Back in business!

Paddlemaster’s blog, star date….. Well it feels a bit like that. I didn’t realise it has been so long since the last one. No, I haven’t been travelling at warp speed and arrived five years before I blasted off, but some days it feels like it.

The main reason for no blog is I haven’t been doing much paddling. I did have the opportunity to go a bit further with paddling and finally realised it’s the being outside I enjoy and not placing myself in immediate danger - that is my reason for being on the water. That’s one reason I also go underwater when ever there’s an opportunity. A chance to meet some wonderful creatures, rather than pushing the limits of physics and biology. This has resulted in me becoming a PADI Divemaster.

The second reason has been the ARK accountant. As posted on Facebook – no soul, a swinging brick for a heart and profit/loss spreadsheet for guidance. She works on the basis of no profit, no business. Funny how she’s the one who attends church on a Sunday!

For me it’s spiritual. I could paddle without the business, but it is one way of broadening my coaching. At work and in a club,  I would be stuck with kids all the time. Many of whom don’t want to be there and the activity offered becomes so watered down, it doesn’t resemble the kayaking as I know it. When training as a L2 coach I hated the ‘games’, just learn to paddle the boat or go home was my philosophy. That’s probably why I was crap at sports at school, what is the point in chasing some ball around a piece of flattened field? Get out and explore, there’s no rules beyond the gate.

Also coaching privately has bought me into contact with some wonderful people. Many who have become friends and it has also given me the chance to introduce old friends into a new world. Come join the darkside where flowing water is revered rather than feared!

I would like to thank a number of people out there for their support and encouragement, but can’t publish names for legal reasons. Phil H – thanks for your business advice, you put the soul back into it. Phil T we paddled far too many rivers together, shame he’s defected to bikes. Billy H – we just can’t go there and finally Pam, where can I even begin? Not only has she supported me through life and 10 years of AR Kayaking, but if it hadn’t been for Pam threatening to burn the boat 20 years ago, I would have been out of paddling, growing a beard and wearing pink trousers. The last one being grounds for divorce!

Seriously, if life becomes too serious – get a boat and paddle.

First blog of 2016

I know I’m legendary for leaving long periods between blogs, but this time there was good reason. 2015 is one year Pam and I were glad to see the back of!

After saying good bye to Meg, we then had Mike’s death to deal with. His funeral was especially traumatic, so the next day we went to Cannock Chase for a bike ride and to begin my ease down to the London ride. This ended in disaster with Pam having an unscheduled trip in an ambulance and seven months off work. We probably now know more about nerve damage recovery, MCP structure and alternative therapies than most GPs.

I did eventually ride the Prudential London Surrey 100 mile bike ride and what a fantastic day it was. So, good that I’m doing it again this year! I didn’t get a place through the ballot and will instead be riding for Children With Cancer UK. We chose this charity due to Pam‘s work - teaching children with cancer in their own homes when they are unable to attend school.  I hope to complete the ride in memory of one very special young lady and will make details public once we’ve had chance to speak to her family.

In the meantime if you would like to make a donation, please click on the link at the top of the page.

Bad week, hard tarmac

Training for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 took a bit of a knock this week. On Saturday (4^th) I had a minor crash which has caused a bit of damage to me and the bike. Then on Tuesday I was literally about to go out the door and picked up my phone to find a message that said a close friend had taken his own life.

Pam and I spent the rest of the evening in a state of shock. Training was off, Wednesday wasn’t much better and after a day at work we just went out for tea as we weren’t even motivated to cook. I finally got out on Thursday and had only gone two miles when the gear shifter came lose and I couldn’t brake or change gear. So Friday the bike went into dock. A big thank you to Shrewsbury Cyclelife ( http://www.shrewsburycycles.co.uk ) for turning the bike around so quickly.

Friday night saw us meeting an old friend for mutual support, sharing of memories of a lost friend and lots of alcohol to try and reason out what happened. Hence Saturday’s training ride with a hangover and on the old heavy bike was hard work. Average speed of 10mph was a disgrace, but at least I was out there.

On a plus – sponsorship money is now starting to appear and I hope we can make a difference to the dogs and cats at Grinshill. Apologies for all those Facebook messages and emails, but we do need to raise enough to make the Just Giving fees worthwhile.