group of deer if I’d been in the car. More importantly though, it has been so uplifting and rewarding to see the support and donations people have given.

So as you deer up for the Easter weekend, remember to doe someone a favour, put your glad stags on and enjoy all the fawn of the fair (While definitely following Covid rules - please). Have a great Easter and I promise not to bother you with more puns…until Tuesday.