A Tale of two posts

Hi All

Once again , I've had a busy few months since i checked this page.

Things didn't go according to plan regarding the London Olympics.  My plan was to get down to London in time for the Paralympics - but, unfortunately, one of my little problems got in the way.

When i was supposed to be in London for the training - i was in a hospital bed in Salford - attached to a drip.The quacks said it could be appendicitis...close examination showed it wasn't that serious...but i'd have to forego the London trip whilst i recovered.

I phoned the Office...explained wi' tears in my eyes (wah!)

They said they'd get back to me....

I waited - and got the rejection e-mail....

So that was that .... Or So i thought...

48 hours later - another e-mail - How would i like to be a regional ambassador ???

I Jumped at the chance...

It began with a meeting at Manchester town Hall, needing bodies for the Olympic Torch Relay,  I was one of those lucky fellows in the purple & pink shirts (i know - dodgy colours!) as the torch made its way through the city centre before landing at Salford Quays.

I remember the cheering, and wanted more...so i said i'd wait to see what i got

The next assignment - working alongside the Australian Swimming Team...The job was pretty straightforward, but there were plenty of young faces in the ambassador squad starstruck as the aussies came to town.  We were thanked by all the athletes making their way to London.

Then OLD TRAFFORD rang....the regional team needed ambassadors for the stadium, and there were opportunities for Team Leader roles...

"How would you like to be a Team Leader...."

???? ME?

Much like the Olympic Torch Relay, i found myself back on the road, guiding the fans from the Olympic Teams from the Bus and Metro stops to the Old Trafford Stadium, and helping the fans around the Greater Manchester Transport System....

As Team GB were competing both the mens teams and womens teams made up from the national teams.

Que???

There are times when doing two things at once can be a little bit hazardous.

Things like changing a fuse when the electric's switched on,

Or putting too much spice in a curry

Or getting your ojos mixed up with your ajos

Let me explain.....

I'm doing a Spanish refresher at BASIC in Salford, and i'm re-learning all the stuff i did for my GCSE in the subject back in 1991....(I know it was over 20 years ago, get over it!)

Perhaps it was the fact we'd covered Spanish Food in the week previous,

Perhaps it was nearing the Coffee Break

Perhaps it was a mere slip o' th' tongue

It was all going well, describing the lovely ladies hair, appearance....

and what a lovely pair of GREEN GARLICS.....(ojo - means eyes ajos - Garlics)

OOPS!

(fortunately, we all got the mistake!)

The return of the Volunteer....

I haven't been on here for a while, but that's not to say i haven't been busy.

It's Olympic and Paralympic year - and as things go, its all systems go on the sporting front.  I've been helping out at a number of athletic events, and (if all goes to plan) I'll be helping out in London at the basketball arena with the wheelchair basketball team.

Next week i'm also working in an Olympic Capacity - as I grasped the nettle to help out at the European Taekwondo Championships in Manchester, which is a qualifier towards the London Olympics.

After that comes the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester - A chance for Team GBs Paralympians to get a taste of Gold (and possibly, a team trophy) before competing at the Paralympics in London.

Aside from the sporting stuff - I'm still doing me bit at the War Museum - Helping with the Technology Bit

And then there's BASIC - where i can normally be found in the Memory Workshops, or in the Cooking or Craft Classes.  There's also a Conversational Spanish Class.   The Writing Class's work has now metamorphosed into a book (albeit on CD), which is now on sale in BASICs reception   whilst the group itself has moved Online - where we share our thoughts and scribbles on all things literary.

More to Follow....but for now

Cheerio!

Brian....

Welcome to Inkdrops Inkwell.

Hello there and welcome to this new blog, which im going to edit hopefully on a day to day basis and post some of the photos that i've been taking whilst volunteering.

Its been a busy few weeks, what with The UCI World Track Championships and FINA Short course championships taking place.

I was there at both events and worked alongside some great people. The Track Championships took Place at Manchesters Velodrome, whilst the swimming took place at the MEN Arena. Both Events were part of Manchesters World Sport programme of events which continues with the Paralympic World Cup next week - where i'll be assisting during the sporting programme.

I worked on accreditation at these events, issuing passes at both events and assisted at the MEN

Arena as a member of the stewarding team, showing people to their seats and answering queries from athletes and VIPs alike.

I took this pic during the opening ceremony at the championship pool which was named in honour of one of Britain's Gold Medallist Swimmers - Duncan Goodhew.