PLAYING THE CATCH UP GAME

      I was horrified to find that it was so very long ago since I added anything to my blog, but I have been very busy with trying to get the book in aid of the British Disabled Ski Team published, as well as a First Collection of my poetry in order that this, too, could see the light of day.  So many of my poems have been published in various Anthologies in this country and abroad, as well as in many magazines, but I have never had a Collection of Poetry published.            

      It is hard to believe that such an interesting book of advice to people today, given by the most famous personsalities from the world of politics, films, TV, sport, Royalty, radio and Paralympics, containing fabulous words, together with photographs of the skiers in training and competitions, including Paralympics, cannot find a kind publisher, who would sponsor its publication! Sadly, several of the contributors have died, since they were kind enough to answer my plea for contribution to this worthwhile cause. However, I believe, their contribution is now even more valuable.

      For instance, David Jacobs advised:  'Put something by for a rainy day. Remember, we live in a very wet country,'    And the wonderful Roy Castle telephoned me a few days before he died, to ask what would I like him to say.  I explained that it was up to him, perhaps the best advice he was ever
given.  His letter arrived the next day with this advice:"'My father used to say: 'A little help is worth a lot of pity.' "  How wise! Rachael Heyhoe-Flint advised: 'If you want something done, ask a busy person.'
   
      Quite a few people gave me the advice passed on to them by their fathers, but only Norman Wisdom said: 'My mother used to say .  .  .  '   It was interesting to read Princess Michael of Kent's information that her father used to make his children learn by heart Kipling's 'If'' poem.   The Duchess of York who, at one time was the patron of the team and occasionally skied with them, wrote a couple of pages of advice, as did Gyles Brandreth and  Martyn Lewis.  David and John Suchet both gave excellent advice, as did Stanley Unwin and Harry Secombe.

      I have tried numerous publishers, almost begging them to sponsor the printing of this book, in order to finance our Disabled Ski Team/Paralympic Ski Team but, after nearly ten years of collecting this advice and then trying to get it published, then often not even receiving a reply to my plea, I am really getting disheartened.

      When I first suggested this enormous task of writing to 300 famous people, with a lot of supporting information, everyone tried to dissuade me, saying that I would not get many replies. However, I managed to receive over 110 positive ones and thought that the sale of this book as a birthday, Christening or Christmas gift, would make a very good contribution to the training and competition funds for the Team.

      I'm sure many publishers enjoyed seeing our brave Paralympians taking part in the Summer Games last year in London.  I know we enjoyed seeing the valiant efforts of all, despite their handicaps.  It is because I saw the super human efforts of our Winter Paralympic Team, the brave skiers at Lillehanmer, Albertville and Salt Lake City Paralympics, some blind, spina bifida or
amputees, that I am going to make this year my last effort at attempting to get sponsorship for publication. 
                                    

                 

WILL THE SUCCESSFUL SUMMER GAMES LEAVE A LEGACY OF MORE PEOPLE TAKING UP SPORT AND CHANGE OUR VIEWS OF THE DISABLED

Nobody could fail to marvel at the courage and skill of the Paralympians who took part in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, in whatever sport, no matter which country they represented.

They were all brave athletes, who had usually devoted years of hard work and dedication to their particular chosen sport, in order to try to be the best in the world.  For instance, the gold medal winner, Bill Bailey, spent several months in China playing table tennis, usually about six hours a day, which prepared him well for winning his medal here in 2012.  I know that our swimmers, too, regularly get up at some unearthly hour daily, drive or be driven to a suitable pool, sometimes quite a distance away, several times a week, in order to train to be the best.  When these athletes happen to be schoolchildren or young students, they then attend to their studies or often have to put their dreams of higher education on hold, in order to achieve success in their chosen sport. 

Graham managed the British Disabled Ski Team/British Paralympic Ski Team, while I was Publicity Officer for NHSA (National Handicapped Skiers’ Association), the charity responsible for team training and, between the Winter Paralympic Games, for taking the team to various Championships, such as World and European.  Due to the advanced age of members of NHSA, as well as the closure of Harlow Ski Slope, NHSA passed on the responsibility for the British Disabled Ski Team to Disability Snowsport UK ( www.disabilsitysnowsport.org.uk/bdst ).

British Paralympic Association (BPA), formed in 1987, was responsible for the uniforms, travel, accommodation and entry fees for the Games.

