Emma's Grand Day Out

There I was yesterday morning happily snoozing away, safe in the knowledge that there was nothing pressing which needed my attention.  I was still elated after watching Team GB's massive medal day with our treble Golds in Althletics & earlier in the Rowing.  It had been epic, and I could only wonder what the feeling must have been like at the Olympic Park.

As quickly as it took to answer a phone call my whole Sunday changed.  Dad knocked on my bedroom door " How do you fancy going to the Olympics?"...."Um, do bears shit in woods?" was my response. My sister, who had managed to get tickets to a few events, had already attended the Hockey & has tickets for Football later in the week.  My sister-in-law had fallen foul of something dodgy and spent much of the night worshiping the porcelain god, leaving her in no condition to attend a long day at Sundays Basketball session, so they offered them to us.

After a couple of hours organising food, route to the car park & transport and other essentials (umbrella, mac etc) we set off for Olympic London, baby!

From the moment we arrived at the connecting train station there were dozens of helpful volunteers with information and directions.  The security checks were flawless and quick to pass through, manned by friendly military personnel.  Within minutes dad & I were walking into Olympic Park.

For the past week I have been enthralled & amazed by the nail biting action in the different Arenas & fascinated by the design and style of the Olympic Park.  Suddenly I'm only actual bloody there!

The Olympic Park is surrounded by banks of grass & flowers which lends a truly British tint to the design

This however is very American ;-)

The Auqatic center where Micheal Phelps has been so legendary. The Design is apparently representative of a Blue Whale....if you squint and turn your head to the left a little.

Nearby is the Olympic Village...Team GB! 

The water polo arena

The Queens Royal Barge...off of the Jubilee & looking appropriately majestic...in front of a car park.

There be that famous Stadium thingy, Usain Bolt won the 100m sprint that evening.

Proof I was there....in the back ground the viewing platform, which will be a National tragedy if it isn't turned into a helter skelter after the event.

The Cycling Velodrome...on of my friends is a volunteer in there, the noise inside equates to standing within 100 feet of a jet engine. *sticks fingers in ears*

The Olympic Park Live area...aka the picnic area with a big screen.  Andy Murray won a Gold medal against Federer while I was at the park, the noise was unbelievable.

The Side of the Hockey Arena, the wind playing its part to display the flags photogenically.

 Same at the BMX Arena, now that would have been exciting to spectate.

 

Inside the Basketball Arena...known as the Marshmallow, apparently because of the white, bubbly looking, plastic covering

And we're off...first up Croatia (white) vs. Turkey (red)

Well, Um....yeah....okey dokey then.

Half time entertainment proved very popular with my dad

Team GB warm up

Between the Jubilee, the Euro Cup & all the Gold Medals I think we got this National Anthem thing down ;-)

Then tip off (see I got the terminology down)

Mostly though I was confused about why the game stopped and started at seemingly random moments while loud music played.

All the single ladies! Put your hands up!

Team GB unfortunately weren't to be winners that night and Brazil won the round.

Then it was all over, it was after midnight as we filtered out of the Olympic Park and all other events had finished allowing this rather nice shot.

I finally crawled into bed shortly after 2.30am, after the most amazing day! (thanks to Em's dodgy food...which I had nothing to do thing...promise!)

Me Day!

August 2nd 2012 was an important day. Team GB won no less than 3 Olympic Gold medals as well as a couple of Silver and...it was the anniversary of me! 33 years old, ugh, not quite sure I'm okay with this considering I still feel about 19...which apprently is agreed upon in every bar and place which sells alcohol as I'm constantly asked for ID when I fancy a tipple.

Anyhoo, when I wasn't watching Team GB making history I decided to check out the new museum in Chichester.  I know, I do indeed know how to party.  Chichester is pretty old and every so often when they dig up a road or build a housing estate they find Roman stuff.  In the 1960's the remains of a Roman baths was discovered in the middle of the city so to preserve it, they put a car park on top of it....naturally.  Finally someone remembered they'd stuck a car park on the top of an ancient site and thought perhaps they should do something about that, uncovering the baths and, literally, built a museum around it.

To the untrained eye this may look like a bunch of builders rubble, but the projected image left shows what the baths would have looked like.

Ah, the Romans, gave us under floor heating in the 1st Century...2000 years later we figured it out on our own, why on Earth did we chuck out this idea when for around 8 months of the year it's friggin' freezing!

This is not just any old rubble, this is Roman painted 'wall paper' rubble

Something which should be reinstated immediately....the portable stocks....

.....And this is a good reason why

 Chichester cathedral...look actual blue sky and sunshine.

After an amazing lunch in Chi town we headed over to Fishbourne Roman Palace.

Once upon a time in the 1960's a bloke was digging a trench in a field when he happened upon this.

 The foundations of the under floor heating

 Mosaics were all the rage in your average Palace.

Amazingly technical designs starting with geometric themes like above in 1AD to more elaborate designs by 2AD

It's Cupid riding a Dolphin, apparently that's how the Romans roll

 Alfredeus lost count of the tiles one day and then mysteriously disappeared.

When bored with one design just build another on top...simples.

A replica of the Palace garden

Presents! not Roman, but a huge jar of sweets and ice cream glasses...though no-one thought to buy any spinkles....or fudge sauce....or ice cream for that matter so the sundae will have to wait.