A Catch-Up posting

hi Guys

I’ know its been well over a month since I last posted, but things here at Chez Smudger have carried on as you would expect for a normal family.

With a mixture of "nothings" and Chaos.

This posting, however , will be relatively short out of personal necessity - but we will come to that later.

The Kids Football season here in the UK is back with a vengeance. Liam, and his team mates at The Park Tigers( or my own site via DavesFootball.co.uk) been building up into a new era for them. With the relative successes of last year (you can see a parents view on my weblog - "An Opinionated Parent") they have moved upto a harder, "stronger" league, and , sad to say, the early results have reflected this.

That said, Liam is back to his "old ways" (if that is the right way to put it) after his broken thumb. The fearless, diving, challenging Goal keeper is back - and its good to see. 

Liam is also growing up. He is now into his last two years at the senior School, possibly the most important two years of his life so far. This may well determine his future. And, to be fair to him, he has set about his task with some purpose - good on him.

Laura (my "Baby" - ) has also moved on.The end of this school year she's her moving onto the Senior School too. She has also developed quite a knack for something else.

As you maybe aware, the Smith family have taken up Archery in a big big way.

Liam has found his skill to be the older style English Longbow (as made famous by the Battle of Agincourt and the legend of Robin Hood and the outlaws of Sherwood Forest).

I, and my beloved, have both seemingly settled into the use of a Recurve Bow (the "modern" equivalent, I suppose, of the Longbow that  Liam loves)

Laura, however, has taken a real shine to the compound variety. This is a totally different type of bow to the ones we all started with. As you can see on the left, it is constructed of a Riser (the centre part that the archery actually holds), two limbs, which finish with two loading Cams. An then a string that, after wrapping over the two cams, allows you to pull the bow back and fire the arrow with some no little power. For several months, Laura had been trying her art with what could only be described as a "trainer" bow. Compound is design, but weak in power. However, as her "Christmas" (and Birthday, and Easter, and whatever) present, she now has a nice "Electric Blue" version of the Rintec Compound as made by the Hoyt Company.

Now let me give you some idea of our first "encounters" with Compound Bows. They seem to be generally used by the Male Members of the Club ( Laura seems to be the only girl that uses one - and , from what I've heard, the pattern may well be the same across many UK clubs). they are very difficult to draw, due to the high "poundage" of the bow. The Rintec, however, has been developed to "grow" with its owner. It is light weight, and the cable strength can be altered by adjusting the setting of the cams.

Although she is still getting used to the bow, our Laura has already entered herself (care of another Lady Archer in the club) for her first competition in October.

I will let you know how she gets on.

As I mentioned early - this posting, and the main reason for the "drought" of entries over the past few weeks, the "personal necessity" mentioned, is something that I have posted about in some detail.

Approx three or four months ago (or was it a bit longer) I posted a substantial missive on a problem of Trapped Nerves, lost of feeling in my Fingers, and Tennis Elbow. Not normally a major problem for the sufferer. Some straight forward and simple treatment, a few months of discomfort, and , although not completely curable as such, it can be controlled and reasonably removed.

As we say round here,I have becoming a sufferer of "Sods Law". This is basically covered by the "think of the worst thing that can happen - and it will".

My "straight forward" problem has, seemingly, become some thing a little more serious. It makes using the computer , particularly with my right arm (and I'm right handed !!!) very difficult. it is also possible (although there are further treatment options available) that the only conclusion would be to operate.

As you can see, it would be “prudent” to keep postings in the next few months to a minimum.

Needless to say - I'm a little worried.