20 December 2005
So yeah, I went ice-skating last night.
Admittedly, it was more sheer bloody-mindedness than anything else, given I'd spent the last week wrestling with various bits of my skeleton which just did not want to stay where they were supposed to...
... but I'd wanted to go skating in London at one of the winter skating rinks for a few years now, and just hadn't gotten round to it, and well, I just wanted to see if I could still do it, since the last time I'd been skating was well over ten years ago.
Of course, ten years ago I used to go skating three evenings a week and had my own figure skates which fitted and were comfortable, and I wasn't wearing hard plastic wellies with ratchet closures.
Yes, they're designed to be hard-wearing and give good strong support to the feet and ankles of skaters of wildly varying levels of holding on to the side-ness, but what I didn't expect was the unfortunate side-effect it had on my feet: an intense burning pain as several of the small bones in my feet were partially and in some cases totally dislocated as I skated.
In a word: OWFUCKINGHELL*BREATHEBREATHEBREATHE*OHGODTHAT
HURTSPLEASEMAKEITSTOPNOWANDIPROMISEIWON'TDO
ANYTHINGSILLYLIKETHISAGAIN(ATLEASTFORAFEWMONTHS).
HONEST.
So I took off the figure skates and asked for a pair of hockey boots - which they had, but the size was slightly too big, so although they weren't turning my feet to jelly, they weren't giving me a huge amount of support and stability either.
So I did a couple more circuits of the by now even bumpier ice (I think it's probably the worst surface I've ever skated on), and then decided that discretion was the better part of valour and handed my boots in and headed for the cafe, just as they were blowing the whistle for the end of the session.
But while I may not have participated in the entire session, and some might feel I didn't get the best value out of it, I proved to myself that I could do it, and that, like the Tube Challenge in August and the Circle Line Hike in September, is an important thing for me mentally, especially at the moment when things feel so thoroughly out of control.
So yeah, ice skating in London in Winter (check).
Heh. I have a certain amount of empathy. I went on and on about wanting to go ice skating this Christmas, but when the opportunity eventually presented itself I suddenly found that the whole prospect became infinitely less attractive and I chickened out.
I still love the idea of it, but as I haven't set foot (blade?) on ice since about 1981 I think I might (continue to) give it a miss. Stood and watched the skaters at Canada Square a couple of weekends ago and that was probably enough...
I feel like you've taken one for the team; just watch as lots of commenters tell you they wish they'd done that. We stopped to look at the skaters at Somerset House last night, and I would have loved to join them.
Every winter that I spent in Budapest (admittedly not that many, then - maybe three) - I wanted to skate at one of the outdoor rinks, either in the park or in front of the Houses of Parliament; but somehow I never got round to it, and now I wonder if I ever will.
Well done, you. I know how much will power that must have taken, and can't imagine how painful it must have been, so strike one for you for going out there and grabbing life by the scruff of the neck.
Nice one, lady. x
This is the first year in about 4 or 5 years that I've not been on Glasgows festive "Neds on ice" skating rink in the city centre.
Every year I'd pay my money, and then hold on to the sides the entire time. Every year I'd go through the same petrifying experience!
However, I'm feeling pretty satisfied... having just spent the last few weeks playing in some pant-fillingly scary surf waves. In 9 months I've went from non-swimmer with aquaphobia to a doggy-paddling but quite at ease waterbaby. Swimming lessons shall resume at Easter.
... the online home and (not very) alter(ed)-ego of Ann McMeekin, a recently freelance Web Accessibility Consultant.
... passionate about many things, most of which will turn up on this site at some time or other.
... contactable via email.
Design and content copyright 2000-2007 pixeldiva, except where noted.
Copyright of comments remains with the individual author.
All rights reserved.
Left comments