The Olympics came and went and I did not anticipate how fun it would be seeing them come to London. The excitement in the air was palpable. Olympic fever was taking over everywhere, and you had no choice but to get sucked up into it. London was decorated up, and you would stumble into some kind of festivities when ever you left the house, from urban acrobatics in Westfield, to aeriel artists in Piccadilly Circus. The city was alive and yet surprisingly more quiet than usual?? Despite every ones fears of a busy London, it was pleasantly less calmer, with business' re-locating or working from home, people vacating the city for holidays amidst the fears of a gridlocked Olympic London...and those who stuck around reaped the benefits (well bar tourism which lost money).
We kicked our selves for not trying harder to apply for tickets, our attitude towards it was a little relaxed a year ago when you could apply, and we were not sure if we were gunna try and holiday-let the flat out during the time. But to the rescue came Becky and Nath (my in laws), who shared some of their tickets that they managed to get on the lottery. We had a choice of canoes in or the water polo at the Olympic park, and although we would have preferred the canoe events, we opted for water polo since that would get us access to the Olympic Park too (you couldn't get into the park with out ticks).
We where in the park on SUPER SATURDAY! (for the benefit of those reading from abroad, it was dubbed Super Saturday by British media due to Britain's success' on this day). It was so fun to be able to say we were there on such a sporting historic day. However it was painful hearing the crowd roar for Jessica Ennis inside the athletics stadium whilst I stood outside. So wish I could have been inside there. The athletics that evening was probably the best from the entire Olympics for brits. Ennis, Rutherford and his swagger, and Mo. So Im really gunna clutch at straws by saying I was there, but I was there.. kind of!!
We had fun time at the park, and got to watch some stuff on the screens with the crowds, wonder round, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy some of the attractions in there. Thank You Becky and Nath!!
The Water Polo exceeded my expectations completely, I had prejudged it because I was not particuarly interested in it, but there was a great atmosphere there (it was, after all, a live Olympic event and I was watching water polo at its best, I really should have known better! ha). My fave part was how the the teams would jump/dive in the water in a penguin-like fashion.
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| There where big screens with gathered crowds all over London, the city accommodated really well allowing you to be apart of the atmosphere even if you didn't have ticks to live events. Hyde Park Live was a brilliant freebie in my opinion. An area of the park sectioned off with screens all around it, games, events, festivities, food stalls, deck chairs, known live bands, and the Olympians would even stop by to show off their medals. On one of the last eves, all of team GB came out on the stage! There was a real party atmosphere there. |
Anthony and I took advantage of our visitors and had an Olympic themed date at Hyde park live.
When the bands were playing, it was like you were at a music festival, I felt like I was 18 again (well after several cokes to keep me awake that is!). There was a brilliant atmosphere, different areas to chill, dance or cheer depending on what you were in the summer mood for. And full coverage of all the events.
Some of the bands we caught, where the arctic monkeys, feeder, ocean colour scene....
I some how managed to get out to Hyde Park Live without kids 3 evenings in a row which just about finished me off. It turns out I am definitely not 18.
Friends gathered to watch Bolts race, which was fun because of all the Jamaican supporters, they know how to celebrate! And we liked joining in!
The show of testosterone along that starting line made me laugh. Like males in the wild performing some kind of mating display to attract the female.
We also gathered for Mo's 5000 m. race on the 2nd Saturday. The atmosphere was electric. 50,000 people shouting for Mo, and then breaking out into celebration as he crossed the finish line, streamers and fireworks where sent into the sky. I, like the rest of the country, kinda fell for Mo....well there was a few I fell for actually. After Mo's race the attention turned to Tom Daley, Loved seeing him and everyone there celebrate his bronze as if it was gold. He is so endearing, I think the whole nation think of him as their little brother, and even more so after he lost his number one fan (father), to cancer last year. I don't have any pics of that evening as I left my camera at home, but basically just imagine a wash of union jacked Brits celebrating.
Above right corner, one of my Faves, our queen Vic on stage with her medals.
There were plenty of free events and races that you could get to. The cycling and running routes went very near where we live, but with Anthony working, the idea of standing on a road side with two energetic kids, in a crowd for any length of time didn't fill me with joy. However I enjoyed seeing my neighbourhood in the Olympics.
