4th day

Its now the 4th day in Taipei.

Yesterday I was sick at training, but nothing came out. I was physically and mentally exhausted afterwards and had to skip swimming in the afternoon to get as much rest as possible.
But today was a massive improvement, I felt much better than I did in the first 3 days.
Today training was good for all of the girls, we felt pretty good afterwards.
We are starting to understand how to play football in hot weather and the hard ground, I have yet used my studded football boots - only using my astro boots, mainly because of the threat of getting blisters.

We went to get our photo ID for the Deaflympics, of which we need to wear to competitions.
There has been a rumour that the opening ceremony tickets has been sold out, are we talking thousands and thousands of people going?! Knowing the Taiwanese (Chinese), they like to be extravagant. But people are saying that Jackie Chan will be there! Pretty awesome if he were!

Tomorrow should be a good day, as my father is coming in from the UK as he is a part of us. So it will be good to have him around.

Just signing off now, as it is 10pm here and I need my sleep ready for tomorrow's training.

Keep well everyone!

Second day

Sorry no photo today, but hopefully later.

The flight to Taiwan went very quickly, didn't feel too jet lagged afterwards.

As soon we landed, there was the press chasing us in the airport as if we were famous - we took it in our stride. I gave their mascot Tree Frog a big cuddle with Esther our captain, it was quite funny as it reminded me of Berlino at the World Championships in Athletics!

As soon we got out of the airport, we were hit with intense heat & humidity. We were expecting this, but you can never prepare for it.

Our hotel is beautiful, its full of character and lovely people. A lot of the hotel staff have learnt international sign language in order to communicate with us. Bless them!
But also we have been allocated with a security staff to make sure we are safe on their grounds.

We had our second training day today, I find the training in the heat very difficult. I struggled in the fitness work, mainly feeling sick. I am wondering if I should be sick to get it all out of my system and perform better.
But the other girls are also struggling too, the good thing is that its now the second day and most of us are feeling better than we did yesterday.
So I am glad we have the time to get used to the weather over the next few days.

Every night we have our own entertainment between the girls, which is a form of 'court' as if any player did something silly today, we have to nominate them as plonker of the day. If found guilty, they have to do a dare. For example one girl had to wear bright lip-stick and the other girl had to wear a garter. This is good for team bonding.

Tonight we are being entertained by our masseur Dina, as it is her 'Hen-night' she is getting married in a month time. We have dressed her in pink and a tutu. She is a bundle of laughs.

So much news in little space!

We are also accompany with the GB men football team and GB Deaf Athletic team. We are being constantly being looked after by our GB Deaflympics Committee, making sure we are happy with anything.

Just signing off, not sure when I log in again.

Just hoping I will survive another tough training session tomorrow. sure I will! I have that mentally!

Its time...

In under 24 hours time I will be in Heathrow Airport with Great Britain Deaflympics Team.. that warms my bones up.

Months and months of training for these girls and I spend a lot of time in rehab training - which is specific training to build up my operated knee.

I am contended with the fact that my knee is great now, the Physiotherapy and strength & conditioning gave me hope that I will play.

Last physio session was quite emotional in some ways, I wrote in Natalie's thank you card to say that I wanted to make a Voodoo doll of her and stick pins in her, with the amount of time she held me back or the pain she inflicted on me! But I didn't...as I enjoyed our session together. She knew what it was like to play at high level of sport with her being a high level tennis player before. Which made our working relationship solid, I couldn't work with someone who isn't interested in sport. Thanks Natalie! I'll bring back a medal! (photo attached is of me, Natalie and Sami)

Friends of mine were asking about the football schedule in taiwan, this website has the general schedule of the games: http://english.2009deaflympics.org/files/13-1027-880.php

I don't know where the match results will be published but I know our PR person will be updating it on the GB Football website: http://www.britishdeaffootball.com/

GB Women's group is with Japan, Thailand and Russia.

5 Sept - GB v Japan

7 Sept - GB v Thailand

9 Sept GB v Russia

We need to win 2 games to qualify for the semi-final, which Denmark, Germany or USA is in the other group. Sadly South Africa pulled out.

Our main rivals are Russia in our group, we will remain focus in our group before thinking about the other group. There are rumours about Russia government offering 100,000 euros for every gold medal won. We will do our best to stop that!

Well, I am not sure when I will be writing my blog again - hopefully before the end of the week.

Mad dog!

An old photo of me many years ago!

Sami was a bit mad yesterday at the physio session for no apparent reason, he was whining and excitable. Just as well it was at the end of the day, when its more quieter.

Just one more physio session with Natalie on Thursday, then I am handed over to the GB physios at the Deaflympics. I am pretty much there.




I had a Job interview on Monday for a part time job for the Head Coach Disability Centre of Excellence. I forgot to ask for an interpreter, silly me! But the interview went pretty well, so I had to wait a few days before I hear. But yesterday they offered me the job! Wey!


I am over the moon! Because this job involved in youth, and that is my greatest passion in developing youth footballers to be better players. They have given me reading materials for me to take to Taiwan next week, as I start the week after I return. My mind is already buzzing with ideas!





Last night a friend of mine came for dinner, simple spag bol with sweet chili. We have known each other for many years, from when we worked together at the Prison Service. I am quite proud to say that she quickly enrolled to a signing class and now she is fluent in sign language. Karen has just been asked to do a reading at a Deaf wedding, she was tallying with the idea whether she speaks and sign or just sign. It looks like she is opting for just to sign, I hold my hat of to her! Though she has asked my sister Corinna to help out, with me in the background! I am a terrible teacher in signing, I'll stick to football!


I am just about to go off to see my big sister, Justina. With a full house of kids, Lovely!

