James' Blog

Follow me on Twitter, I think ha ha
twitter.com/jamiesav

A freezin’ cold Sunday, but a beautiful sight

So soon before Christmas, a tree bathed in white

Snowflakes are comin’, we’re sure in this cold

A snowflake parade,  of Tees young an’ Tees old

Led by a wolf his eyes shinin’, coat sheer

with a tongue lickin’ lips for any children too near

In the distance the screams from the slide in the square

Leavin’ tummys behind and the wind in their hair

Passin’ the fountain and on to the wheel

The Snowflake parade pituresque an’ surreal

As the wolf starts to slow all eyes look to the sky

As it lights up with colour, fireworks screamin’ up high

A night of such wonder holding back the big freeze

A night to remember

A stone’s throw from the Tees

I’d made it home from the challenge day in one piece at about 5pm so just had time to take a breath before the first of Lauren’s friends were to arrive at 6.

  WRONG!

  At 5.2o I found myself knee deep in 7 ten yr olds runnin’ riot with sleepin’ bags and mobile phones.  I had to get out of the confined space that is home so marched them all to the shop for takeaway, pop and sweets.  I was hopin’ to get them all fed an’ settled reasonably early as we were bein’ picked up at 9 to go Boulder walkin’.    “They’ll understand we all need a good nights sleep”  I thought.

  WRONG AGAIN!!! 

 The kids had other plans to make the most of the evening and at around 11.3o I gave up an’ left them to it as after my challenge day I was “startin’” to tire.  At 3.2o am I finally seperated the girls from the boys an’ they all fell asleep.  I woke them all at 8 an’ they were much chirpier than I expected.  After a quick head count, Niall, Liam, Sophie, Joe, Aaron, Francessca….

                                                                                                  ….oh yeah and Lauren!!! the bus turned up bang on time an’ off we set to Summerhill activity and Boulder Park.  We arrived an’ they weren’t quite open so we all ran up a hill to an adventure playground an’ messed about on there for 2o min’s ’til they let us in.  We were introduced to Ian an’ Helen who gave us a safety talk before we all set off to the boulder park.  It was already colder than swimmin’ in the Tees so we kept busy runnin’ about an convinced Joe an’ Aaron there was a crocodile farm in a pond we passed ha ha.  We got to the top an’ were shown around some of  the boulders an’ started to get to grips with hangin’ on after a quick warm up. 

The boulders were man-made, loads of fun an’ the kids loved runnin’ around them.  We were then given harness’s an’ started to use ropes to climb the bigger boulders then absailed down them.  Great fun, even in the freezin’ cold an’ Lauren decided we would be returnin’ in the summer for her birthday.

Thanks again guys it was great fun an’ we’ll be back soon so get some crocodiles in !!!

Next we headed off to Hartlepool Marina for lunch at the Northstar restaurant.  We were a little under-dressed in our climbing gear but found a good table an’ settled in.  I took the kids orders (much to the relief of the staff) of assorted sarnies, fat chips, lots of juice/coke’s an’ a coffee for me.  The girls were lovely an’ made sure we were well taken care of but as sweet as it was to grab 5 min’s we still had the Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience to get to. 

On our arrival we were told that the Fighting Ships experience was about to start so we rushed upstairs to what looked like the inside of a huge galley and were met by a seafaring gent with a musket who told us a little about the background of a life at sea.  The exhibition was very excitin’ with the ship’s cabin boy guidin’ us through a maze of scenes from life on board.   From the Captain’s table to the the flogging of a sailor who had not followed orders quickly enough,  a scene on shore with “ladys of the night” and other ways a sailor could be relieved of his money to the finale of a huge battle at sea with deafenin’ explosions from the cannons and the screams of dyin’ crew members.  We emerged into the daylight where our guide showed us the gun firing and set off the cannon wich made all the kids jump!!!

We all went over to the HMS Trincomalee to explore the bowels of a real frigate an’ once aboard we had a good wander round.  There was the sick bay, the powder room, sleepin’ quarters and Capitain’s deckpost.  We stood at the front of the ship and imagined settin’ off for India or Astralia as the kids had recently done a project on Capitain James Cook.  I was about ready to drop by this point as the weekend had been about as busy as any I could remember so we went to the playboat where I let them play one of the best games of tig ever.  I couldn’t just watch for long an’ soon joined in but in my slightly tired state I fell down some steps and think I may have cracked a rib or two !!!  It was almost time for the musem to close so we went to wait for our ride home.  It had been a great day an’ we were all ready for bed when we got home.  I, unfortunatly was at work at 8pm so would have to wait til the next mornin’ to rest, but lumps an’ bruised ribs aside it was well worth it.

Well we’d fit more into one mornin’ than most people get into a month an’ it was only 12.45.  We were on our way to Tees Barrage (second week in a row for me!) an’ I could feel the chills from last week’s events.  We arrived an’ were given wetsuits so I knew I’d be gettin’  cold an’ wet again lol.  Lloyd an’ the gang helped us into the waiting Kayaks an’ we were quite unceremoniosly chucked in.  It was a pretty nervy time as I felt I was goin to fall straight out but after some good advice from Helen I found my river legs and began to enjoy the water despite the wind doin’ it’s best to push me down stream.  Joanna was not finding the water much kinder but despite her fear bravely slid her kayak into the water to join us as we headedup stream for our first challenge. 

