I love life

here I am, sat in my lounge in Fareham. My cat, Edith, is to the left of me and my Nat to the right of me. I feel alleviated.
Having left the BoardFree team this morning and leaving my responsibilities to Becki, I’ve got a twinge of guilt in my tummy.
Everyone came to the campsite a few days ago for a team weekend. It was great to see everyone. Especially after the long drought of people over the past 3 weeks.
For lunch we stopped for a brief break and a people carried pulled up alongside me…it didn’t register who it was at first, then it clicked. This was Anne. Her son has Lowes syndrome and they were meeting up with us to show their support. Out jumped Anne, her husband, two girls and they proceeded to get Connor awake and out of the car. Poor lad. He’d been having a good ol’ kip! Apparently he hadn’t had a good morning. When someone usually says they haven’t had a good morning they usually mean they’ve missed a train, their hair hasn’t gone right or they’ve torn a hole in their trousers…but when a Lowes syndrome child hasn’t had a good morning it’s not that straight forward.
It hit home. Meeting Connor, seeing how his parents deal with it, seeing this 17 year old lad in his wheel chair made it truly hit home. I patted Dave on the back and told him ‘ this is what it’s all about ‘.
Apparently there are only 30 Lowes syndrome children in the Uk…thus non government funding for the charity. Harsh.
Having been in a similar situation to the parents. Having watched someone who you’ve either given birth to or has given birth to you, deteriorate slowly before your eyes and not being able to do much about it other that give them the fullest life you can possibly give them hurts. More than you could ever imagine. And this is why we’re doing BoardFree, to give people extra time, extra love, extra abilities. Extra anything is better than nothing. Myself, Kate and Becki were close to tears the entire time. It was really humbling being there. We had to go outside for a quick snivel. I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do but we did it. It didn’t make the pain that was so visible go away, it didn’t make us feel better, it didn’t get it out of our system. All the cry did, was make us feel lucky. We’re so lucky to be alive and to have the life that we do. To help other people is an incredible bonus. If everyone helped just one person, this world would be an exceptional place to be…..VOTE ME FOR PRIMINISTER ANYONE???
A defensive mechanism of mine for when I feel upset/vulnerable is to make a little joke at the end of something, so forgive me for any inappropriate puns!
It was so good for Dave to actually see the support infront of his eyes. He had been low. We all had. It rained lots, his foot was seriously manky and it was hard work.
We finished for the day and headed to the camp site that we were all booked in at.
We were greeted by the team and a black lab puppy called Max! Such a cutie!
Dave got a chance to let his hair down and have a kick around of a football…finally! He’d been waiting to do this for months! Rae and Becki’s parents set about BBQing. A few of us went and had showers then had a seat at the benches and scoffed excellent food. A few Smirnoff ice’s later I headed to bed, being a boring muppet and all that. I was whacked. So emotionally drained at this point. I was ready for Nat to take me away from it all for a few days. The day after, I was leaving to go home and do chores/errands/bill paying…the usual! I’m so thankful to Becki who took over for the last week. She’ll never know how much it meant.
I am a little angry at myself that I didn’t see it through but you know when you just know it’s time to go?
The amount of support that not only myself has received but the team is immense. It keeps us going. Keeps us trekking.

Thankyou,
Everyone,
Thankyou so much.

