Ain't life grand? Bad back - Championship in seven days!!

OK … so I realise that all you thousands of folks have started to wonder, “Where is his latest blog??”  Yes, I know, but I was just a trifle busy moving France slightly to the right, and some idiot was waving around green Kryptonite, it was most debilitating for a moment or two.

Anyway, I'm back all organized and rested … well, not exactly, because as I was tearing parts of Bretagne from its moorings, I pulled something in my back so I 'put it out' and, to pile a little pressure on, the Limousin Swim Association has just told me that I may enter their Championships on 9th March.

Now, with my back out, I went yesterday to the pool in a vain attempt to rectify whatever may be the root cause of my ailment. Doubled over like I was 145, and unable to straighten at all really.

Well, I've been down this road before and, if anyone out there does Eventing with horses, well you know you've just gotta keep on going.

So I swam a little. Very little in fact, cos if I move my legs or attempt any leg-kick, my lower back says, “NO!!” in a very definitive manner.

So I have one week till the Limousin Championnats and I can hardly swim at all … Ain't life grand?

But I also know that sometimes it is possible to rectify these problems … sometimes.

It was really quite embarrassing at the pool yesterday, as I had to creep hunched over to the deeper end and then 'fall' into the water, as if I meant it. There was no alternative to getting in, and once I was, I found out that any movement of my legs was extremely painful.

At this point, if I had a tissue I'd offer it through the computer screen, I mean this is all quite moving, isn't it ? No? What d'you mean, 'No' !!

Oh well “b*gg*r it” !! I'll just have to get fit enough to swim next Sunday, AND I have to drive two and a half hours to get there.

I'm going to swim 50 m Free and 50 m Breast-stroke and again I will post any time I manage to complete, on the Sunday night or Monday morning.

Oh yes ... and the points, if I find out, as it is somewhat pertinent in assessing the value of any performance to put it into the context of “Which age group?” ... I mean that's what masters is all about really.  There's no great shakes to wandering up and down on a 50 m Free in 30 secs if you're in the 25-30 age category, is there?

But I'm not mentioning my age group, out of vanity, and anyway you Masters swimmers can work it out by way of the points I am awarded. And ... just as I'm on that sorta thing, if anyone were to search FINA's database of past Top Ten Masters Rankings – No, you will not find Robertson Tait in there, basically cos it ain't my real name … it's my 'artist name' for brilliant things what I write.

So c'mon, break out of the box … loosen up, believe just a little in possibilities ….

Like the possibilities in my short story “Tobago” in my Kindle book “Riding A Strong Wind”.  Now did that really happen or not ?? …. Well, maybe it did … and just like I wrote it !