I failed to achieve feeling comfortable skating backwards clockwise in a busy-ish public session.  I seem fine when there is no-one around but get nervous when there are people, which I don't when going anti-clockwise.  Guess I am not quite as fine as I think.  A few months of practice skating almost the whole time backwards clockwise is required, outdoors now hopefully if it ever stops raining - until I get to the point when I forget which my weak side is.

I remember going to a public session at Bradford where they did change the direction of flow for a while. Made a nice change going round other way.
The puddles on the ice due to ancient refrigeration unit weren't so nice as I wiped out into one and my jumper sleeve got soaked.  So glad when they installed new refrigeration unit.

For a while I rented a small school hall for £25 an hour - a pricey session but had it all to myself.

Outdoor wheels are challenging unless you have an unusually smooth surface - only ever found those in Spain and France.  A new surfaced basketball court could work, or a newly surfaced supermarket car park on a Sunday after 4.  Nearest roller rinks I know to Hull would be Nottingham, Derby and Bury St Edmunds - miles away!  There might be someone who rents a school sports hall somewhere and runs roller sessions.  I go to one like that near me.

No trivial at all - even the simplest thing done properly is a worthwhile achievement.


"Skate aids" - hmm.  They are just a money making device if you ask me - people do not use them at all correctly, and just lean on them with a lot of their weight which is the exact opposite of how they should be used.  I don't know any coaches who think they are helpful.  Would be interested to hear others views.


My achievements have been to discover a new adults-only midweek daytime session indoors on wheels, very chilled, and going to the local roller disco tomorrow night.