We spent yesterday afternoon in Hexham and we decided to head back at approaching 3pm due to the worsening conditions.
We almost didn’t make it.
The main road through my parents village is normally kept clear as it is a military road, however, yesterdays sudden snowfall seems to have caught everybody on the hop.
The road was becoming increasingly more slippery as we moved up into the hills, and we saw various places where people were pushing their cars off the verge where they had slid to a halt; and even more places where the tracks in the road swerved and weaved where drivers had lost control.
My Dad was getting increasingly nervous about making it back to the house and at one point we were struggling to get up to the brow of a hill due to lack of traction.
Then, just as we were entering the village we drove over the crest of a hill and the car started to slide.
It’s not often my Dad swears, but for him to utter ‘Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, shit, shit, oh bloody hell’ aloud in front of his family might give you an indication of how bad it was.
The car was basically sliding down the hill towards the village, with absolutely no traction, no way to steer and no way to stop.
I think we slid for 5 or 6 seconds, which may not seem like a long time, but when you’re in a car that’s sliding down a snowy hill on the wrong side of the road it feels like forever - thankfully there was nothing coming the other way.
We finally managed to park up at the top of my parents street.
At that point we were thinking we might get snowed in, but thankfully the snow turned to rain overnight and the roads are mostly clear this morning.
Phew - I’m London bound.
Stuart and Ruben’s Civil Partnership ceremony on Saturday was great!
Perfect weather, and it was so nice to see all the softball team scrubbed up and smart - yes, even the lesbians.
Congratulations to Stuart and Ruben - May there be many more years as fun as those you have had so far.
Thanks to Ollie for taking the following snaps of me and the boys looking like bear mafia. Bear Mafia? Goldilocks & the 3 bears?
Felt a bit blue tonight - as tonight was my teams (London Raiders Blue) last league match of the year.
I am well pleased that they have won our division of the league, they’ve played a blinder of a season, but I am also a little sad that I have not been able to play this year and be part of it.
Bitter-sweet indeed.
Still, my recovery continues to be good after the surgery, almost full mobility back in my shoulder now, and the physio is helping loads.
Promotion to the next division should mean new challenges for next year, and I plan to be part of continuing success.
Go Raiders Blue for 2008!
What? Never heard of a big dipper of a day? Lots of ups and downs? No? OK - I shall elaborate so you have a frame of reference…. 0700 : Alarm goes off. Early for me - normally up at 0815. Boooooo! 0830 : Arrive at hospital for hastily arranged physio appointment after hydro appointment is cancelled due to imbalance of chemicals in pool. Boooooo! 0850 : Physiotherapist announces that I no longer need the arm brace I have been wearing for the last 10 weeks! YAAAY! 0855 : Physiotherapist manipulates shoulder into position that would have been uncomfortable and risked dislocation before my surgery - but no pain and shoulder felt stable. YAAAY! 1030 : Arrive at work. Boooooo! 1230 : Had unpleasant exchange with idiot boss over something beyond my control that I needed help with, but he went into rant in front of whole office over, thus making me feel stupid and worthless - AGAIN! Boooooo! 1350 : Receive email from Picnicbear/daddy about hotel bookings for trip to California in 5 weeks - looks fab! YAAAY! 1500 : Budget review meeting with idiot boss, which begins with dissection of mornings unpleasant exchange - thus setting a great tone for rest of meeting. Boooooo! Although as part of discussion it turns out that Chips blew top at idiot boss, telling him a few home truths, partially in defence of my honour. YAAAY! 1645 : Budget review meeting ends. YAAAY! 1715 : Have proper look at email about California hotel bookings - it looks even more fab. YAAAY! 1900 : Leave work. YAAAY! 1945 : Beers, burgers, reassurance and cheering up from Picnicbear/daddy @ Lowlander. YAAAY! 2230 : Call from Chips informing me that the London Raiders Blue team kicked some Tornado butt, winning their softball league match in style. GO RAIDERS BLUE! YAAAY!
Getting the picture?
The day finished off much better than I thought it was going to in the middle.
Feeling a little drained though, so gonna hit the sack in a sec.
I guess all’s well that ends well.
Chips, daddy and I caught on film at Pride the other weekend….
Why the fuck did I keep playing with my beard? It seems I have a nervous tick when someone shoves a camera in my face! D’oh!
Was a great day despite the rain - many beers!
Went to watch my first match of the season tonight, and it was a club derby - London Raiders Blue Vs London Raiders Red.
Haven’t been able to face going to a match so far this season with being unable to play - but I am glad I did…. it was fun and great to see everybody.
My spirits were of course bolstered by the fact that my team (Raiders Blue) kicked some Raiders Red butt.
All in the name of friendly rivalry of course.
I think that makes us top of our division with an as yet unbeaten record!
GO RAIDERS! (Blue of course )
I had much fun yesterday afternoon in Regents Park with a group of people from my softball club - and of course it was mostly the girls that showed up.
Happy birthday to Sue and thanks for a great afternoon. Was great to see everybody.
Now, back to topic - Injured as I am, and therefore relegated to the sidelines of the volleyball/football/beach tennis/general theme of sportiness, I was relegated to an afternoon of relaxation and booze, and from thence philanthropy, or should that be anthropology? (I get them mixed up).
So, here’s the question…. What IS the best collective noun for a group of lesbians?
A lick (Wikipedia suggests)
A tough (citation)
A clitter (citation)
A snatch (my personal favourite - citation)
Thoughts?
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OK - so I did make a promise to myself that I wouldn’t be using 200feet to rant and moan too much. But fuck it - I need to vent…!
Small moan first - I’ve had toothache now for almost a week and I’m sick of it - it’s making me grumpy and short tempered - apologies to those unfortunate enough to have crossed my path this past week. Dentist on Monday morning - thank fuck!
Now the big moan - light blue touchpaper and stand well back…….
I just want to get my shoulder op done and dusted now - my little sidebar widget up there in the top left hand corner tells me I have another 18 days to go.
I first dislocated my shoulder when I was 15 years of age! 8 dislocations and over 16 years later I am finally going to get it sorted (hopefully). This last month though is dragging!
I normally put a few extra pounds on over winter when theres no softball, but as soon as training starts in March it drops right off. But, this year I can’t train before the upcoming op.
I look like shit, I feel like shit, I miss softball, and I’m sick of waiting! (more…)
OK .... So I don't live that high up anymore.
I moved. I miss the view loads, but I don't miss the stairs if the pissy lifts break, or some of the neighbours (see pissy lifts).
I kept the name 200feet cos I liked it - so sue me!
Plus some would say I have one or two views of my own - cue 200feet.com.
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