The BoardFree Snapper

Christmas time, blistered toes and wine

2006-12-27T01:18:00.000Z

Christmas is over and another 4 days of the BoardFree xmas break is left. I've not been with everyone for Christmas so i hope everyone has had a good time!
I went to a family friends for xmas and it was bliss. I don't recall ever having eaten that much nor drinking that much in my entire life! They're going to have to roll me back to Sydney like that blueberry girl off Charlie and the Chocolate factory!
This is the third xmas without my mum and being around such a loving family made me a little sad but overall i appreciated everything that's happened to me. Without it, i wouldn't be me. And i most certainly wouldn't be in Australia enjoying fine oysters and champagne sitting on a verrandah overlooking a lake!!!! it's a tough life i hear you say?! Tell me about it!

We've got just under a month to go before we reach Brisbane. It's a strange feeling to think we're finally going to get there, especially now that the world record has been broken.
Now all we need are the donations to start rolling in. Fingers crossed.
I've said to many people that i think that a fair few people are waiting to see if Dave actually makes it. It's like any sponsored event, you want to see the person succeed before you hand your money over, which is fair enough but come on, he's made it this far, there's no way he's giving up now.

I have to say i've thoroughly enjoyed our new and larger team. Having Laura here takes strain off Becki and Bev with fundraising and she's got everlasting stashes of energy hidden somewhere! She's always offerring to help out with everything.
Pete is just wonderful. He's exceptionally mature, level headed and wise! But that doesn't stop him from getting his botty out at the 4000km mark for our entertainment! I think that Dim is getting a bit home sick so it's good that they've got each other to help with filming, directing and production etc!

I think out of everybody Si and Bev are getting upset/worried that BoardFree Oz is coming to an end. Mind you, Simon has been getting upset about it since September! Saying how it's nearly January! Daft monkey!

I can't tell with Dave, in that, he's a very difficult person to read and doesn't give much away the majority of the time.

The closer it gets to going home the more you miss it, or at least that's what it feels like. And i'm glad to be meeting up with the team again after xmas but my goodness am i going to miss the big double bed, cups of tea, champagne for breakfast in a morning?! Nope. It's best that i go now though because i don't want to get too used to it! The life of luxury.

Toodle oo

Over half way

2006-11-18T10:55:00.000Z

Melbourne

What’s better Perth to Adelaide or Adelaide to Melbourne? That was the question I was asked by Dim and Si the other day. Honestly, I couldn’t say.

Between Perth and Adelaide there wasn’t a high population. We went to bed when it got dark and woke up when it got light. We stayed in an incredible amount of varied accommodation and appreciated all the scenery. From flatlands and cliffs to roads that went on for miles and miles and miles. There were copious amounts of wildlife, both dangerous and harmless. Everyone, except for Bev, got bitten by something or other. We arrived in Ceduna in perfect time for the Oyster Festival. Dave became the first man to skate across the Nullabor. Dave impaled his foot the same day he completed his skate across Adelaide city.
This is only a trifle of the happenings during this time!

Between Adelaide and Melbourne the population picked up. We learnt how to maximise the fundraising and took advantage of the people we were now surrounded by. We went to bed later, after going fundraising and started waking up when necessary. Bev got bitten to shreds in Adelaide! The skating days were filled with more traffic and less kilometres. Each day, a new scene. Rainforest, farmland, lakes, sea and beaches. We started learning to surf after picking up our REALWINGS and surf boards.

And now, we’ve been taken in, yet again, by kind souls. A lady we met near Wellington who offered to put us all up in her home has been our saviour. Due to U2 and John Mayer playing in Melbourne this weekend we’ve been unable to get accommodation. Also we’ve got our new team member ‘the hatwell’ or ‘hatters’ coming out and joining us later on tonight. We’re all going to the airport to pick her up later.

Tomorrow we’re going to a Victoria Skate comp so we can do lots of fundraising.

On Monday we’re hopefully meeting up with Alan Fletcher…Dr Karl Kennedy from Neighbours.
Then setting off again to Sydney at some point next week.

Sorry the blog is brief!

Just call me Holly T-Bone Ten Shot Allen

2006-10-27T05:43:00.000+01:00

There are rain clouds above, yet still no rain! Usually it'd be a bad thing, for it to rain while Dave is skating...but he's not, as of yet!

He sat us all down last night and told us he wouldn't be skating today, and that he would actually be having a day of elevation. (his foot). The whole team breathed a sigh of relief. None of us want an infected foot. It'd be BoardFree uk all over again. And no one likes a smelly infected foot, lets face it! Especially with us all living and sleeping within such close proximity of each other!

The title has evolved from one evening of devouring a T-Bone steak, when the chance at trying to join the boys in a 20kg steak eating competition was stolen from me...i still have the tee shirt, but never the less, i've aquired the nick name T-Bone or T-Bone Allen! The ten shot is a more recent nickname i picked up during a game of minigolf.
For Dave's birthday he took us all (including the lovely pilot from Nullarbor) to a place called The Beachouse. What a place. Everything you wanted when you were a kid but either wasn't allowed to do, or missed that birthday party because you had chicken pox...you know the deal! Arcades, water slides, water bumper boats, dodgems, ice cream, minigolf...the list is endless! We all god 38 credits and tried to win as many tickets as we could to win prizes. In the beginning of the golf game, i was doing well, i was getting holes in one, and two shots! Very good considering my hand/eye coordination! Then came the seventh hole.....i have a hockey swing so i'm told...i push the ball rather than 'tap' it! And i pushed the ball all the way back over to hole four! Oooops. Start again! Long story short, i didn't get the ball in and told Dave to put me down as having ten shots. Then it happened again and i lost my temper with the golf apparatus by kicking the ball and throwing my club on the ground stomping my feet and repeating, 'i don't like this game anymore'. Needless to say, i came last. My opinion is that i got the highest points so it's not all bad!

Hopefully setting off tomorrow, as i say, depending on Dave's foot. The team gutted the vans yesterday and layed all of our kit and rubbish on the lawn of the house belonging to the lovely Dierdre and Bob! My goodness, what a mess. It was horrific. SEeing how much stuff we had. Although now we've got a new roofrack on George so hopefully, less clutter in the vans! I cleaned George out top to bottom. First the rubbish, then the important stuff, then everybodies clothes boxes, then the bedding and finally matresses. I swept out the floor, then re loaded everything. I get great satisfaction from tidying! And now, george is so pretty!

We had a tough time in Adelaide at first. But i've grown to like it here. I'm sad that we're leaving but i want to get back on the road. I think we all do. Who knows, i might even come back here one day.

Forgive me for the neglecting of my blogs.

Holl

No title as of yet

2006-10-04T06:51:00.000+01:00

It’s Wednesday 4th October at One o’Clock in the afternoon. We’ve finished for the day already after a 70 something KM day from Poochera to Wudinna.

Dave’s pushing himself. I’m not sure whether he’s pushing himself too hard but his spirits seem to be high still so we’ll carry on taking each day as it comes.

A great deal has happened since I last blogged and the reason for the lack of blogs as you will probably already know is because we’ve been on the Nullarbor.

As of last Friday we finished the Nullarbor, a week sooner than we’d expected too!
The weather at the moment is exceptionally hot. Yesterday it was 35 degrees celcius and today was heading that way until the clouds and wind came over us.
I can’t even begin to go through all that’s happened, partially because my arms wouldn’t be able to handle typing it all out!

I’m going through today’s photo’s and we’ve just been shown the Road to South Australia video for the web. I cried. It just summed it up, well and truly. Most of the team were pretty choked and I know that Dave was almost overwhelmed by it.
I haven’t seen the photographs that Dave’s been putting on the website yet so it’ll be interesting to see the website….it’ll be completely different from the last time we all saw it. When you look at it every day you don’t notice the little things that change!

All the boys shaved their beards/handlebar moustaches off at Ceduna and looked like a bunch of 15 year olds!

