Wellie Olympics - winter training in progress for 2010 and 2012

lol, excellent,,,,,,,, just havin a cupa b4 heading out to work and that blog gave me a good laugh. thanks for that.

What about the Hop Skip And Jump with a bucket of compost.

and of couse Mower Dancing on Ice lol

Irish:

Glad this gave you a good laugh, before going off to work.

Buffriddler:

I've just read your blog. Good news:

YOU'VE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE WELLIE TEAM !

You'd do well in any wellie contest involving jumping with a bucket of compost....

..... but you aren't allowed to eat your carved cucumber medal.

What not even the skin lol please just a little for protein and energy........☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Very funny! Loved it!

Great blog. Well thought off.

What a good blog thats but a smile on my face well done.

CLARICE :

I'm very pleased the Wellie Olympics has given you a smile.

WOHLIBULI and MARGUERITE :

The Wellie Olympics very much welcomes overseas competitors.

There's a new gymnastics demonstration floor event where Wohlibuli's Texas Tumbleweed would be a great asset.

If Marguerite could bring along Australian Silvertop Ash and Sydney Golden Wattle ( yes, I've done my research ! ) she will be in with a good chance of a medal.

Do you have WELLIES ? If so, please let us know, and then you are both eligible to join in the fun and games.

Brilliant blog TT welcome to goy sorry a little belated.Glad to read not the only bonkers one out there have no sporting pretentions myself closest I ll get is probably a bad case of atheletes foot with all this wellie wearing.

BONKERSBON:

Athletes Foot ? That's wonderful ! Surely you know that immediately gives you automatic selection to any Wellie event you wish. (unless my budgie says otherwise)

Over the next few days I shall be wading my way ( in my wellies ) through your super-looking blogs.

Thanks for the words of welcome.

Well I wasn't going to say anything but since you ask I don't own wellies, cause we don't get enough rain for them. When it's damp out I just wear my Crocs!
So I guess that disqualifies me completely. I'll just have to route on my favs.

Of course, if it ever stops raining, we could all take up wellie whanging (for those of our distant correspondents who don't know about this esoteric sport, you take a wellie and throw it as far as you can)

ANDREW:

You sound like a specialist in wellie whanging, so, weather permitting, you are immediately signed up for that event.

WOHLIBULI :

I'm showing my ignorance here. But what exactly are CROCS ? I'm sure that word is used for different meanings in the UK. lol

If they are some type of wellie substitute, you could maybe still qualify for the Tumbleweed competition. Perhaps we need to see a photo of these Crocs ??? Do you use them a lot in the garden ?

How about javelin with a bean cane
put the plot
cable tennis
and of course push the water bosh.

BUFFRIDDLER:

I just knew you'd come up with a whole bunch of Wellie sports. I especially like the cable tennis. You are definitely selected for that event. Excellent !

I wear my Crocs a lot when working outside, but also for walking, shopping, strolling, almost everything. They are made of a breathable polyresin I believe and sort of mold to your foot for cushioning and support. They were recommended by my orthopedic surgeon and are very popular here with people who have to spend a lot of time on their feet, and a pic of mine has been posted, (although I'm ashamed of the condition they are in.) Time to get a new pair I guess!

WOHLIBULI:

Those Crocs are super. They ABSOLUTELY allow you to join in the Wellie Olympics. Seems like we're building up international input now. Hoping to hear from Marguerite. She must definitely think we're bonkers.

I have footwear a bit like the Crocs which I call clogs. I would be delighted to see photos of what other folk wear on their feet while gardening. Please let me know. I must confess I often do gardening in bedroom slippers. lol

OMG LOL!! Gardening in your slippers, oh noooo!
Crocs are like clogs but a name brand of a patented material that is just amazing for comfort. My slippers are too pretty for gardening, red of course!! My favorite color!

Love the wellie sport thing, I still yearn for a pair of good green wellies.
As to crocs, there are two definite groups here, either enthusiatically for or against - sorry Wohlibuli, I'm in the latter! I'll stick to my gardening clogs! At least you had the good sense not to buy the little decorations that fit in the holes!

