10 Years in the Shire . . .

 10 years ago I drove into to Stirling with my Dad attempting to pronounce the road signs in a bad Scottish accent. I wasn’t laughing. I knew no one. I was totally petrified.

During those 10 years there were good times, bad times and great times.

I went from aspiring sportsman to student. From getting up at 5am for training to getting home at 5am. I went from writing letters to sending emails, from the red box public phones to sending texts. There was a period when my exercise schedule compromised 5-a-side and going to the gym - my sports scholorship was ended and I got a job making toast for the morning breakfast run (I met Gazza on that job when he played for Everton, it was the highlight). I have fond memories and lost memories of that period.

Triathlon Scotland came to town and I started training again - they swam at 8am and it suited me better ! They had experience and numbers. I got back eventually to international racing but for my trouble got a punch in the face at 6km of the run during World U-23’s !

 

 Some great Commonwealth Games experiences amongst others. . . .

 

Some wild hair styles . . . .

 

I graduated somewhere during those 10 years

 

and so did one of my baby sisters and brother (they had their applications for the real world accpeted straight away whilst mine keeps getting rejected !)                                                                                                          

10 years with absolutely no regrets. 10 years of living and learning . . . .

well ….

actually I do have one regret - it was a warm muggy day in Hong Kong and they made me put on a grey gymp suit - they rolled in this machine / hoover - they switched it on and left me for 1 hour -

That massage still haunts my dreams !!!

 

3 Responses to “10 Years in the Shire . . .”

1. Fraser Says:
   September 11th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

   That’s without question one of your finest posts Mr Noble. Crackin’.

2. Nikola Says:
   September 12th, 2009 at 9:50 am

   You still have the same hair style?!

3. Conor Kelly Says:
   September 14th, 2009 at 10:37 pm

   Nice skin suit Does it make you go faster and where can I get one:grin:

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