Steel City

Oh sugar indeed!

�well I wouldn'tve guessed it was you.� Helen stated, �so you got any more pics of these con things?�

�none here.� I lied, I hope she didn't see the file tree just now.

�pity it looks like its fun.�

�yeah it is.�

�what's the time?�

�ten past eight.�

�shitza! I'd better get home.�

Saved by the clock!

The rest of the Easter holiday was a bit strange. Ally and Em were still in Spain and Wales respectively and even Mad was still away at her Gran's so it was just me Bern and Helen. Between my training rides, Helen's Guides and Bern's babysitting we actually didn't really do much. My sister was hardly in evidence either, the girls are really into this band thing so they've been practicing all the time � like I believe that!

I had an appointment with Dr Johnson on Friday, I'm actually starting to like her. I mean for a doctor she's pretty cool, not all condescending or anything. Anyway we had quite a long chat about all sorts of stuff, of course she did the vampire bit too and prodded and poked my chest and um other bits.

�well young man, it looks like things have slowed down a bit, it might be something to do with your more intensive bike training or it might be a natural slow down, the bloods should tell us which. Your Mum said you passed out again last Sunday?�

�it was a really hard race, I was just very tired.�

�well I'm changing your iron dosage to see if that helps. Are you having any other problems?�

�my chest is always itching.�

�the cream not helping?�

�I um haven't been using it.� I admitted.

�Drew!� Mum put in.

�easy Jenny,� the Doc soothed, �Drew you need to use the cream, it will ease the discomfort a lot, you are wearing the supports?�

you might call them supports but they are bra's!

�most of the time.� I had one on today of course, I'm not daft, but it makes things seem, I don't know, more weird. So okay I wear girls knickers most of the time now but that's coz they are like more comfortable but the bra's, well boys just don't wear them!

On Saturday it was Metheringham again, I was more switched on this week and had a much more even ride sat in the bunch � no showing off for Mum! It came down to a sprint which I lost by half a wheel to a lad twice my size and nearly two years older. I really do need to do some sprint training!

By contrast I spent most of Sunday with Jules catching up on the homework I should have done during the hols. The last day of the holiday and I was writing an essay about the Nazi's and their influence on pre war Germany. Heavy stuff and it took me nearly all day to finish.

�hurry up Bond, we haven't got all day.�

�no Sir.� I hurried up to get on the school minibus for today's geography field trip.

You'd think they'd take us somewhere interesting wouldn't you but no, we get a day to Sheffield! I was the last on board so Mr Pilling slammed the door shut behind me before going round to the front. Mum was in charge but Mr P was driving. A bus full of teenagers is never gonna be quiet and the ride over to Sheffield was spent catching up on the news from the hols. All the gang were on board, Ally had a nice tan from Spain, Em er I mean Rhod had got his ears pierced and Mad had been to a Sci Fi Con in Liverpool with Uncle John and Aunt Carol.

I hadn't really been taking much notice of where we were until we pulled up in what looked like a housing estate.

�Come on people, we've got a lot to get in today.� Mum, erm Mrs Bond told us.

We shuffled off the bus and Mum led us along the path and through a gate.

�okay, quiet up! Right then we'll just walk down the path to the signpost before we go into Bishops House.� She indicated the black and white building which had gained a bit of attention. We quickly reached the vantage point and Mum started her spiel.

�I'm sure you've all been to Sheffield before but the city you see now has changed immensely in the last two hundred years. What you can see behind me is very different from what you might have seen even twenty years ago.�

she paused before going on, �as recently as the 1980's this view would have been obscured most of the time by smog from the heavy industry in the city, today it's a clean modern city but it owes that in large to a history founded on heavy industry, especially steel production and of course the city is famous for cutlery production too. We'll be looking at the industrial heritage and regeneration later on.

We'll start by looking at some pre industrial Sheffield, in a minute we'll have a look at Bishops House then we'll move on to Beechuff Abbey* . Then we'll pick up the industry trail at Abbeydale before we go to Kelham Island Museum. This afternoon we'll look at the Don Valley and its regeneration, if there's time we'll see some of Sheffield's hidden gems. Right, time to start! �

* Spelt Beauchief

Maddy Bell 29.11.06 © 2006

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