BLIND DAVE’S BLOG

05-06-2007

Next year, Dave Heeley from West Brom will run seven marathons in seven days and seven continents. In the meantime he has to put up with harrassment on the building site - and Aunty Mavis's cakes.

Started the week off with a talk at Winchester University. It’s the only way I’ll see the inside of an academic institution, I’m afraid.

It took me just short of two and half hours to get down there this year, travelling first class - but only because the carriage I’d booked on was rammed and the train manager sat me in first class.

To be fair he was more worried for the dog than me - charming.

Still, it was a lot quicker than when I visited last year when there was a slight problem on the lines. In fact, I learned later that someone had committed arri karri, and it took me eight trains before I eventually arrived in Winchester.

So as you can imagine I was a little apprehensive this time around, but there was no need to be as it was a sound journey there and back. Book on, eyes closed , cup of coffee, that’s the way to travel.

Winchester was good. I got there and was treated to lunch at a local pub, where the landlady after hearing about the 777 challenge next year agreed to fundraise for us.

The talk with the students went very well and to top it all I got a couple more contacts. In fact a nearby college teaches students from the Falklands, so that could be handy.

And another big company in that area might - only might - be interested in sponsoring me for next year, so all in all the trip to Winchester could prove very profitable, in the charity sense.

The next building project is starting to come together nicely. Not only are all the sides on, the windows and doors formed, but the roof of the “Penthouse” (which is the name the girls have agreed to call it) is nearly finished.

The roof was a little hair-raising. At it’s highest point it stands around 9 foot. Perched on the top, screwing the panels down was different to say the least, with the sun shining, making the boards rather slippy.

Every time I loosed the top to screw the panel I started to slide down, grabbing the top and pulling myself up, trying to screw the panel again, then slipping off again, it made for interesting work.

I think I need to invest in a longer pair of steps, or come to think of it get some one else to fix the roof, but that wouldn’t be the same as Dad doing it - and I wouldn’t have had so much fun.

Mind, I somehow don’t think I’d be employed on a building site.

Still, it’s done - other than putting the cosmetic touches to it - and of course only a good downfall of rain will tell if it leaks (but this is England not Wales, so there are no leaks!)

The girls seem very pleased with my progress. The floor is next - at least with that I don’t have to work off ladders.

Mind, I’m going to join a union. Harrassment is what I call it, and you don’t get it on building sites - “Can we play in it yet Dad?” and “Is it ready yet Dad?”

I’m getting there, honest. Still, it proves they’re looking forward to playing in it and that is what will make it all worthwhile.

I had a good laugh when Debb came from school the one morning. One of the mothers asked Debb what I was building now, as she could see the construction as she walked down the road by our house and commented “He’s what? A Wendy house and what?”

Debb said it was all in her expression and the shake of the head: “Your hubby is blind and he’s building that. Mine can see and he can’t even strip effin wallpaper”. Yes, I must admit it tittled my taste buds.

The kids have come up with some stunners this week.

Dannie was playing hide and seek with Aunty, and it’s great to hear them. Aunty is 79 and Dannie is 4 but they both seem to enjoy each other, plenty of giggling going on along with some screaming and running feet.

Suddenly, Aunty burst into fits of laughter, exclaiming: “Well I’ve heard the best.” When she calmed down she explained that after Aunty had found Dannie, and then Dannie had found Aunty, it was now time for them both to hide and Pam would find them.

They’d have had a long wait. Pam is her sister Georgie-lee’s big doll. Oh the innocence of kids. Mind, I might try that one day - tell the kids to go and hide and let Pam find them.

Then the girls, who love their painting and drawing, decided to get the sponges out. Someone had got them a set of paints and instead of paint brushes they used sponges, which kids being kids they very much enjoy using.

After producing some great work (Picasso would have been proud) they decided to wash out the sponges. Then, as kids do, they dried them on the towel - as I found out later when I went to dry my hands.

Kids logic - wash the sponges and dry them on the towel. Brilliant!

It’s that time of year again, so we were of to the Great Manchester 10k. I think we must have set out a little later this year, and as we got in towards the city centre where we normally park, the traffic island was rammed and we were going nowhere fast.

It was 9.15 am and with the race starting at 9.45 we had to get into running kit, leave our driver Pete at the traffic island and head for the start line. We made it with around 10 minutes to go, limbering up behind the wheelchair competitors.

As we were preparing, a photographer from Nova got us doing press ups on the start line - he said he wanted a funny photograph. I must admit I felt a right twit, but right on time the race began and all was forgot.

The course had changed slightly this year and we actually got to run under the stands in Old Trafford - no cup this year to show as Chelsea had won the FA Cup final, but I must admit it was a great feeling to say I’d run inside Old Trafford, well done to Nova for organising it.

It was about 5 and a half K when the elite women passed us - do they shift - but although the elite men normally catch us at around 8 K, this year I was very surprised (and so were the people at the finish) that we beat them home.

At the finish line it was like coming into a ghost town, a great feeling to be sort of first home, by default but still a good feeling. We got back to the reception area and got first choice of the sandwiches, very nice. The weather has been a little up and down this week but surprisingly for quite early in the morning the sun was out and it was very hot again, same as London. The sun must follow us around

I’ll let you know our next big run, you can get the sun loungers ready in your gardens.

On the way back Uncle Pete put on a new CD of Mave’s. I won’t mention the artist - he might send the lads round to put the windows through. It was great though - it sent us to sleep.

In fact we pulled up at the services for Pete to use the little boys room and as Mac tried to get out the car, the door wouldn’t open - I commented “It’s even sent the doors to sleep”. Still it made the journey back a bit quicker and after all said and done it was another good run.

With work commitments and holidays it looks like Mac is off for a few weeks so I’ve arranged with Karl, another member of the club, to get in a few training runs.

Should make for interesting running as he is even quicker than Mac, will let you know next week how we get on.

Well I’m a university graduate by default, first to the finish of the Great Manchester by default and in trouble with Aunty Mavis for moaning about her choice in music.

She has threatened to stop baking cakes for after the runs - that’s a shame as I like them. The other lads are clapping their hands though, as they keep moaning about bits falling off their teeth.

What are they trying to say Mavis?

So that’s it for this week, Blind Dave signing off.

Help Dave with his fund raising. Go to www.justgiving.com/777