The Deloitte Sports Awards Dinner

Hi,

Sorry it's so long since my last blog, I'm just not skilled in this new fangled social networking!

Anyway, Sports Awards is now less than a week away and it promises to be a spectacular! Sports Committee have been working incredibly hard to make it a truely memorable event. The last few tickets are still available, but get them quickly!!! Your £25 will get you a three-course meal, wine and entry to Juice.

It will be great to recognise the hard work of so many of you over the year so I urge you all, especially those collecting an award, to get yourselves down there!

Mark

Sabadee from Laos

Hey,

I'm still on holiday and now headed into the beautiful Laos.

My first two days were spent on the slow boat down the Mekong. We sailed from Chang Kong to Luang Prabang. On our way we were stopped off at a small sailing village, and saw the real Laos. We saw the locals making a fishing boat, it was amazing to see how skillful and how resourceful they can be. We also got to taste some freshly distilled Rice wine, that was hot not only from distillation, but gave a warming sensation all the way down, probably as we had the first batch which is around 40-70% proof.

I've spent a day trekking through the jungle. High peaks will be proud of me, I only fell over twice (and thanks to monsoon rain got covered in mud! Washing the clay off took ages, but we finished at a spectacular waterfall.

The next day was spent kayaking down the Mekong. Nice and strenuous, I'd forgotten how little exercise I've done lately, feels like a year since I've been at the S10 gym! But had a relaxing massage afterwards, so relaxing in fact I might have accidentally fallen asleep - ooops! The Laotian massaging me had a good giggle at that!

Oh, and carrying on the sports theme we went tenpin bowling, where I managed to win, but with only 98 and 110, slightly with my tail between my legs. Maybe I'll get back to the 150's soon.

All in all Laos has been really fun. We've had pretty good weather for the rainy season, only a few monsoon rains, and the people here are amazingly friendly. Most of them have better English than me.

Wish you were here?

See you all soon!

Mark

Just across the border..

Hey,

As some of you know I'm away on holiday in the Far East, so I thought I'd fill you in on what I'm up to.

Arrived in Bangkok on Monday. Stiflingly hot, and incredibly smoggy, but it's a place you have to visit. Met up with my tour group, theres eight of us, two English, three Canadian and three Aussies. Went to see the reclining Buddha, which is an awesome sight, its so huge.

From Bangkok we travelled by overnight train up to Chang Mai, were I went to watch some proper Thai boxing. Some of them were top notch fights, and the locals go mental supporting and betting on them. Following that three of us did the obligatory Sangsom wiskey buckets. Those of you who've ever been will know what I'm talking about, I'm still not feeling 100% after it!

Anyway, I'm now sat about 500m from the border with Laos, in Chang Mekong. We head across in the morning.

Wish you were here...

Mark

[Oh, and I've tried to be good, relax and not constantly check my work e-mails. Only checked them three times... You can take Mark out of work, but you can't take the work out of Mark]

Staying out for the Summer

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer, it looks like it may have finally arrived!

As ever it looks like England are underachieving at Sports, not the biggest surprise in the world. Back here in Club Sport myself and Andy are gearing up for a year in which our achievements will completely > eclipse anything thats ever happened before.

It's an exciting year ahead. Varsity and Winter Varsity; where Sheffield Uni pits itself against our neighbours Hallam; and the Sports Awards Dinner; the formal event of the year; are already in place. And it's now barely a month until the Sports Fair, the opportunity to sign up to 48 clubs, from Archery to American Football, Tennis to Ten Pin Bowling.

I hope you're all looking forward to this as much as I am, it'll be a year not to miss!

See you there!

Mark