“Music in the Courtyard”

Posted on 01/09/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

The Royal Academy in London’s West End is within an amazing architectural building that houses and displays some fantastic works of art all year round. I particularly love (and have mentioned before) their Summer Exhibition.

Tonight though they hosted the London Philharmonic Orchestra for a concert in their wonderful courtyard. The programme was a good mixture of orchestral and vocal performances. Ravel, Dukas, Dupac and Chausson – French Impressionists to accompany the artwork currently on display in their exhibition “From Paris: A Taste of Impressionism”.

Fortunately the weather was kind to us and there was no need for the poncho which was provided (along with a bar of Lindt chocolate) with our programme.

Truly a magical night. The setting was stunning. The acoustics fabulous. The performance incredible.

For a limited time you can see and hear the concert (click here) – I have to confess to having done so a number of times since it’s upload!

I really hope they do more than just this one off concert in the future. It was a joy to see the LPO perform in these surroundings AND the ticket price was affordable to all at £12 per seat.

Paralympics – Archery and Shooting

Posted on 31/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

Another Auntie Anna Adventure Day at the Paralympics. This time with my nephew Joe. Also joining us is a great friend from Sydney, PJ.

First things first we needed flags! Joe and I had British flags and PJ couldn’t decide where his loyalties lay so had the British flag on one cheek and the Australian on the other!

I had managed to get tickets to the Archery and Shooting events. This combination was great for us as it meant that we could switch between the shooting indoors or the archery outside.

At one point during the shooting Joe gasped with excitement at the scores and two coaches turned around to look at us. I was fully expecting that we’d be told off for making a noise but instead they presented Joe with some badges from their teams.

Also in the venue grounds was a statue of the Paralympic mascot, Mandeville. Nearby were some volunteers with a Paralympic torch. Too much for us not to have our photos taken with both!

We also had the opportunity to try our hand at Archery. What a wonderful short lesson we all had and even managed to hit a target on more than one occasion.

Let the Paralympics begin

Posted on 29/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

I’m giggling and can’t help but see the irony as I eagerly await the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics.

12 years ago in Sydney, the Paralympics started in a similar way. With me with my feet up and bandages a-go-go!

Haha I even found a copy of my Wittering home from 2000:

“…Let’s start with the injuries. Dave, Margot and myself were playing tennis. My game against Dave. I’m a few points up and I step forward to take the shot and step back on my right leg. You know that sound of an elastic band stretching and then that sound of a twang – well imagine that in your leg! I stumbled back to the apartment where I ensconced myself on the sofa for the foreseeable. Fortunately Dave was here so I was able to get food and drink bought to me! Crawl to the loo and crawl to bed.

On Monday night Dave was playing tennis again and had a long match against PJ (Playstation Jason). He arrived back and told me (whilst I was still on the sofa) that he was going to ache the next day but at least he didn’t hurt his leg!

The folllowing morning Dave woke me at about 8.30am, way past his usual work leaving time, to tell me that his back hurt and he couldn’t drive to work or put his socks on. He then challenged me to a race to the kettle!

This was the beginning of our own Paralympics.”

We then spent the next few weeks with joint medical and physio appointments and a pulley system to be able to get the drinks and meals from the kitchen to the sofas!

We were also very fortunate to have Margot and PJ delivering food and booze to us daily… but more to the point we got to watch the whole of the Sydney Paralympics 2000. It truly was an inspiration.

I was therefore not going to miss out on the opportunity to get to the London 2012 Paralympics. The first set of tickets bought at the very first opportunity and many other tickets bought since. Yes I shall be taking my nephew to experience a Paralympic event and I’ve purchased tickets for my niece to attend an equestrian event with her Mum too. I’m going to more events with friends and other small people.

I sooooo can’t wait.

Except… oh the irony….

I think a picture will speak far better than words!

Yep, my ankle has blown up to the size of a boccia ball… not sure why… but know that I can barely walk! PS The lump on the left is my ‘over-sized’ ankle not my heel! Ha, oh no, not again!

However my ankle will heal. I will walk again (not hobble and hop).

But will I achieve anything like the achievements and accomplishments that will occur in the next few weeks here in London at the Paralympics?

