Olympic Games - Barcelona 1992 #TimeTraveller

This is me aged 21 with my 2 month old first born child, who has never forgiven me for abandoning him at such a young age to leave him for a week and travel to Barcelona to watch the Games of the 25th Olympiad.

I won a trip for 2 to the Olympic Games, all travel, accommodation, tickets and luggage in The Daily Express newspaper. All I had to do was identify 5 athletes over the week and send my answer 'on the back of a postcard'

I am a huge athletics fan and this was a dream come true for me. I'd given up my dream of competing around the age of 12 and now with a new baby and only a few weeks before the games started I assumed that this was another dream that was over.....until I got the phone call.

Arriving at Heathrow there was a little bit of publicity, interview and photo's before boarding the flight and arriving at our hotel in Sitges.

Flowers and champagne awaited us and that evening we got to meet the other competition winners. Everyone else had won via various other methods, including one man who opened a mars bar to see on the wrapper 'you've won tickets for 2 to the Olympic games'

We travelled round the venues in a group, we had dinner together and transport laid on into Barcelona in the evenings so we could explore the city.

For me these Olympics were the greatest games ever and although the stadiums and ceremonies have got bigger and better, nothing will ever take away from me seeing Germany compete as one country after the Berlin Wall came down. Hearing all the new country names after the Iron Curtain and wondering how these names were pronounced. Recognising international athletes who I knew as coming from the USSR yet not existing as an entity anymore. Supporting South Africa compete in International sport for the first time during Apartheid, if a spectator didn't have a countryman in that event you can guarantee if South Africa were represented they supported them.

We took part in the then largest and longest Mexican wave at the swimming events, boo'd Ben Johnson on his return to the sport after his drug's ban. Screamed ourselves hoarse at Linford Christie in the 100m's and travelled to the hockey and the rowing events and stood in silence when medals were given and national anthems played.

I had the most amazing holiday of a lifetime, one I talk about often and I would love to revisit Barcelona one day. Some of the world's greatest athletes competed at those games and went on to be some of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen and i am proud to have been there.

Week 32 - My Sunday Photo. Petit Spa L'Occitane

This isn't a sponsored post for Petit Spa L'Occitane but I did win vouchers with The Beach, Dubai on Instagram with #HappyGatherings during Eid.

I've never been one for Spa days/treatments although I've had a few massage treatments over the years, but they've either been gifts or for reviewing purposes.

I'm letting the side down a little as an expat woman, I know you all think that's all I do now I'm living in Dubai, you're more likely to find me gardening, sewing, swimming or walking than finding me in a spa or even a hairdressers and yes, I do like to get my nails done, but after bad experience involving a nail file (my nails are still recovering) and with the gardening I now do, it seems a pointless exercise.

I arrived 10 minutes early at Petit Spa L'Occitane and was introduced to Tina the therapist who asked me a brief general history of what brought me there today, what my expectations were and asked me to complete a form with preferences and medical history.

After showing me into the therapy room, with scented candles and soft music, she pointed to a little box where I could leave my jewellery and asked me to undress and put the robe on. I was offered a pair of paper panties to protect my own, but seeing as mine were £1 from Primark I didn't see the need.

I had booked for a 45 minutes back and neck massage, which surprisingly started with a foot soak and massage. She then asked me to do a breathing exercise and said I wasn't to focus on my breathing and just relax. It took me a good 10 minutes to stop thinking about my breathing.

The back and neck massage were wonderful, I drifted in and out of sleep for the next 45 minutes, she focused on my shoulders where she could feel the tension and my lower back after I slipped 3 discs earlier this year. She also massaged down my legs and arms.

Unlike other massages I've had, Tina didn't make me jump or startle me at all, she kept one hand on my body at all times, even when moving from the neck to the legs and several times checked that the firm pressure was ok.

Finishing off with a foot massage or so I thought then asked me to turn onto my back for a head massage, which was simply divine.

After dressing Tina made me a cup of green tea and provided some dried fruit and nuts and advised I drank plenty of liquids for the rest of the day and to keep my shoulders warm from the air conditioning.

I had to add 50 AED to the 200 AED voucher and I was asked if I would be in again, but no pressure was put on me to make another appointment and I wasn't pressurised into buying anything either.

I will return in a couple of months as I thoroughly enjoyed the morning and I finished my morning off with Pancakes, fruit and tea at Big Chefs Cafe.

If in the meantime anyone else thinks their massage and customer service can top that, I'd be happy to  try them out.

My Sunday Photo - Week 30

Last weeks My Sunday Photo was an entry on an Instagram competition for The Beach #HappyGatherings.

Today I went to collect my AED 1000 prize which consists of 5 x AED 200 vouchers for meals and beauty treatments.

The vouchers are valid for a year and having checked the restaurants and spa online I can get 2 for the price of 1. There is no minimum spend required and as we are always looking for new places to go, this is a fantastic win as we love eating out and exploring new places.