Trapped in a Different Reality

So, there you have it. Larry Wachowski is now Lana Wachowski.




To begin with, my thoughts were ‘yeah, whatever. Big deal, Lana/Larry as long as she is happy does it really matter?’ I didn’t really care, it wasn’t a big deal.

Well, let me quantify that a bit, see, I don’t care what someone looks like on the outside, it’s who the person is inside that matters most. Some are tall, small, stocky, thin, no hair, loads of hair, blue eyes, whatever. You get the picture though, we all look different (except for identical twins/multiple birth kids…obviously) and I think that is a good thing. I’m not going to judge someone on what they look like.

But is it wrong for me to say that I don’t care whether Lana Wachowski used to be Larry or not?

This is the harder bit. I am fully aware that it’s not any of my business; I won’t stop watching Wachowski films because one of them is suddenly a burd not a bloke.

Incidentally, I am aware that the whole gender reassignment thing (program maybe? Does gender reassigning have a special terminology? I don’t know) takes years and is stressful for everyone around the person who actually has the gender changing operation.

I think therefore, that this is not so much a story of Larry waking up one day and wanting to be Lana, but of a person not being happy with who they are and feeling trapped, right up to the point where they can’t handle the situation anymore.

Then, having the courage to do something about it.

It takes a really strong person to stand against the crowd and society’s expectations of you and do you own thing, so I am proud of Lana, even though she won’t particularly give a hoot about what I think. I suppose maybe the feeling of being so very different, then becoming more uncomfortable in your own world and body would help you create the kinds of alternate reality that the Wachowskis have done so successfully.

Where would film making be without the ubiquitous 'Matrix' slowed down in air fight scenes?


Ill keep watching repeats of ‘The Matrix’ and ‘Speed Racer’, Ill even watch ‘Cloud Atlas’ when it is released.


Purely because Lana and Andy Wachowski never do half measures.

(By the way, if you ever do read this Lana, I think your hot pink dreads are AWESOME)

They're Watching. Trust No One

It's the turn of another Armstrong to be in the news now. It's all about Neil this time, not Lance.

Sadly, the man who didn't want to be an icon died today at the age of 82.

Everyone and their dog will be writing a huge obituary for Neil Armstrong about moon walking, NASA, the one step thing and his heart by-pass surgery. But I reckon if you're reading my blog, you're looking for something different.


Ok, Neil Armstrong is way more famous for the small step/giant leap statement that he came out with in 1969 when he went to the moon with some other guys.

I realise that sounds very flippant and unemotional but I wasn't there to experience it. There are many huge world events that I can recall with emotion, wonderment and awe, like the Berlin Wall coming down, Nelson Mandela being released from prison and the wedding of Charles and Diana, (well I was very young and impressionable).

So, without further ado.....

"We have no proof, But if we extrapolate, based on the best information we have available to us, we have to come to the conclusion that ... other life probably exists out there and perhaps in many places." yeah, this comes from the one and only Neil Armstrong.

But why is this quote from 1999 so important?

Quite simply because it's not the only time that anyone from NASA has hinted at coverups regarding aliens. I cannot promise that I won't use any 'X Files' quotes, but I will try not to go all Fox Mulder on you.

The Internet is FULL of conspiracy theories regarding aliens and everything to do with them. There are books, tv series, films and blogs about what has been seen, found, crashed and abducted.

Perhaps the most interesting (that I've found) is from a book by Jon King called 'Cosmic Top Secret'

"Through the crackle and pop of what many believe was a deliberately contrived poor-quality broadcast, Armstrong was heard to say he could see a ‘light’ on the rim of a nearby crater. Mission Control responded with a request for more information, following which the transmission went dead.


For a full two minutes nothing was heard…

Or was it? According to former NASA employee, Otto Binder, who worked on the Apollo program, US radio hams picked up the following conversation, which was alleged to have taken place during the transmission black-out.

