A thank you at Dorney Lake

With the dust well and truly settled on London 2012, mainly helped by the constant downpours and flooding in my home town, it was nice to be invited to Eton Dorney (home of the "Dorney roar") for a thank you event from Bucks CC.

The awful weather didn't damper the spirits of 30 odd games makers from the county, who all enjoyed some drinks and finger food.

We were joined by lots of distinguished guests including the High Sheriff of Bucks.

The evening lasted a few hours and allowed for another catch up and reminisce - and a brief chat from the council about the legacy plans.

Bucks TV!

Some of you won't be surprised to hear that I was interviewed at the parade last week... but rather funnily it was for BucksTV not BBC London News which we'd been warned about!

Hence the rather nervy interview I gave:
http://www.buckstv.co.uk/buckstv/index.html

Being interviewed



At the parade in Marlow

A fabulous finale...

Saturday was the final curtain call on what's been a fabulous few weeks.. Wycombe District Council arranged a superb gathering of over 60 games makers, a few ceremony dancers and most importantly our local sporting heroes from both the Olympics and Paralympics.

After finally finding Shelley Theatre, I joined the party slightly on the late side! We formed a guard of honour in anticipation of the bus parade at the start of the park entrance. The bus was inevitably late as quite rightly everyone milked the occasion.

The bus was full of amazing people... Katherine Grainger the star of Eton Dorney (finally getting her gold after 3 silvers), Ed McKeever the 200m sprint canoe gold medallist, rower Greg Searle (bronze after a loooooong break from rowing since the golds he won when Redgrave was at his peak) and many others.

The town was out in force which was great to see.

We then formed another guard of honour to start the reception. There were many talks from distinguished guests and one by one the athletes were celebrated with gifts. Once they were all given out it was our turn. A nice gesture from WDC to give us all a certificate of thanks.... need more frames!!

We all enjoyed a toast of champagne and then mingled with the stars. Katherine was a star. Signed my accreditation and joked about her long wait for gold and posed for a photo. Likewise with Ed who said he had celebrated too hard lately especially after getting married too recently. Time for some training then Ed!!

Katherine Grainger

And then that was that... time to go home and take off the legendary purple top. Perhaps for the last time!

2012 has been remarkable.... and it was not over! My team Spurs went and beat Man U at Old Trafford (MIRACLE!!!) and then the European Ryder Cup team stuffed USA in their back yard. Incredible weekend!

Long may 2012 live on!

Ed McKeever

Marlow 2012 parade

Looking forward to Saturday when the local Olympic atheletes are paraded around Marlow to celebrate their achievements.

I received a Tweet from Suzie Clarke (ex Wycombe Wanderers/Wasps) who was trying to get in contact with all the Bucks games makers.

A quick call into Wycombe District Council and I was invited to attend a reception ahead of the parade (in uniform).

Can't wait... details are still vague but will be a great way for us all to celebrate :)

Volunteering: the gift that keeps on giving

It's been over 10 days since London 2012 finished, but the gifts keep arriving. Yesterday a lovely thank you certificate arrived from GM sponsors McDonald's signed by Lord Coe and Sir Philip Craven.

So many keepsakes, so many memories. What to do with them all?? Luckily the art shop next door is offering 50% off frames... I have purchased a couple!

Inspired to do more...

Fresh from my GM experience, it's time to focus on my last marketing assignment but as per usual, I'm looking for my next challenge...

It came in an email from my Uncle. A 100 miles cycle in August 2013 along the Olympic route and through London... part of the games legacy.

I am not new to endurance challenges having completed London marathon in 2010 and Rome in 2011, but I've gone quiet/lazy and soft recently! But I've never been a cyclist..

My application is in. Expecting this to be a really popular event, but fingers crossed I get the opportunity. Hoping that my girlfriend and friends will also join us so that we can create our own Tour De France Peleton!

Fancy it?? Get involved...

Letter from the PM!

As the email promotions continue to fill my inbox (thank you very much London 2012 for allowing me to see England v San Marino next month for £20.12!), I then receive a rather odd looking letter.

As my housemate quite rightly pointed out, it looked like my job title was "The Prime Minister"...
I hastily opened it having absolutely no clue why I would be receiving such a letter. Surely I hadn't been bad?!

To my astonishment it was a letter from 10 Downing Street and a Mr Cameron thanking me personally (ha) for my efforts as a games maker. Really nice touch. It's not often such an esteemed person sends you something... another item to frame (I have so many things I'm going to need to buy a house very soon will lots of wall space).

This has followed an equally nice email from Lord Coe and a GM supplement in The Times.

Only question left to answer is do I take up McDonald's offer of making my volunteering into a McDs qualification?!

Oh... and how do I get to Rio?????