Blind Dave's Blog

A PAIN IN THE NECK (AND OTHER BODY PARTS)

13-08-2007

The latest update in Blind Dave Heeley's preparations for next year's 777 attempt.

Hi Stirrers

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain – but over here it keeps falling on Blind Dave's penthouse. Rain stops play - and to boot there's a leak in the roof! Can you believe it?

All is not lost, I've ordered some roof tiles, we'll have a proper penthouse roof - now all I need is the rain to stop and I'll carry on building. Looking on the positive side of things, we don't have to worry about watering the garden, there ain't any left, which also means we don't have to cut the grass, so I suppose the rain has some advantages, but that's the only advantage I can think of, unless your selling Wellingtons and umbrellas, what a complete wash out our summer is going to be.

Wheelie bin time; do as it says on the tin, or piece of paper in this instance, instructions from the council. Put your green wheelie bin out on the afore mentioned day for collection, make sure it's out before 7 am, make sure it's against your garden wall and make sure the handle is pointing outwards - otherwise the collection men won't take it.

It must be a hard job trying to distinguish which is the right way round to pick the bin up, can't say it's that difficult and I'm blind. Mind you, that also probably explains why my head is bleeding - yes I put the bin out to the specified instructions, just a foot too far round the corner, and - you've guessed - as I walked around the bin to go in through the gate, I misjudged the wall, and my head hit it right on the corner.

I said “ouch” and looked around - for the life of me I don't know why - and then there was wet sticky stuff (it's called blood) and it seems to appear on me a lot just lately. Proves I've got some I suppose.

What I would like to know is what instructions the council lads get - obviously not the instructions we get because they seem to leave the bins after emptying them anywhere they want to. Is it too difficult for them to find a place to leave it - in the same place as they found it might help.

If it's too much for you lads to empty the bin, let me know and I'll chuck it on for you - don't want you damaging your finger nails, ‘cos I'm told manicures are quite expensive these days!

Talking of walls, I even cease to amaze myself. For the past six years or more, most days I've walked from my workshop to the patio doors into the kitchen - in fact I could do it with my eyes shut (well, sort of).

But on this particular morning it was so wet I decided to run. Unfortunately I misjudged the house wall - fancy me misjudging anything - but I did, and guess what I said? “Ouch!” again.

Me and walls have bonded this week, especially with my head and in this instance, my chest as well, the wind came out of me like an out of tune trombone - yes it hurt and you've guessed there was blood again and strangely enough the rain was still coming down. I was now extremely wet - if I'd just walked I'd have been dryer.

Debb says she wonders at me some tines, to be honest I wonder at myself all the time, I think it's an age thing, but don't tell me I said so.

Because of the challenge next year, it has been suggested I do a couple of runs off road, easier on the joints, hopefully keeping injuries to a minimum and also a natural way of slowing down, so we decided to run along the canal towpath.

Now I thought all the towpaths had been revamped, but how wrong one can be. The ruts in the canal path were still the same as when we were kids, deep and full of water. I'd forgotten how deep - at some points the water was nearly up to my knees, it certainly had the effect of slowing us down and I think the next time we run down there we'll wear flippers instead of trainers - I think at one point there were gold fish inside ‘em.

Still it had the desired effect and slowed us down, mind I'm starting to worry about canal running in the rain, or more to the point about Mac - he said he was quite enjoying his little self, splashing through the puddles.

It took him back to his childhood days, he said, and then he started reminiscing about Thunderbirds, Stingray, Fireball XL5 and all the old programmes. Admittedly I could remember them all but I'm seriously worrying about him - still if it gets it out of his system, we can talk about proper things when we do the challenge next year - well proper to me any way.

The weekend saw the first Great Cardiff run, and I was told it was very flat - just made for a personal best. Flat my foot, if that's flat I don't want hilly, in truth it was quite demanding.

Still it was a good run all said and done, for the first one it was reasonably supported, although there were more at the start and finish, as I was told that there is still a lot of building going on around the course and I would presume the crowds will be a lot better next year.

There were getting on for around 4000 competitors and like all the Great runs it was very well organised and the nice thing with all the Great runs we get to start directly behind the wheelchair competitors - it makes life a lot easier. There's not so much hustle and bustle, the elite runners come from behind and it makes it much safer, also for the first 9k or so it looks like we're in the lead - mind that's short lived as those elite boys and girls come past us like we're standing still.

Had a slight problem this run, yes I know 10k is a major problem, the last yard is always the best, but I had pulled my back somehow in the week and although on the Sunday it seemed OK, the constant pounding made it hurt somewhat - in fact I have laid off training all week, so hopefully that will sort it out.

Well the week started with a bang and finished with a pain, Dannie, my youngest is always up for sharing and she gave me a couple of her sweets and bless her she said they would make me run a lot better, and she was right - they made me run right to the dentist, as they were very chewy and pulled my new crown out yet again.

What with fig biscuits and chewy sweets I'm having a painful time of it, as I forgot when cleaning my teeth the crown had come off, rubbing the toothbrush across my tooth I murmured some thing unrepeatable, under my breath and the pain shot through me - it's amazing how you suddenly remember to use the right side of your mouth only, well until the crown was back in place.

I'm going to stick with soft things in future, fillet steak, done rare, with mushrooms and onions and a couple of pints of that soft brown stuff, Guinness, I'm sure my crown will be nice and safe with this kind of food, I hope so any way.

Well after the week I've had surely not much else can go wrong, can it? With an aching head, chest, back and a painful tooth lady luck must shine on me some time, mind as the sun don't shine that often I'll still keep worrying and check my fingers on a regular basis, some times if it weren't for bad luck I'd have none at all.

So here's Blind Dave, the pain in the neck, literally, signing off and hoping for a much better week, speak to you all later.

Support Blind Dave's attempt to raise money for Guide Dogs For The Blind. Go to www.justgiving.com/777