Also, Hockey, Olympic Park – 6 August
I am going to lump these two together and also mention that we went to boxing on 29 August. Basically, I am so shattered by storming around the Olympic park yesterday, after two kiddy parties and a long stint at the allotment over the weekend, that I can’t even comprehend trying to write about the boxing. It was great, as I vaguely recall. It all seems so long ago.
Wrestling at ExCel. These were the tickets we bought because we thought nobody else would want them. But there were plenty of fans there from many countries. This sport seems to be Asia led – there was a wrestler from Krygystan, one from Belarus and the gold medal winner of one class was from Iran. The other gold medal winner, in the 74kg category, was Roman Vlasov from Russia. Mr wound up getting his autograph on the ticket as he very kindly came out where the spectators were leaving at ExCel. So it made his night.
I did feel like the Belarusian was a bit of a sore loser, as he lost out on the bronze medal and would neither shake anyone’s hand, nor stop weeping by the side of the mat. Finally his coach came along and collected him. I wanted to say, sometimes if you offer them an ice cream, they cheer up. But we liked the Belarusian wrestler because he was the first to do a flip when he won. Then they all did it. One of the gold medal winners practically did a whole routine. Mr got a photo or two.
We took the cable car over and back, and it’s a part of London I haven’t really roamed around much before. Lovely water views. Of course, it helped that they were parking the tall-masted ships in the ExCel Docklands basin.
Again, the organization was brilliant. Can’t fault LOCOG for how they’ve set it all up. And we realized just how amazing they were when we got up bright and early the next morning (bit too early, having stopped in a local pub, The Pilot Inn, on the way home to catch Usain Bolt’s sprint) to go to the Olympic Park.
We took the advice to get off at West Ham instead of Stratford, and were rewarded with a pleasant enough 20-minute walk to the park. Then, once we got there, the steward said, you have another 20 minutes to go to Riverside Stadium. Oh. On we trudged, past the lovely wildflower meadows (not sure why when I let the weeds go on the allotment, they don’t get as picturesque as this, ha ha) and the massive temporary structures.
I would like to say the Americans covered themselves in glory playing hockey (or field hockey, as we call it in the States), but they didn’t. Mr joked that perhaps they were confused and were waiting for a puck. South Africa took the opportunity to rout the Yanks and stormed ahead. Final score was 7-0. A killing.
At least the weather held and we had a nice woman next to us who explained the scoring and rules with the hockey. Never played it myself. We left the arena and wandered around a bit, and then we espied some US fans in those morphsuits. Took a photo and then realized we were surrounded by most of the losing women’s hockey team. Mr was delighted and got two of their autographs, plus one from the winning South African team.
We planned to go to the world’s largest McDonalds for lunch, breaking my personal rule of never eating there, but the queue was so huge that we gave up and waded back through the throngs to the fish and chip stand we had passed on the way.
Note on the crowds: I have never seen so many people in one place in my life. And yet it all ran so smoothly. Many kudos to the Olympic volunteers.
So, we lined up for fish and chips, and Gavin said quietly, There’s Dara O Briain. I said, Where? And whipped around looking for him in the crowd. He was right behind us in the line. Oops. So we chatted a bit and he signed Mr’s autograph magazine of the Olympic Day 10. He has gone to see the water polo and something else. Apparently the Irish didn’t do so well.
He was recognized more than once as he is about Mr’s height (6 foot 4 or so) and he is on the tv over here a fair bit. He seemed quite pleasant about it all, which was nice. He was also having lunch with one of the panelists from Mock the Week. Is that allowed? Never mind.
We parted ways when he went for the cod while we went towards haddock. Mr took a photo of the back of his head at the counter. I suggested that crossed the line into stalkerdom. Gavin was wondering why he wasn’t in the seafood and champagne building instead of the chippy line. I said, well, believe it or not, he’s probably a real person like us and enjoys a good plate of fish n chips.
And they were very good. Expensive, but not crazy, and very quality. I had mushy peas too. Pushed the boat out, as they say over here.
Then, it was another queue for the Olympics souvenir shop. That was only about a 10 minute wait. And what delights! Wenlock was there (we had seen him in East Greenwich on Saturday) hugging and shaking hands, and Visa also had some captive athletes who were signing these brochures and getting photos taken. Both were huge Scandinavians. I felt very small next to them and Mr.
