Mark Foster's blog by Mark_Foster

Hello everyone. Another week over and a pretty good one all in all. I was still feeling a bit disappointed about not being able to do the bike ride to Brighton for ICT, but grateful that John, the Chairman and my mate Iain Thwaites and his partner Kassie, managed the 110kms and raised a good sum of money for a very good cause. So thanks to all those of you that supported the ride and I will commit to do it later in the year when my back stops giving me trouble. I will be offering a donation to compensate the charity. In case, if any of you had forgotten what the charity is about take a look at their website. So to recuperate, I took off to visit friends in their farmhouse in the South of France near Carcassonne with 10 others. The weather was fantastic and the company even better, so I spent a few days resting my back, chewing the cud, drinking and eating in wonderful surroundings. So it was a nice way to sort my back out and feel a bit pampered by friends. A big thanks to Janie for hosting the event and for making the time spent in Le Puget so magical.

So feeling recovered and my pride less dented, I attended a conference organised by the South Anglia Housing Association. Now how good a gig was this, a job in my home town of Southend-on-Sea. My mum was pleased to have me around for a day, but not as much as my nephew, Oscar. The job was on Friday night and it was the British summer at its best. I can't remember the last time I was sunbathing on Southend Beach. I drove down early and met my mum, sister and her husband for lunch - they had just returned from Cancun in Mexico all tanned and relaxed. We had lunch at the Ocean Beach restaurant on the sea front in Thorpe Bay. It sits on the beach and is great when the tide is in (or when the estuary is flooded). After catching up on the holiday gossip, Cancun was a little too lively for my sister and husband although I could have told them that......I went to pick up my nephew Oscar from school.

He had no idea I was coming and I met him at the gates. He was so happy to see me but not as happy as I was. We drove to the beach hut my sister owns and spent the afternoon skimming stones across the water and building sandcastles (which Oscar destroyed). It was great fun and I got to spend some quality time with the little man. Enough play and off to work. I was invited to give a short talk to the delegates at the South Anglia Housing Community Spirit awards at the Park Inn Hotel and hand out awards. I just love doing these events as you get to meet the unsung heroes of local communities who just do that little bit more in their everyday jobs to make life in communities that much better. As ever the winners were very inspirational and it was great to be part of their evening. And the weather just kept on coming.

The next few days were fantastic and you can see that everyone was surprised and delighted by the last burst of summer. Although I had to feel sorry for all those school kids going back to school when the sun is shining. I can still remember how depressing that can feel. On Sunday I went to see my agent Gavin Myall of Roost London moving into his new work space in Hampstead. Great space, but the usual chaos of upheaval so I brought cake and encouragement, but it didn't extend to helping unpack. But they were doing sterling work and apart from being shouted out by a neighbour who complained about my parking in his space, it was a nice afternoon!

Now this was a strange experience. I booked into a hotel in the Cotswolds on Sunday night as I had to be in Solihull on Monday, so I thought I would treat myself to a day out. I stopped off at a pub in Chipping Norton for lunch which was nice, friendly and full of dogs. I love the Cotswolds and after having spent all year in London, it was great to slow down in the sleepy towns and villages. The sun was out and I sat in outside eating a salad and having a beer even though it was October! It was then a slow drive to the hotel, to relax and find a TV where I could watch the North London derby, Spurs v Arsenal. It was a great game, end to end action, fast football and it could have gone either way. Spurs ended out on top 2-1, but a great example for the game and no rants to the ref which makes a change. Although I have to say I was pretty appalled by the chanting on both sides. Come on guys I thought that sort of attitude had long been kicked out of football. I hope both teams take effective action against such antics in the future. It really does the game a disservice.

So to the hotel; Walton Hall is a 19th century country mansion at Walton, near Wellesbourne. It was once owned by the late entertainer Danny La Rue, but now is used as a hotel. The Manor of Walton was owned by the Lestrange family from the 15th century and it really is a stunning place in beautiful grounds. There was a wedding taking place and I was spotted and invited to the party afterwards, but after Strictly, I usually give the dance floor a wide berth! Well I have made a decision never to dance without my dance partner Camilla Sacre-Dallerup who always makes me look better than I am. Or at least a few glasses of pop which makes me think I'm better than I am! So back in the room I decided to order room service, the papers and watch TV. Well I say room service. Has anyone stayed in a hotel, where you can order room service, but have to pick it up from reception? They said it was policy not to deliver my meal to that part of the hotel! But when I asked for extra ketchup and extra milk, they brought it over. How bizarre! Oh well, it wasn’t all doom and gloom; the room was big and cosy and I got a great night’s sleep. And the next day the sun still shone. Have a good weekend.