WOW!

Well, It’s midnight on 16th March, 2012, and today I had confirmation that I WILL BE CARRYING THE TORCH!!!!!!!!  So excited!  I am still waiting to hear about the Ceremonies auditions (was exploding with anticipation this morning that I e-mailed them – they said “within the next week!” Sooo !  We wait) – not too hopeful as by the end of three hours dancing I was knackered, legs were shot, but am pleased to say that hips did good!   Haven’t danced so solidly for years, but it was SOOOOOOO much fun!  Loved every minute and even if I don’t get in, I will hold that in the memory bank for many a year ahead.

But the TORCH – soooooo bloody brilliant – will be in Christchurch, Dorset – a little way from home, but I don’t care.  So proud, just wish Mum and Dad were here to be a part of it.  Can’t wait, and we get to keep it, possibly – how awesome is that.

To all my hippy friends, this is for you.  We have come one darned long way over the past few years (Lord – never thought I would be saying that when all this started!  A few weeks more like! Lol!)  It is for my family (my husband, three children, and my MIL) who have had to put up with my bloody mindedness, my determination, my independence, and my competitiveness – all of which have made me a nightmare to live with!  It is for my friends, who have supported me throughout, most of whom haven’t really a clue what the operations entail, just that I needed a bit of time off from running! I wouldn’t want it any other way!  It is also for my surgeon and his crew, Mr Johan Witt, of the London Clinic.  He is an awesome surgeon, and nice with it!  You don’t often get that all in one package!  And, lastly, it is for those in the world who are putting up a much greater fight than I have – you inspire me.

 

Standing on the edge of fame!

Well, maybe not quite! Lol!  Yes, we have been recalled to a second audition, and this time I think I will be terrified!  Managed to fluff my routine in the ‘easy’ audition, but somehow was asked back, so heaven help me in the next one.  I am thankfully being put in a group that “they feel I would be more suited to”!  Thought I had gone a step too far when I put my name down for being able to do ‘pointe’ work.  Realisation dawned on me on the way home that I hadn’t done pointe work for 30 years, but, and I would like people to note this, I went home, dug out my old pointe shoes (yes, I still have them and, in fact, Jenna wore them for her last pointe exam!), put them on and danced ‘en pointe’ around the kitchen.  Bloody killed my feet for the all of 3 seconds that I managed, but I was able to do it.  So I was extremely grateful when I got the e-mail this morning saying that I wasn’t being put forward for the pointe group.  Jenna, on the other hand, was!  Having nearly pooped herself, she contacted them and told them she didn’t have any pointes at the moment, so they, phew, have put her into a ‘general dance group’, like mother!  What a giggle!

Well, my audition is on Wednesday 22nd at 6 p.m. so lots and lots of zumba is going to take place between now and then!

Shakin’ our booties!

Well, yesterday, my elder daughter, Jenna, and I, plus my bestest friend who I have known since I was 2, headed up to London to audition for the Olympic Opening and Closing ceremonies, and what a hoot we had!  We gave it our all and came out grinning from ear to ear.  The people were wonderful, all the auditionees were so friendly, and my hips didn’t hold me back – not once did I give them a thought.  Even if we don’t get in, I know I can boogie with the best of them and not have my hips let me down! Lol!

 

Will update whether we get to go for a second audition as soon as we know!

Happy 2012 Everybody!

Olympic Torchbearer for 2012 London Olympics

Could it get any better, no, I don’t think it could!

I was nominated by Dr Sophie West, who, inadvertently said that I had “run many marathons despite having had major pelvic reconstruction surgery”.  It should have read “needing to have”.   But I had to add my own words as to what my dreams and goals were, and that is what it was actually selected on.  Johnny Vaughan chose my story and said that it was “a touching and inspiring story, that I didn’t take walking for granted and who’s ambition was simply to run again” .  I don’t feel that I deserved it by any means, there are many more out there who will have been much more deserving, but for some reason he picked me.  I am truly honoured.  And so bloody excited I cannot describe it!

My hip journey has been relatively easy compared to others going through the traumas of Hip Dysplasia, and for that I will be eternally grateful.  I am fully aware of how I could have suffered over the years as others have done, and how easily I came through all of this.  Yes, sure, I had my downs, but being positive has always been imperative to me, and having goals to strive for have pushed me forward, not held me back.

I have made friends on-line, most of whom I will probably (sadly) never meet, but our friendship over the internet is strong, and we all have one thing in common – dodgy hips!  But they are friends who will be friends for life, they have supported me through this journey, and I will continue to support them through theirs.

I will carry the flame on July 14th in their honour – little is known about Hip Dysplasia, but I have the opportunity to put it on the map and raise peoples awareness to it.  I am utterly stoked!  I just hope I do it justice.

Annick x

Light at the end of a long tunnel! The A3 that is!

Well, I can see it in the distance, the light that is! A long tunnel, not as long as some, but longer than others, with a few obstacles faced en route!  The opening of the magnificent A3 tunnel from Grayshott going under the Devil’s Punchbowl is now officially opened! YAY!  And a most welcome relief to the traffic congestion for all concerned.  Having said that there is always a down side, and like with my PAO’s nothing ever goes according to plan.  I have had a few hiccups along the way, but am back on track, although like the tunnel there is always a down side.  We now have a lot more noise from the road south of the tunnel, as, obviously the traffic is rolling – where as before it was stationery and didn’t make a sound.  Hips likewise, have a down side, in that they are still clonking and catching on the Ischial area.  I had cortisone injections done last week – two to both Ischial areas and one to my psoas on the right leg.  My left Ischial area is now catching even more and actually feels quite unstable!  I am still getting the discomfort when I drive on a long journey so not sure what I can do about that.  Ah well, hopefully it will settle, and more likely, I will just get used to it – like the noise from the A3.  Not a lot can be done about it so I may as well just get used to it!

All in all, I would say I am at 95% back to where I was three years ago.  I have started running and am up to about 40 – 50 minutes depending on terrain.  Slow, but still moving nonetheless!  I have had a busy summer with dogs (actually since Easter it has been mayhem) but now that I have stopped dog-sitting to focus on selling our house, I should (yeah, right!) have more time to focus on running.  Running itself feels great – just the psoas that was getting a bit tight after about 3 miles, so we shall see how that pans out.  I am glad that it is all behind me, well, for now anyway.  THR is a probable in a few years time, but I shall be putting that off for as long as I can.  Much as I like Mr Witt, I really don’t want to see him again for a very long time!  Bless him!  I would not be the woman I am today without him!

 

Japanese Tsunami

Just a little thought – well, actually quite a big thought really! Having watched the harrowing and desparate footage of the tsunami hitting the coast of Japan, I suddenly thought how slight my problems were compared to those that have survived and have absolutely nothing left. Whilst I have discomfort on a daily basis, it is so tiny in comparison to the pain that those poor people are going through, and will endure for years to come. Having lived in Japan, both my husband and I have a great affinity to the country and its people. Such a wonderful society, and such a beautiful country. Our hearts go out to them.