Final Footnotes From France

All too soon my French idyll has come to a close.  The time has gone by like a rocket, but I am very happy with the progress I have made, what I have achieved this week.  In glorious surroundings, looked after by such good friends, I have managed to gather myself, get a grip on the job at hand, and quite simply, write.  I was really quite daunted at the beginning – a wee bit anxious about the files and files of information and the challenge to quite literally recommence the process of putting one word after another, but even though I have miles, or rather pages and pages to go, I have sat this week and used the research materials to slowly create text, and I have really enjoyed it.  Also, because I have been chasing after Marathon information for such a long time now, I am noticing and recognising inaccuracies in the various books and articles I have gathered – I suppose everyone uses a little artistic licence when telling stories, especially if the story is being told by someone who witnessed events first hand, negotiated a publishing deal, and therefore had to craft an exciting eye-witness account into chapters on the page!

Writing this, my head is still full of the Olympic Opening Ceremony from last night.  As France is an hour ahead, it meant staying up well past my bedtime, but what a fantastic spectacle!  I confess I was quite relieved when all those Mary Poppins floated down and saved everyone from the Dementors, I must say, and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron was spectacular.  Also, as I had been writing about the Red Arrows earlier in the day (one of the Marathon teams consisted of three Red Arrows pilots), it felt rather fitting to see them fly over head, the red, white and blue trails cutting a dash across the Olympic sky. I can’t wait to hear how it was to witness it all first hand, to actually be there in the stadium.  Rob’s many text’s during the evening were filled with sheer excitement - as he said, it was all “just dream come true stuff”.

Well, as I write I will shortly need to pack up all my bits and pieces and journey back to Gloucestershire.  Do I have much more to do with my Marathon story?  Good grief, yes!  Have I ‘broken its back? Yes again.  I’m indebted to my friends here and am very grateful to know that I have a place to come if I need to get my head down and work.

 It’s been a wonderful week.