I had the perfect opportunity to change this one Sunday at the end of April. I was carrying on as usual when I was introduced to the possibility of being in a music video which was being shot locally! The band, The Computers, were taking over a ... Read More »]]> Oh Boy!!!!! What a Month! This one has been crammed full of Derby goodness with me right in the middle of it lapping every second up. Sometimes I do feel like my everyday life is no longer separate from my Derby life as it’s being gradually sucked into a big Derby sponge! Sometimes I need to squeeze that sponge out though and take a step back as it’s easy to suddenly wake up and realise you haven’t seen non Derby related friends for ages, or worn anything other than Dri-fit and team colours!

I had the perfect opportunity to change this one Sunday at the end of April. I was carrying on as usual when I was introduced to the possibility of being in a music video which was being shot locally! The band, The Computers, were taking over a local dance hall and bringing their great style and music with them along with a fabulous team to shoot their new video, “Mr Saturday Night”! They were looking for people to feature in it and via some people I know that run Burlesque nights (Kinky & Quirky) they had put out a casting call. The age range was early 20s to 30s so I thought I was well out of that league but luck had it that they weren’t asking for Birth certificates so I put myself forward after being pushed by Kinky to have a go! I have to say that I am eternally grateful for this vote of confidence as I had one of the best days of my life filming it! I also managed to rope in two other Derby girls from S.W.A.T, Vampira and Violentina Rossii!

It’s not often that I’m up at 8 on a Sunday in full on vintage makeup, hair and dress, but I have to say it was a lovely change from sweating in a vest for hours on end on the Derby track (not that I’m complaining, just a nice change)

They say a change is as good as a rest and this certainly was! I met so many fantastic people who are in a totally different world to me. The time spent while they set up the shots was interesting as we all chatted about our different lives. Some were there from acting agencies; some ran Vintage clothing shops (Elegantly Waisted – Shameless plug for my friends shop there! Grateful for the loan of the underskirt on the day which made my red polka dot dress just that bit more 1950s so I had something to swing!) some knew the band, some were in bands themselves! Was a real mix of personalities and people. Pretty similar thinking about it to Roller Derby!

Now, if anyone thinks that acting/dancing/being filmed is a doddle, I kid you not, it’s as strenuous as a 3 hr endurance workout at training! We danced for 5 hrs + (much to my poor feet’s disgust. Why I went for heels was beyond me after hours of twirling! All I could think of was don’t break your ankle, as this will take you away from Derby!) and I used muscles that I didn’t know I had! I certainly found that out the next day when I tried to do crossovers at training!

The video (where amazingly there’s a close up of me clapping at 1:52!) has just been released so you can see it here! ………http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewbm80hplLM

Thank you everyone who made my day. X

Since we chatted last I have played in two bouts for S.W.A.T’s travel team. One against Hellfire Harlots and another against Swansea City Slayers. Even writing that makes me smile, not because I played, but the names! What other sport gives you such fantastic team names to play under!

Hellfire Harlots was amazing. This I have to say to date, was the hardest bout I had played and Jammed in. Not surprising as Hellfire are well up there near the top of the Derby team rankings. (yes our sport gets ranked and it’s pretty exciting seeing what number you are in Europe against your counterparts) I think we all learnt a lot about ourselves and our team in this one (being the first game we had played under the new ruleset it was always going to be an eye-opener as the SW League games were to old rules as they started pre change)

To cut a long story short, we actually pulled it out the bag bigtime and actually won the second half with the determination and stamina of my team. We lost overall but as our predicted score was well under what we actually achieved, this game shot us up to no.37 in Europe! Was a great day for my team.

I did come out injured but ‘power to the cause’ as it was a magical game to be part of, plus I got to hobble around on crutches for a while after. I have to say when someone asks you how you have done your injury; it’s immensely satisfying saying “playing Roller Derby!”

….me after an appointment with the floor.

Swansea was a big one for us as it was the unveiling of our new Boutfits from out sponsors Queens Of The Sin Bin! We had Paul Delooze there from Roller Derby Photography to capture the moment and we were all pretty excited to see how the new dresses performed! We all loved them and won this bout so they must’ve helped on the day and we all felt great! Here are some shots but I will talk more about this in a future blog as don’t want to reveal too much on here as some exciting developments afoot regarding boutfit stuff!

The final and most important thing this month has been that my new skates have finally arrived from America (Via Bridgend Cycles). I am SUPER chuffed with them. I realised that I went into “Big Kid” mode when I opened the box as it was as if all my Christmases had come at once! I do have a video of this and one day when I work out how to upload it to my blog, I may share it with you! For now though here is a spread on my new skates to share my pretties with you!

I have skated on them at two men’s training sessions (LXG) and two S.W.A.T seshes and touch wood…. no pain as yet! I have to say I took the precaution of working in them too just to get some extra stretch time in to break them in!

Stretching skates while I work…

Yesterday I actually achieved 34.5 in 5. This means I skated 34.5 laps of a Derby track in 5 minutes, which averages out at about 15mph per lap. Previous attempt was in minimum skills assessment when I reached 28.5 , so I’m pretty chuffed with that! As yet, I haven’t changed any of the setup the skates came with  (apart from changing wheels around to a different combo) as I like to measure what I am wearing and discover what I like/don’t like and tweek accordingly but I will let you know more about my modifications soon.

I have sooooooo much more to talk about but to be honest you probably want to go out and enjoy the sunshine so I will leave you with a picture of my hero of the day, Stephanie Mainey, who I met at an LRG (London Roller Girls) bootcamp last week and she busted my arse good! More on that next time…..

LRG Bootcamp at Tiger Bay – Me with coach Stephanie Mainey, me grinning possibly as wide as my grin will stretch! (post 4 hr bootcamp so must’ve been good!)

Chat Soon!

Derby Love,

Flash Bo-Dash x

I guess one of the biggest things since we spoke last was that my team S.W.A.T (South West Angels Of Terror) played in and won the final of The South West League.

Wiltshire, Dorset, Plymouth, Kernow and us have been playing against each other in double header bouts since October last year to see who would be crowned the best team in The South West League, for the years 12/13. So far we hadn’t lost a game, so spirits were high and on 6th April this year we took the title and the lovely trophy that had been made to mark the occasion!

The ... Read More »]]> Hard to start a blog when it’s so Sunny outside! I have been massively sidetracked with important stuff and some not so important stuff today, but thought I would just start typing and see where it goes!

Taken just down the road from me now! Would write the blog there if I didn’t get sand in the keys!

I guess one of the biggest things since we spoke last was that my team S.W.A.T (South West Angels Of Terror) played in and won the final of The South West League.

Wiltshire, Dorset, Plymouth, Kernow and us have been playing against each other in double header bouts since October last year to see who would be crowned the best team in The South West League, for the years 12/13. So far we hadn’t lost a game, so spirits were high and on 6^th April this year we took the title and the lovely trophy that had been made to mark the occasion!

