At the end of next month I’m going down to Devon for Beth’s hen do. Dawlish in Devon is where my Calvin spent his first year of life with his puppy walkers. Therefore, I contacted them and enquired whether they wanted to meet up. I believe the puppy walkers are the unsungheros of Guide Dogs, as without them people like me wouldn’t be able to have the amazing gift of a Guide Dog.
They replied promptly and said they would love to meet up. Apparently Teignmouth, where the hen do is taking place is only 5mins away and where Calvin did lots of walks both on the coast and main roads. I can’t wait to take Calvin down there to see his reaction, which will obviously be pure excitement no doubt! It will be great to meet his puppy walkers and find out a bit more about how he became the affectionate, playful, comical and mischievous dog he is today!
They also emailed me some photos of when Calvin was a puppy, which I’ll try and upload for everyone to coo at!
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Saturday, 25 September 2010
The Unexpected
The latest theatre production I saw was Bustin’ Out. I only booked it because it was classed as a musical and sounded comical. My innocence therefore didn’t realise it would be two fat Australians prancing around topless for the entire show! The musical aspect was songs about boobs and whilst it was funny in some places, I cringed in others!
Calvin came along and when he got bored of crumb searching underneath the seats he would pop his head up and have a peek at the action, typical male! However, prior to going into the theatre, there was a small incident. Since my family and I had gone for a meal before the show I felt Calvin needed a spend before we went in. The theatre is connected to a park, but we just found a grass patch by the car park. Out of nowhere a dog appeared off lead and so immediately we decided to find another spot. Yet, the other dog followed with menacing growls. My mum tried to get in the middle to block the other dog, but I told her to move out of the way so Calvin could stand his ground. I dropped the harness and held onto his lead whilst they sized each other up. The loose dog went for Calvin, but he quickly moved out of the way spinning me in a circle. Seconds after the owner appeared and apologised unsympathetically and removed his dog. Calvin had a bit of a shake but was happy enough to continue working. It did get my heart racing, but I’m glad I didn’t panic and let Calvin stand up for himself. Thankfully no injury was done, but the following day when I worked Calvin in the village he did a little jog past any barking dog and when somebody slammed a car door he tried to leg it. He’s seems back to his usual confident self now though.
Calvin came along and when he got bored of crumb searching underneath the seats he would pop his head up and have a peek at the action, typical male! However, prior to going into the theatre, there was a small incident. Since my family and I had gone for a meal before the show I felt Calvin needed a spend before we went in. The theatre is connected to a park, but we just found a grass patch by the car park. Out of nowhere a dog appeared off lead and so immediately we decided to find another spot. Yet, the other dog followed with menacing growls. My mum tried to get in the middle to block the other dog, but I told her to move out of the way so Calvin could stand his ground. I dropped the harness and held onto his lead whilst they sized each other up. The loose dog went for Calvin, but he quickly moved out of the way spinning me in a circle. Seconds after the owner appeared and apologised unsympathetically and removed his dog. Calvin had a bit of a shake but was happy enough to continue working. It did get my heart racing, but I’m glad I didn’t panic and let Calvin stand up for himself. Thankfully no injury was done, but the following day when I worked Calvin in the village he did a little jog past any barking dog and when somebody slammed a car door he tried to leg it. He’s seems back to his usual confident self now though.
Friday, 17 September 2010
MRI Results
On Wednesday I finally picked up my MRI results for my ankle. It only took the NHS 6 months to give me a scan. The physio thought I had synovitis, but this did not show up. The only thing that did was some bone bruising. It has been 7 months since I sprained my ankle and to still have bone bruising on a sprain that hardly had any swelling is strange.
The NHS had no useful advice and after I insisted I was still unable to run pain free and generally walk around these days without some sort of ache, he said he would refer me to a sports doctor. Only, he doesn’t know how long this will take, where a sports doctor could be found within the NHS and failed to be able to even use a telephone and Google. The nurse had to help him!
All of this is highly unhelpful and with winter training approaching and no idea of when I can run again, I’m feeling next year slipping away from me already. I’ve decided I can wait no longer and will go private to get a quicker and more informed answer with regards to my injury.
I really hope this all gets resolved soon, as I’m frustrated I’ve achieved literally nothing this year and want to prove my ability next year.
The NHS had no useful advice and after I insisted I was still unable to run pain free and generally walk around these days without some sort of ache, he said he would refer me to a sports doctor. Only, he doesn’t know how long this will take, where a sports doctor could be found within the NHS and failed to be able to even use a telephone and Google. The nurse had to help him!
All of this is highly unhelpful and with winter training approaching and no idea of when I can run again, I’m feeling next year slipping away from me already. I’ve decided I can wait no longer and will go private to get a quicker and more informed answer with regards to my injury.