4 not 3!

That was pretty special meeting Sir Geoff Hurst, he has a quirky sense of humour that had us in awe of him. I met a winner of world cup of 1966! I have a signed t-shirt of him that I will treasure forever.

Hurst said he scored 4 goals not 3 at the world cup, one bounce of the cross bar over the line and out.

I've had a quiet weekend in terms of socialising, which is very normal for me before a big event at the Deaflympics. I tend to keep my head down and focus in my training, resting, eating well and drinking litres after litres of water! Not only because water is good for you, but to maintain a strong bladder - because I don't want to be up throughout the night going to the toilet!

I have been going out a few very tough runs and now I have developed a blister, not nice... but at least I have blister plasters which are brilliant.

I am feeling a bit more confident now with my hamstring, because the distance I can run now without feeling heavy is positive.

Recently I have been watching Athletics, no matter if they are British or not - I am still fascinated on their training regime, I do envy the amount of support they have financially. Not only that, I was reading what Denise Lewis was saying - these athletes have someone with them before, during and after training and competition; that is intense! But then again, UK sport want to invest winners.

9 days left until we fly, I don't feel nervous at the moment, more excited...

Making good progress

This is me doing a back squat of 50kg

Last Friday I had a chiropractic session, just to check if my alignment of my spine. All looks good apart from stiffness in the lower region, which is quite common. After a few cracks, my dog did not like the sound of the cracking. Bless him thinking that the chiropractor will break me!

Last weekend was GB last training weekend in Manchester, the girls are in high spirit with millions of questions! But rest assured we have Sharon Hirshman who is our operation manager of our team that will oversee 'off the pitch' situations.


Training on Saturday was relaxing, I took part in the morning session not the afternoon to protect my hamstring. However this week my hamstring is making good progress, I am happy with it.


Sunday we had a friendly against a local team, they were gunning for our players as we beat them before. We didn't play with tackles flying in or winning every header, all we wanted to do is to finish this match injury free.



After the match, I went with my cousin to her home. As she lives nearby. We discussed the possibility of doing a relay triathlon next year, with her and my brother in law going head to head in swimming, then me with her husband in biking, then my sister in running against my uncle. This should be fun!



This week at Physio, I was not a happy lady because doing hamstring curls is so hard and I couldn't do it properly. I was reading somewhere, that I should be able to lift 100% of my weight when doing back squat, which is about 60kg. I can do that. But hamstring I should do 75% of my weight which is 45kg. I don't think I am at that stage yet, maybe I go to the gym and find out.

Today I am off to Upton Park at West Ham FC stadium to be involved in the launch of a football project that will be opened by Geoff Hurst. A legend! Esther Maycock and Daniel Hogan are going as well.


Will let you know how that goes.

Afternoon Kath

Sorry I have been a bit quiet this week.

I got my university results last week, I need to brush up one of the modules - of which I have been doing this week. The delay was the assessor's handwriting! I thought doctors are one of the worse! But this assessor tops as the 'world worse handwriting', he should have known better that if I didn't do so well and write the feedback clearer or even type it out! Tut! I was not a happy lady!

I saw Mr Armitage on Tuesday, the surgeon who did my knee - he was really happy to see how strong my knee was, says that there is nothing to stop me playing full strength in football - just need to sort out my hamstring, which I am very very nearly there!

The photo is Mr Armitage and me.

I also saw Dr Webborn, he is an amazing man. I suppose I look up to him, he has a lovely charisma and I think he also enjoys helping me to be fit to play at the Deaflympics. After 3 injections of anti-inflammatory on my hamstring, I can now feel the big difference, specially after today physio session.

And why did I put down 'Afternoon Kath' ?

I was talking to Natalie my physio about sign language, as I prefer to sign when I am running on the treadmill. Another physio came to join our conversation and signed 'My afternoon is Kath'

I think she meant 'My name is Kath' !

I saw both of my sisters this morning, I haven't seen much of them in the last week and a half - which is unusual for me, as we are very close.

I don't know when I plan to see them next, but the best thing about them is they are so supportive of me in my football.

I better finish my packing for GB training weekend in Manchester, as always I look forward to see the girls.

GB kit

Yeah you guess right, I went to the west coast (near Bristol) to get the GB kit - There were a few kits are missing, like the bags - that should arrive late this week, which is pushing it a bit! As its our last training weekend...

I had a physio session last Friday, being the last patient to go home - which mean the physios can fuss over Sami (my dog) a little longer than normal.

Afterwards I went to my folks house to drop Sami off to have dinner with a couple of my friends who are staying at my flat during Gay Pride in Brighton, when I was away in the west coast.

Don't get me wrong, I think Gay Pride is great - but terrible for Dog walkers, because now the park is in a sorry state! The grass is ruined and litter is everywhere - this is a feast for my dog, but hell for his paws (in case of glass). Being a Brighton girl, I know it takes up to two weeks for the park to be completely clean and safe for my dog. But at least Sami and I can walk other parks, I just need to drive there instead.

After seeing Claire & her partner spending the weekend in my flat, they look happy and contended - which was nice to see.

This evening, I went to netball training with my sisters team - it was quirky and fun. I took it in my own stride, looking after my hamstring. I'm glad I went as I could test myself in some areas - my movement is good.

Its my last strength & conditioning session with Dan tomorrow before he goes away on holiday, I will most certainly miss him. It was nice to have a male friend to discuss my woes, I learnt so much from him - he was encouraging and kept me level headed at frustrated times, one of the best improvement was my balance and my back squat. He aimed for me to lift 60kgs and I did at the end, I don't know who was more happier; him or me!

I owe a lot of gratitude to him as I am a better athlete than I was, I just need a medal now...