Watch, participate, inspire, encourage… Let the Paralympics begin…

The Cook’s Tale : About an apprentice called Perkin Reveller

Posted on 29/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

From The Canterbury Tales:

There lived a ‘prentice, once, in our city,
And of the craft of victuallers was he;
Happy he was as goldfinch in the glade,
Brown as a berry, short, and thickly made,
With black hair that he combed right prettily.
He could dance well, and that so jollily,
That he was nicknamed Perkin Reveller.

Or (my preferred choice):

At the Perkin Reveller, we love to celebrate life’s simple pleasures, over a platter of seasonal British food and a jug of locally brewed beer, a glass of exceptional wine or a cup of the finest tea in England!

Why?

I was invited to have lunch today at a new restaurant, Perkin Reveller, in the arches of Tower Wharf. The restaurant is due to open any moment and they wanted some people to critique the restaurant, menu, food, service and ambiance.

Pic of our starters and one of the puds… I forgot to take pics of our main courses!

Of course there were a few teething problems but hey that’s why they asked us to come in and critique. But it wasn’t with the food, which was all absolutely scrumptious! And the small issues I’m sure will be ironed out quickly.

The Perkin Reveller joins new with old, the restaurant area being in a new building with a great deal of glass and then cuts neatly in to the bar area which is within the walls of Tower Bridge. A great location with fabulous views of both Tower Bridge and also down the River Thames.

The menu is varied and has a wonderful choice of meat, fish and vegetarian options throughout together with a rounded choice of puds and starters. I love that you can order Welsh rarebit as a savoury ‘ending’ to your meal! The wine list is comprehensive and they serve locally brewed beer too. I also adored the lime and soda that we had when we first arrived, a little flustered and hot. Not your usual lime and soda, I might add. But one with freshly squeezed lime juice and sugar syrup to sweeten, poured and served over lashings of ice… totally refreshing and delicious.

Not outrageously expensive but they did that annoying thing of charging extra for every vegetable, so watch out on the ‘sides’ ordering – grrr why do they do that?

Review by Big Hospitality – The mention long banqueting-style tables…. think they may need to revisit…

Review by Design my night

Definitely one to return to and sample some more from their diverse menu.

I can also totally see the bar being one of those little known hideaway secrets for a little late night drinkypoo!

Cheltenham

Posted on 26/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

I’ve only been to Cheltenham a few times in my life but each time it seems to grow on me a little more. I think it’s a pretty well kept secret, even from us Brits, as to it’s beauty, architecture, lifestyle and many events and celebrations.

Wikipedia lists it as – Cheltenham ( /ˈ tʃ ɛ l t n əm /), also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, located on the edge of the Cotswolds. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held every March. The town hosts several festivals of culture often featuring nationally and internationally famous contributors and attendees, including Cheltenham Literature Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Science Festival and Cheltenham Music Festival.^[1]

Gosh doesn’t that all sound so sensible?

Even the architecture looks grown up!

There’s even a Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in Cheltenham… and that too looks like a cool building.

Hehehe those of you who know me well know that I’m a fan of architecture. You also know that when I’m visiting new towns or cities I often end up with black eyes… no, not because I’m out running (hahaha), but because I’ve got my nose in the air looking up and come a-cropper with uneven pave stones, signposts or bollards!

So despite my tongue in cheek comments, I’m quite at home in Cheltenham looking at the architecture, the town design, sculptures and garden landscaping. There’s lots of space, lots of history and lots of well maintained areas that must make the people of Cheltenham very proud to live there.

I think I’ve got my eye on the 2013 Jazz Festival… hmmm May next year! Who’s joining me?

Truly if you’re in the UK and want somewhere to explore, do think about visiting Cheltenham.

However for all the ‘cultural’ comments above I have to ‘fess that there wasn’t a great deal of culture surrounding this weekend’s visit… but then again there wasn’t really meant to be either!

PJ who used to be a neighbour of ours in Sydney is currently in the UK visiting friends and family. He isn’t from Cheltenham, his family are in Essex. However some years ago, he stayed with friends in Cheltenham for a weekend and by the end of the weekend, had a job and then stayed there for 3 years, in their basement!… I can so understand how this might happen too! Cheltenham does have that draw for me too!

