​Walking into a room filled with people from the sports world - and not knowing anyone!
I was privileged to have been nominated by my MP, Theresa Villers, as a Community Sports Champion.
It all began when I received an email from 10 Downing Street inviting me, as a nominated Community Sport Champion, to attend a reception hosted by Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport at 10 Downing Street. I emailed back asking if this was a hoax and being assured it wasn’t! I replied, saying I would be delighted to attend.
Anyone who knows me knows I like to be early, and I was first in the queue. Passing through security, I saw a deserted Downing Street, and the big black door was shining as only it could. I was told to knock, and so I did. As I removed my hand from the door, it opened, and I was engulfed in a reception room that seemed too big for the front door.
We were instructed to turn our mobiles off and leave all devices by the front door. Would we be asked to drop them in a box or a glass bowl? Would they be put it in an envelope with a raffle ticket to claim it back? It was beautifully simple; we were directed towards what might have been a repurposed postal sorting box, and being first, I deposited my phone into a pigeon hole, box number 1.
Then, walking as slowly as I could up a flight of stairs, I studied the portraits of each of the Prime Ministers, almost expecting one of them to disappear, as in Harry Potter, and pop up elsewhere. The uniformity of the frames against the pale yellow wallpaper took my breath away, and at the top of the stairs was a Lowry, which took up almost the whole landing wall. I only wished I had more time to stand and stare, but the quick glimpse was magic to the eyes!
I entered three empty adjoining rooms that looked out over Horse Guards Parade with a private view of a public tourist attraction. Very slowly, the room filled with volunteers nominated by their MPs for contributions to sport in their communities. Staff negotiated the room and clusters of people with canapes and wine.
Not knowing anyone, I mingled and made conversation. We were the people who delivered at the grassroots level, the local clubs, small charities, and volunteers. Everyone had their own story, nominated by their MP as a way of saying thank you for growing and supporting their community.
We were finally ushered in one long, slow queue to have our photograph taken with Lucy Frazer, who, like all the MPs, had been held up in a parliamentary vote.
As a movement and dance representative and former Chair of the Movement and Dance Division, I have attended many events, but this was the first time I have attended something as a personal thank you from my MP for my contribution to the sector. It was magical, and as I said to a member of staff…’In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight’ (Pretty Woman).

There are many shades of Blue – my shed is blue, and as I type, the sky is a clear, bright blue.

The third Monday in January is sometimes called 'the most difficult day of the year' because, according to Sky Travel, in 2005, the third Monday in January when happiness levels fell to the lowest levels of the year.

Since then, it has become a day for promoting mental health awareness and self-care.

Share a cup of tea or coffee with a friend and have a chat, turn the Blue into a Brew, and pop along to Action for Happiness (https://actionforhappiness.org/calendar) for something positive every day! 

Why did the weather turn so cold this afternoon? Because it was our first class back after the Christmas break.

I got to the hall and the heating was on, and thankfully everyone braved the few fluttering flakes of snow. New moves and combinations for the new year plus old favourites that we all enjoy. 

One lady, who has recently celebrated her 100th birthday asked if she could still come to class as she was feeling not as nimble as she used to. Of course, I said...the class is designed for youngsters like you!

There has been a lot of talk about mental wellbeing and the purpose of exercise, how social prescribing 'makes a difference'. I know the class is a lifeline for some, a hobby for others - but a place where we all meet for ourselves so we can be ourselves! 

One class down- three more to go! 

Twenty-one hours is not a full working week!

We all want people to be more active, and good instructors create an active nation. We all have different incentives to exercise – from the scales creeping up to a tight waistband. But how realistic are we in setting goals for our classes?

I was enjoying a class - a class for me that I do not need to plan or remember what I am doing next - and the instructor told us, with a cheeky grin, that this exercise was preparing us for the summer…which summer, I asked? 2025?

The other class members giggled, but I was serious.
Summer (June 2024 ) is only 21 weeks away from today, 4th, January.

That’s 21 hours, assuming the class is an hour. 17.5 hours if the class is 50 minutes.

That isn’t a full working week!

But, if this summer is like previous summers, I may be happy with my winter body under my raincoat. In the meantime, I will enjoy my class for 'me' and be realistic in setting expectations for my classes. ​