We met so many different people in Ceduna. After putting Dave in a parade and giving nearly 97% of people there leaflets we went fundraising around the Oyster Festival and managed to raise a fair bit of $’s.

As always, the kindness carries on in Southern Australia and tonight we’re staying at the Mobil Motel which has kindly been given to us for free by the owners who’ve ALSO offered us a free dinner each. Last night we stayed in actual Caravans at Poochera Caravan Park/Motel, and previous nights have been spent in the bush, parking spots, caravan parks or motels too.

I’m not feeling too great in terms of health. Last night was super hot and I woke up this morning with a sore throat, funny nose and a bit of a stuff head….typical, in the heat, I get a cold! Again nurse McKinlay had a poke of my neck and told me I had a ‘fat face’ from my glands being up. It made me giggle.

At a road house at some point on the Nullarbor or maybe even before it, Dimitri and I wrote some lyrics for a BoardFree song. A few weeks ago Bev used the words and came up with the melody for it and it’s absolutely breathtaking and so fitting!

We’ve got a new bike, which I tried out yesterday. I couldn’t go very far as it’s too small for me so fingers crossed we get a new wheel for the old racer. Everyone is having a great time exercising on the bike, especially Bev as she’s been pining for exercise since Perth!

In Ceduna at the Festival, there was a tug of war competition with a prize of $200.
Of course, us being the Pom’s that we are, we entered it, not realising our opposing teams could possibly be from the wrestling/sumo federations!
Girls first. Off we went, up to the rope to toss a coin. We clocked sight of the girls we were going to be tugging against. All of our faces dropped. Now, I’m not a particularly petite girl, but when I saw these girls I felt like Kylie Minogue!!!! These women were 6ft by 6ft! Needless to say we lost the first round. Then it was the next round. Time for us to pull against the other female team. And whaddya know, it was the security officers for the festival. I thought we nearly had them, everyone was cheering for us but eventually we lost. THEN, we saw the boys opposition. Now imagine the size of Dave’s calf. The first team looked like they’d eaten ten of Dave’s calf sized steaks EACH!….The boys lost and now Dan and Dave have got blisters on their hands where the rope. Worth a try eh and good for the camera!

Also at Ceduna we went swimming in the sea for the second time since we’ve been in Australia. It smelt of dogs so we didn’t spend too long!
On Sunday, Becki, Bev and I got dropped off at the drag racing with a view to fundraising and leafleting. We asked if we could and we got told there’d be a conflict of charities as the company that organised the racing has their own charities, so off we went and tried to give out leaflets but the crowd were only interested in one thing, the racing! We ended up getting chatting to a few of the blokes who bought us a few drinks and they donated too which is brilliant!

Right....in a bit of a rush....so i'll wrap it up by saying, keep looking at the vids and pics....i'll be back soon!

Holl

One more day in the Best Western

2006-09-10T15:44:00.000+01:00

Lying on my bed in the Best Western Hotel in Norseman I look back over the past year and see how far we’ve all come. I’ve only known these guys for 7 months and I’m just about to cross the Nullabor Desert with them having spent 3 ½ weeks with them prior to doing so.
So much has happened since February; from my getting accepted onto the team; to two of the team being unable to come to Oz; to two more people getting accepted onto the team.
Sure the times may be stressful for us; Dave especially. But honestly, everything’s brilliant. I couldn’t be happier. I know that my happiness isn’t what this is about but it sure as hell helps the task in hand if everyone’s smiling!
Kate, Bev, Becki and I have just had a girly evening. Last night was spent at the road side in a little lay by and at the end of the night Kate joined Becki, Bev and myself as Becki plaited kates hair, I put mascara on everyone and chatted. We don’t get to do this everyday so it’s nice when we can. We’re all usually split up on the road, each member doing a different thing. Then this evening we decided that the girls should go out for dinner and have a bottle of wine between us. What an excellent decision that was!!!
After we asked for the bill, the owner of the Best Western Hotel came up to us and told us we don’t have a bill….because….wait for it……the boys had paid for us!!!!!!! We’d seen Dimitri and Dave walk into the reception but we thought it was to have food delivered to the rooms……what a lovely surprise…thanks lads! It means an awful lot to us boardfree chicks!

Anyway, yesterday was interesting. Whilst having a shewee, Kate discovered MASSIVE ants!..Soldier ants I think they’re called but I reckon they’re monster ants. About an inch long and vicious little critters!!! The boys were poking away, provoking the big insects with their camera’s as I sat sensibly in the back of the Jackaroo…I saw Dimitri drop his camera and move away as all of the ants had climbed on it and were attacking his fluffy!!!! Now I know Dim quite well when it comes to his camera equipment and he’d never put it down in mud without just cause!!! Then I heard ‘Holly, come over here, Dave wants you to take photo’s of the ants’…..so I rolled my eyes and reluctantly made my way over to the area of commotion…I saw one big ant and wondered why everyone was making such a fuss….THEN I saw hundreds of them all running (somewhat more quickly than I realised) towards me….I got a few snaps of them but didn’t want to get too close as they were trying to reach to get onto my lens….eeekk…I started walking away and felt a stabbing pain in the top of my leg….I looked down and an oversize ant was looking up at me as if to say ‘Ha, that’ll teach you…you humans, all the same eh!?’…I flicked it off and ran out to the team whilst grabbing my crotch and crying out…they thought I just had one on me so started laughing…then the tears came. I danced around for a minute not knowing what to do then Becki instructed me to take my trousers off……all the while, Si was filming this on tape…..I pranced over to Kylie and got a blanket to strip in privacy…Nurse Mckinlay was on the scene with cream and checked out my bite….the little b**ger had bitten me right through my jeans! How rude!!! And in possibly the most painful part of my body he could’ve bitten too! I now have a big red patch with two slash marks in the middle…not that big and not painful now it’s gone down but that will definitely teach me!!!!!!
It’s actually making me itchy talking about it so moving on!!!! SWIFTLY!

Over the past few days (not including today) I’ve been a bit quiet. I guess I just felt tired….to tired to be my usual giddy self. A good nights sleep in Kylie sorted that out and this morning I was back to normal! George wouldn’t start this morning as the inverter had been left on over night so we ended up calling out one of the miners who had befriended us and was also a mechanic by trade…or as Dimitri quite simpley put it ‘a guardian angel by trade’….luckily he fixed everything and even gave us a spare battery just incase….so we finally got rid of the TV that came with Kylie..it’s the least we could do for him.

So far, throughout Western Australia, we’ve encountered mass amounts of generosity. Cooperate and non cooperate. Random people, driving past who’ve heard about us giving us donations on the road. School’s we’ve visited, passing a bucket around the kids. Hotel owners letting us rest up in their hotels all the while telling Dave how much they support him. People asking for autographs, people giving us food for the road. We’re grateful for all those people out there who are as giving as they are. BoardFree wouldn’t be the same with out you. It’s amazing what little things can do to people’s moods. Like, instead of having peanut butter on bread (as yummy as it is), we had salad leaves, carrot sticks, meat in fresh buns with cheese. It perks not only Dave up but the whole team. You get back from life what you put into it. I thoroughly believe this!

A large newspaper supplement in the Uk is wanting to do a feature on Dave and BoardFree…they said they wanted ‘panoramas’ but I suspect that means landscape shots. They want it to be stunning too and at the moment, it’s raining cats and dogs outside and has been doing for some days. The weather hasn’t been the best for the last couple of days so I can’t wait to get the ‘stunning’ shots where the sun is beating down and Dave’s skating on the Nully all lonesome and what not. It makes me nervous though…I keep thinking ‘what if my shots aren’t good enough’….then I realise that it’s only self belief that gets people where they want to be!!

I’ve had a few emails from my neighbours back at home, a chap I met at the Sailability launch, family and friends which is nice! And if anyone’s reading this who wants to get in touch, don’t hesitate to email me at Holly@boardfree.co.uk……it’d be great to hear from you.

This is my last blog before setting off tomorrow across the Nullabor so I’ll blog you when we’re over the other side!!!!