GILLIAN:

Are you saying you'd like to join in the Wellie Olympics in your clogs?

We'd be glad to have you. Just let us know which sport you've thought up. Kev has already commandeered the cable tennis, Andrewr is throwing his welllies, and you'll see some more suggestions above.....but I'm sure you can think of another event you can enter.

I'll be making a provisional list of competitors soon. lol

Well Gillian, I probably would not have ever bought them without a Dr's recommendation, and I must admit they have worked well for me. They are NOT good for wearing in a lot of water, just if it's a little damp. As for decorations, oooohh no, not on mine, and hot pink color, no thank you!!
There are a lot of cheap "knock offs" out there and they are NOT made out of the same material and are not as comfortable to wear. I know this sounds like I own stock in the company but I assure you I do not.

Wohlibuli, you sound so enthusiastic about your shoes, I think you should definitely earn dollars commission on every pair of Croc sold. lol

Seriously, it's good to know that your feet are so comfortable while you're working in the garden.

You say no to decorations on your Crocs, but you might reconsider if you win a medal in the Wellie Olympics. What better place for the medal than on your gardening shoes.

Ok Wohlibuli, if you have the genuine ones and not the nasty knock-offs that's different!
Terratoonie, can I do the Cow Tipping event? I know it's not an olympic sport yet, but it could be...... Not sure if it would be me or the cow in the wellies though.

GILLIAN:

I'm so PLEASED that someone has volunteered for the Cow Tipping. Of course, not everybody approves of extra tipping - thinking the bill should be inclusive.

Please supply Wellies for yourself and the cow. Good quality boots, not nasty knock-offs or Wohlibuli will disapprove.

Irish recently posted up a good photo of a concrete cow, so that might give you extra inspiration. Do you think we could persuade her to join the team ?

lol count me in

IRISH - that's really good news. Thank you.

With your concrete cow in the garden experience you'll be of great benefit to the team.

Maybe, as with pantomime horses, you could be one half of the cow and Gillian the other half. (Both with Wellies) I'll leave you two to decide who is which half....

OMG just the mental picture of those two in a cow suit wearing wellies is enough to give me a pain, a pain from laughing so hard!

lol dont know which end would be worse .

Irish, I just posted a picture of our team shirts!

Gillian, those shirts are superb. What a brilliant idea.

How about puddle jumping in wellies? Whoever makes the biggest splash is the winner!

Well, Angie, that's a great idea.

With all the rain we've had this summer, one thing's for sure. We won't be short of water for the competition.

Did you see at the Olympics in China today, the rain teeming down on the athletics track?

I reckon plant growers in China this summer are having some of the same problems as the British gardeners.

I am a bit late finding this great blog Terra, but what a laugh! Made my evening, thanks!

So glad you like it, Pottygardener.

Very soon, I'll be listing our Grows On You provisional team for 2012 Wellie Olympics.

So get your flags ready !

Oh, dear, maybe that wasn't a very good choice of phrase. LOL

should have fishing in welly olympics could maybe catch sole and(h)eel on the same hook

Oh, that's very good, Islander. LOL

In the real Olympics, GB did very well in swimming, rowing and sailing, so it seems we're good on the water.

So, YES. Welcome to our Wellie team.
Please represent us in the sole and (h)eel fishing events !

I'm glad you've joined GOY.
A very big welcome.

With Beijing now a magnificent memory, it's time to put forward our GOY WELLIE OLYMPIC TEAM for LONDON 2012.

This is only a provisional list, and new members are welcome to join up at any time over the next four years.

I'm delighted to announce that for FLAG BEARER at the opening ceremony, the unanimous choice is....... MUDDYWELLIES.

Our team has international support. A MASCOT is required, and we are pleased to reveal it is the CONCRETE COW belonging to IRISH. (Please see her photo page for a picture of this BEAUTIFUL BOVINE. I'm sure she would welcome lots more 'likes' on that picture).

From the USA, WOHLIBULI will be competing, wearing her best quality Crocs footwear. No nasty knock-offs for Wohlibuli. Her event is GYMNASTICS: the TEXAS TUMBLEWEED floor event.

