A Few Ramblings…
Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
A day at #London2012 – 4th August 2012
Today, after watching the Olympics on the television for the last week, it was finally time for us to enjoy a day of Olympic action ourselves as we went up to Wembley to see one of the football quarter-finals.
When we put in for Olympic tickets many months ago we weren’t sure who we would be watching. There was a possibility that we could have seen Team GB playing, but as it turned out it was Mexico against Senegal.
With kick-off not until 2.30pm, we dropped Emily off with Sarah’s parents and left home by around 10am for the short walk to the station. As Olympic restrictions prevented transport of large umbrellas, we opted for coats instead and set off in light rain for the short walk to the station. We hadn’t walked more than a couple of hundred yards before the light rain turned into some kind of monsoon. We were drenched in seconds and briefly considered turning back home before continuing on to the station.
We joined various other soaking people who were all waiting for the 10.17 to Paddington and shoehorned ourselves onto one of the three coaches, once the train finally arrived.
A damp Rebekah and Holly
The journey to London was marked with more heavy rain en route.
Rain on the train
Once we arrived at Paddington, we joined the Bakerloo line to make the relatively short journey to Wembley Central. The train was virtually empty and we soon discovered, to our surprise, that it terminated at Queen’s Park, leaving us to make the rest of the way to Wembley on an Overground train.
Olympic paraphernalia at Paddington
Holly and Sarah
An empty Tube train heading towards Wembley
Our arrival at Wembley Central was again marked with more heavy rain causing a minor jam in the foyer as those nearest the door waited inside. We took the opportunity to eat a quick sandwich while we waited for the shower to pass.
With a twenty-minute walk ahead of us, we followed one of the Olympic Games Maker’s advice and caught a bus instead.
Holly and Rebekah on the bus
First view of Wembley Stadium
Rebekah and Holly outside Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The world’s longest ice cream van
There were huge crowds outside the stadium and we spent some time walking around the outside in order to reach our allotted entrance.
The Wembley Arch
London 2012
Queues outside Wembley
Wembley Arena
Olympic Rings
The Bobby Moore statue outside Wembley
Bobby Moore and the Olympic Rings
Before we went in, we stopped to buy a couple of mementos for the girls.
The London 2012 Shop
Fortunately our actual entry proved relatively painless and we rapidly ascended three escalators up to reach the main level inside.
I’m not a huge fan of heights and found our lofty seats something of a challenge to be endured, rather than enjoyed.
Flags for the teams in the Olympic football competition
Our view of the pitch
Holly with her Senegal flag and Wenlock
Mixture of flags on display
It was my first visit to Wembley since watching Reading lose to Bolton Wanderers in the 1995 play-off final and overall, the new Wembley was very impressive.
We had some time to wait before the match started and the girls enjoyed savouring the atmosphere and watching the teams warming up on the pitch.
The Mexican team warming up
Final watering of the pitch
Sarah, Rebekah and Holly
The teams finally arrive onto the pitch
The match, when it finally got underway, was well worth the wait. Mexico opened the scoring after just 9 minutes, courtesy of some poor defending from Senegal.
They continued to dominate and scored a second goal after 62 minutes. It seemed that there would only be one winner until Senegal pulled a goal back on 68 minutes and then equalised with just fifteen minutes remaining, triggering an enthralling end to the second half.
An approaching Mexican Wave
Looking down with 80,000 other spectators
Two Mexican fans
Extra time beckoned and with it came two more goals from Mexico to seal the match and their place in the semi-final.
Mexico progress at the expense of Senegal
Holly conducting a one person Mexican Wave
It was a great match to watch and we found ourselves swept along by the exiting crowd, many of whom were heading towards Wembley Central station.
On the way, we stopped at McDonalds, before joining those queuing to get into Wembley Central. We joined the Bakerloo line and returned to Paddington, before catching a waiting train back to Maidenhead.
Finally back home, we had the chance to enjoy an amazing evening of athletics where Team GB secured gold medals in the heptathlon, long-jump and 10,000 metres.
It was all a fitting end to a golden day of sport, a day in which Team GB won an amazing SIX gold medals in one day.
https://twitter.com/StewieCricket/status/231855247650349056
https://twitter.com/allanpeel/status/231856216853319680
https://twitter.com/mrdanwalker/status/231866959246028801
Because of Wembley’s ban on SLR cameras, all of the photos on here were taken on my new Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20
July walk to Cookham Dean – 29 July 2012
Rebekah and I braved a day of heavy showers to squeeze in the latest of our monthly walks before July ended.
We were forced to speed up on the return part of the walk due to impending storm clouds which blew up from the west as we headed back to Cookham.
The first puddle of a wet walk
Recently harvested crop of oilseed rape
Reflections on the walk
Channels where water has flowed during the recent rain
Rebekah
Foundations for the new vestry at Cookham Dean Church are now in place
View from the side gate of the churchyard
Storm clouds brewing in Cookham Dean
Horses against a stormy backdrop
Rain over Maidenhead
Walking down the footpath across the recently harvested oilseed rape
Overgrown path
The London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony – 27th July 2012
After all the years of waiting, this evening the London Olympics finally got underway with a truly spectacular opening ceremony entitled ‘Isles of Wonder’ and co-ordinated by director Danny Boyle.
Here’s how it unfolded on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/laurarobson5/status/228952610240090112
https://twitter.com/Bealeyboo/status/228954896890744832
https://twitter.com/MickPCollins/status/228963288451518465
https://twitter.com/DannyBoyleFilm/status/228966805849374721
An afternoon at Cliveden – 21st July 2012
After a morning spent working on the vegetable plot, we decided to make our way up to Cliveden.
Holly with a friend
Emily
Emily on the slide
Holly
Emily in the play house
Rebekah
Rebekah and Holly
Reflections in the Water Garden
Enjoying ice creams
The girls on the ‘Acorn’ sculpture in the car park
A Few Ramblings... 