London 2012: The Announcement

I get tingly arms every time I think about the moment that London were announced the host city for the 30th Olympic Games.

I remember being at work (way back in 2005) and refreshing the page on the internet to see the announcement come through LIVE.

Would it be London?

Could London possibly beat the favourite, Paris?

Here’s a video of Trafalgar Square in London. You can feel the tension as the crowd nervously await the news…

What a moment!!!

Tonight all eyes will be on London as they open the games with a huge ceremony in the Olympic Stadium. Tonight I will be more than ever to be British. Here’s to a fantastic games. Good luck to all taking part.

My Journal-Wrecking Challenge

I was given this gift at last Christmas.

A book.

No, not an ordinary book!

This book may not look like a book for long.

‘Wreck This Journal’ is a creative, explosive diary (mainly destructive)… So, I shall take you on the journey with me.

It’s just a bit of fun. But – I may need some photos and videos on the way. Hope you enjoy.

I have added a tab on my homepage so that you can come back and see how I am getting on.

Looking slightly deranged with my journal. The destruction begins soon…

Murray Mania!

He’s done it!

An emotional semi final victory for Murray

He’s made it to the Wimbledon Final.

The British fans have waited 74 years for this momentous day when finally a male Brit (and yes, I acknowledge that he is a Scot and a Brit) makes it to the last match.

The crowd cheer on the local hero – It’s almost as though he’s won the whole thing.

Can Murray win on Sunday?

I hope so.

The match against Tsonga was a thriller today. Murray started fighting for his final place right at the start! He broke Tsonga early and looked to take it in three straight sets. Tsonga wasn’t going to go down with a battle…

I never thought I would see the final section of the draw look this good! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!! He meets Roger Federer next – it’s not going to be easy.

from Wikipedia

The 2012 Champion? – We will soon see….

There are some signs that he could be heading for victory:

• Fred Perry turned 25 in the May that he won Wimbledon. Murray has just turned 25 (this May).
• In 1977, Virginia Wade was the last British women to win Wimbledon… It was also a Jubilee year for Queen Elizabeth II – just like 2012.
• I have a feeling – and that’s good enough for me.

I have everything crossed for Andy Murray!

Go win it!

You may also enjoy reading these posts:

Shock at Wimbledon 2012 – the one where Nadal got knocked out by Rosol.

Is it time to ban Serena from Grand Slams? – the one where Serena lost her temper at the 2011 US Open Final.

A Generation Thing

“The youngsters of today”.

Oh what a terrible bunch.

“We were never like that when we were young”.

I am forever seeing emails, posts and memories of a rose-tinted past of when older generations lived an idyllic life. But – hang on a minute. I think some people have got it all wrong. Are the older generations right when they criticise the young people today? Read some of the comments below and take a minute to really think about them.

“The younger generation are so violent – It’s all because of the violent computer games”.

Which generation was it that started two World Wars?

“The younger generation have no family values”.

Which generation shipped off women to have their babies then forced them to return home in shame and never speak of their children, who they would never see again.

“The younger generation are always texting and using their phones – Facebooking and Tweeting…”

Which generation effectively Facebooked and Tweeted across their garden fences when entire communities lived in the same village or town. The world is more mobile now but the gossip is just as connected now as ever.

“The younger generation have no respect”.

Which generation showed little respect to other cultures (creating Empires, claiming nations, having slaves, banning mixed race marriages), or homosexuals (banning same-sex marriage)? Which generation created more divides between social and ethnic groups?

“The young are not educated”.

Which generation felt the need to only educate the men and knew that a woman’s place was at home?

If the older generation are proud then so be it, but I am glad to be from the younger, progressive, more open, less high-and-mighty generation where people can be more free with their lives. People can marry who they wish without having to live in shame or run the risk of being disowned by their families and friends.

The world is far from perfect – but surely it is improving – human rights continue to improve.

I would rather live in 2012 (which the older generation criticise so often) than the repressed 1940s.

The Rainwater Toilet

A good friend of mine is doing her bit to help make Planet Earth a more environmentally friendly place. A few months my friend worked hard on installing a new water system for her toilet – that runs on rain water.

It is astounding to think that there are so many people in the world who have little or no access to clean drinking water yet in most developed countries we flush out toilets with it.

My friend, Liz, being an IT whizz – decided to make a little video of their new system. It looks simple – although I don’t think I would know where to start.

DIY is not my strongest point.

Liz said:

The plan was to save money and be inventive. Five years on we’ve done both while saving water, electricity and having fun along the way. One of the most interesting projects to date has been our rainwater WC. We have a long-term aim to have some independence from mains electricity water and heat. The WC didn’t cost much and it’s very simple.

Watch the video here!

Now – Time to get yourselves down to the DIY store to make one of your own.

Related articles

• Time to look at rain water harvesting (draindoctor.wordpress.com)
• Every Drop Counts- Reusing Rainwater Saves Money and is Better for Plants (tammore.wordpress.com)