I really hope this all gets resolved soon, as I’m frustrated I’ve achieved literally nothing this year and want to prove my ability next year.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Libby Clegg
Libby Clegg is a T12 athlete meaning she is partially sighted, but still needs a guide runner. She won Silver at the last Paralympics over 100m and hopes to repeat her podium form in 2012. She now trains at Loughborough, the same place as me and because of this I have benefited from the expertise of her guide and coach. She recently did an interview for UK Athletics and I thought I’d share it, as I feel it’s very honest, as well as informative. It raises some good issues regarding visually impaired athletics, as well as general VI day-to-day life. You can view the article here:
Libby Clegg’s interview for UKA
Libby Clegg’s interview for UKA
Sunday, 29 August 2010
The Countdown Begins
Today marks 2 years to go until the official opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games! Of course it’s my dream to be there and participating, but that will require allot of dedication between now and then, which I’m willing to give!
To kick off the countdown a series of programmes are being shown on Channel 4 who have won the television rights for the games. It all started yesterday with ‘That Paralympic Show’, which will be on for the next 10 weeks. The aim of the show is to introduce the public to Paralympic sports and athletes. Tonight, there is a documentary called Inside Incredible Athletes at 9pm. It features 7 Paralympic hopefuls, including the blade runner, Oscar Pistorious and amputee Stefanie Reid who I’ve raced earlier this year. On a visually impaired front, Dave Clark from England’s blind 5 aside football team is also on the programme.
Regarding my plans for the next 2 years, I’m going to do everything I can to get there. Next Wednesday, I finally have an MRI scan booked for my ankle that I sprained back in February. The results of that will determine whether I compete in one more competition this year and winter training preparations.
To kick off the countdown a series of programmes are being shown on Channel 4 who have won the television rights for the games. It all started yesterday with ‘That Paralympic Show’, which will be on for the next 10 weeks. The aim of the show is to introduce the public to Paralympic sports and athletes. Tonight, there is a documentary called Inside Incredible Athletes at 9pm. It features 7 Paralympic hopefuls, including the blade runner, Oscar Pistorious and amputee Stefanie Reid who I’ve raced earlier this year. On a visually impaired front, Dave Clark from England’s blind 5 aside football team is also on the programme.
Regarding my plans for the next 2 years, I’m going to do everything I can to get there. Next Wednesday, I finally have an MRI scan booked for my ankle that I sprained back in February. The results of that will determine whether I compete in one more competition this year and winter training preparations.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Distinction!
I recently received my grade for my first module at uni. I would say first year, but one module at 60points is equal to half a year, even though it took me a year.
Anyway, for AA100 The Arts Past and Present I gained a distinction, which is the highest mark you can get. So obviously I was over the moon!
Assignment Results:
TMA 01 – 85%
TMA 02 – 85%
TMA 03 – 81%
TMA 04 – 88%
TMA 05 – 70%
TMA 06 – 81%
TMA 07 – 88%
Average (OCAs) – 82%
ECA (OEs) – 86%
Total – 84%
You normally need 85 %for a distinction overall, but they gave me one anyway!
Anyway, for AA100 The Arts Past and Present I gained a distinction, which is the highest mark you can get. So obviously I was over the moon!
Assignment Results:
TMA 01 – 85%
TMA 02 – 85%
TMA 03 – 81%
TMA 04 – 88%
TMA 05 – 70%
TMA 06 – 81%
TMA 07 – 88%
Average (OCAs) – 82%
ECA (OEs) – 86%
Total – 84%
You normally need 85 %for a distinction overall, but they gave me one anyway!
Thursday, 5 August 2010
European Athletics Championships
The 20th European Athletics Championships were held in Barcelona for 6 days from Tuesday 27 July to Sunday 1 August. Britain had hopes of 10 – 15 medals and actually exceeded the amount of medals ever won by the team coming home with a well deserved 18.
The medal rush kicked off in the men’s 10000m where Mo Farah and Chris Thompson raced home in first and second place respectively. Mo then later went on to win the 5000m in style too and was completely over whelmed when he crossed the finish line. Unfortunately for the women, Jo Pavey was ruled out of the 5 and 10000m after picking up a toe injury.
In the other long distance events Hatti Dean smashed her PB in the steeple chase by 8 seconds, but unfortunately just missed out on a medal in 4th and just over a second outside of the British Record. The women won a bronze in the marathon team event, but this wasn’t’t counted on the official medal table for some complicated reason I won’t bore you with!
GB did well in the middle distances, excluding the men’s 1500m where 3 British finalists completely messed up their tactics and failed to bring home a medal. World Champion silver medallist Lisa Debriskey was unlucky to finish in 4th in the women’s 1500m after recently returning from an injury. Jenny Meadows did it for the girls in the 800m holding on for a bronze and Michael Rimmer was out sprinted for the win in the men’s version of the event, but grabbed a silver.
