So; here we are, the first of potentially many ice-skating weekly trips with Claire (9) in the effort to provide her with a bit of fun exercize and quality time with her mum!!

Firstly the quality time kind of went out of window as claire had realized that she had missed having a friend to tea last week and in an attempt to posphone it yesterday found myself saying "oh friend can come skating tomorrow with us; instead of tea today - great idea" !!

After school skate 3.30 - 5.00 great pick kids up from gate bring home get them changed straight to riverside - "come on hurry up hurry up you won't have long on ice etc.....

On journey in car overhear conversation, friend only been once - not confidenent on ice - blow it have to escort child on ice - no journey's to casualty thankyou l thought !!

Have spent today helping in garden - very tired - painting very high fence chocolate brown - am now thinking too tired for skating - tell myself come on first trip be enthuasiastic!!

Over hear more conversation - Pancake day wonder how many we'll have and what toppings! - grreat news l think no ingredients & wheres the "flippin pan" (sorry couldn't resist!!)

Anyway get in rink and queue up for boots, sit down to put on, and then pull out of pocket spare socks grabbed from drawer in hurry, must have been a new pair of Andy's; their about 4 foot long - much embarrassed - tried to descreetly put them on!! just then hear "hello" - scrunching long sock in hand look up to see friends husband, Kevin!! dropping son off for lesson - so l thought.

Got on ice with wobbly children and slowly skated round and round - quite busy. Decided to have a quick spin round on my own as a little reminder of days gone by - boldly skate off - wow really going great - even doing that swayyee thing with arms - ooppss child in front line - veare quickly - too late going too fast - catch front of boot on ice - trying desperately to correct mistakes (frank spencer on rollerskates springs to mind) - l'm going going gone - crashhhh!! - can't laugh;as on own - can't cry although want too - manage to get too knees - then to shaky legs - brush down; super cool as if - look up to see friends husband in spectators gallery - great !!

Join him as if no problem - really thinking wonder if he saw? - dead embarrassed asked him - he was a real gent and said no - probably just thought l'd wet myself !!(wet trousers)

Now home and sporting sore wrist and bruised elbow!! Can't wait for next week !!

suggested we go alone for intended purpose and less rushing - Claire said l must have been showing off and was rather disappointed that she had missed the whole event - nevermind there's always next week!!