The Mad Dash – The Climb #909

Thursday 19th August 2021

I worked out the other day that I’ve not left Swindon in over a year. My last trip out of the town was to Uffington Horse back in early August 2020. Since then the only journeys I’ve taken are a couple of geocaching walks to the outskirts of the town, two jabs, and another trip across town to sell my car (who needed one with a pandemic on and nobody going anywhere). That’s in an entire year!

Today all that was about to change as I was due to head up to Coventry to teach at the annual Fightcamp.

I’d been due to teach last year but Covid happened, lockdowns happened and the event got cancelled. However, I got asked again this year, and whilst I thought that might get cancelled too due to rising delta rates, we’ve made it here to the eve of the event.

I’m not going to lie. I’m really nervous. I really want to see people again, desperately want to. But… after a year lacking physical interaction, I wonder how I will cope.

However, today’s task was simply getting there… and it’s been non-stop.

First I needed to pick up a hire car. Prices really seem to have gone up in recent years and to get the deal I wanted I had to pick a car rental place on the other side of town. That meant getting up and walking about five miles. Given how unfit I am, this was not as easy a task as it might have been even a year ago. But I made it, the rental pick up was pretty hassle-free and the car a decent size for someone carrying a bunch of swords.

One of our favourite things on the Support Bubble Sofa is using the Too Good To Go App to get ourselves some cheap treats. It’s more the novelty rather than the food, but C will often order one and then cycle to pick it up. Some of them are crap but we have one local Gregg’s that gives you a ton of stuff. My father has been copied in on the message thread where we show off our spoils and he is always joking about magic bags.

I haven’t seen my family for over 20 months. Due to Covid and chemo my Dad hasn’t been allowed visitors. Given I have the car for such a short space of time there wasn’t really a chance to visit them unless I went today, so upon picking up the car, I came back, did a Covid test and then drove up there, taking the magic bag that C picked up last night for me.

I still had to socially distance as the chemo means my Dad needs to worry about more than just Covid but we had some social distanced dialogue in the garden. I thought they’d be pleasantly surprised (I should film this I thought. This shit will go viral) only for my parents to look somewhat downtrodden that I’d arrived. I think they were worried I might want to come in… which I had never planned to do. It really was a case of drop off the magic bag, show my face, have a quick chat and then head back.

It’s not a short journey so I got back late afternoon and immediately set about packing the car. Thankfully I was sensible and elected for a hotel rather than camping, so I only really had to pack clothes, toiletries and swords… but for someone not planning to fight I packed a LOT of swords. I also needed to take a bunch of bucklers in case students don’t have them when they turn up for my workshop tomorrow.

Of course, it decided at that moment to pour down, and I got so soaked I needed to change.

Car loaded, and me already exhausted and wanting a break, I drove up to the hotel, arriving just before eight pm. I brought in my clothes and luggage, plus the few sword bits that won’t fit in the boot and were on the backseat.

The sweatiness of the morning walk, together with the dry musk of someone who’s got soak and dried off in the car, meant I needed a shower before venturing out to the venue. I did that, sat on the bed… and then passed out until the small hours.

I’m going back to bed. I’m exhausted, and today is probably the most active I’ve been in 18 months. I’m better off getting a good night’s sleep and being bright and ready tomorrow when I have my workshop.

It’s been a good day today and I’m looking forward to the weekend, but I really think I tried to do too much. Better get used to it though… I’ve got a busy couple of days coming up