Neil Armstrong: ‘What was it? What the hell was it? That’s all I want to know…’

Mission Control: ‘What’s there? … [garbled transmission] … Mission Control calling Apollo Eleven…’

Neil Armstrong: ‘These babies are huge, sir … enormous. Oh, God … you wouldn’t believe it! I’m telling you there are other spacecraft out there, lined up on the far side of the crater edge. They’re on the moon watching us…’

Though NASA has always denied the authenticity of the transmission, former NASA technician, Maurice Chatelain, revealed otherwise.

‘The encounter was common knowledge in NASA,’ he said in 1979. ‘But nobody has talked about it until now.’

Chatelain also confirmed radio communications were interrupted several times during the Apollo 11 mission ‘in order to keep the truth from the public’."

Is it important to point out the author's name is Jon King and not Jo King, and he has written books about a Princess Diana conspiracy theory too?

Maybe not, but you know how I like to share as much information as possible with you.

Seems like Mike Collins may have been the lucky one after all eh? Never mind guys......I'm sure the truth is out there!



http://www.thetruthbehindthescenes.org/aliens-living-among-us/
http://nagfa.blogspot.co.uk/2006/08/hi-welcome-to-ambigrams-by-nagfa-to.html

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Safe as Houses against those Zombies

By now I really hope that I don’t need to tell you about my weird love of the un-dead. You know like vampires, zombies, revenants, ghouls, the usual sort of stuff for a girlie to be fascinated with.


It isn’t a secret that when the big ‘awakening’ happens I’m going to re-train for a career in necromancy. Realistically, the hours and pay will be better and I wouldn’t have to get up so early in the morning, thus reducing childcare costs. Bonus!

When I heard of the competition run by http://zombiesafehouse.wordpress.com/ I knew that I had to find out more. Amazingly I found out about it via ‘The Economist’ (who says I read trashy stuff eh?) Anyway, Zombie Safe House hosts a competition to design, well, a zombie proof house.

Cool!

I won’t lie to you, it is something that has crossed my mind, you know, survival and that, learning how to make arrows to shoot your undead friends and family, whether or not a zombie virus would affect your pets or could I train my dog to ward off attacks? (Mira Grant's Feed or Max Brooks' World War Z) Things like, how long would it be until electricity ran out & I couldn’t charge my phone…… No idea who I'd call anyway.

I was going to say that the likelihood of a zombie apocalypse is virtually non-existent, but is it really so hard to believe that something, somewhere could threaten the global population?

Lets face it many people completely pooed their pants (as my son would say) over Swine Flu and Avian Flu. However I’m meaning things like global warming, an asteroid hitting the planet, or the possibility of the infamous La Palma Tsunami, you know the sort of thing. Whether that involves Gwyneth Paltrow sneezing or Simon Pegg getting rid of his record collection, who can tell?

Major events that would wipe out a huge chunk of the worlds population that we secretly wouldn’t mind cause it would save us all going into work on Monday and bring about a new, more exciting lifestyle. (If your name is Chuck Norris)

I realise that architects could probably utilise their time a bit better than designing homes for a zombie apocalypse competition but lets be honest, surely architects cant be as dull as accountants? Luckily, there are a few mildly dysfunctional people out there who are looking out for us and designing houses and homes so that when the proverbial hits the fan, we can all be smiley happy people.

But please, can someone make sure that I lift my inhaler so that I can run away from the hoards quicker?

Ta.

Trampire? Nah. Not my Mate Kristen

I do try not to write rubbish about rubbish. Sometimes though I actually can't help it, the temptation is too much and I HAVE to do it.

Yeah, that's right, no high brow topic about something of international interest, no. I'm writing about K-Stew and R-Patz and the alleged indiscretion of Kristen and the nobody with the model wife.

Now, I don't particularly like Kristen Stewart as an actress, in fact, I'm not even sure I like her as a person (from what I've read anyway, though Kristen, if you want to hang with me, let me know and I'll we can arrange something for my days off work, we can see if we can be mates).



