Tag Archives: New Years Eve

Happy New year 2019

January 5, 2019 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you had a fantastic Christmas period. You ate, drank and were merry. And found joy in the giving and the receiving of presents. I had a lovely and quiet Christmas. It was the first one for a couple of years. That I had not been working.

I will never admit to getting older but in previous years I have been desperate to go out on Christmas Eve and to party. This year I just stayed in listening to music and having a few glasses of red wine. And you know what. I really enjoyed it. It is the simple pleasures in life. That are often the best.

On Christmas Day itself. I went round to my parents first thing in the morning. It is a family tradition to start the day with a nice big fry up. And there was no way I was missing out on that. Once the kitchen is tidied up and a cup of tea has been enjoyed. It is then time to move in to the living room for the exchanging of presents. This year with the added bonus of a nice glass of champagne each. To help us with the proceedings.

We are pretty clinical in our present buying. We each make a list of what we would like in November. This then gets passed around to the other three. We then liaise to get each other things from the list. The plus side of this is you generally get what you want. The down side is there are rarely any surprises. I was delighted with my gifts. Which included a new alarm clock, thermal socks, a tie with horses on it and some leather gloves.

After the presents have been given out. I then get ready to head to the pub. This has been a sacred family tradition for as long as I can remember. As a child I remember all the adults going there and then coming back slightly merrier. I have been every year since I was old enough. The venue has changed over the years. So now me, a couple of my uncle’s and a few of my cousin’s all meet up at The Red Lion in Whiteleaf at Midday. We have a few drinks. Then we return home to our own homes ready for dinner.

We always have a full traditional Christmas lunch with turkey and all of the trimmings. I love a Christmas meal with the stuffing, pigs in blankets and brussel sprouts. Things I do not normally have at any other time of the year. This is washed down with some nice red wine. The meal is then topped off with a delicious pudding. That must be accompanied by cream. We then have a little bit of a brief rest and a chat. To let the food go down.

Once we are all ready the afternoon of fun and games begins. This year we started off with some Karaoke. This is my annual apology to my parent’s neighbours. Or anybody walking past the house at the wrong time. Who may have heard me trying to sing. Sorry.

I then hosted a Pop Quiz. Which I have to say the rest of the family were rubbish at. Lastly we played a game of Charades. Although this was not your usual version. It was a risque variation on the normal theme. That my dad had found. Which did make for a few awkward moments in front of the parents. But it was all good fun!

We finished the day by watching Michael McIntyre. While enjoying some cheese and biscuits with a nice glass of port. It was another fun family Christmas. Which I thoroughly enjoyed. Just as I was sitting at home reflecting on the day. Before I went to bed. I had a small bottle of Baileys. That a very good mate and his wife had very generously got me. Well it was the birthday of our lord and saviour. The only day of the year. When it is acceptable to drink as many different drinks, as you possibly can.

Before Christmas Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio celebrated its 40th Birthday. They had a small party. Which was attended by the station’s Patron Ken Bruce, singer Tony Hadley and the voice of the X Factor Peter Dickson. I would like to say huge congratulations to the station for what it has achieved during the last forty years. And for the hours and hours of entertainment that it has provided to the hospital’s patients and staff.

I was a member there for around seven years. I had a fantastic time there. And met some lovely and amazing people. It was lots of fun. I am happy to say that I am still really good friends with many of the people I met during my time there. I did my first proper radio show on the station. It was in their studios that I got to practice, grow and improve. It definitely helped me to launch my radio career.

Neil Quigley back at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio with Martin Kinch

It was volunteering at the Hospital Radio. That enabled me to get my first paid radio work at my local commercial station Mix 96. Based in the town I was born, Aylesbury. I started off reading the local sports results on the Sports Show. Ringing around all the grounds and then delivering the scores on air.

I then got to present the sports show. I did some weekend shows. I then covered the evening show. Before eventually getting to present both the Drive and Morning shows on the station. None of which I would have achieved without Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio. I wish them all the best for their next forty years of broadcasting.

I managed to get a ticket to see Sir Paul McCartney play the O2 Arena in December. I had seen him in concert three years ago in Birmingham. And as you would expect he was fantastic. I was a bit undecided about if I should go and see his latest tour. But I did like his latest album Egypt Station. And he only really tours the United Kingdom every three years. So in the end I made sure that I was there.