The game was a tough one though, not time to sit on our laurels (not that we ever would as every game throws up it’s different challenges, that’s what I love about Derby!) We were up against Plymouth City Roller Girls, who we had beaten before, but we knew we had a fight on our hands to gain the title. My team played with vigour, passion and skill and those who watched the game said that it was incredibly exciting to watch and they were at the edge of their seats while the scores dipped and peaked between jams, to each other’s favour.

Paul Delooze from Rollerderbyphotography.co.uk took these amazing shots of us at the final. Go check out his site for more awesome images of Derby!

The elation was incredible after our win as you can see by all our faces! Respect to all that played and we can’t wait to see who will try and prize the golden track trophy from our sweaty Derby hands later this year, when the whole thing starts again!

The Winning Team! Photo credit-Whoops A Daisies Sister!

Another massively exciting thing has happened this month! S.W.A.T have become a sponsored team for Queens Of The Sin Bin! For those of you that know this brand it’s totally cool, crazy, edgy, dark, rocky, current, graphically amazing and along with that they make kit that is Cool Dry (wicks away sweat, massively needed when playing Derby!) and uses a printing process where the design can be printed all over the material!

Our brand spanking new boutfits will be well on their way to us soon (we’re jumping about daily in anticipation) so see us playing in a bout near you soon wearing them! I think a little photoshoot maybe in order too, to celebrate at my studio so watch this space!

Check out http://www.queensofthesinbin.com/ to read up further on our awesome sponsors!

Not our design, but an example of QOTSB Designs on a boutfit

It’s been a massively amazing year for me & my Derby Life. The weekend we won in the final was actually the 1st year anniversary of my first day as Fresh Meat! (now that was a different blog if ever I read one! Gummy Worm anyone!) The honour to be playing AND jamming for the A team exactly one year on at a bout, really hit home on this special day.

I feel amazed that in one year I have learnt so much but I’m still like a big Derby sponge now and loving every minute of it! Yes there are the ups and downs and yes it is hard sometimes but what isn’t when you’re out to achieve something and progress further than the edge of your dreams!

Me Jamming at one of the SW League games – Photo Tim Churchill©

I actually had the pleasure of skating with our Brother team this week, “The League of Extraordinary Roller Gents” (Yes, bosy do Derby too…and it’s growing! The call it Merby…or Dangle Derby if you want a giggle!) I was excited to see numbers had grown since I last skated with them and when I walked in I felt a lump in my throat as everyone eagerly skated round with big grins on their faces! Was a bit different to our training session on Monday practicing lineups for our next bout ( Hellfire Harlots, this weekend in Nottingham) but was just as exciting. Reminded me of my first sessions in that very hall and I felt all glowey inside seeing how they all were enjoying it. I took some shots for them as now I play more, the Derby Photography has taken a backseat, so this was great fun too and I like to support our Bros where I can! As you can see there are some girls skating with them. This is an open sesh and some ladies are getting a start on our Fresh Meat for S.W.A.T so if you’re local and want to try Derby, give them a shout! https://www.facebook.com/groups/132321870209630/

Training session – The League Of Extraordinary Rollergents

I finally achieved one of my own dreams this month. I’ve ordered my very very special skates that I’ve been cooing over, since that very first day when I sat in the corner of the sports hall and watched Insane Bolt running on her toe stops in her pink Antiks (with what I thought were gold cherries on the sides!…I now know that it’s an “A” but boy did I love those gold cherries!)

I not only had to save like mad, but I wanted to make absobloodylutely sure that I was making the right decision. As you know these babies don’t come cheap, nor do any upgrade skates for that matter, but I am pretty sure I will be over the moon when they arrive. I can’t wait for the moment when I open that box for the first time. I am pretty sure Angels will sing and a glow of light will radiate out from it and up into the heavens!….or will that be the amount of PINK MEATLLIC leather I have chosen for them! (yes I know it may wear off over time but doesn’t bother me! Happy with the lived in used look! Anyway, there are worse things in life than leaving a trail of pink glitter wherever you go!)

Now anyone that knows when buying Antiks you can go for the black AR-1s which are lovely in themselves or spend a bit more and get them in custom colours. I figured that after waiting so long I may aswell wait a tiny bit longer and go for the colours that I want, after all I’m a creative girl at heart, but boy…was it hard to choose!

The day came when I had to make the decision. I couldn’t leave it any longer as time was ticking, skating in my old skates and praying (as do my team) that they don’t fall apart at any given moment!

I think the day that I chose the colours I was particularly hormonal as I chose the combination below!

Quick photoshopped version of the colours I have chosen for my babies!

What do they say, don’t buy any clothes when you’re hormonal so what did I do, buy  ££££££’s worth of skates! I quite like it as although they are quite rainbowic, they will be mine and they will make me smile, as they are pink, sparkly and bright with a hint of team colours! The worst bit of the experience was choosing the wheels! The colours of wheel I wanted didn’t match the leather and I had my technical brain arguing with my stylie brain! I did actually convince myself that the 96a’s on offer would work, as I had progressed and they would make me go faster, but in reality it was because they were white! When I actually phoned the order through I chickened out and went for the ones I knew I should’ve had all along. Kinda easier when your not faced with the colour and just have to decide on durometer (which is all that matters in reality! One day there will be all wheels in all sizes and all Durometers but that’s a long way off yet! A skate superstore is my heaven!)

I’m happy from a technical and visual point of view. The skates I have chosen along with their shape and specifications suit me, my shape feet (heat mouldable tow box if I have problems) so I just can’t wait to get them and feel the beam of light warm my face as I cut that package open!

By my next blog…..they will be here, so I will let you know what they’re like to skate in, not just to look at!

Catch you soon.

Flash Bo-Dash xxx

Are we sitting comfortably? Then I will begin…..It started when we had a very special phone call at SWAT headquarters from non other than The Sun newspaper ! We had been chosen (thanks to some help from Roller Derby UK) to feature in a double page spread about the sport we all love! Football…I mean ROLLER DERBY!!!!!

What an honor! Now we knew we’d been working hard on and off the track, but to be noticed by a national paper wasn’t something that happens every day! The buzz started to vibrate round our PR minds….What would they focus on? Would it portray Derby under the light it should be, a serious, hard, tactically ... Read More »]]> Last Weekend was magic! In fact the whole week was a whirl of fast paced Derby goodness with a humongous chunk of PR frivolity chucked in!

Are we sitting comfortably? Then I will begin…..It started when we had a very special phone call at SWAT headquarters from non other than The Sun newspaper ! We had been chosen (thanks to some help from Roller Derby UK) to feature in a double page spread about the sport we all love! Football…I mean ROLLER DERBY!!!!!

What an honor! Now we knew we’d been working hard on and off the track, but to be noticed by a national paper wasn’t something that happens every day! The buzz started to vibrate round our PR minds….What would they focus on? Would it portray Derby under the light it should be, a serious, hard, tactically brilliant sport full of committed, courageous women (and men) or would they take the angle of women in hotpants, looking hot!? (part of it of course but such a larger picture to be reported on)

Now I don’t like to judge or be judged. This is why I love this sport as it is all-inclusive and non judgmental. For us to question the motives of this article too deeply would in itself judge the papers perceived image, something that we fight so hard not to do ourselves! We decided the best action to take was to stay true to ourselves and our beloved sport and explain to the reporter how it all works, living, loving and playing in Derby World and have faith and that they would promote the sport as a sport and not under the same hat as a wet t-shirt contest!

