Last week I travelled to Wembley Stadium, the home of football. But this time was different: I was not there to watch a match, or see a concert.

Instead, I found myself on the fifth floor of the stadium looking down at the pitch. I couldn’t help thinking what a long drop it was… and considering I was about to zip wire across the stadium to the pitch on the far side, the ground suddenly seemed very far away.

After my safety briefing I was strapped into my harness and with increasing levels of nerves, I watched Tim Lovejoy and Chris from Muse run down the first few steps, then take off into the air over the pitch. After watching their successful attempts, I felt was ready to take on the challenge.

What a great way to see Wembley! You travel the 200m across the stadium at about 25 miles an hour. It really was one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done in London and a fantastic way to round up the Wembley Stadium Tour.

The unique Wembley Zip Wire tour runs from 27 August – 2 September and is available for anyone aged 12 and over. To book your place, visit www.wembleystadium.com/tours or call 0844 800 2755.

Inspired by the Jubilee Pageant, I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the 1000 boats that had graced the Thames as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Exactly a week later I found myself on the shores of Chelsea at Kayaking London HQ, ready to embark on a trip up the Thames.

Our trip was led by Harry and Katy from Kayaking London who first gave us a very informative briefing on safety, including how to paddle and what to expect. They then kitted us out in life jackets and waterproofs before I and six other people set off on our own pageant in double kayaks.

The tour would take us past many of London’s iconic sites including the Battersea Power Station, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge, before heading back again.

Many of the others on the trip had no kayaking experience but with tips from Katy along the way the soon picked it up. Harry was a fountain of knowledge, telling us some great facts about London and pointing out sites including a miniature St Paul’s Cathedral which sits on Vauxhall Bridge and can only be seen from the river. It was a fantastic four hour round trip (with a much needed lunch half way) and such a great way to see London and to really see some of London’s best kept secrets.

For more information, and to book a tour, go to Kayaking London’s website

A couple of weekends’ ago, I was invited to join Crown Business Communications who have been organising the Games Makers orientation programmes to see first-hand what the Games Makers journey has been to date and will be going forward.

The Games makers are the 70,000 volunteers who will be the face of the games and where roles vary from helping athletes in the village, collecting and distributing results to officials and the Press at the various venues to welcoming spectators into the park and other venues.

The orientation event was a great opportunity for the volunteers to hear about the Olympics and the important roles they will play to make the London 2012 Games a success. A variety of people such as Paul Deighton (Chief Executive of LOCOG), Chris Holmes (Britain’s most successful Paralympic swimmer and now Director of Paralympic Integration) and the very funny Eddie Izzard all talked about why the volunteers were vital to the Games and about the training they had ahead of them leading up to the Games and the support they would receive during.

After the event I caught up with some of the Games Makers, they were all so excited to be “the face of the Olympics” and varied in a range of people from the Plymouth Argyle FC Mascot, retired teachers, students, doctors, chefs and so on.

The one common theme throughout though was the excitement and buzz about the Games and the part they will play in making it a great success.

Are you one of the London 2012 Games Makers? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Last week I headed to Finsbury Town Hall for my first ever street dance class. Danny, our instructor, was brilliant, giving us lots of praise for our new-found street skills. We learnt a fantastic street dance routine and for a minute, I felt like  a member of the group Diversity! Although I think I looked more pop than street, I have definitely found some new skills for the dance floor over Christmas!

It was really great fun and a great way to start the festive season. I asked some of the other street dance first timers their views on the class:

“I had such a great time, what a blast! The class was pacy, the instructor was patient (a vital trait!) and the music was fun. Put it this way – I felt like I was in a music video.”
Peter, 29, South Africa

“Despite the fact I was red in the face, tripping over my feet, couldn’t talk by the end of it, and two days later am aching all over, I would recommend it to everyone – the most fun I’ve had in ages!”
Jo, 28, Highbury

“Energetic and fun! The teacher was very engaging and broke the routine down into simple to learn steps which meant we picked the routine up fast! I felt like a pro in no time!”
Ruth, 25, Berkshire

“I think it was fantastic fun and I learnt a few amazing moves which will be useful for the future.”
Pru, 44, Surrey

The class was run by City Academy who also run other fab classes such as Musical Theatre and Comedy… what to choose next?

Visit www.city-academy.com for more information.

Being a big sports fan, I was excited to go to the new Arsenal Football Club and test their new self-guided tour (which I found out is the UK’s first self-guided stadium tour). 

I was given my headset and what looked like a handheld tv and off I went – they offer the tour in English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese, so Arsenal fans from all over the world can enjoy the experience.

The tour took me to area such as the changing rooms (with the most amazing spa bath in the home changing rooms) and the press conference room; I even got to walk through the tunnel to the pitch and sit in Arsene Wenger’s seat in the dugout area.

Throughout the tour I was also able to watch and listen to personal audio snippets from players such as Van Persie and Wilshere through my handset. Plus, there were friendly tour hosts en route who were happy to tell their own stories, which really made me feel like part of the Arsenal family.

Book a tour of Arsenal Football Club here

Last stop: St Pancras.

We had been up since 4.30am UK time, and the last leg was starting at 18.15: it had already been a long day. Now we faced a 10km run. 

Everyone had been fed, watered and massaged, and off we headed on the coach to Regent’s Park. As we reached the start, it was so nice to see the G/great British public out to support us all especially as the rain had begun to come down.

We started with a warm-up to some of the acts that were playing on the stage, both to entertain the spectators and keep the competitors motivated! Another great motivator was news that we had a glass of champagne and BBQ awaiting us at the end!