Relaxation

So I'm sat here, on my bed, at the inlaws house. I feel comfortable. It's my turf and i'm familiar with the place. I'm calm and chilled.
Having just nipped on to check out the latest comments to see if my nana and grampa have fathomed out how to do it i came across two new comments. One, by a guy we met somewhere in Scotland...i forget where because my mind has turned to schmush. He had a tattoo of a label that i love. VOLCOM. I think it's him anyway. But i love the fact that he's commented on my blog. Thankyou! The other comment is from my darling friend Alice. She's an Australian GAP student at the school Nat works at and she's awesome. Such a good friend, and i've not known her long!
My nana and grampa are having their birthday week this week. 18th and the 25th of may. My nana is older than my grampa by just less than a year. How excellent! They're on the internet and my aunt is trying to show them how to leave comments on here. I'm just happy i can talk to them over the internet...how impressive is that!?
So anyway, back to where i am. Setting the scene. I'm sat in 'my' room, i can hear Dave helping Jo out with her website in the background and Dimitri is keeping quiet whilst editing some video footage. Those guys have been working their butts off to get all these videos up to date for the website. I feel quite lazy. But i like it. I've just finished helping Jo sort out the bungalow the boys stayed in. The tiny bit of helping i did was very theraputic. In some ways i miss not having one set home that i can come back to and make a cup of tea and not have to worry about packing to move on tomorrow. That kind of life is tiring.
After taking Dave to casualty and getting him some anti biotics we drove the one and a half hours here from Bristol. During yesterday we went to meet the Lush longboard boys. It was all very snazzy to visit their workshop. Having been to Mr Holey's workshop and now the Lush workshop, i feel like i'm in with the 'in' crowd. Too cool for school, some might say. Then we drove to the station to drop Dan off. I was tearful. Holding them back as he left in the elevator. He's been a bit of respite for me and i'm so so grateful to him. I miss not having the team here still. It's harder without them.
We decided to have three rest days. Unplanned but very necessary. Dave's foot stinks. Like, really honks. There's no need for any body's body to smell like that. It's just uncalled for. Luckily it looks like the antibiotics are kicking in and the smell is dispersing and the bruising is coming out. I can't imagine getting up at 6am on Thursday to finish this but it's got to be done. Fingers crossed his foot makes some progress.
Overlooking Minehead beach, i bid thee fairwell, until next time.

H
x

Days 19, 20, 21

After the much needed rest day in the Claremont Guest House near Telford the boys sat on their beds and got up to date on nearly all the video diaries. We had internet so they updated the site for the die hard fans of BoardFree. Looking back on all the footage made us all giggle. It was great to be reminded of the fun and happy times when going through the difficult times.
Dave’s foot was in need of the rest day and although I don’t think it did a great deal for the blisters it gave him a day off his feet which can’t be a bad thing!
God damn that weather! The rest day turned out to be an alright day. No rain. Sun occasionally popping behind the clouds but not for long. Foiled again!
When we awoke on day 20 there was blue sky up above. When we had breakfast the blue sky had been covered with a white layer. When we got outside into the van to go through the 40 minute process of getting Dave’s foot all gaffered up, it started spitting. In the words of Peter Kay, ‘it’s that fine rain that soaks you through’.
Dimitri left us before we set off to go back to London for a night. The day was going well due to a new padding concept Dave used under the sole of his shoe. Then, four miles into the day the pain came back. We carried on going, stopping every so often for breaks. We got into Bridgnorth after stopping at Ironbridge for a touristy break for 5 minutes and we pulled up outside the Shropshire Star offices. Some lovely people stopped to find out what was going on and gave us a donation.
We had two phone calls, one from Pete and Melissa. (Pete of Badgerboy Productions and Melissa who is Pete’s other half) and one from Sam at Sub Tv. They were both in the area so we met up with them to go for lunch. We carried on the day with Sam and Jenny from Sub Tv bombing it ahead and doing some filming. We arrived in a place called Bewdly after asking several random old people for directions. We stopped in a B+B and got ready for dinner at a tapas bar owned by a Portugese chap called Silva. Nat drove to Bewdly to meet up with us and we went for dinner. One glass of Sangria and several ‘little bits’ later we had free Sombrero’s sponsored by Silva’s!

