Tut tut!

Last night at Fulham Training was not a good training session, from a coach point of view I was awful! But rest assured this was a learning process for me, so next time I'll do better.

I went to Eastbourne yesterday to see my surgeon who did my knee, and silly me I was one day late! I left feeling a bit sheepish! So made another appointment for next week, I am so looking forward to see Mr Armitage - cos he will be delighted how well I have been doing.

Even after today session in the gym, I was hopping over a foot high hurdles using my operated knee - hopping forward and sideways; and I am feeling rosy about it now.

Today I went to see Dina who is a part of the medical team for GB Women team - she gave me a massage and a Reiki treatment; I saw colours of purple when I was being treated to a Reiki, it means the most sensitive and wisest of colours - having some form of psychic power.

I was contacted by my sponsors today wanting a photo shoot with me with a large cheque, but somehow they managed to 'borrow' an airplane at Shoreham airport - as if I was ready to depart for Taiwan. I was amazed they were able to do this! My mother is coming with me, as she loves airplanes.

I am feeling very assured at the moment, I am surrounded with people who brings me joy and laughter at this time. As time a-creeping before I jet off to Taiwan. Its now 26 days left before we fly.

I thought I add a photo of me in bin bags, have a giggle!

Easy day

My day has been quiet, which is nice compared to last week when it has been non-stop for me.

I went for a long swim this morning, not a gentle swim! But a really hard one, I spend most of my lengths swimming just with my arms. This is only for fitness purposes, afterwards I did some running in the pool, with lot of stretching.

I am pretty confident that there is some sufficient improvement in my hamstring, so I am starting to get a bit itching to do more active exercises. But I won't, because it is a little too soon and I need to be monitored before I go to the next stage.

I watched a good DVD last night called Kite Runner, I recommend it - it about the story about 2 boys in Afghanistan.

Today I did a lot of domestic stuff to do, like washing my clothes and food shopping. My cupboard and fridge is full of good food, and I admit food is my weakness, and I eat a lot - but its good stuff!

My father is coming round my flat tomorrow to help me to put up some heavy duty shelves in the bathroom, and we are using spring toggles which is for plastic board - this is an alien thing for me! so my father is helping me. He is brilliant in DIY.

I am going to see my surgeon in the afternoon tomorrow who did my knee before Christmas for a check up - I think he will be pleased to see how well I have done.

T-shirts

Its been a weekend of T-shirts, with Errea sending me my sportswear with my sponsored logos on them.

I have to wear them whenever I am in training or meeting certain people, that's the idea of promoting my sponsors.

The photo attached is one of my tops.

It was GB weekend in Manchester, where we played in a tournament against other clubs. We got 3 t-shirts with GB Deaf Football logos and our initials on them. It looks cool, I am glad I asked for the right sized t-shirt after dreaming that I couldn't fit in the hole of the t-shirt - the next day I texted the person who organised the order of the t-shirt for one size bigger. Best decision I ever made!

GB played well in the tournament coming top in our group and winning the tournament. We still have more work to do. This was a great opportunity for me to see where I can fit in when I am fully fit.

This morning was lovely, it was rainy when my sister Corinna and I went for a walk with her two girls. It was blissfully nice..

Corinna and I always chat a lot about our sport, on how she is getting on in netball and me in my football.

I think going to the Physio is a joy for my dog, Sami. As at the end of my treatment, Sami goes mad with Natalie and other Physios - he bounce with joy and is nutty! They love him.

After a flying visit to my parents, I got home to some exercises for my knee. A lot of single squats, hopping, balancing on the inflatable cushion when squatting - that's tough!

Just going out to get a DVD that Corinna recommend me to watch.

Dark moments

Yeah I am only human, when I have my dark moments. I think what triggers this is when people don't have much faith in me. I am frustrated that I am not playing football at the moment because of my hamstring, I have very small tear in my hamstring that set me back a few weeks.

Again I said previously in my blog that I refused to be resigned to this.

My father gave a fantastic advice, whether will I listen to those people who spend more time with me or those who did not.

Yesterday I had a strength and conditioning session with Dan in Eastbourne, he had a huge role in my knee rehab since the operation. I did back squats, lunges, balance, wall squats and upper body work yesterday. He has a calming influence on me, which helps me to focus on my posture when lifting weights.

He told me I may feel the after effects from his session, not so far!

I have just returned from seeing Natalie my physio, she has worked so hard with me since Feb this year with my knee rehab - but sometimes I fear it may all have been in vain.