Now I had been interviewed before by BBC radio Somerset on their breakfast show a few weeks previously. They wanted to do a phone interview with me about page 3! Not something that happens every day, to be called at 9am and asked if you would mind if they called you back live on air in 20 minutes to chat about how I feel about the well known page!

At the time we’d been setting up a “teach the BBC radio presenter (Emma Cousins) how to skate live on air”  and this phone call was made off the back of that. They thought that a ballsy Roller Derby girl may have some opinions on Page 3 and not be afraid to give them I guess! It did however cross over into my day job as a photographer as I frequently shoot women in my studio so this made for interesting talk time!

So how does this relate to The Sun article? Well, I‘d done a bit of research on the Suns readership prior to my radio interview (yes in the 20 minutes I’d between rushing around the room talking to myself and jumping around to get rid of the excess adrenaline waiting for that phone to ring!) and what I’d discovered actually amazed me!

The paper has the largest circulation of any daily newspaper in the United Kingdom (about 2.5 million a day in Jan 2013)  and….. (now this was the bit that got me) …..45% of readers were women! I knew that it could only be a good thing to reach that amount of women (and the remaining 55% of men!) with the message of Derby!

So what happened……Well our very own Vampira was interviewed for the article that was to feature two other teams in a two page spread and they wanted to send a photographer down to shoot us at training that Saturday!

This was all happening at breakneck speed, even faster than the Flash moves on a story! The article was going in the paper THAT MONDAY!!!!! So they wanted to shoot us as a team on the Saturday, do a Derby in civilian clothes shoot on the Sunday and it would be in print the next day!!!!

To be honest the timing of this wasn’t great as that Saturday we had already arranged a training sesh and Scrimmage (unofficial game for the use of training purposes to those not in the know) with the lovely Grin ‘N’ Barum girls in North Devon. This meant an early morning 1.5hr drive, 3 hrs of training and scrim, 1.5hrs back the straight into 3 hrs hard training with our girls AND a shoot with the Sun!

In one word….Agggggggghhhhhhhhhh!

We had to go for it though as it was a massive opportunity and we joked that at least the shots of us training would look authentic! If the Sun thought they were going to get the glamorous side of Derby they were to be pleasantly surprised as what they would get was the sweaty nackered side too, which is what most of us look like… most of the time!

To be fair I did spend the 1.5hrs (not all of it I must add.. i’m not that high maintenance…although some of the girls in the van may beg to differ like when I lost my mirror under the van seat!!!) putting on my Flashness! If I was going to be in a national, I wanted to be me as I am in bout mode! We were all told to put on bout fits (what the travel team wear when they bout) and the rest of the league were to SWAT up!

Moral was high, even when we told the Grin N Barum girls what was happening as they were pleased for us and our pending photoshoot and wished us well as we all bundled into the Derby bus of fun to head back for training session no.2!

The Girls of S.W.A.T & Grin N Barum, NSOs & Refs after the first 3hrs of the day!

The Sun photographer spent the afternoon shooting us train and took some individual shots of Vampy as she was going to be the featured player. We had a lot of fun that day and although we were all absolutely pushed to the max physically, mentally and happily, we made it to the end of the day and out the other side alive!

Photos taken by Sun Photographer Wayne Perry© at our training session!

Vampira in her boutfit, ready for the centerfold of The Sun!

My day didn’t end there though as I got home to find emails from the Sun reporter requesting action shots (knowing I shot the team) and profile pictures of Vampy….and me! I was mega excited and could burst that they wanted my shot too! I had chatted to the reporter about how I had started Derby and to cut a long story short she said my story would be sent to the editor and be in Mondays paper too! Wowzers! This eased the, staying up another 4 hours and working on Derby sorting and sending pics after a mahoosive day, bearable!

Vampira & Flash Bo-Dash heading for The Sun for S.W.A.T! (click the link to see more team pics!)

The next day was the “Derby Girl in civilian clothes shoot” This was happening at Vampiras house in the country! It wasn’t planned that I go but it was decided at the very last minute that I should attend! Now I wasn’t expecting this AT ALL and after a 6 hr Derby sesh I was just chilling at the parents house in my sloppy clothes having a roast dinner! I had an hour to get to the shoot, I hadn’t done my makeup…or hair….sods law as I always straighten or at least do my hair and today, I was so tired I had just relaxed my regime totally!

I ran upstairs at Mums, borrowed what I could makeupwise and just ran out the door shouting in a whirlwind “I’m off to be photographed by the Sun”! My poor Mum…but she is used to my crazy happenings.

The 45 min drive to Vampys was a mixture of dread and excitement! I wanted to help Vamp to do her makeup (I help the girls out a bit when I can as most of them have been for a profile pic shoot with me) but there was no time as as soon as I got in the door, he was there!!!

He wanted pics of us together and individual shots in about 3 outfits (bearing in mind I only had my slobby clothes on this was going to be a problem but I just Grinned N bared it!..see what I did there! Always up for promoting our local teams)

The afternoon was spend in a myriad of giggles and adrenalin from both me, Vamps and her parents who were there too! I had to borrow some clothes which was hilarious in itself, me being so fussy most of the time! Vampy and her Ma were amazing coming up with different possibilities while I tried to see what would fit! (Vamps is about 3 sizes smaller than me!)

The shots were taken in the garden (while Vampies Dad pulled funny faces at us and fell off the sofa that he was jumping on to distract us!) The photographer also wanted a white plain backdrop so ornamental plates were removed from the kitchen wall and the freezer turned off (plug hidden) to accommodate this request! We all laughed at the clunkyness of the whole procedure! Who would have thought that our portraits in the sun would be taken next to a de-frosting freezer, me in borrowed clothes, frizzy hair and minimal makeup! If you had told me this I would have probably hyperventilated at the thought!

It turned out to be a very special, magical day of friendship, fear, laughing and about just getting on with it! Putting yourself out of your comfort zone.

This is what all the above is about for me and what has come to the forefront of my mind whilst pondering on last weeks experiences! Putting yourself out of your comfort zone for the good of yourself and others. To me this is what Derby is about and what it has taught me. It’s not all about you, it’s about the good of the team. That weekend I had to make mental sacrifices that pushed my boundaries, which in turn has made me stronger as a player and a person. Whether that was playing hard Derby for 6 hrs or having to be shot for a national with little or no makeup, both events were character building.

This was made possible and better by the people that I was with who supported me and visa versa. In hard times, to work as a team in whatever situation, gets you through!

So Monday morning arrived and I shot up to the local Co-op at 7am where my Uncle is the Manager. He was filling shelves and I called him over in excitement while I grabbed a paper and threw it ontop of some stacked cans! “I’m in the Sun I exclaimed”, so excited I could burst! my excitement caused a scene (as a girl running around at 7am in a fluffy hat shouting isn’t the norm) so I had a couple of staff looking over my shoulder in anticipation too! I flicked through the paper expectantly!

