Lunchbox, check. Passport, check. Phew!
Cue Jacko turning into knight in shining armour (or something like that), jumping into the car and racing the passport from Bath to Heathrow with just 2 hours to get there before check in closed. With up to the minute progress reports appearing on facebook and twitter there was quite an audience tuned in to the unfolding drama (she is not going to live this down for a loooong time!) As the minutes ticked by everyone else checked in and left to go through security, leaving Bex all alone to wait on the passport (hopefully) arriving.
With just 5 minutes to spare, Jacko pulled up at the airport, handed over the passport and Bex ran to check in. Panic over, we all got on the plane and hopefully that’s the biggest drama of this season out of the way!
Now all present, correct and arrived in Calgary it was time to get down to some training. First on the agenda was picking up our sled and heading to the track for the first runs of the 2011/12 season. Because of the passport fiasco Bex had been nominated for the ‘suicide’ run and on this occasion it was exactly that as Paula crashed at corner 8. Both girls were fine and back it was to the start for another run which went much better. Since the slight hiccough on that first run the runs have been getting better and better as Paula adjusts to the different steering in this sled. The only difficulties now are resurrecting the runners after each sliding session and keeping our pristine white sled white. The sled seems to attract dirt, grease and dust and the runners look as if they’ve been scraped across rocks after every run the scratches are so deep. Gill, Bex and Kelly are really loving the daily runner polishing while Paula is on her track walk with Pete!
The evenings are a chance to unwind and have time together as a team over a meal with plenty of choice near to the hotel. After a particularly good meal at the local Red Lobster we decided to go back the following night only to find there had been a fire during the night and it was closed. Sadly, despite our repeated visits to see if it has reopened, it has remained closed but the Thai restaurant just down the road has more than made up for it. The food is amazing and the staff are incredibly helpful – even providing free ice cream one night and giving us a sample of a fish dish on another – great service. Kelly and Paula did discover on our first visit however that if the menu says spicy noodles, it means spicy noodles, especially if you ask for them extra hot. A lot of water was consumed on that occasion!
So now it’s down to the routine of sliding, physical training and physio with Jemma (a great spectator sport for those with sadistic tendencies!) Nightly games of Rummikub and cards also feature and Bex is filling any spare moment making Scoobie bracelets for everyone – keeps her out of trouble anyway (mostly!)
A change in routine did catch Jemma out when, for the first time since we have been out here, we had a slightly early start. When we hadn’t seen her at breakfast and she still hadn’t appeared two minutes before we were supposed to be leaving, Paula was dispatched to find out where she was. Paula knocked and slowly the door opened to reveal a hand shielding the light followed by what looked like a zombie. No, Halloween had not come early, Jemma had just overslept! A quick change later and she managed to meet us just in time to go to training. She’s used up her one punctuality lifeline now so we expect her to be bang on time from now on – or Pete will get grumpy!
A few more days here and then it’s on to Park City where we’ll be joined by staff from British Bobsleigh and some of the men’s team. We’ve heard the shopping’s pretty good too……..