I met up with a mate of mine and his girlfriend. Who were also going. We had a few drinks around the Greenwich area. Before we made our way to the venue. We had a quick drink at the Arena. Then it was time to make our way to our seats. There were however, still a few people filtering in. When there was suddenly a light in the crowd and some scrambling in the floor seat area. As it was the last night of the UK leg of the tour. Paul had lots of family and friends in. And he had popped out quickly to see them before the show.

The stage erupted when his band started to make their way out on to the stage. Then the place went totally ballistic. As the main man walked out and put on his guitar. Before launching into the Beatles classic “A Hard Days Night”. Which is a sensational way to kick off any performance. He then spends nearly three hours effortlessly playing Beatles, Wings and his own solo stuff. Seamlessly moving between several different guitars and pianos.

The pyrotechnics they were letting off during Live and Let Die were astonishing. I thought they were actually trying to blow the place up. It was an amazing spectacle. He then follows that with the immortal Hey Jude. During which he has the whole audience in his hands. And has us singing along to every note. As he stands there conducting us. What a moment! At that point you thought this gig could not get any better. But it could.

Not only does he come back on for an eight song encore. But before the third song in this section. He brings on two special guests. Firstly the Rolling Stones guitar legend Ronnie Wood. And then much to everyone’s surprise his Beatles band mate Ringo Starr. At which point the whole place goes crazy. Ringo takes his place behind the drums. And the three of them perform Get Back. I could not believe it!

That is the closest I am ever going to get to seeing the Beatles play live together. For obvious reasons. This was a huge deal. This has not happened in this country since the band split up. Even Paul as Ringo was walking off said “let’s just take a minute to soak up what has just happened”. My mate who is a massive McCartney and Beatles fan was literally in tears when Ringo appeared. It meant that much to him. The three of them sounded great together.

Paul then goes on to play another five songs. Brilliant as they were. It could not top that version of Get Back featuring half of the members of arguably the best band we have ever produced. He finished the show with The Beatles song “The End”. I am hoping this does not mean that it may be his last UK arena gig. It is just a sensible song to end any performance with if you have it in your repertoire. Although in the unlikely event that is his final gig on home soil. I am so pleased that I was there to witness it. Sir Paul McCartney you are a legend!

During that really odd period between Christmas and New Year. Where you eat what you like for Breakfast and have no idea what day it actually is. My sister and I went to see the pantomime at The Swan Theatre in High Wycombe. It was Snow White. Which was the same story that I saw at the London Palladium just before Christmas.

The Buckinghamshire version starred former Strictly Come Dancing dancer Brendan Cole, Mandy Muden who was on BGT, Jason Sutton and the ventriloquist Kieran Powell. It did share some of the script and skits with its London sister production. So I did know what was coming a lot of the time. But that is my fault for seeing the other one and not theirs.

It was fun and entertaining. Everyone got time and a bit of space to showcase their talents. Mandy did a few magic tricks. Keiran got to do some stuff with his “friend”. And Brendan had the opportunity to display his amazing dancing prowess. Plus a bit of his singing to. Fair play to him. They worked him hard on the dancing front. They had him doing pretty much every kind of dance move you can imagine.

It was a good and proper family pantomime with nothing missing. I am glad I went and saw it. The cast were great. Nice as ever to see the children getting involved and shouting at the characters, when required. Pantos will be a lot of kids first experience of the theatre. Therefore I like to see them have a great time. As they are then more likely to support live shows and go to the theatre more often when they are older.

It was generally quite a good Christmas period for my team Spurs. We had good wins in the game before Christmas away at Everton. Then on Boxing Day at home to Bournemouth. But then things did go a little wrong last Saturday at Wembley. When we lost to Wolves. But then we beat Cardiff away in the next match. This week we have the first leg of the League Cup Semi-final against Chelsea. And play Manchester United in the league next Sunday. A win in both would be very nice.

A friend of mine is a big train enthusiast. For the last six months from my local station. They have been running weekly Steam Train rides. I despite this attraction being so close. May never have got round to it. But the mate in question said he was coming down from London to take the trip. And he asked me if I fancied joining him on New Years Eve afternoon for a ride on the Steam train. So I did.

As it happened they had a special offer running . Which meant if you lived in a certain postcode area. Which I did, that you could get the ticket for half price. And this deal also included a cup of tea and a mince pie. You cannot argue with that kind of value. The train runs between Princes Risborough and Chinnor. It uses an old route, That has not been in operation for many years. But that the society who run the steam train managed to get restored.