day 21

nat and Pete drove to Gloucester to drop Peter’s car off so there wasn’t an abundance of cars on the skate. Dave, Melissa and myself set off and the heavens, of course, decided to open just as we pulled up outside a kiteboarding club. Dave had a 10 minute nap after looking at the map. Melissa and I had several bizarre conversations about classic songs after my taste in music went down hill. Daphne and Celeste, MC Hammer and the list goes on.
ALSO, can I just say how brave Mel and I are! We rescued not one, but TWO helpless creatures trapped in our van. One of which was a little baby caterpillar that kept jumping up to show off. ( I think it’s one of those special show caterpillars they breed). And the other was something I’m most certainly terrified of. A moth. But not just an ordinary moth. It had a mustache! Like Poirot! So hooray for us!
Nat and Peter came back and just as we had set off as the rain stopped Becs, Bev and Dan showed up in Billy (bec’s car!). I was soooooo happy to see them. I really have missed them. We all hugged and introduced Peter and Melissa and set on our way once more. I swapped from driving a heavy 2 litre diesel van with no power steering to driving Nat’s car. It felt like a racing car. I was so close to the ground. Dan got in the van and on we went.
I then got a phone call from Pauline (Dave’s mum). She was asking what road we were on. I knew instantly that Pauline and Peter were going to surprise us. I promised not to tell Dave and they headed up to meet us.
So many things happened yesterday, I can’t remember what order they went in.
Pauline and Peter showed up in Worcester. Dave was ecstatic. It really is good to see him lifted. Sometimes I try to lift him but because I’ve been there 24/7 it’s not the same as a surprise from his parents! Clearly.
We stopped for lunch at a pub somewhere. I was told that Dimitri was returning to join us with some support for Dave. I didn’t expect what was about to happen. The door opened and in walked a male Little Red Riding Hood, Batman, Robin, Werewolf and a Masai warrior! The plan was for them to skate/ride their bikes/run/roller blade behind Dave.
Nat had been skating with dave for a few miles and Dave’s pace when he’s got someone with him improves ten fold. Sometimes, when Dave’s on his own I worry that the pain is going to get so much that he’s going to collapse. When he’s got someone with him he’s got other things to take his mind off the pain. It’s brilliant to watch too. Some of the fancy dress crew that arrived with Dimitri had given up because they’re forms of transport packed in. The day went on with us over taking, undertaking, sidetaking, taking taking, taking pictures, taking shots etc etc.
Dave did amazingly. We parted with his parents in a car park after his mum checked his foot. We’re past the point of remedy now. His foot is going to hurt from now until this ends. All we can do is pad it out on the bottom and hope for the best. I’ve probably said that before so I apologise for repetition.
I got Dave’s original shoes he’s already worn in sent to my inlaw’s and I’m there right now so I’ll be going back to the team tonight with comfy shoes and new bearings given to Nat by Octane Sport.
I stopped overnight here and I feel better for it. I needed to get away. A part of me doesn’t want to leave because I don’t feel the responsibility here but most of me just wants to see this through and finish it. We can do it. We will do it. Dave’s going to make it, so all you guys who’re going to be at landsend better get ready!!!! He’s going to need a wheelchair, a beer and lots of applause, hugs and celebrations.

Catch you later!!!

Hollaboll

My days are disappearing - day 18 and 19

Can I just make a point before we get started?
We’ve met an incredible amount of generous people along the way so far and we’ve met a handful of uptight, unreasonable, unnecessarily not nice people too!
The generous people have got it great, they’ve clearly had something happen to them in their life to teach them what goes around comes around. You get out of life what you put into it, three times fold. Or at least, that’s what I believe anyway!
The meanies clearly don’t have the advantage of a little feeling called empathy. It can really put a dampener on your day or two if a meany pops up!
We’ve had a gentleman wearing purple socks stop twice to give us £1, several flashes from big lorries, several thumbs up from cars/vans. The good times far outweigh the bad, but the bad can sure as hell bring you down.
It poured it down today. I got a text from Nat with a picture attached that one of his pupils drew for us. It had Dave on a skateboard. I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW GOOD IT IS. She’s even got the shading on the face in and everything. For a girl of 6/7 she’s a talented gal. Well done Emma! You cheered me up! Thankyou.
Dave’s foot is getting worse and worse and each day is getting harder and harder. I’m upset that I can’t help him. He now needs to make the decision about what to do about his exhaustion. It’s caused by pain. So it’s not as if he’s tired from being unfit. It’s all his blisters on the ball of his foot that are causing him to be in so much agony.
It’s so difficult to see. Cringing for him whenever he knocks his foot.

