BLIND DAVE'S BLOG

03-04-2007

In the past week, Blind Dave Heeley hasdiscovered that Sir Ranulph Fiennes will join him on the last leg of his marathon of marathons - seven in seven days on seven continents.

Like Marco Polo, me and Wicksie moved on to pastures new, we ventured to the top of West Brom High Street, the top of the town, heading for Netto to buy Easter eggs for the girls, in the form of Winnie the Pooh and his friends.

It still amazes me how some people just don't register a guide dog! Not ever having been to Netto's, I got to roughly where I thought it was and then asked a very nice lady who explained how to get to the shop.

“See that sign down there “ she said. “No” I replied. “There” she said, “right in front and a little to the left. You can't miss it”.

To explain sometimes that you can't see is more trouble than it's worth, so I walked to where I thought she meant.

“No” she exclaimed, “You've gone too far to the left, now go right a bit, it's that sign in front of you”. I smiled and thanked her, I let Wicksie have his rein, he can get us lost much better than she was attempting to do, so we wondered around for a little while and four shops later we found what we was looking for.

A chap outside the store helped me in and asked an assistant could I have some help. The assistant said, “Of course, Guide Dogs are allowed in here”. Realising he was walking past me I asked again, “Could you give me some assistance?”

“No problem “ he replied, “Guide Dogs are allowed in here!” Getting a little frustrated now I said “Mate can you give me some help, I would like to buy some Easter eggs”.

His reply? “There, over there mate”.

I'm pretty sure he was pointing and probably nodding his head.

“Any chance you could take me to them” I asked. I think by this time the penny had dropped and we eventually found them. Once I'd paid, me and Wicksie high tailed it from the top of the town, back to normality and the precinct. I'll put sunglasses on in future if I go there again, they might not recognise me - hopefully Wicksie, on this occasion, I'm glad the harness was on you and not them!

Our training continues. On the Saturday we took part in the Warwick Road Relays in Sutton Park, for the club, West Bromwich Harriers. Teams of four and I was in the B squad, because I'm old and past it.

Mac was in the A squad and like always had to run two legs, one on his own and then one with me. Still, it keeps him fit.

Unfortunately, we only had three in our team, the fourth member not turning up, and that meant we obviously couldn't finish and I would imagine we came in last - well some one has to - but the nice part about the run was that I had the fastest leg in our team, 17 minutes 34 seconds, another personal best, for around a three mile course.

The course in Sutton Park is no mean feat, it's undulating so they say, I'd call it hilly, not the easiest course, a bit of a lung buster, but once again in a masochistic way, very enjoyable, fast but short.

The Sunday was the Stafford Half marathon, a favourite run of mine. In fact it's where I ran my fastest time and I am certainly looking to try and beat it, but who knows?

The start is always a little precarious, but they told me they were changing it this year. Also, after ringing the organisers, a young lady by the name of Liz, agreed to let me start right at the front. This is much better as it allows the faster runners to overtake me with out any problems.

Before the run we met up with a chap called Keith Nye, he runs for Tipton, but he has agreed from time to time to take me out for a run, when Mac is not available for any reason it means at least I can still get out training.

The Stafford Half is always well turned out, a few thousands runners, it's a good combination of hills, bridges, some good running surfaces. My only concern is towards the finish when we come back into the town. There are too many twists and turns, it causes me to hesitate a little, up and down gutters at speed is a bit nerve racking.

But as I said it's a great run and I got another personal best, to boot - 1 hour 31 minutes and 38 seconds. I was well chuffed with that. I also beat Keith , who was hot on our tail at one point.

Before the race we were sat in the car, on the car park and Mac mentioned casually, “I've parked the car too far over, I'm just on the white line this side”. Why did I know some one would moan? Yes I was waiting for it, the knock on the car window and there it was.

Silly things just make you laugh. It's not funny now, but at the time it was and I was crying with laughter, the old chap knocking the window, Mac chuntering and moaning, moving the car over literally 6 inches so the other chap could get out of his car, it was just one of those moments does Mac moan or what! But in the end he couldn't help but laugh, still started the morning on a lighter note.

The Sunday afternoon we settled down to help the girls make their Easter bunnies for school. Dannie did a picture and Georgie-lee dressed up as a hard boiled egg, and although Debb and myself helped, they did all the gluing and colouring themselves.

I had the job of helping Georgie-lee. I went to work on first boiling the egg, I popped it in the saucepan, put on the gas and even managed to crack the egg; still, the second one worked! Well boiled any way.

Georgie-lee wanted a little heart shaped nose and fluffy velvet ears to stick on the egg, so to save her from hurting herself with the scissors I cut them out (although now I come think about it she would have been safer with the scissors but we managed it). I don't think they looked quite right, but Georgie-lee was happy enough.

Both the girls, glued on cotton wool, stuck on ears, eyes, fluffy tails, Debb said they were certainly different, but you know what, the girls thought they were great, all their own work, so that's all that mattered and well done to the two of them. To school they would go, and they were proud of their finished bunnies.

Debb and the girls had made their Easter bonnets earlier in the morning and once again all their own work and design, Debb said they were certainly different, if nothing else they would bring a smile to a few people's faces.

They obviously didn't want Dads input. I think after the suggestions for the pictures and boiled eggs, dad's ideas were shelved. Knowing my lot they were probably binned. I'll make my own for the Easter bonnet parade, see if I care! I bet I'll win the best hat prize, yum yum, an Easter egg.

Again this week not too many incidents centred on me, mind that's always the worry, what's around the corner, but I reckon I'd have made a great boy scout.

Debb was on her way out and she fetched me to the garage - “the garage doors not working, it's not going up properly”.

“What next?” I thought, what with the Hoover packing up, the computer playing up, so blind Sherlock Dave was on the case. Pressed the control for the door to go up went up a foot and came down, up a foot and came down again, something is certainly wrong.

Pressing the control again, I put my hand on the bottom of the door to find it was catching the under side of the car bumper. Strange, I thought, the car went in OK and the door closed, so I pushed at the car and it moved!

I pushed it again and yes it definitely moved, pressed the control, pushed the car slightly, the door went up. “Well, well, is the hand brake on I wonder?”

“Did you put the hand brake on dear?” I asked. “Of course I did dear“ Debb replied. “Will you check you have dear?” was my reply/ My loving wife started up the car, drove it out, wound the window down, gave me a kiss and said “See you later dear” with a certain smile in her voice and drove off. I rest my case - women.

Some great news on the 777 challenge, both Sir Rannulph Fiennes and his friend Dr. Mike Stroud have both agreed to accompany me in the last leg in the London marathon next year.

They are the only two people in the world to actually have run 7 marathons, in 7 days, over 7 continents and to have them run the last leg with me will be the icing on the cake as far as the challenge is concerned.

I hope to tell you all more about the challenge in coming weeks, there is so much to tell but gently does it, but for me this is great news.

With the 777 getting ever closer, time seems to be flying by. Talking of flying, what with two personal bests this week and no serious incidents I'm well chuffed - but remember always park with in the white lines on a car park or your window gets tapped (not the sort of thing you want if you're up Barr Beacon!)

And ladies, never mind checking your lip stick, check your hand brake, it could mean the difference between it going up and down, or not, as the case may be (the garage door I mean - ladies whatever was you thinking?)

So lets see what the Easter bunny has in store for us next week, Blind Dave signing off.