The journey there takes about twenty five minutes. It is a lovely experience. As you can hear the engine and see the steam pushing you along the countryside. It is actually quite serene and relaxing. When we got to Chinnor we walked to the nearest pub and had a quick pint. Before catching the next train home. But this part is of course purely optional.

The journey back is actually by Diesel train. At the moment they have no way of turning the train around. So the Steam Engine pulls all the carriages to Chinnor and then the Diesel Engine on the other end returns you to Princes Risborough. It was a fun experience. I would say give it a try, if you get the chance. It is a nice flavour of how train travel used to be.

This New Years Eve my good friend and I, Andy Holmes went to my local wine bar in Princes Risborough called Dukes. I have been in there a number of times, since it opened. And always found it to be a wonderful place to enjoy a drink. It was an all ticket event. It started at 7.30pm. And as it happened Andy and I were the first to arrive. I had no idea how busy it would be. So I thought the best plan was to get there early and secure a table. Which we did.

It was a great night. Everyone there was lovely and friendly. And of course rightly in good spirits. They kept bringing around nibbles. I must admit I had a few every time they did. I find it impossible to turn down food. They also had live music. Just a bloke with a mic and a guitar. But he was fantastic. He had a great voice and played all the right songs. He had us all dancing and singing along by the end.

The whole night was washed down with several glasses of a very nice Rioja. The perfect way to see out the old year and welcome in the new one. Here’s to a healthy, happy, positive and fun 2019. A very Happy New Year to you. I hope it brings you everything that you want it to.

Have fun. I will be taking a mini-break from the blog. And it will be back in a month. If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you will find out why in the next week or so. Cheers Neil

Best Wishes for 2017 – Happy New Year

January 7, 2017 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really nice couple of week’s. Mine have been fairly quiet and relaxing. Well it has been Christmas. I occasionally do take it easy and not do too much. That said I was working Christmas Eve night for the BBC. I finished at around 8.30am on Christmas Day.

I then headed straight to my parents. I got there at about 9.45am. When I walked in my Dad was already cooking the fried breakfast. You have no idea how amazing it smelt. And despite having been up all night. It woke me up instantly. This is how we always start every Christmas Day.

After we had finished breakfast. It was time to open our presents to each other. Now to avoid any awkwardness and unwanted gifts. We do have a very direct way of dealing with this. We all write a list saying what we would like. Which then gets passed around to other members of the family.

So we all pick what we buy from this list. The benefit of this is you tend to get what you want. The downside of this is that there are rarely any surprises during the unwrapping process.

I was really lucky this year and got everything on my list. I did not ask for too much, I promise. I got a really good electric toothbrush. As recommend by my dentist. A Star Wars T-shirt. Which by the way is really cool and features all the original main characters on it. Which of course sadly became more poignant over the festive period.

I also received two new Tottenham Hotspur T-shirts, a chocolate Santa, a racing post diary and courtesy of my dad a Calendar. Which features a different picture of him and my mum every month. Which great and individual though it is. I can confirm that was not on my original wish list. And to think that last year, I had a Kylie Minogue one.

Next on Christmas Day it was the traditional lunch time trip to the pub. To have a few drinks with some of my Uncle’s and Cousin’s. I have been doing this every year since I was legally old enough to drink. So let us just say I have been following this ritual for a good many years now. It was good fun as always.

I then returned to my parents opened a nice bottle of red wine and settled in for the rest of the day. We had decided to have a later dinner than usual. So we spent the afternoon chatting and watching some television. Which did include seeing The Queen’s Speech, of course.

My dad cooked the food this year, ably assisted by me. Well I peeled the potatoes and cut up the parsnips at least. So I am pretty sure that makes me a Sous- Chef. Have to say dinner was great. A traditional turkey meal with all the trimmings. In fact my parents ordered such a huge bird. I believe they have only just finished using it for their Sandwiches.

The pudding was toffee cheesecake selected by me. But supplied and made by a big supermarket chain. It finished things off very nicely. And did also go very well with the red wine, I was still drinking.

After dinner we returned to the living room to watch Dr Who and the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. Both of which were excellent. Now my parents have a home karaoke machine. Which is always set up and ready to go at a moments notice. So my dad and sister decided to fire it up and do a few songs each. This was around 8pm.

Now bearing in mind I had been awake since around 9am on Christmas Eve. I will be honest. I was starting to flag a little bit by now. And was drifting off in my chair. Which I must add was no reflection on their performance. So after around an hour. I called it quits and headed off to bed. After a really nice traditional family Christmas Day.

