I’M BACK!

Well, I ended my pre-natal post with “all is well”………

Hmmmm… Me and my big mouth…….

All is indeed well now — BUT for the first 2-3 weeks after welcoming our second child (Theo) into the world, all really didn’t turn out to be too well at all…..

Since that wee snippet those weeks ago, I found myself having to return to our fancy hospital in Cramlington on two separate occasions for myself and once more for Theo!

The first post-baby admission required me to be opened back up in theatre due to the occurrence of haematomas (see below) — this being done under general anaesthetic — and the second time was for a recurrence of those same haematomas that had been washed out only 4 days before!

For those who don’t know, haematomas are swellings caused by clotted blood under the tissue; the unfortunate swellings I had were the size of 2 big clementines under my wound line; the pressure of them causing the initial bleeding I had noticed the night I was admitted.

Never mind… all done… the lumps still remain, albeit smaller in size, but I’ve been told they could be around for weeks to come yet… Ah, the absolute joys of motherhood they don’t tell you about!

Anyways, I should say, my recuperation is ongoing but my “maternity leave” from blogging is over… I received the call from Bloggers HQ to get my mind back to thinking about dirt bike racing.. about the smells of methanol.. about the sport we all love……

I suppose it’s a welcome distraction right now to while away the monotony of this third lockdown.

Anyone else been struggling with this one the most?

Right… into the world of British Speedway we go and where else could we start other than down in Plymouth?

First, how wonderful to see them back in the Championship. The more teams we get to see the better. They have a fantastic little track down there — one at which surprisingly we’ve done quite well in the past. They have one of the most loyal core of fans in the country and hopefully they will be rewarded for taking the plunge they have in moving up again.

BUT, BUT, BUT… Promoter Mark Phillips has to have pulled off two big, very big, potentially massive, signings.

The first being former Newcastle/Poole heat leader and GP rider Bjarne Pedersen. It shows how long he’s been around when I remember fresh-faced Bjarne leading the Newcastle team, back in 2001 (good grief, I was only 13 then (eek!) His experience in our division previously will surely help him but will his age hamper him this season?

However, their second capture — I truly don’t believe anyone expected this… A three-time World Champion …..my childhood idol on a bike (other than our own Adrian, of course) Jason Crump. Crumpy will not only be good for Plymouth but for all Championship teams! How many will come just to potentially see if one of our own beat JC?

I remember Crumpy taking to our track back in the 2002 Bordernapolis and winning it at a canter — it will be interesting to see how he takes to our newly shaped track at Berwick.

There is another massive talking point I feel needs addressing, and for this we’ll head to Premiership newcomers Sheffield…

Now, I’ve got no problem with any team signing anyone as long as it’s all above board… but can somebody who may have been a fly on the boardroom wall please explain how Josh Bates, 25 years old, riding since 2013, 28 matches in the top division, over 200 in our league, a man deemed a “rising star” last time around in 2015 – how on EARTH can he again be deemed a “rising star” this time around?

Now, is that my month-old child’s bum I smell, is it the manure on the fields close to me or is it the absolute BS that decision truly is? I might not have thought it so dodgy if the Vice-Chairman of the BSPA and co-owner of Sheffield Speedway wasn’t Josh Bates’ very own Uncle Damien — but there you are…..

It does me no harm. It does the Berwick team no harm. But I thought the point of implementing a system like this was to aid our younger generation of racer; and yes, I do mean the likes of our Leon, who is having to stand back as young riders he defeated in the U-21, plus Tom Bacon (28 next week) and Master Bates are signed up as the Premiership league’s “rising stars”.

Moving on now (before I explode) and no doubt everyone has seen that we’ve recently had our fixture-list released.

Anyone actually going to dare to take the opportunity to plan a life? I know I am. We all need a little boost right now.. yes, I have my children I can focus on but the thought of seeing friends, watching the sport I love — ooh, it just gives a glimmer of hope and positivity…..

Should we commence on the 1st May then we will be welcoming the Scorpions up to us; should be a nice easy home win there, mwahahaha……

I’m personally as optimistic as ever that, should we go ahead, we could have a decent season. We start with 6 out of the 7 we finished with in 2019 but our strength this coming season could be down at reserve with young Kyle and Leon. As young as they are, they’ve had 3 seasons experience in the Championship between them so at least won’t be seeing anywhere for the first time – not even Plymouth or Kent, where I presume they raced at NL level.

So there we are – there IS a light at the end of the long, dark, tunnel.

Am I sticking my neck out if I finish by saying “all is well”?

.
.
Disagree with Sarah? If you’re brave enough, get in touch on berwicks_b1tch@hotmail.co.uk — but don’t say we didn’t warn you!