There is something about a 22 being old being called a slut, tramp, home wrecker and (my own favourite) trampire that doesn't seem quite right. Kristen has been secretive about every relationship she has had, even the R-Patz one, so why should she be outrageously open about this indiscretion?

Weird eh? Especially when unknown director type person is looking at the camera. They only appear to kiss once and it doesn't look that particularly passionate.

Was this an affair or Kristen looking to someone older for comfort, advice, friendship.......a shoulder to cry on?

You see, assuming that the Kristen does have a relationship with R-Patz and it's not a work of twilight fiction, young Bob has (according to many sources) been putting it about with many other women.

Oh yeah.......many.


We have mentions of Megan Fox, Lindsay Lohan, Australian reality tv stars, burlesque dancers and even co-stars including Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene and Emillie de Ravin (I know her from watching Once Upon a Time) to name a few.

So had maybe Kristen had enough? Was it maybe time for her to look to someone else for some attention when Robert was in the KitKat fetish club in Berlin?

Shame really it had to be Rupert Sanders, some dude I had never heard of previous to his dalliance with K-Stew, sure he had won some awards for adverts but really? Who the hell is he?

He is the husband of a very pretty Vogue model called Liberty Ross. Now ok, in some of the photos from premiers of 'Snow White and the Huntsman' she looks a bit on the hard side, but in the rest of the photos I've seen she looks stunning.


I know that looks aren't everything, Naomi Campbell is a prime example of that, but its obvious that Liberty Ross hasn't fallen from the ugly tree.

As far as I'm concerned, she is the only innocent here.

Can I blame a 22 year old for making a mistake? No I can't, I'm not even sure she was sexually involved with Rupert Sanders judging by the pictures, emotionally maybe.

I think it's wrong to single out Kristen Stewart for abuse, I think that it's more a case of her having trusted the wrong person. But hey Kristen, of you fancy a chat over a cuppa and a carrot cake, you are more than welcome to my house.


http://jezebel.com/5932556/hollywood-insider-alleges-robert-pattinson-cant-keep-it-in-his-pants-constantly-cheated-on-kstew?comment=51745347
http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/


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Santa's Christmas in July

So, it's all happening today then. Just how much excitement can the UK handle?

We have had the Queen's jubilee, the Olympic torch relay and now?

That's right, Harrods has opened up it's Christmas shop. It's 151 days to Christmas and Santa arrives in his union jack painted convertible jaguar. Yeah baby!!


Ok, I realise that was a corny joke, but hey.... Who am I to miss the opportunity for a quick gag?

Anyway, its now officially time to get your arse into gear and avoid the Christmas rush by visiting the Christmas World department in Harrods, Knightsbridge, which is now officially open for business.

At Christmas crackers costing £1299 (no, I haven't missed out the decimal point), a replica of Tower of London and a pop up gingerbread Harrods, I'm sure I'll be just fine searching the Internet and getting smaller and more thoughtful gifts from British firms like Busy Bee Candles, Sugar Poke or a clock from Wags and Bones or my dog treats from Lily's Kitchen.


Then I know what I'm getting is special and helping to keep my hard earned cash in the UK.


Until then, I'll switch on the Olympics and watch Danny Boyle's efforts and some more home grown talent.







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Cannibal Cult Crew Kills

I am aware that I'm starting to sound like a zombie/cannibal expert or fanatic, but I just find it a bit interesting, maybe because I'm vegetarian and the idea of eating flesh freaks me out so much.

