BEEN on holiday this week, well not on holiday as such, just not working for the BBC. I’ve been trying to finish the decorating in the bedroom and it looks as if it may be finished for Christmas – I’m not sure which Christmas though. Anyway I needed a break from the 5.15am alarm call after a somewhat hectic weekend.

Friday night I was in Bourgoin in southern France for the Warriors game. The French don’t kick off until 8.30pm their time, which makes it a late finish. It was close on 1am when I got back to the hotel and into bed and then I had to set the alarm for 5.15am to get the early flight home. Could I work out what time it was? As I had not changed my watch to French time it meant a long deliberation about whether it was 4.15am or 6.15am to set the alarm in order to be up on time.

I did manage to get it right and I wanted to get back in time for the Pershore Abbey Concert on Saturday night, which is one of my favourite Christmas events. It has to be said the Worcester Male Voice Choir were in top form, the soloist Elizabeth Crawford sang superbly, the Holborn Brass had the feet tapping and with the organ playing as well there were a few hairs on the back of the neck moments.

On Sunday I was at the Midlands Sports Awards. A big pat on the back must go to Andy Knowles and his team who sort it out every year. In case you missed it, our rowing hero Zac Purchase won the sportsman of the year award and well deserved it was. Little Elli Symonds, who won two golds at the paralympics, was the sports personality and what a popular winner. It just shows how far the paralympics have come in the last few years. I sat next to swimmers Sasha Kindred and Nyre Lewis at the event and it amazes me just how much time they have to put into their events, getting up at stupid o’clock in the morning to go training.

I was in the city on Wednesday and the highlight of my shopping day was lunch with Joshua George, although I do have to say I had to pay again. He may not be two until February but I reckon it’s time he put his hand in his pocket.

Commiserations to rugby player Miles Benjamin. A broken leg in Bourgoin will set his career back but as Henry Cooper used to say he is big strong boy and I’m sure he will bounce back. In a somewhat bizarre incident one of the French officials pulled the Warriors doctor off the pitch as he was about to treat a lad with a broken leg.

Ah well let’s get the curtain rail back up…