Thursdays . . .

are officially now my favourite night of the week.

At a cost of £3.50, I can now fill three hours of my thursday evenings with roller skating! YAY!

Last night I got home early from work, got changed, got my skates in my bag, and hitched a lift with the sis through what can officially be called rush hour traffic, and got dropped off outside the roller rink.

The last time I'd been inside was probably bang on eight years ago, on my first ever visit to Sheffield during sis's first year at uni. Apart from the outside of the rink getting a glamified makeover, the inside is pretty much the same as it was nearly a decade ago. It was an ice rink back then, but now the ice has gone, and it's literally just a roller rink.

Filled with some nerves at how truly retarded I may be on skates, I laced up and shuffled out onto the rink. Thank god it was dark! I thought I was going to stick out like a sore thumb with a comical bandage, but in actual fact I was possibly one of the more competent people there (on quad skates that is). Needless to say, I was soon outmaneouvered by a couple that I can confidently say belonged to the roller derby team. I plucked up the courage to pick up the pace, and was soon whipping round like nobody's business. Thinking about the list of things I was told to learn, I chose to go in at the deep end and try some crossovers. I can remember doing these on the driveway back home on my inlines a very long time ago. The only problem was that the corner i practiced on was right handed, and all rinks are left handed. 

Time to overcome the 'cant turn left' phase and go for it.

I managed one or two steps, and had a bit of a wobble, so carried on around the rink a few more times. I tried again later on, and managed a few steps. Thought to myself, ah, this maybe isnt so bad. I stopped at the side, and tried to relieve my 'fat hand syndrome' (where all the blood rushes into your mitts from all the arm swishing- is this a bad habit I need to stop?). I went around the rink a few more times, then joined in on the marked out derby track in the middle. I picked up the pace again, and went in for the 'kill' I managed a whole corner with crossovers and it was AMAZING! It was really smooth, and I picked up a lot of speed. I felt quite chuffed with my little self :o)

So the crowd of folks that were also skating varied quite a bit. There were your typical teenagers that obviously spent all their pocket money on going there, there was a kids birthday party. Lots of screaming 10 year old girls, insistent on going the wrong way round. Then there were the old timers that had no concept of speed and that if they hit a kid, that kid may just explode on impact. Then there were the quad pro's, the derby folks. A guy and girl just there practising different stops and having a lazy skate, and another girl joined in wearing a full derby 'boutfit' (as I've seen them called). Vest top and matching mini skirt (with polka dots and yellow frills), hot pants and a pretty bomb proof set of knee and elbow pads. They just pootled around, minding their own business, going sideways, doing fancy stops, fancy footwork, just generally looking very cool and putting me and my fat hands to shame.

Saying that, I didnt fall and I didnt make a tit of myself either, well not that i'm aware of anyway, despite the numerous arm flappings. I will most definitely be returning next week, maybe avec some extra padding?

I have recently become a Twitter convert, and on my return home I tweeted some of the girls, from the roller derby team, that I follow and told them about the fun I had. I'm quite happy to say that I got some very nice responses. There's a possibility that one of them may try and get to the session next week too, so hopefully I can get some tips from her. I'm pretty sure it'll be a big help to get some advice, plus it's another new person in the city and someone that I can talk to rather than skating in silence for the evening.

I called my parents and told them about my evening too. Dad tried to put a sensible outlook on it and said something along the lines of 'if it doesnt work out then i'm sure you'll find something else to join'. My response was 'no, i'm determined to make this happen'. There have been too many things that I've said I want to do and I've never done them, and I'm disappointed in myself. This is one thing I have the chance of doing, and I refuse to do a half assed job. It's not expensive, it's a great way to keep fit, and its the perfect way to make new friends. I may end up with a few bruises along the way, but if I keep a stock of arnica in the cupboard I'll be reet :o)

I think I'm in love

ROLLER DERBY WAS  . . . . . . . AWESOME!!!!!

Even though I was suffering from one of the worst hangovers known in the history of mankind, I can happily say that once the bouts were underway I soon forgot about needing sleep, food and painkillers! 

The promo posters were stolen, the team tshirt was purchased and the request email has been sent to get my name on the waiting list!

This is something I am determined to see through to the end.

Times to get my skates on, practice those t-stops, and get a gumguard (yes mum, that comment has been added for your peace of mind)

Are you ready for 'the whip' . . . ?

Ever heard of Roller Derby?

I watched my first game on TV at 4am whilst snowy holidaying in Andorra, i think it was 2006.

In a slightly drunken stupor I sat in bed, bleary eyed, and watched the teams of girls speed, shove and smack their way around the banked track. Helmets, padding and cool outfits a-must, this was one interesting sport. After watching an hours worth of girls battling their way round the track on skates I fell asleep and woke the next morning wondering whether it was all a dream. I stayed up again the next night to try and catch it again, but I didnt find it. I soon forgot all about it, but always remembered that it looked really good fun.

A Marathon Sport, rumoured to have started as far back as the mid-1880's (!!!), it has slowly developed into a full on spectator entertainment sport. In its hey day, Roller Derby was a multiday endurance sport, with cash prizes. In the 50's and 60's, when interest began to wane, RD was reinvented in order for it to be televised. In spite of this, spectator levels dropped, on trackside and through the airwaves, and the sport was no longer interesting. Not much else happened for the next 4 decades.