Boxing Day and the Christmas Bank Holiday the day after followed a pretty similar pattern. With lots of nice food, good company and a few drinks. So basically I had a very nice festive period. During which I managed to catch up with friends and family, exchange gifts and have a good laugh.

I caught up with some mates in a coffee shop on Christmas Eve morning. For a get together over a cup of tea and some cakes. How times have changed. A few years ago this would have been later in the day and involved a few pints. But we are more grown up and responsible now. Well the three friends I was with are anyway.

There was one other present I received that I did not mention earlier. I got given Bruce Springsteen’s Book Born to Run. Which was something that I had very much asked for. I have seen The Boss and the E-Street Band play live twice. Both times they were out of this world. I am a fan of the man and his music. So therefore I am really enjoying reading this book.

You know how he writes intriguing and heart felt real song lyrics. Well he has written it in that same style. He is very honest and open about his upbringing, his family and the area that he grew up in. It actually also gives you a very good idea, as to what that part of America was like at that time to.

Although I have only read the first five chapters so far. It does highlight the fact. That we are all what we are from what we experienced, when we were growing up. The interactions with family members. The people we went to school with and were taught by. All seem to have some influence on the way you develop, your mind set, motivations and to degree your own character. And your desire to succeed.

Certainly with Bruce, things that happened in his childhood helped shape things like his work ethic and the desire to better himself and improve his life. I am looking forward to finding out how he made it in the world of music. And how he has stayed at the top of his game for so long. It is an excellent read, so far.

Now I mentioned this the other month and advised you to watch it. And I very much hope you did. I am talking about “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” by the genius Mischief Theatre Company. A specially recorded version featuring David Suchet as the guest star was shown on BBC 1 on New Year’s Eve. And just like all their other plays that I have seen. It was brilliant.

They have a very unique and perfectly honed style. With their shows just becoming more and more chaotic in so many different and clever ways. They perform the shows themselves. As well as writing them. The whole cast is so talented and great together. They are possibly the hardest working group of actors, I know. The comedy they do is often physical and very demanding.

I thought Peter Pan Goes Wrong was hilarious and brilliant. Plus because I have seen their other two shows on in London. The Play That Goes Wrong and Comedy About A Bank Robbery. I have seen the whole cast perform live. And feel like I kind of know them all. Which made it even better seeing them on my television. I thought Nancy Zamit was brilliant. I noticed it when I saw their last play in the West End. But as well as being naturally very funny. She does have a sensational singing voice.

It reminded me of old style fun, silly and crazy variety. And for me it was possibly the best thing on over the entire festive season. Their original show The Play That Goes Wrong is heading to Broadway this year with the original London cast. So I wish them all the best for their American adventure. They are going to go down a storm there, I reckon.

The only other thing I watched on television over Christmas and New Year. Which is something I have to see every year. Was some classic moments of the best comedy double act ever Morecambe and Wise. They always have so many tribute programmes in their honour every year. And they never fail to make me laugh out loud.

Even though I have seen the sketches and bits so many times. For example Eric Morecambe advising the ambulance going past is not going to sell many ice-creams going at that speed. Is never not going to be funny. They were geniuses and I could watch them all day long.

It was a good Christmas and New Year period for my football team Tottenham Hotspur. We had a couple of decent wins, scored some good goals and played some nice football. Which as a supporter I think is pretty much all you can ask. It looks like we should be making another decent challenge to try to finish in the top four in the League. To try to get into the Champions League again.

Although we have already been knocked out of that this time round. We are still in the Europa League and still playing our home games at Wembley. So I am not ruling out another trip to the national stadium to see Spurs play in the next month or so.

Over the years I have worked a lot of New Year’s Eve’s mainly dj’ing at Private Parties. And once again I finished the last year and started this, while at work. I was working through the night at the BBC. Although luckily I was actually on a break around midnight. And thanks to a chance meeting with another colleague. I ended up finding a nice vantage point at Broadcasting House. From where I could watch the fireworks display on the South Bank taking place around the London Eye.

So I saw out 2016 and welcomed in 2017 on a famous roof. Enjoying a great view of the Capital. While taking in what I thought was a brilliant show. The fireworks looked stunning. And I really think we gave Sydney a run for their money this year in the fireworks stakes. It was I think one of the strangest most memorable places that I had seen in the New Year. May I wish you a very happy New Year. I hope you have a fun and interesting 2017.

