Didn't see THAT coming

OK, so The Husband and I are making conversation with the over-the-road neighbours.  I always find it amazing really how you can live next to or opposite someone, without ever doing more than nodding as you get in your respective cars.  Passing the time of day is the next step up I guess and if you get onto the weather - well you're as good as best friends!

What I never expected to happen though when we chatted to the over-the-road neighbours is for Xio (pronounced Seo, we now know she's Costa Rican and thrilled to have neighbours who actually speak to her like they do in Costa Rica!) to mention she has Roller Blades.  ROLLERBLADES!!!  Who honestly has Rollerblades just hanging around in the garage if you're over the age of 12!

Well, Xio tells us in Canada where she used to live, they have special surfaces near the beach for skaters from 3 to 73 to skate - it's the 'in' thing apparently!

You may remember, The Husband and I got skates not long ago - the first outing was pretty disasterous...we forgot we lived on a hill!  Having taken 20 minutes to put our skates on in the hallway, I skated around the kitchen for a few minutes (confidence builder!) my teenager years came flooding back. 'This is great!', 'I remember how to do this!' said I.  We carpet skated to the front door and suddenly noticed the hill.  In a second, my new-found confidence slide right down that hill to number 26 at the bottom.

The Husband was convinced this would be easy, so to avoid looking like a complete girl, I followed him precariously, gripping the wall of the house with my fingertips, The Husband navigating his way across the road to the green.  The green was deemed the safest playground (it has grass!) but having fallen hard on my derriere as we turned the corner, the rest of the journey was just plain hardwork!  Bruised and achy, we made it back to the house - we'd only been 10 minutes!

So when Xio mentionned with great enthusiasm that she'd love to go out with us for a skate, my mouth said yes and my body cried.  A 3 minute drive to the seafront later, (Darren, Xio's partner, brought his bike...no skates - sensibly!), all 3 of us stood up precariously ready to try again.  Well, I say, all 3 of us - Xio got up as if born on wheels and glided quietly off down the prom (she's done this before!).

Turns out she has good skates - like, really good skates.  In comparison, ours were bargain bucket, toy plastic things that shook your entire body over each and every bump in the pavement.  I caught sight of The Husband checking Xio's skates out - they had suspension and everything!  Darren gave in just days later and bought the coolest pair of skates The Husband has ever seen and with skate-envy, he rushed me straight down to the same store to buy skates with suspension - cool ones, in cool colours - mine are even in my brand colours - pink and black!

So, although in previous months we were often found in the middle of a big field trying to entice two puppies back to us - nowadays we're down the prom, with our new playmates, Darren and Xio...skating!  How old am I?

Comments

[Karen]

Just goes to show that you're never too old doesn't it!
Lovely post Lynette x

Karen
x

[Lynette Allen]

Ah - thankyou! When I tell people I Rollerblade they think I'm nuts - but I spend so much concentration on keeping upright that everything else goes straight out of my mind - turns out it's a really good way of de-pinking!