Even I thought that going to London for the Olympics this year was a brave move (read 'silly idea'). It would be crowded. The transport system wouldn't cope. The city would be a terrorist target. Too expensive...weather too awful...the Games organisation too little, too late...
London 2012 was none of these things, I'm happy and relieved to report. In the post-Olympics euphoria, the British press are waxing lyrical about Mayor Boris, about Team GB and about the haul of medals, its best since London 1908. The nation's new heroes are Mo Farah, (5000m/10,000m double) Jess Ennis (heptathlon), Victoria Pendleton (golden cyclist) - and many, many more.
And well-deserved waxing it is. We enjoyed our Olympic experience immensely.
There has been a vast improvement in transport since our last visit: more Underground lines, a new Overground service, the Docklands Light Rail (look, Mum, no drivers!) expanded, the fast Javelin trains, the sleek new St Pancras International station that services these fast trains...
There were a couple of very crowded train trips. The one to Eton Dorney rowing venue, beating even our experience of Tokyo commuter trains, was a very 'up close and personal' 30 minutes. Squashed we may have been, but the conversation was good.
There were a couple of very crowded train trips. The one to Eton Dorney rowing venue, beating even our experience of Tokyo commuter trains, was a very 'up close and personal' 30 minutes. Squashed we may have been, but the conversation was good.
I've been thinking about what made our experience so enjoyable. These are some of the ingredients:
Team GB spirit
I've already mentioned this but as the Olympics progressed, particularly the athletics events in the stadium, British support for their own was like nothing we had seen before. But in a good way, let me stress. We could not begrudge them their joy and it certainly made for ready conversations on trains and in queues.
One point that the national press picked up on, and hard to disagree with, was the contrast between these sporting role models - Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy, 'Wiggo', Mo, Jess and so many others - and the premier league football stars, whose antics and multi-million pound paychecks have provided so much media fodder over the years.
The volunteers
Dressed in their distinctive pink, red and purple uniforms, armed with loudhailers and big foam hands, they guided, they smiled, they joked, they demanded smiles from us ... and generally helped to make the experience of moving slowly in huge crowds a pleasurable one. Many had come from other parts of Britain to 'do their bit', providing their time and finding their own accommodation.
I have read that the volunteers get to keep their uniforms. Lucky people...that's quite a souvenir.
Home comforts
'Home' was 35 High Mount, Station Rd, Hendon NW4 3SS. It was a five minute walk from the mainline train station, and a little further to an Underground line. Sainsbury's was also within walking distance.
The flat was roomy - there were three of them, in fact - and had everything we needed to live comfortably. On a long trip, the difference between hotel/B & B accommodation and self-catering can't be underestimated.
People
After a month grappling with a foreign language, we were pretty keen to talk to anyone who smiled in our direction when we first stepped off the Eurostar at St Pancras.
So it was a great pleasure to spend time with family and friends.
Bruce's cousin and her husband have lived in London for most of their married lives. They are always welcoming hosts and we have enjoyed seeing them again. They seem to have had a steady stream of Kiwis on their living room floor over the years and take it all in their stride. Thanks, Julie and Richard!
It was so good to spend an evening with Emma Carpenter - dinner and show - and, as an added bonus, to have a drink with Nathan Roa who turned up at the theatre after hitching his way down from Scotland.
And then, we managed to catch up for coffee with another face from the St Peter's archives. Kate Holmes was in London before her bridesmaid duties at Crystal Whitcombe's wedding.
Cornwall postscript
A few fleeting impressions of this definitely different corner of England:
And, speaking as one with a distinctive accent, it's a real pleasure to hear the Cornish lilt.
That's nearly it for GB. One more night in our country hotel outside of Bodmin.We return the car to Heathrow tomorrow. And then a longish flight to New York, via Frankfurt.
Broadway, here we come!
Team GB spirit
One point that the national press picked up on, and hard to disagree with, was the contrast between these sporting role models - Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy, 'Wiggo', Mo, Jess and so many others - and the premier league football stars, whose antics and multi-million pound paychecks have provided so much media fodder over the years.
The volunteers
Home comforts
'Home' was 35 High Mount, Station Rd, Hendon NW4 3SS. It was a five minute walk from the mainline train station, and a little further to an Underground line. Sainsbury's was also within walking distance.
After a month grappling with a foreign language, we were pretty keen to talk to anyone who smiled in our direction when we first stepped off the Eurostar at St Pancras.
So it was a great pleasure to spend time with family and friends.
Bruce's cousin and her husband have lived in London for most of their married lives. They are always welcoming hosts and we have enjoyed seeing them again. They seem to have had a steady stream of Kiwis on their living room floor over the years and take it all in their stride. Thanks, Julie and Richard!
It was so good to spend an evening with Emma Carpenter - dinner and show - and, as an added bonus, to have a drink with Nathan Roa who turned up at the theatre after hitching his way down from Scotland.
And then, we managed to catch up for coffee with another face from the St Peter's archives. Kate Holmes was in London before her bridesmaid duties at Crystal Whitcombe's wedding.
Cornwall postscript
A few fleeting impressions of this definitely different corner of England:
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| Port Isaac, 'Doc Martin' country |
- Yes, real Cornish pasties melt in the mouth, leaving one gasping for more... Did you know (I hope this is true but it's a good story) that this local delicacy was originally made to feed hungry miners? The main course (meat and extras) was wrapped in the pastry and the edges were crimped so that said miners could grasp their meal in their grimy paws to devour the contents. When they were done, the blackened pastry edge was thrown away.
- Cornwall is actually a series of Pay and Display carparks above beautiful, steep, rocky coves with pocket-handkerchief sized beaches. To which people flock in droves (what's a drove? I wonder) to set up base camp for the day. Exhausting to watch!
And, speaking as one with a distinctive accent, it's a real pleasure to hear the Cornish lilt.
That's nearly it for GB. One more night in our country hotel outside of Bodmin.We return the car to Heathrow tomorrow. And then a longish flight to New York, via Frankfurt.
Broadway, here we come!
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