A BIG thank you this week to everyone who supported this year s Eel Day in Jubilee Gardens and special thanks to all those of you who took the time to support the Ely Standard s Guess the Name of the Rabbit stall. In case you are wondering what it was a

A BIG 'thank you' this week to everyone who supported this year's Eel Day in Jubilee Gardens and special thanks to all those of you who took the time to support the Ely Standard's Guess the Name of the Rabbit stall. In case you are wondering what it was all about, the Ely Standard acquired a four-foot fluffy rabbit and we charged people �1 to guess the rabbit's name and the proceeds (�121) will be going to the CLIC Sargent charity.

We had a lot of fun on the day as we tried to persuade several mums and dads that they really could find space for a four-foot fluffy rabbit at home!

Eel Day has now become a permanent fixture in the Ely diary and it was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the sunshine and supporting so many local causes. Well done to everyone who helped to make the day so enjoyable, but especially to Tracey Harding, our hard-working town centres manager; Avril Hayter-Smith who organised the town crier competition and Ian Newstead and his Ely Lions who all work hard behind the scenes to make events like these a great success.

I went for a run in the week and managed to run for almost a mile without having to stop. The pain in my lungs is lessening so I am hoping that I will now start to improve slowly each week. I also have to mention my friend and trainer, Ely Standard photographer Helen Drake this week. If it wasn't for Helen there would have been several nights when I just would not have put my foot outside the back door. Once we are out there she encourages me constantly and somehow manages to stifle a laugh when I trip over my laces, don't look before running across roads and fail to negotiate dog's mess on the path! Thanks Hels.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn't like to do.

Thomas Edison