From Australia, MARGUERITE is assured of a medal - nothing but the best - because of her associations with the SYDNEY GOLDEN WATTLE.

GILLIAN has the special privilege of supporting TWO teams at the same time, with one Wellie boot on CANADIAN soil, and the other firmly placed in SURREY. She represents us in the COW TIPPING competition, wearing her Cow Tipping DESIGNER T SHIRT.

One of our first volunteers was CLARICE, up in BLACKPOOL. She'll be wearing FLIP-FLOPS for footwear, in honour of her two goldfish, FLIP and FLOP. (See her wonderful picture of these superb swimmers on her photo page. More 'likes' for this great garden picture please).

In WALES we are lucky to have POTTYGARDENER, a proven expert at WINDOW-BOXING, and so representing us in the BOXING ring - WELLIE-WEIGHT division.

From the BLACK ISLE in SCOTLAND, ANGIETEALE will be PUDDLE JUMPING in her wellies. With the excessive wet weather in our gardens this year, Angie is currently WORLD CHAMPION in the sport. Well done, Angie !

For track events, YORKSHIRE-based BONKERSBON has gamely offered his support for the ATHLETE'S FOOT races. In the THREE-LEGGED WELLIE RACE, he is joined by his very lovely lady-friend, BONKERSBONNE.

ANDREWR has a wonderful Yellow Book garden in
BRACKNELL, Berkshire, so we're grateful he finds the time for WELLIE WHANGING. We all know that Andrewr is very knowledgeable on gardening topics. However, there was almost a disastrous TYPO - (spelling error) which would have found him signed up for the WELLIE WHINGING, which is quite a different sport, and one which wouldn't suit his sunny disposition at all, being the happy chappie that we know and love.

A last-minute sign-up is ISLANDER, from the ORKNEYS.
He'll be in his wellies, fishing to catch SOLE and (H)EEL with the help of his lovely Labrador, LASSIE.

There are still vacancies for a DRIVER and PASSENGERS on the LONDON RED BUS. Volunteers from home and overseas are all welcome. The only requirements are membership of wonderful GoY and ownership of GARDEN WELLIES.

There will be occasional up-dates on our WELLIE OLYMPICS TRAINING, and we might even hear from new volunteers.

Meanwhile, GoY members, it could be a muddy winter of gardening ahead of us, so please get those WELLIES ready.

: )

lol brilliant, can i volunteer for the bus driving job

Wohlibuli : ) to you in the USA.

Irish : Yes, please be the bus driver. Will you need SatNav?

Maybe we can persuade David Beckham to carry your concrete cow. As long as he doesn't kick it into the crowd, I reckon that's okay, don't you ?

lol id rather frank Lampard carry it but mind you he might no make it off my bus .
i wont need SatNav thanks, janette can be the co.driver.

I dont have any Wellies, however I think I might go on the hunt for the perfect pair just so that I can participate...tho perhaps I could be a passenger on the Bus? I have loads of experience with Wellie wearing and some Wellie Whinging (when they wore out) during my few years on the Emerald Isle. Love the blog lol!

Good news, found a pair of Wellies, have posted pic on my site..please let me know if I qualify lol!

Hi Lorraine:

Your Wellies have been examined and they qualify with FLYING COLOURS - literally - what very multicoloured boots.

Is that ROLLER-BLADES in the top corner of your picture?
Looks like you could wear those and hang on behind the red bus, waving the Canadian flag.

With the short gardening season you have in Alberta, that should leave you plenty of time to rehearse.

We're DELIGHTED to have you on board.

LoL, terriffic! Glad to be on board!

Just caught up with this blog. This is a crazy site. Sadly you have no entrants from Hungary. That's probably because we don't need wellies either being a relatively dry place with sandy soil that drains in a trice.
The nearest I get to wellies is fur lined snow boots.Maybe we can have a garden path snow clearing competition for the Winter Olympica. I've got a path (see my photos) and a bright yellow plastic snow shovel.

