For those of you who don’t know me, I used to figure skate as a teenager.  I don’t think I was ever any good, but I enjoyed it.  I rather suspect that I used it more as a giant gossip session than any form of real sports training!!

After a rather turbulant few weeks, I woke up with the insane urge to skate again.  For the record, the last time I was on the ice was my 18th birthday… a fair number of years ago!!!

So, off I went to the Dubai Mall to check out their rink.

Armed with my “beautiful”, blunt, blue wellies, I hit the ice… and remembered what fear really is!  Bambi may have had more co-ordination than me.  I haven’t felt so nervous on the ice… well, I don’t remember it as it was so long ago!

I had however paid my AED50 for my two hour session and so I wasn’t going to give in.  I was going to learn to skate at least one lap without clutching the bloody barrier like some amature.  So, I pushed myself, and then I pushed myself some more.  And you know what?  My body started to remember!

Soon I found myself gliding around.  I can’t understand why I ever stopped.  I can honestly say that it was the most amazing, relazing and liberating feeling in the world.  Once I had a little bit of confidence my body naturally found it’s centre and my posture automatially arranged itself for the right balance over the blades.  I literally had tears blurring my vision as I felt the pure joy of moving on the ice again.

At this point I would like to admit that I didn’t push myself too hard.  I went forwards and round in circles.  I didn’t even try a cross over, and didn’t dare attempt backwards when I was on my own!  I was just blissed out by moving so gracefully.  I had forgotten that the only time I don’t feel too fat, or too tall is when I am on the ice.  Don’t get me wrong, it was easier when I was thinner and younger, but no shoes ever make me feel as elegant or graceful as ice boots do…. even the ghastly blue wellies!

Towards the end of the 2 hours, when my legs were starting to shake through pure and heavenly exhaustion, and when I had mastered how to stop without running into the plexiglass, I asked one of the ice stewards to take my picture.  I had to commemorate the occasion of finding something I love, and falling in love all over again.

He took a number, but these two are my favourites… The first because I look thin and happy (please note, this is just a good angle and I do not look like this!), and the second because I was nearly run over by a 5yr old with a penguin!!!

So, will I be skating again soon?  Hell yeah!  I am going in 2 days time and I will be a repeat visitor to that rink for the rest of my time in Dubai.  I might even buy my own skates again because I know I will be able to do more with decent blades!