So this weekend I discovered a new part of Cheltenham. One that doesn’t appear in Wikipedia. The 40-somethings that are still out to party! I suspect however that in ‘real life’ there may be less going out and partying and more responsibility and childcare. But it’s great to see that there’s still a good group of PJ’s friends who get together when he’s in the UK and let (what remains of) their hair down!

I think I’ll let the photos explain the evening… err except to say bourbon and coke and still in a club at 3am!

Loved it. Fabulous evening. Great bunch of people. Lots of laughter. Beautiful town. Hmmm maybe I should move to Cheltenham?

Abigail’s Party

Posted on 23/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

I’ve been tempted by this play for a while. Tempted more when friends saw it and raved about it saying they laughed throughout. But I’ve not managed to create the time to see it or organise myself to get tickets.

So, how utterly fabulous when I receive a text this morning from a friend I’ve not seen in quite a while, saying they’ve a spare ticket for this evening and did I want to join them? Doh, of course!

Also a jolly good excuse for a catch up, so a few texts later we’ve organised to meet outside the theatre at 7pm. That’ll be enough time for a quick drink and hello in the bar before the play starts and then dinner and a gossip afterward.

Firstly, I just loved the set. The furniture, lighting, shagpile carpet, wallpaper, oooh everything, just took me back to my youth. I can remember visiting friends who’s parents had houses with the latest furnishings and thinking how super cool it was. I remember the Ercol furniture particularly with the soft lines and curved designs. The colouring that was perhaps a little garish in oranges and greens but always tinged with a ‘smokers’ brown colouring.

Seriously the set designers must have had a field day recreating this set… go on click on the image and look at the detail! I bet you can find at least one thing that pulls you back to a time past…

The play was brilliantly funny. The timing of the actors impeccable. The storyline hysterical. Loved it and laughed a great deal, whilst cringing at parts too!

The Independent’s review – Must see: Abigail’s Party, Wyndham’s Theatre, London WC2
and London Theatre review

This run at Wyndham’s Theatre is only until 1st September so only a few days left… but I’m quite sure it’ll go on to another theatre as it’s utterly fabulous. Do, if you have the chance, get along to see it.

PS Love last minute escapes. Love catching up with friends. Love going out and doing something surprising. Actually, I think I quite like surprises… though don’t tell anyone!

Festival Fever at Henley Rewind 80s

Posted on 20/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

A year ago I attended my first festival, Henley Rewind ‘The 80s Festival’ 2011 and survived! This year we’ve a bigger party of people and I’m excited to show some Festival Firsties that even at 40 and 50 years of age festivals can be fun!

OK OK so it’s not Glastonbury and it is 80s music and it’s sort of civilised but we’re camping and if it rains it’ll be muddy – surely that counts, right?

We met up a few weeks ago to work out a few logistical things (and to drink a fine bit of beer and picnic in some rare sunshine!). As the group is much larger we required a huge pitch for all the tents. We also needed a little coordination on who was bringing what – I had visions of eleventeen bladders of wine, 14 bags of crisps and gummi bears and no real food (hey in the 80s that’d probably have been the right thing to do!).

My first disaster of the weekend though was my new 6 person tent, purchased at the end of last summer in the sale. The first attempt at putting this up was during the Olympics and we discovered that one of the main crossover posts was missing a section. This meant that it was quite a bit shorter and the sleeping pods don’t really do their thing! I emailed the company in Germany and with their usual German efficiency a box arrived a few days ago rattling with new poles…. sadly the wrong ones! Too late to do anything about it, I ventured to the stores on Thursday morning and purchased a couple of ‘festival tents’.

The second disaster was that the infection I thought had gone when I smugly told the consultant I didn’t want any surgery and discharged myself from hospital a few weeks ago, returned with vengeance on Thursday too! After some frantic calls, my GP wrote out a prescription for me to take, doubled for the first few days so that I can survive being in a campsite but only on the basis that any sight of blood, I’m to go straight to hospital! I had however forgotten that these pills also made me feel pretty damn horrible too with nausea, headaches and vomiting (errr not something you want to do or feel on a campsite either!). Not going to dwell on this too much but suffice it to say that my Rewind experience for Friday and Saturday was somewhat marred by the side affects – haha (oops) stopped taking the pills on Saturday night and felt so much better on Sunday! Hehehe maybe the double-dosing had worked too!

