Since Chris and I are like ships that pass in the night at the moment, it was agreed many moons ago that the Windermere swim would be combined with a holiday. Oh yes it was Chris ! And then, having left it all to the last minute, (one of the very few occasions when its my fault! - cough cough), I could not find a hotel anywhere near within our budget. So we BOTH spent days and nights searching the internet and then finally agreed that we would only go for 2 nights and pick a supa-dupa expensive hotel and live first-class for a few days. Unanimously agreed. Oh yes it was Chris !
So, here we are, beautiful hotel (albeit only 2 nights), but still worth the long drive to Windermere. I am soooooooooo looking forward to it.
So now I need to back track a bit to the fact that I have just had all my windows and doors replaced and, as usual, we have teething problems with the company who have not been too co-operative in correcting. So when, (3 weeks after the fitting), I finally get a date, Thursday 16 June 2011, to have the teething problems sorted at 8.30a.m. in the morning - Perfect. Get up, fitters do their bit, all happy bunnies, then drive to Windermere. Relax Thursday evening, race Friday, evening out, drive home Saturday. Perfect (Again).
Ring Ring - "Hi Chris, just to let you know the fitters will be here Thursday morning nice and early so no problem", we can get this sorted and then go off to Windermere. Then........... came the problem. "Well, you will have to see them coz I'm in Switzerland all next week on business". "No honey, you must be mistaken, we are in Windermere --- remember!! "Is that next week". "Yes". "It can't be". "It is, you booked it!". "Are you sure". "Yes, I'm sure. *@*@*@* !!!!!!
The following conversation, I will leave to your imagination but suffice to say, Bettsy has the hump - big time.
You may remember if you read the Eton 10k blog, that I had a similar experience with Chris having to change his flight from Heathrow to City Airport at an earlier time, then boot it across to get to Eton for me which was also due to his lack of organisation skills.
So, dajavou. Change of plan. I tackle the fitters, all by myself, I drive to Windermere, all by myself, I spend a supa dupa night and following day in beautiful hotel, all by myself, drive to Bowness, catch a ferry to Brockholm, walk to the race. I'm still 'all by myself' by they way, in case you're not following the pattern. No one to zip me into my wetsuit, no one to pat me on the back, no smiling face to wave me off. Race. No one to greet me, no one to say "Well done". No one to unzip me. No one to carry my bag while I walk a mile to Ambleside - yeh, you getting the picture - still all by myself, catch a ferry to Bowness, drive back to hotel. ALL BY MYSELF.
Might be worthwhile mentioning at this point that I have absolutely no sense of direction. Quite common in women of my age I believe. I can approach a roundabout every single day for 30 years from one direction, and if I have to approach it from another direction, I haven't a clue where I am. Getting the picture.
So we are both panicking, how on earth is Bettsy gonna do this - All by Herself? Ring Ring. "Ive managed to get an earlier flight out of Switzerland. Guess, what, I land in Manchester at 2.45pm - what times your race?" "4p.m". "How long will it take you", "I guess just under the hour". "OK, I can do it, I will get a lift from a mate from Manchester to Carlisle, get a taxi to your race and I will be waiting at the finishing post for you. Awwwww Bless. soppy soppy. I've forgiven him. He supports me so much in my swimming, always gets there if he can and I am so grateful to him for this. Truly I am.
He set me SatNav up for me, even packed me a little lunchy and drink and constantly rang me every hour from Switzerland on Thursday (probably to check I was on the right motorway). I got there without a hitch and was amazed at the view from my bedroom. It was beautiful.
So I had a lovely peaceful evening, not quite to plan but hey-ho. I was here and he was gonna be here tomorrow. I even managed all the walking and the ferries and arrived at the race start with a couple of hours to spare. Amazed meself, that's for sure. As usual, it was a great organised event. I was in the 2mile wave at 4p.m. and the weather was changeable. The lake was extremely choppy and it was very windy. The celebrities were out in force as usual but I decided not to stalk anyone at this event, so no celebrity photo this time. My race was really tough. I am not happy in my new wetsuit at the moment, something I am going to sort out with Blueseventy at London Docklands event next week. It's so tight. 4x smaller than the size chart recommends for my weight and height, but they advised it was the right one for me. The Helix suit has so much buoyancy in the legs but being very high in the water anyway, I find I have no control on my leg kick. I can't seem to kick down, so combined with the bad weather conditions, my stroke was all over the place. But as usual, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Came 2nd by just 3 seconds so a very tight finish. Overall time 54.15 so considering the bad conditions, my time was not that much slower than Alton (53.33).
This was the wave before mine (in case you had forgotten by now - I am still all by myself) so no official photographer taking my photo today.
I rang Chris just before I start my race to see how he was doing. Sadly, he was stuck on the M6 in traffic and was not going to make the finishing post for me. I felt so sorry for him, he desperatly pulled out all the stops to get there, but it wasn't to be. I ran over the finishing mat to a warm smile from Neil, my swim-trekker guide, which was lovely that I had a friendly face that recognised me and he gave me a pat on the back.
I walked to Ambleside, all by myself, caught the ferry to Bowness - all by myself, and who was there still in his worksuit, shattered, but Chris. x. We had a lovely lovely evening meal, sat on the balcony drinking wine with this perfect view while I re-iterated to him (over and over and over again), what I had managed to do today - all by myself.
So, payback time.........Hmmmmm now let me think. I would love to do the last one in the series. Scotland, but Essex to Scotland for a 2mile race, it's a bit extreme. I know what - lets combine it with a holiday!!!!!! but this time, as punishment, and to make double sure I am not attempting to catch flights by myself, I have so lovingly, so thoughfully, so kindly - ENTERED HIM IN IT TOO. HA HA HA HA HA HA. Oh I do love a Happy Ending. x.
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