However, when I heard that 29 people had been arrested in Papua New Guinea as members of a cannibal cult I had to tell you.
The punchline is they were arrested for murdering 7 witch doctors, eating their brains (raw, as if that really matters) and making penis soup. The best bit is, they don't actually consider what they have done as being wrong and according to Police Commander Anthony Wagambie from the Madang province, they openly admit what they have done.
Ok, why consume the people you have murdered? Surely, killing them is enough? Apparently not.
Now, here it begins to sound more fiction than fact.
These cult members (approximately 1000 in total) are sounding a bit vigilante to me. See, firstly they are employing specially trained people to hunt and kill the sorcerers, then by actually consuming the flesh of the victims, they would absorb their supernatural powers, a bit like Sylar in the tv show 'Heroes' although he didn't have them as dinner.

In defence of the cannibal crew (if there is a defence for killing and eating someone) they maintain that these so called witch doctors were charging huge amounts of cash for their services or demanding sex from the villagers in return.
As the cannibal crew were consuming the murdered people to take on their supernatural powers, it's suggests that it wasn't because they reckoned the witch doctors were fake, but the 'sanguma' or sorcery charges were too high.
I do feel a lot of sympathy for Anthony Wagambie, as he doesn't actually have any dead bodies....... It's a bit hard to try someone with murder if there is no body. Not even any remains have been found.


Obviously Wagambie thinks they have been eaten..... - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Clever Marketing or Chauvinistic Mayor

Gallus and Black Forest have a completely different meaning in Scotland when the words are strung together than when they refer to the Mayor of a German town.


However, in the real world, Triberg is a town in the Black Forest area of Germany and their Mayor is called Gallus Strobel. He is in the news cause he has set out separate parking areas for men and women.....

When you open a can of worms, you can't close the tin immediately, you have to let some wriggle away first.

His idea is wider parking spaces for women in areas that are better lit. Spaces for men are closer to concrete pillars and can only be reversed into. Now, depending on how this was marketed, this could be a great idea. However, he followed it up by saying that men were better at parking than women.

"In the new car park we found that two place were not rectangular, at an angle to the road and placed between walls and pillars; that makes parking difficult so we decided to allocate them to men," the 58 year-old mayor told Germany's Spiegel magazine.

Here's the bit where Mayor Strobel has tried to put the lid back on the worm can by adding, "there were great women drivers, and all women were welcome to try and park in the men-only spaces."


As a marketing ploy, this has worked brilliantly as now I know that Triberg is a town in the Black Forest and Gallus Strobel is the Mayor. I also know that being of the weaker sex, I can park my huge Audi A6 Quattro in a nice well lit area and not concern myself about my lack of driving skill.

What I will concern myself with though is that while nice Mayor Strobel has catered for women who lack driving skill he has completely ignored the requirements of the guys who can't even drive a hot nail into a snowball. But who am I to argue? If someone wants to give me a nice big parking spot while some dude wants to show off his hand/eye coordination in an area half the size, I'll happily watch the entertainment.

Oh well! You can't keep everyone happy I suppose.








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The Price of Patriotism, Wholesale Price...That Is

With the kickoff of The London 2012 Olympic Games just a few weeks away, a new US political furor has emerged in its shadow.

The offending uniforms.

Recently all sides of the political aisle, both on The Hill and in there respective partisan newsrooms, legislators and pundits alike have came out and condemned the USA's official team uniforms for the 2012 games.  It seems like such an insignificant issue to even draw a statement from the most powerful people in the country, let alone becoming news worthy for all the major networks.  But this condemnation alludes to a much large crack in the American Culture and the American economic system, a low blow that strikes a raw nerve with a country that is clawing at the barrel walls to avoid slipping deeper, and again, into another job destroying recession.

In recent weeks Team USA officially unveiled the uniforms that all their athletes will don for the upcoming Olympics in London.  At first glance the drew criticism simple because of their look, but after further investigation they have become a point of contention.  The uniforms were designed by legendary American fashion house Ralph Lauren, a staple in American style for decades.  However, they have been styled in a decidedly French fashion with berets for the men and neckerchiefs for the women.  Even the the colors of the neckerchief looks decidedly French with it appearing more 'Blue White and Red' rather than the hall mark American 'Red White and Blue.'

