Life on the side lines

It was a bit of a wild, wet and windy weekend here in the East of England. Probably across most of the South really. I was standing out in it for about 8 hours of it watching field hockey yesterday. I did take a warm break and sat in the back of the car with a mug of soup and my book for an hour then bravely went back out. 


I become a hockey widow starting in September and stay that way until May. Rooster, coaches Tuesday nights and Saturdays for chicks ladies team and sometimes plays on Saturdays too with a men's team. Then spends most of Sundays coaching for our local club of mini's. It really is part of our lives and I love watching and cheering and taking photos. The driving too and fro, I could live with out but that is all part of it and the children do really appreciate it when I pack the car with everything they might need for the game and some things they didn't know they needed. Sweet and salt and extra water are a must, as is any sort of deep heat spray and dry sweatshirts. 

Yesterday, when I grabbed my ski sweater and cashmere mittens, I thought I might be over doing it for September but I was pleased I did. It was a horrible weather day yesterday and I hated seeing all the kids out on the pitches in the wind and rain, all wet and wild. They loved it of course and didn't blink about the weather. Apparently, once you are out there and running around, you don't feel the weather unless it is snowing or Very hot. We as parents on the side of the pitches, FEEL EVERYTHING.             


They are playing on a water based pitch that has to be 'watered' for every game. It was only turned on twice yesterday. The water at their feet is from the RAIN!


The chicks were both playing Junior Regional Performance hockey for Under 15 and U17's and it was four games over the whole day for them. Very competitive stuff and we don't get the results of the over all team picking until Tuesday. About 45 kids from 3 teams get narrowed down to a single 15 person team for both of my children. 
The boy is the more competitive of the two and would really like to get through to the next stage. We are just pleased that they have both gotten this far in the sport.


Last night I was so cold when we got home that I had to go to bed in woolly socks and a heavy blanket over my duvet. The chicks used up all the hot water when they got in and really I couldn't complain as they did all the hard work.


Today I get to buy another can of Fabreeze to dilute the shin pads and kit bags. The smell of sweat on plastic, foam and synthetic material, is grouse.


So, it is September and the ski sweater is out of the cupboard already. I guess I better dust off the long sheepskin coat and the snoods as well.