Now we come onto the sprints. My favourite events of course! Let’s start with the men’s 100m where Dwain Chambers was favourite for gold along with Christophe Lemaitre, a Frenchman and first white man to dip under 10secs. The final wasn’t won in a particular fast time, but Lemaitre came out on top and 4 athletes behind all clocked exactly the same time, 10.18secs. This resulted in Mark Lewis Francis, former World Junior Champion and GB hopeful snatching the silver and Chambers given 5th place. Lemaitre also won the 200m, by 100th of a second from Welshman Christian Malcolm. Laura Turner failed to make the final of the women’s 100m along with Emily Freeman in the 200m. The men’s 400m was really exciting, as it was more of a mind game than them running a great time. Michael Bingham got the silver and Martyn Rooney the bronze even though they both were given the same time.
There was disappointment in the hurdles, as 4th place World Championship performer, Will Sharman false started in the 110m semi finals. However, Britain still got gold with Andy Turner powering his way to the finish. There was more Welsh glory in the 400m hurdles, as David Green and Rhys Williams got a 1 – 2 finish. Perri Shakes Drayton continued the success in the women’s 400m hurdles and won a surprise bronze.
In the field events, Common Wealthand World Champion Phillips Idowu added European gold to his collection of titles in the triple jump. Chris Tomlinson jumped his way into bronze position in the long jump and Martyn Bernard was awarded the same colour medal in the high jump. On the women’s front no medals were won, but heptathlete Jess Ennis jumped, ran and threw her way to gold.
Finally, the relays had their ups and downs. The men and women both had awful baton changes in the 4 x 100m and failed to make the final. However, the men and women both medalled in the 4 x 400m with a shiny silver and bronze.
Overall, it was an amazing few days of European athletics. The next major event will be the Common Wealth Games in October, which promises to be jam packed with great performances too!
The medal rush kicked off in the men’s 10000m where Mo Farah and Chris Thompson raced home in first and second place respectively. Mo then later went on to win the 5000m in style too and was completely over whelmed when he crossed the finish line. Unfortunately for the women, Jo Pavey was ruled out of the 5 and 10000m after picking up a toe injury.
In the other long distance events Hatti Dean smashed her PB in the steeple chase by 8 seconds, but unfortunately just missed out on a medal in 4th and just over a second outside of the British Record. The women won a bronze in the marathon team event, but this wasn’t’t counted on the official medal table for some complicated reason I won’t bore you with!
GB did well in the middle distances, excluding the men’s 1500m where 3 British finalists completely messed up their tactics and failed to bring home a medal. World Champion silver medallist Lisa Debriskey was unlucky to finish in 4th in the women’s 1500m after recently returning from an injury. Jenny Meadows did it for the girls in the 800m holding on for a bronze and Michael Rimmer was out sprinted for the win in the men’s version of the event, but grabbed a silver.
Now we come onto the sprints. My favourite events of course! Let’s start with the men’s 100m where Dwain Chambers was favourite for gold along with Christophe Lemaitre, a Frenchman and first white man to dip under 10secs. The final wasn’t won in a particular fast time, but Lemaitre came out on top and 4 athletes behind all clocked exactly the same time, 10.18secs. This resulted in Mark Lewis Francis, former World Junior Champion and GB hopeful snatching the silver and Chambers given 5th place. Lemaitre also won the 200m, by 100th of a second from Welshman Christian Malcolm. Laura Turner failed to make the final of the women’s 100m along with Emily Freeman in the 200m. The men’s 400m was really exciting, as it was more of a mind game than them running a great time. Michael Bingham got the silver and Martyn Rooney the bronze even though they both were given the same time.
There was disappointment in the hurdles, as 4th place World Championship performer, Will Sharman false started in the 110m semi finals. However, Britain still got gold with Andy Turner powering his way to the finish. There was more Welsh glory in the 400m hurdles, as David Green and Rhys Williams got a 1 – 2 finish. Perri Shakes Drayton continued the success in the women’s 400m hurdles and won a surprise bronze.
In the field events, Common Wealthand World Champion Phillips Idowu added European gold to his collection of titles in the triple jump. Chris Tomlinson jumped his way into bronze position in the long jump and Martyn Bernard was awarded the same colour medal in the high jump. On the women’s front no medals were won, but heptathlete Jess Ennis jumped, ran and threw her way to gold.
Finally, the relays had their ups and downs. The men and women both had awful baton changes in the 4 x 100m and failed to make the final. However, the men and women both medalled in the 4 x 400m with a shiny silver and bronze.
Overall, it was an amazing few days of European athletics. The next major event will be the Common Wealth Games in October, which promises to be jam packed with great performances too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
