When
my parents said that they wanted to come and watch me compete at the World
Sprint canoe championships I was a thrilled, then a little worried. Those of
you who have met my parents will understand...
My
parents have been wonderfully excited about me taking up kayaking. This might
have something to do with them having dabbled in paddle sports themselves in
their younger days. They even went on their honeymoon in a canvas pack up canoe
(called Packy) where they had many adventures, including accidental white water
along the way.
 |
| Mum and Dad 1962 |
Yes,
my parents are not that conventional.
As a
child my parents would always enthusiastically come and watch me competing in
various sporting events, and funnily enough my friends still remember them!
Was
it the plumes of blue smoke emanating from the exhaust of the illegal eastern
block car (called Wilhelm - or Willy for short)? Was it the horse box (called
Hercules), which doubled up as a team minibus, meaning we turned up to events covered
in straw and smelling of manure? Or was it the the citroen Diane (called
Freddy) who's rear seat came out and handily doubled up as a spectators bench?
When
my parents decided that they were coming to Duisberg to watch me race I was
delighted. Then a wave of apprehension
swept over me as I relived these embarrassing moments usually, but not exclusively involving named
motorised vehicles.
My
parents have really been struggling to sort logistics as mum has mobility
issues. They wanted to find disabled friendly hotels and parking
near to the regatta lake and this email from Mum I think was was meant to
reassure me....
"Many
thanks for giving me some useful internet addresses.
We
were told that it would be difficult to find accommodation as all the hotel
rooms would be booked nearby and that we might have more luck in a private
house. Dad worked it out that one such house was just 3.5 Kilometres
from the Regattabahn!! He phoned the owner and in his best German
immediately struck up a friendship with him. Right we were a good step
forward.
Next
step was to find out if Perky" (mums motorised
wheelchair) "could meet the challenge of getting me the 3.5 km to the
regatta without conking out. We haven't been able to work out if there is
disabled parking at the lake for Stumpy" (their latest named car which
actually looks more like a breadvan) "yet so yesterday we had an exciting
time taking Perky to the local national trust forest and driving him up
and down the drive. Perky showed us he could cope, and I am sure he
appreciated being an important part of our plans!! However, to be
reassured, we have booked him in for a full MOT at the local Perky Hospital.
I
cannot tell you how excited that we have been able to crack
all obstacles and are now up and almost ready to be able to cheer you on
at Duisburg. We will be there waving our Union Jacks.
I
jokingly asked Simon if you still have Grans Swiss Cow Bell. You may
not hear us shouting, but boy, you sure would hear the loud clang of that
Cow Bell. Its OK,
we would not want to embarrass you!!!"
Thanks
Mum, I'll remind you of that ;-)
And
if you find yourself at Duisberg, watch out for an English couple with a
mobility scooter and a large cow bell... Please go over and introduce yourselves, and don't forget to
say Hi to Perky...