I marvelled at the skill and training of all the members of the team, whatever their disability, and the courage with which they launched themselves down the same steep pistes as those used by able bodied competitors in the Olympics.  Until Dr Guttman, a refugee neuro-surgeon, came to Stoke Mandeville hospital and took over the care of badly wounded airmen with broken backs, they were drugged and left lying in hospital until they died.  He revolutionised their care and, despite opposition from other staff, even surgeons, had them up and exercising, culminating in the first Olympic style games for athletes with disabilities in Rome in 1960; these are considered to be the first Paralympic Games.

Due to Graham’s position as Hon Vice President of BPA, we were lucky enough to have been given tickets for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of these Games and we were very impressed by both, as well as all the attending sportsmen and sportswomen.  I was also very impressed by the Games Makers, the volunteers, who were always very cheerful, smiling, eager to help and wish everyone, at the end of the day, a cheerful ‘Good-bye and safe journey home!’  Graham was one of them for the Paralympic Games, where he was in Accreditation.  We didn’t even mind getting up at 5 am every day he was on duty, in order for him to catch the 6.10 train to London.

Having attended several Winter Paralympics in different countries, I’m used to hearing VIPs in their concluding speeches stating that ‘these Games have been the best ever’, but when Phil Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee said it on the last Sunday, I’m sure it really was true.  These Games have truly been inspirational. Many people have told me that they never expected to find that they would enjoy the Paralympics more than the Olympics and I believe them.  Other people have said that, whereas the number of children who used to come to a gymnastics club was usually 40, now about 170 turn up, anxious to start training.

Lord Coe stated in his concluding speech that these Olympic and Paralympic Games will leave a lasting legacy of inspiring people to take up sport from an early age and strive to become as good as possible and that everyone will in future change the way disabled people are viewed, particularly sportsmen and women, but consider them as athletes who happen to have a disability.  I believe that also to be true.    

                                               

BRITISH DISABLED SKI TEAM

It's hard to believe that I haven't added to my blog since we returned from Europe mid-July, but it's true. People have been heard to say that when one retires, one is even busier than when going to work full time. At the moment, I blame the number of emails I receive each day, many of which need answering or dealing with in other ways, the quickest being just forwarded to friends, particularly if they're very funny and not too rude.

The other reason I have not had time to write anything in the blog is the fact that I have tried again to find a sponsor for publication of the book I have been working on, at times, for a few years, to be published in aid of the British Disabled Ski Team which, I believe would make an ideal Christmas, birthday, christening or any other present.

A few years ago, while Graham managed the British Disabled Ski Team/Paralympic Ski Team and I was Publicity Officer for the charity NHSA (National Handicapped Skiers' Association), responsible for the team at that time, I realised that money was needed for training and equipment, in order to participate in World and European Championships, while the British Paralympic Association, which was established in 1987, provided the uniform and entry fees for the Paralympics. 

 

After much deliberation, I had the idea to write to very many famous people to ask them for their advice to people today, particularly young people, perhaps the best advice they were given. Everyone tried to dissuade me, saying people would not bother to reply, but I went ahead and was very pleased to receive over 100 replies, out of 300 letters I sent out.

I had wonderful advice from royalty, politicians, musicians, film and TV stars, sportsmen and women, comedians, newsreaders, writers like Alan Ayckbourn nearly all whom said it was a good idea and wished me well with this enterprise.  I also interviewed ordinary men and women at London and Manchester Ski Shows, our members and friends.  Sadly, some of the contributors, like Harry Secombe, Norman Wisdom, Kenny Everett, Screaming Lord Sutch, Henry Cooper, and others, have since died, but their contributions are all the more appreciated.  The Duchess of York, who had skied at Championships in Europe with Graham and the Team, sent a couple of pages of advice, Princess Michael of Kent said her father made all his children learn the poem IF by Kipling, David Jacobs advised: ‘Put something by for a rainy day, remember we live in a very wet country’, while Roy Castle said: ‘My father used to say: A little help is worth a lot of pity.’  The list of contributors reads like the directory of Who’s Who.    

The book is also illustrated with photographs of members of the team in training and at Championships and Paralympics Games and its title is NO SUMMIT TOO HIGH, from my poem of that name: 

                                                          Ski every mountain,
                                                          no summit too high,
                                                          no pinnacle beyond reach,
                                                          if you believe in it and try.  

