Neet Neilson - Olympic Torchbearer!

Maragirl GI Jules

When Maragirl G.I. Jules said she had nominated me to be an Olympic Torchbearer I felt really honoured she thought me worthy but didn’t expect to get picked to be one of the 8000, of which only a few hundred from Scotland. It was with tears of joy that I found out I was to be a Torchbearer in Glasgow on Saturday the 9th June at 7.29am, and cannot thank Julie enough for her wonderful nomination.

Olympic Birthday Cake

Even my birthday this year was marked with Olympic symbology. My sister Marina baked me a wonderful cake with a replica me on it in full olympic regalia!  She made me a fabby birthday card too and our whole family spent the day together!

Marina and the cake! That wish came true!

All the handmade birthday cards clockwise Marina's, Aoife's cover, Aoife's inside card, Catherine Jones', Alison's lyrics, Eilish's and Scott's card. And in middle Valerie's gift for school talk.

And the Maragirls [made by Aoife] also gave me handmade Olympic themed birthday card! And I had another amazing birthday celebration!! Clairabella made wonderful cupcakes that we all ate too fast to get a photo of! The gifts were amazing [including a recording session which is something I have always wanted - and anyone that has heard me sing will know how monumental a gift this is!] and the "gift ceremony" culminated in a rendition of of Tiger Feet rewritten by Alison with everyone singing it to me in the back garden [including MIA Maragirl Donna on speakerphone]!

My Birthday celebrations with the Maragirls!

Being a Torchbearer on the day was an experience I will NEVER forget.  Being a "FEATURED TORCHBEARER" [and I have no idea how that happened!] I was contacted before the event for any media related events.  I had the excellent opportunity to meet with other Torchbearers on these occasions.  Firstly with 100 Days To Go, I was invited to Edinburgh to jump with joy [and I certainly did!] to mark this momentous moment in time.  I went with Maragirl Expedition Donna and, both of us laughing hysterically, she helped pin me into a gigantic suit so I didn't look daft in photos.  This was my first taste of celebdom - I could get used to this! We were even featured with Rose Anderson!

With a few weeks to go I was invited along to a couple of primary schools to talk about being a Torchbearer.  Everyone made me feel very welcome and I was overwhelmed by the interest and the projects the primary school teachers and children had committed to with such amazing enthusiasm.  I think it was at this point I too realised how monumental this was and how it would be recorded in our history forever and what an honour this was. Especially after meeting Andrew Boyle, the Torchbearer who would run through Bearsden Cross. His nomination can be read here.  Thinking I would be helpful to both of us by preparing a powerpoint presentation for Andrew and I to share, I put together a talk and made 2 replica torches! One Andrew would have for the talk and would leave with this school and the other I would use that day then take to another school the following week.  Andrew was a good sport and memorised his bits of the talk and I planned to wing it through mine.  Used to teaching adult learners and 16 year old nursing students I wasn't phased by this, even when I saw we were to talk to the whole school and some of the parents who joined the assembly.  I started off the talk by running around the whole assembly hall with my replica [pretty like the real thing even if I do say so myself] torch and then touching Andrew's torch he lapped the hall too.  Finishing at the front we started the presentation, but I needn't have worried - Andrew was a natural! He had the kids eating out his hands! He asked them all the right questions and gave them ownership of the presentation. I was in awe! I felt totally inadequate in comparison and felt truly honoured to meet such a wonderful person.  Baljaffray Primary presented Andrew and I with an Olympic badge and Olympic tin of Biscuits! Balfron Primary sent me a folder with handwritten thank yous from every child in P3 and photos of the occasion - was so touching yes I was greetin again!

Andrew and I at Baljaffray Primary with our replica torches

A week before the event, I was invited to Glasgow [now 50 Days To Go till the Olympic Games] to talk about what this meant for me and for the community. All the local papers, radio stations and news channels were there. It was amazing!! Here I met Emma Blair for the first time and a couple of other young girls who were to be Torchbearers on the 8th June in Glasgow.  All had amazing stories of why they were nominated and the ages of all three of them added up to my age!  My dear friend from work Christine Kelly commented that I looked as young as the girls! Note to self: buy Christine a pair of cheap reading specs for Xmas! The next day I went to Asda and bought the 4 newspapers Herald, Daily Record, Evening Times and Daily Mail our story was in! It was also online with The Journal. Celeb status rising! 

