Back To My Youth.

Hi Tom

Glad you had a good flight back. Shame your not liking the art...never was a strong point. The history sounds great though. Work hard.

I went to Crystal Palace this afternoon. I haven't been there since I was competing in my swimming competitions as a teenager. Boy did it bring back memories. I remember swimming in the Southern Counties for the first time there, I looked at the length of the pool and didn't think id make it, let alone two of them. But obviously I did. I did so well I got picked to swim for the Southern Counties.

I also remember staying in the hostel on courses for either my Essex team or the Southern team. There was one time we were sharing the hostel with the Olympic boxing team. They were so nice....even when I got stuck in the lift with some of them! They made it less frightening for me.

I saw the running track that I had to run around as part of my training. I have seen a lot of the British athletes of that time training there too.

Lots of memories came flooding back...all really lovely ones. That's what your doing right now....making lots of wonderful memories to come flooding back when your old like me!

Getting there was a nightmare though and I doubt I'll be doing that again for quite some time. X