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17 Oct 2009 7:57 AM

After an 8 year break I am today going to try my hand (and brain) at penciling again.

Today is our big annual Race Day and  I have been asked by my ole bookie to work.  It seems with the introduction of computers at the racetrack there are not many of us ole folk left that can still pencil for a bookmaker manually.  (Did it for 30 years previously)

Eric (the bookie) wants to run 2 stands .. one for the local races and one for the interstate city meets running 3 books for Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne.  And this is where he wants me to work ...on those 3 books. (He has a computer for the locals).  It can be a hell of a lot of pressure but I USED to handle it well .... BUT .. can I still do it??  Hence I am anxious ..

800 to 100 each way .. 500 for the place ...  a thousand on the nose ... those furious calls with people waving money in the air ... me yelling "what state", "straight out or eachway", "slow down!" ..  those memories have been running through my mind all morning ..

My hands shall be cramped ... my head shall be pounding and my mind will be racing for hours after ... that I do remember well .. but how will the aging body cope.  Am hoping it will be like riding a bike .. you just slide back into the swing of it all.

Long day too with daylight saving in the southern states .. first race at 10.15am and the last at 5.15pm .. all this time standing on an elevated platform in very limited space with ear phones attached.

By geez .. I AM nervous .. if anything .. that adrenalin will keep me going.

Wish me Luck! x

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