As I arrived in the field to park the car, at the agreed early time of midday (gates don’t open until 2pm), I saw a queue snaking round the edge of the field with other campers doing the same thing! Fortunately in the queue was the first group of our party. Eeeek the pressure is on for us, en masse, to secure a big enough pitch (not next to the portaloos) for all 11 tents and a gazebo to be erected AND have enough space to chill out and eat and drink!

Exchanging our tickets for wristbands, we raced to find a spot.

It wasn’t long before all tents were set up (despite the fabulous sunshine and heat of the day) and we were reaching for the first cool campsite drinks!

The rest of the party arrived during the course of the afternoon and found their tents ready and waiting for them.

Friday night at Rewind is for the campers, glampers and campervaners. The fairground is open, the bars are open and there is entertainment in a couple of locations. The main one being a small stage where there are a couple of bands early on and then the karaoke starts… always a giggle, some in tune and some not… but certainly enough for us all to errr ‘sing’ along to!

As the bar closed we headed back to the camp for a few cheeky nightcaps. Then the serenading of snoring began!! Oh the joys of camping.

Following breakfast, sausage or bacon sandwiches (which was delivered to the site at 7am at the bidding of one of our campers, Steve) and then cooked by David, several of us headed out of camp. We were fortunate to have a few local people in the group who had ‘offered’ hot running water and flushing toilets! Oooh what bliss to be able to have a shower and get clean!

Back to campsite for a little lunch and drinks before the festival really began. I was definately ‘off food’ so opted for being an advance party and securing sufficient amount of space in the music arena for us all to sit, dance, drink and party! By the time I got there, ie early, the space was already limited.

The music kicked off with Grandmaster Flash. The lineup for Saturday was Kool & the Gang, Soul II Soul, 5 Star, Doctor & The Medics, The Bangles, Rick Astley, Starship, Heather Small, Jimmy Sommerville, Sinitta and Right Said Fred.

Believe me when I say there are memories that flood back with many of the tunes and also a lot of confused looks as a tune starts up and noone appears to know what it is! This year however I was extremely disappointed with the sound at the event. It was really poor and for some of the acts they were barely audible!

Sunday began much as Saturday with breakfast (which I could now stomach) and the packing up of some of the tents. Those people who were working on Monday morning would make an escape on Sunday evening. Why is it that tents never go back in to be bags as easily as they’ve come out… and as for pop up tents???

(sorry about the lack of fade at the end!!)

Sunday’s lineup was much better than Saturday however the sound was still not great for a lot of the acts. 😦

Highlights musically have to be Roland Gift, Tony Hadley and OMD. All of them great performers as well which, after all, is why you go to see them live! I think also that Tony Hadley had the advantage in that we’d all had a warm up during the Olympics with ‘Gold‘!

A special mention has to go to all the people who dressed up for Rewind. Truly some awesome outfits! Not sure how you managed to keep the facepaint on all day in that heat though!

A selection:

Hehehe did you spot the baby in the last picture with neon ear defenders?

Time to hang up the fluorescent items and remove the fluro nail polish and multicoloured fluro eyelashes for another year!

The tents are now packed away and dry…

and I shall have to acquire some new paints for my tent so it can be updated for another day!

London 2012 Olympics – The closing

Posted on 12/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

It is a terrifically poignant moment when the Olympic torch is extinguished. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that the Olympics was only a couple of weeks of our lives. Yet it does and indeed should inspire a new generation and leave a legacy. Millions of memories made for the attendees, the Olympians, the volunteers, those who watched it on the big screens, on their televisions, in Great Britain and overseas.

What will you take with you from these past few weeks?

I’ve loved the enthusiasm of everyone involved:-

The volunteers who have, at every opportunity, offered a smile, a song, a dance or the most practical of support.

The armed forces who have kept us safe at every venue… and always with such welcoming and warm smiles and laughter.

The volunteers who gave up their time to perform in the opening and closing ceremonies. Their many many hours and trips to and from Stratford for rehearsals over many weeks.

I’ve loved listening to people talking about the Olympics, the flags, the colour, the spectacle. A little girl yesterday, sat behind me at the railway station, turned to her big brother and exclaimed “look the flags are dancing” (as they caught the breeze). As I looked up, they did dance too.