Day 19…
I woke up, just coming out of a dream and thought ‘here we go again, another day of watching Dave hurt’. I slept on the floor of a b+b happily. My back needed it. The driving is starting to make my back ache in places that’ve never ached before!
After forcing myself to get up at 7.45 for breakfast I sat down for a minute to contemplate my feelings today. I felt sick already. I just can’t get away from it! Someone told me it could be caused by being stressed. They’re probably right. I’m nervous all the time that Dave’s going to collapse because of the overwhelming pain and I’ve got to take him to hospital and everyone blames me for not stopping him. But it’s not my place to do so! I can put forward suggestions about what to do and let him consider stuff but to tell him what to do is definitely a no no!
Today is a possible rest day.
I washed his socks last night, they don’t look clean but they do smell clean! The heating wasn’t on last night though so they’re still cold and damp. Not nice.
I saw Dave limp out of the toilet this morning. Hmmmm. Limpy mclimperson!
What to do what to do. So many dilemmas, so many situations!

I got my big steering wheel fitted yesterday too! It makes turning so much easier! Thanks to that garage in Hodnet! Very grateful! And thanks to Dave and Gordon again, for bringing it out to me.

Will update as and when something new happens….seeing as it’s only 9.25am now!

H
Xx

Blog for day 15 and backlogging

Slackness has fallen upon me. I’m so sorry. It’s taken me ages to write again after the last blog!
After an eventful weekend I’m feeling quite writey. And yes, that is a technical word before you ask!
I’m sat in an inn, in a place beginning with the letter B. God damn, my mind has gone! I really can’t remember the name!
So my weekend started on Friday night. I drove around Lancaster motorways searching for a travel lodge or something of that ilk that I could get two rooms in. One for Dave and Dimitri and the other for me and the love of my life. I was getting impatient as the two closest were fully booked! I decided I didn’t care how much the rooms were at the holiday inn, but we would go there and get settled. By this time it was about 9.30 so I’m sure you can imagine my eagerness. I got my stuff up to my beautiful room and came downstairs and ordered a steak. The rooms were fabulous. The best yet! The boys soon came through to order food and I was sat with a ginger and whiskey. Lush. It got to about 11.30pm and I got a phone call from Nat, telling me he was just walking past our van. I leapt up, dashed outside in flip flops being careful not to fall arse over tit and ran up to him, on a full stomach and wrapped my arms around him. I was soooo happy to see him. It was time for the support to get some support. I needed it.
I know it doesn’t seem like I’m doing a great deal in the equation of BoardFree UK but it feels like I am. In fact, I’m trying to do everything I possibly can to make this easier for Dave but sometimes I struggle which is why Dave gets so frustrated with me sometimes. I guess that’s just the way.
I’m one of these people that, when shouted at, cry. Is it because I’m weak? Pathetic? A nice person?….all of the above? Is it time to change?
So yesterday morning (Saturday 13th/day 14) Dave set off skating from Lancaster. Nat was itching to get on the road on little Elsa and as soon as we got onto a quietish road they both started skating infront of the van. It was such a delight to see. I think skating with someone helps a great deal. To know that there’s someone behind/infront of you to talk to/ask about directions and just to know that they’re there keeping you company must be a bonus. Nat said Dave must struggle on his own with just the van behind. I can shout from the van but Dave doesn’t always hear me, so most of my encouraging comments bellowed from the van are, unfortunately, lost in the air.
Also, I think having someone else on the road spurs you on to cover more miles or at least keep the pace up. From what I saw anyway!
There was a big debarkle going out of Preston where the boys split with the van and headed off down a pedestrianised area so I had to take a different road. I couldn’t find them for love nor money and I ended up leaving them for about 4 miles. I felt sick already. I didn’t need this to make me sick. Last time I left Dave for 4/5 miles he layed into me big time and I cried. What a surprise!
We arrived in Leyland and waited for them…they came up and within 10 minutes so did Dave’s brother to lead us to Woodvale RAF base for the ball!
I dropped Dave and Dimitri off and Nat and I headed to Southport to look for a b+b to stop in. We came to one down a back street. It seemed reasonable and there was parking. Sorted. I had a really amazing night. We went for a meal and caught up. We went for a Chinese and I got chance to talk to someone which is what I needed. I cried so much that night. Just had to get it all out of my system. But it carried onto this morning. That was partly to do with my tummy ache though. I’ve been having tummy aches for the past few days, partly because I’m scared I’ll get something wrong and get shouted at, partly because I’m tired, partly because I haven’t been drinking enough or eating healthily I think too!
Today, I’ve not been very well. But we got on the road at about 3.00pm, I said see you later to Nat who had to get a train back to Lancaster to get his car. I was sad to see him leave. That boy is my rock. We’ve done 16 miles today. Nightmare conditions. It pissed it down. Dave’s blisters aren’t good. Dave was hungover. Everything that could go wrong, is doing so! Typical!
He did well considering though! And we’re past half way with miles and as of tomorrow days too!
I can’t wait until next weekend. We’ll be staying at my ‘in-laws’. Bed and breakfast for two nights running assured, two gorgeous cats (I’m missing mine) and just a bit of a general break for me to be on some familiar territory. I love going to Primrose Hill. It makes you feel completely relaxed. A five minute walk from the beach and a ten minute walk from a damn good pub!

