London Olympics 2012 iv

Today was one of the big days of my London Olympics. The Olympics were right outside my office, a matter of metres away were crowds and elite cyclists, it was the real deal and all I had to do was saunter out of my office.

If only it was that simple.

To back-track a little, I have been undertaking a wide reaching review of part of the way my university operates, an outcome is going to be a restructure and today just happened to be the day we needed to meet with some people that would be affected by the changes - not the kind of meeting that was going to be easy to rearrange.

It was ok though, I would still get a chance to see some of the event, and lets face it, it was work time so I couldn't complain too much if I had to do a bit of work.

That said it was still a great day and a great experience. It's been building up over the past few days as preparations for the cycling time trial became evident.

Signs were going up warning of road closures, barriers were appearing, on Monday afternoon a few Olympic cyclists could be spotted trying out the course, Tuesday morning was the 'technical trial' where roads were closed, police cars, security personnel and volunteers all had the chance to test out their roles and a bunch of Olympic cyclists went around the course.

Then this morning it was all on. Roads closed, barricades up along the roads, road sweepers doing the rounds, my Riverside Cafe was open early, some spectators were getting in position by 8.30 (4 hours before cyclists would go past). Volunteers and security guards were all over the place. There was a real buzz around the office, today was special and everyone could tell, not least because we couldn't have the front doors to our building open for security reasons.

All morning cyclists would go by, some Olympic, some not. You could tell when an Olympic cyclist was coming because their disk wheels made a very distinctive noise. I saw the kiwi lady go past a few times.

The crowds were building throughout the morning.

We have a tv in one of our offices so once the cyclists started heading off we knew it would be just half an hour before they went flying past our office. By the time the cyclists came by there was a big crowd lining the streets, I managed to get a couple of photos but found it tough to take photos and clap and cheer at the same time.

I saw most of the women go by before I had to literally run to my meeting. Unfortunately the meeting went longer than I'd hoped (not my fault). At the end of the meeting I ran out the door (not too professional but tough) but as I got outside I could see people streaming away from where the cycling was, I'd missed the last men going past by just a few minutes. I was pretty angry at the time for missing some of the cycling but I still feel pretty lucky have seen what I did.

What was amazing after the cycling had finished was how quickly the roads were returned to normal. The barriers and temporary road signs were gone by the time I left work. I was reflecting with a colleague that it was similar to the day after Christmas, so much excitement leading up to it and great while it's there but gone too soon.

It was an incredible day and has been an incredible few days, London is really buzzing in a way I've never seen before, we're really enjoying the Olympics and are looking forward to continuing to soak up the atmosphere over the next 10 days.

Below are a few photos I took of the day on my camera, I've got more on my phone which I'll try and upload tomorrow.

London Olympics 2012 iii

Lots of stuff to update on following my last Olympics update...

First of all more torch sightings. On Friday the torch made its final journey to the Olympic park along the Thames from Hampton Court. As my office is right next to the Thames the I left for work a bit early and watched the torch go past along the river along with thousands of other early birds.

That night we went to a friends house for bbq and to watch the opening ceremony. None of us were particularly impressed with the ceremony although I did like the humorous touches, particularly Mr Bean, I laughed so hard I woke Theo up. We did also appreciate that London were doing something quintessentially British rather than some big and brash generic display.

Saturday and Sunday we gave our new tv a real work out. The cycling road race being of particular interest although I did also get my fill of archery, fencing, taekwondo, gymnastics, swimming, hockey, handball, beach volleyball, basketball, dressage and probably some others too.

Below is more evidence of the the Olympics existing on my way to work and where I work...

Signs directing people to Wimbledon for the tennis

View from my office, Olympic banner "Inspire a generation"

Olympic bunting next to the river at work

Barriers up ready for the time trial cycling, practice on Tuesday and the main event on Wednesday, it goes right past my office but unfortunately I've got a meeting on the Wednesday so will only see an hour or so of the cycling. 

There is a great buzz around town. Everywhere you go there are Olympic volunteers in their purple outfits heading towards their venue to do their work.

Our tickets aren't until the last weekend but we're hoping to head in to town to soak up some of the atmosphere.

Hope you're enjoying the games where ever you are

London Olympics 2012 ii

So after yesterdays torch extravaganza, this morning I had the opportunity to see the torch again as it went past our main campus at work, just after 9, so everyone got in to work on time and we all headed over the road to get our positions to watch the torch go by.

