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I woke up at five this morning. My walking clock is evidently still ticking!

I was completely overwhelmed by emotion on Friday afternoon when a surprise reception greeted me on arrival at Oxfam House; thanks to Peter for this photo.

 There were cheers, Barbara (Oxfam’s CEO) and I were in tears as she presented me with a card. Many felt that they could not hold back tears either. My dear friend and sister from Zimbabwe sang a song for me. I have had many beautiful messages:

What an achievement and what a return. I was so pleased to see the welcome you got back from us. Life can be a bit jaded here at times and having come back from Philippines last month and knowing what you were doing reminded me that this is why I do this work sometimes.

I  did it, and what I have achieved is what you made possible. I have always been inspired by Gandhi to take direct action when one encounters injustice. Climate injustice is the greatest challenge to the world’s poorest women and men, and I needed to show solidarity with them all.  I needed to find out, share and support action in UK and Denmark as I walked.

This simple act has deeply impacted me as a person. It also confirmed and strengthened my belief that we are, and will always be interconnected as a mutually dependent world, no matter how you see, or ignore it.

My walk epitomised this connectivity. There is no way I could have done this without that deep personal support I derived from my immediate family; Uma, Shyam, Ahir and Nisha and from my family in India, the US and elsewhere. My closest friends gave me such strength, especially Gopal and family, and Jo Human, an elder brother of such a grat inspiration to me, and Jill, his wife.

A fantastic inner circle of support and organising force was crucial. Their belief in me gave me the confidence and firm foundations to make the walk happen. The incredible Abbas and Gabriella Hood, and Richard Howell and Sheeba Harma truly believed in me, often more than I did in myself.

Oxfam shops were extraordinary in showing me appreciation, pulling out all the stops in supporting me. In particular, Vince, Val, Hilary and Phillip, the Quakers, Transition Towns, WDM. Thank you to each of my hosts, Valerie, Bob and Julie, Sarah and Richard, David and Rosy and Tony. Nina and Chris, Hannah, Askov school, Asper, Flemming and Bodil, Linda and Biny, Ella , Lisbeth and Bjaern, Anna, the commune, Toni and Isabel. Others, like Jeff, Barbara, David Bryer and Kevin all connected me to others like Maranda. What an extended family; friends became and family.

Each and every supporter that wished me well through the site and sent money to Oxfam and for my personal expenses; I bow to you all in humility. The wider world of people who came through Twitter, Facebook and calls to my mobile; thank you for your voices. The support of Oxfam’s campaigning, advocacy and media teams in Oxford and in Denmark was so wonderful, especially when they were so busy. I wanted all to know that even though I did this in my personal capacity and in my own time, I have ben true to the spirit of Oxfam and have coveyed their core message about poverty, suffering and hope for a just world.

It is a message that I know to be true, from my decades of working with the poorest people. The loneliness, the fear, the stress, the pain and uncetainty I faced all along the 270 odd miles were nothing compared to the pain and sufferings of those women in Africa, Asia and in the small islands. I overcame them becuase of the resilence of these women, and because of the overwhelming faith and trust that you all shared in me.

On Sunday night I met up with Nina and Isabel, who both were crucial for my journey’s success in Denmark. I also caught up with Oxfam colleagues, and Oxfam’s Climate witnesses Shorbanu and Costance from Bangladesh and Uganda respectively. These witnesses will testify in front of Reverand Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson at a global climate hearing. They were both so happy to see me, their eyes lit up! I went along to the Klimaforum and met loads of people, but I had to go home as I felt dizzy. 

I had an early start on Monday; headed straight for the Bella Centre. I caught up with the ever energetic and creative Claire Lewis Claire was with Rahul Bose trying to get a pass for entry. I heard that this did not happen after hours of standing in the cold. I admire Rahul’s  support of the cause and Claire for not giving up.

I am slowly getting a hang of the byzantine centre.  I met Paul Kimumwe, a gentle,warm and inspired Ugandan who supports the work of Panos in Uganda. I worked with him there months ago when i first met Constance and coached her on speaking to audiences. Paul and I chalked a programme so that I could get in touch with African Journalists. I did a couple of radio interviews. Later I attended a presentation at the American Centre on a game for young people. I managed to grab the mike at the last moment and told them about the issue of cc-impacting poor people and women here and now and also about my walk. I talked about young people and why many of them do not know that Climate Change is already impacting poor countries.