The guys explained we would be tryin’ a manouver called “the piano” but I had to stop them as Joanna an’ I were just not gettin’ it.  I asked one of the guys to show us what they meant.  HUGE MISTAKE!!  started to get out of the kayak an’ on to the front where we were all lined up.  Joanna an’ I were gobsmacked that after only 1o min’s on the water we had to walk along the front of the kayaks!!!   They had only managed to get across two of our boats before fallin’ in so I was not holdin’ much hope for myself, an Joanna had flatly refused to do it as I guess she wont mind me sayin’ she’s not a strong swimmer an’ this was somthin’ a bit beyond what 1o/15 mins trainin’ can prepare you for!!! 

I’m a pretty strong swimmer though an’ despite knowin’ how cold the Tees was from the week before I decided to give it go.  As I expected I didn’t get far before I was fallin’ head first into the water, which is where I stayed as I couldn’t get back into the kayak.  I swam to the river bank draggin’ my boat with me by which time I had gotten used to the water an’ didn’t mind the numbing cold so much.  I pulled myself back in an’ once again followed everyone back upstream where we were about to have a race.  By the time I’d got back to the guys I was all over the place an’ strugglin but as I turned to go downstream I relaxed enough to realise where I was an’ managed to catch the beginnin’ of the race. 

The second race was goin’ backwards but by then my mind wasn’t really on the job an’ I “fell in” a second time an’ was just enjoyin’ bein’ in the water as I had no real feeling of the cold anymore and was givin’ it full on “Otter stlye” ’til eventually I was dragged out.  I think I felt even more refreshed than the week before an’ I can’t wait to go back with Lauren an’ her friends or the boys an’ jump in again (maybe not three weeks in a row though lol)

After showerin’  we met for a well earned coffee in the Barage’s cafe an’ the days points were tally’ed up.  By some miracle I’d just pinched it.  Julia from “Visit Tees Valley” awarded me a bottle of champagne which with the pending arrival of 6 of Lauren’s friends for a pre “Bolder Walking” sleepover, would come in handy later on lol.  Once again a massive thank you to everyone @ the Tees Barrage, “Outdoor Ambition” and “Visit Tees Valley” for an amazin’ day an’ a great taster of what our final day in March has in store, can’t wait guys!!

Countdown to the first challenge day was up!  We met the guys from Visit TeesValley in the wonderful Guisbrough Hall and had juice an’ pastrys (all very civilised).  I even turned up in chinos an a tweed jacket just to blend in with the scenery but after bein’ given our list of challenges I did a quick change into combats an’ my “Face of Tees Valley” t-shirt ’cause it looked like things might get messy. 

I set off with Helen my chaperone from “Outdoor Ambition Ltd” run by Lloyd Murry who had helped co-ordinate the day’s events.  We powered towards Guisbrough high street as our challenges included travelling about on public transport (not much change for me there as I don’t drive ).

We made it to the bus and “jetted” off towards Middlesbrough with Joanna and her escort alongside us.  Finnally we made it to Stuarts park and decided to get to our first destination on foot.  We passed a friends house an’ I couldn’t resist poppin’ in an’ tellin her what I was up too but as she wasn’t home I decided to take a picture with the dog who I help look after.  My first test was to clean the Infinity bridge at “Nature’s World” so after joggin’ for about two miles we got to Nature’s World an’ were immediatly given a bucket  an’ sent to look for the bridge which is a replica of Stockton’s landmark over the Tees.  Helen an’ I busied ourselves cleanin’ the bridge an got some pic’s taken.   

              Next was a trip into central ‘Boro to the designer store Psyche where we had to buy somthin’ for a tenner that would make me stand out in a crowd!!  As an ex-employee I knew there was a stuffed raindeer in the attic which I thought would be fun but we couldn’t find it so settled on a manequin’s head (I actually paid £1o for it too ha ha).  A good friend Fres was workin’ so got another pic an’ then ran into Noel Dennis from “the Noel Dennis Quartet” who were playin’ in Psyche.  We were runnin’ out of time so decided on a taxi to the Waiting Room in Eaglescliffe where I had to make a latte.  We got there with about 9o sec’s to spare as the rules said we had to arrive by 12.3o although not before so we stood outside in the rain ’til bang on 12.3o.  When we walked in Joanna had been there 2o min so that was a waste of a soakin’!!

We then had a brief break before recounting the mornin’s adventures an’ settin’ off  for Tees Barage where the madness was to continue.

Ok, actually it pretty much is ha ha.  Just a quick insert to let you know about my modelling assignment over at the Saltburn Hotel and Spa!!  I know what you’re thinking, me too.  I’ve organised lots of fashion shows/shoots in the past so I know what male models look like an’ I’m pretty sure I’m not it lol.  Despite that, Kirsty, a work colleauge (?) who does some modelling asked me to be part of a vampire shoot after we talked about the BBC following me an’ some of the boys from Psyche to Whitby back in the day for a documentary “The Secret Life of a Shop” (not the most inspired of titles).  I was asked to do some test shots an I’ve posted a couple of the results.  These are the only veiwable ones out of about 150 ha ha.  Anyway let me know what you think? xJ

 Well the requests have started pourin’ in an’ Joanna an’ I cannot walk down the street without being mobbed.  But despite OK magazine havin’ to find a new cover next month and Simon Cowell’s undoubted worry about next weeks X factor guests Jo an’ I decided to go with what we know an’ joined Neil Green on BBC radio Tees.  We were met on arrival by Judith, producer for the show who led us up to the studio where we met Neil and Dianne Youdale his co-presenter. 

The guys could not have made us feel more comfortable and the 45 min’s flew by in what seemed like seconds.  Both myself and I’m sure Joanna would like to thank the whole team for supportin’ us throughout the “Face of Tees Valley” adventure.  Have a look out for the show (’specially when were on!!) @ BBC Radio Tees.