A uniform that the entire team representing America will be wearing as they showcase what their athletes can do on the world stage look French, but that isn't what has pushed this anger to a level that left Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D) so perplexed that he could barely form a coherent sentence at a press conference.  It was the fact that these uniforms were all made in China.  At a time when the American job sector is suffering, and when pride before the Olympics is starting to build, the US Olympic committee decided to get all it's uniforms made in China.  And they will cost over $1000 to buy retail.

This goes to sum up the problems with American economic culture.  It's goods are styled on European design, made in China on the cheap, tagged with an American brand name, then sold to the public under the guise of patriotism for a price that can only be described as a small fortune.

Ralph Lauren profits, the Chinese workers profits, and America's Olympic team have a stain on them before they've even heard the first measures of their national anthem.


Written by:  Phil M.

Could Mermaids Encourage us to Pay More Attention

I'm used to reading that the US Government has denied that any it has any evidence of life outside of our universe. I am also used to reading that the US CDC says there is no zombie apocalypse.

However, when I read that the US Government said that, "No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found," I wondered exactly what had happened that I had so obviously missed.


I mean, no UFOs, zombies, chupacabra, vampires or werewolves and now no mermaids? Then, to make matters worse National Ocean Service spokeswoman Carol Kavanaugh told The BBC, "We don't have a mermaid science program."

Gutted!

But seriously though, where did all this come about?

Well last week Animal Planet had their 'Monster Week'. As part of the week of shows they had a 2 hour mock-umentary, complete with CGI and fake scientists, called 'Mermaids: The Body Found'.

Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't 100% fake, there were some real facts in there too, like the mass beachings of whales in 1990s and the unexplained 'bloop' sound that marine biologists found in 1997.

So it was more using fiction to explain fact.


Anyway, I watched it yesterday and I have to say that it was brilliant. It was wonderfully done. The pieces of fact merged well with the storyline that when apes came out of the trees, some stayed on land and some went into the sea.

As I said, its loosely based on fact, but does point out some interesting points.

Like for example, Polar bears evolved from brown bears and are now marine mammals. Babies can hold their breath under water easily. Humans and Dolphins will naturally help each other hunting and that some new species of sea mammals have only recently been discovered. Probably the most interesting piece of evidence is the amount of stories about mermaids in different cultures and civilisations spread about the world.

Hmmm......

I'm not sure who said 'never let the truth stand in the way of a good rumour', but this is fiction based on fact, a bit like Oliver Stone's 'JFK' not actual real fact.


That leaves us with a great conspiracy theory, a Roswell for mermaids.

I recommend that you watch it if you get a chance, it's awesome and does give you many more questions than answers, just like a great mystery should do. I just hope that it encourages more people to have an interest I the ocean and conservation.



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Pitbull Looking for Huskies?

I have a soft spot for Armando Christian Perez. Ok, I know it's not cool for a 40 something mother to like a Miami rapper who can sing in Spanish and English and has made something of himself. Someone who has gone from being kicked out by his mother for drug dealing to being a rapper, music producer, songwriter, business man, A&R man, presenter and actor, he has turned himself into a success.

He chose the name 'Pitbull' well.


So why am I writing about Pitbull today? Well as part of a promotion with Walmart, he will be sent to the branch that gets the most 'likes' on Facebook.

What a quality idea, Pitbull meeting and partying with fans.

Then, The Boston Phoenix newspaper started to encourage people to 'like' Walmart in Kodiak, (that is in Alaska if your geography isn't good). So the Miami born guy could end up some 225 miles south of Anchorage on the island famous for, yes you've guessed it, brown bears.




Probably the most amusing bit about this is that Kodiak Walmart has amassed more than 5 times the population of 'likes', currently sitting at around 47,250.

However Pitbull being the good guy that he is said, 'wherever the fans want to have a party, I will be there'.




I think that there is a definite split of people wanting Armando to visit, those who want to see him there and those who want rid of him from mainland USA.