……….”There’s Vampy” I shouted! looking amazing in our SWAT travel colour sandwiched between two London Roller girls…. and me? Well as my Uncle very eloquently pointed out, I had been bumped by a Morrissons toilet paper add!

Was I disappointed not to make it? Honestly,yes…but only for 5 minutes and then I remembered how much fun I had had with my team that weekend and Vampys family the day before. It’d made me remember that it’s not necessarily the end product, its how you get there and the friends you make on the way! This may sound slushy but believe me it’s true. In extreme situations it’s the ones that stick their necks out, support, live, love and laugh with you that really matter!

So my team can now say that they’ve made a national paper and Vampy was part of a centerfold! Something to tell her grandkids of the future and be looked up to by the Tiny Terrors of today! Read the article here! http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/4858367/Fast-brutal-roller-derby-is-a-smash-with-British-women.html

S.W.A.T’s loyal supporters! The Tiny Terrors at our home bout.

Thank you to the Sun for making all our days a bit Sunnier last week!

Derby Love to you all and chat soon.

Flash Bo-Dash x

Writers block, laziness, busyness, business, not knowing what to say, knowing what to say and not wanting to? For whatever reason my blog history now has a massive gaping hole in it!

This is my first blog since January.

I’ve started to write it in my head many times but never put fingers to keys and actually done it! So much has happened, almost too much and I think that has actually stopped me writing it as the enormity of the task, how to cram it all in, just got too big! The thing is, for you the readers, reading a novel of a blog would have been as much of a chore as me writing it so today, I’ve just got myself into gear and just started typing! What will be will be (and hopefully ... Read More »]]> Well I didn’t think that would happen!

Writers block, laziness, busyness, business, not knowing what to say, knowing what to say and not wanting to? For whatever reason my blog history now has a massive gaping hole in it!

This is my first blog since January.

I’ve started to write it in my head many times but never put fingers to keys and actually done it! So much has happened, almost too much and I think that has actually stopped me writing it as the enormity of the task, how to cram it all in, just got too big! The thing is, for you the readers, reading a novel of a blog would have been as much of a chore as me writing it so today, I’ve just got myself into gear and just started typing! What will be will be (and hopefully interesting enough to keep you reading!)

Where to start? Well the biggest thing would be I guess that it has been a whole year since I discovered my Roller Derby team The South West Angels Of Terror! My blog also started when I was a rookie (not long after) and that is another big thing that has changed. Don’t get me wrong I’m still learning every day about Derby but I have played in a few bouts now for the Angels and there are more to come! I guess I now feel like “one of the big girls!”

It was March 2012 and I was googling Roller Derby teams in my area. I came across the Angels and sent them an email! This has recently been posted up on our secret forum, on my Birthday this year for a giggle! I think I mentioned it a while back in an earlier blog, but it’s well documented that the girls wondered if I was an actual person or spam after seeing the photos I sent in of myself! Here’s the email for your amusement and for me as a record of how far I have come! (……I can now stop on skates!)

March 11^th 2012, I wrote….

”Hi,

Been Googling for ages to find Roller derby in Exeter and just found you guys on Friday evening after seeing that you had a name change! After some detective scrawling through the net to see what you do I wondered if I could come and sit quietly in the corner of a training session to just see what its all about?

I am passionate about skating (since 6yrs old but only just started again really, boy its different being higher up on skates as I am taller now that at 6! lol) and have a pair of quads that I bought a few years ago but alas not the type you use but I can be found bombing up and down Exmouth seafront at speed……but have trouble stopping, turning etc etc!

I initially found out about the sport as I was You Tubing HOW TO STOP! lol I came across the Roller Derby turn stop as I have nearly come a cropper with many a dog and once nearly went into the lifeboat when it was going out to save lives. This could have been tragic on many levels!!! ……hence me wanting to find out more what Roller Derby is all about as I think I could learn alot and hone my passion into something more constructive rather than causing possible fatal accidents on the seafront and annoying the oldies and bird watchers bombing past up and down! hehe

I go to body combat, pump,yoga etc etc regularly and just want to mix it up a bit and instead of putting all my energy into me just getting fit and energised, do something I find immensely fun get involved in a team sport so its not so solo. I also love dressing up and have a passion for anything that gives use to the mountain of stripy tights , socks,legwarmers and burlesque type stuff I have mounting up in my wardrobe from my day job, professional photographer www.woodburyphotographystudio.com

I see you have a rec skate next Sunday but any slim chance I could pop in tomorrow evening? Monday just for a looksy? No problem if not but thought I would just ask.

All My Best

Kimberly (aged 36…today actually……going on 14)

———————————————————————————————————————————-

So that was how I approached my team! They now know I am not spam (and actually a vegetarian) but probably as crazy in real life as in digital form…… and now they can’t get rid of me! Mwha ha ha ha ha!!!!

Some stuff since Jan 2013, inbetween blogs! SW league games feature heavily! (click to find out more…)

I’m 37 now going on 12, so Roller Derby has made me younger at heart even though my physical age has extended!

So on reflection, this time last year I was looking up Roller Derby and this year I was playing it! My Birthday fell on a Monday, training day for the Angels and what better way to spend my Birthday than doing something I love! But what happened there wasn’t just about hitting girls…….I was completely BLOWN AWAY at the Derby Love I experienced that night.

I received a plethora of presents, too many to actually open before we started to train! A big box with Flash emblazoned across the front in glitter contained a multitude of Flash inspired presents including some Derby pants (Made by the one and only Kate Garrard one of our recently passed Freshies who runs Dude Where’s My Pants?”…soon to be at a bout near you) some Jammer Dodger biscuits (see what they did there!) False eyelashes,hair chalk, Hand made cards so much to list! I also was made my very own purple satin super hero cape and amazingly… my very own comic that I actually featured in!!!!

My awesome Birthday presents from the girls!

Now the girls had no idea how much this meant to me when they made it………. When I was small my parents gave me a book of the fox and the hounds, a Disney story. When I opened it I actually featured in the story in print! This blew me away all those years ago and I’m sure that this “manipulation of a mass produced product to feature a personal aspect” has fascinated me ever since! It ran throughout my degree in Design & Contemporary Craft  where my mission statement was “Mass production with an injection of the individual” and to this day I produce product and imagery that encapsulates this ethos. Photography in it’s very core state is Mass production with an injection of the individual! The process being mass/printing and the individual being what we put on that process….i.e what I capture whether that’s people or arty stuff injects a personal force onto the mass producible ! Are you still with me?!?!

My very own magazine!…Lead Jammer Mag re-posted on Facebook as they liked it too!

What I’m trying to say is …..it meant a lot, it all meant a lot that the girls had thought, taken the time to get something or make something that was me, that I would love! (This doesn’t discount my non Derby friends one bit as I also was lucky enough to receive happiness in the form of many things and doings from all of them too. Xxx)

I guess what I’m trying to sum up is what Derby does to and for your life, you spend so much time with these girls, they become your sisters very quickly. They get to know you inside and out. You learn together, fight together, sweat together, hurt together, laugh together, celebrate together, support together, create together, fall together, get up together. You’re a team together working towards a common goal, to win, but with that common goal comes many other benefits and this blog has made me reflect on those benefits.

