Rollin' rollin,' rollin'

[Manky Monkey]

You've got way too much free time Tony!
I had the choice of "quads" or "in-lines". I figured quads would be more stable, with a wheel at each corner, plus you can't flex sideways at the ankle as you can on in-lines, so hopefully less chance of a job threatening injury, (I walk for a living). Modern quads have a rigid plastic boot, like a ski boot, with a fleece lining. They use adjustable clasps rather than laces. Quite comfortable once they're on, but I haven't mastered getting them on & off on my own yet -took someone else to pull them off.
Simon Pollock, the pin striper & signwriter who's going to do the Kettering on my truck doors, is a born again skater. He's a similar age & build to me & took it up for exercise a year or so ago, having not skated since his teens. Now he belongs to a club & skates most weekends, as well as attending the weekly Guildford roller disco, playing in a roller derby team & occasionally joining the London Sunday morning road runs where dozens of skaters travel around various boroughs & parks.
He got me into it & knows the couple who run the lessons cos they also organise the roller disco.
I hate sport, but thought it'd be a fun way of getting a bit more exercise. Maybe

[Manky Monkey]

https://www.lfns.co.uk/

[morrag]

Your problem Mr. M is way too much time on your hands!! anyway, at your age I would have thought Wild Flower Pressing, or "Origami for Beginners, or suchlike would be far more sensible.... ..Morrag

[Manky Monkey]

Used to do Origami as a teenager. I just fancied trying something new. I really don't want to spend the rest of my life in the garage.

[Manky Monkey]

2nd session this evening. Still no need to call the paramedics -I'm calling that a win

[Tony oily bike]

Looking good............

So if the second lesson was 'Standing Up', guessing third lesson will be 'Sitting Down'        (sorry mate!)

Actually (although I jest) it does looks fun.

When I was a wee nipper, I used to roller skate on holiday at Butlins.
Spent so much time skating around I got blisters on my feet.
Not worry, a quick medical fix of a bit of "it won’t hurt" iodine sorted it!

[Manky Monkey]

 
I can just about manage a lap of the sports hall unaided now. No falls yet, but several bouts of frantically windmilling like an epileptic octopus to stay upright.
More elephant than elegant
On the plus side, I've gained 3 inches in height & all the kids keep well out of my way.
I don't "do" sports of any kind -as you may have realised from my ballet dancer's physique -but used to go to the gym every night about 20 years ago. This gives you the same "high" -makes you feel happy & that you've achieved something when you leave.

[the coppersmith]

skateboard next, then maybe a surf session ??

[Manky Monkey]

Yeah, then maybe alligator wrestling.

[JayJay]

...
When I was a wee nipper, I used to roller skate on holiday at Butlins.
Spent so much time skating around I got blisters on my feet.
Not worry, a quick medical fix of a bit of "it won’t hurt" iodine sorted it!

Which Butlins did you go to Tony? I went to Bognor.  I loved the skating there too. Loved the place but hated telling school friends where I'd been. Remember the essay most youngsters had to write on their return after the Summer, "What I Did On My Holidays"? Well we had to read it out too. Bognor said with a Brummie accent did not sound appealing at all. 

Glad you're enjoying yourself Andy. It's good to try something different. I would like to have singing lessons. Just to be to able sing while listening to my music without ending up with a sore throat. They say it's all in the breathing. Sounds less dangerous than skating (at our age). Less chance of a broken hip! 

[Manky Monkey]

I've got a friend down in Bristol who sings in an amateur rock choir. They get together to sing just for the enjoyment of singing out loud in a large group.

[Tony oily bike]

Jay Jay
Butlins by the sea at Bognor Regis! Me too!

The skates used to be worn with your own shoes on, had a buckle strap that went around the ankle, and a lace-up nose that went around the front of the shoes, so the amount of soreness from the buckle and strap depended on the type of shoes/boots you turned up with.

Oh, and the skates didn’t have any in-built braking rubber block, you had to put one foot perpendicular and up against the heel of the other to slow down, or if you were flash, put yourself into a spin!

The area had a switch back wooden-railed switchback (similar to the queuing system found at airports) for those that didn’t want to venture out onto the concrete rink, which itself had either concrete walls or hefty wooden fences surrounding it.

Non of this fancy stuff Sir M plays with............ nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.............  

Skates in the photo prob similar age to Sir M's pop

[the coppersmith]

weren't they called Jacko skates or something? I remember flattening off the buckle up stands and nailing them to my first skate boards !! my sister was not happy 

[the coppersmith]

plus the real fast ones had metal wheels.

[Tony oily bike]

weren't they called Jacko skates or something? I remember flattening off the buckle up stands and nailing them to my first skate boards !! my sister was not happy 

Hah Hah!

Jaco skates were a particular make.

Couple of pics for some nostalgic memories