Sorry to anyone who remotely gives a hoot for my no show last week, I realise I left a hole in your verbal diatribe fix.

I’ve not (to settle some speculation) been cramming in last minute Olympic training – I’d simply found myself in need of a mini-break ahead of the games, and am I’m delighted to have made the decision.

This past week I’ve found myself a huge fan of archery and shooting, wasting hours before realising the time had passed. Canoe slalom took over an entire afternoon this week and my daughters summer school called to remind me that it was past pick up time – luckily I was with another dad in the soft-drink only bar just up the road.

The biggest surprise was moving from verbally slating the Judo, yes – shouting at the telly that it was a load of old tosh – to be totally transfixed on our Team GB silver-medallist Gemma for a three hour session.

The folks at NPD have already given us some decent data this month showing an uplift from events in May, and I’ve seen lofty PR claims from a couple of cycle outlets shouting about the increased sales of two-wheel transport (also known as the “Wiggo Effect”).

My mates in the outdoor toy industry could do with a decent few weeks after the deluge we’ve had with this most British of summers and I optimistically and with crystal ball in hand predict a decent summer holiday run.

More than this, the licensed gear seems to be shifting quite well – even those dubious one-eyed mascots have become popular. Anyone remember how badly they were received at first? Ham Sandwiches and Bar Mitzvahs spring to mind!

Just so you know, you are not on your own in thinking that it cannot possibly be August already.

Worse still, I read my first back to school article yesterday, it was a feature on prepping your kids for the transition from junior to senior school admittedly but this does pave the way for rucksack round-ups, best in show pencil cases and the inevitable pocket-money crazes collection – the latter penned by me of course.

As a slight diversion from pitching for film business this week I was asked to test-drive a car by Renault this week, yes that’s the one.

Nothing but admiring glances, pointy fingers, inquisitive enquiries and I swear to you only one, yes a single gesticulation which an elderly aunt might have been offended by – and all in central London.

One could call it a Noddy car of the 21st century, perhaps that is why they asked me to road test it, but I can confirm it is like driving a go kart around town, quite grin inducing indeed, but then I discovered the doors are an added extra and might have to adjust my opinion.

Let’s hope at some point the Maldivian tourist board seethe benefit of having me involved, if they do, then I’ll be leaving another gap next Friday.

Peter Jenkinson is CEO of Toyology.TV and while he loves Judo thinks the sport could learn plenty from Beach volleyball in the garment department.