Antony's Adventures

Antony's Adventures I cycled from New York to San Francisco to raise awareness of mental health and raise funds for MS

Public Service Broadcasting were so awesome and so loud that I can still hear them 24 hours later.
24/08/2026

Public Service Broadcasting were so awesome and so loud that I can still hear them 24 hours later.

My hometownIn the morning.
11/08/2026

My hometown
In the morning.

Useful life advice from Shrewsbury
08/08/2026

Useful life advice from Shrewsbury

Da Iawn.
03/08/2026

Da Iawn.

Yay! My second volunteer trip down to the beautiful Rheilffordd Talyllyn Railway as a volunteer and I've passed the asse...
29/07/2026

Yay! My second volunteer trip down to the beautiful Rheilffordd Talyllyn Railway as a volunteer and I've passed the assessment to become trainee guard. Still a few more steps before I'm allowed out by myself but wonderful to be back here and learning new things.

Every summer, I get the chance to support graduations at the as a Chief Marshal. I help ensure all the academics and pr...
16/07/2026

Every summer, I get the chance to support graduations at the as a Chief Marshal.

I help ensure all the academics and presenters know what is happening, lead a short briefing for attendees, and lead the procession into and out of the Great Hall.

Whilst a lot of the role is ceremonial, it remains an important position - especially to join up support for students with access requirements and in making sure any posthumous awards go smoothly.

The highlight every year is supporting the ceremony for students who are graduating from the academic schools I work in. University is challenging - but part of my job is to support students who have faced additional issues, and who have often had to work bloody hard to complete their degree. Its wonderful to see them cross the stage and a joy to play a small part in their day.

Its the highlight of my year ❤️

I want to start sharing some positive things that are going on, but I feel to do that I need to share some less positive...
29/06/2026

I want to start sharing some positive things that are going on, but I feel to do that I need to share some less positive things which have happened over the last year.

Content warning - suicidal thoughts.

Have you ever seen those su***de awareness posts where people share the last pictures of someone who took their own life?

These could have been mine.

These photos were all taken of me at the end of December, 2025.

A few days later, at the start of January this year, I found myself stood on a bridge, wondering the world would change if I left it.

Wondering if there was any other way of coping with the challenges I was facing.

I watched cars driving past, wondering whether anyone would stop and wonder why I was there. Hoping that someone would, because I was so lost that I didn't know how to let people know how bad things had got.

A car stopped, paused, turned, and drove away.

I wondered if they had gone to get help. I wondered if someone would come and see how bad things had got, so they could help me get the help that I clearly needed.

Nobody came.

Still, I stood there.

Gently crying, completely lost.

I found myself thinking of the people I care for, the wonderful times I've had, and the hope that more wonderful times might come in the future.

I convinced myself that things had got better before, and they would get better again.

I texted Lizzie to say I was coming home, just to make me move.

I went home.

I went to the Doctor.

I got signed off work.

I went on medication.

I spoke to my therapist.

I joined Andy's Man Club.

I threw myself into the things that give me purpose.

Slowly, I got better.

The why and the what aren't important right now.

What's important is that if you look at these photos you see someone who is happy and smiling. You wouldn't know what was going on.

Even I - with years of working around Mental Health and sharing my story - struggled to admit how much I was struggling.

So this is your reminder to check on your friends. To ask how things are really going. To be there for people. To be there for yourself.

To tackle the stigma that comes with mental health and su***de.

Sun-day
21/06/2026

Sun-day

2025 was not the oneBut at least I met my reading goal - 100 books completed last yearHere's a little snippet of what I ...
15/01/2026

2025 was not the one

But at least I met my reading goal - 100 books completed last year

Here's a little snippet of what I read.

So long 2025.In some ways this has been an incredible year - more trains, plenty of adventures, lots of smiles, new frie...
31/12/2025

So long 2025.

In some ways this has been an incredible year - more trains, plenty of adventures, lots of smiles, new friends, and a rediscovered love of tennis. And I finally built the shelves in the kitchen!

But if I'm honest this won't be a year remembered for the good times. Indeed, it currently feels like a firm contender for "annus horribilis".

I've always felt passionate about the importance of sharing challenges - not because I want to spend my life complaining, but because the only way to tackle the stigma that exists around mental health is to be open and hope it helps others feel less alone.

Perhaps one day I'll be in a place to share more than just headlines, but for now I hope a few selected "highlights" will help remind you that its ok to not be ok, and its ok to ask for help.

Firstly, this year has seen further challenges for mum. In summer we received a diagnosis of dementia - likely Alzheimers - to go alongside her Multiple Sclerosis. This journey only ever had one ending, but my attempts to ensure that mum has as much happiness and independence as long as possible remains heartbreaking, especially due to other significant health challenges within the family.

A few months ago I began medication for ADHD, which was diagnosed in December 2024. The first medication didn't seem to have any impact, but the second medication was having a really positive impact... until it started causing severe anxiety, which resulted in my first ever panic attack which took place at work (which led to some impressively smeared glasses).

And finally, in January our cat Luke was diagnosed with diabetes and started losing the ability to walk. Luckily he's ok now, but only thanks to twice daily injections.

So as the year ends - celebrated as usual with cheese and a good book! - I'm enjoying seeing the joy that so many of you are sharing, but also reflecting that for so many of us the joy we share often covers challenges we battle by ourselves. Let's hope that 2026 brings plenty of opportunities to experience joy, and plenty of opportunities to embrace the joy when we do experience it.

Thanks to everyone who has been for both the good and bad days this year 🧡

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