Friday 30 October 2009

Secret Housewife in Outdoor Girl Midlife Crisis...

Having satisfied the cerebral side of my nature I decided to attempt the more physical activities that the rest of my family enjoy.Another way of phrasing this could be that I set off on the trail of a Mid-Life Crisis...


My ever young and athletic husband had taken part in a company team building exercise at a Go Ape recently and he decided that our family could do with a bit of team building too. He booked us in.... my sister, my nephew, my 11 year old, me and, of course, Mr Adventure himself..my Man.We arrived on a sunny day at the woodland setting and embarked upon a half hour training session.

I have always rather hankered after the "outdoors, skiing, climbing, hiking" look. You know the type? Lean, tanned... afraid of nothing... sporting a belt full of shiny carabiners and a smile.... This was my chance to fulfill that dream. I could show my family that I was afraid of nothing... swinging from tree to tree in a harness and some very nice lip gloss.



It all started well.My outfit fitted nicely and my muffin belly was tucked beautifully inside the harness.The first mistake I made was the 'Pact of Death'. This involved swearing that none of us would resort to the Chicken Run Trail. We would all, come what may, go for the Black Runs.... the hardest path, the scariest route.I blame this, again. on my Man, closely followed in the blame stakes by my son and nephew. What is it about men?? Why can't they be happy with a cup of tea and a biscuit infront of the telly? No... they have to drag us all through hoops and hell in the quest for macho world domination.

Much of the afternoon is a blur of rope ladders, 40 ft high platforms and woodchip down my knickers.Every sinew in my body cried out to me that standing on a platform only 24 inches across was abnormal... wrong. Throwing myself from said platforms... out into the wide open expanse of woodland, into cargo nets huge distances away.... was wrong.As the afternoon went on... and on... and on.... I hoped for the thrill of adrenalin to kick in. I hoped that I would start to bathe in the joy of the outdoors...

Sadly, however, that thrill never came.I am proud to say that I did not chicken out. I climbed every ladder, crossed every tightrope, zipped every wire. I threw myself, with abandon ,off towers and platforms and never once did I hesitate.To the casual onlooker I was that 'Outdoor Girl'.... whooping and laughing in the face of fear and danger.But inside? Inside I wanted the damn thing to end.... I wanted to be on my sofa watching Strictly, with a bloody big glass of Merlot and a chocolate Digestive...

The following day I awoke as if from a nightmare.I had fallen into bed at 8pm and slept for 13 hours. My body felt broken and battered... as if I had been beaten with a large stick and muscles screamed from places that I didn't know had muscles.I am not the Commando Girl I had hoped to be..... but only you and I know that.... ssshhhhhh......

8 comments:

Lorac said...

I know what you mean about the muscles and tendons! I took my granddaughter on a tree walk and zip lining. It took a lot more energy and strength than I thought. Had a blast though! Sorry you didn't enjoy it but you can say you did it!

Kork said...

OH, I am in complete agreement with you...I'd love to LOOK as though I live that life, all while sitting quietly on my couch with a good book, a stack of chocolaty cookies, and cup of tea...

I'm so proud that you did it! I'd not have had the guts...I'd have chickened out.

You are amazing!

Gail said...

I always wanted to try something like that but I believe my body would go on strike.

You make us proud.

BALLET NEWS said...

Well done you !

Inkling said...

Well done! I know how scary those things are, especially the tiny platform way high up one. Way to go at pushing through it and not chickening out. To be honest, that is the real reason I don't go along when my husband leads groups on his rope courses....I"m a chicken. I love to climb, but the ropes course is just too much for me. So I'm really impressed.

And now, you totally deserve a full glass of wine, some strawberries and cream, and some fine chocolates.....while your men either rub your feet or clean you home as you lounge on the sofa. (A girl can dream for you anyway.)

The Girl With The Mousy Hair said...

I have not passed this way for a while and I have missed you as you were my first bloggy friend. You did so well for not chickening out, I don't think I would ever have chickened in.

Unknown said...

Having sore muscles is a good kind of sore though but only slightly beats out a glass of good merlot.

kanishk said...

It took a lot more energy and strength .

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