I was told that I could not enter the centre today as Oxfam has very limited passes and access is being tightened up. I felt gutted but, as always, someone helped me. In this case my great friend Ben took me to a GCCA meeting where he announced my walk and I got a fabulous cheer. Ben, Manish and Dinah from GCCA helped me in every way possible with food, badges, and a pass for the whole conference. As Oxfam’s team are up to the ears with things, I am especially grateful for all three and GCCA for adopting me into their family. I’ve reached out to African and Indian media by inviting them to the hearing and arranging to meet with them later. I gate crashed into the Media Centre and caught up with  TV2 for a follow up to their original story on me. They were so stunned seeing me and gave me fruits and drink whilst they interviewed me!

As I came out of the interview I heard a lot of shouting in support of Africa. Indeed, interviewers frequently asked me what I thought about Africa. I just said that African leaders have to get a fair deal; they cannot go back empty handed or compromise on this. They have a moral pressure to achieve justice for their people. Later I met a number of young people from an Indian youth network for climate change who were very passionate and felt disillusioned by their parents’ generations inactivity. There is talk of fasting, some say until death,  others until the end of the meeting. I may undertake this too.

I have set out very early today; the entry is so vigoursly regulated with som much checking and double checking. I am writing this diary. I met  Gearge Wamykoya, so warm and positive that the talk will continue and that there will be a political agreement. I will try desperately to load up my videos and photos today- please have patience.

I am at this point so dazed and unsettled with my feelings about the process collapsing. I sat down and prayed for help. Thanks so much to -Abbas , Richard and Gabby for your support Thanks to my extended family and friends for your love and support; don’t give up.

After arriving at the Bella Centre I had a couple of interviews with wire services and the Independent. Ben, a video person, had to slow me down as I powered my way to the centre. He said that he too has a knee problem and could I please slow down. We both laughed. It took me three hours to get accreditation in the end; but very much worth it.  I saw a stall with a handful of Indians with a huge poster of Mahatma. They were representing a federation of NGOs from India. They liked the story of my walk and gave me a poster of Gandhi to carry at the rally later in the day. The Bella Centre was truly a lions’ den; I was mindboggled at the sheer number of groups represented. 

Many people I met were happy to see me. Katia, my mate from Brazil narrated the story of Everardo Aguiar who walked from Belum in the Amazon to Brazilia. I was inspired and humbled that so many have done so much to raise awareness.  Or for that matter Kate -who writes here  over 83 and cycled all the way to wave in London. Sometimes you are only real when news reports you-but we can be happy that we are able to meet and touch so many directly-more than any news.Mine was just a little step by comparison. I  am still uplifted  by the awesome support that I have received from each of you across the world, and am also aware of the tremendous anticipation and expectation of all of you for fairer deal for the world.

I  joined the rally and there were easily 100,000 people of every type, all with slogans and chants and banners. I walked with Tim Gore (not a relation of Al) at the rally. He is probably the youngest climate policy advisor for Oxfam International and very interesting to talk to.

I feel like I have made a promise to myself and to all the people on the front line of climate impact- to tell their story and demand change. The  minsters had arrived and the first day of the meeting was underway. My colleague Antonio said that more than 130 head of states have  confirmed attendance. All the leaders should consider what an amazing legacy they will achieve if they create a legally binding deal, with cash for the most vulnerable people suffering from climatic impact, and a definite path of carbon reduction. Climate change, as Archbishop Desmond Tutu said a few months ago at the Pan African Climate Conference, threatens all of us, whether you or walking or in a Mercedes-Benz.  

Tim Swift was quoted by my dear friend Roger Elbourne in a message to me.

Hope , real hope, is a powerful force. It can give those that can change the world the courage to do the right thing, and that has to be worth the effort… doesn’t it?

Kate Raworth, another source of inspiration quoted a poem from Odysseus

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, pray that road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge

and you will never find such as these on your path if your thoughts remain lofty

This resonated so much for me; I am no great hero, but a regular guy with irregular hair who was able to take the time to walk. In fact, I am still itching to walk…

I’m here.

I arrived in time for the Day of Action in Copenhagen. Three weeks, hundreds of miles, and shoes falling apart. 

