Hi all, Just thought I would fill you in after my lovely break away in Croatia. I managed to have just over two weeks off to travel down through Croatia and Montenegro with three of my best friends. It was a much needed physical and mental break. I am now back into the gruelling training and am really excited about the year ahead. I have done just over four weeks back in the pool and am eventually starting to feel fit again but at the same time feeling like a zombie..To celebrate a year to go I have just returned from London. On Thursday we had IPD – International Paralympic day which was held the day before the Paralympic tickets went on sale. Many top athletes including Eleanor Simmonds and Oscar Pistorius descended upon Trafalgar Square to give the general public an opportunity to meet some top athletes and try some Paralympic sports. The day was very successful and even Boris Johnson and David Cameron came down to join in!! They played wheelchair tennis however without the wheelchairs. On the Saturday there was Sainsbury’s Super Saturday which again was to promote the Paralympic sports. It was a great day out with a great line up of celebrities including Pixie Lott, The Saturdays, Olly Murs, Will Young, The Wanted and many more from Coronation Street, Eastenders, the only way is Essex etc etc! We (the athletes) were lucky enough to get VIP and backstage passes so we were very lucky to be able to chill out in the same area as all the celebs!!The Paralympic Tickets are now on sale until the 26th September so make sure you get buying!!! It really means a lot to all the swimmers and other athletes to have great support from the British. The more union jacks in the crowd the better. I remember in Beijing as soon as a Chinese swimmer entered the arena the crowd went ballistic and the atmosphere was absolutely ecstatic and I am really hoping it will be the same next year in London. I obviously have not qualified yet but fingers crossed I will do in March or April. However if you did want to come and show your support below are the days I am most likely to be swimming on:September 1st,3rd,6th and 7th 2012Hope you are all well and thank-you for your continued support. Claire x