Tonight's, the night. The Olympic Games opening ceremony signifies the start of the London 2012 event. The question on everybodies lips is, of course, who will light the torch in the stadium?
Tradition dictates that it is an Olympian, so thet rules out Davis Beckham, although Ryan Giggs now qualifies after the game last night. Don't worry though it won't be him.
For what it's worth here is my take on how tonight will unfold.........
The stadium goes black, by design, not due to non-payment of leckie bill.....a single spotlight pierces the darkness and picks out a solitary figure riding a trandem. ( a three person bicycle made famous by The Goodies ). Zoom in and it becomes evident that riding the trandem is the recently crowned winner of the Tour de France, Bradley Wiggins.
Bradley waves to the crowd, then thinks better of it as the bicycle careers all over the track. He pedals on for another few seconds before another spotlight picks out a bus stop at which stands another solitary figure. Bradley stops, and picks up his first passenger, no less a person than Daley Thompson, the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Decathlon gold medalist.
They then wobble round the track to the final bus stop and there waiting for them is the Olympic torch being carried by Sir Steve Redgrave, Olympic gold medalist at five different games, and to many people the greatest ever Olympian. He jumps on and they all pedal to the top of the stadium where they all hold the torch as the flame is lit.
Everybody cheers and the games begin.....you read it here first!!!
Friday 27 July 2012
Thursday 26 July 2012
And they're off....
It's Olympic Games time, and I am trying to be positive about them, albeit they have done me no favours over the last few years. Indeed they have done me no favours next week as I have had to change my hotel in West London as it is slap bang in the middle of the cycle road race and I would have no access to my car for most of the day. let's hope Bradley Wiggins does the business in that one and then BBC sports personality of the year 2012 should be a nailed on certainty.
The Games kicked off yesterday with a spot of ladies footie. the standard is certainly improving, and isn't it great that they don't fall over at the slightest touch, or scream at the ref all the time, the male professional game should look and learn. They won't of course.
I played golf last night with a gentlemen who was at the opening ceremony of the 1948 games in London, as a seven year old, and he has moved heaven and earth to get tickets for the opening ceremony on Friday, that must be a great feeling for him. he said he could remember the 1948 event like it was yesterday, so I hope he has a really enjoyable experience in Stratford, regardless of the fact hotel prices in the area are 400% higher than normal.
I have not given up hope of getting to the stadium for the athletics. Usually sponsors tickets get returned last minute so I am looking daily to see what's around. It might need to be a day trip, but at least we can say ' we were there!'
The Games kicked off yesterday with a spot of ladies footie. the standard is certainly improving, and isn't it great that they don't fall over at the slightest touch, or scream at the ref all the time, the male professional game should look and learn. They won't of course.
I played golf last night with a gentlemen who was at the opening ceremony of the 1948 games in London, as a seven year old, and he has moved heaven and earth to get tickets for the opening ceremony on Friday, that must be a great feeling for him. he said he could remember the 1948 event like it was yesterday, so I hope he has a really enjoyable experience in Stratford, regardless of the fact hotel prices in the area are 400% higher than normal.
I have not given up hope of getting to the stadium for the athletics. Usually sponsors tickets get returned last minute so I am looking daily to see what's around. It might need to be a day trip, but at least we can say ' we were there!'
Wednesday 25 July 2012
No woman, no cry.....
Well we have just returned from two glorious weeks holiday in our idyllic hideaway, St Lucia, in the Caribbean. I understand it was a tad damp here in Blighty while we were away, but I am pleased to report St Lucia were experiencing the driest July for some while.
Its the rainy season at this time of year, and its not a time we would normally visit, however, with such hectic schedules at our usual, and preferred, times, March and September, it was a matter of going in July or not going at all.
The resort we visit, Le Sport, has just had a multimillion pound makeover paid for in part by the insurance claims from recent hurricane damage. Hurricanes are fairly rare in St Lucia, but the ones in 20009 and 2010 certainly left their mark on the island. There are still roads which are single passage only, and the mud slides in Soufiere buried a number of people in their homes.
On the whole, though, the hotel has done a good job. There is a new clubhouse with pizza oven and permanent kitchen which takes the catering outlets up to three. There is a new infinity pool for the water volleyball and new instruction areas for Scuba and water aerobics. The boardwalk has been extended and there are new boutiques and bars as well. The price has gone up, but on the whole the benefits have justified it.
The manager did indicate to us that food costs are their biggest recent price increase, and that was reflected across the resort where the selection was less varied than previously. that said, while we were there the house white, part of the all inclusive deal, was Napa Valley Chardonnay which retails at £17 a bottle in UK. we must have drunk £500 worth!! It had just run out as we left to be replaced by a South Australian which was not in the same league. I guess that's the luck of the draw.
I got in a few golf lessons when I played some holes with Edwin the pro. He made a couple of swing changes which provided instant reward and he jokingly said were $50 a pop. all i need to do now is try them out in the Wallasey wind.....fore!
Its the rainy season at this time of year, and its not a time we would normally visit, however, with such hectic schedules at our usual, and preferred, times, March and September, it was a matter of going in July or not going at all.
The resort we visit, Le Sport, has just had a multimillion pound makeover paid for in part by the insurance claims from recent hurricane damage. Hurricanes are fairly rare in St Lucia, but the ones in 20009 and 2010 certainly left their mark on the island. There are still roads which are single passage only, and the mud slides in Soufiere buried a number of people in their homes.
On the whole, though, the hotel has done a good job. There is a new clubhouse with pizza oven and permanent kitchen which takes the catering outlets up to three. There is a new infinity pool for the water volleyball and new instruction areas for Scuba and water aerobics. The boardwalk has been extended and there are new boutiques and bars as well. The price has gone up, but on the whole the benefits have justified it.
The manager did indicate to us that food costs are their biggest recent price increase, and that was reflected across the resort where the selection was less varied than previously. that said, while we were there the house white, part of the all inclusive deal, was Napa Valley Chardonnay which retails at £17 a bottle in UK. we must have drunk £500 worth!! It had just run out as we left to be replaced by a South Australian which was not in the same league. I guess that's the luck of the draw.
I got in a few golf lessons when I played some holes with Edwin the pro. He made a couple of swing changes which provided instant reward and he jokingly said were $50 a pop. all i need to do now is try them out in the Wallasey wind.....fore!
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