Your on Chrispook, have winter boots but need to know.. can I bring my Snowblower?

Thats cheating Lorraine. Hand shovels only I say.

Chrispook, looks like the Winter Olympics blog is all yours.

But a photo of the yellow plastic shovel and fur lined boots will give you honorary entry to the Wellie Olympics.

Surely you aren't going to let Lorraine score one over you with her multicoloured wellie photo? Hungary needs you.

Chrispook you are a tough task master lol! Ok, hand shovels it is, maybe we should do this blindfolded and see who has the straightest path!

I'll work on it. Since it's due to be +35 C this week my hubby will be sure that I've got a number of screws loose when I start digging out my winter boots and the snow shovel.

Brilliant Terra....what fun we will have! My wellies are out, well actually they have never been away! Lorraine...like your colourful wellies....

Pottygardener,
I'm so pleased you're kitted out and ready to go.
Please bring along Welsh flags to brighten up the bus.

Thanks Pottygardener, they certainly brighten up a rainy day!

Chrispook: Hungary is proud of you.

Yours photos are fantastic.

I don't understand the weird hair-do on the shovel.

But terrific tinsel around your furry Wellies.

Welcome to our Wellie Olympics team.

the shovels hair do is actually the fur on my hat as seen in the next photo. The top of the hat got cut off in the longer photo, as I guess the dimensions were not right for GOY upload.

Just caught up with this absolutely mad but brilliant blog and can't believe I nearly missed my chance to join the GOY Wellie Olympic Team. Please, Please can I join? My wellies might be boring green but I'd be really good at Mud Slinging! I've been practising all summer and helped fill 3 skips. I therefore feel sure I could win us a Gold medal.

Joannie:
Your recent photo entitled Soggy Patio demonstrates beyond question the huge amount of rain and Wellie Experience you've had this year in Derbyshire.

You helped fill 3 skips ...
...so your event is the hop, skip and jump.

Your patio floods look suspiciously like the pond at Pemberley in the Pride and Prejudice TV series.

Is Mr Darcy about to leap in ?

Please bring your green Wellies.... and Colin Firth in his wet white shirt.

Now then Terratoonie, as much as I would love to participate to the Wellie Olympics, it is going to be very difficult as I don’t own a pair of this rubber footwear – they’re not much use in hot parched weather!!

I suppose I could invest in a pair next time I’m in Eggland but of course they would have to be designer branded – do you think I could find Armani wellies in Woolies???? Failing that, would I be able to qualify in my flip flops??

Terry60 ~
You'd be wonderful. You can represent both Italy and Britain at the same time!

There's discussion above about Wohlibuli's CROCS.

You can see her magnificent photo of these amongst the GoY footwear collection on my favourite photos homepage.

While Gillian was in a garden centre, she took a brilliant photo of a whole display of Crocs !

It sounds like your flip flips could be very similar to Crocs.

Any chance, please, of posting a photo of these flip flops you use when tending your beautiful garden ?

Then a final decision can be made about your Wellie Olympics application.

I've examined the blue-and-white flip flops,
and the rosy pink nail varnish -
Is that what you really look like when you're gardening ???
......very glamorous..

..excellent - what a combination...
red, white and blue...
you're in Terry60. Welcome.

Yippeee !!

Terry you a Brit living in Italy ? If so may I suggest you as Team Manager - know its your blog TT but as overall organiser you ll need to delegate - after all we have an Italian managing England football team.Seems only right we get our own back.

BB ~

I occasionally hijack your photos or blogs,
so feel free to borrow mine ~

The Team Manager is a great idea.
Terry 60 will soon let us know.

She's planning on photographing some Italian garden centres for us, so she would have good camera experience when it comes to taking the team photo.

Sorry Bonkers to disappoint you but I don't think I would qualify for the magnitude of the role - being half Italian !!

Top half or bottom half? :-)

Do you mean which half of Italy, Andrewr.

I would guess the boot-shaped bit. LOL

Just to let you all know that in response to Chrispooks entry of a garden path snow clearing team I have posted pics of my favorite snow shovel and accessories! Would like to be an honorary member of the Hungary team please!? Need TT and Chrispook to vet my equipment and let me know if it passes lol!