Unfortunately, after 5km I had to pull out due to cramp in my left leg, which had started in the bike race. But on went everyone else with Jonny Brownlee coming in first with an impressive 34 minutes! As everyone else passed the finish line, there was a sense of such great achievement by all, no matter what standard of athlete.  Out of 140 athletes, 100 completed all three legs – an amazing achievement.

The whole day was a fantastic experience and one that no-one will forget I am sure. We swam, cycled and ran through three major European cities in one day! There was great camaraderie between all, no matter what level of participant and fantastic encouragement from those on the sidelines.

A big thanks to Eurostar, IMG, the athletes and the volunteers who pushed us though each leg and made such an amazing experience possible. I’m looking forward to the next Eurostar 2012 activation event!  

Definitely a story for the grandkids…

Read about the first leg (swimming in Paris) here, and the second (cycling in Brussels) here

After my old faithful flip flops breaking and Karen Pickering lending me hers, we got off the Eurostar and braved the Metro in Brussels much to the bemusement of the locals. A quick walk and we were there.

To say the bike part didn’t go well for me is an understatement!

Having not been on a bike for the best part of a year, I was wondering whether I should have invested in some stablisers!

12.40 and we are off. Six laps, 40km in total of quite a technical course and a cut-off time to add to the pressure. We have to ensure we get the next Eurostar train back to London. (And oh, London, how I missed your flatness and straightness as I cycled round!)

By lap 2, the cramp has set in on my left calf. And then through came Alistair Brownlee, lapping me already! (I had to remind myself that he does this for a job).

Onward I went, cramp in toe. Lap 4 saw my chain come off my bike, but through pure grit and determination, I made it to the end. I wasn’t last, but almost.

We’re now enroute to London on Eurostar, just having had a massage on the calf and waiting for my dinner.

Looking forward to the last leg in Regent’s Park and determined to finish so hoping the good British public are there to cheer us on. There are lots of tired and achy bodies aboard along with a few injured but everyone is in high spirits and thoroughly enjoying the day.

See you all in London, home sweet home.

Read about the first leg, swimming in Paris, here

And rest between races onboard the ever-relaxing Eurostar. 

So as you were all tucked up in your beds this morning, 120 of us were up at 5.30 French time getting ready to brave the Bassin de la Villette in Paris. 

The competitors range from first timers to athletes such as Karen Pickering, Ewan Thomas as well as the Brownlee brothers straight in from the Triathlon World Series. 

As it hit 7.30 and the light just came up, the gun went, and off we went…  A bit too cold for my liking, but hey ho. 

I managed to come in under 25 mins with the winner doing around 18 mins and slowest about 45 min.  We are now on the Eurostar heading off to Brussels for the 40km cycle. It’ll be interesting as all 120 athletes are starting together. I’m looking forward to taking in sights such the King’s Palace, Atomium, Stade Roi Baudouin and a couple of trams!

I’ll let you know how we get on. Better go now, breakfast is being served :)

The first thing you notice as you drive up is the setting, two beautiful 18 hole courses named Heritage and International both of which are designed by the world renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus.

The great thing about London Golf Club is that you don’t have to be a member to play on their courses.

I was greeted by my teacher Paul who is head professional at London Golf Club – he started there as a caddy when the club first opened.  Kitted out with a bag full of different named clubs, irons and drivers we headed off to the practice range.  The closest I had got to golf before was pitch and putt on holiday and this was a far cry from that.

Paul taught me the basics with an 8 iron and by the end of the lesson had me hitting a driver, all the time reminding me “the ball is the centre of the circle” the one thing that would always guarantee me a great shot…apparently!

It was great to get out in the fresh air and Paul was extremely encouraging and patient. If you fancy doing something different one afternoon then it is a great way to escape the stress of work and afterwards head to the clubhouse to relax with a glass of wine and some food and have a giggle about the bad shots that were made… and I definitively made a few of those!

London Golf Club: Lessons start from £30

Last week I was lucky enough to get a behind the scenes tour of the SEA LIFE London Aquarium.  I’ve been to the Aquarium many times but never realised just how much is happening behind the Staff Only doors.

First stop was the area where staff prep for meal times. I saw boards explaining which fish needed what and any special diets. As Toby, the General Manager, took me through I saw some of the live bait such as tiny shrimps that are bred for meal times.

I was also amazed to find a special room where every fish that dies in the Aquarium, no matter how big or small, has a post-mortem.  While I was there, there were test tubes ready to be sent off to labs.

Another fact I was amazed to find out was that Aquarium staff make their own salt water so that they can get the consistencies right for each of the exhibits. There were huge mounds of salt ready for dilution.

Next stop was a vast room full of live sea life being bred for breeding programs and conservation or quarantined. It was amazing, I saw new exhibits such as guitar sharks that look like a cross between a ray and a shark, a beautiful leopard ray, and lots more fish that I cannot remember the names of. 

They had also just put some crown-of-thorns starfish into one of the exhibits for research. The starfish are usually found on coral reefs in the tropics where they prey on the coral. They are seen as a major threat to the coral reef ecosystem.

My highlight was being able to see one of the crocodiles which will be going into the new Rainforests of the World exhibit on Monday.  She looked very content bathing under heat lamps and waiting for her dinner – frozen rats and chicks.  Toby took me  to see her sister who has already settled nicely into her new home within the rainforest exhibit. As we arrived she was swimming around, enjoying her new surroundings and waiting for her new friend to join her.

Rainforests of the World is open now at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium