The Olympic summer begins with the news that tennis star Andy Murray will carry the flag for the Olympic opening ceremony which I was pleased with! Andy Murray described it as the highlight of his career. But it turns out that holding a flag isn't as straightforward as it sounds!
It seems to be ok when Andy is there on his own with the flag...
But when everyone is gathered for the team photo, the flag decides not to cooperate!
Princess Anne sees the flag getting ever closer to poking her eye out...
Andy fights for control in front of an amused crowd...
With Princess Anne showing little sympathy!
And they all enjoy watching his problems!
It was a very funny press conference but thankfully it all went well on the opening night!
Day Five Saturday
We got up this morning and yes, I wasn't happy with that wall so I had to do a fourth coat which was not a fun time. I don't know why that bit of wall was so bad but I had to get it done. My dad had a rest and picked his horses, doing the finishing touches to the high bits I couldn't reach and thankfully it looks MUCH better. But it was a serious grind!
Day Six Sunday
I feel like a crab fisherman...my hands this morning looked like claws and I could barely do anything. Sadly it was no day of rest as we had to move the furniture back into the middle of the room, tidying junk as we did so and getting bags of rubbish out to the bin. It seemed to take forever and my dad was sorting out his dvds and cds and changing his mind where he wanted to put everything...but by dinner time at 4pm we were pretty much done.
Day Seven Monday
We had to spend the morning getting the shopping done which left us both knackered! Can I say how much I HATE unpacking the shopping into fridge, freezer and cupboard??? The afternoon was spent moving all the furniture away from the last part of the room-bookcase full of cds and dvds, sterio, hoover, clothes horse, and so on. I really am knackered and so is my dad! We really do have too much stuff so I think a winter clear out is required...
Day Eight Tuesday
I felt crappy today but had to get on with the first coat of the window wall and around the kitchen door. I'd finished that by 10.30am and was pleased to note that the painting went easier than that last wall-thankfully! But just for fun I decided to trip over the telephone wire and land on my face, slightly twisting my ankle. Great! No harm done though and I'm ok to get on with coat two on those walls after I have a nice cheese toastie for lunch.
The second coat is done and I'm flagging. Sore back, hands, fingers, hips...ugh! It's 13.30pm and I'm wondering if I'll have time for a third coat before I make dinner. It's not drying that well so it will maybe be a fourth coat on it but I'll see how the third coat has dried when I get up tomorrow. I HATE DIY...!
I can't believe we're nearly at the end of the Paralympics but it was a barnstorming day for GB! We have another 21 medals to celebrate which is brilliant!
Lets start with the amazing Sarah Storey dominating the road race for gold!
Crystal Lane takes the bronze!
Steve Bate and Adam Duggleby win bronze!
A British cleen sweep in the archery from Jessica Stretton (gold) Jo Frith (silver) and Vicky Jenkins (bronze) Great stuff ladies!
Jo Frith later took gold with John Walker!
GB wheelchair basketball took a brilliant bronze in an exciting game!
Helena Lucas took bronze in sailing!
With bronze also for Alex Rickham and Niki Russell!
Maria Lyle takes bronze in the 200 metres!
Paul Blake takes silver in the 800 metres!
Lets start the swimming with bronze for Ellie Robinson!
Silver for Stephanie Millward!
Silver for Tom Hamer!
Silver for Abby Kane!
Another bronze for the brilliant Andrew Mullen! This guy rocks!
Gold for Ollie Hynd!
Gold for Hannah Russell!
And it was gold to Bethany Firth!
With silver to Jessica-Jane Applegate!
What a day and night! It was really exciting stuff to watch and I'm sad that things are drawing to a close. I still have some summer sport highlights to share from both games.
Another brilliant day as the team go past their London 2012 total with some great performances! Here is the medal role of honour!
The 50th Paralympic gold of Rio for GB goes to the brilliant Paul Blake! What a run!
Third gold of the games for awesome Hannah Cockroft! Another medal for 15 year old Kare Adenegan in the same race-bronze!
Dan Greaves took an excellent bronze in the discus! He bows out of the paralympics and we're dead proud of Discus Dan!
John Walker takes gold in archery!
David Smith wins gold in boccia!
Gordon Reid takes gold in tennis! What a talent this guy is!
With his doubles partner 18 year old Alfie Burnett taking silver!
David Stone takes silver in the road race!
Another pair of golds in equestrian for Sophie Christiansen and Natasha Baker!
Anne Dunham takes another silver!
Silver also for Sophie Wells!
But it was gold for flag bearer Lee Pearson, his 11th Paralympic title!
Will Bayley, Ross Wilson and Aaron McKinnon take team bronze in table tennis!
Hannah Russell takes bronze in swimming!
Andrew Mullen takes a brilliant silver also in the pool!
Alice Tai, Claire Cashmore, Stephanie Slater and Stephanie Millward take gold in the swimming relay! It was a fantastic swim!
