joining in with team GB?

We’re in the lull between the surprisingly wonderful Olympics and the bound to be awesome Paralympics. BBC coverage was fabulous. Channel 4 (the Paralympic broadcasters) have their work cut out- our expectations are high. For the TV that is, we don’t know much about the athletes. Which says a lot- another post begins to brew, but you get the picture.

Anyway, all this Team GB stuff? There were local folk competing, and even winning medals. Not all for Team GB- two Belfast boxers won medals for Ireland.That’s the issue: a lot of people in this soggy corner of the United Kingdom do not regard themselves as British. I don’t. I live within the UK, but I’m Irish. I live in Ireland. Confused yet?

Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, but not part of GB. BBC local journalists made reference to Team GB and NI, but nobody else did. Why not Team UK?

The regular reader may remember that flags make me uncomfortable. I find the happy jolly party atmosphere currently created by wide displays of the Union Flag a bit weird, but I know that’s me and my issue.

In June Spurs Fan had great fun as part of the Olympic torch relay in grey, wet, Banbridge. A month later, we were in his Essex home town when the torch arrived there. A more different day could not be imagined- sunshine, prettiness, pipe bands and, oh yes, flag waving. Nana, Grandad, Spurs Fan, Girl1 and Girl2 could all do that.

My version of joining in? I bought the buns…

our man with the torch

Oh, do I need to do words as well? I’m too tired to think, so consider me an impressionist…

Rain.

Crowds.

Overwhelming, unexpected, crowds.

Chaos.

Sharing.

Welcoming.

Panic.

Friends.

Laughing.

Tears.

Lots of pride, and no falling.

Flags.

Soggy feet.

Happy people.

running man

He’s not Dustin Hoffman. He’s not Eddie Izzard. He’s a torchbearer. Spurs Fan. Our Spurs Fan.

When I finally got the nomination reduced to 150 words it said, “Spurs Fan is a star, who’ll always go above and beyond what’s required, and whose contribution is often taken for granted. He has coached student and youth football in NI for 15 years. He works in West Belfast and coaches soccer and Gaelic football. An Englishman, Spurs Fan had to learn about Gaelic football in order to coach it. He worked hard; his teams progressed through leagues and won the top local primary school competition. A feature of Spurs Fan’s coaching is the encouragement to all to take part. The emphasis is on attitude towards sport and fair play. Keen to ensure that everyone has a change to participate in sport; Spurs Fan now coaches the junior girls’ teams of the local Gaelic club. I believe that Spurs Fan is a model of how sport builds connections and communities. He works to ensure that children get the opportunity to take part, have fun and achieve.”

It’s true, I was in gushy mode, but even that’s only half the story. There could have been hundreds of words about how he copes with chronic illness in the family, how he coped, and helped us all cope, with Herself’s terminal illness and its inevitable result.

Spurs Fan keeps us all on track. He provides the balance, coping with whatever chaos life throws at him. He makes sure we function. He never knows whether I’ll be happily ditsy, a buzzing loon who’s trying to do all the things, or unconcious and totally useless on the sofa. Whatever it is, he manages. There is food. The girls get nutrition, clean clothes and chauffered to their activities. He does all the driving. When I need to be somewhere, or am all distracted doing worthy things full of worthiness and angst, he makes sure everything at home gets done, and picks up the pieces when I get back.

This morning, the girls are making banners. There are texts and phone messages. Warm wishes from across the world. Nana and Grandad are here- nothing could have kept them from their wee boy’s moment.

That’s today. When we all get to support Spurs Fan during his moment in the sun (although rain is expected).

the very long weekend

This time, it’s more than a weekend. The UK and Ireland have a spring bank holiday on Monday, and the UK has an extra day off on Tuesday- all part of the events marking the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen.

For us though, it’s all about the torch run,