Bed time I think. Even though it’s a rest day tomorrow, sleep is always a wise choice!!!

G’night!

x

Highs and Lows

2006-09-04T08:39:00.000+01:00

Not only have i been rubbish at updating my blogs but now that i get a chance to enlighten you all about the happenings of the last 11 days i can't remember a lot! Useless!

Ok, so it goes a little something like this -
The Lakes: RoadHouse - our first camping night. Good food, good laughs, good sleep.
Northam: We were greeted by loads of kids thinking Dave was Tony Hawk, quite comical at the time. We stayed at the avonbridgehotel kindly donated to us! Another good sleep.
Cunderdin: Dan's birthday. I've never seen one person love a straw that repeatedly played happy birthday as much as Dan did. We stayed at the Cunderdin Museum thanks to a chap called Chum!
Kellerberrin: A day of highs and a night of lows. I got the news that my grampa died on Saturday. Heartbroken. I cried, lots. And when i was sitting in the sand got bitten, lots too! We stayed at the Caravan Park there. The boardfree team were there for me. Each did something to make me more comforted/warmer/laugh etc. I'm so grateful for having them to make sure i'm ok.
Merredin: I got to spend the night with Dan, Dim and Si and we laughed lots again and discussed playground games and old tv programmes.
Bodallin: Road House - kate fell off her bike, Nurse Mckinlay came to the rescue.
Southern Cross: S. Cross Motel - lovely beds.
Coolgardie: campsite so far...rest day today.

You'll notice that i'm mainly talking about sleep and beds. There've been too many good times to list. Sometimes the going gets tough for us all, Dave especially but that's why we make such a good team. We pull together and get on with it!

The shewee is amazing. It means all the girls no longer need to squat!!

My mind is all a smush at the moment.
I"ve had lots of emails giving me support, telling me jokes and generally informing me about stuff.
Thankyou everyone.

Keep in touch!

Over and out.

Hollthesquall

Also i'd like to add my condolances to Steve Irwins Family. He was a legend and shall remain so in many peoples hearts.

x

Take two!

2006-08-22T06:33:00.000+01:00

This is my second attempt at writing this blog, my last one decided not to work. HOW RUDE!!
I'm sat listening to a song ' i wanna walk up the side of the mountain, i wanna walk down the other side of the mountain, i wanna swim in the river, i wanna lie in the sun, i wanna try to be nice to everyone'....very upbeat! Ironic seeing as i put that on Dave's compilation CD and i don't think he will want to walk up the side of a mountain, and he can't lie in the sun because it's pouring with rain! Gutted!

The push off launch was amazing. So many people turned up for it. It made a refreshing change from just five people clapping and going 'whoop whoop whoop' as he set off! About 11 skaters followed him, one gave up after less than a km! Fantastic...the rest were loving it. And Dave was loving the support. Sailability was fantastic and Rachael organized so so much for us, for which we are eternally grateful. I met Paul from Getty images and we chatted photography for a bit. I was so envious of his camera models (expensive!!!) and lenses (enourmous!!!) but then he asked to try out MY fish eye that i bought in New Zealand...get in! And some of the shots of his on Getty website are with my fish eye....he then told me he wishes he had one...how funny is that. I wanted his lenses, he wanted mine. I wouldn't mind having two camera's hanging from my limbs though! He's hopefully going to put in a word with Canon Australia. keep your fingers crossed!
Dave had to keep stopping for camera crews and photographers and eventually at the end of the day made it 25km east of Perth to Midland. Then the jackaroo broke down, typical! Well, in the words of Bev, 'it wouldn't be BoardFree without something breaking down'....too true!

I'm writing this before i go and check on the washing that should be drying...lets see what i've shrunk!! I've already manage to dye one team mates tops (who shall remain nameless til i tell them)!!!

So i've done the washing and made Si a cupy o tea whilst he sits and edits the reels of footage. I'm putting bulletins out to musicians regarding mp3s and i've received a few emails from friends saying they've seen Boardfree in the paper/tv/websites etc!

The media attention has been overwhelming! Kate is constantly on the computer mailing out photo requests or answering the phone regarding interviews with Dave, Dave is constantly sorting out the website/kit etc, Becki is trying desperately to get all the cars sorted and kitted out before we need to go (as is the glorious George), Bev is researching nutrition, accomodation and camping gear, Si and Dim, like me, forever in people's faces capturing those 'kodak' moments! and Dan is sorting Dave's shoes out and playing chess (poorly might i add - he gets confused easily!).

We went out for a meal at a wonderful resteraunt owned by some of Si's relatives and had a really good time. The girls made an effort and all looked beautiful and the boys, well, the boys wore snazzy hawaiianesque shirts! At the end of the banterfilled evening the guys tried some port (not a lot) and the girls all learnt to make lotus flowers out of napkins....when we get to adelaide we'll have hundreds seeing as the resteraunt owners gave us a pack of 100 bright yellow napkins!!! SORTED!

I was going to do a shoot with Dave today near the waterfront but it's been heavily raining on and off for the morning...i'm not sure the afternoon is going to be different, there's meant to be a storm coming! EXCITING! I went to get some money out from across the road, and as soon as i had finished it poured it down on me!!!!! I got soaked just from walking across the road....and this morning Beks and myself got a taxi to George's to get a van, i stepped in a puddle i thought was a few cm deep...oh how wrong i was, probably a few inches deep at the least! Blooming taxi driver didn't park close enough so i had to leap into it!

Dave, Kate, Bev, Becki, Dan and Dim have gone to the Royal Perth Yacht club to say thankyou to Rachael for helping us out with the push off day and also grab some camping equipment. George has been working hard for us. He's so lovely. He looks very handsome, sort of like Sean Connery in the james bond days. And he's so warm and kind. So willing to give up his time!
Right, i'm off to fold some clothes. But before i do, i just want to say, i'm so glad i'm here.

Day 1 – Dave Ja Vu

2006-08-19T12:06:00.000+01:00

As I’m sitting downloading all of my photo’s from today I’m looking in front of me at Dimitry filming Kate typing and giving her a small interview and seeing Bev to the front left of me writing her blog, Dan’s just walked by and said ‘hi holls’ in the way that he does that is always ever so chirpy!
Wooooooow I’ve just discovered I can shoot via my laptop…..not sure why I’d need to be it’s nice to know I’ve got the option there!
Ooops, I think I’ve just gotten the ‘dead eye’ from Dimitry after experimenting with my camera and it flashing on his shot….naughty holly!!!

I arrived yesterday night at about 11.30pm after what turned out to be an 8 hour flight…I thought it’d only be about 4/5. I was sat next to an elderly chap who made me feel bad every time I wanted to go to the loo (twice)!!!
I got a lovely surprise after walking in the Emperors Crown hostel, greeted by Dave and Dimitry, who’ll you’ll remember after BoardFree uk likes to be ignored whilst filming! So anyway, I went on telling Dave about the flight and all of a sudden I heard ‘1,2,3 SURPRISE!!!!’…how exciting! The team were hiding behind the couch…sneaky sneaky! I brought my bags upstairs where I was welcomed YET AGAIN, by a whiteboard with a little message for me and some RooPoo tee’s, notebook etc. I picked a top bunk to sleep in (purely only for old times sake!). We went to bed at about 12.30, Si stayed up seriously late working on the editing of the footage shot prior to my arrival. I slept very well and woke up this morning at 6.30 at the familiar sound of Dimity’s alarm, got up, got dressed and generally got myself ready for the car sales place we were going to go to at the crack of sparrow fart!
We turned up at this place after catching a train there (very nice clean stations here!) and there were a few cars scattered about the car park and a camper which, when we looked closer, was actually the office of the people who managed it!!! Hmmmm.
After much deliberation about whether to wait we eyed up a Jackaroo (land rover thingy) – then more deliberation and it was bought! Wonderful, our first vehicle!
Push off is tomorrow. I’m glad we’ve got at least one vehicle sorted.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the journey with the full team, which, by the way, I’m sooooooo glad are the team.

Through all of the bad...comes the good.

