Je vais à Paris pour les Jeux Paralympiques

 (I am going to Paris for the Paralympic Games)

My notebook is ready to help record my daily musings. 

Those of you who know me well, know how indecisive I get about accepting volunteer roles and this time was no different. 

I think various factors at home made me hesitate this time, and while I always accept the roles and proceed as if I am going, my thought processes are usually very much in turmoil. This time seemed even more so than the agony I put myself through before Rio.

So.... Paris 2024 will be my 3rd Paralympic Games eight years after having been to Rio and 12 years after London. So much has happened during those years between.

Volunteering has taken me around the world on my "holidays with purpose" and this time I'm heading to the French Capital to support the sitting volleyball at the North Paris Arena and to support the road events (triathlon and marathon)

I'm not yet too excited about it all, there's still much to sort at home and work before I go, but next week I'll be on a plane for the short hop from Southampton to Charles de Gaulle airport.  That's when it all becomes real, and exciting (I hope, or it'll be a long 2 weeks 😉 )

My French is rusty even with the help of the duolingo app, my ageing brain struggling to remember what my youthful brain used to have no trouble with. I'm sure it'll be fine. (I've watched Only Fools and Horses so I'm sure I can wing it)

So, yet again I'll try to document my adventures as much as I can, more for myself than anyone else, but please do follow along as another adventure begins.

We have a local paralympic hero, so here's wishing all Team GB great success including Aaron Phipps and the wheelchair rugby team.

 I also made friends some 10 years ago with a young lady who was aspiring to be a Paralympic Archer. She won a Silver medal in Rio and while I missed seeing that team event, I did see her compete in the individual rounds. Wishing Jodie Grinham the very best in the archery and I'm really hoping I can find a last minute ticket to watch her compete and catch up again. 

After all my concerns for Rio, it turned out to be a fabulous experience.  I am sure Paris will be exactly the same, great competition, making great new friends and enjoying another experience of a lifetime.

Commence les Jeux. Je suis prêt 😍

(Start the games. I'm ready)