It’s not the material things that I’ve gained (as awesome as they are!) it’s the sisters that I have picked up on the way and being an only child this means a lot. I have the older sister, younger sister, listening sister, crazy sister, loud sister, quiet sister, older brother even!

In one year I have a larger family than I could ever have imagined…and it’s still growing!

Love you all.

Flash Bo-Dash xxxxx

P.S

(Won’t leave it as long next time, chat soon!)

My go faster super hero cape!

The Tiger Bay Brawlers have been short listed for the ‘FAIR GAME WINNING SPORTS TEAM’ award and they need our support.

What better way to show people that derby is not as violent as it’s been portrayed on TV!

So this is what you need to do to take part: 1. Click this link http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/fair-game/vote-for-our-fair-game-winning-sports-team 2. Click on the photo of the team(pic 9) that looks like this:

A pop up box will open. Like this one:

3. Scroll down and check the “vote for this” option

then close the pop up

4. Fill in your name and email address then press submit 5. THAT’S IT. DONE!

You can do this EVERY DAY and using as many email addresses as you have access to!

Here’s the link, so get cracking:

http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/fair-game/vote-for-our-fair-game-winning-sports-team

Voting closes ... Read More »]]> Derby is full of supportive people with great hearts so we are calling on you!

The Tiger Bay Brawlers have been short listed for the ‘FAIR GAME WINNING SPORTS TEAM’ award and they need our support.

What better way to show people that derby is not as violent as it’s been portrayed on TV!

So this is what you need to do to take part:
1. Click this link http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/fair-game/vote-for-our-fair-game-winning-sports-team
2. Click on the photo of the team(pic 9) that looks like this:

The Image looks like this

A pop up box will open. Like this one:

A pop up box like this should appear

3. Scroll down and check the “vote for this” option

Vote for this team

then close the pop up

4. Fill in your name and email address then press submit
5. THAT’S IT. DONE!

You can do this EVERY DAY and using as many email addresses as you have access to!

Here’s the link, so get cracking:

http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/fair-game/vote-for-our-fair-game-winning-sports-team

Voting closes on the 20^th Feb so we are against the clock.

Please share this page with your friends and show some love for the lovely derby folk in Cardiff!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and support this awesome team.

Good luck to the Tiger Bay Brawlers!!

Much Derby LOVE to everyone who reads this.

Don’t forget you can always get the latest updates and Subscribe to the newsletter >>

I haven’t written a blog since New Years Eve!!!! I try and write one a week but my life has been jam packed! (Jam packed, jammer packed pack is here! Yes Derby filled to the brim!)

We’ve all been training hard since the return from our Xmas break. We‘ve been pushed, pulled,squashed,hit,crunched and all manar of moves that have raised our cardio and agility on the track (plus I think we all wanted to work off some of the boxes of chocolates we consumed over the Xmas period!)

Seems others have been discovering the benefits of  the “Derby Workout” too! ABC News picked up on it on Good morning America. Check out this link to see their reporter in action! Our training sesh’s are somewhat a bit more extreme but that’s why we LOVE it!

Our ... Read More »]]> Well hi there! Long time no read!

I haven’t written a blog since New Years Eve!!!! I try and write one a week but my life has been jam packed! (Jam packed, jammer packed pack is here! Yes Derby filled to the brim!)

We’ve all been training hard since the return from our Xmas break. We‘ve been pushed, pulled,squashed,hit,crunched and all manar of moves that have raised our cardio and agility on the track (plus I think we all wanted to work off some of the boxes of chocolates we consumed over the Xmas period!)

Seems others have been discovering the benefits of  the “Derby Workout” too! ABC News picked up on it on Good morning America. Check out this link to see their reporter in action! Our training sesh’s are somewhat a bit more extreme but that’s why we LOVE it!

Our first training session back was a killer! people were flagging, feeling sick half way through, lying on the floor panting, all because Insane Bolt pushed us to are max! We have some fit peeps in out team but even the fittest struggled! We went straight from endurance to agility training and I was paired with Billabang (who might I add is a honed volleyball player who coaches and competes regularly) we both kept going, her running backwards, forwards and juking on her toe stops while I had to plank and visa versa but when out eyes met there was a common feeling that “this was hard!!!!”

We both like to keep fit outside Derby but the Xmas break had crept into our souls and it’s taken a few endurance based training sessions to get us all up to speed again! Now I love it that I can go for a run and not feel like I am going to die! (like I did over Xmas) My fitness barrier has risen even in two weeks which feels good so when I watched the clip that ABC produced, I wasn’t surprised when they talked about the fast results from the Derby fitness regime!

That said, along with the crucifying endurance sessions, we have been having a lot of fun too! For our session yesterday I cooked roller skate cookies for Yam-E-Dodgers Birthday! All the Fresh Meaties loved them. Got this cracking pic of them all munching on them inbetween T-stops and ploughing! I turned around and saw a bevy of Derbettes grinning from ear to ear!

Munching Derbetts!

Things haven’t all been hunky Dory. At the beginning of the week (for one reason or another) I struggled. I even missed Mondays training session which sucks! I like to think Derby can pull me through anything but if your going to be crying all over the floor you have a duty to your team mates not to cause a water hazard! I pulled myself out of my struggledom, by starting with a run the next day, then Yoga with a good friend. It ended up being an Ashtanga Yoga session to my surprise as our teacher was away! WOW. Now that’s a stretch/workout! I love finding muscles that I didn’t know I had!

I’m happy to say I got through the week with old friends and new supporting me and giving me “normal” and “Derby” love…. and lashings of it! One thing that made me beam, I was sent a Lego Minifig of a Derby Girl out of the blue. The friend that sent it did so not because I was sad (she didn’t even know at the time) but because she wanted to! How special is she! My Minifig has been my guardian angel all week making me smile and helping me with important stuff like wheel checking!……….

Minifig was passed on by a Freshie who thought  my new Lego friend would be better suited to live with me as she is taking a back seat with Derby for a while. I view it that I am looking after Minifig until she returns, which I hope she will one day….

Thursdays Training sesh was awesome! I did have a few bushings concerns. Over Xmas I changed from the ones that came with my skates to 8 barrel, blue, suregrip 72as. These worked a treat when I put my outdoor wheels on for a spin over Xmas as the brain shake from the gravel and all type terrain to my flat tarmac was minimised greatly. I‘ve been loving them also as the under push when doing crossovers is massively smoother, easier and I can go further. I did however feel a bit unsteady while running on my toe stops when training inside. The hangers and axels moved greatly giving a feeling of unsteadiness that I didn’t like one bit! I love running on toe stops! I tightened them up as far as they will go for that session but skated holding my breath! Not good when you like skating fast!!!! For yesterday’s session I had my old bushings back in, but even with them in, I felt unsteady on my toes. Wish I hadn’t noticed it now!!!!!!

