Olympics 2012 - Day 9

Dr Anne was up like the lark this morning.  When she went out the door there were around 30 cars at the traffic lights.  The marshals were setting up the roads for the marathon.  The revellers were still going home from pubs and clubs. The walk to Liverpool Station was quick and she caught the 0359 bus.  She was at Stratford by 0430.

The bus journey was pretty amazing.  Dr Anne was the only person who had been to bed and was ready for the new day.  All were on Saturday mode.  Some were sleeping.  Some were drunk.  Some were revelling. Some were on phones.  The bus stopped and people disappeared into the greyness of dawn.  They would not surface until noon or later.

Dr Anne busied herself at work wiping the coffee dispensing table.  She washed the volunteers tables and swept the carpark floor.  All was looking spick and span.  She then loaded the sandwiches, salad and drinks into the row of fridges.  By that time the volunteers and team members had arrived and been put into their groups.  The remaining time Dr Anne dispensed, apples and water, sun screen and ponchos for the rain.

At 1400 Dr Anne headed for the Men's Tennis final @ the Big Screen with thousands of other people.

Sensational result.

Olympics 2012 - Day 7

So how did day 7 turn out.  Dr Anne awoke at 0330.  She got up and believe it or not she did the Church Powerpoint for Sunday.  

She caught the 0513 train to St Pancras and then the Javelin to Stratford.  This took around half an hour.  The staff at Stratford are young and lively.  They lack experience of life.  Dr Anne took herself out into the field to the Volunteers and delivered brownies and water...  She dropped by John Lewis to buy over coat for her nails and had them painted blue and red.  She dropped by M&S and bought pants and socks as her washing has not dried in the flat to date.

At 1400 Dr Anne headed for Stenfield.  Margaret picked her up they headed for Hutton Cricket Ground.

The under 11s Hutton Cricket Team

Joseph and his friend who are members of the under 11s.  Joseph is Margaret's grandson.

The under 11s v the under 13s at Hutton Cricket Club.

Dr Anne is sure her followers would have no idea that this would be today's blog.

Olympics 2012 - Day 6

Dr Anne was up with the lark today having had a great sleep and set off for work around 0600.  She arrived at Westfield Shopping Centre and had breakfast @ EAT.  She then headed for the car park for registration.  She was back to her support role today.  There were others there earlier than her so she took a back role for a while to measure their friendliness.  The 'Victoria Gate' people are after all the outsiders.  However, the troups were friendly and things went fine. 

The excitement for today was a free ticket for the basketball arena.  There were 5 volunteers chosen for the Tunisia v Argentina match and the Russia v Brazil match.  What a thrill.

The Basketball Arena

Three of the chosen four from the Last Milers seen marching towards the Basketball Stadium.  It was a good 20 minute hike.  The other lad was from Paris.

The Basketball Stadium gets nearer.

  

There were  representatives from a variety of the sections of volunteers.  They each had to change their top so that they did not look like volunteers filling the empty VIP seats.  

The group was collected @ 1440 and marched into the VIP Section.  It was packed with people and for the first time Dr Anne would say that she had a real Olympic atmosphere. 

A view of the stadium

The Argentinians leaving the court after their win over the Tunisians.

The Tunisians leaving the court. 

The Russians leaving the court after their win over the Brazilians.  This was a really exciting match with a win in the last few seconds.

The Brazilians leaving the court.

The atmosphere was brilliant.  During the intervals there was amazing entertainment - break dancing, gymnastics, skipping.

The Skippers

The Gymnasts

The time sped past and it was time for home.  Dr Anne had her first hot meal for days - a hot vegetable paste from one of the varied stalls at the Food Court (Grey Granite - better choices than Chelsea).  Dr Anne is suffering death by sandwiches at the moment...

Dr Anne had intended finishing the Hat Walk but Greygranite says they will be in Hyde Park from Saturday so she may head there at the weekend and find the rest.

Boris' London Hat Walk

How many has she found?

Dr Anne was listening to Radio London and heard that the Mayor of London had arranged a Hat Walk this week.  Dr Anne set out to find them.

Brunel

Sir Arthur Sullivan and The Lady

Robert Burns

General Sir Henry Havelock

King George 1V

Nelson 

The weather was dull and rainy.

Nelson has a Union Jack Hat.

Beau Brummell

President Roosevelt and Churchill

Captain James Fox

Young Lovers

Queen Victoria in the middle of the Blackfriars Bridge

Gardening at the Olympic Park

Grey Granite, this is straight up your street. All the flowers were in meadow garden form.

This is a wall of hebe or sedum.

Olympic Games - Day 5

There was a change of shifts today.  Dr Anne had a 0500 start.  She got up at 0345 and was out of the flat by 0400.  She walked down the road to St Paul's Cathedral and was there by 0410.  Three guys were asking Dr Anne some questions when the bus came and it did not stop!  Dr Anne ran to the traffic lights and knocked on the door of the bus but the driver wouldn't open the door.  She ran to the next bus stop but he didn't wait for her...  Dr Anne was not a happy bunny.  She waited for the next bus and it was a good journey.  She got off at Wick Road and headed for Victoria Park.  The gate at the top of the park was locked so she had to hike down the road to find a security guard.

More was waiting for her.  The powers that be had decided that the volunteers be taken off the Victoria Gate as the volume of traffic was low and send them to the Stratford Gate.  Dr Anne and the crew had to walk up to the Victoria Gate and then walk through the Olympic Park to an underground carpark near Westfield Shopping Centre.  

Dawn in the Olympic Park

The car park at the Stratford Gate

Three and a half hours after arriving for work Dr Anne and her colleagues went on duty at the entrance to the Stratford Gate.  There Dr Anne remained until 1400 when she went off duty.

The Co-ordinators @ Stratford.

At 1400 Dr Anne headed into the park to have a wander. Below are some pictures.

The Orbit

The entrance to the Olympic Park

The World Square

The World Square

The Crowd at the Big Screen

Cycling on the Big Screen

The Basketball Stadium

The Athletes' Accommodation