Adlington

Olympic swimming double gold medalist Rebecca Adlington returned Mansfield yesterday to a welcome of heroic proportions. Mansfield is my former home town of 37 or so years and I watched the national and local news with pride at her homecoming.

I left Mansfield for several reasons, I can't really say I miss the place, though I do miss the people, most of my life memories are from there, it's where I grew up.

Watching the news last night I realised how good Rebecca winning the gold was good for the town, good for the morale of the people who have had it bad over the years with industry closures and something positive for them to hold on to. It will certainly lift the spirit of the townsfolk and give them renewed pride, for though I fell out of love with the town and moved away I still love the people there.

In it's euphoria Mansfield has already renamed a town centre bar after Rebecca and there are plans to rename the local swimming pool too. Watching the news though I couldn't help cringe at the loathesome town mayor Mr Eggington jockeying for a place on camera, he has always been a great self publicist, and in my opinion ideally needs to address more serious matters within the town, as you can tell I'm not a fan of the man or indeed how the local council has ran the town over successive years.

Anyway I'm digressing here, congratulations to Rebecca and lets hope there is more medals at London in 2012.

Click here for overhead footage of the town turning out for Rebecca in the market square.

Click here for Rebecca being presented with some Jimmy Choo shoes by the Mayor.

86

My dear old gran was 86 this weekend just gone and my aunt Kath had a party for a her, a simple affair yet a lovely afternoon. Family and grans friends kept dropping in throughout the afternoon and having a chat and some of the lovely food prepared by my aunt.

It's not been an easy year for my gran as she's had lots of health problems but has pulled through them all, if nothing she's a fighter. In truth I don't often do the family thing but hand on heart I really enjoyed the gathering on Saturday, it was great to see my gran up and about and good to catch up with family.

Below : Aunt Les & Gran.

Bottom : Aunt Kath presents Gran with her 86th Birthday cake.

Olympics

I have to say I was awestruck by the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing. The firework footprints to the birds nest stadium were absolutely amazing. It was not only a celebration of the Olympics but a celebration of the Chinese culture, one of the worlds oldest.

China have really set the benchmark with the panoply and pageantry of this years ceremony. My dad joked as we watched it that 'Chas and Dave' will probably open the London Olympics in 2012!

For me this was the most amazing ceremony I've ever seen, and to be there and witness it on the 08/08/08 would have surely been something.

When mankind can come together like this and share its achievements together beyond differences and religion it really is encouraging and heart warming.

* Chas and Dave are English folk singers from London who have little talent.

A Week On

Well a week has passed since I reached forty and in all honesty I don't feel any different, but then again I knew I wouldn't. Last Saturday was just an amazing night up in my local, the Fox and Crown. Almost everyone I invited came to my 40th party and it was a cracking evening. The only downside was it must have been the hottest night of the year so far!

Booba Dust (the band that played) performed brilliantly in what was excessive heat, the staff at the Fox did an amazing job keeping everybody served and fed and my old man even played 'Forever Young' on his guitar during the bands interval.

It was such a special night being surrounded by friends and family, and no, I didn't get drunk either!

Thanks to everyone that came and thanks for all the gifts!