The loss I got though from removing the squidgy blues was too much to loose so I am going blue again and have ordered some gumballs (something I said I wasn’t going to do as I really wanted Snyder Hocky stops but the thread is different) For now I hope the extra surface area of the gumballs with the blue bushings will give me what I desire! I have to be careful not to churn too much money into parts as one day I hope to be able to afford the Holy Grail of skates….some Antiks! (I like the ankle support and mouldable toe-box, not because you can get them in pretty colours…but it helps!)

Still waiting for my Deadbolts. They say they will let me know when they have been dispatched but I am desperate to get them. Falls are getting harder while hits are getting stronger!

Been doing some exciting stuff for team PR as it’s out home bout coming up on 16^th Feb! This is very very exciting!!!!!! I have been working with the PR & Merch team designing this week. I laid up the poster and sent it to the heads to get it looked over. The theme is “Love Hurts” basically as the bout is so near to Valentines day! Much to my surprise the heads had chosen me to be the poster girl for this bout!!!!! I nearly fell of my chair! It meant me re-designing and hashing about what I had already got down on paper but who wouldn’t want to do this for this honour! The theme basically stayed but a picture of me Jamming at the Dorset bout (taken by Tim Churchill) had to be used in the publicity! This has to be one of my life moments and I was so proud. Here is the final promo and if your about come and watch some cracking Derby!

First though in the SW League, we have the Wiltshire on Feb 9^th where SWAT are NSOing and I have been asked to take some photos! See you there and say hello if you see me!

Signing off now but chat soon.

Derby Love

Flash Bo-Dash xxx

It’s New Years Eve and I am in a bit of a panic (like every New Year) but MEGA excited as it’s the time of year in my Shire that EVERYONE dresses up in Fancy Dress. The only day where I look normal! You may know by now that it’s one of my guilty pleasures, fancy dress and over the years I have ecrued a number of outfits from Wonder Woman to Medusa, Vampire Nurse to Captain of a ship! I always make the excuse that it can be worn next year, but next year comes and inevitably I want to create something new to wear/someone to be for the night!

Pulling all this back to Derby as of course that is ... Read More »]]> Well this is fun. Writing straight out of my brain again and throwing my thoughts right onto the keys!

It’s New Years Eve and I am in a bit of a panic (like every New Year) but MEGA excited as it’s the time of year in my Shire that EVERYONE dresses up in Fancy Dress. The only day where I look normal! You may know by now that it’s one of my guilty pleasures, fancy dress and over the years I have ecrued a number of outfits from Wonder Woman to Medusa, Vampire Nurse to Captain of a ship! I always make the excuse that it can be worn next year, but next year comes and inevitably I want to create something new to wear/someone to be for the night!

New Year 2011-Spot The Flash!

Pulling all this back to Derby as of course that is what we’re all here for, I think that it’s one of the things I love about it that’s caught my attention. Not only do the people like to dress up (on and off the track!) it’s a chance to become your alter ego, should you choose to. It’s not for everyone! but if you are a bit like that your excepted by your fellow Derby mates, warts,false eyelashes, facepaints and all!

To be honest I loved the “idea” of this when I started but recently something strange has started to happen and my inner skater (Flash I guess) does actually exist on the track! My inner Bo-Dash definitely transforms if i’m pushed…and I love it …and the feeling of it. I feel so strong, invincible, like a real superhero! This wouldn’t have happened at the begining of my Derby career but as I have developed as a skater, so has Ms Dash!

It’s been a tough but exciting year, after all I found Derby…or did it find me? Sometimes in life things are presented to you by the Universe just when you need them. It was strange that I had been looking for a local team for a while and discovered them on my Birthday. The first time I went to watch them train was just before Mums first Chemo Sesh. I feel very lucky to have found it and all the girls I have met in my team and the community as a whole. I now couldn’t, or wouldn’t live without it!

For those who have been keeping up to date, Mum came through the Op, Radio Therapy and Chemo and in November this year, after a whole year of “The Big C’ stuff, things started to feel normal again (if you can call our family normal!) She is now back to doing what she loves at work but has new hair to contend with much to her amusement! It’s now VERY curly after the Chemo. We have had fun buying multiple curl controllers,waxes and product but most of all we’ve all been enjoying her new locks! To anyone who has been through it loosing your hair (and Mums was waist length) has to be one of the hardest aspects of Cancer as it’s part of your identity. It’s so lovely to have Mum back now and smiling more than ever! This year she even made it to the Xmas swim to watch me go in to the freezing water on Xmas day with all the other crazy people from out town! I took this picture below of us just after and look how alive her eyes are. She is more alive now than ever, with less wrinkles than me (much to my annoyance!) and after having curls forced on her is loving the experience!

Mum and I after the Xmas Swim 2012!

Identity is something that seems to be following though this blog, straight from my head and my heart! I guess it’s because I am fannying around with different outfits for this evening but this year, although I will always have many sides to me, inwards and out, I have certainly found my inner identity more and that’s thanks to Derby. I think it’s maybe because I love it and maybe your true identity only comes out when your happy, contented and in love!? Something to ponder on in 2013!

I am very excited about the year ahead and going back to skating after the Xmas break! I’ve so much to look forward to. My skate fund has become very healthy over Xmas, so it won’t be long now until I can afford my new babies and my local council have laid some new tarmac which is very exciting for outdoor skating! (well technically it’s not for skating but that’s what I will be using it for like I did the other day when I had to share it with all the kids with their new Xmas scooters! made for good obstacles!)

I will enjoy sharing my continuing journey with you in 2013 and wanted to thank you for reading and living it with me! It means alot xxx

I just wanted to wish you all a fabulous New Years Eve and an eventful, sparkly,dazzling,derbytastic 2013! Signing out now to go geekify myself but wish you Derby Love and chat in the New Year!

Flash Bo-Dash xxxxxx

Geeky Flash! Happy New Year!

Last Saturday, 15th December 2012, S.W.A.T took on the very lovely Plymouth City Roller Girls. This was my second bout playing for The South West Angels Of Terror. I was uber excited but the run up was slightly rocky with issues surrounding the Sports Hall and if we could actually play. These I am glad to say were ironed out by Bout Day so the game was on!…and what a game it was.

We all left early, bright eyed and bushy tailed (not really but it sounds good!) and met for the travel down to Bournemouth which was to take us about 2.5hrs on mostly B roads! Do you know what though, I didn’t even notice as we were all on top form and laughed most of ... Read More »]]> Well what’s been happening…or rather should I say WHAT’S NOT BEEN HAPPENING!!!!! WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! WOOOOO YAY!!!

Last Saturday, 15^th December 2012, S.W.A.T took on the very lovely Plymouth City Roller Girls. This was my second bout playing for The South West Angels Of Terror. I was uber excited but the run up was slightly rocky with issues surrounding the Sports Hall and if we could actually play. These I am glad to say were ironed out by Bout Day so the game was on!…and what a game it was.

