Footie and Other Things
Aug. 26th, 2015 12:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
przedThings have been a bit mental, so it's been a couple of weeks since I've done an update.
The team are getting better at working together and passing. And they're still really good at holding even high scoring teams to very few goals. (We still have the lowest goals against by a long shot.) But they are still having trouble turning opportunities into goals. Some of it is just bad luck--shots going wide or the other goalkeeper getting hold of a near thing--and some of it is their desire to put the ball in the goal themselves, even if someone else on the team has a clearer shot at the net. ::sigh::
Last week we played the team that was lowest in the standings, and I thought we had a shot at winning. But they have clearly improved (they've got a three game winning streak going) and our defence fell apart at a couple of key moments, so they managed a 2 - 1 win. But Ros got our "1," so that was awesome. She's definitely become a much more aggressive player, which is lovely to see.
This week we played the top team in our division, and they really could have killed us, but we played a really solid game. They scored early, but we kept the pressure on and our best player got a really lovely goal she chipped over the head of their keeper. (Ros also made a really lovely run and had a clear shot on net, but kicked it right at their keeper, alas.) We had them at a 1 - 1 tie for most of the game, and I thought we might keep that, but our defence fell apart two minutes from the end and they got a goal in. Still, it was a great game.
Outside of soccer, things have been a bit crazy. I did my back in about a month ago, irritating two arthritic vertebrae doing some yoga moves after a running class. Yoga always seems like a good idea, but my crazy passing-itself-on-a-curve spine just can't handle it. This has not only meant no Taekwando until I get the pain under control, it has also meant I've been sleeping badly to not at all a majority of the time. Which means that every few nights after we get Ros to sleep I pretty much keel over where I'm standing. This has almost entirely eliminated most of the computer and TV watching time I usually eke out.
Stupid back.
In spite of that, there has been fun had.
We went camping two weekends ago, which I always enjoy. Though sleeping on an air mattress really did not impress my back, and was managed only after I ventured into the nearest town to buy the strongest over the counter pain meds I could find. (It was that, or find a cheap nearby hotel so I didn't feel like someone was drilling into my spine.) The drugs were lovely stuff for knocking you out, but not a sustainable solution due to its not-so-lovely side effects.
Today, I took the day off work to take Ros and a friend to the Canadian National Exhibition,a.k.a. the Ex. It's a fall fair on a huge scale, with a midway, a giant food building where you can get all sorts of crazy things like donut hamburgers (the girls had perogies; I had a yummy fish taco), and lots of shows, demonstrations and ridiculous things for sale.
Ros loves to go primarily for the kids' circus workshop that gets put on every year. She always has done the tightrope walking and acrobatics, but this year she was finally big enough to do the trapeze, which was very exciting.
Here's Ros demonstrating her ridiculous flexibility.
This is a bird's nest.
Ros and her friend working together during the acrobat show.
Ros on the tightrope.
The team are getting better at working together and passing. And they're still really good at holding even high scoring teams to very few goals. (We still have the lowest goals against by a long shot.) But they are still having trouble turning opportunities into goals. Some of it is just bad luck--shots going wide or the other goalkeeper getting hold of a near thing--and some of it is their desire to put the ball in the goal themselves, even if someone else on the team has a clearer shot at the net. ::sigh::
Last week we played the team that was lowest in the standings, and I thought we had a shot at winning. But they have clearly improved (they've got a three game winning streak going) and our defence fell apart at a couple of key moments, so they managed a 2 - 1 win. But Ros got our "1," so that was awesome. She's definitely become a much more aggressive player, which is lovely to see.
This week we played the top team in our division, and they really could have killed us, but we played a really solid game. They scored early, but we kept the pressure on and our best player got a really lovely goal she chipped over the head of their keeper. (Ros also made a really lovely run and had a clear shot on net, but kicked it right at their keeper, alas.) We had them at a 1 - 1 tie for most of the game, and I thought we might keep that, but our defence fell apart two minutes from the end and they got a goal in. Still, it was a great game.
