I write as both a cancer surgeon, scientist and pilgrim. My book, The Journey:  Spirituality, Pilgrimage and Chant was all about repetitive chant, the Celtic concept of “thin” holy places and the joys of long distance walking. For many years during Lent I have rather smugly tried to do something positive every day for somebody else (over and above normal patient care) and to visit a consecrated site on a daily basis. This year the added master plan had been to walk with my family from Ely to Walsingham as a pre- Easter pilgrimage and then travel onwards to Iona for Easter itself.