Personally, I think that's a shame, in my opinion pitbull rocks. Like his name sake, he has proven that you can't judge a book by its cover.



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House Hunting with History

I have an odd body shape, well it's odd when you're shopping for clothes, cause they are always too tight somewhere or too loose somewhere. Basically, I have a small waist and a fat arse. You could argue that it's curvy etc blah blah, whatever, but the punchline is, it's a bugger to get clothes to really fit you.


Anyway, I always found that I could buy Versace jeans & they would fit me like the man himself had made them just for me........ Ah! I had Versace tops, trousers, jeans, dresses, jackets, the works. All were gorgeous, sumptuous and delightful to wear.

The man knew how to make short women with fat arses look and feel gorgeous (in my opinion anyway, I possibly looked like a right sight, but that's for another discussion).

Gianni Versace was murdered on his doorstep by Andrew Cunanan in 1997. I was upset at that because for the first time since Kurt Cobain had died that I felt like it affected me. Does that sound daft? Of course, later on that year we lost Michael Hutchence, Chris Farley and Princess Diana and public mourning was made more acceptable.


I'm not writing this blog about grief, 1997 or me not being able to hide my huge behind underneath some glamorous clothes, it's about Gianni's house, the house where he was murdered.

Known as Casa Casuarina, it was built in 1930 by Alden Freeman who modelled it on the Alcazar de Colon which is in the Dominican Republic. Incidentally that house is famous for being built by Christopher Columbus' son.
It has has 10 bedrooms. It has a gold lined pool. It has 11 bathrooms. It has a gold tiled kitchen. It is for sale for $125m or £80.7m.

Just now it's a kind of really posh place to stay that costs approximately $4000 a night. For that sum you get a personal butler, king sized bed, a living area of sorts and (oh my god) free wi-fi, which at the cost of $4k a night I'd hope the bloody wi-fi was free!


Of course, the real reason I'm not interested in purchasing Casa Casuarina is that it's not really to my taste. Although I do like the huge medusa mosaic, possibly that's due to having it stamped on my arse for most of the mid 90s.

However, I would feel guilty as hell if I was to redecorate 1116 Ocean Drive. I'm sure I would find out if the Devil really did Wear Prada.



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Judging The Person by The Shoes

Is it just me, or is it quite funny that a study about guessing people's personality from their shoes was carried out in Kansas?

Ok, it's maybe a bit left field, but come on? Dorothy? Toto? Ruby red slippers?

Anyway, here's the science bit. Researchers at the University if Kansas found out that judging a stranger's personality by their shoes is 90% accurate. In fact, it even goes so far as to say that you can work out their gender, age, income, emotional stability and politics from someone's footwear.

Jeez, who needs astrology when all you need to do is check out their clogs?

I was going to call on my science degree for the whole 'Aim, Method, Apparatus, Results, Conclusion' thing, but let's be honest, science is only cool on TV when you're a character on Criminal Minds or CSI.

So the guinea pigs were asked to put on the shoes that they wore most often and complete a personality survey.

It wasn't rocket science to work out that those with the expensive shoes earned more cash or that extroverts tend to have fancier shoes.


Anyway the researchers who viewed 208 photos of shoes noted that agreeable people wore practical shoes, calm people had uncomfortable shoes. Liberals had cheaper and shabbier shoes, whereas the people who liked to take care of their footwear may suffer from attachment anxiety. Ankle boots tend to be worn by those who people who have a more aggressive personality.



So that leaves Dorothy as an extroverted calm person who likes to wear the shoes of a dead witch?

Oh well, who said 'you can't judge an Indian till you walk 10 miles in his moccasins?'