2006-06-06T16:47:00.000+01:00

Just so you know...i've added a post beneath this one!

I’m sat on a train listening to the din of many northern voices. I feel at home.
I’m heading up to Doncaster to see my family after the finishing of BoardFree Uk.
He made it. I’m incredibly proud. Words cannot describe everything he’s been through and everything that he’s accomplished.
I’m currently half looking at the photographs from the finishing day and half blogging, so forgive me if I seem like you’ve not got my full attention, you have. It’s all BoardFree.
I’m glad BoardFree Uk is over but I’m looking forward to BoardFree Oz. Lots of reasons really.
I know that in Oz everyone on the team will have their own part and no one person shall be attempting to do nearly everything. Knowing this settles me.
I know that there’ll be more people in Oz therefore everything will be a lot less personal and there’ll be more people to go to for help and assistance.
I can overhear two people sat on the other side of the aisle talking about how they went to see Alan Fletcher (Fletch) at their uni. They’re saying how good and brilliant and up for it he was and how he was having loads of banter…all I keep thinking is … teehee, Fletch and BoardFree are best mates! Teehee!
The finishing day was fantastic. Bev, Nat and I drove ahead to get the finishing line set up…i.e put toilet roll (fragranced non the less) across the line and to get the champagne out ready to shake and pour onto Dave. We made sure that it was going to be announced across the tannoys at Lands End so that as many people as possible could cheer him across the finishing line. People kept coming out ready to applaud the first man to skateboard the length of Britain. It felt amazing. I was getting tingles and goose bumps when I saw him skate over the hill leading up to the entrance. I knelt down ready to shoot him finishing. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the finishing day is that I had a photography companion. I really enjoyed Gael being with us and I didn’t get territorial or jealous which I thought I might have done. We worked well as a team and captured the day perfectly…thanks Gael, you’re an awesome photographer! Get saving to visit Oz please!
He tore through the arty finishing line, Nat sprayed champagne everywhere. BoardFree Uk had come to an end. All that pain, all that hard work, all those moods were over. Worth it though. Every second of it. All worth it to finish.
I hope now he’s finished this one, more people will start donating online. There’s been an abundance of people offline as we’ve travelled through both Scotland and England who’ve just stopped to give us a fiver or tenner. Thank you to everyone who’s shown us support. Who’s been kind enough to give us two minutes of your time. Who’s been kind enough to put us up for the night for discounted prices or free. All this is incredible.
Well done to Dave.
And a big thankyou for letting me be a part of it.

H

I love life

2006-05-31T16:42:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-23T20:46:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-20T15:12:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-18T09:28:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-14T15:55:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-09T22:30:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-06T22:58:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-04T22:54:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-03T22:54:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-02T22:53:00.000+01:00

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

2006-05-01T22:53:00.000+01:00

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

The night before Christmas...oh no wait, BFUK

2006-04-30T23:01:00.000+01:00

WRITTEN ON THE 29TH...DELAYED PUBLICATION
De-ay minus one in the boardfree hoose. (said in Geordie/Scottish accent)

Right, so we started our journey a few days ago. But only up to John o groats…so technically we haven’t REALLY started our journey as of yet. But so far, I’ve come across more generous and giving people who are prepared to go out of their way to aid others so far, than I’ve met in a long long time. Maybe it’s because the team are in need and we notice it more. We’ve been so lucky already!
Driving up along the a99 to Wick at the north of Scotland, out in the sticks was an interesting journey.

We set off this morning at approx 7.10am after being woken up by the sweet sound of becks voice bellowing for us to get up because we needed to be out by 7.00am so Dave Hulme (the vw van man) could get to work. The last thing he needed was us lot crowding his house, making his lovely dog Jackson love us more! He was such a sweety. I can honestly say, I’m a dog person. I love my cat, Edith, to bits. But I’ll always love the way dogs give you so much more affection!! Jackson came in after Becki did and he started nosing my duvet off me! Clever little chap!

So off we go. Firstly, we picked Dmitry up from Glasgow outside a library. There was a hairy moment in the van as I hadn’t exactly learnt how to corner it properly. Here’s me, little ol’ me. I’ve been driving a one litre, three cylinder tiny corsa for nearly two years and I’m now an official VW campervan driver for a month! Am I scared? Yes. Nervous? Yes. Dangerous? Not any more. I learned my lesson. I thought Dave and I were going to take a dive off a bridge at one point. Never again!
I’ve exceeded my expectations of my driving today too. Dan has had to park once for me in a bay…brilliant reverse parking too! BRAVO! But I, after the second attempt, managed to squeeze our van into a driveway tonight, after arriving 12 hours after setting off at our destination…Wick.

At about 3pm we picked Si up from Inverness Airport…again, out in the sticks!!
Today we’ve had a few donations going through little villages and towns. One guy gave Dave £20 in a shop and a few children came up to me and gave me £1 each. How lovely are these people!

We’re staying with a contact of Dave’s. And what a contact!!!! These people are just sooo wonderful! Three course meal, parking spaces for a van and a car, SUNKEN IN BATH!!! And Dave, myself and Dmitry have been offered a place to stay tomorrow evening if needs be. I think we’ll take them up on the offer. It really is too good to refuse!!!

I’m really tired tonight. My back aches from all the driving too. At least we won’t be doing that much driving each and every day.
I’ve had so many laughs today already. All the team are together for the first time and tomorrow I intend to get Dmitry to take at least one group still for me. I can’t wait. It’ll be framed when I get home!

Tomorrow I’m going to be focused on capturing the first day as well as driving. I think I’ll find it difficult with doing more driving than snapping but you gotta do what you gotta do. I need to remember not to be selfish too. I was driving to Wick and at several points in the journey received a firm pitter patter of Dave’s hands on my shoulders…I guess I must have been silently complaining by shrugging and wriggling to loosen my back muscles up a bit. Ooops! But I thought ‘hey, I should be doing this to you, this doesn’t make sense’. The first few days are going to be the most difficult in terms of endurance and we’ll soon see how it affects his body, but as long as he receives five star treatment from his team and gets loads of food shoved down his throat he’ll do just great. I’ve got every bit of confidence in you Dave, I know you can do this.

It starts tomorrow. Good luck to all of us!!!

No doubt a blog shall appear tomorrow!

Hollaballoo (becki’s new name for me…I quite like it!)

30th april Sunday day one

2006-04-30T22:46:00.000+01:00

Procrastination is the thief of time!

Quote of the day given to me by Adrian Thompson…the son of the guys we’re staying with!

after having the most amazing roast I am sitting in the lounge of the thompson’s feeling very full and content.
After this I plan to give Dave’s legs a massage to aid him in any way I can.

I’m going to keep this a short one….too tired to write like I talk!
Dmitry fell out of the van….everyone laughed, lots.

John o groats, no one was there. The pub was open but no one was behind the bar…so to speak.

Random old man on motorbike stopped us to talk…forever. Kinda cool in a ‘I like your really long nose hair kinda way’.

One pillock in a bmw sped past on a blind corner.

Seeing the guys go made me sad. Very sad. Incredibly sad.

Felt bad when I left dave on his own even though I was going back.

Filling up cost £45!!!! £1.03 per litre!! SHOCKING…I never cared about fuel prices before I drove…now it hurts the ol’ bank.

DAve covered the target distance and more! Very well done to him!

We ended up in a weird resteraunt / pub with drunk Scottish people sounding irish but hey they donated money so no one complained…not even Dim when they took his camera off him!
Right, beddy time. Need it. So pooped right now.

Nighty nighty, pj’s pj’s!

