Oh what a week indeed, I don’t know what it is with 2016 but I’ve so much to share with you already, so you’ll need to bring your mega mug of coffee again…got it?  Good lets roll……..

M.E has me well and truly floored right now which is mightily frustrating because I was meant to be having a Choff  ( Chat over coffee) with Watfords very own Gary Anderson, Performance Director & Olympic team leader for the Great British Bobsleigh Team…try saying that without your teeth in?    He was fresh off the plane from Zurich, having been in St Moritz Switzerland over the weekend where the nation’s best young female bobsledders finished the qualifying races for next month’s Winter Youth Olympics at No1, 2 and 3 in the world.  But Gary still graciously did the interview with me online so that I could share the news and photos with you for todays Column.                 Watford Observer:

So, firstly Congratulations to you & the team Gary, I don’t think I can recall ever seeing three Brits on a podium?

“Or any country, in any sport, at whatever level be it junior or senior it is a very rare event and one that we are justifiably proud. It's the athletes that deserve the credit, they are the ones who day in day out push themselves to achieve, if I can contribute positively in any way in that process then that is my job.

My satisfaction last weekend was seeing the three Union flags being raised, the national anthem ringing out but more than anything the three smiling faces of young athletes proudly clutching their trophies. Yes inside I admit I was emotional but I was also having a small giggling fit from seeing the race directors frantically searching for a third Union Flag to hoist, they only had two, but being the ever resourceful plucky Brits we are we carry one with us (and the National Anthem on a CD just in case !) "                    Watford Observer:

          

What made you get into sport, It’s many a young persons dream, but very few achieve it?

"I think it was my childhood and young adult life being dominated by sport,  I was very lucky to be supported by family, teachers and encouraged to follow my passions. As an athlete in whatever sport I chose I wanted to be the best I could be,  but circumstance, injury and my own poor choices prevented me from reaching the heights that I work in now, so I am very grateful for the way everything has turned out. I have been very privileged to work in professional sport and to have attended both summer and winter Olympic Games as a team manager and a Performance Director. I describe my career as a lifestyle not a job. Sometimes that puts pressure on other areas of my life, I am conscious of that and try very hard to get a balance, I don't always get it right and I am not proud of that"Watford Observer:

 

As someone who’s into Mantras and philosophy I enjoyed reading some of yours, where do they come from?

"Mostly stolen from other people lol!  I often adapt them though and if I can't I credit people, if I can remember who they are .  The very simple mantra that I try and teach athletes and people that work for me is "crap happens , life is not fair and the goalposts do move" that is usually followed up with "Adversity is the true test of character" - I often think isn't everything in life about overcoming something to get an outcome you desire ? In my world there are heaps and bundles of emotion, that's why we all love sport and competition, but as a Performance Director I have to detach from that and be able to make decisions that are logical and without emotion"

            Watford Observer:

That's why I enjoy being a fan of Watford Football Club, from 1968 when I had my first season ticket to now, I can sit in the main stand and show emotion without consequence,  I can leave that bit to Sheriff Flores at the moment. During competition I work closely with a psychologist who has a great knack of predicting my reactions and will use settling word or actions to give me a thought check. She tells me to "helicopter" remove myself from the emotive arena and survey the landscape from above to make an informed decision. Sometimes that can be seen as cold and calculated some would say ruthless, but I try and assure that any call that's made is made judiciously and as compassionately as possible.                         Watford Observer:

You’ve been credited with turning the sport around, before you took over, Britain were ranked 38th & now the mens four man bob team are ranked 5th,  that’s some achievement?

“Ha ! Yes we are in a better place now - I call it our Performance Trajectory. We are still not where we need to be that will be achieved when an Olympic Gold Medal is hung around the athletes neck. It's been a process, often a very difficult one. It's true when I say in my first six months in the job I thought about resigning every day. Things are much improved now as I only think about it twice a week. I have built a very strong team of staff around the programme with simple but clear standards, if everyone buys into that we can achieve great things”

                     Watford Observer:

Who’s your sporting hero and why?

