My son goes to a local nursery school (kindergarten).
As my wife works full time it is me who takes him and collects him from this school. I also help out quite frequently and I'm popular with the other parents.
Most of the other parents are women.
Wednesday morning Some of the mothers were talking about "the game on Saturday". When I enquired about "the game" they said thay they have organised a netball match with some mums from the nursery school a mile or so away.
I suggested that I go along and take some pictures ( well, I am the school's offical photographer).
One of the mums suggested that rather than take the pictures, I could play instead! She said that they were 2 people down and would I like to help make up the numbers?
This has always been a fantasy of mine, but not to sound too keen, I said that I'd only do so if the other "stay at home dad did". He was asked and he agreed!
I mentioned kit, and was told not to worry as it will be supplied. It was then suggested that I shave my legs
Just to make sure, I jokingly said "I'm not wearing a skirt" to which the answer was "If we are then you are too. We've arranged 7 kits ALL the same"
I'm so excited. The game is at 10 o'clock Saturday morning.
I mentioned this to my wife on the 'phone. She's not a great supporter or "my deviant ways" but she's agreed. Apparently she was asked a while ago but didn't want to do it.
I doubt if she'll agree to me shaving my legs though
The game is just a bit of fun. I know most of the mums on the other team as we spend a lot of time together doing soft play and other after school activities. I've been assured that they won't mind the mixed team.
I will be taking a camera, and hope to get a team shot before the game(s)
I'm now busy studying the rules, trying to make sense of the basics.
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Thursday morning about an hour after I dropped my son off at the nursery, I received a call on my mobile. It was Helen, one of the two organisers of the game. "We have a problem" she said "We're in the kit suppliers and the cost of 7 skirts and 7 tops is more than we've been given." I'm guessing that the money given was around 250 pounds, as that was the profit from the photographs.My heart sank. I guessed that she was going to ask me and Mat, the other dad, if we'd just wear own own shorts and T-shirt.
"we have found a solution," she went onto say, "but you may not like it"
I asked what the solution was.
"well," she said "a skirt and a polo shirt come to near 40 quid a set, but they do dresses, they're like a skirt and top but all in one. These vary from 25 to 30 quid each. We've spoken with Mat and he's game if you are."
I said that if Mat was happy then so was I, (happy being a slight understatment) I was then asked my chest and waist size. This information was given and I left the girls to it.
Thursday afternoon I went to collect my son and Helen presented me with a sealed plastic bag. "Give it a try when you get home and tell me if it fits." she said, "if not we might be able to change it before Saturday"
Needless to say, I RUSHED home.
This is where it gets even better.
The dress is very similar to this one (the black and yellow one) (pics off a sportswear site)
Needless to say I don't look anywhere near as nice in mine but I feel a million dollars
The colours are navy front with red sides. and the zip is up the back not the front. It's basically a leotard with a skirt sewn on.
The zip goes from the top of the skirt to the neck
It fits OK, a bit tight but I REALLY don't mind.
I phoned Mat to ask his opinion of his and he's quite shocked and unsure.
He wasn't expecting a leotard I think I've talked him round to it.
They were going to get a normal netball dress, but they decided that this one was better as "gym knickers" aren't needed. This is a shame for me in some respects, but most girls in the UK HATED gym knickers during school so they decided againt them. The difference in price was only a couple of pounds.
I'm looking forward to seeing the 5 girls in their's.(well, I've always had a thing about girls in netball kit)They're good looking in jeans and jumpers, in this..........................
So in 19 hours (I'm not counting) time I'll be about to live out one of my biggest fantasies, yet the dress is more than I could have ever dreamed of.
What happens to the dress after the game I do not know. I hope that I'll get to keep it, but it technically belongs to the team.
Sorry to bore you all with my longs posts, but I need to tell someone. I can't hold it in.
Linda