Today I was given a great new TV and blu-ray player from Panasonic. They awarded all of the Olympic Gold medallists with one of their blu-ray players and the new Viera HD TV with built-in freesat.

Panasonic is one of the big British Olympic Association sponsors and it was a generous way to reward the athletes, so a big thank you to them. Rebecca Adlington and I recieved our TV's this morning at a special presentation in the Nottingham University swimming pool. Blu-ray discs are definately on my Christmas list!

I've just returned from my first international surfski race, the Dubai Shamaal. A fantastic trip and a really fun, relaxed and well organised event. I went with Ivan Lawler and Ben Farrell and it was great to see many of my paddling friends from all over the World again too. Congratulations to Australian Tim Jacobs who won the 25km race. I enjoyed the event a lot although would like to have spent more time in a single surfski out on the sea and come higher up the rankings!

Thanks to the organisers of the race and to the Pensons who had me to stay with them. A big thanks also to Oakley who provided some great eyewear to wear for the race.

Dubai was a nice place, good weather and we got to do some fun activities too like snowboarding on a real snow indoor slope at -4 degrees. The day after the race a few of us went to Wild Wadi water park, a lot of fun. See some photos from the trip here.

I'm already looking forward to returning next year to race again!

Also, I have received a great coffee machine courtesy of Nespresso. It makes the best coffee and is simply brilliant. Many thanks for that. See it here or come round and try it for yourself!

If you're looking for a last minute unique Christmas present, check out Right To Play's ebay auction of sporting memorabilia. All proceeds go directly to the charity.