Emma Baird [left], Me, Evanna Lynas and Gail Thomson

The package containing the street information where I would be running and the suit arrived one week before the event.  The suit was way too big for me even though it was an extra small and the literature said you were not allowed to change how it looked in any way if making alterations. Well if I left it as it was, the lovely gold writing on the trouser leg would have been obscured by the long top and the sleeves would have had to have been rolled up.  So very carefully I cut off 6 inches from the top, 4 inches from the sleeves, 4 inches from the trouser bottoms and finished them in the same manner so the alterations were not noticeable.  Now that was better!! Note to Stella: a nice gold belt would have really finished it off perfectly but accessories were not allowed! 

The Torchbearers booklet also told us that white trainers were the recommended footwear! Well this was probably the only opportunity I would have to be me so I bought white high heeled trainers off ebay - I did consider [and even bought] gold sequins braiding on the trainers but was afraid this would bring enough attention to my feet to have them banned [and ME] on the day!  The trousers were still long enough to hide them and from the front they looked like ordinary trainers. 

The booklet also informed us that we had to turn up at the collection point wearing only the suit and carrying no belongings as the bus that dropped us off at our relay street was not the same one that would pick us up after our stint. So anything we needed to take with us had to fit into a credit card [how handy since I still had to purchase my torch and they only took Visa or cash!] sized pocket hidden inside the trousers.  Now anyone that knows me knows I like to carry lip gloss, money, iphone [won’t ever leave home without that!], credit card [obviously] and housekeys. All this was NOT going to fit in that wee pocket.  So I bought a money bag in light grey and all my essentials fitted nicely into it! I even had room for a comb - just in case!  This sat invisibly under my top.  And expecting to be cold [it is Scottish summertime after all] I also had a white long sleeved layer under my top and prayed it wouldn’t rain!

Also on order [being a runner this was essential wear] a white shock absorber sports bra which unfortunately wasn’t in stock so I had to go out and buy a normal white bra; though not now really a concern since as I was now wearing heels I intended to walk my 300 meters.  In fact I even had a trial run the day before in my shiny new trainers - it took me 2 mins 34 secs to walk at a casual pace the allocated distance so I knew I was safely within my allocated time allowance for the distance I was to cover.

We had to be at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow for 5am on the Saturday morning. After a restless sleep [afraid I might sleep in] I got up at 3.30am to start getting ready - the hair took longer than usual and the make up was a necessity if I was to be beamed to the whole world via the relay live feed!  Too early for breakfast I suited up and it wasn’t long before the taxi I had booked the evening before was sitting outside my door at 4.15am! 

Excited [and slightly nauseous with lack of sleep, lack of breakfast and a bag of nerves] I headed off, leaving my husband and son to get up and follow on down for 7am.  Now the celeb status really hit home when the taxi driver was ecstatic that he had a Torchbearer in his cab and asked to have his photo taken with me at end of journey.  He must have given me a discount too because that’s the cheapest taxi ride into town I have ever had!! On the way there just as we were about to take the correct turning to the Riverside Museum an Olympic Relay car stopped at the lights alongside us in the lane going in the wrong direction with their map out trying to find their way there.   My taxi driver would his window down and shouted repeatedly, “I’ve a Torchbearer in my car!!!”   When they eventually realised what he was saying the wound their window down to say they were lost.  He told them to follow us because “I’v got a Torchbearer in my car!” We arrived 2 minutes later and as soon as I’d paid my fare he was out the cab and taking a photo of me in my suit.  The relay team that followed us in gave me a torch to hold for the photo and they also took his photo with me and the torch! He was a happy man!

In the Riverside Museum at the registration and identification confirmation [oh aye my driving license also had to fit in that wee pouch!] I paid for my torch!  The literature had stated that although we could pay for our torch at the allocated time period before the event [which I missed] or on the day [which I was desperate to do in case they decided to remove the privilege after so many selling them on ebay], we would not receive our torch until August after they had been decommissioned. So imagine my joy when she told me that we would get it home with us that day!! This really was the icing on the cake! In fact I think it would have felt rather an anti climax if we left the event without it! And how would we ever have known if we actually got the torch we had carried on the day?

Time flew in with the admin, the briefing of how it would go from bus to relay to bus, and with some paparazzi moments of us all in ours suits.

I found out I was to be the second person to run that day and that my spot would be identifiable by a sticker on the lamppost with my number on it.  Thank God I had my phone, I texted my friends and family where to go exactly.