We all left early, bright eyed and bushy tailed (not really but it sounds good!) and met for the travel down to Bournemouth which was to take us about 2.5hrs on mostly B roads! Do you know what though, I didn’t even notice as we were all on top form and laughed most of the way….or was that the stack of redbull we bought at the garage or the funny detour we had to take because someone had forgotten their purple metallic boutfit! whatever it was, it was a fun journey in Dita Von Wheeze (Miss Hiplashes carriage again) We were planning to travel in big yellow (Aphrodite Dees van) but she broke down the day before! (the van not Dee!)

We were starting to wonder if this bout was jinxed! The van before the van before had fallen through as the lovely Billa Bang had come down with a virus and had to pull out of driving too! (We missed you Bangers x)

After our exciting journey down though with banter coming from every orifice (probably Fanny Havocs!) and a glint in out eyes we finally arrived, stoked and ready to go.

On arrival we were met by Bolty (Insane Bolt) and Dot Slash who had also had to change cars at the last minute due to a breakdown! I did hear that they found a lovely ginger bread house selling breakfasts on the way though which I think made up for it! …I also have seen the photographic evidence that they fraternised with the enemy on that cold Saturday morning in December at said gingerbread house! True Derby Love x

To all be excited together was lovely and we kitted up for our warm up all hoping that the floor would be “not as slippy as it looked in the photos!” As it happened it was fab and my new (old Bolty combo) wheels were great! I also have to thank the Insane one as she lent me some scabs gaskets to wear under my now compressed somewhat and sorrowful TSG knee pads. The great news is that I have ordered some custom Deadbolts that will be on their way very soon so watch this space! I went for the Jammer Elites, which is good really as something very special happened at the bout…….I was chosen to Jam!

My new Deadbolts being stitched as we speak in America!

This was a real honour…and total surprise, to be picked to play the position of Jammer, in this game. I trust my coaches, I know they know what they are doing, but on this occasion….I did wonder if they had drunk too many Red Bulls to stay awake while planning line-ups! I knew I had been putting everything I had into training, but I didn’t think it was my time yet…..They obviously did! …and I thank them from the bottom of my kit bag!

I went on first as a blocker, the opposition was tough. We played well though and then it was time. I was up to Jam! I put up a good fight but alas I didn’t make lead against Plymouths War Hannah. Throughout the bout, I Jammed another three times and as I found my feet (wheels!) I gained lead each time! I was EXTATIC!!!! Something had snapped/been fired up/lit in me and I just found a strength that comes out rather frequently these days I am pleased to say. It’s pretty handy when your being hit by others nearly twice your height! ( not really but that’s how it feels when your out there sometimes!) Rock on!

Plymouths War Hannah & I meet again on the Jammer line!

S.W.A.T won the bout, at the end of a fast paced and hard game. I was chuffed to pieces to be a part of that. I was also brimming with pride for all my team as I saw something in them that I hadn’t experienced first hand before. A tough game is different to any drill or training session as adrenaline and passions run high. They were truly unstoppable though and played an exciting game and just kept going! I know your not supposed to shout much from behind the bench but to be honest I think we all went home with hoarse voices that day! (along with our many SWATTETTES that travelled up to cheer us on!)

Fanny Havoc stretches out, Miss Hiplash has no idea what’s going on behind her, I try and look hard and fail while Vampira and Whoops a Daisy show their best assets in the changing room!

To be honest, after the game I was in a bit of a daze as I had dug deep, deeper than I had dug before so I lay down and took some crazy slow shutter speed shots of the next bout, Kernow against Dorset, to relax! Got some good angles flopped on my stomach! Not too tired to shop though and bought myself some blue barrel bushings and some lovely skull pants from Roller Derby City that I am looking forward to wearing very soon! Oooo and some of our very own new merch stickers to stick everywhere to show how proud I am of my team!

Kernow take on Dorset….whilst I lie on my belly!

We left pretty sharpish as it was a long journey back……then the phone rang. Uh oh! What had we left behind???? (or had I left the boot open like last time)

Much to my surprise ( surprise seems to little a word for the face I pulled) a voice said, “is there a Flash Bo-Dash in the car?” (it was my team mate Whoops a Daisy) “Yes”, I said grinning! Whoopsy continued to say, “well she has won the award for Best Jammer!” I would have fallen off my chair if I wasn’t wedged in between two derby girls!

This I have to say was the best feeling ever! Whoops also asked if there was a Miss Hiplash in the car, as she had won Best Blocker! We all cheered and I think that phonecall energised us up far more than any Red Bull for the long drive home through the medieval villages and rain that was to follow! (we went the wrong way but it was surprisingly quicker! Result!)

Bolty won MVP unsurprisingly as she played amazingly but I want to thank the Plymouth girls for picking me as it means a lot. My first game Jamming for S.W.A.T and getting Best Jammer (sorry I said it again!) has to be one of the best moments in my life! It feels even better though when you have worked hard for something.

I’m going to stop there as no doubt you have as many pressies to wrap and as much food to eat as me, but I wanted to let you know a slice of what happened last week along with wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

I am looking forward to what next year brings and the following games in the SW League. The next bout is in Wiltshire on Feb 9^th and it,s S.W.A.Ts turn to NSO, but following that it’s our home bout which is going to be AMAZING!!!!! Watch this space.

Ta ta for now and go drink and be merry…because soon it will be skatey time again peeps. Here at S.W.A.T we have only missed one session and I am pineing already! Next years training starts again early January and I have a feeling that this time it will be harder and tougher than ever, but first, I will share with you some shots from our last training of the year, Mondays Xmassy themed session. It’s good to be among people as mad as me!!! At last!

Love Flash Bo-Dash xxx

Fear not though, I’m sat in my Xmas jumper and sage green Xmas treeified skinny jeans all Christmassed up writing blog no.19 , (yes 19!!!!!) for you now. I have the hat on as my boiler has broken (again) so I have no hot water OR heating! I guess it makes it feel a lot more wintry which may add to the Xmasy feel I guess! Trying to see the positive but to be honest, after getting home from training this week and discovering I had no hot water, wasn’t funny, at all! ... Read More »]]> Well what a week! I was so busy even the blog missed it’s normal Friday slot! It’s a crazy time for us photographers this time of year and I have mostly been shooting kids in Xmas hats with my trusty fluffy assistant, Derek the Deer!

Shooting Xmas in my studio!

Fear not though, I’m sat in my Xmas jumper and sage green Xmas treeified skinny jeans all Christmassed up writing blog no.19 , (yes 19!!!!!) for you now. I have the hat on as my boiler has broken (again) so I have no hot water OR heating! I guess it makes it feel a lot more wintry which may add to the Xmasy feel I guess! Trying to see the positive but to be honest, after getting home from training this week and discovering I had no hot water, wasn’t funny, at all! I did feel that after 2hrs of intensive endurance & agility training on skates, the return home to a freezing cold shower was nothing short of boot camp crazy, but to have it forced on you is something I didn’t relish one bit! Icecream head was the name of the game and I jumped in and out as quick as I could but I was still left with a numb brain and the pain was unbearable! I do hear though that a freezing cold shower is great for circulation and cellulite and my hair felt surprisingly soft the next day so there is a silver lining to this freezy cold cloud!

