LIFES SLIDING DOOR MOMENT

Moving to a new county on your own, a couple of hours from friends is rather daunting, but the plus is, it comes with the opportunity for meeting lots of new friends. 

Coaching at the Rugby and Athletics Development Scheme - Leeds

After I handed in my notice as a Sports Coach and a General Teaching Assistant I found my weekends flew by searching to find anywhere with affordable rent in Boston, Lincolnshire. It was such a struggle, panic set in when I only had two weekends left. You may think that four weeks' notice should be enough, but not when you've worked all week and had no computer to search the internet for places to rent. Back then I didn’t own a Smartphone, the phone I had was to become known as a Tamagotchi by the children I was about to coach.

I phoned my new boss in a panic, not knowing what to do. Luckily for me my colleague on the play development side of things had just finished building a new bungalow and her 'old' bungalow was currently being let to her daughter. Fran and her daughter were amazing as they offered me a room until I was able to find a more permanent place. It took three months after I had started my new job to find a place. It just so happened that the house I saw on the day of my interview was back up for rent, lucky me, so I snapped it up! Janet, Maurice and their Jack Russell were now my new very friendly neighbours. I lived next to them for four and a half years.

Fran was great as a work colleague, luckily she knew the ins and outs of Boston and its people, so my transition into the slower paced more rural life (compared to Leeds) was easier than I thought it would be. Because of Fran making friends became easy and they were generous people making me feel welcome straight away. I saw my friends from Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire a few times over the years whilst in Boston but unbeknown to me I was about to meet someone from my past whom I hadn't spoken too in at least 10 years and the I only knew her casually for a polite hello.

Fran found out I liked MotoGP and suggested that for my first August bank holiday in Boston I should come along with them camping at Cadwell Park for the British Super Bikes. I didn't realise her Nephew was Ben Wilson and at the time he had just stepped up to the BSB class racing for Vivaldi. It was a great weekend and one that would be repeated and appreciated every year and one that I remember fondly.

On the third year I remember standing at the top of the long stretch of racing track waiting for the riders to come around. To my right in a small crowd I spotted someone that looked familiar. I kept looking over and the only thing that would stop my staring was the bikes screaming past into the bend. I went through all the teachers I had dealt with in Boston, any parent I'd had dealings with, I couldn't place her! After about 30 minutes of making this group un-comfy, they started to move off. The lady I had been 'glaring at' in confusion walked past me and caught my eye. We both turned to face one another and at the same time “Do I know you” left both our mouths. We both then ran through a likely list of places and people until we hit Rotherham Harriers (from my athletic days). Turns out Megan knew my mother and I way back when I was a lot younger. We got to chatting, the biker fans she was with were from Essex and were very friendly to say I'd be glaring at their friend most of the afternoon. Since then we have all become firm friends, Megan I see as often as I can.

Keeping Warm MotoGP 1st ever Silverstone

James Toseland Raced and Sung with band 'Crash' - Donnington

It's amazing how one person in your life (or new to your life) can change the course of things to come, because of these new friends and re-found friends I met lots of other like-minded people, people who gave me courage to go to BSB and MotoGP weekends by myself. I met Jorge Lorenzo, he signed my top as he was rushing off stage and posed for a photo at Silverstone, the year my favourite rider Valentino Rossi was out with a broken leg. Through my Essex friends I met Giacomo Agostini (their Idol) as well – cheeky chap! I met a fellow artist who created some wonderful paintings of the riders and bikes, for whom I have a great deal of respect (Steve Whyman). Lots of new friends and confidence came from one new (old) person!

If my old boss in Leeds and friend hadn't encouraged me to believe in myself and actually apply for the Sports Development job, who knows where I'd be today. Maybe fate would have brought these people and subsequently My Man, to me later in life, maybe I would never have met them?! All I can say is if it's out of your comfort zone and you are considering it, go for it. You never know what waits for you around the corner if you don't take a peak. Where will that one new person take you next? Perhaps a long-standing friend will introduce you to someone new four years after leaving your home county, sending you on another journey to another county”.

The Sliding Doors Moment. Megan’s view.

I’d gone to my first ever motorbike race as a Pillion August Bank holiday 2008. So there were quite a few firsts that day, all brought about by coincidence. I'd followed James Toseland in WSB and went to Donnington Park earlier in the season  with my Niece, to watch him racing. To get into the event I drove behind a Suzuki GSXR with a number plate, which if you squinted could read “ Agostini."  My Niece decided to put me on Facebook later that day, we connected with James’s covers band Crash & in the friend list was the bike Number plate I had stared at whilst queuing to enter Donnington. Tons of messages and several weeks later, these great people from Essex, said we can swing by yours and you can come Pillion with us to Cadwell for BSB August Bank holiday.

Linda and Mog - not Meg! Mog is Meg's Dog

At Cadwell Park I was watching the racing enjoying it and to be honest I’m not overly observant about people, but the Essex people pointed out a lass in a Yellow Rossi hat (pulled down to her nose) and said she looked familiar, did I know her as she seemed to be staring at me. She wandered over, I pulled the hat off her head & we both said “Do I know you”? Turns out we did! The Essex people were convinced they’d seen Linda on TV, even suggesting Blue Peter, so I explained the Pole Vaulting Champs & Commonwealth Games & that settled the fame for them. The circle of friends we have become through SPORT, is incredible and could so easily have never happened, thousands of bike fans were there that day a real sliding doors moment.

Missed Part 1 in my Chronicles? Here it is 'Friends, Neighbours and Countymen'.