I’ll try to keep blogging as often as I can. I promise.

Thankyou for all the comments posted to us. Thankyou so so much.

Schplol


ps...the name of the place was Billinge!!!

PLUS...who knew you could drive on beaches!!! AWESOME...Nat and I really want to get a camper van now...soooo much fun!

Blog for days 9+10

Well, I think it’s safe to say we’ve had a tough few days.
yesterday it all got too much and Dave and I had issues. It was the first real big bust up but it was sorted by late afternoon.
The boys got a chance to play football with some local lads somewhere along the winding road to Biggar.
Dave Hulme (vw dave) and Gordon (the bloke who’s van we’re using) came out to meet us to give me a bigger steering wheel and an orange flashing light. Gordon was so lovely. He checked the oil and water just to make sure it was ok. I am looking after the van but being used to little cars obviously I don’t know it as well as he does. When they left Dave Hulme gave me the biggest hug. I really needed it. I almost burst into tears…again, in his arms. I’d really like him to be my brother…can you adopt sisters? He’s an incredible person who I’d love to stay in touch with. Gordon and Dave are both so giving. It really is a pleasure to know them!
When we got to Biggar we asked around to see if there were any b+b’s and a man called Jack offered to put us up. He was such a lovely man. He reminded me of my dad in very many ways and that got the ol’ emotions rolling. I’ve had a teary 24 hours. I rang my Dad and he couldn’t understand what I was talking about for all the tears.
I got thinking about my Mum too. This is something I try to put to the back of my mind for most of the time so that I only have to have a hardcore cry every 3 months or so…so it was about time. But this morning I wasn’t very well.
we stopped at a service station and I tried to eat a muffin…it re-appeared 10 minutes later. Niiiice. So after a day of feeling sick…I now feel….sick. Funny isn’t it?!
Dave’s got blisters all over his feet so I’ll patch him up tomorrow…got to let them air first I think.
thanks for all the comments…I look forward to them still rolling in.

Just a short one today….they’re getting smaller and smaller by the day….I’m just too too tired to give a blow by blow account of everything now.

