Seriously. What did we ever do before back scratchers were invented?! It's a form of S&M with the pain and pleasure it gives.
Wonderful.
When did the world get so big? It was like an enjoyable history lesson, so many countries I heard for the first time.
The opening ceremony was for me superb. How could anyone watching not feel the atmosphere and splendour that was displayed.
With everything that is happening in the world today it just gave ne a feeling of that ‘proud to be British’ slogan.
On watching the ceremony unravel it reminded me of the simple things that we take for granted in life. The scenes with the NHS (national health service), which at times has come under fire in a huge way but nevertheless is still alive and kicking made me feel very melancholy especially as they homed in on one particular hospital that of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) most kids including me growing up in London have had an encounter with this hospital at some time or another. It made me feel so very grateful.
It was so good to see so many kids involved, and oh yea, we’ve got James Bond, Mr Bean, Paul McCartney and of course Her Majesty the Queen.
Seems the Olympics have become a variety act but I was pleased for that. Yes I loved it. Now to find out what day the beach volley ball begins! What about that cauldron? That’s how you light it!
Incidentals facts:
It was the first time Qatar and Saudi Arabia and second time for Kuwait that they allowed women to compete.
The Italian athletes were all dressed in Armani! (But then aren’t we all).
The holiday of Ramadan falls during the games and all Muslims taking part have been allowed to eat and will be able to make up their fast days once they are home again if they so choose.
Some 500 hundred plus American athletes were dressed in Ralph Lauren and in my opinion had the biggest cheer as they entered the stadium, until of course Team GB came in.
They used 700 billion ‘bits’ of bio-degradable paper to represent the planets population as it fell all around the stadium.
It was the first time Britain has entered into all 26 of the competitions.
204 nations were represented.
The president of the Olympic Committee, in his opening speech recognised Britain as the fore runner of modern sport. (I had to include that).
COMMENTS
It is on my TV now, loved the flag *UK* flag on the mound, the soliders. That is about all I have seen so far, got it recording as I knew I would not get home in time to see it all.
The world got so big when the Soviet Union broke up, screwing up my previously well-learned basic Geography. I Facebooked about this earlier... Turkmanistan? Surely they just made that one up. lol
I'm loving the heck out of this ceremony.
The NHS was brilliant and should kick places that don't have it into gear. It's also sadly and surprisingly rare - Australia has it of course, but... not many other countries (that aren't Commonwealth) have anything like it.
The cauldron was gorgeous. When it all came together... totally worth waking up at an awful hour to watch the ceremony.
It was the first time that every nation presented a female competitor, as well, I think.
And you're only the forerunner of sport if you can beat us in the Cricket. ;P
I adored the opening ceremony.. what, I seen of it! Missed the start but after reading your journal entry I quickly left VR and turned on the telly! Fell asleep after the Irish team entered, but woke up again at just the right moment when team UK entered! that was good timing!
I was in awe at the rest of the show.. flippin brilliant whoever planned all that! Had a giggle when the soundtrack faded out and showed Sir Paul McCartney miming though!
I actually seen the Queen with her legs crossed in the stadium that night!! Boy, that was a bit of a mini skirt she was wearing heh!
The umbrellas went up in their thousands. Where else but London, more precise, The Olympic Stadium. Never have I seen a people so ready for the rain. We know our country and we were prepared.
I sit here in the comfort of my home watching and seeing The Torch do a rerun of its’ journey that began nearly three months ago. The famous and the ordinary have held The Torch and that was good to watch as they ran through the streets of their own cities. Now we’re in London and we have to wait to see who will be the one to carry it to light the flames that are The Olympics.
News Flash … the rain has stopped!
We may moan about the chaos that this has caused but most of the moaners will be at home with a cuppa and watching this small piece of history.
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Eek! I missed it.. so immersed in other stuff :(
This is so cool...can't wait to see it tonight, here in the US!
I was just watching the preparations for the archery which is to be help at Lords and the MCC have had to assure it’s members that ‘the wicket’ or ‘hallowed ground’ will not be touched by ANYBODY and that the grounds men and women will still have access so it can be ready for the start of the cricket season. To have an Olympic event held here at a 200 year old iconic stadium is wonderful I just hope that the athletes and public respect this.
Being British we embrace eccentricity and I think the opening ceremony will be worth the watch.
The Olympic Torch started out at Hampton Court Palace and even went through The Maze, the oldest in Europe, touches like that make me smile. Currently the torch is resting on the Queens Barge, The Gloriana before slowly going down the Thames to The Tower and then picking up from there to the Guild Hall before appearing tonight at The Ceremony. The bookies are still taking bets as to who will be the person to carry the torch to it’s final lap.