My 7 hours of Derby training this week has left me nothing other than elated! I have thoroughly enjoyed it after my “not so ecstatic” week last week. My fitness has risen and I can feel my body starting to work with me again after my crazy Month of multiple antibiotics and tooth extraction. I think it hit me harder than I thought and they do say that antibiotics (and I had a good few) can take a while for your body to balance out. I certainly feel balanced now and have even managed a few body pump classes which I am totally crazy for again! Just love that pumped feeling! (although when I’m at the end of a lunge track I must admit I don’t love it as much!) it really is worth it though and I can tell the difference in my Derby, certainly through endurance training. A lot of Derby is in the legs and since I have started they have defiantly become more solid. Lifting weights kind of evens it up a bit and aids my ability to hit harder which is never a bad thing!   This week I have jumped further than I have ever jumped, skated faster than I have ever skated and found a sweet point that I didn’t have before in my hipchecks so I am a very happy Derby Girl this week. I have worked hard for it and the results are pleasing. I have also had A LOT of fun getting there which is very important too!   Yesterday Fanny Havoc and I hit each other religiously trying to up our anti on the track! When we got home we were both seeing if we were bruised. I am (you bugger Fanny!) This week I shall mostly be sharpening my hip bones even more. Watch out next week Ms Havok!

The knee pad scenario is becoming all the more important to sort. I fell hard from a jump straight onto my kneecap this week and it had a lovely egg shape when I got home! Never liked my knees and always wanted more knobbly ones, but at least they are pretty sturdy and this is a bonus in Derby! Never thought I would even slightly like my knees! I am looking into a few possibilities so watch this space! Whatever I decide to get, it will have to be quick, although it’s important as ever that I get the right tools for the job!

Something rather magical happened at training this week. A mysterious silver box appeared in the middle of the track. No one saw who put it there and it just said, “to SWAT from Santa!” When we opened it at the end (after we realised that it didn’t belong to anyone in particular) we were astonished to find boxes of clear unicorns! All with their own label on them saying “Save a Unicorn this Christmas. Don’t cut track! Happy Christmas!” after we all questioned each other to the death, we still don’t know who did it !!! We do have our suspicions and through careful scrutiny of handwriting, I rekon we will find out! So if you did do it, don’t write anything in your own handwriting for at least a year in front of a SWAT girl! Whoever you are, we all love you to bits and it was such a lovely surprise! Derby love big style to you our magical Unicorn supplier!

I also had a Derby moment as I sold my first upgrade wheels onto a Freshy! I loved my Grey 89a Suregrip Pushers soooo much and they did me proud. It’s lovely that they can go onto help someone else learn and feel the first grip that a pusher gives when your learning crossovers…and I know they helped as I saw a massive smile! Have fun with them Julie!

That’s all for this week but I’m looking forward to what next week brings!  There is a lot of Derby activity coming up with the next game in The South West League on Saturday 15^th. Get your tickets to see us play here, when we take on Plymouth City Roller Girls!

I will look forward to filling you in soon on how the day went.

Chat next week!

Love Flash Bo-Dash

As it happened it was the right thing to do as the rain came in hard just after training and my town was cut off from the rest of the world completely! Quite exciting really but it didn’t help matters though when I ... Read More »]]> So did we get to training last weekend??? Noooooooo is the sad sad answer.The floods were just too bad and it was touch and go whether we would make it back …..without a boat (or someone with a batman car) so “The Topsham Massive” as we are collectively called in our car share, made a very grown up decision…… to stay in bed! Ha ha well not quite but we all were in out PJs I think when we were discussing it over the tinternet in the warm (I won’t tell you what time of day it was!)

As it happened it was the right thing to do as the rain came in hard just after training and my town was cut off from the rest of the world completely! Quite exciting really but it didn’t help matters though when I tried to batten down the hatches. From the side of the house that the howling wind was coming up from the sea, my lovely Edwardian window decided to give up the ghost after over 100 years of good life and the frame broke! My balancing skills from Derby came in useful here as I had to stand on one leg while I held up the bottom and reach over to the gaffa tape (the only thing to hand) while I patched it up and rammed a pillow case under the effected area to stop the gales and rain from entering the room! Sorted! ………..Then my boiler broke. I started to think that my luck was slightly off kilter this week. Just when you need these things to work they all brake!

Just like my wheel when it decided to roll off my skates all on its own a few weeks ago! As it happened, it was almost in slow motion. I felt a proper wally at training and to top it off I have no idea why as it was technically kind of  impossible! I had just put new wheels on to my heavily pimped up skates (Reckless Evaders, 58mm 38mm 88 & 93a’s, bought second hand from the one and only Bolty…I hoped that some of her speed would still be magically in them somehow!)  with spacers so they were tightened up tight. No idea why it came off as I checked them after I put them on with my new purple skate tool (team colours so it makes me smile a lot)

Not only did it roll across the floor but the bearing that is normally so hard to get out, rolled out too! Just as I was about to jam. Doh!!!!! and not a good feeling when you rely heavily on your skates being safe and trackworthy. Dot Slash came to the rescue with her tool and tightened them up for me. I was in a bit of a daze as I was astonished! Now at the beginning of every training I check and double check them! For some reason I don’t mind doing this with my purple spangly new tool which is far nicer that the one my Dad got out of his shed for me! (did the same job but the purple plastic (did I mention it was purple!!) one is more of a joy to use than the old silver tarnished tool looking one! These things are sent to test us and sometimes learning from experience (even if it’s a bad one) is sometimes the best thing to make something stick!……..

It’s also time to buy new knee pads. Things seem to have gone up a notch training-wise and I am getting bruises from my pads! Well obviously not the pads but the mahosive falls! I am flinging myself about a lot and I’m not scared to fall but my pads now are what I would call intermediate really. Better than the beginner pads I had (for skating on the seafront, mini SFR ones) but not as padded as the Scabs and 187’s etc that people favour for their extra protection. I did try some scabs on early on and I didn’t like the way your knees (or the back of them) knock against them on crossovers but everyone says that you get used to wearing them. Knees are very important in life so I am going to have to invest and improve on technique. Liking the look of the TSG Force IIIs and I have tried one of our Fresh Meaties pair (Thanks Hazel!). They have a nice feature of a clip (along with Velcro) that’s adjustable. This seems like a great idea!

My skates have really been pimped to their max apart from the bushings that are sitting waiting to be placed. I like to feel what I need and buy kit when I know why I really need it and it’s getting to be time for an upgrade (happens alot in Derby!) I am taking my time on this though as I want to make the right decision as it’s an important one, but for now, I’m happy enjoying my nearly new Reckless with their new Reds bearings (which are a dream compared to my ABEC 5s that I was running)

Last night was a great training session (agility, my fav) and I looking forward to 3 hrs of no doubt hardcore hits tomorrow! Mondays session was hard for me and I struggled emotionally and mentally. I’m not really sure why (could have been a number of things) but it scared me to be honest and it was a bit uncomfortable and uncontrollable. My Derby love glowed a bit dim for a while but anything that’s worth something, is hard work and my flame is burning brightly again. I’m ready and raring to go again. Lets hope my wheels stay on this time!

Chat Soon!

Flash xxx