Dry those tears though because in the noughties Roller Derby was reintroduced to society. The revival hailed from Austin, Texas, and soon caught on worldwide. Back with a vengeance, roller derby gave a voice to girls who maybe never made it onto the sports teams at school, or maybe never made it onto the cool wall. Girls could be more than who they wanted to be without being judged. The girls involved with the sport didnt mind having a crappy job, because it was their spare time that they lived for, because that was practice time, that was when they went from being the girl with the standard issue uniform and name badge, to the girl with the cool uniform and cool nickname!

With the release of 'Whip It' in 2009, roller derby made itself known to the masses and RD Fever took over. Drew Barrymore did an excellent job directing AND starring in the hit movie. I'd like to say thank you and well done to her to bringing roller derby into my life.

Roller Derby 101

• Matches are called 'Bouts' and are played on either a flat or banked oval track
• Each Bout is 30 minutes long and are made up of shifts called 'Jams'
• A jam ends after two minutes have passed, or when the leader of the winning team places her hands on her hips.
• The teams are made up of 5 players: 4 Blockers and 1 Jammer (they wear a star on their helmet)
• The two teams of blockers create the 'pack' and start ahead of the Jammers
• The pack starts on the first whistle, the jammers set off on the second.
• The Jammers have to break through the pack, avoiding any pushings and shovings that are thrown their way.
• Once broken through the pack, the jammers have to get back round the track and through the pack again before they can score any points.
• A point is scored by a jammer for each member of the opposing team that they pass.
• Oh, and safety first, the girls have to wear helmets, knee and elbow pads, gum guards, wrist guards, and the most important of all . . . roller skates.

My local team, the Sheffield Steel Rollergirls are playing tomorrow in their final bout of the year . . . and we've got tickets. Not just that, but I've also got the email address to get in touch, just in case I decide to join up after tomorrows event :o) Well, I've already got the skates, the helmet and the nickname (which I'm keeping secret for now). Roller Derby isn't for sissies. There's violence, blood, broken bones and bruises. I read a quote today: 'it's not if you get hurt, it's when you get hurt'. If I do join, at least I'll learn how to take a fall and grow some balls, it might even give me more confidence, not just in life but to try new things out on my snowboard too. On the actual plus side, it could be a great way to make even more friends in my new city, and I've heard its a great workout for legs and bums. Au revoir cellulite! haha

The cure to all broken hearts . . .

What's a girl to do when in desperate need of a pick me up?

Buy new shoes of course!

And what could be better than a new pair of boots, ready for the winter months. 

For about the past three years I have hunted high and low, for the whole autumn/winter season, in desperation for THE perfect boots. They needed to be brown for starters. They also needed to be long, dont want to get cold shins. They also, as an absolute must, had to have 'roundy toes'. None of this pointy or kind of roundy toed nonsense. If they're not chunky, I dont want them on my feet.

So anyway, I never found these mythical perfect boots, until this monday. After what could have been the breakthrough to a new start on life, a big mother fluffer of a bombshell came and shat on everything. Back to square one it is for me then. So, feeling further than down in the dumps, and on the verge of vomming at every dreadful thought, I knew I needed to get help. 

On Monday I left work early so I could make it to the shops for some much needed retail therapy (forgetting the muchly needed deodorant- thank god I live with my sister and she has some spare!). I visited my favourite haunts, TK Maxx, HMV and Lush (just for the smells that day). On the way to TK Maxx, I spied THE boots in the window. I looked at them with big puppy dog eyes, in the hope that a member of staff would see my pain and give me them for free . . . that didnt happen. Plus, the price was too much for me to afford. Instead I then went to HMV and treated myself to some silly kid films, guaranteed to cheer me up again. I then went about my business in a few more stores, before then taking a leisurely stroll back home, keeping an eye on those thundery clouds though, they looked angry. I made it home safely, but couldnt forget about the beauties I'd just set my heart on. I knew I needed them for the winter, so saving up a pound a day wouldn't get me them until next spring. So I emailed mummy with my conundrum. She replied the next day, and lucky for me she said in a roundabout way 'buy them and put money back into your savings later'. SCORE!!! 

I wangled a trip to Meadowhall with Big Sis that evening, and made a beeline, via Primark, for Schuh once we got there. I've never spent nearly a weeks wages in one go, but it can safely say it has definitely made my world a happier place.

The following is, in short, the way I made a happier difference to my life this week:

Step One: Calm those nerves and de-stress

Went to Boots, bought Rescue Remedy, and turned that frown upside down 

Step Two: Buy a new hat (or two)

Step Three: Buy new boots

Step Four: Calm those nerves and de-stress from the thought of the price of said 'Wonder Boots'

Take more Rescue Remedy and dont look at the bank account for another week.

Along the way I also bought a new jacket, because my boots needed something to match. The boots are not just something to make me feet look awesome, they're a kick ass couple, ready to take on the puddles, leaves and snow of the world!

For those of you interested, they are Dr Martens. They're the Triumph Shearling, in the most beautiful roughy brown leather, fleecey lining, and ribbons for laces. I always have and always will LOVE Dr Martens. I had loads of pairs as a kid, then as a teenager, and now as a 'Big Lady' I have brought another pair into my life. I dont really care about the price, because you can count on DM's, they're trustworthy and they'll last a lifetime. Not just that, but as my good friend Sarah told me today 'u can always rely on the Bouncin soles to put a smile on ya face :o) xxx' and she was right! Thanks Saz xx

So, I would like to introduce my new boots to the world, because at the end of the day, amazing things are here to be shared. 

Please welcome Amelia Pond and Rory Williams, Wonder Boots of the Universe, my new best friends. Existing to make the world a better place, put bad people in their place and to put a big fat smile on my face.