On a sadder note, the normal working London is fall of disruption. This event has affected the 9 million or so of the capitals inhabitants and voices and concerns have been made. Sadly the capital will be paying for this many years into the future.
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I have heard some where, that there could be a Twenty20/T20 cricket game, or maybe a oneday game... at the Olympics.
Cricket at the Olympics? I think that's the only thing we'd get medals in... gold all the way. ;P
London seems to be one big party lately, what with Royal weddings, her Majesty's birthday & Jubilee and now the Olympics.
I don't believe that bonkum about the security firm 'short delivering' on personnel.. I believe it's a strategy for the government to get troops in there! They had so much time to organise it you see.. plans would of been approved and assessed by the government.
I knew this would happen!
‘’Mum said I can wear the dress.’’
In fairness I did see it coming as I didn’t discuss it with my ex first so we may show a united front.
Not mums fault, this is all down to me.
I use to think that Americans didn’t do irony very well but I have to re-think that now and wonder if they actually do ‘get it’. We were all watching some crap called ‘Man versus Food’ where this guy goes to food outlets that boast you get a prize or free meal if you can finish what’s on your plate, fair enough, but the way they cheer him on as he eats and the crowd support him like you would do an under dog was funny to watch. I found it even funnier when later, they discussed burgers like they would as a review and an exquisite product.
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I bet his belly hit the deck too!
Well...there is a Kobe beef burger, with foie gras, truffles, and gold leaf, that goes for $175.00 (US dollars).
Hey I love that show. Adam Richman is a very nice Jewish man....and boy howdy can he eat. Amazing to see him pack it away.
My other half is basing our next trip stateside on where this guy has eaten. I really LOVED this show!
I can't stand that show. It is just a Tv bad taste abortion. Plus the food he eats never sounds any good.
I've seen maybe two episodes and both times I felt sick just looking at what was on his plate.
it reminds me of epic meal time
So I’m sitting here watching ‘E.T’ with my daughter and she tells me that she’s never seen this film before and I think ‘what, no way’!
I guess I take for granted the so called classics that I watched as a kid that my daughter not only had seen but would watch in awe too. Not so, the only thing she came out with was ‘’I guess it was okay’’, just okay I thought. She did add that she thinks that the bike scene towards the end was good and it’s probably ‘that’ that put BMX on the map.
I hope they will still produce films that one day she will call classics.
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Surprisingly, I have never seen it. :) I think maybe because my youngest sister was such a fanatic about it that I did not want anything to do with it...LOL
Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady. These movies that I love are going by the way side with the younger movie goers. They think Pretty Woman is a classic. *shakes head*
How long until they ruin this movie by remaking it.
Agreed!
‘’We are all victims of life’’. My daughter blurted that out in a very whimsical way.
I’d love to believe she knew what she was talking about and was prepared to explain that sentiment in detail but I know better and she will be the victim of my foot if she thinks she will be wearing ‘that’ dress (or belt as I call it) to her mates birthday party!
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Ahaha! Been there done that. You have my sympathy :)
Oh daddy oh!
Was the prop department just having fun when they ran this episode of Star Trek?
That’s right they are rerunning the very first series, to boldly go to polystyrene sets and wonderful stalagmite type props. I must admit I am thilled!
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hehehe... I ain't going there.
Rock hard intelligence. Very logical. ;)
Lol
LOL...for real!
Oh my ....
How the words, "beam me up Scotty" have a whole new meaning now!
''you have a big one sir''
‘’I want to be a vampire, how do I become one, I may already be one but how can I tell’’.
How many times have I read that in a journal?!!
I would advise they try walking into a church and see if they burst into flames, that would be cool but what if they are prone to spontaneous combustion!?!!
They could try cutting and see if their veins heal.
Oh the romance of it all.
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*snorts* now that is way tooo funny LOL...I love ur sense of humor:)
wait wait!!! churches makes my skin tingle and I feel all like a heat wave and also I feel weak and all nausious....
does that mean I am "at risk" of being a vampire and will burst into flames anytime?
darn.... lol
At lest you don't get messages asking you to turn people into vampires.
I know it says I'm a Master Vampire, but that is just the sites name for admin.
Oh,the dumbness of it all.
Make garlic dill potato salad and see what happens :)
and what if you're really a were-panther-vampire hybrid? There isn't a reliable test for that. Garlic and catnip might cancel each other out. I read it on the internet.
*shifty eyes*
Laughs at Daire"s comment.. Really! Heh
They are mostly kids who really want attention...and/or they feel that they have to put something in their journals, no matter how stupid.
I think you just have vampire envy :P
I see it often at the Acolyte questions.
