So I levered my son out of the house for a walk and remained patient as he moaned about having to wear his new shark wellington boots because he can’t run in them. (Same child who moans if I suggest running). I didn’t buy welly socks because he moaned about them and now he moaned because the boots were loose. We got to the river and paused, commenting how deep and fast it was looking; then he kicked his foot and the new wellie went flying in a slow loop into the middle of the water. He did look suitably horrified, eyes big and hands clapped over his mouth, so I took a deep breath and we just silently watched the thing float ten metres downstream before it sank into the murky depths.
That spike in the graphics is my heart rate as I stripped off to my undies, waded waist deep through sharp-bottomed icy cold water and searched for the boot. Thankfully the glinting teeth of the shark shone up through the murk and a slow breathless lunge later I had it.
An audience had gathered at this point, the way people seem to at accident sites. A few others averted their eyes and moved on quickly. I thanked them for their solidarity and tried to maintain composure in my dripping pants and bright red lobster legs.
My son was impressed though. He ran me a bath, hasn’t moaned since and says he thinks wellie socks might be a good idea.
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ktsok
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That was a bit risky going into the water to get that boot, undercurrents and especially after all the recent rain, good that you got the boot back and your son ran you a bath.
I did once wade out up to my waist into a flood swollen River Esk to recover a miss kicked football. It was cold and the current was strong; probably one of the daftest things I did as a teenager... crazy, but it was a football and the match had to go on; only a parent would risk all for a lost welly, shark or no shark! Glad your son appreciated your (crazy) heroics! 🦈
If it happens again, leave the welly, we will happily crowd fund a replacement! 😊 I think my effort was probably dafter ... I couldn’t even swim at the time !
Something like “it would take a dozen skivvies his face to wash and scrub since our Jock became a member of our terrible football club.” Peer pressure was a powerful force at that age. 😊
Oh! Poor you! But thank you for a 🤣 moment! This forum is so good for helping me with many things including often giving me a good laugh. I do hope that you feel that your actions were worth it and that you are over any embarrassment. I am really pleased you weren't hurt in any way and feel bad that I laughed at your expense. Sorry! 😞
🤣 So glad it didn't end in some horrid disaster! Your laughing has given me further laughing. This forum just keeps on giving! How's your building up run distance going, Dexy? And are you about to go skiing ⛷?
All sounds good! 😊 Well done to you! Did you know Oldgirlruns first from your Parkrun or as a VRB? Whichever, how lovely that you'll be skiing together. I mentioned to BaddieThePirate that I have not yet met any VRBs and, if I remember rightly, she said something about making that happen this year. This running business plants so many ideas in our heads!
Oldgirlruns and I met through work when I first arrived in Portsmouth in 1995 and we have been friends ever since. She was so impressed during my c25k running journey, she started a year later. I hope you get to meet some VRBs this year. Where is your nearest parkrun?
Markeaton Park, Derby is the nearest to our house. I will take part in a parkrun one day, but not for a bit. I am nearly positive that meeting with some VRBs will happen before too long. I have even chatted with my husband about going and staying near a VRB meet up! 😊🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻🏃♀️🏃😊
A weird sort of parental stubbornness kicked in. My son hates wearing wellies. It was a sort of Freudian mistake, kicking it in. I had to retrieve it so he wouldn’t learn the wrong lesson!
Love it ktsok. 🤣🤣 Your son is very lucky that he got his shark welly back. He should be very proud of you . I hope you got home and warm straight away.
Whoosh! It makes a great story now, very vivid! But I do hope that river wasn’t as dangerous as it sounds. 😱I had a horrible vision of the crowds on the bank having to form a human chain to rescue you - maybe with the leaders in their undies too? The video would go viral, but we’d rather have our VRB safe! 👏🏼
Lol, brilliant...I can't believe you stripped off to go in 😂
I'd have watched for a bit in case it came near the edge of the water, then given up and left the wellie in it's watery grave knowing I'd have to fork out for another pair...rather that than stripping down to my knickers in public 😆
Wow. You are a so much more devoted parent than I am kt! My daughter still occasionally complains that I never took her to disneyland like I promised. I mentioned it once when she was 3. She's in her twenties now and hasn't forgotten 😁
Well, it’s all about perspective GOG. I tell my son that he is extremely lucky not to have the sort of parent who will bankrupt themselves queuing for a ride. Sounds like your daughter got lucky too 🙂
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