<div>Male suicide is now famously high, though among young women it’s more or less doubled in the last few years. Something is going terribly wrong. A couple of peers of mine unfortunately took their own lives as very young men. I really think happy and lucky people like us should do our best to help those who are struggling.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The Samaritans charity is dedicated to providing emotional support to anyone in distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide. Their trained volunteers offer a 24/7 confidential listening service by phone, email, or in person, for people who feel overwhelmed or have nowhere else to turn.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Obviously, I don’t expect anybody to join me, as I am wild camping without a tent all the way, but if you want to, I will keep you updated. You can join me for a mile or buy me a drink when I pass. Quite a nice excuse to just go for a quick outing with the boys. Leaving Castle Cary (near where Alfred burnt the cake) on Sunday the 3rd of August, I plan to come into the Vatican on Saturday the 1st of November 2025, where I hope to join the All Saints' Day festivities. Might also stop off at Agincourt to do the St Crispin's Day speech.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Do come along if you are a little bothered by the direction everything is going. It is a touch frustrating that the three things normal people get their life's meaning from, finding someone you love, building a home, and having a couple of children, all seem to be getting harder. Not to be too victim about it, but these issues were not so bad last generation, so ought not be insoluble.
</div>
<div><br />
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<div>If I do have an army following me, there is a small chance it will become a meme and all the Romans will cheer me in shouting “Maximus, Maximus, Maximus” before we raise loads of money for Samaritans and the Pope crowns me the 8th King of Rome. And if he doesn't, I'll just politely remind him of my massive army. Could be quite jokes.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If you want to hear about my adventures and other ramblings, do subscribe to my Substack. Don’t worry, it’s free, and I won’t flood your inbox, I promise:
</div>
<div><a href="https://maxbriston.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://maxbriston.substack.com/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://maxbriston.substack.com/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>P.S. People may post pictures of me using the Insta tag #8thKingOfRome which should suggest my location, though, in any case, my approximate route is:
</div>
<div>Just ask Google Maps to go from Castle Cary, to London, to Canterbury, then I'm following the Via Francigena pilgrimage)
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>@maxbriston (only because people have been asking along the road)
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<div><br />
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<div>Here is my set route:
</div>
<div>18/09/2025 Aosta
</div>
<div>19/09/2025 Chatillon
</div>
<div>20/09/2025 Verres
</div>
<div>21/09/2025 Pont-Saint-Martin
</div>
<div>22/09/2025 Ivrea
</div>
<div>23/09/2025 Viverone
</div>
<div>24/09/2025 Santhia
</div>
<div>25/09/2025 Vercelli
</div>
<div>26/09/2025 Robbio
</div>
<div>27/09/2025 Mortara
</div>
<div>28/09/2025 Garlasco
</div>
<div>29/09/2025 Pavia
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<div>30/09/2025 Santa Cristina e Bissone
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<div>01/10/2025 Orio Litta
</div>
<div>02/10/2025 Piacenza
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<div>03/10/2025 Fiorenzuola a'Arda
</div>
<div>04/10/2025 Fidenza
</div>
<div>05/10/2025 Fornovo di Taro
</div>
<div>06/10/2025 Cassio
</div>
<div>07/10/2025 Cisa Pass
</div>
<div>08/10/2025 Pontremoli
</div>
<div>09/10/2025 Aulla
</div>
<div>10/10/2025 Sarzana
</div>
<div>11/10/2025 Massa
</div>
<div>12/10/2025 Camaiore
</div>
<div>13/10/2025 Lucca
</div>
<div>14/10/2025 Altopascio
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<div>15/10/2025 San Miniato
</div>
<div>16/10/2025 Gambassi Terme
</div>
<div>17/10/2025 San Gimignano
</div>
<div>18/10/2025 Monteriggioni
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<div>19/10/2025 Siena
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<div>20/10/2025 Ponte d'Arbia
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<div>21/10/2025 San Quirico d'Orcia
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<div>22/10/2025 Radicofani
</div>
<div>23/10/2025 Acquapendente
</div>
<div>24/10/2025 Bolsena
</div>
<div>25/10/2025 Montefiascone
</div>
<div>26/10/2025 Viterbo
</div>
<div>27/10/2025 Vetralla
</div>
<div>28/10/2025 Sutri
</div>
<div>29/10/2025 Campagnano de Roma
</div>
<div>30/10/2025 La Storta
</div>
<div>31/10/2025 Rome
</div>
<div>01/11/2025 Rome
</div>

Daisy Ashford-Russell

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Fraser Nelson

UK to Italy: Asking The Pope to make me the 8th King of Rome

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UK to Italy: Asking The Pope to make me the 8th King of Rome

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