It wasn't long before there was a big crowd of people lining the streets. We didn't have to wait long before police starting coming along the route followed by sponsors trucks and buses, everyone was hyped up. Then unfortunately there was a couple of minute wait before the torch came along. There was much cheering, not long to go now.

London Olympics 2012 i

First post on the Olympics.

We had tickets to see the Olympic torch arrive at the end of its journey for the day. There were people lining the streets about 5 people deep and thousands in the enclosure to see the cauldron be lit by Tim Henman.

We were at the back so didn't see a huge amount but there was a great buzz and it's certainly got us in the spirit.

Note the beautiful weather, the good weather is due to stop the day the Games start.

The Olympic torch goes past my work tomorrow so I might get a closer view.

WE ARE PUMPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jackie's Birthday

It was Jackie's birthday on Thursday. I took Thursday and Friday off work but we didn't have anything planned, we weren't going anywhere. 

Every other year we've been over here we've gone away for Jackie's birthday. We've been to Nice, Alicante, Rye, Paris and Bournemouth for Jackie's birthday over the past five years. This year we did London.

On Thursday morning Jackie had breakfast in bed and presents.

Theo had his morning snooze and then Jackie went to Balham for a pedicure. Theo and I met her for lunch at the French Cafe, which is right next to where she was having her pedicure. We both had three courses, it was all yum. After lunch Jackie went back next door for a massage. After that was a bit of shopping and a coffee on the way home. On Thursday night we went to a friend's house, it was also his birthday, and he did us and a few other friends a bbq which was great. It was nice to sit outside for a bbq and enjoy some half decent weather. 

Friday we had planned to go out for brunch and then venture in to the big smoke. We had brunch in Balham at a place called Milk. It was yum, pictures below pretty much give the low down.

After brunch we caught the train in to town, we walked past Buckingham Palace and through Green Park, there are lots of Olympic tourists already in town and the city is getting geared up for the big event starting in less than a week. 

From here we made our way to the Royal Society of Arts where the Summer Exhibition was being held. We've always wanted to go but somehow have never made it. The exhibition is open to entry for anyone. Most of the artwork is by Royal Academicians but anyone can enter, Jackie is inspired to enter next year. It's tough to get work in, very competitive but still worth a try. All the work is for sale with prices ranging from £15 for a print, to at least £60,000 for pieces by some of the more well known artists. We bought a postcard at the gift shop. It was a spectacular exhibition, helped by inspiring surroundings.  

Following the exhibition we walked via Picadilly Sq to Trafalgar Sq for a coffee.

Picadilly Sq, the big smoke. 

Then on to the Southbank for a drink by the river. It was sunny when we decided to have a drink, before long it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale. We were outside but under shelter so it was a bit like camping, we really enjoyed it. 

It was then home via a food market, picking up tickets for an Olympic Torch event on Monday and a long bus ride. It was a very long day by our standards but was a great reminder of why we love living in London. Theo was very well behaved throughout which was an extra special treat for Jackie.

Lubilee Jubilee

A long time between blogs. We'll get around to posting some photos of our new flat soon. We've got a bit of catching up to do, first of all let's up date you on our experience of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations...


Leading up to the jubilee weekend London basked in some incredible weather, 10 days of hot sunny weather. Union Jack flags and bunting were appearing in shops and outside people's homes in an unusual display of patriotism for the UK. Some photographic evidence of the great weather leading up to the jubiliee weekend:

Was so hot I had a cold drink instead of coffee at my visit to my regular coffee shop near work

Perhaps off to join the flotilla? My view from my regular coffee shop down the road from work

View of London on my way home from a meeting in town

The weekend before the jubilee weekend was the Ritherdon Road street party which is just around the corner. We went and had a look and enjoyed a German sausage and ice cream. It was a great street party with lots of people and atmosphere.

Ritherdon Road street party (or should that be road party)

The Friday before the jubilee weekend the weather packed up. On the Saturday morning I went for a jog in to town to see the preparations for the main event - the flotilla down the Thames. I ran through Battersea Park which was hosting a festival and had some prime viewing spots for the flotilla.


From Battersea Park I ran through Chelsea to Hyde Park were more preparations for various events were taking place, Kensington Palace was looking very well groomed having been closed off for quite a while as they redid the gardens and maybe prepared the palace for Kate and Will to inhabit.


All in all, there wasn't as much to see on my run as I thought but at least it dragged me out for a long run. Some sights from my run...

On Saturday afternoon we did a bit of shopping and on the way back stopped in at a street party which got us in the mood for the weekend.