In a few hours, I am flying to Manchester for GB weekend. Again I have to stand on the sidelines and cheer the girls. And soon I will be playing with them.

The next blog will be on Monday with news about the weekend.

The photo is my sister Corinna and me, she won't be playing at the Deaflympics- but I know she will be checking up on everything!

Butter

My feet haven't touch the ground for days, so I am having trouble finding where to start...

Yeah, the last two days I looked after my two nieces, we did some painting of a huge butterfly, Then I asked my niece what she would like to call it.... "Butter" It certainly bought their parents a smile there!

Today I had my nephews for a few hours, when the younger one was playing in the park, I played volleyball with the eldest one - he is actually quite good!

Its quite exciting to see my nieces and nephews develop their sporting gene, as my family are very sporting.

I saw a good friend of mine the other day, she was just about to prepare for her trip to Mexico. She is going on her own and that shows what kind of women she is, she travels the globe with ease and meeting all kind of Deaf people. The wealth she holds about culture, education and community is phenomenal.

Have a safe trip Philippa! See you in Taiwan as one of our GB supporters!

On a more serious note, I am currently being sponsored by a company called Southern Housing Group. They have been fully involved in my preparation for the Deaflympics, they have been a positive release for me, because having to raise the funds for the Deaflympics is very stressful and overwhelming at times - but when they came to support me, all of the sudden I feel no pressure and the joys of training became a sole focus of mine.

I do count myself lucky, because I see other players struggle having to raise the money themselves.

Claire at Southern Housing (see photo) was fully aware of my knee injury and supported me. The main reasons was that I was totally honest with the whole thing and had nothing to hide, they are constantly kept up to date with my progress.

I am off to Eastbourne for an update on my hamstring rehab and then straight to Fulham Training tonight.

Cracking the whip

Photo is Fulham Deaf Ladies FC - I am wearing black top.

Last night was Fulham Training, since I opt out to take part cos of my sore hamstring; I decided to 'crack the whip' in terms of fitness for the girls.

It's common for pre-season, that coaches do a lot of fitness work.

The girls did shuttle runs up to 40 meters and back 9 times, running up to 60-70% intensity.

They suffered a bit!

I had to punished Susanna for taking it easy, as I know Susanna is the fitness player in the squad and wanted more from her. She took the punishment to the chin and got on with it - that is a real athlete and that made me respect her more.

At the end of the night, the girls played a practice game - while I stood on the sidelines doing uppies and heading the ball upwards.

I hold my hands up to say that doing uppies is my weakness, I suppose I could blame the poor football education I had as a child - which was non-existed for a deaf female child then. Now that has changed due to more Deaf coaches around.

This morning I went for a swim, which was great as usual. Afterwards I met up with a friend for breakfast at his hotel - Poach Egg, beans and fat free bacon (c'mon! I can eat that!).

An easy night for me ahead, may watch Torchwood on i-player.

Fail a bake!

I was baking a cake with my niece yesterday, after it cooled down - I had a sneaking bite of the cake; it's official now! I cannot bake a cake! It was revolting! Well I don't need the extra calories! tut!

The last two days in terms of exercising were simple, cos my hamstring was playing up; Dr Webborn who is an expert in sport injuries reassured me and send me for an MRI scan.

When I was having my MRI scan today, my mind just float away with imagining matches that I am playing in; they say its good for you when you imagine a game of football.

Interesting fact today; 'use a steel water bottle, not plastic' I was told by Natalie (my physio). The reasons was simple cos the plastic chemicals are released in the water if the bottle is warm, and that is not good.

I just bought a steel flask!

Attached is photo of George our GB Head Coach.

Do I have room?!

Its been almost 4 days since I written in my blog; my first question is 'Do I have room to type down everything?' More likely not, so I just dot down what is relevant.

Bless my neighbour! Cos he just had the same knee operation as me 3 weeks ago, he was concerned with the pain he was having - told him it was normal, plus he is off the crutches now - when I was on mine for 6 weeks!

GB training weekend in Newcastle was great! I flew to Newcastle, as I am not keen on flying - mainly cos I don't like close spaces much. Its only cos it takes 3 hours off my travelling time, which is why I flew.

I was picked up by one of the parents, he is a bundle of laughs like his daughter Sarah who plays for GB.

I was told by my home physio to take it easy in the training weekend, cos I had a weak hamstring. Though I felt my hamstring when I went for a jump at a corner, so I need more work on my hamstring this week.

