Monthly Archives: March 2014

MAR 14 Terry. If you’d asked me a year ago, and told me what would happen to me, who I would ‘holiday’ with March 2014 post spinal cord severance, who do you think I would come up with in my first, say 200 people? Well I’m pretty certain that Terry Rodham would not have figured in that list. There are those that have ‘stepped up to the mark ‘ since my injury that have stunned me with their compassion ( and there are a couple that haven’t ) , and Terry is one that has so far exceeded what I might have expected, that I don’t have the words to express myself. He’s taken 5 days out of his holiday allowance to take care of me; sure we’ve known eachother for 25 years, but I can say I think that we’d never been close. He knew me as a joker, a laugh, slightly dangerous company, but not as a soulmate for sure. We’d cycled and skied together over the years from time to time, I’d met his lovely wife, Jade, a few times, but not for example been to eachother’s weddings, or even houses… Well what a truly awesome man he is. He’s training for an Ironman Triathlon, for my charity, in September, no bloody small undertaking, and whilst here with me in Portugal is getting a bit of warm weather exercise in. At the drop of a hat, he’s always ready to assist me in anything that I need, versatile and uncomplaining. He can even cook, something that is so far off my radar that it may as well not exist at all. And he’s just the best company, at all times. Girls, if ever Jade is daft enough to chuck him, remember where you heard about him first. Terry, I salute you. Posted 4 minutes ago by Russ Dawkins

Events

Realisation

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It’s dawned on me, since my injury, that the aspect of people that is the most attractive, is the caring side.

Not everyone has it, or exhibits it, but those that dont suppress it, or  who show it without hesitation or embarrassment are indeed special people.

Is that the real definition of ‘human’ – I’ve not looked it up – I don’t have to .

Over the last  few weeks I’ve seen it in Andy, Vanessa, Emma, Adam, Cressida and so many others.

Special all mention has to go to Chrissie, Debs, Lisa and Pia, who in Dani’s absence   ‘looked after’ me for 4 days.

Before my crash, I’d never have thought this character trait as the number 1.

Wit, looks, success probably all ranked higher. Now, those are desirable still, but completely secondary to my new realisation.

Those 4 girls were just incredible, and I can’t thank them enough.

This week, I’m experiencing ‘man love’ in Terry Rodham, who is taking care of me for a few days away in sunny Portugal.

UV and exercise is the remit – Christ that all terrain wheelchair is hard work.

What with my weight, and its’ my arms are pumping a 100 kg through the soft sand.

I’ll be on Worlds Strongest Paraplegic before you know it

Idea for a TV show, anyone?

Sky TV.

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Well last night, they came to The Park Club, in Acton, to meet the boxers, Dan, Tim, Lee and Ali ( the awesome coaches ) and me.
They were visibly moved by my ‘story’ and were very complimentary about what they perceived to be my attitude to my hopes of a sporting comeback ( such as it may be )

I talked to Johnny, Adam and Andy from Sky for quite a while and later Adam ‘interviewed’ me on camera, for Ringside.
They took quite a few shots of me with my beautiful girls, Lily and Amber. Amber took delight in regularly punching me in the face whilst on film…

The Sky gents were very enthusiastic about the whole thing, and Johnny spent ages coaching Emma and Sharon ( well, you can’t blame him ) on better punching technique, which they absolutely loved.

About 900 tickets have been sold already
With Sky there, more should go.

Don’t miss it, or you won’t be on the Telly!

So far

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MAR
10
So far.
Well, my friends continue to move me to tears.
Yesterday Chrissie got here at 8.30, ‘supervised’ my visit to the loo ( ensuring I didn’t end up on the floor, and so much more ), then hilariously chatted to me for the hour I sat there, doing my thing, washing and shaving etc, then getting dressed.
She helped get my chair onto the arm bike for 20 mins of pain, then sat with me in the London sun (!) for 45 mins.
After that Larry turned up to take me for lunch pre rugby, driving me down to Sam’s in Chiswick ( where I had the pleasure of chatting to an old mate, Paul too )
Then he took me to James and Bev Cracknell’s place to watch the game with Phil, Tel, Dan, Rick, Cal, Roger, Joyce, and the kids too ( with varying degrees of interest in the actual thrashing of Wales )
More food, more wine, more laughs ( at Wales’ ineptitude ), then Pia took myself, Lily and Amber home, staying for an hour or so too and tucking me up in bed.

So, you could scarcely say I was Home Alone then.

Dani, in the unlikely event that you feel bad about going away skiing to a luxury spa hotel on the slopes…. Don’t.
36 hours in and all is good in the world.

Russ

Events

MAR
10
So far.
Well, my friends continue to move me to tears.
Yesterday Chrissie got here at 8.30, ‘supervised’ my visit to the loo ( ensuring I didn’t end up on the floor, and so much more ), then hilariously chatted to me for the hour I sat there, doing my thing, washing and shaving etc, then getting dressed.
She helped get my chair onto the arm bike for 20 mins of pain, then sat with me in the London sun (!) for 45 mins.
After that Larry turned up to take me for lunch pre rugby, driving me down to Sam’s in Chiswick ( where I had the pleasure of chatting to an old mate, Paul too )
Then he took me to James and Bev Cracknell’s place to watch the game with Phil, Tel, Dan, Rick, Cal, Roger, Joyce, and the kids too ( with varying degrees of interest in the actual thrashing of Wales )
More food, more wine, more laughs ( at Wales’ ineptitude ), then Pia took myself, Lily and Amber home, staying for an hour or so too and tucking me up in bed.

So, you could scarcely say I was Home Alone then.

Dani, in the unlikely event that you feel bad about going away skiing to a luxury spa hotel on the slopes…. Don’t.
36 hours in and all is good in the world.

Russ

Without Dani.

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Without Dani.

My long suffering wife has gone away skiing for 5 days on a girls trip.
She returns perhaps just in time to see me leave home off a few days of sun on Wednesday.

I’m pleased she’s getting a break from me, as it’s not easy for her.

So, the lovely Pia has organised a ‘rota’ of girls to ensure I don’t
1. Die
2. Starve
3. Smell
4. Sink into despair.

To that end I’m being fed, washed (delivered to a shower), helped get into my bloody small toilet, and back out again, helped with dressing , taken out, talked to, and generally being shown a lot of affection.

Thanks to Pia, Debs, Chrissie for their forthcoming help and to Saskia,Sarah ( showering) and to Cherie and Cressida in advance too for next week.
Cheers Mac, Larry, Cliff, laura, Bev, James, Rick,Terry , Dan, Chaffs, Tim, Sel, Adam.. God the list is endless.

And may Wales beat England today too.

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Reunion

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Reunion.

In Octobed there was a Cardiff Uni reunion, in a bar in London
I’d aimed to turn up, if you like as a surprise ( good or bad ) to see a whole lot of my mates from back then.
Uni was the funniest time ever. I can’t even contemplate writing about the stuff we got up to on this public blog.

As it was I never made it in October, it just wasn’t logistically possible. My friends though decided that they’d hold another one – for me- after I’d got out of jail, here in Chiswick.

Arranged by Owain and Dani, about 20 of us met up last night.
I hadn’t seen some of them since 1987.
Obviously in general the girls looked better than the fellas. Whether that was Botox, moisturiser, or self respect isn’t clear. Maybe they’ve just had it easier than the lads?
Am I allowed to say that?

Anyway, it was a really good laugh, and no one had suffered an adverse personality change.
Apparently 2 of them even ‘moonied’ a passing train afterwards…. It wasn’t me by the way – not possible physically.

It was bloody fantastic to see you all.

Let’s have another one soon.

Please
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