Don't really know how this post will turn out . . .

. . . it is a week of extremes really.

First of all, the British Figure Skating Championships were great. Very inspiring - loved all of the Senior Dance couples. I particularly liked the Kerr's (of course, who doesn't) and Louise Walden and Owen Edwards, who I haven't seen skate before.

I had a nice stay in Nottingham - used the gym (tempted to join one now) and swam each morning at 6.30, which is a nice way to start the day once I have dragged myself out of bed (I am not a morning skater, apart from occasionally in the summer when the sun is already up and shining).

My lesson on Wednesday was mostly focussed on Level 1 Field Moves. Test papers are about to be sent in, so we did work on how it all connects together in one test.

Then Thursday went about as downhill as life can go. My father died. I am not going to go into details - this isn't the place to do it. People who know me, know the details and that is enough. Not entirely unexpected, but a shock nonetheless.

Weirdly, all I wanted to do on Friday was skate. The ice rink is one of those places where I know I will generally leave feeling calmed, with my thoughts in some kind of order. So once everyone told me off for feeling bad about it, I took myself off there. I was so focussed on clearing my head, I probably had the most productive skate I have had in a month or two. Ran through my Field Moves - simple monotonous moves that I didn't have to think about too much - about 3 times, with all the connecting bits, and got it down to 5 or 6 minutes, which is good for a Field Moves test. The ice rink was blissfully empty (not even any DoI celebs) and it was very cathartic.

Skated my usual Saturday morning session yesterday as well - not so good, as very busy, but I found out it is quite hard to skate when someone is hugging you at the same time!

Other than that, people have been keeping me busy, with meals out, shopping, phonecalls, texts and keeping me company. Times like this make you realise how much people you love, love you in return.

Not sure what I am doing tomorrow yet. I might work, or I might take another day, on my own this time, to get my thoughts into order. We shall see.