The Gardeners' World Blog

Beijing - As our plane begins its descent from bright blue sky thousands of feet in the air through the clouds into Beijing's Capital Airport, I’m excited at the prospect of my fourth visit to China and a chance to see what progress had been made since my last visit in February.

The aircraft makes that familiar bump as the wheels hit the runway – but to my disappointment, visibility on the ground is barely a few hundred metres; it is grey and dull. I get out of the airport into the polluted atmosphere that has unfortunately become all too familiar on previous visits.

London - So, a year from now we will be licking our lips at the prospect of the start of the Olympics (or worrying how few athletics medals Britain are going to win, depending on your point of view).

In fact, the Games will already be under way as the Olympic football tournament always starts a few days ahead of the opening ceremony.

Brits have not had a team to cheer since 1960 (thanks to the petty politics of the home nations’ football associations) but that will hopefully change by 2012 – and earlier if the England women’s team do well at this year’s World Cup.

Next year however, I am predicting a lot more people in this country will be watching the football – mainly because of the fantastic rights portfolio we have, coupled with the time difference.