H

x

Space - the final frontier

Before you start reading, this is going to look bland! I've not put the pictures up because they're too big files to upload at the moment but watch this space as there'll be more up at a later date.

WE SAW WILLIAM SHATNER TODAY!
It was him. Don't believe the boys! It was! He drove past us today in a lotus at the back of a group of lotus's that zoomed by. We got a few flashes from the clan so who knows, maybe we'll get a quote off him! LEGEND!
I also saw lots of look a likes today. Fergie (the ginger lady fergie), Sean Connery, Uncle Fester, Brian Blessed!!! How exciting is Scotland getting.
Had such a good day today. For Dave it was the downhills and him carving the roads like mad. For all of us it was the laughs and the feeling of being a minor celebrity in and around Crieff! We've had so much response today. It's such a relief to know that people do actually listen to the radio and read the newspapers.
I'll write more another day. It's so tiring doing this but it's absolutely amazing.

Sandwiches and coffee made by strangers - 1
Donations - i've lost count
Autographs asked for from Dave - 1
Times i've gotten into reverse - 4
Times i've not gotten into reverse - 9
Showers - 1
Nice landlords letting us bargain and use his broadband - 1
Times i've cried laughing - 5
Random 18 year old girls dancing to big fish little fish - 1
Celebs i've met - i've lost count!!!!
Pair of clean jeans found in the bottom of my bag i didn't know i had - 1!
Hours sleep last night - 6
Amount of fantastic shots - countless!!

Right, off to beddy now.
I miss you Eed, Dad, Nat, Lex, Nana, Grampa, Jaquie, Cassie, Inka.

Day 5 blog

Bloody hell these blogs are backing up on us. Being in the middle of Scotland and all, and with Scotland not having a lot of wireless to get onto we’re finding it extremely difficult to update as often as we need. It’s getting annoying now. We’ve just got to do the work and then update as and when we can.

So apologies.
I’m writing this on Friday morning. The 6th day on BoardFree Uk. Last night was an absolute nightmare. Everything was meant to go swimmingly. It was a short day in terms of mileage so we were all meant to be chilling out by about 4. Someone up there is pointing and laughing at us. It’s getting annoying. Yesterday was the third day the AA have been called out to our Van. Once when it got picked up and wires had worn out. Second time was the day of the journey commencing, again, wires had come loose. Third time was last night. Somehow, reverse and first gear seem to have packed up. I couldn’t get the gears at all. The AA man came and he struggled, told me it wasn’t a nice van to drive, the steering was heavier than it should be (tell me something I don’t know) and he thought the ‘linkage’ had worn. He got underneath as I sat in the car and tried to put it in gears. He had a fiddle and everything seemed fine and dandy but he advised we get it into a garage ASAP. He drove off…I went for a little drive round the car park and bugger me, it happened again. We ended up getting a call out from a mechanic in Perth 40 miles away. It cost us £60!!!! AND in the end, they didn’t fix it. So at the moment I’ve only got 2nd 3rd 4th 5th gears. If we need to go backwards…looks like Dimitri’s going to be doing some pushing! Hmmm…not ideal and a big inconvenience!
I’ve lost the ball off my belly bar too so I keep stabbing my self in the stomach with the pointy end of it!!!
Dave was on bbc radio Scotland today and appealed for anyone’s help whilst doing the interview. Who knows if anyone’ll come through. I’m doubtful. I’ve gone from being optimistic to pessimistic in a few hours. How annoying.
Dave’s knackered, exhausted and trying his best to put on his happy face. I’m expecting him to crack at some point. We’re doing everything we can to make him ok.
I did my first video blog last night in night vision. How cool is that! I didn’t want to cry. Not now, not yet. We’re only 5 days in!!! How pathetic would that’ve been!!!
Right, off to find a wireless to get onto!

Send me comments/messages of inspiration and hope please!
Much needed at this time.


