GUERNSEY April 2013
Friday morning:
Round to Chris’ for three of the best bacon B’s sampled for a long time,....each……………………well its early.
Flying out of GatKwik this time, and we’re off to a good start as Roy attempts to break the metal detector at the security gate.
“And the first RNSC swimmer to get awarded the new full X-ray body scan treatment is ……………………ROY.”
Apparently he’s got four points in his body that show up as being solid metal……both lungs --- his left kidney and that finger looking thingy close to the top of his legs………..yep, that’s right ---- his appendix !……..but all manually checked, and found to be false readings.
Fancy all that technology missing the Kalashnikov behind his ear though!
And out to the plane ………………good gawd……..its got propellers………….good job Sue’s not with us.
Friday pm:
Swims get swum – medals [ yes, its coins again ] get won, and we’re off to find somewhere new for dindins.
Find fabulously – fantastic, flavourish-ous - french - fistro ----------- [ I know, I know, but if John Masefield gets away with it -- so do I -- OK ? ].
It’s “Le Petit Café “ [ don’t you just love it already dear reader ! ], and we order four Guinesseses, or Guini, possibly.
Get strange French look from behind bar – and handed four 1664’s instead, or one 6656, possibly?
Coq au Vin to die for ………[ well, if you’re a chicken ]……… sorry, and Chris catches us just in time before ordering -- le pud -- reminding us of “La regle du gourmet” :
French pud = chocolate fondant
………..no need to even think about anything else.
And he’s not wrong folks.
Saturday morning:
After our 5 a day, yoghurt and Weetabix……………….no, really folks …….trained athletes remember…. It’s down to the pool.
We thought it might have been just the usual Friday evening, smaller turnout, yesterday, but it’s not.
The numbers are definitely down this year.
The boys do their stuff – and the coach write’s notes for later !
Then at last…….after two and a half years, ….it’s my turn.
I put all my training over that time [ 3 swims ? ] to good use and finish the 50m Fly……..hurrah !
I did it though ---- good news.
It’s a new PW, 50 seconds --- not so good news.
It’s a silver medal ----- just plain ridiculous!
But then I tear a calf muscle --- BANG --- as I attempt to get out of the pool.
No more swims for me …….but then oceans full of sympathy start to arrive in waves, ……together with some expressions of concern from the boys!
We, ie they, continue to medal all morning, and it’s off to the Cobo Bay Hotel for a fresh Crab sandwich, and a sit in the blazing sunshine……….no, really ! --------- I get burnt, of course, on the old topknot.
Roy does some sight-seeing --- we do some more relaxing --- and then back for more.
The boys just can’t stop winning medals……..and a chance PB also gets grabbed by Roy !
I’m spending time supporting our boys of course, and Len Phoenix, who’s all on his own, but also take some time studying some other swimmers ------in particular --------
a young female breaststroker from Birmingham --- just fantastic – underwater kick to the max, then 3 strokes in each 25m !
Our old friend ‘Mr butterfly’ is here Ben Lowndes ex Commonwealth games and he clocks a 58sec 100m Fly.
And someone new to me Tom Hollingsworth appears, with an outrageous breaststroke whereby the whole of his upper body is launched out of the water on each stroke. 50m time……31 secs ! Stunning………………………….as of course were Ray, Roy and Chris !
Leg really hurting, so it’s the closest place for dins tonight………..a curry house………OK…..but wouldn’t miss it next time we’re here.
SUNDAY morning:
Full brekky this time folks ------but not for Roy and Ray.
Chris is in 4 events because they’ve changed the events around this year a bit………poor sod.
But the boys all do well, more coins won, unfortunately just two silvers and a bronze short of being able to open an off-shore bank account !
Then it’s down to the new venue for Sunday lunch.
Great place, great location, nearly all the swimmers are there, and a Fantastic seafood buffet to start.
Main course a bit iffy – Ray’s cottage pie is wetter than the pool was!
Main course forgotten by a sweeluscious berry crème flan………just like the one I can never make !
Then its all over.
We’ve made friends over the weekend with just about all of the Jersey masters team, who are having their meet in late September --- when the sea will be roasting………they say.
They’ve got an 8-lane pool, usual events, but also a 1500, and a 1k, 2k and 5km sea swim.
Now does that sound good ---- or what?
A quick kip on the plane back ………………………………….and then our last treat.
Spotted limping badly down the 25km walk from the plane to the baggage arrival hall – we all get offered one of those invalid trolley rides all the way back !
Great !
And straight through the immigration queues as well!
Looking forward to the next one -------oh------------------and Jersey in September !
RNSC RESULTS:
Chris1st 50 Breast
1st 100 Breast 1st 200 Breast 1st 50 Back 1st 100 Back 1st 200 Back 1St 100 I.M 1st 200 I.M 2nd 50 Free 2nd 100 Free |
Roy3rd 50 Breast
3rd 50 Back 2nd 100 Back 2nd 200 Back 3rd 100 I.M 3rd 50 free 2nd 200 Free 2nd 400 Free |
Ray3rd 50 Breast
3rd 100 Breast 2nd 200 Breast 3rd 50 Back 2nd 50 Free 2nd 200 Free 2nd 400 Free |
Tony2nd 50 Fly
|