                                                          We all have disabilities,
                                                          though some cannot be seen -
                                                          they could be purely ignorance
                                                          or merely that we’re mean! 

                                                          Our handicap matters not at all,
                                                          it’s our ability which shines,
                                                          treat us as equal to everyone,
                                                          just look beyond the outward signs.   

Due to the age and dwindling numbers of NHSA, as well as the closure of Harlow Ski slope, the charity passed on the responsibility for running the team to Disability Snowsport UK www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk/bdst, also a charity.

I had written a summary of a report on the Paralympic Games to go with this entry but,due to the vagaries off computers,lost the whole blog and had to start again, so have decided to do that another time.

HIGGS' BOZON AS A FAIRY STORY

Following the great announcement of discoveries by CERN in Switzerland a couple of weeks or so ago, apparently, The Guardian asked readers to write a story explaining the scientific discovery in simple terms. The Croatian popular newspaper, Vecernji List recounted the winning story, which I thought interesting, so I have translated it here as, I expect, it simplifies and makes much clearer sense than my meanderings in the last blog.  If some people find it boring, please forgive me. 

Once upon a time, a long time ago in a far away country, lived two families: Fermioni and Bozoni, who had a long running quarrel.  Fermionis, who made electrons, protons and quarks, everyone recognised by their dance, which was characterised by a half turn.  They were different from Bozonis who, in their dance, made full turns and didn’t like Fermionis, because they despised their half turns. 

To Bozonis belonged photons and gluons, but they were not alone.  It was said that they had a long lost older brother by the name of Higgs’ Bozon.  No-one had seen him for a long time and no-one knows how long the quarrel between the Fermioni and Bozoni families would have lasted, if it had not been stopped by a very clever man.  He came to their parts and said they need to end their quarrel.  He explained that once upon a time they were all the same and had no mass.  That’s how it was at the beginning of time when all of them fell into the, so called, Higgs’ field, which changed them and made them different; only photons stayed as they were. This mysterious field made Higgs’ Bozon, the long lost older brother of the Bozonis. 

The warring families did not want to hear about making up and peace as they did not want to believe in this story. Because of that, the old man decided to find Higgs’ Bozon and prove that he was right. To help him in this he asked the hardworking scientists at CERN. They proved that he was right. The only difference between the particles and Higgs’ particles, ie sub-atomic particles, is the fact that the latter acquire mass when passing through Higgs’ field. 

*     *     *     *

We are almost at the end of our ‘tour of duty’ and holiday, sadly.  We enjoy our work, as it involves meeting people and, sometimes (often), giving  them the benefit of our knowledge of familiar places, thus ensuring that they get the most of their holiday.  Teaching them essential phrases in pertinent languages also adds to their enjoyment.

Never has time passed so quickly as this year. 

Here, in Austria, while it’s almost constantly raining, we realise what everyone in England has been suffering, while we had unbroken sunshine.  It’s about 14 degrees C and it is very cold!

Important announcement from CERN

The daily newspapers here in Croatia, as I expect all the newspapers throughout the world, have been full of the exciting news emanating from Switzerland and the particle accelerator scientists/physicists. The only trouble I found was with the new Croatian words which were used to tell the world what it was they discovered. First of all, it was stated that they discovered God's 'cestica', then Higgs' bozon, yet I could not find anyone to tell me what a cestica or a bozon was. Once I read a very good explanation on Vecernji List's website, it all became clear and I was as excited as anyone. Even more the next day, when I read all about Prof Higgs, the 83 year old retired Professor of Physics at Edinburgh University who, many years ago, profecied the existence of Higgs' field containing bozons - sub-atomic particles, which acquire mass after passing through his field.
God's cestica are also particles found as a result of the millions of dollars spent on the Cern particle accelerator.

It was very interesting to read all about the modest Prof Higgs, who said he was thrilled that the confirmation of his theories has happened in his lifetime. He was a brilliant mathematician, as well as a talented physicist, who only used pencil and paper for all his calculations. Even nowadays, apparently, he does not possess either a computer or a mobile 'phone! I could not do without my computer, but am not particularly keen on mobile 'phones. It's hoped that Prof Higgs will be nominated for the Nobel prize for Physics.