Lorraine ~
with that super-size scoop you qualify for any team you wish.
To me, it still looks like a plastic toboggan.

Welcome aboard.

P.S. Due to Terry60's dual nationality,
the position of Team Manager is still open.
Any offers ?

I still propose Terry.Think dual nationality brilliant.We win shes English we lose then Italian .Rather like we do with the Scots - they win they are British , they lose they still Scots! Ps anywhere near your age yet TT with all these comments?

BB ~
There's a very interesting debate going on under Terry's flipflops photo.
Xela has given some useful input.

Check it out.

And, sorry, BB.
To get anywhere near my age, we need at least another 70 comments.

Fellow Olympians ~

~ A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ~

Introducing our GoY Wellie Olympics Team Manager :

[ drum roll ] [ and new paragraph ]

~ G R E N V I L L E ~

To find out exactly how he was encouraged to accept this demanding role, please see Andrewr's blog entitled:

"Green Footprints (This isn't what you think it is)"

Yes, that's the title. It's about a robin with green feet, and of course, also about wellies.

And how did we know that Grenville has the X factor?

What was the decider ? Make up your own minds, but, personally, I think it's his fantastic green hairdo.

More announcements will follow about Grenville's managerial responsibilities and his badge of office.

Disgraceful decision . A member of the Somerset Mafia as Team manager there will be Spritz Andrewr possibly Phillip in this south west team.

As I.O.M only representative I will need to enter most disciplines.Clearly going to specialise in 3 legged race.Dont fancy the hurdles but will enjoy the triple jump.

BB:
Can't wait to see you in the synchronised swimming.

3 legs or 6 ?

Obviously my 3rd leg is false and able to accept various attachments. A dibber for planting out and seed drills , hoes rakes etc.My favourite is the rotavator attachment.

This allows me to sprint over muddy fields , when placed behind me acts like an outboard motor in the pool.
Unfortunately to use this in synchro swimming would have me looking like a whisk!

My lawn needs scarifying.
Sounds like you could be scary enough to have a suitable attachment ?

If you could trim the edges at the same time, please, that would count towards your final score, and thereby move the I.O.M. higher up the medals table.

New sport suggestion: Mud-plodging. It's a relay event and four members have to run, one at a time, across the Bath and West Showground (after even more rain to make it even more of a quagmire) in wellies, of course, and you have to pass on your wellies to the next plodger. That is if you haven't left them in the mud on the way across! It's a very demanding sport, this one, and if you lose, you get that sinking feeling! ;-) Obviously, BB is a highly suitable member of this team. He will have to be made an honorary member of the Somerset Mafia, though. (HEHEHE)

Sounds like you're a real expert in this sport, Spritz.
An activity of which Muddywellies would be proud.

Just checking: is mud-plodging the event where the elite competitors are allowed to use West Country clotted cream?

Your answer will be relevant as to whether you are accepted.

lol

Sorry, TT - that's Devon or Cornwall, not Somerset - see, you didn't catch me out with that tricky question!

Well done, Spritz.
You're obviously on the alert.
Just what we need for the team.
The cream of the crop.

so W E L C O M E
You are now officially a ~
GoY Wellie Olympian.

Hi all
After much deliberation I have decided I can't be left out of such a a classy bunch of future Olympians!I
have decided to enter the husband and Honda VFR in the motorbike polo class which involves driving across the Bath Showground holding my large Cycas revoluta and cacti whilst wearing wellies , whilst I will enter the dogsledding class with the boxers on sleds made of wellies tied together to give some bounce and comfort!
Warm welcome to Grenville as the team leader!At your command sir!
Can't wait to start practising!
Arlene

Wow, Arlene.
Doubling-up on events.
Hoping to be a multi-medallist.

So pleased you can join us.
Photos of the cacti, Honda and wellies would be great.
Please identify any cacti to avoid confusion with the Winter Olympics plants such Christmas cactus.

If you need any advice on cleaning the