Holl

Blog for day four

The days seem to be getting more and more difficult as they go on.
The wind was so strong today. The van was blowing everywhere. We lost dave when we dropped him on a cycle path and drove ahead…the cycle path went through London I think! Daft!
we found Dave two hours later after many worried faces from moi and Dimitri telling me ‘I don’t know’ as I constantly badgered him about what to do. I recon age can sometimes be a good thing as it gives you more experience….not in this case however, we were both as clueless as ever.
I’ve been a bit emotional today, nearly cried a few times for several reasons. I feel like Dave’s my responsibility for some reason and if I loose him it’s my fault… I know he can look after himself but it doesn’t stop me worrying. When I have children I’m going to be a nightmare over protective mother!!!
Queen ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ came on on one of my CD’s….this is the song I chose to play at my mum’s funeral in 2004. It makes me smile but also sad. Lots of little things at the moment are making me think of my mum…I can associate almost anything with her. In the paper it felt wrong not to read ‘she’s leaving her mum, dad, sister etc etc etc’…instead it just said Dad, Sister etc. I miss her at the moment. Mostly because I want her to see how well I’m doing and what I’m doing. I want her to meet Dave and the team.
Moving on to a slightly lighter note, we’re in Aviemore. We’ve reached our destination for today…target is all in order and we’re settled in a pub….hmmm, no change there.
tomorrw is dalwhinnie. No problems there. Dave’s exhausted and we’ve got to keep his levels up….it’s hard but we’re going to do it. So to all those people who have doubt…..ner ner ner ner ner!

Blog for day 3

I’ve decided to make my blogs shorter. I feel like I’m boring everyone to death tell everything in detail!

So today…had its ups and downs no puns intended.
The road was fairly flat compared to yesterdays rubbish! But there was more headwind because we were near sea. Not good for Dave. He said he was pushing when he was going downhill because the wind was so strong. Today was the second time I almost welled up (the first being when I was over protective and got told off). It’s been productive in terms of media and distance. He’s officially covered over 100 miles! What an achievement already. I keep saying ‘well done’ to him but I feel like I’m over doing it….i think some people should leave me encouraging comments to give him instead of ‘well done’!!!!
So today he did an interview on the radio which was broadcast with the news…after that we had so many people beep and wave. It’s such a good feeling and it really lifts your spirit! BUT….and this is a big BUT!!!! A J Lo but!!! There are some people, in this world, who only think about themselves! And those people need to stop it! Because it can be really upsetting how offensive people are to you! I had issues driving along really slowly on a single lane carriage way (national speed limit applied) and there was a queue behind us so we pulled over…OF OUR OWN ACCORD BECAUSE WE’RE NICE PEOPLE…and most people beeped good beeps and waves and smiled…but there were THREE people who did nasty beeps and signals…all of which I cannot repeat! There was just no need for them. No need at all. It made me feel really upset and I bet it did the same to Dave. I think we should have a sign on the side of the van saying ‘if you can or have raised over £50,000 for charity then you can swear as much as you like at us!’
We’re in a hostel tonight…bunk beds! Yay!
I keep having a good ol’ giggle with Dimitri in the van. The more time I spend with him the more I realise how brilliant he is. It’s really a pleasure having him with us…someone to keep me sane (ish) too!!!
I miss the team lots. More than I thought I would…I’m usually cool when it comes to handling ‘missing’ people. But the first day was great and there was such a team spirit and morale there! It’s harder to do the same when there’s only one of you and you’re concentrating on not running any one/thing over!!!
I’m starting to feel the strain of being the driver. I so desperately feel for Dave. I want to attach a rope onto the tow bar and let him be pulled. I know I won’t but I feel like I’m being a horrible person doing bugger all to help him! I’m really scared that he’ll get bitter and think I’m being lazy…but what else can I do?! He DOES get massages nearly every day and I’ve even suggested treatments..ie facial, head massage etc every week!
We also had the bbc Scotland come down and do an interview with Dave..they said it’d be on tonight…it wasn’t….hmmmm.
Dave and I had a nice sleep in the van for the first time. It wasn’t as cramped as I thought it’d be and when I woke up I had the lovely cold nose but nothing else feeling!
Right, enough of my waffle. It’s time to cook pasta, pesto and green olives!