Holski

De-ay minus one in the boardfree hoose. (said in Geordie/Scottish accent)

2006-04-29T22:55:00.000+01:00

Right, so we started our journey a few days ago. But only up to John o groats…so technically we haven’t REALLY started our journey as of yet. But so far, I’ve come across more generous and giving people who are prepared to go out of their way to aid others so far, than I’ve met in a long long time. Maybe it’s because the team are in need and we notice it more. We’ve been so lucky already!
Driving up along the a99 to Wick at the north of Scotland, out in the sticks was an interesting journey.
We set off this morning at approx 7.10am after being woken up by the sweet sound of becks voice bellowing for us to get up because we needed to be out by 7.00am so Dave Hulme (the vw van man) could get to work. The last thing he needed was us lot crowding his house, making his lovely dog Jackson love us more! He was such a sweety. I can honestly say, I’m a dog person. I love my cat, Edith, to bits. But I’ll always love the way dogs give you so much more affection!! Jackson came in after Becki did and he started nosing my duvet off me! Clever little chap!

So off we go. Firstly, we picked Dmitry up from Glasgow outside a library. There was a hairy moment in the van as I hadn’t exactly learnt how to corner it properly. Here’s me, little ol’ me. I’ve been driving a one litre, three cylinder tiny corsa for nearly two years and I’m now an official VW campervan driver for a month! Am I scared? Yes. Nervous? Yes. Dangerous? Not any more. I learned my lesson. I thought Dave and I were going to take a dive off a bridge at one point. Never again!
I’ve exceeded my expectations of my driving today too. Dan has had to park once for me in a bay…brilliant reverse parking too! BRAVO! But I, after the second attempt, managed to squeeze our van into a driveway tonight, after arriving 12 hours after setting off at our destination…Wick.
At about 3pm we picked Si up from Inverness Airport…again, out in the sticks!!

Today we’ve had a few donations going through little villages and towns. One guy gave Dave £20 in a shop and a few children came up to me and gave me £1 each. How lovely are these people!
We’re staying with a contact of Dave’s. And what a contact!!!! These people are just sooo wonderful! Three course meal, parking spaces for a van and a car, SUNKEN IN BATH!!! And Dave, myself and Dmitry have been offered a place to stay tomorrow evening if needs be. I think we’ll take them up on the offer. It really is too good to refuse!!!

I’m really tired tonight. My back aches from all the driving too. At least we won’t be doing that much driving each and every day.
I am a little worried, however, about my personal links with people. No names being mentioned but I don’t want anyone to have preconstrude misconceptions of me due to my personal links somehow with them. Sometimes it can be easier to believe what you’ve heard from others rather than to find out for yourself and even though I don’t know the extent of what they know I’m paranoid about this affecting things. God I make no sense! It’s good to get it off my chest though. Rather than keeping mulling it over again and again.
I’ve had so many laughs today already. All the team are together for the first time and tomorrow I intend to get Dmitry to take at least one group still for me. I can’t wait. It’ll be framed when I get home!
Tomorrow I’m going to be focused on capturing the first day as well as driving. I think I’ll find it difficult with doing more driving than snapping but you gotta do what you gotta do. I need to remember not to be selfish too. I was driving to Wick and at several points in the journey received a firm pitter patter of Dave’s hands on my shoulders…I guess I must have been silently complaining by shrugging and wriggling to loosen my back muscles up a bit. Ooops! But I thought ‘hey, I should be doing this to you, this doesn’t make sense’. The first few days are going to be the most difficult in terms of endurance and we’ll soon see how it affects his body, but as long as he receives five star treatment from his team and gets loads of food shoved down his throat he’ll do just great. I’ve got every bit of confidence in you Dave, I know you can do this.
It starts tomorrow. Good luck to all of us!!!

No doubt a blog shall appear tomorrow!

Hollaballoo (becki’s new name for me…I quite like it!)

The blue van WOman!

2006-04-28T22:22:00.000+01:00

Right, so, it's been a while. I apologise, profusely!!!!
I've been getting up to lots these past few weeks. It's all so very riveting!
Let me see! I got Nat to make me up a diary so i can hand write a little bit of my thoughts as well as blogging it all out! Well, actually, the diary was to enable all my family at home to write notes in and encouraging thoughts etc. Nat went the whole hog and gave me games to play on random pages.
So this week i spent three days looking after a set of eleven month old twins. It was nice at first, but then the novelty wore off...one of them got ill and i realised i couldn't do it full time at the moment. Maybe in a few years but at the moment i've got my whole life ahead of me and i'm faaaar too young to be tying myself down! But hell, i've changed my first ever nappy, burped a baby, fed a baby, and swaddled a baby to sleep!

I've been learning a lot really! Today i arrived in Prestwick to stay at the vw man's house. Dave and Joyce are such lovely people. Really can't believe we've been so lucky to find them. For someone to be so giving and so kind is rare and we're so appreciative! He's given us a camp stove, matches and a torch to take with us in the van. She's gorgeous! Really, i mean gorgeous! I feel so honoured to drive it!!!
We've got most of our stuff loaded in now. And it's the evening in Prestwick. We're sat in the conservatory of Dave and Joyce looking over the airport. Lots of pretty lights surrounding us of which the subtle glow of the our support vehicle is appearing in the window...ok ok so it's not radio active but it's so purrrty!!!
I learnt where the alternator is, fan belt and everything!!!!

Me and Dan were trying to figure out how to turn a light off in the van....we're so pathetic, all it was is that we weren't slamming to door shut hard enough. Toughen up guys!!!
I tell you what, power steering sure as hell makes a difference! I've never driven a vehicle without it and it hurts my arms big time!!! Also, note to self=diesel...not petrol!!!

So prior to playing with alarms and lights and alternators i caught a direct train to Glasgow then one to Prestwick. On the first trip there were about ten Glasweigan chavs all drinking wife beater (stella) ranting on about how great they are and how hard they are. All they were, were ugly army boys home for the weekend. Quite insignificant in the grand scale of life!
Nat packed my bag because all i do is scrunch things up and jam them in. He's bet me £15 that i won't be able to fit everything back in by the time i get back! I haven't unpacked yet!!! Hahaha.

We're picking Dmitry (half of the tv crew that will be joining our boardfree banter) from Glasgow tomorrow. A 7am start! Let's see how that goes!!! Then i get to see Si again in Inverness. He's flying in!!! How cosmopolitan of him! All the team haven't been together since it was my application day in Hyde Park and i wasn't in the team yet. It'll be great to get a bit of footage...be it still or other of us all together. can't wait!

So...today's conclusion.....
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Blog you later (i'm so cool!)

Hollymchollerson

Just call me Ms. BrightSpark

2006-04-28T13:00:00.000+01:00

I CAN'T ACTUALLY BELIEVE MY STUPIDITY!
We stayed at a hostel in Pitlochry last night. My laptop is behind the front desk whilst Dave and I catch up on countless emails. Clever me forgot to bring my lappy...that's got ALL of my 5 blogs from each day. So sorry guys, but you'll have to wait another day or two til i catch up with all my blogs...they are all written. Promise!
Send in words of inspiration and encouragement everyone! We all need it right now.

Holl

BOARDFreeeeeeeeee

2006-04-15T19:42:00.000+01:00

Finally...the joyous day hath arrived. I've got my board!!! I collected it at approximately 10.33am this morning. By 12.00 it was set up and being ridden. I've never felt so confident on a board. I've got some green wheels and green risers on and clear grip so you can see the beautiful mapel wood the board's made out of! I skated on it straight away, no problems, no falls. I even went round corners on it! It's perfect. Exactly the right width i wanted and length. I even got a few stickers in with the board (apparently quite rare ones) and also a signed poster from the girl who designed the board. Yayayay.

Then i decided to go to Pc world. I purchased a tape converter for the van to play my cd's via Tape player, 25 cds, batteries, and a massive 320gb external hard drive. It's a toshiba one and was a complete bargain! It has a blue light too...so i've got matching puter and hard drive...yeah you know i'm cool! hehehe.
This week will just be a week of getting everything sorted. Flights, routes, accomodation, music, clothes, information etc etc!

'Don't forget you're alive'

Holladolla

Pictures taken by Alice the Australian Gap Student ... cheers mate!

