Backwards In High Heels

Media Slut

Oh get me!

I was invited to be on a BBC Radio Derby debate this morning, discussing the issue of drugs in sports. My masters is in the Sociology of Sport (and to keep my mum happy as she reads this blog I should point out I got a distinction and my thesis was shortlisted for a prize). Yes, I once did proper stuff and not just the waffle you see here.

So today I went along to the radio station, quite nervous I will admit with my little notebook of scribbles.

As well as my good self there was Ross Davenport, our local swimming hero, and a representative of UK Sport via the phone.

Ross was a very canny lad, and I am not adverse to sitting next to fit young men at the best of time though it is quite hard to keep a train of thought when one of their anecdotes is having a drugs test at the Commonwealth games which saw them locked in a cubicle with a testing representative and being asked to drop their trousers to their ankles and lift their t-shirt up to their armpits. Mmm…let me picture that a moment.

The discussion was meant to be half an hour but the presenter was enjoying it so much he cancelled what was coming up and we got a full hour which the producer told me was praise indeed.

I got to tell my story of how it was discovered some athletes would empty their bladders, insert a catheter and decant someone else’s urine to escape detection. That’s a tale that always gets the boy’s eyes watering!

Up until late tonight (12th September) I believe you can listen again here (fast forward to the 2hr mark which is when we start). Sadly I don’t know how to save it to my computer or indeed if that is possible so my momentary fame will be lost in the ether!

One thing, and its been said before is that I sound posh on such things, and this usually said with some shock! I don’t know what happens but I see a microphone and my Hyacinth Bucket gene kicks in!

Quite an exciting day all in all - I'll sign autogrpahs later!

Monday Sighs

It has been a few days which has just caused an excess of sighing.

In a few weeks time (the 20^th if you want to make a note) it is my birthday. I have noticed a current trend for people to put a logo on their blog or send an email to friends proclaiming their life is marvellous, they want for nothing and please give a donation to their chosen charity in lieu of a birthday gift.

I would love to be so honourable, so generous and so sweet. However on Saturday Trulli cat went into the vets (and is still there as of Monday evening). He has had a predisposition to bladder crystals which can be very dangerous. His first bout was 20 months ago and it required two invasive operations. Since then he has done very well, on his special diets but at the end of last week he started to pass small amounts of water and growl at his willy. Be it cat or human, growling at your willy is a bad sign. So better safe than sorry and off he went to animal hospital.

The news is good. He has had his bladder flushed, no serious crystals were found, a slight infection was detected and he should be home soon. A happy ending is in the offing but also a big, fat vet bill.

Hence my birthday message is I am more than happy to be showered with gifts, preferably ones which still with their receipts or have good resale value on ebay.

Sad news yesterday was the death of Charlie Williams, a great Yorkshire comic who paved the way for many British black performers. Some people say his humour may have been misplaced as he often made jokes at the expense of his colour, strangely a similar debate is currently raging about Little Miss Jocelyn at the moment. I think he was right for his time. We Yorkshire people are very good at being right, centuries of practice you know. Bye me old flower!

But today I felt thumped in the stomach when I heard the news of Steve Irwin’s death. I thought he was a great ambassador for environmental issues and natural history. His delivery may have made some squirm but it was that peculiar charm he had that meant he engaged with a huge group of people who may otherwise never realised the majesty of wildlife. Like hiding medicine in sugar, his on-screen buffoonery educated people without them realising! I particularly liked the fact he was never patronising. So many people in that field can be. I can’t bear another celebrity fronted ‘let’s save the X’ programme where they moon about the African plains with their stage school downturned mouth telling me how guilty we should all be whilst rubbing it in that they are somehow special and hence afforded this amazing opportunity. Steve Irwin was quite the opposite; he bounced on the screen and reminded us all what an amazing world we have under our noses.

Steve Irwin was a great conservationist, passionate and really made a difference. My heart goes out to his wife, young children and his extended family of workmates and animal friends at Australia Zoo.

cat, birthday, Charlie+Williams, Steve+Irwin, Australia+Zoo

And it's up....

The wardrobe is up and rock solid. And between my mum and myself we haven't put up some piddling wee wardrobe - no we are talking a 4 door, 3 drawer multiplex of a wardrobe.

We read the instructions (but didn't necessarily follow them), used the correct tools (not once did I resort to a shoe) and didn't swear (blatant lie).

To comply with British work standards, every innuendo involving the words bedroom, screwing, getting it up, banging and erection was made and we had three tea breaks. We also lodged our Union quota of tuts combined with head shaking.