Yearly Archives: 2013

Staines ( upon Thames ).

Events

I went to Staines today. 

I’ve worked there on and off for 20 years. 
I’ve either cycled, run, canoed, even roller bladed there in the past ( plus driven, obv )
I’ve never been there on the wheels I’ve got now. 
I went to see Neelam Chaddah, my lovely dentist. She’s replacing the tooth I somehow knocked half of out in my crash, or possibly in the operating theatre. 
It felt so odd driving ( I mean being driven ) past the place where I’ve put my racing kayak into the river a thousand times before, knowing that I physically cannot do that by myself ever again. 
When I say odd, I mean awful. 
I know there will be loads of stuff that I will do in the future, but saying goodbye to an era is tough for me. A whole generation of schoolchildren have grown up watching the same solitary kayaker going up and down that stretch on their walk to school, for God’s sake…
And now for a week  I’ve only got one front tooth…  No more front page cover shots for me I feel 😉
Bugger. 

Setting the record straight.

Events

My brother Stu made me write this. 

He wanted it known that if Lily gets a modelling contract, it’s because there is previous ‘form’ in the family…
Stu’s calves were once on a poster for Boots weighing scales…. Circa 1989 
Also, I was once the ‘body’ for a drawing on an Action Man packaging, not to mention appearing in the pages of  a cosmetic surgery brochure ( despite never having had any !)   
And my mother was pictured in a Cancer Research magazine holding a cup of tea. 
So Lily, when you’re in New York, don’t forget where you get your ‘ look’ from, ok!
X

That Monique … She’s smart.

Events

Some men are born to courage Russ- you are one whether you chose this course or not. 

One time there was a man riding his bike who was hit by a semi In front of me and I tried to save him. I believe I told you this story. There were some amazing lessons for me in it all. One of those was the anger I felt at the time with all of these people standing around just watching. I was yelling for help and they just stood there. Granted it was messy and scary and all the rest but don’t you do everything you can? When I spoke to a psychologist because it really made me cross, she raised my awareness that some people just are not wired to handle these things. They feel bad and are frozen in what to say or how to act. They really do not know what to do or say. So don’t take it personally, it’s not you. I also no longer believe it is a conscious choice for them either. You can choose to reach out to them. Some will be relieved and respond and others will never be able to. Her words helped me to better accept the realities of social psychology. 

You are such a great person. While this accident has taken your legs it has also in my observation made you more aware, more giving, more accepting and more appreciative. At least outwardly. Those are things that will bring people closer not keep them away. 

On 2013-11-03, at 1:30 AM, “Russ” wrote:

Yeah I will, albeit sat down. X


Sent from my iPhone 7 prototype. 




I know……. You will ski again. I’ll be your biggest fan cheering you on 🙂



On 2013-11-02, at 4:28 PM, “Russ” <rdawkins2@sky.com> wrote:


I’ve got some incredible skis that I’ll never use again.