Fight For Your Dream by Elaine Hazel Sharp Page B

with campylobacter, and yes, you guessed, they were infecting me too!
    It was really quite frightening at how quickly I deteriorated once the bug had got hold. Within a few days it had completely taken me off my feet, and my weight loss was dramatic. It took sometime for the lab to culture the bug; hence a two week stay in hospital, courtesy of Lodge Moor. Recovery was slow, which meant I had about six weeks off work before I was well enough to resume my normal ‘day job’. The only good result was that Nigel had booked a surprise weekend away in Harrogate to celebrate our 1 st wedding anniversary, which he presented me with a couple of days before. We had a fantastic weekend and still to this day go up to Harrogate to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
    One year on, and we were settling in to married life very comfortably. We’d done the silly squabbles and heated arguments, testing how far we could push each other, and now married life was becoming married bliss.
    Around this time I was eager to find a hobby that we could both share and enjoy together. Although I very rarely compete these days, at that time I still maintained my fitness with my first love, running. I was still running around 30 to 40 miles a week, which I found relaxing after a bad day at work. Sometimes I would come home, change out of my smart work clothes, put on my shorts, T-shirt and trainers, and just run for miles. It was my way of relaxing and feeling inner peace. Nigel, on the other hand, did not enjoy sport in general. Sorry: correction: he did enjoy motor sport, competing himself in his younger days, and was an avid follower of the World Rally Championship. Every November we would travel to North Yorkshire, or wherever the secret stages were being held, and follow the rally. Some were night stages, which were absolutely fantastic.
    However, what sport/hobby could we do together? I had mused on this subject before, but never really came up with any inspiration until one day, whilst on my lunch hour, I was wandering around in W H Smith. I always looked at the magazines in the sports section, and often made a purchase, so I had something to read back in the office whilst nibbling on a sandwich. This particular day my gaze became fixed on a magazine called ‘Practical Boat Owner’. As I thumbed through the pages I can remember thinking that this could be a sport/hobby that we could participate in together: a joint interest. Yeah, this could really work! Nigel had owned a very small speed boat, along with a friend, when I first met him. In fact one year, at the age of 19, they towed the boat (named Skua) on the back of Nigel’s RS 2000 to the South of France. I was becoming increasingly excited, when I glanced at my watch and realised that I had been flicking through the pages for the past 15 minutes, and if I didn’t hurry up and buy the mag., I was going to be late back to work. Decision made, I hurriedly made my purchase. That afternoon I couldn’t wait to finish work so that I could get home to talk to Nigel about my idea.
    â€˜Sailing: are you sure?’ he smiled, as he looked down at the magazine. ‘I didn’t know you liked boats’.
    â€˜Well, I’ve never sailed before, so I don’t know if I do, but there’s only one why to find out,’ I replied.
    â€˜How do you mean? What do you suggest?’ he grinned.
    With hands on hips, I grinned back and replied, ‘Well, if you look in the index, there’s a section advertising Sail Training Schools. Why don’t we give them a ring, book on a week’s course, and give it a go? There’s a place called, “The Westerly Sea School.” They look quite good.’
    â€˜Listen to you,’ he laughed, ‘someone’s being doing their homework.’
    Two days later I’d rung the sea school, organised a week off work, and booked the 5-day ‘competent crew’ course for two people. Bound for sea we were,