 I met some wonderful and inspiring people that day who would share the experience from Glasgow to Bearsden.  We would all be together on the buses until we were back at our collection point.  Everybody’s story brought tears to my eyes. Such brave, inspirational and motivating people and children; all as deserving as the next person. I was truly humbled and honoured to be grouped with these wonderful people and inspired me to do more after this is over to help others.

Paparazzi moment with Andrew Boyle at Riverside Museum

Before I knew it we were escorted to the shuttle bus [with a quick interview en route for BBC Radio Scotland with Emma Baird, the inspiring wee lassie that was to be the first runner of the day] to be dropped off at our allocated spot. 

With Emma Baird [Photo: Alistair Baird]

I was handed my very own torch from the spot labelled NEET and I could see all my family and closest friends waiting for me as I stepped off the bus to cheers. Of course this started the never ending greetin' that punctuated the whole experience! Thank God I put on waterproof make-up! A sneak peek into my mirror [which also fitted into my money bag - it's a bit like the tardis that bag!- a gift from my friend Valerie as a thank you for coming to speak to Balfron's P3s which was embroidered with Torchbearer on it] told my my make-up was fine regardless of waterworks! I was confident I could cry all day now!

Runner 002 dropped off!

Hubby!

My family [Photo: Julie Thomson]

The Clements: My sister and family! [Photo: Ken Cowan]

A Metropolitan policewoman met me and stood by my side.  She was very friendly and her chatting eased my nerves.

The moment Neets' told she can't wear heels! - Kidding!
Caption credit Kirsty Croft

Maragirls!

Garscube Harriers

Everytime I looked at my friends or family I started crying [tears of joy], especially the Maragirls, Julie, Donna [who was as bad as me], Marina [also greetin'] and Andrew who was snapping away. At least I don't look as if I am girning in every photo!  I had time to have my picture taken with everyone before Emma came to “kiss” my torch.

As the convoy approached and the camera van passed I was escorted to the middle of the road where security police flanked either sides of us and the flame was handed to me from Emma.  It was extremely exciting and we felt extremely important with this responsibility!  Then it was my turn!  Asking if I could walk because I had high heels on, the policeman laughed and said” try a light jog!”  So that is how it got mentioned on the news that I was the first person to run the relay in a pair of white high heels! At this point I wished I had gone out and bought a white sports bra from somewhere else!! There's a bit of bounce on the video!

Emma passes the flame Photo: Aoife McGarrigle

Cautioned by Met: "Careful your hair doesn't catch light!" Photo Morag Casey

Photo: Aoife McGarrigle

You might think 300 metres wouldn’t take long to run especially after I had timed it walking but that couple of minutes did feel like a wonderfully long moment to shine.  Waving to the screaming crowds, trying to balance the [800 grammes] torch in one hand and avoid the cracks in the road in my high heels was the most amazing moment of my life.

Maragirls on my left [Photo: Morag Casey]

On the left my family, my closest friends [including the Maragirls] kept pace with me shooting the scene with their cameras and phones, in front the camera truck was filled with cameras streaming live on air.

Debbie leading the Harriers alongside

 And on my right my running club [Garscube Harriers] ran alongside lead by the amazing Debbie Martin Consani who, only the weekend before, WON the Grand Union Canal Race of 145 miles in 28 hours and 1 minute.

My stint over, getting back on the bus, Declan can be seen on other side!

The 300 metres were enjoyed every step of the way! Watch it here! And then it was my turn to pass the flame over to the next Torchbearer.  We “kissed” torches and I moved aside.  There was a couple of minutes to cuddle my family and friends [and cry some more] before being escorted back onto the bus. 

Photo: Julie Thomson

Photo: Fiona Campbell

And it didn’t end there!  Once on the bus, the atmosphere was electric as we cheered every torchbearer as they finished their stint and we waved to the crowds in true celeb fashion as they waved back and snapped shots of us in the passing bus.  To my delight, I discovered that as soon as you step on the bus, your torch is decommissioned in seconds and placed in a canvas bag and handed right back to you. So sitting on the bus we are all holding our prized possession - none of us were selling our torches!

Andrew Boyle at Bearsden Cross

I then passed through my hometown Bearsden and enjoyed watching Andrew Boyle run the torch through Bearsden Cross.  Having already met Andrew [a young medical student] at Baljaffray primary school I kew him to be a kind, selfless individual who had a natural gift in coaching children.  His whole Lenzie Youth Club were amongst the thousands that swarmed the streets of Bearsden.  For 8am on a Saturday morning, the turnout was one to be proud of.