I’ve always been someone who talks to strangers (yes I know I should have paid more attention to my parents when I was younger!). But I’ve loved that they don’t think I’m a mad bird on public transport but they engage in conversation. I love that people are excited about the Olympics and that people who are nearby join in the conversation rather than bury their heads in their book or look the other way!

I love that it doesn’t matter what colour skin, age or ethnic group they’re from, we all chat together.

I loved the Irish chap who was sat next to us at basketball saying that he looked forward to meeting us again during his time in London – perhaps an assumption that London is small enough to bump into him again but certainly one that had made him feel as if it was small and comfortable!

I’ve loved that friends visit from overseas (from New York, Sydney and San Francisco) and I get to share the Olympic dreams with them.

I’ve loved that Mum played her part in the opening ceremony with her picture being on the memorial wall and in the closing ceremony as they played ‘Look on the bright side of life’ which was a song she was adamant should be played (and was) at her funeral.

I’ve loved being able to take my niece and nephew to Olympic events and creating memories with them that I hope will give them confidence and inspiration as well as in years to come they will tell their families and remember being there.

I’ve loved that my brother came up to London and to an event with us yesterday and I got to hang out with him for the day and together create a memory or two.

I’ve loved the laughter that has been a part of the opening ceremony (Bond 007 and the Queen), the closing ceremony, the volunteer drummers, the TV show Twenty Twelve and of course Team GB‘s and Tom Daley’s diving squad‘s YouTube efforts too! It’s great to know that we can still retain our sense of humour (even if a little wacky and odd at times) AND get on the medal table!

I’ve loved discovering and rediscovering parts of London that I’ve not seen or visited in a while. Parts of London that are looking at their best. A London that is welcoming, warm and friendly…. and mostly covered in bunting!

I’ve loved listening to people talk animatedly about the Olympics without swearing and bad language!

I’ve loved watching the Olympians at venues, on the TV and also listening to them in the background. I’ve loved sharing their ooooohs and aaaaghs as they do or don’t achieve their gold medals. I’ve held my breath and cheered them on. I’ve cried with joy and cried with disappointment.

But most of all I’ve been proud to be British. I’ve been proud that London has shown the world that despite the doubters, we really can show the world a beautiful city, an inspirational nation, a winning mentality and a confident future.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.

London 2012 Olympics – Modern Pentathlon in Greenwich Park

Posted on 11/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

Today is my niece’s turn for an Auntie Anna day at the Olympics. She loves horses and anything to do with them. I was so pleased that one of the tickets I managed to get in the original Olympic ballot was for the Modern Pentathlon, equestrian session.

Tori has patiently waited whilst lots of other Olympic events have taken place; when her brother and I headed off to the Olympic Park for basketball; to watching it unfold on the TV; and spending time in Hyde Park with her mum watching it on the big screens.

I therefore wasn’t particularly surprised when my brother announced that Tori had been awake until 2am this morning and kept waking up to ask ‘is it time yet’?

It is now…

I think the picture of Tori and my brother on the train on our way to Greenwich Park says it all. She truly was excited!

We were blessed with beautiful sunshiny weather too, a huge blessing as we walked from the train station at Blackheath winding our way through the little streets with some stunning houses, colourful windowboxes and lots of bunting, across the parkland and then into the venue.

By arriving via Blackheath train station we were able to walk right through Greenwich Park and see some of the jumps that had been used for the cross-country equestrian course in the Park. What fun must the jump makers have creating something that not only complies with all the regulations of equestrian jumps but also eclipses Great Britain and an element of fun. I’ve looked at some pictures I took but also added some from the internet…. love that we have sensible jumps of the moon and planets but also ones that represent Wind in the Willows too.

I also loved the wooden sheep and rams that made a fabulous place to sit and eat our lunch in the sunshine!

Nice and early we headed into the stands and took our choice of seats. Half way up and able to see the big screen, the entrance point for the horses, the shooting and also exit and entry points for the run. We were sorted!

But first, a little lesson. What is Modern Pentathlon and what’s it’s history?

The history – Modern Pentathlon was championed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, and has its origins in a 19th-century legend. The story goes that a young French cavalry officer was sent on horseback to deliver a message. To do this, he had to ride, fence, shoot, swim and run – the five challenges that face today’s competitors.

A century after Modern Pentathlon made its Olympic debut at Stockholm 1912, London 2012 is the first Olympic Games where the ‘combined’ format is being used for the running and shooting elements, and is the first Games to incorporate laser pistols.