I gave up making any new year’s resolutions decades ago. I decided that if you want to change something in your life. Why wait for a specific time and excuse, just do it. If it is the right thing to do for you. I do like to think of things that I might like to do or achieve in the next twelve months.

This year I would like to return to doing a bit more stand up comedy. I have got the taste for it again after my performance at my birthday party. I would also like to host some more live events. So I will be looking at a few options in that area. And putting out a few feelers.

It has also been far too long since I presented a live radio show. So that is something that I would really like to do again in 2017. Not so worried about having my own regular daily show again. But if I could get back behind the mic and do a few programmes here and there. That would be pretty good.

I also want to do a bit more travelling. And get to a few more places on my to see and visit list. But mostly I just want to be healthy, happy and to have a good laugh. You never know what exciting and new opportunities are around the corner. That is the beauty of life.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Happy New Year. Cheers Neil.

New Year Same Old Me

January 9, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you had a really good festive period. Mine was great with plenty of fun things happening. I had a lovely family Christmas Day with my parents and my sister. We had a fabulous Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings including Christmas Pudding and cream. Followed by a fun afternoon. Which was spent firstly playing table tennis on the Wii.

I have to admit that all games in the Quigley household become very competitive and we do all really want to beat each other very badly. Which can often lead to a fair bit of banter, a few insults and big in your face celebratory actions, when any victory is achieved. That said it was a good laugh and we all really enjoyed it.

My parents have a Karaoke machine set up at home, so next we took it in turns to serenade the rest of the house and possibly accidentally the rest of the street with our favourite songs. Now when it comes to singing my strength definitely lies in the very low in the mix backing vocals or ideally just introducing the acts and shutting up.

It was a good giggle and I would like to apologise for any crimes I committed against music during this period. My final act on Christmas Day was to pretty much single handedly finish off a whole box of Mint Chocolate Match Makers. I only have them once a year and the speed in which I eat them is the main reason for that.

I was once again very lucky on the present front and got some fantastic gifts for Christmas. I got a new Tottenham Hotspur Mug which has a picture of me signing for the club with the manager holding up my shirt. Which I think is almost too good to drink out of, although I have relented and I am now using it as my main tea vessel.

I have said before that I am a massive fan of autobiographies, so I was delighted to get the latest one from Chris Evans and the life story of the greatest jump jockey of all time AP McCoy. Both of which I cannot wait to read. This is how I will be spending my evenings in January.

I also received an I-phone Docking Alarm Clock, so I can charge it up over night and then use it to wake me up in the morning. I got the first live DVD from Chris Ramsey. Which I am looking forward to getting round to watching. I saw him perform in Aylesbury a few years ago and he was brilliant.

I was also given something I used to get religiously every year but have not had it for a few years now a Kylie Minogue calendar. I can confirm that they are as good as I remember still, if not even better. Something that very much does seem to improve with age. Finally owing to my age I did get a pack of socks. Once you reach a certain age it is a tradition to receive this every year for the rest of your life, if you are a man.

I had a very nice last minute surprise on Boxing Day. When totally out of the blue a mate contacted me to tell me he had a spare ticket to go and see Tottenham Hotspur play Norwich at White Hart Lane, that was mine if I wanted it. All I had to do was get over to his place within half an hour and he was even going to us drive there.

So obviously I went along. I am great believer of living for the moment. I have to confess it had been a while since I had been to a game there. So it was great to have a look round the club shop and have a pint in the pub next door before the match.

Fair play to my friend he had some cracking seats, so we had a great view of the action. It was nice to be back around the Tottenham family and we played really well and managed a very convincing three nil win. Which certainly aided my enjoyment of the day. I thought we looked really good and strong and I thought all of them played their part.

Which looks a good sign for the rest of the season, I hope. It was a brilliant off the cuff day, seeing my football team playing and also catching up with some good mates. I do plan on trying to see at least a couple of more games there before the end of the season, with a bit of luck. Come on you Spurs!

As I had been hearing quite a few good things about it from various sources, on a free day off between Christmas and New Year I decided to check out the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. I understand it is busy at weekends but I went during the week and managed to get straight in without queuing and have a good walk around the place.

It is free to get in but if you want to take part in any of the activities there like ice-skating, some of the rides or their ice-bar, you have to pay and book in advance. I was perfectly happy just having a wonder round to see what it was all about. As well as the rides, there were lots of stalls and places to eat or drink, most of which were themed.

