Gail Emms' Blog by Gail_Emms

Hello! I am a little bit hung-over. No-one to blame but myself of course, but it was the SportsAid ball last night at Battersea Park and it was the first time I have been able to go, so I definitely made up for it! It has been a struggle today and I never know what the best hangover cure is, but I did have to reach for the paracetemol earlier. It was a great night and it is always good to catch up with all the other ex and current athletes. I hired a dress for the evening and got to wear a Tiffany necklace which was borrowed for the evening, as Tiffany was sponsoring the event. Unfortunately, despite many hints and getting the man in charge really drunk, I wasn't allowed to keep the necklace but I have offered my services to wear Tiffany jewellery any time they want. Hopefully his hangover isn't that bad otherwise I have no chance!

SportsAid is a great charity that gives grants to up and coming young, talented athletes and I was very fortunate to receive a grant when I was a junior. For me, playing badminton was an adventure and I loved doing it, but I had no idea of the cost and the sacrifices my parents had to make to get me to training and tournaments. SportsAid is a helping hand to those families and it is a very welcome one indeed. Over 70% of the athletes representing Team GB in London 2012 will have been helped by SportsAid in the past and if SportsAid was a country in the medal table in Beijing 2008 Olympics, it would have finished 5th.

John Inverdale was the host and I was on the Comet table and they were so impressed with the evening and were just really excited to be a part of it as SportsAid is one of their chosen charities. Other athletes there were Mark Foster, Derek Redmond, Jamie Baulch, Karen Pickering, Steve Williams, Tim Foster, Peter Nichol, Leon Taylor, Danny Crates, Giles Long, Kris Akabusi, Sarah Wincklas, Stephanie Cook, Kelly Sotherton and Georgina Harland! But the best person I met was Paralympic equestrian dressage legend, Lee Pearson, who had me in stitches all the way to the venue and throughout the night! I wish I could repeat some of the stuff we were talking about, but it is far too rude and outrageous! A top man and his mum Linda is a star as well. The evening raised over £50,000 and I know so many families of talented young sports stars will be overwhelmingly happy.

I have also been playing badminton this week! I know that may sound a bit strange and not the biggest news to those new to realbuzz.com who might think that an ex-Olympic medallist in badminton plays the sport a bit still, but I actually I don’t! I hardly get the chance and who do I play with?! So that is why I do the other sports like tennis, golf, hockey and netball. Last weekend, it was county weekend which meant the top 9 counties that are in the top division all went down to Surrey Sports Park to play some matches. I represent Hertfordshire (as I was born in Hitchin) and we played against Cheshire and won 6-4, Avon and won 6-4 and then on the Sunday we played Middlesex and won 7-3. I won all my matches as well so a nice 100% record to add to that.

All sounds nice and simple doesn't it?! The reality was a little different. My boyfriend Ed, work in CID for Thames Valley Police and has to work weekends sometimes. And one of those weekends was the one just gone, so Harry came along and watched his mum play for the first time! In theory, it should be easy to get someone to look after Harry while I was on court and then win quick so I can be back for him. When I turned up, I realised how old I was as all the old faces that I know and love were gone. They’d been replaced by a load of juniors who I had never seen before let alone feel I could ask them to help out! It was a little scary, but luckily there were enough of the old crew around to manage Harry. It was pretty easy looking after him really - all he wanted to do was kick his football in the squash court! Over the weekend, I must have spent about 5 hours in that squash court kicking the football but at least I managed okay.... just about anyway.

A few months ago, a badminton lesson from me was a 40th birthday present for Simon Hamilton. Drink Me Chai Company kindly sponsored me to go to his badminton club and meet the other members and have a little badminton session. The club was the Parklangley club in Beckenham (gorgeous place) and I turned up not realising that it was a surprise! So all the club members were just casually coming into the hall and then looking at me in astonishment as they saw me sat there with my rackets and waiting to go on court! It was a great evening and I had lots of fun playing matches, beating the men, and showing off a little bit! I have never done the concept of playing a club evening and I really enjoyed it. I was knackered though as I played for 3 hours straight, but the people were all fab and so I didn't notice until the end.

I love the fact there were lots of lovely Drink Me Chai drinks there as well and if you like chai tea, then check out the website. My ex-badminton partner Nathan Robertson got me into chai tea a few years ago and I am very glad he did! I have been invited back to the club next year and I'm looking forward to it already. And finally, it was a very random and very funny radio show for me on Monday! The "Road to 2012" on BBC 3 Counties was taken over by the lovely Greg Rutherford who is an Olympic hopeful in long jump. He is from Milton Keynes and a great bloke who has a big future in the media as well. If you missed it, you can catch it again through the BBC website and hear how Greg was supposed to bring a pie, but forgot and I brought in brownies which went down a treat! See you next week!