The basics – Modern Pentathlon competitions are conducted over a single day. The first element is fencing, for which athletes are required to fence against every other athlete. The fencing is then followed by swimming (200m freestyle) and riding (jumping over a 12-jump course). Athletes are given a score for each element of the competition.

After the first three elements, the athletes’ total scores are converted into a time handicap. The handicap determines the starting times for the combined run/shoot where athletes are required to hit a target a total number of 15 times and run a total of 3km in a sequence of three laps. The winner of the competition is the athlete who crosses the finish line first.

Total athletes in London 2012 Modern Pentathlon – 72 (36 men and 36 women)

By the time the competitors reached Greenwich Park (and us) they had already competed in two elements, fencing and swimming. As above if they are to fence every other competitor that is 35 matches AND then the rest of the competition on the same day!

The added ‘twist’ to the riding event is that they don’t know which horse they will get either! The officials have whittled down to the last 18 from over 100 horses that they’ve been watching and working with for the past year. The chap in the lead at the start of the riding event gets to choose a numbered dice from a champagne bucket determining his horse and then the rest of the field get the sequential next horses. (I love the eccentricity of this selection process, particularly the champagne bucket, of course!).

The riders then have 20 minutes in which to bond with their horse limited to only 5 practice jumps, before taking to the ring. Each horse is ridden twice during the competition. This selection process and the use of horses that the riders don’t know is so that the test if of the rider’s horsemanship and control rather than the horses’ ability.

We saw some amazing control and also some very wilful horses, not least when one threw their rider off and then fell on his legs – truly thought that would be the end of the rider for this competition but after the horse was caught by the gamesmaker volunteers, the remounted it and reminded it who was boss as he completed the course. He didn’t have a great round but he did get round and went on to complete the run/shoot too but I wonder how bruised he is now!

Once again though I really have to give some more praise to the fantastic jump design – there’s a few close up pictures below and hopefully you’ll be able to zoom in to look at some of the others too.

Tori was often up on her feet as a horse jumped well or indeed was playing up. Incredibly tense and you could feel the tension of the riders, on an unfamiliar horse, jumping within 75 seconds (in order to avoid penalties) but also attempting to get a clear round (also avoiding penalties).

After the riding element, the scores were tallied and our two GB teammates were in 8th and 11th place (I think!).

The volunteers then moved in and very swiftly removed all the jumps, raked the sand and set out the track for the run. Barely was the track set up before the athletes started warming up.

Tori, my brother and I all had our fingers and toes crossed that Team GB had been practicing shooting and indeed had some energy left in those legs for the run. How difficult must it be to do the shooting/running as one combined element. The competitors set off seconds apart (this is where the time penalties earlier are critical) and they run the short distance to their shooting posts. They then need to get 5 shots on target before they can leave and head out for their run.

The run leaves the arena and travels through part of the Park – a hilly part of the Park and an added difficulty level. The cheers were incredibly loud as the re entered the Arena followed the pathway to the shooting posts and did it again. Three times and then to the finish line. Incredible and frustrating to see a missed target which then means a further time disadvantage for the run. Eeek.

China had held the first place position right up until the last run where they were overtaken by the Czech athlete. D Svobada (Czech) crossed the line for the gold medal, Z Cao (China) for silver and A Morosi (Hungary) for bronze.

Team GB, N Woodbridge finished in 10th place and S Wheal in 13th place.

Well done boys.

Another ‘thank you’ really must go to the volunteers, forces and organisers at this venue. Truly incredible job they’ve been doing, always so cheerful and upbeat and incredible helpful. THANK YOU.

We had a brilliant day, ended up in Hyde Park BT Live site with JoeJoe, my sister-in-law and some of her family too. We were able to watch Tom Daley dive for his well-deserved bronze medal and to, once again, take in a truly Olympic atmosphere. I am so pleased that my brother has also been up to London to immerse in the incredible buzz of it too.

To be able to share my Olympic experiences with my family and know that we’re creating memories that I truly hope will last forever has been amazing, inspiring.

It’s been three years since you left

Posted on 07/08/2012 by AnnaGoAnna

You can shed tears that she is gone,
Or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she’s gone,
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Love you Mum x