Made in Britain...

Just over six weeks ago we  waited with anticipation and now it has  finished, but what a time was had by all! I visited London twice over the Olympic period and it was a London I did not recognise, not my London, the London I lived in and commuted to where no one looked you in the eye, where each person had a bubble around them that could not be penetrated. No, this new London had people talking on the tube, ice lollies handed out at main line stations, people with foam hands saying 'welcome' 'have a wonderful day' there were others telling you where to go, trains to be got on without tickets being checked and locals setting up tables with cups of water  for the passing crowds. Oh London I have never seen you so joyous or quite so full of life. 

The Olympics were amazing but the Paralympics well they were society changing. I was lucky enough to take my youngest daughter to Greenwich on the first day of eventing, what a humbling experience that was. As each competitor came out the commentator gave a brief description of their disability, their life and circumstances. As the morning progressed, despite the torrential rain, I felt myself changing, my problems seemed insignificant compared to a surgeon who, due to illness, was  paralysed and whose fingers were too numb to hold a scalpel. Or another young woman who, was once a stunt rider, after a hay bale falling on her back was now a paraplegic....I could go on...but you get the picture. Metaphorically they all just got up and got on with it...and on it went....and I ended up realising, I really just need to shut up, because I can get up and run and walk and not have to rely on anyone else. But over the next fortnight came the society changing bit, we have all realised  watching paraolympians they are amazing, and daring and just damn good sportsmen who we can watch and enjoy as much as any other sport. It has shown us that not to be an inclusive society it unacceptable. Everybody is different and everybody is the same and acceptance of this is the legacy of this summer of Olympics then as Seb Coe said we can all be proud to look on the bottom and read 'Made in Great Britain'