I was up at 4.05am, kissed my wife and my sons (the boys were asleep). After the last preps, a morning prayer, I was out the door walking to the bus station.
It was freezing, I finally got there after 20 minutes of a chilly walk. I buried myself in the last seats of the coach, read for a hour and then returned to dreamland till my arrival at Stansted.
9am, The competition pressure is rising, I saw people with BJJ bags... Still in London but already thinking about Friday fights...
The plane is late and I am stuck in a SMALL SEAT where I can hardly move..
I am uncomfortable on my seat, nevertheless I managed to read and back to dreamland. The flight is cool not too bumpy and the view is astonishing.
I finally land at Lisbon airport, I wait for my brother who is flying from France. 10-15 minutes later, he is in front of me.
We get on a cab direction to the hotel.
MY BACK IS RUINED...3 hours in a coach plus another 3 on the plane...A PROPER TORTURE!
After checking in, I FaceTime my wife, they were having lunch, the boys are NOISY AS ALWAYS, but their voices sound to me like sweet whispers. THEY FINALLY SAY "DADDY WE MISS AND LOVE YOU".
At that stage I am about yo cry, I miss them so much. I also realise how supportive my wife is...
With my brother we spend the rest of the day going to the competition venue to check on Fordy, one of my training partner who was fighting.
After that we are back to the hotel then out for dinner at "Bom Jardim", a Portuguese restaurant famous for its chicken.
In regard to food, I have been restricted as I have to make the weight. I AM STILL ON DIET!
As the day went by, my back relaxed and felt REALLY GOOD AT TIMES.
It all sounds like DREAMLAND, but there is no good stories without some TWISTS...
The Twist is that I am coming up with some COLD... My throat is a bit sore, nose itchy... The high temperature hasn't settled yet!
I AM NOW ON VITAMIN C AND FRUITS DIET, I ATE MORE THAN 8 ORANGES AND COUNTING...
A last FaceTime session with my family, then I will watch some cartoons and DREAMLAND...
WHEN I GET UP IT WILL BE COMPETITION DAY!
Christopher, a fellow teammate who competed at the BJJ Euro for the First time.