Dreams and schemes

2006-04-14T09:47:00.000+01:00

Aaarrghh they're all vampires!!!
I had a really bad nights sleep last night. First of all I couldn't get to sleep. I had so many things whirring around my head. Lots of what if's. Lots of situations. Lots of dreams.
Then when I finally got to sleep I had a really scary dream. All the boardfree team except me were vampires and they were trying to convert me. My dreams are always very real and very vivid. They asked me to join in and Sam got his fangs within inches of my neck and I pulled away and told him I couldn't do it. Each night they had someone's blood for dinner and for the rest of the day that person was drained. I didn't want the pain and backed out. I've never run so fast...well...in a dream anyway. I had to hide in the sunlight so they couldn't get to me. MAN that was scary. Anyone know what dreams mean? Enlighten me please!

So this morning I woke up at 9.00 after only getting to sleep at 3.45 to welcome my board, Orca that should be getting delivered. I got comfortable and nestled into my sofa and I heard Nat shout, 'is it Friday today?'. 'Yes', I replied. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo it's good Friday of course! My board won't come today. The situations with the board are really starting to hack me off. Do you ever get the feeling that nothing ever goes smoothly for you? I do, constantly! So on the three slips I've had posted saying they've tried to deliver it says they'll only keep the package for 5 working days. They got it on Monday so today should be the last day. But it's not a working day. So fingers crossed it gets delivered tomorrow otherwise looks like I'll be getting a rolls rolls!

On the plus side we have a van!!
A beautiful beautiful panel vw. New engine and supplied by a magazine. How lush! Can't wait to drive that baby!

Nat and I had a great road trip. We went to his parents first, then a little bay called Croyde then to Newquay. We were going to head to Falmouth and see Si on Wednesday but it was raining so heavily we decided to call it a day and head back to the in law's. I got some cool pictures of surfers. First time I've shot them really and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I'm off for a sulk about my board not coming today.

Holl the troll

Board NOW

2006-04-03T17:33:00.000+01:00

After much deliberation and concern I've had to 'cancel' my order for my beautiful stunning red TVS board. How gutted am I.
The website states worldwide delivery within 1-3 working days and that all orders shall be processed and shipped within 48 hours of receipt! All I've received from them was the confirmation of receipt of order on the day I ordered it. I've tried emailing four different emails and three of them bounced back. I tried calling the USA at their store...it's disconnected. Looks like someone's shut up shop and forgotten to tell anyone. Grrrr.
So browsing around, convinced I'm never going to find another equally as brilliant board I came across this beauty.....

Being a girl and all, I wanted something that would fulfill my ideal of a girls longboard. This is perfect. Minimalist. Feminine. Elegant. Oh yes. That's cheered me up no end today, especially as it was on sale for $34!!!!!!! Back of the net!
I've seen a few other nice boards that I wouldn't mind investing in, but I think I'll wait until I'm used to this one. Good thinking batman!

I've dyed my hair brown as you can see from the photo in the previous post. It was semi permanent though so it's now fading and I've got a weird auburn tinge to it. Which is kind of cool seeing as I was born auburn...so I'm told! But I decided I wasn't going to spend the best part of £100 getting my hair professionally highlighted and it'd be far easier to let it do it's own thing. This was reiterated by the fact I'm going to Oz for four months and there won't be any hairdressers in the middle of the desert!

This weekend has been great. Nat and I trundled into London on Saturday morning to meet up with Dave for a roll around Hyde Park. Whilst Nat was wiggling around the mini slalom course, Dave and I went to get some shots. I've developed a severe passion for flare at the moment and I took some smashing shots of Dave and Elsa. You'll see! I'm going to burn them all to disk and take them up to Swansea with me when I go up on Thursday. As well as the list of schools en route for BoardFree UK.
Holy schmokes! It's only 26 days until it all kicks off. How excited am I!!!! Eeeeeee.

I got my visa application form through the post the other day too! I'm going through it very slowly to make sure i get everything right. The sooner i get it sorted that means there's one less thing to think about with preparation!

Something that might make people either chortle or worry about my mental health...I got a forward from Dave about a skate happening this weekend. But in this email as I scrolled down was an email from a photographer about shoots....for a split second I felt a twinge in my tummy. It's gotten to the point where I feel totally attached to boardfree...is it possible to marry something like that? Although I spose it's Dave's baby, so I'd be Dave's daughter in law...or something! Anyway, I giggled about my weird feelings that I've not felt before. I guess I felt like a psycho girlfriend. And just cast my thoughts to oasis's and mirages in the desert.

And..and anddd!!! I've got my hoodie!!! It might be a pathetic thing to get happy about....but it makes me feel oh so proud to wear it and to be part of the team.

All the best guys and dolls,

A proud BoardFree Holly

New green wheels....mmmmm

2006-03-30T19:00:00.000+01:00

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My trucks, wheels, bearings and clear grip tape came through today. Now all I need is for my beloved deck to come through from the USA and I'll be happy as Larry, whoever he is!
I went with green wheels in the end and I bought the board I had my heart set on. I'm leaning towards calling her Ivy...the holly and the ivy and all that...see what I did there!

On a similar note, Nat and I went to his gran's yesterday. We parked up and went for a walk on the beach. Had a beautiful cup of tea and some chips then we set off back to his gran's because she's had her pool drained and Nat was itching to skate it. She went off to a doctors appointment and there was Nat's window of opportunity. It was actually a great chance for me to shoot my first pool skate. I definitely need to invest in a fisheye lens. Being at the bottom of the pool with Nat coming toward me is quite intimidating!!

I'm looking forward to Saturday meeting up with Dave in Hyde Park. Lets just keep our fingers crossed for no rain.

Toodle-oo

Holly pip pip

Filling pails with snails in Wales

2006-03-26T15:36:00.000+01:00

I can safely say I arrived home after a 3 1/2 hour long journey yesterday.
My first trip to Swansea and what can I say!
I think after spending the best of 3 days with me for the first time, my team mates have realise just how much I can talk! I think the times where there was silence were rare but the banter was high.
I had such a great weekend. I finally got to meet Rae and Phil. Although I feel a little embarrassed as I'd been on the lager and lime so anything I said would have been gibberish (makes a change eh). Oh well, lets just hope first impressions don't really count that much! I was given the pleasure of seeing Dan, Dave and Becs again and also meeting the boy's housemate who was very lovely. I think I can be quite intimidating to those who have never met me before but the guys who got the unfortunate pleasure of meeting me handled me exceptionally well. Also they've seen the habit of mine that I wouldn't necessarily describe as bad. It's always nice to be polite and because I'm a bit of a people pleaser I have to make certain that I don't offend people. So I tend to apologise a lot and say 'don't hate me'. Just to check!!!
I do have to say thankyou so so much to Dan for giving up his bed for me! So so kind of him and I'm very grateful. I even got a head warming device for no extra charge!! Kiwa, Dave's catty came and sat on my head on the first night then at my feet on the second. How sweet. She's a bit mad and likes string. Very mischievous too!
The day I got there I brought out the car stickers that my darling friend, Lee had made. Everyone's faces lit up with glee. We cleaned Dan's car window, boot and bonnet area and set about putting these stickers on. Lee would go mad if he knew. Oh dear, the air bubbles. Such amateurs are we. I blame Dave though. Tsk!
We proceeded to relax as I took in the fact that I was in the nerve centre of BoardFree. The excitement was upon me! In the evening Dave and I went to see Becs at the battle of the bands that she was judging. It was at that point, that Dave saw my driving talent. When someone says left I have to get it into my head that it doesn't mean right!!
The next morning I was woken at 7.15 with a cupy of tea. How lush! Such gentlemen in the BoardFree house! I grabbed my camera and a big brolly and we headed to the place where Link's Hitch was commencing. It was pouring it down and all these students were beginning to hitchhike from Swansea to Morocco. CRAZY! Although having seen and read more and more about it, it's quite an appealing thing to do.
After having spoken to Dan and Dave's housemate, Sam about his music there are now plans to do a photoshoot for his band which I'm thoroughly looking forward to doing next time I'm there!
Dave, Dan and I also took great pleasure in pinning the board up. On a wall in the study of Dave's house are two maps. One of Uk (already pinned) and one of Australia. One by one and taking photographs in between each one we popped blue pins into towns/places in Australia to show our route. It felt so so good to know that in five months that's where I'll be!
On Friday night we went to the SU bar/pub. I walked in and felt so out of place. I think I'm one of the only one out of my friends that hasn't gone to uni and it felt very bizarre to be in the situation that they're in nearly every night of the week. I felt very uninspired when asked what I want to drink so I did the traditional lager and lime. The pints kept coming. And the conversation was flowing. I think I discussed boobs and sharing clothes with Becki. I discussed heels with Rae and Selby with Phil. It turns out he's only from about 20 miles down the road from me. He's got quite a familiar face too! I discussed cameras and I fought my corner when my digital SLR was patronised, but had quite an interesting chat with a guy from the SU.
I saw mental orange coloured wrestlers who were play fighting. I overheard girls in the toilet asking each other if they were fat and talking about thrush! Niiice and classy! Sam and I discussed instruments and jazz and then we went to a houseparty. Having never been to a houseparty before I didn't know what to expect. Dave found some red glasses frames and popped them on but then threw them away in a fit of drunkeness which I think he should regret. It's so him dahhling!
When we got home Dan was still up after work about a fourteenhundred hour shift at his new job. Dave fell asleep on the sofa and we decided whether to use a permanent marker or highlighter to draw a mustache on him with! Highlighter it is!
Bed time for us all!
Then on Saturday I set off to Reading armed with a Dave and an Elsa to drop him off at his Kate's. Her Mum and Dad kindly fed me with lots of yummy stuff before I got on my way back to good ol' Fareham.
Today I've sat down and ordered all of my stuff for my longboard including the deck! So exciting. I went with green wheels in the end. I call that peer pressure!!
So tomorrow I'm expecting an email from Mr Cornthwaite giving me a list of BoardFree errands which I'm looking forward to. Also I plan to go to the gym and plan my route for my little road trip with Nat this Easter. Doncaster, Swansea, Taunton then Cornwall? Maybe going to London a few times too. Who knows!