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Innocent Until Proven Guilty

There are so many moral dilemmas in this story that I'm not even sure where to begin. It is, in all honesty a mine field for a practising philosopher.
I'll tell you the story though, as best as I can, without any of my views.
Last week, a family in Texas had a gathering of some people round to their house. Other members of the family were outside tending to the horses, when the father came back indoors and caught one of the 'guests' allegedly sexually assaulting his 4 year old daughter. The father then repeatedly punched the alleged attacker in the head, the attacker was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 4 year old was taken to hospital to be examined before being released.
According to CNN, Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon said, "You have a right to defend your daughter. He acted in defence of his third person. Once the investigation is completed we will submit it to the district attorney who then submits it to the grand jury, who will decide if they will indict him."
Wow, tricky situation on a number of accounts but surely, we can all accept that it is wrong to kill.
Fact 1. Initial autopsy results showed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Fact 2. The person who died is only an alleged child molester, they have not (and now cannot) be tried in court. There are no unbiased witnesses, only the report that the father found his daughter with Jesus Mora Flores and his underwear at his ankles.
Fact 3. The father of the 4 year old must live forever knowing that he took someone else's life.
Now I know that the father is apparently very remorseful for what has happened, but he can't take away the fact that another person died at his hands. Ok, there may have been some underlying reason for the death of the other person, but only time will tell.
So here is my predicament. Is it ever right to kill?
I know that it is wrong to kill. However, I have no idea what I would do to someone I caught molesting my child.
What I can say with a heavy heart is that, my tree-hugging hippy, Wiccan earth mother persona would get tossed out the window as some demon possessed version of Xena Warrior Princess would appear. Even more of a worry is that, I'm not sure that I would be able to stop if they hit the floor.
I guess it is really true, you can't judge an Indian till you walked 10 miles in his moccasins.

As a foot note: the father will not be charged, here is the link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18522383
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Why the Olympic Torch is Important

Its not every day you witness history in the making, but today was the exception.
Today, the 13th of June 2012, I saw the Olympic torch.
It's a bit like the build up to the gala day only on a much larger scale. The police are about and patrolling the streets, Central Scotland Police & the Met as well.




The people begin to line the streets, school children standing, eagerly awaiting to see what is going to happen. People come out from their place of work on an extended break, partly because they can and partly to see what all the fuss is about. I daresay that many of them had the same initial reaction as I did, with the nonchalant, 'whatever' and rolling eyes heaven ward.
But it's more than that. Way more.




There is the bus with the torch bearers, all immaculately dressed in their London Olympic 2012 white track suits, all waiting their turn to share this historic event.
There are the crew of organisers speaking quietly into their radios giving and receiving updates on where the convoy is and when it is due to arrive.




The convoy involves police motorbikes, who not only wave at the crowds but go and touch the outstretched hands of school children, all delighted to be involved. The big police BMWs with 'Metropolitan Police' emblazoned down the sides, windows down, again waving to the crowds in the street, lights on with the occasional siren come next, drawing yet more interest from the bystanders, radio and tv crews.




Then come the convoy of sponsors buses. Handing out some items to school children and old people alike, no one is exempt for the party atmosphere.
At the beginning of the route, the torch bearer comes out of the bus to massive cheers from the crowd.




Where we were, torch bearer number 46 stood with a face awash with pride for what he was about to do. Some of the staff from the surrounding offices, ushered the kids to the front of the crowd for a better and much closer look.

Tom Sreeves spoke to the children and answered all their questions, he posed for photographs and took his time to share his honour with us, the public.

It has to be said, the torch is beautiful. For some reason I expected it to feel cold and a bit rough around the 8000 perforated circles, but it doesn't.

When the torch is lit, it is done in a circle of met police officers all in matching silver shorts and tshirts, the only way you know they are police is from the warrant cards proudly displayed on their arm. Like a precision operation the flame is safely passed from one person to the next.




And that is what today was all about, inspiration, pride, joy and us all coming together in celebration.




It's not everyday you witness history, but, today on the 13th of June 2012, I touched the Olympic torch.


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Olympic Torch

It's a bit like the build up to the gala day. The police are about and patrolling the streets.

Complete with a special appearance from the Met


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