Owwww!

Owwww! Not the parting words of Michael Jackson, but the noise I have been making since I did my annual bit for the junior running club and took part in the track and field events. Last year it was for vital points to promote the club, this time to prevent relegation. However, more dad's turned out this time, so it meant less events. Just as well really as I am not as fit as I was. This time it all began with 400m. Not a chance of getting anywhere near the front. I was in the seniors category, which is 18+ and most of them were half my age. I wasn't last but it was a struggle. Then straight from that, I was into the javelin. I was rubbish at this too, throwing 7 meters less than last year. Then there was a long break, giving just enough time to build up lots of lactic acid in my legs, and stiffen them up for the high jump. Now I had practiced high jump, getting one of the 13 year old lads to coach me! To my amazement I got a personal best of 1.35m. However it came at a price as on landing I cramped up on both legs. As the other competitors were actually only warming up on 1.4, I decided to quit whilst i was ahead. Today my legs feel like someone has hit them with a baseball bat. Sore and definately plenty of 'owww's' as I sit down, and stand up.

Goal!

I got drawn into a big game of footy tonight. It's not my No1 choice of sport as I was originally left footed (in the physical sense) until some police woman ran me over in her mini when I was 7 and forced me into becoming right footed (courtesy of a broken leg). However I was on form...apart from a couple of skyward bound hoofers..I managed to get 2 goals, giving my side a 3-1 victory.
This sound impressive until you discover the opposition was a bunch of 11 year olds at the annual dad's vs the lads end of season game. I have never quite mastered ball control and I hit and hope. Unfortunately for the little kid in front of my shot, I hit it with quite some force (size 12 feet helps) and got the child on his head. Mild concussion never did anyone any harm!

Yorkshire Post

I'm back again from another trip to York. Again I went with 2 classes on the train from Dunbar. There was no major problem getting to York, but the return journey was a little bit of a nightmare. The train pulled in full. People were standing in the aisles, so the sight of 59 school kids and their teachers must have really ruined their day. We had our seats reserved but that is only any good if people follow the rules. When asked to move from our seats, one woman replied, 'I have got seats booked in the other carriage but someone is sat in them. Move them and I will move." Other than pouring hot coffee in her lap what else can you do?
The guard was impressive as he helped us load on all 68 suitcases. We struggled to pack them in properly as there was 4 students asleep in the baggage racks. However, with a amazing skill, he got all the cases into a very small space. 'I used to be a furniture remover", he later confessed. Most surprising was the ticket man who insisted on clipping every one of the 68 tickets.

Part of our grand tour was to visit Castle Howard. This is the most contentious part of the trip as some of us really dislike it, whereas others think it is great. I was pretty sure places like that could only have gained their wealth via exploitation, things like the slave trade. I think the kids should know the whole story. I made enquiries and was put in touch with the Head Curator who revealed Castle Howard is clean, and in fact played a part in the abolishion. So where did their wealth come from? Maybe from it being used as a location in Brideshead Revisited, or more recently Garfield 2. I just stand back and grin when the kids grill these stuck up guides about important things like "Is this Garfield's bed?"

Again I caught up with Sarah who brought Thomas along. The weather was great apart from the Ghost walk where it went from being a sunny day, to a very cold evening. There's nothing worse than a cold night and a full bladder. I had to make an emergency visit to the pub, but only to let out fluids, not take them in. The Ghost guides are a little industry of their own. It seems that there is a hierarchy amongst them. In fact there is a top dog. Whenever the others see him coming they move on allowing him to have their pitch. If they don't you hear him banging his step ladders to scare them off. It's hilarious as they are all posh blokes earning a few extra pounds telling stories. They are worth going to, as are the open top tour buses and a guided tour of the minster.

I hope to go back without the school kids in the summer. It was very frustrating walking past shops, pubs and parks not being able to stop and look. As for the school, no doubt i will be back again next year. I can almost recite the story of Thor's hammer word for word now!

Green Fingers

If you wander around the streets of Dunbar at dusk you may well see the strange sight of adults trying to conceal large amounts of greenery on their person. They scurry around holding bags full of the stuff close to their chests, looking slightly embarrassed when you make eye contact with them. But don't worry, there is an explanation. It's free food...not for us, but for rabbits and Guinea Pigs. It turns out dandelions are their favourite dish, and with the credit crunch and all, why buy food when it's on offer for free. Emma is one of those out snaffling her secret stash of greens, and out tonight she encountered another one, so now there is a small army of these green fingered free riders on the loose. Talking of Guniea Pigs, it must be a year since Splat departed us for pastures new. Shame really because its the civic week pet show next week. Nobody said the pet had to be alive, or in one piece, and there are no rules against pets being 2 dimensional.