Decor Apartment Interior Design

32 Adventures In The UK

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Sometimes I feel like Alice in Wonderland,<br />for I am in constant <b>wonder</b><br />at how much there is to do in this small country<br /><br />Here's a list I'm chipping away at,<br />knowing I won't ever do it all...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFaFPh8eugGoDVPu5aDmeNSrbzEOiURgp6xUXk127H6f3IzVaFH81PS3a0taGGTfUejB737WIkKdEDgJDCQPCfAS74cZUG_0bDKyNpn6vhAMKbaaEuYd3rYZT65ztyeAsd4AXUC858r8/s1600/IMG_0235-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFaFPh8eugGoDVPu5aDmeNSrbzEOiURgp6xUXk127H6f3IzVaFH81PS3a0taGGTfUejB737WIkKdEDgJDCQPCfAS74cZUG_0bDKyNpn6vhAMKbaaEuYd3rYZT65ztyeAsd4AXUC858r8/s640/IMG_0235-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. Learn to <a href="http://www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy.htm">surf</a> at the Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay, Cornwall<br /><br />2. Try <a href="http://www.barefootsurf.com/sandboarding.html">sandboarding</a> in north Devon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. Explore coast, cliffs and caves while swimming (aka <a href="http://www.adventuresark.com/">coasteering</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;">on the vehicle-free island of Sark</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Go <a href="http://www.chillisauce.co.uk/activity-weekends/cardiff/gorge-scrambling/">gorge scrambling + river tubing</a> in Wales<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5. Try caving/<a href="http://www.gocave.com/">spelunking</a> in northern England</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />6. Soar above the Peak District in a <a href="http://www.fly-paragliders.co.uk/">paramotor</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">7. Fly over Cornwall's botanical Eden Project on England's longest <a href="http://www.edenproject.com/come-and-visit/whats-on/eden-adventure/zip-wire">zipline</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKAPFmN_sGzhSb4q9wFe7touoSVI6C0FHJGXh5GNkW2Riat6bTwrvyP81wnbqblsir1SwUTKhva51pVMBtXR1KDiFgd9kuTRuF3UWKjXFHT7CawKdW6E-tBAiZ5XDVTu1KtiCBCKFJPQ/s1600/DSC01261-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKAPFmN_sGzhSb4q9wFe7touoSVI6C0FHJGXh5GNkW2Riat6bTwrvyP81wnbqblsir1SwUTKhva51pVMBtXR1KDiFgd9kuTRuF3UWKjXFHT7CawKdW6E-tBAiZ5XDVTu1KtiCBCKFJPQ/s640/DSC01261-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eden Project</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">8. Swim to France via the <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/living-on-island.html">English Channel</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">9. Snorkel with <a href="http://www.acuatours.com/dive-basking-sharks-uk.html">sharks</a> in Scotland</div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">10. Scuba dive in the <a href="http://www.visitengland.com/ee/idea/Activities/Dive-HMS-Scylla-Wreck.htm">HMS Scylla Wreck</a> in Devon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">11. Try New Zealand's <a href="http://rafting.co.uk/bug.htm">river bugging</a> in Scotland</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">12. Rent a <a href="http://www.viking-afloat.co.uk/longboat.htm">narrowboat</a> to explore the canals on your own</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4fmcqcYbpQ0tNfSyYutdENb7EdqWL3hduOKODMHq1HPuv8PvDCy5xvIcHLaxeKc-Oql5RKdlox4fU_Df_QMpoizPZpi-MOpW3U7phWrU1FFHrYCce_TOf3ywftE6hcoVRNjy9Z9IghrL/s1600/DSC_0179-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4fmcqcYbpQ0tNfSyYutdENb7EdqWL3hduOKODMHq1HPuv8PvDCy5xvIcHLaxeKc-Oql5RKdlox4fU_Df_QMpoizPZpi-MOpW3U7phWrU1FFHrYCce_TOf3ywftE6hcoVRNjy9Z9IghrL/s640/DSC_0179-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">13. Go <a href="http://www.goflyfishinguk.com/">fly fishing</a> in one of Great Britain's scenic rivers or lakes</div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">14. Be a <a href="http://www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts/experiences">zookeeper</a> for the day at Howletts Animal Park in Kent</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">15. <a href="http://www.surrey-hills-llamas.co.uk/">Llama trek</a> through the Surrey Hills </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFmwY56QYAokVyGz1IQZnzEnc4xEVtYfY8NLFNpyEOO_CpMx_m_wcn-WwzOSkpchzLuYd5jY9cKy-UuXGGTuFcsmc6SKMfg-xm1rzIsnOwLLJQlvqkzRqtCa7inLodlrBvZZyg_XEfX8/s1600/IMG_1922-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFmwY56QYAokVyGz1IQZnzEnc4xEVtYfY8NLFNpyEOO_CpMx_m_wcn-WwzOSkpchzLuYd5jY9cKy-UuXGGTuFcsmc6SKMfg-xm1rzIsnOwLLJQlvqkzRqtCa7inLodlrBvZZyg_XEfX8/s640/IMG_1922-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />16. Be a passenger during a <a href="http://www.theblades.com/Blades-corporate-homepage/Blades-corporate-site/Capabilities/Individual-experiences.aspx">stunt airplane</a> flight <br /><br />17. Test your limits in a <a href="http://www.paulswift.com/ultimate-stunt-driving.asp">stunt car driving school</a><br /><br />18. Churn your stomach at the UK's largest <a href="http://www.zorbing.co.uk/">zorbing park</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-dVzaPfIc5Tji1PpCWxSMJjyNGMG2fpXJpOlKg49lPOISI4NyxrBckD5HsHGMK-KAnZsDkuxMSRAjIoQgA4r6VH4re8epFfG3aVAXQJxZmAxv5mcqLvWTLhZ8s5RtOBocb-sqWB9bXeX/s1600/DSCN0466-005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-dVzaPfIc5Tji1PpCWxSMJjyNGMG2fpXJpOlKg49lPOISI4NyxrBckD5HsHGMK-KAnZsDkuxMSRAjIoQgA4r6VH4re8epFfG3aVAXQJxZmAxv5mcqLvWTLhZ8s5RtOBocb-sqWB9bXeX/s400/DSCN0466-005.JPG" width="346" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />19. <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/muddy-boots-glam-ping.html">Camp out</a> on a working farm<br />at Feather Down Farms<br /><br />20. Spend a few days at <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/center-parcs.html">Center Parcs</a>,<br />packed with activities for all ages<br /><br />21. 22. 23. 24.<br />Sleep in a <a href="http://www.cleywindmill.co.uk/">windmill</a>, <a href="http://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/">castle</a>, <a href="http://gypsycaravanbreaks.co.uk/accommodation-and-facilities">gypsy caravan</a>, or <a href="http://www.happydaysrv.co.uk/">vintage camper</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVVcIaAQkGy301BUA_LAjdHHtp8p-vSXLAzehIGafaC9CwzRVRgJM1Yp1BQDgiYSpphyGK1d0t2OGqbOr3zFKrUGmnGMXrsMd3S3JRq9fL_a-X-II8tvR52oyCK4gWpaSwL4yCmLJc2I/s1600/DSCN3832-006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVVcIaAQkGy301BUA_LAjdHHtp8p-vSXLAzehIGafaC9CwzRVRgJM1Yp1BQDgiYSpphyGK1d0t2OGqbOr3zFKrUGmnGMXrsMd3S3JRq9fL_a-X-II8tvR52oyCK4gWpaSwL4yCmLJc2I/s640/DSCN3832-006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">LONDON CALLING<br /><br />25. View the inside of <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/along-peter-pans-route-big-ben.html">Big Ben</a><br />(open to UK residents only)<br /><br />26. Witness the nightly lock up of the Tower of London<br />in the <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/london-ceremony-of-keys.html">Ceremony Of The Keys</a> (free)<br /><br />27. Enjoy wine tasting in your private <a href="http://www.londoneye.com/PrivateCapsules/CorporateEvents/CorporateCapsules/VinopolisWineTasting/Default.aspx">London Eye</a> capsule<br /><br />28. Walk on top of one of London's landmarks, <a href="http://www.theo2.co.uk/upattheo2">The O2 Arena</a><br /><br />29. <a href="http://www.tallyhocycletours.com/london/our-tours/">Cycle</a> through London on a classic British bicycle tour<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMXDoKa1P5jrYgoBrLy-_31UTIpKGRTnyO5spLirgel7ccDKy8xZ-0gsnbLS2zSCl2uk69CKn2KoxvOUr9b3MM4uHjaiJpf3TrMXjg66RQSvfg-f4RYtHN_ZDgynlOr7vqdCxZCPpmPc/s1600/DSCN3898-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMXDoKa1P5jrYgoBrLy-_31UTIpKGRTnyO5spLirgel7ccDKy8xZ-0gsnbLS2zSCl2uk69CKn2KoxvOUr9b3MM4uHjaiJpf3TrMXjg66RQSvfg-f4RYtHN_ZDgynlOr7vqdCxZCPpmPc/s640/DSCN3898-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />30. Try <a href="http://www.vertical-chill.com/vertical-chill-london.htm">ice climbing</a> in the heart of London <br /><br />31. Get wet while rafting the rapids<br />at the Olympic <a href="http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/london2012/lee-valley-white-water-centre/rafting/">Lee Valley White Water Center</a><br /><br />32. Tour the River Thames in riveting <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/bond-girl-for-day-or-two.html">James Bond style</a><br /><br />Where to start first?<br />Have you tried any of these?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

