Greetings ….

Well, it's over. It turned out to be a day of two halves. Or maybe three ….

The morning wasn't the best. Everything going fine to begin with. Up on time. Gail was up as well and made me two cups of tea and three slices of toast. Then off to Glasgow. Problem no.1 was realising that I didn't have the postcode for the "Fleet Transport Depot". It wasn't a great help that I knew it was in South Street because I had umpteen to choose from. But I eventually made it and found out that I'd been allocated to the red team today. Needless to say, all the other members of red team had made it on time, had been briefed and had gone. When I eventually got to my car [Bravo 147] I knew I should have paid far more attention to the training. There I was with a car, a plastic envelope with various bits and pieces of paperwork inside and a radio. But with little idea of what I needed to do next and in the absence of anyone else to look at, several Traffic Marshalls looking at me. One of them eventually took pity on me and came over to put me out of my misery. Including the memorable words "Make sure your radio works". I'd forgotten about that little treat. I spent the entire day with an earpiece in and a microphone clipped to my collar. Thinking that tomorrow I might try clipping it to my sleeve so I can hold up my arm and talk to control that way like they do in FBI films. I know I should be bigger than that but I'm afraid I'm not.

Then there was the bloody satnav. Could I get it to work? Of course I couldn't; far too high tech. I was faced with the choice of either [a] humiliating myself even more in front of the Traffic Marshalls who were still staring or [b] pretending everything was fine and sort it out somewhere else. You won't be surprised to know that I went for [b]. The solution was quite simple really. I just drove to where I'd parked my car and got the satnav out of it. The sun started shining and birds started singing at that point.

Then off to the Athletes' Village. To join the other 15 or so cars who were waiting for an athlete to appear. Three hours later, only two or three had wandered through and it was quiet quiet quiet. By then, I'd worked out how to use the satnav and had eaten my lunch. Faced with the prospect of sitting there for another five hours doing nothing thought I'd speak to control. "Control control. This is Bravo 147. Over". I said it was very quiet and asked if they would mind if I just went for a drive around all the venues to learn the routes. "That's fine Bravo 147. Just let us know where you are in case we need you back. Out". And that's how I spent the rest of the afternoon. Just driving round all of the different venues and telling control where I was off to next. Great fun! I finished up back at the Athletes' Village where it was still just as quiet as before.

Some Clydesiders were becoming a bit agitated at the lack of activity. But my cup's always at least ¾ full and I didn't see it as a wasted day at all. Quite the opposite in fact. I hadn't got anyone lost. No-one had been late in arriving anywhere. I hadn't missed picking anyone up. Bit of a result in my book. All a matter of perspective I suppose.

Let's hope tomorrow's just as successful. Watch this space …..