Drilling

I’m a Fire Marshal at my place of work, which means I essentially get no more pay than if I wasn’t, and have to shepherd people around the building in the event of a fire or bomb(!). I don’t mind too much, it’s nice to have on my C.V. if nothing else, and it’s fun putting out fires on the training courses. We had a surprise drill today which broke the day up nicely, even if it did mean donning my oh-so-attractive fluorescent yellow tabbard and shouting at people in the cold. I’m not sure why anyone wants to know any of that, but it was fresh in my mind so I thought I’d share. I’m sure that you, my lovely readers (yeah, I know you’re still out there reading), are enthralled.

I’ve spent some time doing a different kind of drilling lately, putting finishing touches to the house and attaching various things to walls. Generally all the DIY has gone really well so far, but I came close to snapping over the weekend when I tried to put a long curtain pole up in the bedroom. I was really pleased with all my planning and preparation, making sure everything was measured, spirit leveled and ready to go. However, fate and the builders conspired against me. I started drilling into the wall which was going great, but with about 5mm still left to go before the hole was deep enough to hold the rawl plug, the drill came to a complete standstill. Actually that’s not very accurate, the drill itself was still spinning like a Dervish on speed, but it just wouldn’t go in any further! Casting my mind back now, there’s a large metal lintel I remember the builders putting in during the build, but at that point I couldn’t have cared less. I was hot, tired and practically deaf thanks to the drill’s incessant screeching of masonry bit against metal, and ready to throw the damn thing out the window. After plenty of swearing, a foul mood and some less-than-perfect drilling, there is now a very nice curtain pole up and I’m no longer waking up at dawn ready to bare all at the neighbours thanks to the privacy of curtains. I’m sure the neighbours are glad too.

The third of my trinity of tenuous drilling links today relates to training last night. We started out as we always do on a Wednesday night with a Senior class, doing my best to indelibly stamp the new self-defence and knife defence on my subconscious. I quite enjoy them, especially the take-downs and armbars on the knife stuff, and i think they’re finally sticking. I stayed on for some kickboxing, and it was a treat to drill some of the other kinds of self-defence there too. Easily my favourite of the bunch involves avoiding a kick and ploughing in behind for the double-leg, immediately sprawling for some semblance of back mount, followed by a nice easy RNC. These days I don’t need to be told twice to take the back if I get a chance ;).

It’s going to be a hectic few days now. I’m taking tonight off, my neck is still a bit funky and I feel like I could do with the rest, but from then on it’s training on Friday, followed by training on Saturday, then 3 hours on the road and my first taste of BJJ competition on Sunday (with the obligatory 3 hour drive home afterward), and back to BJJ on Monday night. I should be ready to drop come Tuesday.