Keep on smiling.

The Holly and the ivy

Night and Days

2006-03-22T16:33:00.000Z

Just a quickie before I head off to the one and only Swansea tomorrow.
The excitement is upon us! I feel like I'm going on a little holiday. It's ever so riveting!

I had a such a good weekend with my dad. So good to see him. We went round all the touristy things in Portsmouth which even I haven't done before so twas very interesting! I do miss my family dearly, but why does it make it even harder and more emotional when you see them?!
So considering my emotional and exhausting hosting over the weekend, on Tuesday I was woken at some ghastly hours by a delivery man banging on my door, rather more loudly than necessary me thinks! I rushed downstairs in my stylish dressing gown because I thought it might be a parcel for me. Opened the door as the delivery man was about to walk off. He turned round, saw me and apologized profusely, asked if I was on nights and apologized again. I said yes but never mind, don't worry about it!!!!!!!!!! The cheek. So for all those people who DO work nights, my darling sister included, I'M SORRY.
The parcel wasn't even for me, it was for next door...grrr...so I trundled back up to the bedroom and looked at the clock. Surely, it can't be, MIDDAY?!!? oh dear oh dear.
So to stop myself from sleeping in and being a slob I've moved the gym earlier. Half nine every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I have to be there! Genius plan!

So Swansea tomorrow. I'm ever so looking forward to it. It'll be good to see the gang (god I sound like my mother) on their turf. Also I hear one of the team members, no names mentioned, is letting me sleep in their beddy! How kind. Thanking you kindly!

Anywho's, back to the drawing board, or the kitchen sink in my case. There's a hell of a lot of washing up and it's got my name on it!

In a while, crocodile.

Hollyputthekettleon

Red or Green?

2006-03-17T20:06:00.000Z

Right guys, I've got the bug.
Yes, that is correct. I never EVER thought I'd hear myself say it but I've caught the longboarding bug. So much so that at the moment I'm currently having a dilemma about whether to go for green or red wheels on this beauty...Isn't she beautiful?!?!
I'm not definitely going to buy my own yet but if I was to do so I reckon she'd be the one.
I'm not an impulse buyer. Never have been at all. For me, if I buy something, it has to be because it's really stood out to me. And I mean REALLY stood out. And this has severely done that. Quite badly infact.
It would be ok if I could justify buying a £140 lush longboard which I started off on but I can't. This girl looks like she'd do the trick though. And for a whole lot less. My mum always did tell me you pay for the labels!!! So true.
Anyways, let me know which wheels look better. I've been told which ARE better but a general opinion would be great!!

Update on the elbow. It's much better now. I was just being a girly wimp that I am!!!
Still smarts every so often but I can cope with that...in the words of a true Yorkshire lass 'I'm 'ard me'.
I haven't skated since the moody day but after this weekend when my dad's been to visit. I'll be dedicating some hardcore skate time for myself.
I've noticed that going to the gym is improving my moods. It's suprising what cycling a few km's and lifting a few weights can do to one's self esteem!! So hopefully we'll be having none of this MOODA stuff happening when I fail to longboard for more than 15 mins!
Just watched Si's video ofHydee park and I'm absolutely dumbfounded. The guy has such a talent which is rare and unique..I love it!
Having read Becs blog about her turning over a new page in the book, it brought tears to my eyes. Hold your head up high and dive into the boardfree pool!!!

And to Dave, don't fret, Nat's going to Epic tomorrow and he says he's selling at least 5 tee's andI've sold 15 wristbands and two tee's!
Nat's just setting his new punkpoint skateboard up for the Southsea boys get together over the weekend. Lucky bugger, gets a weekend away from me!! Ha.

Off to drool some more at my beloved board-to-be.
Name suggestions wouldn't go a-miss either!!!

Schmoll

Day three blues

2006-03-15T11:11:00.000Z

Are you sick of hearing from me yet? Are ya? Are ya?
It's only because I've got nothing better to be doing inbetween flogging stuff on eBay and the gym. Joyousness!!!!!!

Well yesterday was day three lesson. Nat set up one of his boards for me because sooner or later I'm going to have to give that nice longboard back. So I jumped onto his board and fell off almost straight away. Ha! He tightened the trucks for me so it didn't feel as wobbly and felt more like a long board but still I felt uncomfortable. I was fine on the longboard and had gotten into it but now I felt like I'd taken about two steps backwards with my progress. I had a skate up and down up and down up and down. Not only was I not confident but I was getting bored. Nat kept jumping on his slalom and wiggling his way up and down. He makes it look so easy. I felt like a prat not knowing what I was doing. I skated up the road and turned round as my eyes started to well up. How frustrating. This is my main problem in life. I'm not sure where this nature of mine has come from but I hate it. I can't handle it if I'm bad at something. If I'm bad at something I'll want to give up straight away. Even more so if someone I know is teaching it me and keeps doing it WELL in front of me! A tear nearly dropped onto my cheek and I heard someone shout, 'are you ok?'. I looked up, cleared my eyes and turned round to see Nat doing slalom, yet abloodygain!!! I'm the same when it comes to anything. I know the only way to get better at something is to practice but I'm at that point inbetween where I can get on a board, push and that's all I can do for now until I get really good at it. But boy is that mind numbing after a while! I love the feeling of gliding round but I hate not being able to do anything else!
I sat on the board with my legs crossed watching Nat skate and told him I was in the giving up mood. I knew that if I was in that kind of mood I wouldn't want to skate so we should go home. So that's what we did.
Tomorrow I'm going skating again, so hopefully, I'll have more of a positive outlook on it. Maybe take my phone to listen to some quality music.
Wish me luck!!!

Holly-Damn-Vans

2006-03-13T10:10:00.000Z

Well well well....here we are again! Goodness me. There's an abundance of blogs already. You just wait. Come October, there'll be pages and pages!
I figure it's a new week so another blog is due.

