Mark Foster's blog by Mark_Foster

Hello everyone. It’s been another good week with my usual mix of work and play. The joy of my life sometimes is that it is often hard to tell the difference. It started with a GP conference in Birmingham where I got to talk to a lot of GPs from all over the country. I jokingly warmed them up with the revelation that we all had something in common, yes, we were all doctors!! Well I'm a double doctor, indeed I have 2 certificates to prove it!! I gave a talk on achievement, teamwork, dedication and reaching for ideals. Then I suddenly thought, hang on, these guys have got all of these qualities with knobs on! But either way they were kind, generous and appreciative of my being there and as ever in the presence of such dedicated people, I always feel humbled......

This was followed by a delivery of my new car; the Jaguar XJ. As an ambassador for the Jaguar Sports Academy scheme, I’m given a lease car to use for a year and this year’s model was delivered. What a beautiful car it is - the same as last year’s model, but every year they are improved, and this one is smoother and more luxurious with a very quiet diesel engine. It makes it absurdly economical and better for the environment!!! I took it for its first run out to the South Coast and what a smooth ride and good on the pocket, such happy days! As part of my overall work portfolio I get invited to attend charity lunches and support a number of really good causes. This week was no exception. I attended The Caravan, the trading name of the Grocers' Benevolent Fund and the charitable wing of the Grocery Industry.

Their ethos is that they help all sorts of people who need extra support to get by. From factory to store: Caravan helps people all over the UK who have worked, or are working, in the grocery industry and have now found that they need some extra support to get by. Caravan raises money through a variety of fundraising events, donations and corporate sponsorship. The help that Caravan provides can make a very real difference and it provides not only monetary support, but also appliances and everyday items that many take for granted. It always surprises me that there are so many charities attached to various industries but when you look closer at the work they do, it just goes to show how important and essential they are to many people's lives. And it is always more poignant when it gets to Christmas.

I love doing these gigs as you have a good lunch and a bit of fun as well as supporting the work. I met up with Andrew Cracknall from Anglo Beef who I met at the Access Sport dinner a few weeks ago, who informs me that his swimming techniques are still improving. Go Andrew! At all these events I get the chance to catch up with all my mates from the world of sport, James Cracknell, Steve Backley, Gail Emms etc. Clare Balding my sidekick from the TV sofa, the better half (!) hosted the event and as always was so good. Love you Clare. On Friday I went to the south coast for the weekend after meeting up with mates John and Janie on Friday night (John just back from Kosovo, so nice to see you guys) and around midnight I headed for the coast near Selsey. I stayed in a house right on the beach and it was just brilliant to wake up next to the sea. The sun broke through and I toured around Chichester and walked the beach. It was a fantastic weekend and I reluctantly drove back late on Sunday night, but I will be back.

Monday should have been a slow day but slow it was not! I did an interview for the BBC for a documentary on the history of swimming. Then it was off to meetings with a clothes designer, meeting with the Dog’s Trust, so if you have a dog, check out their latest grooming range. Then off to Garrard the jewellers, for the launch of their new trophies (for Yacht Racing). They had great canapés and cocktails!! Then I met up with mates and took off to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers gig at the O2 and what a gig it was. It was a great show with the best music and lights, plus an arena full of hard core Chilli Pepper fans. No seats, standing, everyone moshing, old school! That really got this week off to a bang. I do hope you have a good one.