Sophie Mei

This weekend Ben Hipkiss (my future husband)helped his team Leicester beat Rugby Union team Sarrisons in a last minute comeback. My hips too were given the kiss of life by a very kind chiropractor.

Since January when I began training for the half marathon – I have had the most injuries ever! One of which has been a persistent click in my hips. This click got worse after the Manchester 10k so I had to see a physio (accidentally a good looking one courtesy of BUPA), who then assured me that it was an actual problem with my joint and I should go to  a chiropractor.

Instead, I ignored the pain and booked an appointment with my personal trainer – bad idea as he then referred me back to a chiropractor. Fortunately for me, a good friend of mine who i teach to dance works at a specialist Complimentary Medicine clinic on Ecclesall Rd.

After finding the private clinic, I was welcomed by two lovely receptionists who ushered me to get changed. I really did not realize you had to change into a gown (and down to your underwear) – one, I would have washed after a muddy cycle ride that day and two, let’s say more appropriate underclothes!

I was certainly in for a thorough inspection! I had my knee reactions tested, i was measured, x-rayed and given advice. It then appeared that the problem was my Syatic nerve which runs from my hip into my foot… it had been the result of a twist in the pelvis… suprisingly the injury has been from the running rather than the bellydancing. Si the nurse then gave me a dep muscle massage which I thought would be relaxing… but ouch… nice pain though as it felt like it was doing something. The Chiropractor then cracked my back several times along with my neck – such a weird sensation but it certainly did something.

So I’m now laid at home with an Icepack on my Syatic (I’m only 22 years old!) but thankful for the lovely chiropractor who has given me clear instructions as well as follow up appointments.

I did check that I was allowed to exercize and unfortunately cycling and swimming are still fine – no excuse to be lazy then..

Chatsworth 10k – bowled over by the run in the sun “Gingers don’t do sun”

22^nd-23^rd May was the hottest weekend of the year as scantily clad lobsters flocked the country all desperate to have some summer fun in the sun. Although not everyone had time to sunbathe and play with their pistols (water) as Sunday 23^rd May also marked Chatsworth’s 10k run.

The newly refurbished Chatsworth House hosted their annual 10k in aid of Helen’s Trust – a charity that supports people who are terminally ill. As ever the region turned out to support the charity in there hundreds (Including my running buddy and I) as we all descended upon the gardens at 9 am – all at exactly the same time so there was a major traffic jam – nonetheless, we all made our way across the drive to park up and get to the start line.

I noticed straight away that this was a very ‘unique’ run as most people were well-spoken and carried expensive wicker baskets filled with Organic produce – a little different from the Manchester 10k I ran last week.

As Ruth and I lined up to start the run, the sun seemed to beam even more, which made my hair extensions sizzle and pushed to Ruth to complain ‘Gingers don’t do sun.’ So we dutifully lathered up in sun tan lotion and uncertain smiles, as this had been our idea of ‘fun’ on a Sunday.

The run lead us up into the forest around all the little bends and planned water stations in a circuit route so we could feel a sense of achievement as we came back down the hill. It was scorching hot but everyone was in high spirits and we all had a good aim to finish as the gorgeous Michael Vaughn was stood at the finishing line. So we sprinted to the end of course!

By 11am – we had completed the run, met Michael Vaughn and eaten ice creams. Talk about making the most of a Sunday morning as everyone else does the wise thing and sleeps in.

3 fathers and I

National Family week 2010 takes place from 29^th May – 6^th June – so now’s the time to appreciate our weird and wonderful families.

I know people who live in the ‘normal’ 2.4 Children type of family to people who don’t know their biological family. However, in today’s society what makes a normal ‘family’?

David Cameron and the rest of the Tories are always on about our ‘Big Society’ and building strong ‘family units’ and promoting marriage but I wonder if they realize just how big and diversely special our society is?

I myself have been lucky enough to be brought up in a very large extended family. And we certainly tick every ‘diverse’ box.

We have it all from disabled stepbrothers to Gay parents and Malaysian Aunts – some (well the Tories) may say the perfect recipe for a dysfunctional family…

However, I beg to differ as our family, friends, associates and lovers – have been what has made me strong, open minded and ambitious as each person and role they play in my life has greatly helped me grow up. Yeah, I’m definitely not perfect but if I did have whatever the ‘normal’ family am, I think I would have been extremely bored and have had to have rebelled – maybe become a drug addict. However, my family is simply to secure and diverse to even want or try to shock.

Maybe I’ll just try and be ‘normal’ to annoy them?

Nah forget it – each family is different and forever changing as people come and go – but that’s the joy, sorrow and uniqueness of family life.

I’m told you need maybe tricks to become successful in the media industry but I don’t think my mentor had envisaged circus skills or bellydancing for that matter!

However, I am one who does not like to play safe and follow the ‘norm’ so why not learn to hula-hoop or play with poi – after all, it might come in use one day!

I was lucky enough to go and see Cirque du Soleil when they were in town – something I had always wanted to do but at £40 a ticket could never quite persuade my friends – and it was incredibly busy but incredible.

The show was a metaphor for our wonderfully diverse society and had sketches of everything from traditional clowns and juggling to Poi and Flamenco movements. A performer climbed up poles with ease (although my good friend ensured me this was because the poles were sticky and you wear special boots) and audience participation was required during some parts of the show, which was a real carnival. My head buzzed with ideas of how I could incorporate my dance and drama with circus skills…

Lucky for me that weekend my ‘MEI Mission’ on BBC Radio Sheffield was to learn Circus skills and to get people in Sheffield City Centre trying out the hula-hoop. So my lovely friends at Greentop Circus taught me everything from Poi to plate spinning and juggling.

And I have to say I found hula hooping very hard – so not one to give up – after the radio show I joined the circus performers in the park for a sunny afternoon of Poi, Frisbee and hula hooping…

Ah if only I had the time to run away with the circus

X Factor finalist Stacey Solomon and Britain’s Got Talent’s Sophie Mei are the latest celebrities signed up  to bend the ball and aim for victory as she heads the line-up for this year’s Samaritans Soccer Six football tournament at Charlton FC on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 May.

Get your tickets now, for just £12, to come and watch this year’s celebrities dust off their football boots to raise vital funds and awareness for Samaritans, the emotional helpline charity. Joining Stacey Solomon at the 2010 tournament will be Comedian Omid Djalili, pop band The Hoosiers, grime artist Lethal Bizarre, indie band The Coral, T4’sRick Edwards and actor Danny Dyer.

Claire Duncan at Samaritans said: “It is fantastic that so many top celebrities will be supporting us at our annual star-studded football tournament Soccer Six.  In these tough times, life can be very demanding and the need for Samaritans is greater than ever. Funds raised will allow Samaritans to continue to offer confidential support to people in emotional distress, 24 hours a day.”

For your chance to see who will triumph as 2010’s Celebrity Soccer Six champion log on towww.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=383773 or call  08444 77 1000. Alternatively you can purchase them directly from Charlton FC. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Samaritans.