Gail Emms' Blog by Gail_Emms

Hello! How is everyone?! I'm now all about the football now it is Euro 2012! This happens every time there is a major football tournament, that I say I'm not too fussed about it and them find myself hiding behind the sofa when England play and watching random matches in the evening because I really want to watch Spain v Republic of Ireland?! I have no expectations with the England side like most people, but hey, I guess we are used to that now supporting England! I do love watching football, but hopefully I will be able to tear myself away from the TV now and again. There is a sense of a national pride about the country at the moment and I love that. The Jubilee celebrations have started it off and the flags are being paraded - just a pity the weather hasn't gone along with the plan.

I spent most of the Jubilee weekend inside the house complaining about the weather or huddled in a cafe/bar waiting for the rain to subside and being caught in it when I did venture out! So frustrating. But there were so many people out despite the weather that it just made me feel proud to be British. I was in Greenwich on the Sunday and got to see the Flotilla which was a pretty spectacular sigh. I'm hoping this British spirit will continue, not only for Euro 2012 but for the rest of the Olympic torch relay and of course, the Olympic and Paralympic games.

I got my first game of golf in for the year! I haven't had a chance to play at all and golf and children/toddlers/babies really don't go together. But my mate Mark Foster was hosting a golf day at Studley Wood Golf club for Wellchild and I wanted to show my support. However, childcare dictated my golf day and it meant that I could only get 9 holes in before I had to leave to pick Harry up. As I teed off on the first hole and lost 2 balls in the water, I was thinking "thank goodness I am only playing 9 holes!" But I did manage to get a bit better and only lost 4 balls in total! Luckily I had a great group to play with and they were very patient with me. I did get a bit better and now I have the bug again! Why are there not crèches attached to golf clubs?! It would really help me out immensely but I don't think I will be able to play again until after London 2012. Mark was a great host and I know he raised lots of money for Wellchild and it was an honour to play.

I have found a new sport to do! I was asked by Sky Sports to do a feature for their "Get Involved" series to have a go at wakeboarding. I live 2 minutes from Willen Lake in Milton Keynes and it's home to Wake MK which is a cable system for wakeboarding and I have never had a go! I walk my dog past it and watch everyone try it, from beginners to elite level, yet had not donned a wetsuit and a go myself. So, it was time and pretty much Bridget Jones style, I launched myself into it and inevitably ended up in the lake a few times! I did okay to be fair, and I managed to stand up on the board for a bit and there was a lot of screaming from me as well, but I loved it. I actually went again a few days later and stood up on the board but fell in as well! I also had a go at paddle boarding and I loved at too. There is even talk of yoga on the paddle boards which I hope happens. But I am glad that I have found two things to occupy my spare time (if I have any!) this summer.

I went back to my badminton roots the other day for the BBC. It was for a short piece that will be shown around the coverage of the Olympics and it shows me back at my first badminton club reminiscing and playing my mum! My first club was the Bedford and County Badminton Club and all it is really is a tin hut that used to store grain in the war, but it was converted into a 3 court hall and it's where I learnt my trade! There are a few of us oldie athletes that the BBC are involving and I know they will be great insights into how all the athletes got started in their sport. And finally, I managed 10.6 miles the other day in support of Charlie who is running 30 marathons in 30 days. I found it okay, but that was enough for me and left all the others to it. He is still going and doing great for the charity. I hope to join him again soon! See you soon!