On Sunday, the weather looking particularly poor, there was a Vintage Market in Balham, it's a shame the weather was so bad because there weren't too many people at this market. We stopped for tea and cake.

Scone with jam and cream, yum

Victoria sponge

The works

I headed in to town to see the flotilla (while Jackie and Theo stayed at home to pack). I think it was probably just as well the weather was a little suspect because there were so many people who turned up, I'm sure if the weather was half decent there would have been too many people.


I caught a train and then had a long walk to where I thought I might be able to get a view. Being on my own I was able to squeeze in between people and eventually got to a point where I was about 3 rows back from the river. My view was obstructed but I was happy with my spot, the people around me were quite nice, not too raucous.


There was quite a bit of waiting involved but we were entertained by big screen showing the BBC coverage of the day. It wasn't too long before the boats started coming, there was some confusion about where the Queen was amongst the flotilla with some people suggesting she was on the first fancy boat but when she did eventually arrive there was no mistaking her boat or her.


The flotilla was quite impressive but I wasn't going to hang around till the very end because I knew the trip home was probably going to be a long one.


As the bridges were all closed for the flotilla and I had got myself on to the north side of the river I needed to find a tube or train that could get me home. I found a bus stop, waited for a bus but they were all full. Eventually I crossed the road and got a bus to Victoria station which whisked me home with little fuss.

These had been at the Chelsea Flower Show but was sitting in a  car park near the river

A panorama photo of the scene by the river

My view of the big screen

My view of the river was probably better than my view of the big screen. This was the barge which had the bells ringing out. 

This was the fancy boat leading the flotilla which some people thought had the Queen on it. It didn't

The rowing boats were out front, including a waka

The Queen's boat

You prob can't see it on the screen, but when the photo is full size you can see the  Queen. 

There were some interesting boats bringing up the rear, I did stop to watch the steam boats go by

Victoria station was decked out for the Queen. 

The Monday and Tuesday were predominantly spent packing. On Tuesday we went for a great walk past lots of street parties and went and had a pint at a pub, including a Jubilee Ale and even got a photo with the Queen.

One of the street parties we saw on our walk

Jackie and Theo having a taste of the Jubilee Ale

Jackie and Theo with Liz

All in all it was a great weekend, the atmosphere across London was happy and friendly, there was a real sense of excitement. It was amazing to be a part of it all. We did wonder whether we might be hear for a coronation in the near future. Ticking off a Royal Wedding, Jubilee and Coronation would be quite a set to have!

We're on the move

It's been ages since our last blog post, sorry about that, we've had quite a bit on. I've been sorting out my visa (work in progress), I've taken on my bosses job and we've been moving. I think most people are aware we've had to move out of DCC because we needed more space, and another bedroom now that we are 3 people.

Jackie spent ages looking at flat, schlepping around south west London looking at all sorts of flats, some decent, some disgusting. The place we have ended up in is huge compared to our small but well laid out 1 bedroom flat in the DCC.

We've moved to an area called furzedown, which apparently isn't a suburb in its own right but an area within Streatham (pronounced stret-him). It's a nice residential area, with a few shops, a playground with bowling green and tennis courts at the end of the road and plenty of young families around. The biggest drawback with the new place is that it is a long way from any tube or trains. We were very fortunate in Balham to have both train and tube very near by. It is going to take some adjusting but I'm sure we'll get used to it.

The place we're in is a 2 bedroom Victorian conversion. Our landlord lives on the first floor, we've got the second and third floors. We think the landlord did some of the conversion himself because it's a bit rough in places but that's fine by us. We're a little worried about how cold it might get upstairs, where the bedrooms are, because it is a loft conversion, so not the same level of insulation but it's something we're going to have to deal with. Theo has loads of woollen clothes and blankets and if we have to spend a bit more on heating then so be it.

Coinciding with us moving flats, Theo has started crawling, which is great fun, although caused a few problems while trying to pack, move and unpack. We've had to get stair guards and get used to closing doors so Theo doesn't disappear, he really can motor now and he's quite cheeky because he will crawl away, look back knowing he shouldn't be going where he is going and then carry on crawling. He's also pulling himself up on couches, coffee tables and anything else that takes his fancy, this often results in an ungraceful and painful fall but he'll figure it out soon enough.

That's all for now, once we're unpacked we'll take photos of the place to give you a guided tour. Also other blogs we need to do include one of our London in 50 walks and Jubilee Weekend. Hopefully we can get those done before Wimbledon and the Olympics!