February 2012
6 posts
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the derby paradox
The problem with taking a break from derby, is it’s always the times that you are forced to take a break, that you could really do with going to practice.
It’s when you’re stressed out of your mind that it would be really nice to hit someone, or when you’ve got a deadline hanging over you that it’d be great to skate ‘til you can’t think about anything...
Today I thought I saw one of my derby sisters on the train. While I tried to work out if it was her, the woman turned and gave me a shocked look. I’m now convinced she was psychic and thought I was insulting her.
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Let me tell you something you already know about me.
I really love roller derby. When I started, it seemed like skating as fast as I could around the track would be the best feeling ever, and that was absolutely right.
For the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to prove something to myself and to everyone else. I’ve been trying to show my league that look, I have a good attitude,...
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Daffy Gu Gu
My derby name is Daphne du Gorier. After Daphne du Maurier, who wrote the classic novel Rebecca. I like it. Some people are like, roller derby is about sweating and being serious, and so I use my real name to be extra serious (and extra sweaty). Some people are like, when I’m on the track, I’m a different person who knows no fear, and my derby name is the name of that extremely...
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Roisin Roulette: How old are you? Twenty...something? Something Small?
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Conversations With Rollergirls
Though the tattoos and screaming may suggest otherwise, rollergirls are a friendly bunch. Offer someone your skate tool and they’ll happily chat to you all the way through practice, blissfully oblivious of the coach’s drill - or at least pretending to be.
When I was a derby baby, I found that from time to time, normally approachable skaters would completely clam up. My greetings...
January 2012
22 posts
littleboshriek asked: Awesome! I think hot wheel roller derby skate completly without toestops ! I could never do that! :)
Anonymous asked: Dear Daphne. Penny Block is broken. This makes me all the sad, and I know it makes you all the sad too. Let's make a plan to a) cheer her up and b) fix her real quick like magic. GO!
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Today I looked in my wardrobe and decided to wear unattractive, monstrously warm, oversized sweater. For reasons unknown, one of my professors decided to open the window and the entire lecture theatre became freezing. I watched everyone around me put on scarves, jumpers and then coats while feeling smug smug smug.
And that’s why it pays to have no sense of fashion.
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Just to clarify, I was assessed, but not in a...
Daphne du Gorier: Rex Tangle
Rex Tangle: yes
Daphne du Gorier: I want to say that I passed basic skills without having a formal assessment session but not in a way that makes it look like the dames just sort of promote skaters to intermediate practices for fun and don't care about safety etc. is this conveyed in this sentence "I was assessed for basic skills informally and then bumped up to intermediate practice"
Rex Tangle: lolz (lolz is a real word)
Daphne du Gorier: rex this is serious business. please confirm or deny.
Rex Tangle: oh, sorry missed your point for a second there. ummm hang on
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Daphne du Gorier: NICO, I need a name for my new blog post.
Nico Warrior: How about 'For God's Sake, Make Yourself Useful' ?
Daphne du Gorier: Perfect!
Nico Warior: Hehe.
Daphne du Gorier: I'm not creditting you, btw.
be-like-the-squirrel asked: I think I reblogged something from you. Probably derby related. :3 Anyway, I think it's awesome to see a Muslim roller girl! :D Keep at it!
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daphne du gorier: get lower! keep it together! hug the inside like!
penny block: more sarcasm!
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Frère du Gorier: I read your post about running. You said you hate the person you're running with!
Daphne du Gorier: Yeah?
Frère du Gorier: You were running with me!
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daphne du gorier: (linking to a positive self-image website) here, nico :)
nico warrior: aww, some hippy shit. thank you. just what I always wanted.
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On Not Making The Team
This month marks my first year anniversary since joining derby. I’ve had a relatively smooth ride as a roller girl. Since I’d skated as a child, I didn’t have to climb that mountain. I was bumped up to intermediate practice without having to formally take the basic skills test and I’ve made every roster that I’ve been eligible for. Things have come easily to me, and many times I’ve wondered...
jolly-pop asked: Where did you go? I saw you at the stall on Sunday but when I came over to say hi you had disappeared! Hope you had fun anyway!! :)
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Daphne Does Tattoo Freeze
What do you get when you mix up the top UK derby teams, tattoos, camper vans and ice-sculpting? A typical rollergirl outing!
I’ve been hearing about Tattoo Freeze for a while. It’s a convention that brings together aspects of a lifestyle that includes tattoos, leather and motorbikes. When I hear about events like this, they get sorted into ‘not for Daphne’ category and I...
Anonymous asked: Will you be skating at Tattoo Freeze this weekend? If not, will you be there to cheer the girls on?(From Russell)
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The Post-Derby Nap
The Post Derby Nap Today was a newbie practice. “Don’t worry if you feel tired. I used to come back from practice and fall asleep,” I said as I guided the new girls through some basic skills. I suppose that might have given them the idea that I don’t do it anymore.