An interesting development was also reported in the paper: Prof Stephen Hawking had, apparently, had a bet with an American scientist that the existence of Higgs' bozons (sub-atomic particles), will never be proved. There was a photograph of a smiling Prof Hawking, stating he was happy to lose the bet and pay one hundred dollars!

MAGICAL CONCERT AND OTHER MATTERS

How lucky for us that we arrived in Dubrovnik last week, in time for Sunday night's fabulous concert here in the camp!  I was so impressed by this magical evening, that I sent a review to the English Newspaper, Dubrovnik Times, which is published here locally every summer weekly or fortnightly.  They may or may not publish it, depending on whether their journalist or editor had penned a better one!  I also added some of it to Graham's blog, so people who read both blogs, please accept my apologies.

 

'Autocamp Solitudo must be congratulated on staging the final concert in  the series Ana u Gradu/Ana in Dubrovnik on Sunday, 24 June, featuring Croatian world famous violoncellist, Ana Rucner and her brother, Mario, as well as Srebrna Krila (Silver Wings), which included Ana's husband, Vlado Kalember This excellent group, which originally formed in 1978 and had great success with songs, such as 'Ana' and 'Tanja', disbanded, but reformed this year with the line-up: Kalember, Jelavic (guitar) and Pintaric (drums). Mario's unique, lively violin playing, particularly of the Greek Zorba's dance, had the audience enthusiastically clapping.'  (Although his playing reminded me very much of Stephan Grapelli, he, himself, also reminded me of Nigel Kennedy!) 

 

'Ana's virtuoso playing of well-known classical music, such as Khachaturian's Sabre Dance, Vivaldi's Summer from The Four Seasons, Ravel's Bolero, Offenbach's Barcarole, Beethoven's Ode to Joy (Oda Radosti), and many others, were given a modern classical rock twist, beautifully played and much appreciated by the large audience. Ana was accompanied by the Rucner Quartet, which included her parents, Snjezana and Dragan Rucner, Ivancerta Penic Defar and Ana Paula Knapic Frankovic and students of the Zagreb Academy of Music. Also accompanying Ana, was Maria Mlinar, Croatia's foremost harpist, who is an Associate Professor at the Zagreb Academy of Music. 

 

The concert was enthusiastically and ably conducted by Thomas Buritch.

 

This musical feast was also graced with Dubrovnik's own Klapa group, Subrenum, who sang one of their well known klapa songs. This group have won many prizes at the Omis Festival of Klapa. To add even more lustre to this musical extravaganza, Dubrovnik's Lindjo Folklore group also danced whilst Ana played her wonderful electric violoncello, which was presented to her by Yamaha a while ago.'

 

We were very lucky to have been given a special table high at the back, from which we could see the stage, as well as the two very  large screens either side, on one of which was a close up of Ana or the other performers and on the other typical scenes of Dubrovnik or other performances of similar music.  All this in a magical setting of trees lit up with coloured floodlights.  No wonder the audience clapped appreciatively every part of the concert.

 

As usual, we have loved every minute of our stay here: the quiet times when we have stayed near the caravan, the walks inspecting the changes and improvements to the camp, the hard work of the manager and staff, our days at the Tirena swimming pool and the afternoon and evening visits to Dubrovnik old town; also, the walk in Lapad and meals there, as well as Buffet Solitudo.

 

Just as every year, we have met charming people, with several of whom, I'm sure, we'll stay in touch.  I have often in the past said that, just as some people collect stamps or foreign coins, I seem to enjoy collecting friends for, after all, other people are just friends whom we have not yet met!  A good example of this are a young couple from Germany, whom we encountered in the camp just this morning, as we were replenishing the water tank in the van and they were getting ready to leave for somewhere on the coast.  We told them about Camp Galeb in Omis, as well as Radmanove Mlinice in the forest there and, as they wanted sea and sand, they decided to go there.  While we were talking, the wife gave me a Christian message with 'God loves you - Happy thoughts for today and tomorrow;' she also asked me if I knew what the fish pendant signified.  Of course, I told her that I knew and I also know that God loves me, as he saved me from death in Auschwitz when I was 13.  The lovely young woman cried and said it was her fault, etc.  She said the Bible states that the sins of the fathers will fall on the children.  Of course, I told her that it was not her fault, but only the fault of one madman, Hitler and his henchmen.  We parted friends and she gave me her address, if we ever came near them in Germany.          