I had met Emily from Oxfam on her bike on the last stretch of my walk; it was such a relief to see a familiar and friendly face when I thought I might be lost. Emily was hurrying to catch me at the centre but since she had already bumped into me she started to film, asking how I was still so energised. I said that the sprit and the goodwill of all the people that I have met which powers me, and that the desperate situation of communities, and women in particular, who are unjustly feeling the imapact of climate change was a huge source of drive. A Climate Hearing will be held in a few days time where some of these voices will be heard.

I was thrilled to be welcomed by my lovely colleagues from Oxfam, who took time out of their campaigning work to greet me with a banner and hugs. Uma and the family were already at the rally, they had decided to walk the full length saying that is the least they can do to support me and the cause. Uma was in tears when she said that. She was overwhelmed I had acomplished my walk.

I’m off to see if I can secure my accreditation.

It took five hours and thirty minutes to arrive at the centre of Copenhagen. It was a steady walk; the first 15 kms are always fun. The second 10 took a lot more energy. After that it is hard, 30 to 40 is the killer. Bjorne and his wife Mary had set me off from the commune with a packed lunch. The night before my family had arrived with Dipen, a family friend. We had a great meal together. On my last journey I met Christian, a new visitor to the commune from Germany who gave a message to Merkel. I met a highway water worker who became really curious about what I was doing. Finally Kasper, a cyclist going from Roskilde to Copenhagen every day caught up with me 7 kms from Copenhagen and gave me an orange! 

This kind of gesture has been so typical of the warmth with which people have helped me. I’m too tired to do this message justice right now but I hope you can imagine how grateful I am to each visitor to this site and everyone of you who has inspired me, egged me on, prayed for me, given me advice, donated to my costs, and most of all, really loved me for what I was doing. I bow down to you all.

The cyclist is Kasper not Klus

I have had such a lovely time today; Victor my fellow guest at the community was surprised that I was up very early pottering in this great hall of Munksogard. I listened eagerly to his story of his family’s journey from Sao Paulo. Where I am staying there are 100 houses built and maintained sustainably. They have followed a practice and process that is simple, applicable and replicable. Anna, my host and a co-founder of this place has been so supportive to me the last few days. Please visit here if you ever go through Roskilde. After walking over 6 kms I managed to find Uma and Ahir, my partner and our son.

Drenched by the rain I was so happy to see them. We will travel together. We walked around and they were keen to see this community place and enjoy its tranquility. I am walking tomorrow so as to get to Copenhagen on the 12th of December, the day of action. I will join the march and link my journey with the initiatives of others. We need to bring the energy of justice to leaders. They must acnowledge their promises.

Thank you my friends. Bring on the final push.

Pronounced Roskila, this place has long been in my mind as my last haven before hectic Copenhagen. After all this distance I bumped into a British lady and her son; they were gobsmacked by my story. I’ve been gobsmacked by Virginia and Janez’s extremely generous donation to my personal costs.

I was later met by Lisbeth who helps people with stress management using a method called Work. We talked and I met her daughter Dorte, a spirited and knowledgable person who is working on a homework assignment on how to reduce ships’ CO2. Bjarne Bech  came home later night having cycled 6 kms from the station. Bjarne is a veteran development worker who learnt how to drive trains few years ago.  I was so stunned by this, a true inspiration in changing your life. Their modest approach to life and simple lifestyle endeared them to me instantly. The whole family are watching the COP unfold. They fully understand the suffering in developing countries, especially as, like me, they lived and worked in a poor part of Southern Africa and Afghanistan. 

I am getting worried about the outcome of Copenhagen. 

We need to act, and act fearlessly. I bring so much hope, concern and urgency from many far fetched lands. Women and men are demanding change from a reality they have not created, for a future for their children and societies. Their concern and urgent wishes weigh on my heart much more than my backpack. All across Denmark I have met teachers, politicians, social workers, students, farmers, entrepreneurs, ferry captains, faith workers, writers, healers and locomotive drivers. They all wish and hope for action at Copenhagen. 

I am staying in a very interesting commune called Munksogard. I hope to speak to residents of the town and commune tomorrow. I am gathering my strength for meeting loads of people and being effective at Copenhagen. I also am awaiting my partner and children’s arrival (by train!) eagerly. We will walk together.