New Maggie's Centre

Today I was invited to a pre-opening event of the Maggies Cancer Caring Centre at Monklands General Hospital.  What an unbelievable building - stunning. Draped in natural light it's the perfect setting for cancer suffers to receive advice, counselling, help in many different ways. It rejuvenates me to do everything possible to raise money for the charity. 10 people a week in Lanarkshire are diagnosed with cancer so the requirement for the facility is huge.
Colin Montgomery has been behind the fund raising and the centre will carry his late mother's name. I had a 5 minute chat with Colin who remembered me from the cutting the turf ceremony 18 months ago.  He really comes across well especially when talking about something that is close to his heart. He was keen to hear how I'd got on in the desert and thinks I'm mental! He's not alone on that one but as I explained, it's perfectly normal what I do with the people I train with.
This morning at 7am I was back in the pool following last nights tough pool session.  It seemed as though I had got faster which is encouraging considering the hard work I've been putting in. The key is constantly working on my technique and making sure I swim twice a week.  Soon I'll be applying the same approach to my cycling which has suffered badly in the last two years so that's going to hurt!
Finally tHe chief executive of Maggie's invited me to swim in the Serpentine in London and I will certainly take her up on that when I am next in London. What an opportunity.