Yea, yea, so we all know about taking things for granted but this was new even for me, a Polish friend said,
‘‘If I had an English accent I’d never shut up’’! I don’t know what she meant, well actually I do but have never thought on it before. I still love the American accent and get this, they think they don’t even have one :-p
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I love Brit accents as well, and yes, we Americans have quite a few regional accents.
While I don't think I have one, I guess I would to you. (I'm a Californian, and most of us do not sound like 'valley girls/boys'...lol). And I can always identfly accents here in the US from the Northeast, the South, and the Scandinavian accents from the northern lake areas.
The Brit accents make me melt:)
I am with Nova. Stabb and I use to talk, and his accent was wonderful.
Cuz we don't that's why :P Not me anyways
I’m guessing that this move will be my last. It really does knock it out of me and it would need a lucky win on the lottery that may entice me to move again. I just can’t do it any more. Every time I move I leave a little of me behind, not just in possessions that I’ve accumulated over the years but a little of ‘me’, my dreams, aspirations and my heart.
So I've cleared all my old crap out again, I guess it means I've made way for new crap!
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See I think packing up only a few things I hold dear, dumping all the rest and go someplace new to start over again would be wonderful. :)
New start on your life.
You and I both, Blood! Each of my moves reminds me of what I have - or have not - accomplished in my life.
I just moved recently, a little over a month ago. Although I got help from friends, it was still physically draining for me, due to my current health issues. But you know what? The place I left behind had bad vibes, and so far, I feel fine in my new place...not to mention that it's bigger, nicer, CHEAPER, and closer to work - lol!
May your new home be awesome for you!
I noticed that my last entry was last Sunday and I was wishing it was a week from then, well it’s late Saturday afternoon and yep I moved and it all went well bar a few bits that were over come. I am now in the process of putting things away, in fact I’m almost done with that, I still have the bathroom to do and to arrange my books as I lost a bookcase in the move (that’s another story).
I would still be tidying up but what do you know, my router arrived and I decided to connect it and take time out to type this. I envisage that my full routine will be back to normal (ish) in a week or so.
I hope things are going well with everyone and I’ll soon be back in your journals or as I like to say, ‘in your lives’.
Missed you guys, so glad to be back online.
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:) Glad it's all going well!! I managed to acquire an extra bookcase :p
I was wondering when you'd come up for air. We all expect pics of the new digs!
It had to happen, I ran out of boxes, I could scream, off out soon to pick up some more, I’m sure the local supermarket will oblige.
I just wanted to watch the Wimbledon final this afternoon but instead I shall be running around now. What hasn’t helped was the over night rain and ‘wow’ did it pour, three guys in a flat with all that humidity and minimal sleep.
It’s like a kids’ sleep over when I get the guys together. We have another joining us today and a further two will be coming down with the van tomorrow.
It really needs to be a week from now! Seriously.
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Hope the move goes smoothly for you and no more rain!
Hope it went well unlike Wimbledon : )
It’s my last weekend in Southend-on-Sea, famous for a few things not least it boasts the longest pier in the world. I will miss this place and it’s not that far that I won’t come back to visit as I’ve made some wonderful friends here.
The boys came down yesterday, I feel it’s to keep an eye on me as well as to do the bigger jobs. I’m useless at D.I.Y and they will take some units off the walls in the bathroom etc. They know I get melancholy over the simplest things and as this is something a lot more…well I’m being watched!
It’s nice that this weekend will also see the Olympic Torch come within a stones throw of this house and that’s why for me it will also mark this time in my life as a lesson learnt.
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I find natural wonders as beautiful as this just amazing. This place has got to be added to my bucket list.
Breathtaking just doesn’t quite say it.
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That is a watery paradise...wow, I never thought they had anything like that!
When do we leave.......?!?!?!?
Beautiful :)
That is just spectacular ! Wow
I just went through a load of journals and just like our weather here the reads were a little on the depressing side. I see friends losing loved ones or good deeds dropping by the way side. My heart really does go out to you.
I read the comments of good wishes as they try to lift their friend’s spirits which were heart warming.
Sometimes I wish I could reach out my arm and steady some of my friends on here that have had a small fall or if they stumble a little. But this is the internet so words are quite literally all I have. That said, sometimes that’s all that is needed, a gentle word of support and a caring attitude.
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I enjoy your and others comments on my journal and it does help. I like the attitude, not sure about the caring : P
Now stop dam writing I have other journals to read before I go to the festival!!!
Ooo I just found the *evil chuckle* on my spell check...should have been added.
You are a good man Steve.
I haven’t been shopping properly for about two weeks now as I’m running down my freezer and fridge as well as tin food.