“I have loads of people I admire in sport for many different reasons. Anyone who repeats great results over and over has my admiration, I call them dynasty winners and I love forensically dissecting exactly the process they go through to achieve,  what that has taught me is that there is no one secret method. I also love observing coaching behaviour I am often caught watching the managers and coaches on the side-lines rather than the field of play, their mannerisms and actions fascinate me. I haven't answered the question have I ?”    Watford Observer:

Whats next?

“Next? - a flight back to St Moritz, tough gig eh ? This is for the European Championships then just a short trip to Innsbruck for the 2016 World Championships all stepping stones to the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea”

If you want to follow the Bobsleigh team its:  http://www.thebbsa.co.uk/

And Gary says his happy for people to follow his Twitter account but be prepared for tweets on Coffee, Watford Fc  & University challenge https://twitter.com/coachga

Gizmo/Gadget/Gift of the week, calling all Geeks, from a Union Jack Tardis Hoodie, to a Medieval knight hoodie you’ll find them all and other wonderful stuff at ThinkGeek  it’s an American site but well worth a look for something different. The hoodies pictured range in price from $39.99  to  $79.99  http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/hoodies/

                      Watford Observer:

Moving on with Balls, but not just any balls, these are light changing glow balls, that can decorate any room, and can even float on water,  usually £3.99 for one, there’s a special deal of three for £7.50   They’re from Paramountzone   https://www.paramountzone.com/mbubble.htm                     Watford Observer:

In M.E news, apart from me being floored which isn’t really news at all, more of a permanent way of life. The Lets Do It For ME team have been busy as usual launching  “Walk For ME” in preparation for ME awareness week which will run between  9th   -  15th of May . So if you’d like to show some support by a sponsored Walk?  Run? Hop? Skip? Or Jump? There’s plenty of time to get organised & do it with friends, work colleagues, school mates?  Or maybe you just want to do a walk with your faithful pet?  Although could I just point out that if that pet just happens to be a python then it’s probably not a good idea?  Gold fish could be a problem too?…….. http://ldifme.org/walk-for-me-2016/         Watford Observer:

I couldn’t write this weeks Column without a farewell to the legendary David Bowie. It was my brother who first introduced me and my sister to his lyrical genius, although at the ages of 5 and 9 the only one we could really appreciate was The Laughing Gnome.  I’ll never forget when my brother, inspired by this pale skinny  rebel kicking down all boundaries from music to fashion got into trouble for painting his bedroom walls tomato red and the ceiling jet black , it took my poor father numerous coats to get the ceiling white again. David Bowie was like no other, he wrote far too many brilliant songs to mention and his last offering Darkstar is no different,. The ten minute video to accompany the opening title left me thinking “What the….???” & then I watched it again….& again because that was the magic that was David Bowie and what a legacy this London boy has left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kszLwBaC4Sw

                      Watford Observer:

Earlier this week there was a knock on the door, & there stood Watford Singer/Songwriter Mr Tom Craven, I’m used to seeing Mr Tom Craven in the virtual flesh on Facebook and not on my doorstep, so there was a momentary dumb faced look…me not him, before he thrust an envelope into my hand and explained that the Music raiser campaign he started up last year in the hope of raising enough to take his E.P “In Rivers“ to Vinyl and go on tour had been successful, so he was personally going round to those who'd  supported it to say thanks and give them their package.... Hurrah!  Another local lad done good, always gives me a warm N fuzzy to end on a positive note ,

Watford Observer:

if you want to  listen/follow Tom then check out Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tomcraven

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomcraven      

Spotify: https://player.spotify.com/artist/49R8Qd6qVVfsScXMT2TLMO

                                   Til Next Week, Stay Blessed

                                         Back Before Elvis x

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