Allotments 4 All

General => The Shed => Topic started by: Derekthefox on September 25, 2005, 17:29:22

Title: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on September 25, 2005, 17:29:22
My daughter's (Jennifer) 16th birthday today. My little girl has gone and been replaced by a wonderful young lady. So she got her own bouquet from the allotment this morning. As her treat, she spent a couple of hours snowboarding at the Snowdome in Tamworth, with her brother Matthew (the marathon runner), and absolutely adored it.

I watched from the balcony, and found I was captivated. So now I am debating whether to have ski-ing lessons, or snowboarding ...
My wife is also finding out about ice skating lessons for crusties ...

So I will be able to hack it with my kids ...  ;D ;D ;D

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Jill on September 25, 2005, 18:27:56
Happy birthday, Jennifer
[/color]

Does this mean that my spotty, stinky, anti social 15 yr old will overnight become a charming handsome caring young man in 8 months time then, Derek?  Can but hope!  I'm still not going to offer to go skateboarding with him tho'!
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derek on September 25, 2005, 19:50:49
Derek

You think that's great...wait till you walk her down the isle you will be so proud

I got to do it twice (two daughters)

Derek...the other one
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Heldi on September 25, 2005, 20:23:14
I want my 7 year old to ask for rollerblades for his birthday so as I can get mine out and go out to play.
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on September 26, 2005, 09:53:37
Jill I don't think it works for boys ... ! I am still spotty, stinky and antisocial ...

Heldi, I am investigating ice skating lessons as I speak, so I can go out to play as well ! ! !

Quote from: Derek on September 25, 2005, 19:50:49
You think that's great...wait till you walk her down the isle you will be so proud

Thanks Derek, I think I am already really proud  :)

Derekthefox  :D (the first one)
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Jill on September 26, 2005, 15:16:35
Now Derek, that's really not true, is it.  Well the anti social part, anyway!  Can't comment on the spots or smelliness. ;) ;D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Mimi on September 26, 2005, 15:27:06
Does Eddie the Eagle still give lessons there Derek?
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on September 26, 2005, 15:56:21
I never thought to ask Mimi ...  ;D

Jill, well perhaps not antisocial ...

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: wardy on September 26, 2005, 16:03:00
When the kids were little I took them ice skating once and got a septic heel out of it which was so painful I couldn't drive and had to declare a no go zone around me  ;D  The kids accused me of being a softie so I went again the following week but I still couldn't get the boot on my swollen foot. At least I tried - never been since and I;m  going on 50  ;D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on September 27, 2005, 09:56:15
Right, sorted out details etc.

Ice skating - a new course starts locally, November for 8 weeks Sunday morning, cost £40 total inc skate hire. I intend to be on that course, starting with all the little kids (ahhhhh !).

Skiing - the cheapest route I could find to 'recreational ' standard, costs £130 for 4 hours tuition, all equipment included. Because the 'season' is just starting,  I need to investigate when is the best time, because the slopes get full at weekends and evenings. After that, at membership rates, the slope is £10/hour.

This looks like fun ...

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Annadl on September 27, 2005, 12:31:03
I started having rollerblading lessons with the litte ones when I was 38.  Had lessons EVERY Sat for 2 years (in the littlies class).  My 5 yo at the time picked it up in 3 weeks!!  I loved it.  It was something I always wanted to do when I was a kid but my wouldn't let me because she was scared I would get hurt!!

I now play in-line hockey and I love it.  All I can say is that I can run on skates, go backwards, hit the puck BUT I am not graceful.  I'll never have the style.  But it was so inspirational to have 50 & 60 y olds playing.

Skiid for the first time last year (at 43) was petrified but did it.
Was much better skiing this year and my 11 yo couldn't stand me better than him!!.  Just for one day though.

Go on Derek you'll have so much fun.  You men seem to have good balance & pick up these sorts of things so easily.  Your not scared like us women. ;D

(Roller skating/blading is much cheaper in Australia than ice-skating)
And then the slopes for skiing...

Anna :)
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on September 27, 2005, 12:59:34
Thanks for the encouragement Anna. Yes, something has just clicked in my brain, I was never bothered before, but now suddenly I want to do all these things. Perhaps I just don't want to feel old, I don't know. Not into heights though, forget skydiving or bungee jumping ...  Even flying to spain is agony for me! I wonder whether my son could help me master the skateboard ... improve my balance ...

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Maddy on September 27, 2005, 13:05:35
I had huge amounts of fun skiing on a dry slope in Bebington years ago but it was completely different on snow and I hated skiing.  Would love to do rollerblading though.  This year, I have decided it is time to learn how to ride a bike...it was my ambition to do it before I got to 30 but I'm 33 and still don't know why I can't. 

M.
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on October 17, 2005, 15:50:18
Well I have finally done it - signed up and paid for skating lessons at the local rink in Coventry.

The course consists of 7 lessons and runs on Sunday mornings at 10am, starting on 30th October. Not bad for £35, including skate hire. Each lesson is half an hour long, and the rink is available afterward for free skating ... I don't think I will catch up with my children though, they are zooming around all over the place, forwards, backwards, on one leg, Jenny is even doing spins ... I am pretty sure that I will be the oldest person on the course though  ;D

I must remember to buy some gloves ...

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: spacehopper on October 18, 2005, 09:19:08
Just gloves...what about knee pads, elbow pads etc etc?  ;D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on October 18, 2005, 10:10:30
I was hoping to get one of those inflatable sumo costumes ...  ;D

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Heldi on October 18, 2005, 10:23:38
Derek it'll be great fun!  I wish I could be there to watch...I have a cruel streak and love seeing people fall over lol !  ;D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on October 18, 2005, 10:31:01
My daughter has already said she is going to come down and heckle ... so that has given me more motivation to show her just what her dad can do ...  :D

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: BAGGY on October 18, 2005, 10:38:45
go for it - the next olympics perhaps?
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on October 18, 2005, 10:44:57
Ha ha Baggy, I am thinking of slightly smaller targets, like completing the 7 weeks !

Apparently one of the skaters at the rink is an Olympic hopeful though ...

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Heldi on October 18, 2005, 11:21:12
hey your Jean Luc suit will be perfect for your Bolero ! heehee!
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: wardy on October 18, 2005, 11:35:05
 ;D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on October 18, 2005, 12:00:14
Don't I need a partner for a bolero though? It is not a solo dance form!  ;D ;D ;D

Derekthefox :D

Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Heldi on October 18, 2005, 20:22:07
Ensign Wardy might help you out !
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: mysticmog on October 18, 2005, 20:53:06
Ha ha, you totally inspired me to go snowboarding in a sumo costume - I go to Castleford, also indoors snowy place like tamworth, but I'm not good, and cut open someones eyebrow last time...eeekk At least in a sumo costume I will be amusing and dangerous.

Bet your kids think you're fab  :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on October 18, 2005, 21:35:03
I think they prefer me to a grouchy old crusty dad yes ...

Derekthefox :D
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: BAGGY on October 18, 2005, 22:18:12
I will volunteer to partner you.  I have no sense of direction and can't tell my lefts from my rights, also despite doing tai chi for 4years my balance is truly atrocious so for entertainment value I think we're on to a winner.
Title: Re: And yet again !!!
Post by: Derekthefox on October 18, 2005, 23:46:32
Well I will certainly give the entertainment value for my lack of innate balance ... I have only ever been on the ice once, and my wife said my desire not to take a fall, made me look like one of those clowns who never quite fell over ...

Baggy and Foxy ! ! ! Watch out world !

Derekthefox :D