I am a fan of German culture and entertainment and I have been to the Oktoberfest in Munich twice. So I found myself drawn towards the Bavarian Village. So after I had finished looking round I thought I would pop in there for a beer or two. Now basically it cost £5.50 for a pint of Bavarian Gold out of a plastic pint glass but if you paid £9.50 you could get a pint in a glass pint stein.

The extra £4 was a deposit on the glass, so as long as you when you had finished returned the glass and the token that they gave you. You would receive your £4 back. This was a complete no-brainer for me, I mean who wants to drink from a plastic glass. And it is basically still the same price.

There were several different bars and areas to the village including a massive beer hall that must have held at least a thousand and that had a live band playing. There was also a central bar area that had a revolving stage over it. Where a live singer was performing classic songs and playing disco music in between. Fair play he was a really brilliant singer but it did make for some surreal moments.

As one minute he was singing a Frank Sinatra classic and then a few minutes later people were dancing round the bar to Whigfield’s Saturday Night. If I am honest I did like the randomness of it all. I had a brilliant time there, it was great fun. And I would recommend going to have a look at it when it returns towards the end of the year in December.

Being a DJ I have worked a lot of New Year’s Eve’s over the last twenty years but this year I decided not to and to have it all to myself. What I had not considered much is what I should actually do. When I am working there is always a party that I turn up to and get paid to attend. This time I had to find my own entertainment.

On the plus side it was nice not to have the pressure of making sure everybody else there had a memorable night. In the end me and my mate Andy went to an Irish themed pub in High Wycombe, which thanks to its name I felt very at home in. It was the first time I had been out in a town on this particular night for quite a while.

The place did not really start getting busy till about ten o’clock. Normally this pub has a band on at the weekends and I would say it is a bit of a party style venue. But for New Years Eve it had a DJ on playing dance music all night. And very much unlike every gig I have ever done he did not even have a microphone. Which meant the countdown to the new year was courtesy of a pre-recorded special mix that had a countdown on it from 60 seconds, which is a long countdown.

When it ended it left me thinking right so is that actually mid-night? Is it the start of the new year? It just felt a bit odd to me or certainly different to what I am used to. That said I did have a brilliant evening having a few drinks to see out the old and see in the new. Plus I did not get to bed until gone three in the morning. Proving that I am still very rock and roll.

There was another Christmas present that I received that I did not mention earlier. My parent’s got me a tour of White Hart Lane, the home of course of the mighty Tottenham Hotspur. It was brilliant to look behind the scenes of the club I support. Our first stop was the Press Conference Room. The one place that I had actually been to before. When I was an extra in a scene with the main character Jason Bent in the pilot for “The Lee Nelson Well Good Show” for BBC Three. I played a club press officer and sat up on the stage, last time I didn’t get a picture but this time I made sure that I did.

From there we went in to the Directors box and I tried out the Chairman Daniel Levy’s seat for size. I have to admit he has a pretty decent view of the action from where he is. We also looked in a few of the business lounges and some of the executive boxes. For the record I would love to have a box at the Lane for a season, they were pretty cool. Lastly we headed down to the players tunnel to see both dressing rooms and then the dug out area where the players walk out and the manager sits or to be honest in Mr Ponchettino’s case mostly stands.

I think I had a massive smile on my face all through this part of the experience. John our guide who showed us around was brilliant. It was a fun afternoon, which made me feel like a child again. I hope to catch a few more games there over the next eighteen months and I also look forward to seeing the new stadium.

During the festive period I did take a two week break from my usual exercise routine. Just to give my body a little bit of time to recover from a year in which I worked out pretty much every week. Now the celebrations are well and truly over and I have returned to my programme with the intention of actually working a little bit harder and getting a little bit fitter during 2016. Well I have a big party at the end of the year which I really do want to look my best for.

Neil Quigley with Olympic Gold Medal Cyclist Victoria Pendleton

I have also decided to have a month off the alcohol in January. Not for any real or particular reason. I just think it is a good opportunity to focus on what I want to achieve, get my fitness back and feel re-energised. I have not done it for a few years and always feel better for doing it. You do tend to sleep better, have more energy and not risk wasting weekends. But come February normal service will be resumed, as basically from time to time I do simply like a drink.

I wish you a happy and healthy 2016 and hope you achieve everything you want to and most importantly have a lot of fun and memorable moments along the way. Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Neil Quigley Presenter