Hello again, lovely people!

You might remember this one. A year ago I bored you with a tale of summer shutdowns, ageing knees and 173 miles of Galician drizzle. You were generous beyond anything it deserved, I made it to the cathedral, and my feet have only just stopped writing to their MP.

So naturally I'm doing it all again.

Same Fortnite job, same fortnight of shutdown, same amazing Vicky telling me not to waste it, same kids still chained to their timetables. Same fix, too... rucksack on, Porto behind me, 280km of coastal path between here and Santiago. I'd love to claim I've grown wiser since last year. What I've actually learned is that Leukotape is a love language and that blisters have no respect for a man's dignity. That's roughly the lot.

And the same wonderful charity. SpecialEffect open up video games to physically disabled children... the joy of play, of winning, of connection, of being in on it with everyone else. For someone who's spent thirty-odd years making games for a living, no cause lands closer to home. They turn "I can't" into "watch this." Proper, life-changing magic.

So here's the ask, same as before. If you've read this far and you can spare a quid, I'll carry it with me every aching mile. Last year you helped raise a total I still can't quite believe. My goal is £250. Let's be silly enough to do it again.

I promise to earn every penny on the path. And to whinge about my feet only in moderation.

Cheers, and thank you.

Phil.

SpecialEffect are a charity that transforms the lives of people with physical challenges right across the world through the innovative use of technology. They're enabling inclusion and enjoyment by helping people to unlock the magic of video games to the best of their abilities, they're bringing communication, independence and hope for people in intensive care units with severe injuries, and they're using telepresent robots to reconnect medically isolated children with their education and friends. Find out more at www.specialeffect.org.uk