THE STIRRER CHASES BLIND DAVE TO THE BIG APPPLE

19-10-2006

Great news. Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg will be hot on the heels of local runner Dave Heeley as he headsto New York to take part in the world's biggest marathon. Adrian will be filming the event for a documentary to be shownon this site. Meanwhile here's Blind Dave's latest blog.

BLIND DAVE'S BLOG

Hi Stirrers,it's great when you eventually get to the last long run and 23 miles on Saturday was D day. The comedown now is quite relaxing; we just had a longish run yesterday, in preparation forgreat South next weekend, then it's luxury for a couple of weeks, with short training runs leading up to the marathon.

However I'm having serious doubts about by guide runner Mac and his measurements. Why? Well, Macinformed me on Sunday morning that he had miscalculated and we had in fact run 24.5 miles and not 23 -I wondered why my legs were moaning so much. I'm only pleased that there is a finish line on the New York marathon or we could be running all day!

Conversations around our breakfast table are very informative. With thethree year old, the five year old and even the big one at sixteen,the topic was how many light bulbs were actually working in the kitchen. We have fifteen spotlights in the ceiling and it was eventually agreed that three had gone -in other words, it was a subtle way oftelling Dadto change them.

That afternoon, I set about it withsteps at the ready, light bulbs in pocket and the three year old ready and willing to help- and with Debb chuckling away in the other room.

I think that the curriculum in schools should be changed, from learning numbers and letters, to learning left and right. Dannie's directions are fantastic, “There Dad, left, left, there” she exclaimed. “Which one? “ I said, “There Dad, left, move your hand left” I think left is the only direction she knows. In the end, I decidedthe only answer wasto touch every light, and if it was hot, it wasOK.

An hour later we had changed the bulbs, and Dannie had been a great help. Well, atleast she could put the used bulbs in the bin. More so than Debb, whowasstill chuckling away, except when she interrupted herself to shout fromthe other room -“Don't forget the balloons”.

"Oh yes", I thought, "it's about time they came down". Grace's birthday was a month back. "Herewe go again", I thought, "although at least this shouldn't be so bad, they are only on two walls." So walking around the seating I took them down one at a time, Dannie depositing them in the front room, one at a time, until we approached the last one.

Even Dannie was getting fed up now, and she grabbed my hand and physically pointed it towards the last balloon andfinally we had it; a joint effort and a job well done.

Debb, meanwhile, was laughing away in the other room. “To listen to you two was hilarious” - and what with Mac's measurements as well as Dannie's directions, I knew what she meant. I'mwell blessed, but still I had to smile.

The rest of the week had it's frills and spills -booking a hotel for the night in Manchester before we fly to New York, for example. I had to smile in amazement as I rang four hotels for bed and breakfast only. We arearriving in Manchester around 9 pm, to sleep over, breakfast and then off to the airport, that's all.

So is it me losing touch with reality or am I simply just tight -I was quoted from £155 for B&B down to the cheapest, £40 for a bed only, no breakfast included. Isit any wonder there are plenty of vacancies, no wonder our tourism industry is suffering. Anyway, you guessed it , I booked the £40 per night job and grimaced at that.

Friday 13th - is it just superstition or plain stupidity? In my case, definitelythe latter. Friday lunch and the door bell rang, "Ah, the milkman" I thought, but I couldn't find the key to the front door. However I had the back gate key in my pocket, so racingout the back patio, Irushed to the edge of the house, touched the bin turned left and raced to thegate- whereearlier in the day I had leaned a wrought iron gate.Me being a touch absent-minded,I'd forgotten all about it - until Iwas remined about it again by bashingmy ankle, shin, elbow and finally my wrist against it. Well, I am blind.

To say the air was blue was the under statement and do you know after all that rushing and cussing, I missed the milkman -mind, I had hit every thing else.

The week ended with a present, Debb had treated me to a new kitchen sink tap -obviously I'd worn the other one out - and as a special favour shegave mea new washing up bowl as well -see, she does care - and, what's moreI'm told they matched.

My project from a couple of weeks ago is nearly finished, I have put on the last coat of oil and it's then ready to be assembled and used -mind, I've caused Debb a few more jobs in the process, but I don't like to feel she's being left out.

Anyway,here's looking forward to the Great South run in Portsmouth next Sunday, hopefully there'll be no gates on route and by the way just because you have a new tap believe me the water doesn't come through any cheaper - I know 'cosI've just paid the water rates - but it is still wet.

Speakto you all next week, Blind Dave signing off.