I did go down to Hyde park for the mens triathalon though. With a pretty dead cert win from one of the Brownlee brothers, I thought it was worth the effort taking the kids. Plus it means they can now say they have been to an Olympic event. I got there early enough to stake out and get a good spot on a hill overlooking the serpentine. I didn't fare my chances on a road side or up close to the barriers because of the crowds. However once more friends turned up, and things had become more busy we decided it would be better for kids and everyone if we took advantage of the screens they put up. So we watched on a screen sandwiched between the serpentine and the road where they'd run and ride their bikes. The crowd would always tell us when the Brownlee brothers were running/riding past. And WHAT A RACE! The tactics, the drama, Hayes who took it for the team and that penalty!! I think Johnny got a bigger cheer than Alistair (who got gold), to come back from that penalty like that and still take bronze. What a guy. And how much love and admiration did he have for his brother? Proper cute.
My fave events and athletes from both the Olympics and the Paralympics where Jessica Ennis, The Brownlee Brothers, Mo, Mark Cav. Wiggins, The Weir Wolf, Johnny Peacock, Oscar Pistorius,
Bert (not an athlete but what a guy!) Ellie Simmons, Victoria Pendleton. The canoe Salem took my breath away... the rowing, the athletics, the diving, the gymnastics.....I found myself watching events I thought I'd never be interested in.
I kinda feel like we don't need things like the football, basket ball or tennis etc. in the Olympics, they have their big tournaments already, yes I know thats kind of contraversial after Murrays win.
But I definitely think Olympic football is a non event. This opinion doesn't apply to the para's...Did you see Wheel chair basketball? Intense! I saw a guy throw himself on the floor, wheelchair on top of him, getting wheeled on, all for 2 points!
I LOVED the drama, the back storeys, the tactics, the near misses, the just abouts, the coming from behind and taking gold, shouting at the the penalties, The first Iraqi woman to compete, the first amputee to compete, and all the other "firsts". I just loved it all and soaked it up.
My fave part of the day was sitting down with Anthony at 10.30 to watch "Olympics tonight", it was like I couldn't go to bed without seeing Gabby!
Some pics of the kids.....
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A decorated London included trees decorated with big medals every time GB won in Leicester Sq. The Olympic rings on just about every land mark in London, my fave being Tower Bridge. Gold Post Boxes for every Gold won in the town of the winner (am yet to go see Wiggins) and although I thought those mascots where the weirdest and ugliest mascots Iv ever seen, I enjoyed seeing all the themed ones about the city, below is china town and red bus Wenlocks. The Ariel artist is my friend Juliet, and I also knew one of the Mary Poppins' in the opening ceremony. Also below is the 'posh' boat the queen used for her jubilee which was also used to bring the torch in! |
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Everyday was a celebration! Exhibition Road is the road which our church is on, there were things happening all the way up that road and into Hyde Park, so one Sunday after church we got some of its action! And wandering round Hyde Park stumbled across random 'Olympic' festivities. We wandered into a centre which was promoting the Russian winter Olympics where they had some fun interactive things to do, but they also had a 2012 Olympic torch to hold. So after saying "whats the point?" everyday whenever I saw the crowds gather to watch the Olympic torch on the news... there I was holding it, ha!
Parades, band stands, circus acts, stilt men, jugglers, fire eaters, acrobatics... dancing....
Oh and here are some funny out takes! Enjoy.
P.S check out my hair, its amazin' isn't it!? I know you'll all have hair envy when you see my 'fro!
Ignorance is bliss as they say! Its since been seen to, it was an outgrown, unmaintained mess for a while but I sorted it before I got pulled over by the hair police ha!
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Anyway Iv gone on enough, I was sad to see it go, If I wasn't so exhausted I would have had post Olympic blues I'm sure. But I was happy to get back to being a half decent mum again. Id completely neglected my kids, palming them off to TV, bribery and family so I could indulge my addiction. Anthony and I both found ourselves neglecting responsibilities in favour of a race. One time I sneaked away from the kids thinking anthony would come out the bathroom and take over, only to find he wasn't in the bathroom, but watching the TV in our room too. Busted.
But there it is, that was our time with the London Olympics. phewwwwww! That was BIGGIN'. |
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