Your sensationally sporty Heyday Friday newsletter

Reflections on the Olympics, how I'd fare if cleaning was a sport, a doggedly determined video star, and a Heydayer who became passionate about a new sport in her 60s, in this week's newsletter

Aug 09, 2024

Hello from the spot on my sofa I’ve occupied almost constantly since July 26th

That, of course, was the day of the wildly ambitious, memorably rain-sodden, at times baffling, opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. These games come to an end on Sunday, then the Paralympics start on Aug 28th, so my sofa will get a short break from my bum. And I’ll get time to recover from all the excitement, drama, finger-chewing tension, amazement and heart-ache of watching the world’s greatest athletes competing in world’s greatest sporting event, before starting it all, all over again.

There’s so much to be captivated and engrossed by about the Olympics that goes above and beyond the sports themselves. Indeed, I’d argue that you don’t actually need to be interested in sport at all to enjoy the games. I explain why in this week’s blog, and share all the reasons why I absolutely love absolutely everything about the Olympics. CLICK HERE to find out what those are. Do you feel the same, I wonder?

I can’t resist keeping the sporting theme going, so here are some

WORDS OF WISDOM

which also echo a theme in THIS WEEK’S BLOG, from one of our all-time great athletes and the man responsible for delivering the magical Olympic Games in London in 2012, Lord Sebastian Coe.

SMART SAVE TIP OF THE WEEK

If cleaning was an Olympic sport I’d undoubtedly fail to even qualify in it. Whilst I approach cleaning with a degree of determination, I’m afraid I quickly lose focus and interest, which is why I’ve learnt to do it only in short bursts rather than sustained periods.

However, I do find it fantastically satisfying when a) something looks markedly better after I’ve cleaned it and b) that result has been achieved with natural products that haven’t harmed the environment in the process. Cleaning the filter in my extractor has always been one of my least favourite jobs (slightly behind the inside of my oven, please don’t judge me), but this has proved to be one of the most effective ways of getting the grease and grime out of it. (Image is for illustration purposes - I’ve never actually let mine get that bad, just to be clear!)

In a bowl, mix together a generous tablespoon of washing up liquid (ideally the eco-friendly kind), with the same amount of salt and baking soda. Add enough water to make a thickish solution then scrub it into the filter and rinse off. It’s that simple. And doesn’t even take long enough to do to lose focus. Perfect.

WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK

Determination and single-mindedness are hallmarks of all successful athletes. And the four-legged star of this week’s video helping of good cheer.

Passing the baton back to Sebastian Coe for a

FRIDAY FUNNY

which co-incidentally (not) also picks up on something from THIS WEEK’S BLOG about how people get involved in sport.

THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN……

as you might have guessed, that’d be endlessly watching the Olympics, so there hasn’t been much - for which read, any - time for anything else. Instead I’ll invite you to read about Heydayer Pam, who discovered a life-changing passion for a new sport after she stepped away from a 30 year career running her own business.

Discover what the sport is and why Pam, who admits that from childhood she had struggled to maintain any interest in exercise or to do it consistently, says now she would be bereft without it, by CLICKING HERE

That’s it for this week, other than for me to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all of you who took the time and trouble to respond to last week’s newsletter and to reassure me that I haven’t fallen out of favour with you. Phew! I know I keep saying it, but you are the loveliest bunch and I feel enormously grateful to have you in this Heyday gang and to be able to serve up these weekly helpings of joy, inspiration and information to you all.

Feel free to keep on clicking on that little ‘like’ heart and to chat to me and each other in the comments. I’d love to know if you’ve been watching the Olympics as avidly as I have and if so, what your favourite sporting moments have been from these Games.

See you next time