DAY 3: Tourettes Awareness Challenge, Norwich – Chelmsford – St Albans – Westminster, London

DAY 3: Norwich – Chelmsford – St Albans – Westminster, London Another day of sunshine and incredible variety. Tonight we all agreed that the theme of the day had been “teamwork”, as Tourettes family and friends came together to ensure that our visits to cities were successful. Using Gemma’s excellent directions we parked the Nissan Tourettesmobile in Castle Mall, and walked to Norwich City Hall which presides over the City’s bustling market square. En route we passed a huge street sculpture of a brain, which seemed very appropriate - so some of us climbed on it for photos – and some of us couldn’t!

Gemma, Sam Watts, Richard, and Jean and Deryck Campbell (Jac’s in-laws) joined us to meet with the Leader, Cllr Brenda Arthur. Cllr Arthur seemed delighted to meet us, and also to have local people with TS, and mums and grandparents taking part in the discussions and media photoshoot on City Hall steps.

Cllr Arthur has a weekly column in the local newspaper, and said that this week she would write about TS, which is great news. Jean and Deryck bought us Greggs butties and cuppas, and we scoffed them in the car as Jac drove us to Chelmsford and Paul, Mr Stevie Wonder, updated us on web coverage of the Awareness Challenge. A couple of hours, a topped up tank of petrol, and a large pack of M&S profiteroles later, we arrived in Chelmsford, where Peter & Brigette Carter and Kathy Rout were waiting for us with the Mayor.

It was fantastic to have good friends and more TS mums and dads supporting us with arrangements and getting the message across to the Council. Hugs all round. Liz then drove us through busy traffic on the M25 to St Albans, where Deputy Mayor Brian Gibbard, who also sits on the county’s health scrutiny committee, took us into the market square for photos. A quick drink of water and a loo break, then Donna took over for the busiest leg of today’s travel – the drive into central London. We were late. And we were frustrated that there were so many speed cameras. We don’t have so many up North. But we didn’t worry. We had helpers!

Tourettes Action Trustee Rob Ovens, Touretteshero Jess and Matthew Poutney from the charity, and supermum Jennifer Bilton were all already in the City of Westminster, and we arranged for them to start the awareness-raising work with the Lord Mayor and the Director of Public Health, Dr Peter Brambleby. As we were rushing to City Hall from our car, like the “A” Team (or maybe the “T” team in our distinctive T shirts), we passed a mum and her little boy who asked us “Good day ladies?” “Great”, we replied. Then we heard her quietly replying to her son’s questions saying “It’s about sounds and muscle movements.” A great moment. By the time we arrived,

Dr Peter was already superbly briefed, and we just added a little and presented him with the Information Pack, which he agreed to disseminate within the health partnership as well as the Council. Doug King from the Lord Mayor’s office had kindly arranged a lovely pot of tea and a plate of biscuits for us – Eileen had about six cups I think – she’d been suffering from withdrawal! Oh – and did I mention that we were welcomed in the Mayor’s Penthouse Parlour on the 18th Floor – with the most incredible views of Westminster and all around. We could even see into the back garden of Buck Palace. Afterwards, Jess and Matthew treated us to a more leisurely cuppa in a local café, and it was just great to catch up with them and with Jennifer and Rob. Liz burst into tears when Jennifer hugged her

– they had first met at our North East support group when their boys were struggling with TS in their early teens, and hadn’t seen each other for nearly four years. Finally, after palpitations at the price of parking in London, we headed off in the dark for our overnight stay in Rochester, Kent. Liz drove through the heavy evening traffic and we kept each other going talking about food – and more food. We realized we hadn’t had lunch and were famished. Jennifer’s goody bag of crisps and fruit kept us going until we got to Rochester at about nine, when we went into the restaurant and had a slap-up meal thanks to the generosity of Jac’s parents, Colin and Joan – who had given us money specially for that purpose as a treat. They must have second sight. So off to bed for another night, with warm thoughts of family and friends. Thanks for everything guys. We couldn’t do this without you.