Needless to say I’m eating very well as I’m ‘over eating’ for want of a better way of saying it. Anyway I quite literally ran out of milk and bread yesterday and when my tobacco was nearing the end I decided to get a few bits. I figured I should do something as the boys would be here to help too.
I went with fresh crusty rolls, half a dozen bagels and then mooched over to the deli counter where I bought just a couple of slices of corned beef, I haven’t had that for ages, and some slices of honey ham. So that with a couple of very large tomatoes, some cream cheese, one small loaf of tiger bread and I was done.
Damn it if I didn’t forget the butter! Nevertheless it was nice walking down the freezer isles in just my shorts and a top.
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hahah, thats typical.. I am glad to hear I am not alone in this!
Tiger bread?
I so wanted to show you a picture of it and ended up learning the history of a Tiger loaf!! I actually only bought it as it was one of the smallest on the shelf and was even smaller when I had them slice it for me.... anyway, it's all here .. picture too!
That doesn't look like a Tiger, where are the claws and tail?
Food sounds yummy.
Looking at a months worth of rain
today or tomorrow : (
This weekend sees the Olympic Torch come through Southend-on-Sea, is all I have to do is make a five minute walk and then I can say ‘’I was part of it’’. Seems a bit of a cheat somehow, and besides, be part of what exactly?
I will be there because I want to. It is a special occasion for me as the Olympics has inspired me not in ways of athletics (I wish) but as a general pointer to what excellence is all about.
In everyday life I try to excel and even if I don’t reach my goals simply by trying is sometimes enough.
I opened the windows to create a draft from the breeze, but to quote my daughter, ‘’what breeze''?
It's ready to storm again which may help a little.
I used my washing machine for the last time this morning. It has been faithful and true and I'm kind of sorry to be leaving her behind in the move, I just feel after five years it's time to go separate ways.
The fashion industry makes me smile yet again.
Picure the scene. We have a beautiful model in full fashion mode with all the trimmings, she truly is breathtaking, and right under the picture is a caption that reads, ‘’beauty starts from within’’.
I’m sure that’s not how the industry makes its money but it did make me smile!
It’s official, we had the wettest June on record the Met Office figures show.
So why is there still a hosepipe ban in the south-east? Four out of the seven water companies can’t seem to make up their minds, with a further two still having restrictions in certain areas.
I wonder if I can apply for a water rebate?!!
Happy birthday America.
No hard feelings and all that!
I'm imagining family get togethers and barbecues in the late heat. Kids playing by the waters' edge trying to keep cool and having fun. Firework displays looking so amazing...
My prayers to those that will go without and that will see today as any other.
Damn FB. Never again will I be allowed to forget another birthday.
I can still remember keeping a written journal/diary where I would list anniversaries and things I planned to do. I should have kept on doing that as it also included writing someone’s telephone number down. I haven’t backed up any of my phone numbers as yet and if I were to damage or lose the phone I’d be stuck.
It amazes me how some on FB just put there number out there for all to see, it’s normally the Blackberry Brigade!
Instead of writing a comment I would send a card through the post. I loved doing that. I’d shop for hours looking for the appropriate card and enjoyed it.
Life is easier but somehow sadder.
I think once I’m organised in my new home I will start to organise myself and revert back to some good old habits like backing up via the written word and buying stamps.
COMMENTS
Oh, the spoken word is far better. Though i do like sending cards..when I remember!
Cards in the mail are the best, sending them, even better!!! I write on my calendar the names and ages, it's hanging in my kitchen and I see it everyday.
Still send stuff late though lol
Remember the joy of receiving a letter? Sighs... It is unfortunate the young uns won't know how that feels..
I can’t believe how well Serena Williams is playing. Shvedova didn’t stand a chance in that first set, she really was nowhere to be seen. But what a great comeback from Shvedova in the second. This is what I call day time viewing. The amount of concentration and discipline that was on the court was just amazing.
When you’re serving and acing at 110mph I sometimes think that the competition shouldn’t be slit between the sexes. Just waiting for the Federer game to start on centre court now.
The stiff upper lip that has always been associated with us Brits I thought was in decline. I was always told that it was okay to cry but the T.V has another agenda. It seems when things go wrong and you have a lover’s tiff or there is a nuclear war, is all you have to do is put the kettle on and make a cup of tea and everything will be alright again!
COMMENTS
I think it is the consquences if you take it further that allows for the cup of tea so people can stop and think about their actions.
Besides stiffy lips suck!
I was brought up to not cry...and put the kettle on!
Lips look so much more enticing when they aren't all pinched up like they've been latched onto lemons all day...
Anyway - I bet it's hard to change over 300 years of colonialism behavior overnight.
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xxEmaeraldxx
22:25 Jul 31 2012
It is those little things in life that mean so much more than riches :)