HI!  We've had another full day!  Tonite, Ali echoed all our thoughts - she thinks everyday is the best, until we get to the next day & it's even better.  That has to be the truth about today.

We started out at the Emma Bridgewater Pottery Factory.  Most of the girls, some parents, & Patrick painted pottery that will be fired & shipped to us.  The girls at the factory showed us how to paint, use sponges, & scrape off paint to form designs.  Everyone got a practice cup to learn on & then picked a plate, cup, or something else to paint for real.  You won't believe how artistic everyone is!  We'll have to wait a few weeks to see the final products, but they looked great even before they were fired.  We did alot of shopping in the factory store - everything was really beautiful - alot of polka dots, which is their signature design.  We drank really yummy hot chocolate & walked through the garden to see the resident chickens.  A delightful way to spend the morning!

Then, off to the gym for competition.  We were at a different gym today - in an old brick building with lots of charm & the wonderful smell of gymnasts working out.  The British team set up a scrumptious buffet lunch.  Just one strange thing - we don't think they have drinks with their meals.  The parents saved the day &  rounded up some cups & bottles of water.  The salon was in the crowded locker room, but everyone came out looking georgeous!  Ana has competition as the make-up artist now.  Lindsay did Charlotte's make-up & the 2 of them looked like twins.   The new leos that Amanda made looked great!  Team USA has arrived!  The competition was lots of fun.  There were several artistic teams from the area competing floor & vault.  Plus the local group, Team USA & Team Canada competing rhythmic.  Warm-up was chaos, but we all got the job done.  Ali, Jessie & 2 local artistic people judged - without score sheets - & did fine.  Stephanie & Kiki helped coach Level 1s & were a big help (except when Kiki lost the red ball & her jazz pants - found later - WHEW!).  Emily competed like the true National  Games champion she is.  Katie Kludt was on her toes all day.  Jennifer had a huge smile in every routine.  Gretchen was amazing & had great expression.  Katie Bender rolled the ball down her back & caught it!!!!!  First time she ever tried that in a routine.  Karen smiled in every routine.  Tonya had the best expression - making eyes at the judges.  Lani sparkled  & showed her personality on the floor.  Christina looked like a true champion.  Her fan club held up a huge Canadian flag during each of her routines.  Lindsay & Charlotte got a perfect 40 All-Around score & deserved every point!!!!!  The most wonderful thing about the competition is that it was really hard to tell who was whose coach - Mary, Kathy, the British coaches & I were all helping everyone.  Hard to tell who was on which team - all the gymnasts sat with new friends & cheered for everyone.  & hard to tell which parents belonged to each team because everyone was cheering so loud for all the athletes.  What a great atmosphere!  Energy was bouncing off the walls all day.

After competition was the Gala.  We performed Surfer Girl with ball, I Dig Rock & Roll Music with ribbons & hats, & In My Daughters Eyes.  The British Disabilities Team did their TeamGym floor, the guys did a floor routine, & the whole team did their display to Juraissic Park.  WOW!  Great show & we finished right on time!  Mark, our guide, was in the bleachers cheering the whole time.  We're spreading the word ABILITY in disability to one person at a time!

We came back to the hotel for a celebration dinner of salad (no dressing), pizza & ice cream.  AHHH!  Off to our rooms to pack for our journey to London tomorrow.

We got an e-mail & pictures from the half of Team Galaxy that isn't on this trip.  They had a Stay at Home Hard Rock celebration in the ballet room at the gym last night.  We miss you guys!  But you know, we're a team - all of us at Chattooga - even when we're separated by an ocean.

So - just as we are almost learning our way around the hotel without a GPS, we are leaving.  The staff here has been the best.  They even washed all our Old Navy shirt with the sheets & towels - no need to search out a laundromat on this trip!  We will miss our British gymnastics friends but plan to meet next summer at the Gymnaestrada in Switzerland or at the World Games in Greece.

WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME ZIP MY SUITCASE!!!!!  All for tonite.  Cindy