THIS NOMADIC LIFE . . .

We have now been away from home for nearly a month, visited and inspected more than a dozen campsites in half a dozen European countries, spending between one and three nights in each and have loved every minute of our nomadic life.  In fact, I think I could get quite used to it, especially using the different languages in the various countries.

The one thing all the countries and campsites had in common, was the warmth of reception we had everywhere we arrived.  If we had been there before, we were greeted like dearest family, with hugs and kisses.  The warmth of our reception more than made up for the dreadful, constantly wet, cold weather we've had most of the time.

After inspecting several new to us sites in Italy and practising my almost forgotten Italian, we were in our familiar territories of Istria and Slovenia, both of which we have been visiting on and off for the past 30 or so years.  Here, of course, language flowed freely!  It is such a pity that more English
caravanners don't venture further afield to these beautiful and interesting places.  I have just read in a local newspaper that the Croatian capital, Zagreb, has had mostly German, American, Korean and Japanese visitors, yet  this metropolis has several best museums and art galleries in the world, a very interesting old upper town and its squares, parks, patisseries and cafes equal anything Paris has to offer.

We were sad that we could only spend one night in Ossiacher See, especially as it was their Golden anniversary, but we wanted to see Moravske Toplice, a Slovenian Spa belonging to the owners of Bled.  We marvelled at the size of it and enjoyed their facilities:  constant hot water everywhere, a very reasonable excellent restaurant for a midday meal and innumerable bathing pools everywhere.
A German lady told me that she and her husband had been coming here for four years, in order to improve her high blood pressure and his rheumatism.  Both have greatly improved.  However, I must mention that the pool which caused this improvement did smell vile and was black, due to healing minerals!

After leaving the above Spa, we had a brief, but very enjoyable stay in Hungary, at Napfeny camp on Lake Balaton on Saturday night.  This was followed by our meeting with the manager, Ildiko, who answered all our questions, in order that we could complete our forms.  While we were talking to her she mentioned that she was married the week before, on 2nd June 2012, to her boyfriend of nine years, Zoltan, and gave us her full present name.  He is a computer expert and very useful to know.

Although we wanted to leave soon, I also wanted the camp hairdresser to do my hair, as I was so impressed by her last year, so we went to see her.  She told me to come at 11 and it would only take 25 mins.  I went on time and Graham collected me exactly at 11.25.  She had washed, cut, blow dried and styled my hair, it looked lovely and only cost the equivalent of £9.
,
We left Napfeny at 12 for Terme Catez and arrived there just after 4 o'clock.  We were sure of our welcome there, as Toni had written to me saying it will be good to see us again.  We also arranged for my cousins Aldo and Sergio and their wives to come to visit us there, one pair in the morning and the other in the afternoon,  However, we interviewed Toni first, as he was going away.  Enjoyable, but very tiring day and looking forward to tomorrow, when we can be just like other people and enjoy the Winter Riviera pools for an hour or two, followed by sitting and reading, perhaps, in sunshine . . .

It rained all night in bucketsful and then most of the day, but we managed to spend a couple of hours in a warm pulsating pool, had lunch there, then sat in the van watching the rain.  Next day we were meeting my poetry and haiku friends for coffee at Plitvice Motel.  We met Djurdjica and Stjepan, whom we both love and consider best friends, but were also welcomed by the staff of the Motel, with some excellent news.  They were still upset that we were robbed there a few years ago and were thrilled that we were there to hear their news.  Slavica, head of reception and our friend, is now a director and has turned round the fortunes of the motel.  She introduced us to the charming Marketing Manager and told us that they now have a fence round the camp and night staff constantly watch the grounds.  We promised we would come and stay next year if we can - it would be so much easier and better to see family and friends there and be able to go to Zagreb,

After seeing Djurdjica and Stjepan and exchanging news and presents, on to Nova Gorica and meeting another two writers/poets colleagues, Sonja and Ivica and take them to lunch.  Unfortunately, Ivica's father had had a stroke, is in hospital, so only Sonja came,  We went to our usual restaurant in Velika Gorica, enjoyed lunch and seeing Sonja, who had recently won 1st prize in Spain for a short story - €1000.  It was an International competition.

This will do for now, as it's very late.  Good night everyody!