The year draws to a close

Just before Xmas, Kate (from sportstructures) and I spoke to sportscotland about how to link into the Active Schools network. They seemed pleased we had come to them and gave us some good feedback. In particular, they have details on what each school in Scotland is doing in terms of sports participation. Our next step is to pull together a map of what all the various parts of activity are taking place (in schools, in GNAS clubs etc). We had this conversation through a telephone conference call which I am well used to through work, but was a novel experience to the others on the call - good that the "new technologies" can bring people together quickly and at little cost.

Bumped into Susan from Penicuik at Ikea where her and the family were out for an excursion. Santa brought her a new compound bag from Christmas and she reminded me about the annual Frostbite and to bring a £3 present as part of the communal present giving that takes place at the end. Next Sunday, someone will be the happy recipient of Ikea finger puppets!

The household has been awash with virtual re-decorating (wish the real thing indoors could progress as quickly!). The SAA web site is getting a makeover, and Muriel is busy with that and e-mails are flying back and forward between her and Murray. I guess it is the only time that they can get on with this as they are both involved in squads (Muriel with Scottish and Murray with UK disabled).

Having time on our hands, a trip to wildest Hawick was planned, which many people may not know is one of the Archery hotspots in Scotland.

We shot indoors with (another) Kate who is, I think, Scotland's only international double medallist this year having gained Sliver & Bronze at the IPC event in Korea the other month. Her man was there shooting as well with his recurve as he has had his arm twisted into competing in deepest Geordie land at a Vegas. At the end, we were joined by Ronnie, a local newcomer who will be at Lasswade soon taking part in his first competition (that thrill seems so far away from me now).

Kate let us into a wee secret. She said that Peter Suk, in the way of coaching, gives her a wee peck on the cheek and says she is a great archer. This obviously works from her medal success - must be something in the way the Koreans kiss :-) I feel a wee tongue twister coming on here (based on Peter Piper nursery rhyme) ...

Peter Performance pecked the purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian
The purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian Peter Performance pecked
If Peter Performance pecked the purple pinkie of a pretty paralympian
Where is the purple pinkie of the pretty paralympian that Peter Performance pecked?

... must remember not to give up the day job for a career in poetry writing.

I had a chat with Gwyn who has now been there for almost seven years now (visit http://www.eastcote-archery.co.uk/ if you don't know them). When they first started out, shooting inside in the winter was problematic as the gas in the heater would often be so cold as not be able to light properly. Now, there is an outdoor range for up to 8 targets @ 90m, a well stocked shop and a really warm new indoor range with three foam targets. The shop is planned to be moved into the original indoor range which will give lots of room and also provide for a reception area. All of this has been gradually built up over the years without too much public investment - well done Gwyn!

During writing this, I had forgotten the link to Gwyn's place and did the usual web search to find it. The first link to come up was the news that Andy Logan (a two time European Field Archery champion from Hawick) had narrowly escaped death in a car accident and will miss the Worlds in Namibia. Though Andy is from the "other lot" (the Scottish Field Archery Association), it is still a sad piece of news to have at this time of year.