Man's Best Friend

I was still up at 2am faffing and revising for Monday's test so I didn't get much sleep and I awoke with a jolt knowing that I was late. 8:01am- not good. That gave me enough time to stuff some toast and jam in my mouth, grab Anneka and head out the door whilst fending of my landlords cats who want to reclaim my cabin as theirs. Not likely Kitty's!

I had 9 minutes before Mike would be handing out the test papers so I didn't hang around and with the taste of jam on my lips and crumbs around my mouth I descended into Uplyme in a fashion usually seen on Ski Sunday but sadly with a distinct lack of catchy title music. As the local school kids stepped out onto the road without noticing a panting boatbuilder bearing down on them I noticed a cyclist up ahead and decided to chase him down. Poor chap- he was on a full tri- bike with tri bars, deep section rims and the full lycra kit and he got passed by yours truly, smelling of breakfast and wearing an eclectic mix of paint splattered clothing. The fact I was on a 16 year old mountain bike was the final straw so he gave chase but I was on a roll- literally as I crested the rise and headed down into Lyme Regis leaving him in my wake. The last hill is about as steep as you would want to ride a bike down and I hit about 45mph before bottoming out next to the harbour to find my mate Chris wandering in so I slowed, knowing that I was no longer last to arrive.

The test went ok and I scored 78%, better tan last weeks 50% but none of the stuff I had revised came up! Typical. Our first break was around 10:30am and I wondered into the kitchen to be met by the housekeeper, Wendy. I wasn't keeping up my end of the bargain as out usual up beat banter was absent. Apparently I looked a bit pensive and when Wendy asked if I was a worrier, I agreed I was. You see, most of the guys on the course have come with clear ideas about what boats to build and what directions their careers will take after the course has finished. I was not one of those- it was all about the carpentry for me which I see as a very transferable skill. Wendy had seen all of this before and after a quick chat I was feeling mildly better. My mood improved after reading an article about a man who sailed a 5ft long boat across the Atlantic taking 139 days. Now he had some things to worry about so I cheered up after that.

By lunch I was flagging. I didn't bring enough food, I was aching after running yesterday and I wasn't producing the goods at the work bench so I sat in the sun next to a dog belonging to one of the instructors. I realised we had quite similar hair do's and we both craved attention, so dog therapy began. After 10 mins of patting, tummy rubbing and a few friendly licks I was feeling better. Its the simple things in life that mean the most. By the way, the dog did the licking, not me!