The House of Commons.

On Tuesday I visited Parliament with Results UK, the CEO of ADD International, and Matarr, a disability activist from the Gambia. We were there to lobby MP's on the vital issue of access to education for children with disabilities in developing countries, or, as the new terminology calls them, 'low income countries'. If children with disabilities in these countries can have access to education then poverty can be reduced, and we can ensure that talent is not lost and the human rights of individuals are protected. We spoke to 5 MP's, including the Minister for Disabled Persons, and urged them to attend 'An Equal Start for All:Disability and Education in Low Income Countries' to be held in Portcullis House on November 29th. Hopefully there will be a good turnout and we can really make a difference.

Teach Your Children Well.

The temperature seems to be dropping everyday, the leaves are falling from the trees, and we will soon be back to dark mornings and afternoons. This is the time of year when training is most difficult, and a soft African like myself feels the cold more than most. The other evening on the track it felt like the tips of my fingers were about to drop off! However, as an athlete if you put in the hard work and hours in the winter, you will be flying in the summer.
I've noticed that most of my blogs are about myself but just for once I want to say something about my son. I am so proud to be a mother. I remember growing up in Kenya as a disabled female and being told by doctors that I would never be able to have children. Now I look at my son and he gives me the most joy and I feel so fulfilled. He is intelligent, kind, caring but is the most untidy boy in the world! I suppose that's true of most boys of his age. I was so proud when he recorded the fastest speed in kicking a football in the whole of his school in the Speedmark Challenge competition, 52mph! Excellent for his age. Amazingly, on the same day he took part in a Tag Rugby Tournament with other local schools and scored six tries and got numerous tags. However, my proudest moment came when he asked to be substituted so his friend could take part in the game. That is what I call real team spirit.
Finally, I would like to congratulate all those athletes who were successful in winning Team Essex Ambassador Awards for 2012. It's a great scheme and will hopefully be rewarded with good performances in London2012.

Power to the People.

I have been watching the party conferences of Labour and the ConDems, whose marriage seems in dire need of counselling before it ends up in the divorce courts! Daddy Cameron says one thing whilst Mammy Clegg says another, and the children are all arguing amongst themselves and asking who is going to pay the university fees, and how will they be able to buy their own homes when they graduate up to their eyes in debt. Before they got married mammy was so caring and promised the children they could have free education and daddy had promised a fairer society where all the children were equal. As Oliver Hardy would say; 'That's another fine mess you've gotten us into'. As for Uncle Ed? In Kenya, where I grew up, when mammy and daddy were contradicting each other the uncle would come in to sort it out. However, growing up in Africa, I would never have had the freedom to say such things unless I had a strong desire to disappear! Thank God for Democracy.
I was very saddened last week to hear of the untimely death of the great Professor Wangari Mathai, one of the greatest African women of all time. Some called her the 'Tree Woman' because she fought to preserve the environment against an oppressive regime that used all its power to supress her but she came out on top and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize! What a fantastic role model and I personally drew a lot of inspiration from her resillience, her motivation, her strong will, and above all her humility.Rest in Peace and may her legacy live on.
Training has been going really well and I've had a good transition into winter training, and as my coach, Mr Day, puts it,'Every little drop fills the tank'. Every training session is vital and 2012 is literally just around the corner. I am determined to build on what I have achieved this year.