Off home we went. The short train ride home was a relief. So many people! I went to bed early. No Olympics until Friday now. I need the days to rest.
Marks out of 10: 9. It is the Olympics after all and the food was better than expected. Loved the flowers too.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Thursday, August 02, 2012
The Olympics - 10m womens & mens shooting at Woolwich, 28 July
The Olympics are on here in London and luckily for us, Mr and I have snaffled some tickets. The funny thing is, you apply for them so far in advance, we barely remembered what we were scheduled to go to. Now that they are here, they have exceeded our expectations.
I think it's kind of embarrassing to gush, but the Olympic venues are fab, the traffic is light, all the volunteers are so nice, and well, it's like living in an alternate universe London. Where people help you if you're lost and are generally jolly. Where lots of things are painted in very bright colours, and where one-eyed cyclops dance around for your amusement.
On Saturday, we left Junior Gig in the capable hands of our babysitter Lizzy, and headed off to Woolwich on the bus. We didn't do the 8:15 start, as I'm not really a morning person. Chatted with the squaddies on security, and went into the grounds.
I thought the venue would've incorporated a historical building or two, but the site instead had these cool cubes as buildings. Big white marshmallows with different coloured spots. We looked around a bit and then joined the large queue forming outside the finals building. The biggest one with red spots.
Got inside, and then we waited. They shows these informational videos about the sport you're about to watch, which is helpful. I had no idea about shooting. Then a brass band came on, and then Wenlock the mascot did a bit of soft shuffle to the music. Luckily for me, the 10M air pistol is not a loud gun. Pop pop pop. I had brought some earplugs, which Mr mocked me for.
The Chinese contestant Guo Wenjun won, and we watched as they took away the shooting range, and put up the medal podium. Aw. It was nice to see. I always think of how proud their mums must be. It was also the first medal of the entire London Olympics. How cool is that?
There was a Chinese fan contingent and they went a bit mental, waving their giant flag and jumping up and down. Mr took a photo of them.
After the final we had a coffee and watched men shoot coloured clay things into dust while we ate our sarnies, during the break. Then, it was back to the queue, where the band came along and played for us while we read our papers. Got back into the cube, where we watched men shoot. South Korea won.
When it was done, Wenlock shuffled forlornly without the band to accompany him while we waited for the medal stand to be put up. It seemed whenever he was done, he would consult with a nearby minder. Nod, and then do a little more softshoeing. Poor fella. The men seemed to be worse shots, but Mr pointed out that they did it one-handed while the women did it with both hands.
Marks out of 10: 8, particularly for the dancing mascot
I think it's kind of embarrassing to gush, but the Olympic venues are fab, the traffic is light, all the volunteers are so nice, and well, it's like living in an alternate universe London. Where people help you if you're lost and are generally jolly. Where lots of things are painted in very bright colours, and where one-eyed cyclops dance around for your amusement.
On Saturday, we left Junior Gig in the capable hands of our babysitter Lizzy, and headed off to Woolwich on the bus. We didn't do the 8:15 start, as I'm not really a morning person. Chatted with the squaddies on security, and went into the grounds.
I thought the venue would've incorporated a historical building or two, but the site instead had these cool cubes as buildings. Big white marshmallows with different coloured spots. We looked around a bit and then joined the large queue forming outside the finals building. The biggest one with red spots.
Got inside, and then we waited. They shows these informational videos about the sport you're about to watch, which is helpful. I had no idea about shooting. Then a brass band came on, and then Wenlock the mascot did a bit of soft shuffle to the music. Luckily for me, the 10M air pistol is not a loud gun. Pop pop pop. I had brought some earplugs, which Mr mocked me for.
The Chinese contestant Guo Wenjun won, and we watched as they took away the shooting range, and put up the medal podium. Aw. It was nice to see. I always think of how proud their mums must be. It was also the first medal of the entire London Olympics. How cool is that?
There was a Chinese fan contingent and they went a bit mental, waving their giant flag and jumping up and down. Mr took a photo of them.
After the final we had a coffee and watched men shoot coloured clay things into dust while we ate our sarnies, during the break. Then, it was back to the queue, where the band came along and played for us while we read our papers. Got back into the cube, where we watched men shoot. South Korea won.
