BLIND DAVE’S BLOG 03-05-2007
In his latest blog, marathon runner Blind Dave Heeley reports on his build-up to to London Marathon. What a great start to a week, and marathon week at that - I was invited up to the Baggies training ground by Guide Dogs, to hand over a framed photo of guide dog Astle, who the players had sponsored a couple of years ago, in the reign of Gary Megson. I had the added bonus of presenting the picture to Mrs. Lorraine Astle, the wife of the Albion legend, Jeff Astle, along with his two daughters , Clare and Dawn. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff a few years ago when he officially opened the Albion lounge in a pub I used to use. A couple of the players came from the training ground to have a photo with us, I had a conversation with Paul Robinson and a photo with Lorraine for the local press. It was quite a nice morning , but you could tell Lorraine was itching to get home to put the photo on her wall, pride of place and she was very proud to have a guide dog named after Jeff - yes, definitely a good start to the week. Mind, the Basggies training ground car park put things into perspective. Adrian (Mr Stirrer) pointed out the players cars. He said in spot 48 was a BMW, in 49 another BM, with other very posh cars littered about - then his own motor, a “K” ref Nissan with a dented front wing. He was surprised it hadn’t been towed away, but then had the audacity to tell me his missus had prangged it parking it. I bet she would tell a different story. You can tell he’s a journalist! Talking of training, Debb has taken up power walking with one of our neighbours. Well, they call it power walking , I’d call it strolling and gossiping - mind Wicksie gets to go along so I suppose it’s more exercise for him and on this occasion he did some thing quite unusual , he performed his toilet duties on the pavement, whilst out walking. As always, Debb had her trusty plastic bag and cleaning up the mess, noticed attached to a lamp was a dog litterbin. Very handy she told me later, but how many people in West Bromwich are 7 foot tall? The bin was attached to a lamp post and fortunately there was a little fence by it, because Debb had to stand on the fence, on tip toes , to reach the bin to put the waste in. Who in their right minds decided to put a bin that high? If it was the council, would it be OK if you then put a ladder or a pair of stilts by the lamp so people could use it, or is it to save the trouble of emptying it. I ask you, when will people start applying common sense? It’s probably our PC brigade saying put a bin there but have it high up so people can’t smell it as they go by. Whatever next? The following morning Debb took us off to have a look at a new mattress. I must admit the other one has seen better days and it’s about time we had a new one, so off to Dreams we went. I can’t believe how next year’s 777 challenge keeps coming into play - the particular range we looked at, was the Magnificent 7! The shop assistant showed us a couple and the first being pocket sprung, which meant nothing to me, but on lying on it, it felt very comfortable. On asking Debb did she like it, she said “No”. When we tried the second one she said “Maybe”. I suggested we have the second one. I don’t know what the No was for, but I’d rather have the Maybe, so I plumped for the second mattress and here’s hoping (for a good nights sleep, what did you think I meant!) On the Thursday I was invited over to Guide dogs at Leamington Spa, to meet up with Mr. Tim Ewart, who was running for Guide Dogs in the London marathon on Sunday. He is also a news reporter for ITN and it was thought a little chat with him wouldn’t go amiss, looking towards next year and the 777 challenge. There always seems to be an incident around me, mind in this case I’d call it ignorance. I was on the train at Birmingham New Street, waiting for train assistance, when a woman kept shouting “excuse me, excuse me”. Sunddenly it dawned on me she was aiming her mouth at me - and a very large one by the sounds of things. It wasn’t until I realised what was going on and tried to move Wicksie, that I felt the pushchair practically half over him. At this point I told her if she had explained the problem I would have moved Wicksie and helped her off the train. Her next words infuriated me to say the least, “That filthy dog shouldn’t be on the train”. Now I don’t care if it’s man, woman or in her case a foul mouthed “person” (there are other names I could use but feel they couldn’t be printed) I am not taking that from any one and with out swearing I told her exactly what I thought. Typically, she had no argument in her after that. I tell you, no patience and no respect for others, what is this country coming to. After that little incident I upgraded for a couple of quid to first class, much better clientele and had a nice chat with a gentleman , who before leaving the train at Coventry, gave me his details and was going to sponsor me for next years event, so every thing wasn’t too bad. After that the day went very well, had a very pleasant few hours at Leamington , met Tim and his wife who were really down to earth people. Hopefully from this meeting there could come some support. The trip back was without incident and on the Thursday evening we packed up our troubles in our old kit bags, ready to go to London the following day , ready for the weekend and the London marathon. Well that’s it short and sweet, mind in Debbs case she needed to be two foot taller to reach the bin, all the loudmouths are not up at the training ground, they’re at Birmingham New Street and a Maybe is much better than a No. So here’s Blind Dave signing off in the hope of? Nosey aren’t you, ’ll let you know how the marathon went next time - I’m in a hurry in case NO gets thrown into the equation! |
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