So yesterday I went skateboarding (longboarding) again.I decided if I wanted to act the part I better looked the part and seeing as I was struggling to hold my trousers up on Saturday I needed to find some better attire! I found a pair of red vans slip ons that I'd bought about a year ago but I've never worn in. I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to wearing in shoes...I hate it..I wish they were just comfy straight away. At least that way you wouldn't have to go through the whole blisters and rubbing thing! Then I plonked my slim leg jeans...A size smaller than the other ones may I add!! woohoo..the slimfast and gymming it is paying off! Popped my other halfs' aesthetics hoody on, filled my runaid bottle full of water, went and fished out a first aid kit (just in case) and set off to find my quiet skating spot. I set myself targets about what I wanted to achieve again and as soon as I got there I was straight on the board. I felt soooo much more confident on it already. I was told I had a better posture too. I didn't expect results that quickly. Admittedly I've got a long long way to go (no pun intended) but the confidence increase from just a few hours skating the day before was impressive! Practice really does make perfect! My balance is getting better as is my footing. I'm goofy footed which means I face the left with my right foot infront and pushing with my left foot. I always knew I was special in some way! So anyway, my aims were to learn to turn. Firstly, I got my foot placement sorted then I started doing the leaning thing! I did a few good turns in the wider part of the road, unfortunately none of them were when the camera was on me...gutted! That seems to happen....I can do it until I have to show someone..then it all goes wrong! I think the change of clothes was also a bonus....I looked more comfy and I could feel the board better underneath my feet seeing as I was skating in actual skating shoes! (I'm a brightspark I know).

Hopefully I'll be going a few times this week again. Can't wait. It's quite frustrating because I just want to get good. I've got to get into the habit of instead of walking with the board and placing it down.....skating the board and turning it with my feet! Tsk!
But I tell you what...skateboarding for a few hours once a day for two days is making my legs ache so so much! I can really feel them working....I know that's a silly thing to say...but when I go to the gym I can feel it working whilst im' doing....but afterwards I'll be fine because I'm used to it. The gym doesn't even compare to skateboarding for exercise! not one jot!

With me learning to board...the majority of it is just confirming what I already know...that Dave's actually gone in the head. Lights are on but no one's at home. Engines on but no one's behind the wheel. That kind of thing. I really don't know how he's going to do it, both with BFUK and BFOZ but he'll have his team behind him every step of the way, feeling empathy pains!!

The cat (Edith) is now looking at me weirdly...like she's about to pounce. So this is the point where I go and make a cup of tea and reflect on my blog/bolg/glob/golb/obgl. (this is just getting silly now).

farewell to you, thine reader!

2006-03-12T10:35:00.000Z

Hellooo there my fellow boardfree-ers and boardfree fans!

Bolg three in the boardfreeholly blogspot! (said with Geordie accent).

Having just woken up from a beeaaautiful nights sleep I thought I'd let you know yesterdays events just to keep you up to date. I have a tendency to forget things so it's best that I do it sooner or later you see!

Ok, so, yesterday was very eventful for me. And rather productive considering it was a Saturday. I haven't had a Saturday off for 10 months so I thought I best make the most of it. It felt quite strange because I wasn't at work, but still, tomorrow was Sunday! Fantastic. Love that feeling.

First of all, Friday night was filled with yummy chicken carbonara. Nat's best mate, Lee, came round and bought with him some stickers! How wonderful. I'd asked him if it was ok for him to do me a few little ones a week or two ago but he just went and whipped loads of little ones and two great big car stickers out. All saying www.boardfree.co.uk in yellow writing. What a star. I owe him so much already. I guess I'll repay him in beer! Easy peasy.

Moving on to yesterday morning. Pretty much as soon as we got up, Lee went outside and eagerly yet so professionally placed the first sticker onto betty's rear window...Betty is my first car. She's a lovely little wine red corsa. Not a chav mobile but a Betty mobile. Then he went onto put the second sticker on Nat's car right at the top of his windscreen. The stickers stick out so much! It's great. After going to sainsbury's we'd forgotten where we'd parked, as you so often do. And it was like the stickers were glowing...like the north star!

Later on in the day, Nat and I proceeded to a quiet spot near Fareham where he does slalom in order to start to teach me to skateboard. We moved it a day forward because I feared it would rain today (if it doesn't rain today I'll be going again!).
He set me up with my elbow pads, knee pads, helmet and all, and walked me through the basics. He told me to stand still on the ground, then just shoved me by pushing my back. Apparently this showed which way round my feet should be!!! How inventive! (I just think it's an excuse to shove people in the back personally but hey I'm not the skater here). I started to push and ride for a bit then kept running off my board. I stood like a ballerina at first...How camp! After a few go's at pushing and riding I went wrong somehow and ended up landing with my arse in the mud (I don't know how seeing as I was riding on tarmac!) and somehow my elbow twisted the wrong way and clicked...ouch...my first skating injury! The irony of it is that, the day that I was going to meet Dave in Portsmouth I was dashing around like a loon because I was a little nervous but very excited to meet on my territory. When it got to the end of the day, I had to get the paper work done at work...Gareth, one of my colleagues forgot to tell me he was mopping the floor and as I ran to get a printout I fell on my front with the same elbow the wrong way round....god damn it!!!! Whyyyyy the same one.

My first thought was, 'oh no, I'm going to get my boardfree teeshirt muddy'....then the pain kicked in. As I was whimpering on the floor, Nat was busy getting the cones out for him to start slaloming then walked over casually and told me I was fine and to get back up and get straight back on it again. Talk about tough love. I was shocked at his attitude to a hurt loved one but whaddya know, it worked. I was back on the board and doing better than I had been doing!
My aim of yesterday was to just get the hang of balancing, finding my feet and pushing once and going forward. However, I'm so impressed as I exceeded those aims!
By the end of the session, I was blooming knackered. I go to the gym three times a week but somehow that doesn't knacker me out half as much as skating did! I'd learnt how to push, ride, push again and ride and so on. I could've gone for miles...ha!
Also as longboards aren't meant for turning on, I was allowed to go on a slalomboard to learn how to balance and turn. Talk about wibblywobbly!
You know when you learn to drive and you're learning to do the three point turn but end up doing a seven point turn at first...that's what it was like. I nearly got there but then a curb came up. Ah well...better luck next time I guess!
Nat told me that it's like learning anything. The more you do it the better you get. So this is going to take a lot of perseverance on my part!
An update on the elbow is that I'm clicking a hell of a lot more on that arm than I used to. My elbow throbs still and can't have it at certain angles. It feels worse when there's heat on it and if it's still this bad by tomorrow I'm going to get it checked, even if it's just to confirm a twist, I'd rather be better sooner! Such a girl I know!

Today I suspect, shall be filled with cleaning the house....again and longboarding...woohooo!
I just hope that one day it becomes like riding a bike and that I don't even have to think about it!

2006-03-05T22:26:00.000Z

Well this is my first blog as a team member and I'm sure it'll be the first of many.

My face aches from all the smiling I've been doing over the past few days.
I was told on Friday 3rd March in The Customs House pub in Portsmouth and I've not stopped thinking about it since.

I'm constantly enlightening people about BoardFree and constantly thinking about ways to help whether it be handing leaflets out in appropriate places or trying to get contacts any way I can think how.

I enjoyed Hyde park and keep reminiscing about the amount of people that came up to me and told me I was a fox/dog/squirrel....And everything but a kangaroo! They will get it...eventually!
It was awesome meeting Becki, Si, Dan and not forgetting Dave. Pity Rae and Phil couldn't be there but understandably lots of wedding stuff to be sorted! Can't wait to meet them though.
I keep saying that it feels like I'm in a vivid dream because it feels so surreal. And now to see myself up on the site as part of the team. I'll look at it and think 'holy schmokes that's me...I'm up there...I'm on that team'. But you know the best thing, it feels oh so good to belong.

I handed my notice in at my work so I'll have more time to do BoardFree and with great pleasure too!!!

Note to self:
Really got to make a start on selling stuff on eBay and clearing out the house.....Clear house clear mind....Or something to that effect!