Preparation is key to the post-derby nap, otherwise I keep remembering things I should have done and I...
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daphne du gorier: Kick'ard, are you busy? Can I ask you a few questions?
captain Kick'ard: Is it for your blog?
...maybe
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Women Who Inspire Me
Izzy Dauntless
The more I learn about Izzy, the more impressed I am. She works with her husband, creating beautiful, award-winning, bespoke jewelery. She also has two children and spreads fear on track where she has hit me into a wall without remorse on occasion.
She’s a thoughtful, creative individual, with a job she loves and a partner and family who love and appreciate her. I...
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Daphne du Gorier: HI NICO.
Nico Warior: WHAT?
Daphne du Gorier: Nothing. Are you looking forward to driving me to derby today?
Nico Warior: i am quivering with anticipation
Daphne du Gorier: Hmm. Better calm down, you don't want to cause an accident.
Nico Warior: wheres your sense of adventure?
Daphne du Gorier: it's smothered by my sense of self preservation.
Nico: Typical
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Daphne du Gorier: What do refs do at half time?
Penny Block: They do the secret ref handshake and the secret ref chant, and then they sacrifice a small creature. Usually a lion in an ironic turn from reality (where it is the lions that kill zebras)
6 tags
Lies About Running →
Linkage, instead of cluttering your dash.
December 2011
47 posts
2 tags
Birmingham Blitz Dames's 2011 Review →
I wrote this for the BBD blog. I missed out arguably the most crucial event of 2011, which was Daphne du Gorier joining the league and making it 100% harder to get through a drill with her trying to distract everyone.
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Muslim Fashion Appreciation Post
ichbinschadenfreude:
I see a lot of Tumblr posts of girls in their short shorts and singlets that only cover up half their torso, but I don’t think I have seen a Fashion post about classy, stylish or spunky, conservatively-presented girls, most especially Muslim girls. Mad props for them for showing sexy, classy and stylish without showing too much skin! Here goes! Enjoy!
...
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Marriage
I’ve been thinking about it, lately.
I’m pretty into the idea of marriage. Once, in one of those upscale novelty candy stores, I saw this really old couple shuffling through. They wore oversized cardigans and looked bewildered by all the bright colours and noise, as if they’d been cryogenically frozen and now woken up in the future.
the huge, ridiculous jelly bean bull we...
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What Do Muslims Do For Christmas?
Around this time of year, friends tend to chatter away about their Christmas plans and preparations. Then they look at me, with a dawning suspicion. “What are your Christmas plans?” I shrug and give an apologetic smile. “Nothing much. I don’t really celebrate Christmas.”
Everytime I give away this slice of information, I’m met with horror. “Then, what do...
“1. WRITE A NOVEL.
a short story!
2. SEWING PROWESS.
using japanese sewing...”
– These were the aims I had for this year. I achieved none of them. ><
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Poem by Roisin Roulette of Birmingham Blitz Dames and All Ireland Roller Derby fame.
My bones ache in the cold; and forty bouts Have left their marks on me. New tactics come and go; I can adapt Skate either fast or slow. My chosen clothing functions to conceal The strapping and the padding underneath Which hold my joints in place Meanwhile my face Reveals my will to battle for the win. I am a...
Jollifications: Footage...where? when? how? →
jolly-pop:
It was only when I started watching lots of footage that I saw a real improvement in my understanding of game-play, strategy and rules. This in turn gave me a much needed boost in confidence in my own judgement when on the track. I noticed a particular improvement in my game-play after the epic…
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daphnedoesderby asked: Dear Daphne, I have noticed that you now have comments enabled on your journal. What's that about? Why did it take you so long? Is it because you hate hearing what people have to say because if someone else is speaking it means that YOU are not speaking, and you hate not speaking? Lots of love, Daphne
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Why Can't People Understand Roller Derby?
I’ve been wondering about this.
At first I thought it might be because there weren’t enough things in roller derby. So I made this diagram to illustrate it.
Now, nevermind about the interesting suggestions this diagram is making, because as soon as I finished it, I realised that skates could be classed as a tool. Then I realised that running and swimming were sports and they...
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Game Faces →
From the world cup! Raw Heidi is the best.
Calling The Wild: An Announcer's Perspective -... →
If you are a skater, an NSO, a ref, or even tangentially involved with a Roller Derby league, here are a few tips on how to help your league’s announcer improve and create a more enriching experience for your audience.
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me: you can't not turn up to practice because you're hungover.
Captain kick'ard: yeah, the amount of times you've turned up to practice hungover. it's a real testament to your spirit.
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Home Truths
Roller derby teaches you a lot about yourself.
Recently I have realised something that shook me to my core.
I’m a bad sport.
This has never really occurred to me before, mainly because I never cared enough about a sport to get upset or attitudey about it. Also, because I’m so nice!
At first I sort of ignored it, brushed it off as a one time thing, but today, while seething in the...