When it was done, Wenlock shuffled forlornly without the band to accompany him while we waited for the medal stand to be put up. It seemed whenever he was done, he would consult with a nearby minder. Nod, and then do a little more softshoeing. Poor fella. The men seemed to be worse shots, but Mr pointed out that they did it one-handed while the women did it with both hands.
Marks out of 10: 8, particularly for the dancing mascot
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Paloma Faith, Somerset House - 18 July
This will be my last gig post for several weeks, due to the Olympics. I'll try and post about them too. But what a concert to go out on. Paloma Faith! I forget what she did in a former life, busker or something, but she is both a gifted singer and a real crowd pleaser. She seems to instinctively know what to say to the audience. By the end of it we were all eating out of her hand, singing along and clapping. I danced most of the night. A good performance. She veers from an olde timey vaudvillan to 40s dame to modern singer in her demeanour and her banter. It's fun to try and keep up.
Her opening act was her former guitarist, which was eh. A couple of kind of forgettable songs, but he was enthusiastic and had a great hairstyle. He came on later to join her for "Stone Cold Sober" and she joked that he had graduated with a 2.1 from the University of Paloma. We like it when they bring on the support act.
Interestingly, a song that didn't make the current album (which is more maudlin than her first one) she used to introduce the band, "Cellulite". Yep, we sang along to that one as she waggled her un-cellulitely legs at us, hoiking up her elegant floor length ballgown to do so. We were further back than with Anna Calvi because this show was sold out, but at least it didn't rain much.
Mr and I did a Tim the plumber this time, because the queues were long for the bar - we bought two drinks each. Sorted us out nicely for the duration and we stuck the other ones in our pockets like winos. Nice!
Let's see - "Freedom" was a highlight too, where she invited members of the audience up to dance with her. Mr opined that there were only females up there (and a lone man who galloped across the back of the stage before he was dragged off) because the security people are blokes. I said it was because they didn't want men pawing at her, so they put women up there who would behave themselves and just dance around. Which they duly did. What fun.
Ooh, and there was confetti during the song. Loovely. We were encouraged to clap as "clapping is the currency" for the encore, which we duly did. Anything for you, Paloma. She also mentioned that we helped her by buying her album so she doesn't have to do a 9-to-5 job. I couldn't imagine a less likely office mate. She'd get fired anyway for chewing your ear off and then bunking off early. She'd never do the tea round. No, she has to be on stage. I'll do the 9-to-5 to pay for the tickets. I am still humming "You want the truth or something beautiful" this morning.
PS- Mr wound up talking to the support act, Seye. Got his autograph!
Marks out of 10: 9, because we'd give Paloma anything, really.
Her opening act was her former guitarist, which was eh. A couple of kind of forgettable songs, but he was enthusiastic and had a great hairstyle. He came on later to join her for "Stone Cold Sober" and she joked that he had graduated with a 2.1 from the University of Paloma. We like it when they bring on the support act.
Interestingly, a song that didn't make the current album (which is more maudlin than her first one) she used to introduce the band, "Cellulite". Yep, we sang along to that one as she waggled her un-cellulitely legs at us, hoiking up her elegant floor length ballgown to do so. We were further back than with Anna Calvi because this show was sold out, but at least it didn't rain much.
Mr and I did a Tim the plumber this time, because the queues were long for the bar - we bought two drinks each. Sorted us out nicely for the duration and we stuck the other ones in our pockets like winos. Nice!
Let's see - "Freedom" was a highlight too, where she invited members of the audience up to dance with her. Mr opined that there were only females up there (and a lone man who galloped across the back of the stage before he was dragged off) because the security people are blokes. I said it was because they didn't want men pawing at her, so they put women up there who would behave themselves and just dance around. Which they duly did. What fun.
Ooh, and there was confetti during the song. Loovely. We were encouraged to clap as "clapping is the currency" for the encore, which we duly did. Anything for you, Paloma. She also mentioned that we helped her by buying her album so she doesn't have to do a 9-to-5 job. I couldn't imagine a less likely office mate. She'd get fired anyway for chewing your ear off and then bunking off early. She'd never do the tea round. No, she has to be on stage. I'll do the 9-to-5 to pay for the tickets. I am still humming "You want the truth or something beautiful" this morning.
PS- Mr wound up talking to the support act, Seye. Got his autograph!
Marks out of 10: 9, because we'd give Paloma anything, really.
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