Andrew after his stint

At the end of Bearsden, I asked if I could get off the bus rather than have my family come get me at the museum back in Glasgow as I was only a 5 minute walk from my home.  “No problem!” I was told and I was allowed to exit the bus, torch in hand bidding my fellow torchbearers goodbye.  As soon as I left the bus I heard, “Oh My God There’s A Torchbearer!" And I was swamped by people wanting to hear my story, touch the torch and have their photos taken with me and the torch.  It was stuff my dreams are made of!  For 40 minutes I felt like I was a true celebrity, I was certainly shining in my moment! Yes this was a wonderful day, a wonderful experience I will remember all my life! A reward for doing something good but also incentive to do even more! And all thanks to Julie for nominating me and making my wildest fantasies come true.  This will be one year I won’t forget the Olympics and what it meant to everyone I have encountered during this experience.

Reflecting on the day!

While I went home and had a fabulous day with my family and my sister's family, Clairabella went off to a wedding and Amy her daughter, still in Torch Relay spirit had an ArtAttack with the crystals [my favourite colour too] at the dinner table!

Amy's ArtAttack! Love it!

And the Maragirls....


....Well they went out for a MaraBrekkie and got up to no good!!

Hyndland Park [Photo: Donna McVey]

Photo: Donna McVey

Acknowledgements

Thank you Maragirl Julie for the nomination, making my wildest dreams come true and for being my friend. Thank you Maragirl Donna for being there to pick up the pieces during and after chemo- a true friend - and helping me get back to full strength running.
Thank you Maragirls - Joann for making me competitive again! Aoife and Sarah [Vasquez] for giving me someone to chase! Vasquez for listening to my moans and giving me an ass to chase for our NeetsHITS! Fiona for all the Bowen Treatments that kept me running when I might not have been able to if it wasn't for you! And helping me get my PB in the Wobbly Williams 5K! Helen for being there to run at my speed and for all your wonderful support. Clairabella and Sara [Dr Distance] thank you for joining our club and bringing your fabby company, humour and artistry! Yes Sara those club vests are a mission for the near future! Thank you Lorna for joining in and the laughs you bring to the group [next time though dressing up is essential]. And thank you to Alison [for the Coach Neet lyrics] and Noodle for joining us as much as you can whether it is for socials or other activities it all counts. Thanks Morag for taking photos and adding to my Olympic Album - we'll get you out with us yet!
Thanks to all the Torchbearers, especially to Andrew Boyle and Emma Blair, who made the whole event [and its lead up] very special and for being very special individuals, it was an honour meeting you.
Thanks to the Relay Team and the Relay Metropolitan Police who work extremely hard day in and day out making everyone feel as if they are the most important people on the planet. They gave us all our moment to shine selflessly.
Thanks to the media that covers the events, from the local media in the run up, to the live feed on the day and the news and reports during and following the event. It also added to the celebdom in our moment to shine.  For that little while we were VIP and that honour was appreciated. It will spurn me personally on to do more to help others, especially breast cancer patients.
Thank you to Baljaffray Primary School and Balfron Primary School P3 teachers and children for inviting me in and sharing their experience of the event with me and making my experience even more special.
Thank you Marian [Renshaw] and your hubby, Ken and Janet for coming out to see me on the day.
Thank you Garscube Harriers [Debbie, Jill, Maz, Mary, Big Stevie, Shoenagh, Ragbir, Izzy, John [Dryden], David [Heppell], Diane, Robert, Karen Mac, Emma, Dave [Conner], Craig and Morag] for coming out to run with me on this epic journey!
Thank you Marina, Dougie, Scott and Eilish for getting up dead early and coming in all the way from Moscow [Ayrshire] to be there and share the whole day with me!
Thank you to everyone who took photos and videos and shared them with me. If I missed crediting any I used please let me know.
And last but never least to Declan for fighting your teenage tendencies and getting up real early to come see yer wee mummy run wae the torch and to my ever patient husband Andrew who supports me in everything I do [no matter how bizarre] and is always there for me, love you wads! xx
From my heart, thank you everyone who has got me here, donated money to my causes, supported me through thick and thin, for being my friend, if you are reading this then you are probably one of them!