Hollaballooladanisafoolabibbadibobbadiboo beckiishappysiisanicebibadibobadee boo.
That was for you guys….miss you.
And Dan you’re not a foola but it rhymed!!

Blog of Monday 1st May - Times, teams and tiffs

A hard day today. Today was the more difficult day between day one and day two. My alarm went off, appropriately Imonster- Daydream in blue, I went into Dave’s room to rouse him but he was already awake. I went and got my kit together to set off in the van after breakfast, Mary cooked us breakfast again and we set off to the exact line that Dave stopped at last night and off we went.
It was raining when we woke up and it was spitting every now and then as we set off. Not happy bunnys…any of us. Especially not big D.

About two hours into the journey I could tell Dave was lagging a bit. We pulled up alongside Dave as he stopped to ask for a drink. He’d pulled a muscle in his foot walking up one of the many hills he conquered today. It must be all that skating then suddenly his muscles have to deal with walking again. We agreed to drive up along to the top of the hill and wait for him and I can tell you now, there wasn’t much time after we pulled up to when we saw the top of his strawberry blonde little head peep over the brow of the hill…then came the fluorescent jacket along with Elsa. It was so so quick!
Dimitri (I’ve been spelling his name wrong!! How rude) and I rushed up the top of yet another hill with the intention of making a cup of tea for him when he got to the top. FOILED AGAIN!!! It was waaay to windy for us to light the stove. Never mind, an apple, a toblerone and a sipple of water later we were on our way again. We began to drive through Golspie…single lane all the way and Dave kept telling me to pull over to let all the cars go by. That van is THE heaviest thing I’ve driven and it’s soooo difficult to pull over last minute especially when you’ve got the back sticking out onto the road.

Dave kept carving loads to see if there was any traffic coming to let the cars behind me go by. This made me freak. I was paranoid he’d come off and get flattened. That’s part of the reason I was there for anyway, traffic control!!! So I beeped him and pulled over and told him this. He wasn’t impressed and there was a bit of tension!! He skated for about 5 miles then we stopped and I said my catchphrase ‘do you hate me?’. I got an answer I wasn’t expecting that I was giving him loads of gip and he didn’t need it, he knew what he was doing and he doesn’t want to be told what to do….ouch. That stung! I apologised, we carried on for another few miles. I had time to think things through. I think this journey has already made me a better person even after 2 days! I spent that 30 minutes rationalising both my thoughts and his words. I came to the conclusion that I was right to be concerned and I was concerned for the right reasons but perhaps a little TOO concerned over a 26 year old man!! I spend my concern on the people I know and care about rather than the people I don’t and maybe I should spend more time thinking about other people too! But sometimes I worry that he’s thinking too much about other people and not enough about himself! We pulled up again and he gave me a big tight hug. I told him what I’d been mulling and everything was ok again.
After having just watched over some of the footage taken from earlier and chuckling lots, I now have rosy cheeks. It might also be due to the fact the lovely bar lady, Ruth has let us try cola cube vodka!! Lush!
The most eventful…well, events today were Dimitri sticking his head out of the window and losing his hat, the first team tiff and I was in the Doncaster Star today on page 3…no no no, it’s not what you think…I might have the goods but I’m more classy than that! I have nearly a full page spread on me and boardfree with two pictures of me with my camera and board! HOW EXCITING!


Well after Dave skating 40 miles today we’re heading off to bed. Tonight we’re camping outside a little restaurant / pub / b+b..first time we’ve slept in the van. Dimitri and Dave set up Dim’s tent and Dave and I will be in the van!

So good night, sleep tight, and see you in the morning light!

Holster