Being there

The sermon the other week was on the importance of bring there, to enjoy the atmosphere, to see the main event and to meet the Man. We had not planned to go to the Olympics, in fact Linda hates sports and so I never ever considered it. However, she has now got into it, watching the Olympics on the tele, when she is at home, I would say whilst doing the ironing, but that would not be correct! So she wanted to go, but tickets at this late stage are very difficult to get, nigh on impossible, but I delivered! It took many evening on the Internet, applying for various sports and not getting far.

Actually we have been watching the beach volleyball on the tv, mainly the women's as it is on late at night, nothing to do with the kit theŷ wear (or don't) and actually started to follow some of the matches and teams. We got to understand the game, the three hits, a spike, a dig and the scoring system. 

Then at the weekend I managed to get tickets for the semi finals of the beach volleyball. We did see the Olympic park as we went past on the train. 

It was also at Horse Guard Parade which meant it was a different venue that we couldn't visit afterwards. So we had tickets for Tuesday evening from 2100 to midnight, which was ok as we had to work during the day and then take the train just after 5pm to London. The weather looked doggy, so I said to Linda take an umbrella, but did she listen to me - no, did we get wet - yes.

With the Olympics being in Britain they had to make sure you queued for everything, we could have got a gold medal in making people queue. We had to queue for an hour to collect our tickets, and then queue to get in the complex, queue for food, queue for coffee and then finally get your seats. A lot of queuing! And to make it more fun we have to do it in the open, so when it rains everyone gets wet - so funny - not.

And then so we can rip people off we don't let them bring drinks or food in  so we can charge £8.50 for fish and chips and £2.50 for tea. it makes Starbucks look cheap!  However, the fish and chips were very nice. Linda was looking after the money and then whilst we are queuing decides to disappear so I only have enough for her food, and then she appears saying oh I was just taking some pictures.

It was warm but wet. We had excellent seats the second row back, just behind the court, so we could see everything. It was very exciting watching the women first, Brazil and USA and it went to three games, lasting over an hour, value for money, unfortunately it rained for all of the time and it was heavy rain and so I got very wet, and so did Linda, did I not say bring an umbrella, did she listen, no. The couple in front of us had an umbrella which did affect Linda's view and dripped on us. The game was really exciting, a shame Brazil didn't win instead of the Yanks, but there's 4 years time in Brazil on a real beach with real sun.

The men's game was exciting Holland v Germany and by now it had stopped raining, so it was enjoyable.  The Germans won in two sets and then went on to win the final as well.

It finished about 23.30 and after that it was a rush to get out, get a bus and the train home. The last train  was 0120 after that a long walk! however, we got one about 0015 so was home by one, that's the good news, bad news we're both on earlies! 

However, it was great evening and we can say we were there.