The GB coaches warned me that it was common for someone who had a long term injury to come back and have then having another injury cropping up. So at the moment I refused to be resigned on this, because we have 7 and half weeks before our first game against Japan.

GB beat the opposition in practice match. One of the local girl in GB scored a hat trick; Susan is one of my closest friends in the squad, you can see the picture of us from when we were in Russia playing for England.

An easy day for me today, in terms of exercise - does carrying my nieces count!?

Lively as a wire!

It was Fulham Deaf Ladies FC training last night , it was good to see some of the girls back after a 6 weeks break.

One girl in particular is Premi, she is always lively! As I am their coach as well as a player, I have to suffer by coaching her! But she has a way of making me and others laugh.

Yesterday was the first football training session when I took full part in a game at the end, I was nervous for my knee. I had to keep a level head on receiving the ball and my passing was solid. Though I need to work on my confidence in tackling, being a defender - this is important for me to work on, which is what my physio is doing with me the moment. (the photo is the day after the operation)

Today I did a light session on simple explosive work, using a 5kg medicine ball and throwing it in the air; this is good for my abs, my back and my quads. Jumping upwards and single leg raises on a platform.

A long ride on the static bike had me thinking about my first match coming up on the 19 July.

Am I ready? Its been nearly 7 months since the operation, normal sport people will be back playing sport in 9 months.

I'm glad I don't have to make this decision alone, as my Physio Natalie has been keeping a tight rein on me -I am open with her and though I do push her to limits on my demands!

I have GB training this weekend in Newcastle, I hope I bump into Alan Shearer! (my hero!)

Next blog will be on Monday.

Keeping it interesting

It was bizarre doing circuit training yesterday in a class, as normally I do my own training or with Fulham Deaf Ladies FC. I felt like doing it as it makes my training more interesting - some of the drills I could do easily, but others like boxing or skipping was... different! May consider going again...

This morning I went out with my dad to buy laminated flooring for my hallway, as the carpets I got were always dirty. I blame Sami.. my dog!

Sami is my great companion, he is actually my Hearing Dog for the Deaf. You may think that Sami accompany me everywhere, yeah he does apart from when I am training - when my parents has him.

This afternoon I went to see my Physio who is called Natalie, she is full of energy and ideas. Today she was constantly thinking up new ideas, and some were weird exercises! But brilliant as they relate to football situations.

She just did a charity run in the weekend of 10kms under an hour, so I am £20 poorer for saying she get £20 by running under an hour!

Just off to Fulham training tonight.

What is good?

Where to start on 'What is good?' ...

As there are many people has made an impact in my sport, but number one is my family.

They are a tower of strength to me, as last year I went through a tough patch in my football, with injuries and a loss of confidence.

And best thing about the family is that we listen to each other without judgement, my family has an infectious ability of bringing positive out from the negatives.

Since my ACL reconstruction on my left knee, I thought maybe I would sink into my own self-pity - but people around me haven't given me a chance to do so. So that's good.

I am just looking at the humidity in Taiwan, its currently between 53-71%. They say the comfort zone is from 30-50%. I reckon we girls will feel the effects from the humidity like any Europeans.

I remember one match at 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, when it was so hot with the humidity made playing conditions tough. We used to tell each other that if they get tackled or fall over; 'stay on the ground!' So the rest of us can get a water break. One of our players got heat stroke, it was tough.

Did a tough gym session yesterday, am feeling a bit in my muscles today - so a lot of stretching this morning. I am planning to do some circuit training later to get the heart working at it's maximum.

50 Days to go.

Welcome to the 1st entry of my blog to the count down to when I fly to Taiwan for the Deaflympics games on 25th August 2009.

A little about myself, I am profoundly Deaf and been selected to play for Great Britain Deaf Women Football.

This is my 2nd Deaflympics, I am hoping I will return from Taiwan with a medal that is not bronze of which I got last time in 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne.

The blog is aimed for my family, friends, sponsors, colleagues and medical profession to see how I am getting on in my preparation up to the Deaflympics and also to tell people how I am getting on during the games.

I will be mentioning several people in this blog over a period of time, on how they had an impact in my life and so on.

In November 2008, I sustain a serious knee injury - I thought my Deaflympics dream was over, but a quick operation and a fantastic knee rehab up to now. I now can take full part in the Deaflympics in Taiwan.

Thoughts of the day:-

When you succeed on trying your best, you will prevail.