I bought a second hand purple bike with a basket last month, I have always cycled and I love it, if it's flat My lovely purple bike puts a smile on my face!
My husband on the other hand is what is known as a keen cyclist. By keen I mean sort of obsessive, he wears lycra, his shoes clip into his pedals, he does "oh about 100 miles out with the club", he cycles up (yes UP) Watlington Hill, he cycled from Wokingham to Broadway, he once cycled to Bognor Regis with jet lag (more on that another time) and he has also done the etape du tour which is 95 miles up hill following the route of the Tour de France. He cycled where Bradley Wiggins cycled!
I am not the most sporty person you will ever know, I am not even the least sporty person you will ever know, I am the most useless person in a sports quiz which frustrates my husband and makes me appear somewhat dim watching a Question of Sport.
In my youth I did some activities that are sports! I used to ride (at the time I smelt more of hoof oil than Anais Anais - that'll date me), cycle (no public transport in the village and if you wanted to go out you had get there yourself), lacrosse (well the pitches were past the Boys Coll), squash (we used to get dropped off and then run back to the Boys Coll), tennis (well sort of dress up in a short white skirt and pretend) but hold on I ski!
Skiing - what a great holiday! I have no sense of direction and a very short memory so each time I approach a chair lift I feel it is a brand new one and each slope is new!
Being married to a Welshman I do get excited about the Rugby, I like the singing and I've actually been to Cardiff Arms Park (ok it was 23 years ago to see Simple Minds and Texas as the support act) and the Milennium Stadium. I love the way that he supports Wales first and then anyone who is playing England second. It's the way it is!
Big fella used to play cricket - despite playing it myself at prep school and being made to play it by my brother and all his friends I still had no clue, I could make cricket teas and drink Mount Gay rum, I have met Courtney Walsh & Sid Lawrence at Hurst Cricket Club, I met Bev Bevan at Rowington Cricket Club (where I also met my husband) and often drive past the Somerset ground in Bath.
See what I mean, I really am clueless and am useless in a pub quiz BUT and it's a pretty big BUT I am emotional and loyal and so totally into the Olympics and after the Opening Ceremony who doesn't want to be part of Team GB? That's Team Gloriously Bonkers in my mind!
Wasn't the opening ceremony just such a wonderful snapshot of our crazy little island, an island of history and a wealth of quirks and characteristics that put a smile on our faces and such pride in our hearts.
I have goosebumps as I type this, I am a hugely emotional person and to see those Olympic greats bring home the medals makes my heart swell with pride and yes I cry. I cry great big fat sobbing tears.
As I said I am no sporty person, I am just gloriously bonkers and proud and I can say in years to come "2012, I was there!"
I was there in Richmond Park for the cycling, my husband and girls were there for the hockey, they were there for the Time Trials, we were there glued to our seats, we were there as we screamed and cried and hugged each other and above all we were there and we are here, we are part of that small crazy island and its achievements has put a smile on everyone's faces.
Pretty much like my bicycle puts a smile on my face, but on a larger scale.