Outside of soccer, things have been a bit crazy. I did my back in about a month ago, irritating two arthritic vertebrae doing some yoga moves after a running class. Yoga always seems like a good idea, but my crazy passing-itself-on-a-curve spine just can't handle it. This has not only meant no Taekwando until I get the pain under control, it has also meant I've been sleeping badly to not at all a majority of the time. Which means that every few nights after we get Ros to sleep I pretty much keel over where I'm standing. This has almost entirely eliminated most of the computer and TV watching time I usually eke out.
Stupid back.
In spite of that, there has been fun had.
We went camping two weekends ago, which I always enjoy. Though sleeping on an air mattress really did not impress my back, and was managed only after I ventured into the nearest town to buy the strongest over the counter pain meds I could find. (It was that, or find a cheap nearby hotel so I didn't feel like someone was drilling into my spine.) The drugs were lovely stuff for knocking you out, but not a sustainable solution due to its not-so-lovely side effects.
Today, I took the day off work to take Ros and a friend to the Canadian National Exhibition,a.k.a. the Ex. It's a fall fair on a huge scale, with a midway, a giant food building where you can get all sorts of crazy things like donut hamburgers (the girls had perogies; I had a yummy fish taco), and lots of shows, demonstrations and ridiculous things for sale.
Ros loves to go primarily for the kids' circus workshop that gets put on every year. She always has done the tightrope walking and acrobatics, but this year she was finally big enough to do the trapeze, which was very exciting.
Here's Ros demonstrating her ridiculous flexibility.
This is a bird's nest.
Ros and her friend working together during the acrobat show.
Ros on the tightrope.
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no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 06:22 am (UTC)The circus looks like fun. We found a brilliant climbing place for kids for Jamie - see http://www.skyhighadventure.com/ and scroll through the header pics. Apparently the idea was conceived in NZ and is spreading world wide so you could check it out near you. Or you could come to Manchester... ;)
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 01:27 pm (UTC)That climbing place looks tres cool. Much more fun than the garden variety climbing gym we go to. Shall keep an eye out for a similar place here. And shall definitely check out that one if we make it to Manchester. (I have hopes...) Maybe Ros and Jamie can go climbing together!
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 11:14 am (UTC)But thank you for the lovely pictures! Ros is growing up so quickly.
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 01:28 pm (UTC)Ros is rapidly approaching the teen years. It's sort of terrifying and fascinating all at once.
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 06:16 pm (UTC)There's a reason I've always done sports like badminton, fencing (one arm needed!) and soccer (no arms needed!).
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 05:11 pm (UTC)Sorry about the back. That sucks big time. I hope it's under control soon!
I'm off in hours so I'll see you on the flip side!
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 05:13 pm (UTC)Will drop you a quick line with my contact info in case you want to meet up in London. I'll be there Sept. 24 to 28.
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 06:30 pm (UTC)And I really hope your back improves so you can get some proper sleep, which should in turn improve it more! Ack to backs - it's so debilitating when they're on the fritz.
no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 07:11 pm (UTC)Backs are dumb. I'd be happy to download my brain into a robot body any time. I'm hoping I just need to hit back on the right combination of therapy and exercise to get back on track, but can't help wondering if I'll ever get back to no pain. I've had a really good run considering the shape of my back, so I've got my fingers crossed that my luck hasn't finally run out.
BTW, I'm going to be back over for a flying visit to see Mr Cumberbatch's Hamlet, and thought I might see if you'd be up for a meet up. I'll be there Sept. 24 to 28, seeing the play on the 26, so there's not a lot of time, but it would be lovely to see you again.
no subject
Date: 2015-08-27 12:05 pm (UTC)Glad there have been some good times. The circus skills thing looks brilliant and Ros' abilities are epic! Wow. And lovely to see her enjoying it so much. I'm glad the football's going good too *g*
no subject
Date: 2015-08-27 02:41 pm (UTC)Back aside, it's been a good summer. Ros is Ridiculously Flexible Girl and also wicked strong, so the whole circus thing is right up her alley. And football has been good, though I can't help wishing we'd got another win or two. Ah well, the girls are all, mostly, having fun, and that's the main thing. (Our enthusiastic but clueless newbie told me this week she may not play again next year because it's not quite as much fun as she thought it would be. She's taken to flinching every time the ball comes near her, alas. Shall have to see what I can do for our last game to make it more fun for her.)