May 7th

Well I’ve made it back to Sheffield, my second home. Since 2007 our team has been center based here. The familiarity makes things simple to settle back into. I arrived here on Thursday, Cinco de Mayo. I was able to take a quick cat nap and head to my first training session with GB since July 2010. My tiredness was masked by my overall excitement to be with my teammates again and playing. I think people probably thought I was weird, as I sat on the train from Manchester airport to Sheffield with a smile on my face listening to my iPod. It was the thought of seeing my team again that kept that smile on my face.

So I’ve had two training sessions with the team. Using both to loosen my legs, get a feeling of playing again, and getting used to our system of play. I’d forgotten what we called a quick set (FYI it’s an “A” not a “1”, “quick”, “einze”, or “fix”). I’m back into it, wasn’t hard to remember after a play or two.

I’ve been lucky this week; since I’ve arrived we’ve only had one session a day. Giving me time to sleep and get used to the sun shining until 11pm. We start two days again on Monday, May 10^th. I’m currently living in student accommodation with 8 other girls. I’m not going to complain about free housing but I will describe my bed for you to make your own judgments. I won’t describe the smell of the halls because if you’re eating right now, it may put you off your food. If you like sleeping on a “mattress” that when you roll over, the springs push into your body, you’d love it here. I’m not bony, I’ve got some meat on my bones (no fatty comments), but I feel like I’m boney when I roll over and the springs push against my rib cage. I might gain a few fat pounds just so I have some cushioning when I sleep in this bed. The food is healthy enough for me to gain weight in no time: Fish n’chips, Cadbury chocolate, sausages…yummy!

Lunch is provided for us at the local private hospital. This is also where I had my shoulder surgery back in January 2009. Always good to revisit a hospital where I had great memories. The food is actually very good. We are treated well and it’s my best meal of the day. I love my porridge in the morning, nothing will ever beat that, but we’re given full course meals at the Claremont (I’m omitting hospital in the name because it sounds better. Don’t confuse it with the spa/hotel in Berkeley).

I miss California and speaking with everyone on a daily basis. So, I’m listening to country, watching Arrested Development and looking at pictures, to make me miss you all even more.

May the 8^th be with you.