Paralympic Athletics and more
Firstly, apologies for not posting this while the Paralympic Track and Field Athletics was still ongoing. I meant to post this on the 6th, but I was way too tired. Then RL intervened - yes I do have one! - and I was way too busy until yesterday, by which time I was exhausted.
I went to the Stadium on Wednesday evening. It's difficult even now to sum up the experience in words, although the one word which does spring to mind is 'Awesome'. Highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the 100m Semi-Finals (T44 - Oscar Pistorius' category) . Johnny Peacock, GB athlete, was in the other semi from Oscar, and posted a faster time by one tenth of a second. (Peacock was the eventual gold medal winner the following night in the final). I went with my sister-in-law. Our seats were a few rows back, but right in line with the 100m start. Best seats in the house for someone who was a wheelchair sprint athlete as a teenager. Sis-in-law took a book 'just in case' she was bored. Didn't touch it, and texted me the following evening to say she was just coming back down off the high from the previous evening.
Unexpectedly, right from the moment the first competitors came out (women's javelin, competitors in wheelchairs) I so wanted to be down there competing, not sitting spectating. I later looked at the list of Paralympic sports in my guide book, and out of the 20 or 21 listed - depending whether you count 5-a-side and 7-a-side football (soccer) as separate sports - I have participated at some level in 15 of them. Some just for fun, some at inter-school competition level, and one (Track and Field Athletics) at junior national level. I had one year at senior level - 17 and over, then had to quit to concentrate on my qualifications. When I left school, I could not find a club within reasonable travelling distance which took the sport seriously enough for me, so I haven't competed since. I am now sadly too long in the tooth, but that didn't stop me really wanting to be down there on the track with them.
I have no good excuse for not posting this first thing this morning, except that I was having fun and games of a different sort. I finally had time to play with my bulb enema, having only had one quick go since I bought it - I managed to get two quarter pint bulbs in on 19th August, one lying on my right side, and one on my stomach, and retained one and a half bulbs with the aid of my buttplug.
This morning I got 2 bulbs in, only losing a little, rested a few minutes with the buttplug in, then took another bulb. Lost most of the third bulb when I shifted position because I was uncomfortable, but knowing I could get that third bulb in, I took a fourth to replace the one I lost, all while lying on my stomach. Expelled the buttplug, but managed to hold most of the enema until I could get to the bathroom. (Easiest place for me to take them is on my bed). All in all a pretty good morning. Managed to finish before the start of the Paralympic Wheelchair Marathons too!
Oh, I nearly forgot - last weekend I defrosted my icebox, and put my new hemispherical ice cube tray in. Yesterday was so hot that I was glad I had done so, as I finally got around to my favourite pastime on a hot summer's day - ice in the butt. All in all a great week.
Oh - another thing I almost forgot - I took my enemas this morning lying alongside a nearly dead moth - a gift from T (who was one on Friday, and is therefore now a no longer a kitten, but a cat).
Now for the Formula One Grand Prix motor race from Monza, Italy - sport of a different sort, but just as enjoyable!
Comments
Elizabeth2010 10 years ago
Whilst I personally did not watch the Paralympics, your account of some of the events sound wonderful. The number of medals achieved by everyone was tremendous and well done to all those who participated.