32 Adventures In The UK

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Sometimes I feel like Alice in Wonderland, for I am in constant wonder at how much there is to do in this small...

10:19 PM

Stairway To Norway

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">With a few weeks before school started</div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided to take the kids somewhere</div><div style="text-align: center;">while my husband stayed behind to work</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Where could I travel safely and easily with two kids in tow?</div><div style="text-align: center;">- <i>Norway</i> -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOx5MS4BOoUWbVcYBINkCT_JwEzBZuDMhKMw2_SlRrYDXvkTY-s-S0JMNhsR8i74bPE-A6_Z7YrSY8xP5s9H8GYZ0sDD15Mo14wsUt2V6fy3IDwfIBJOEegf6JpZJwAthQOGTr5P6I4Aw/s1600/IMG_1521-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOx5MS4BOoUWbVcYBINkCT_JwEzBZuDMhKMw2_SlRrYDXvkTY-s-S0JMNhsR8i74bPE-A6_Z7YrSY8xP5s9H8GYZ0sDD15Mo14wsUt2V6fy3IDwfIBJOEegf6JpZJwAthQOGTr5P6I4Aw/s640/IMG_1521-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started our trip in Bergen,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Norway's second largest city</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYQQHpWOi6g8yVW3FpRFxUDsPZXBpyY_4MH-je04-s5Z9EWzwAPE5SxoFBE222LpKD8vqtJ140KVY1sVTK-MzEnnrzfr5IC-ROxChkwnhfOdVxM6kxG1EGvemR0xPkj6W7o0YMI4bgeqE/s1600/IMG_0672-010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYQQHpWOi6g8yVW3FpRFxUDsPZXBpyY_4MH-je04-s5Z9EWzwAPE5SxoFBE222LpKD8vqtJ140KVY1sVTK-MzEnnrzfr5IC-ROxChkwnhfOdVxM6kxG1EGvemR0xPkj6W7o0YMI4bgeqE/s640/IMG_0672-010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't get enough of these letterboxes<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERY7ZNX55o6253UDlZTEFCXd0PKVhJDQmR95_PNc6X-dwYIf7CUT9LGwnqYBkeNjBmkoerGJ9Ygh4ogLgpqV7EWBLcifO1TivmKjX44H10JtYNRkdm5_1CxL6Wyego2Lo_ZslQuU2nvk/s1600/IMG_1455-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERY7ZNX55o6253UDlZTEFCXd0PKVhJDQmR95_PNc6X-dwYIf7CUT9LGwnqYBkeNjBmkoerGJ9Ygh4ogLgpqV7EWBLcifO1TivmKjX44H10JtYNRkdm5_1CxL6Wyego2Lo_ZslQuU2nvk/s640/IMG_1455-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the crowns indicate,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Norway has a monarch (King Harald V) and a prime minister</div><div style="text-align: center;">like the United Kingdom</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They gained independence from Sweden in 1905</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As one of the few European countries that did <i>not</i> join the European Union,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can see and feel this country's independence</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiFWZ3DvDU0qaCHbck3w5c80owwV9DQFIkJ2__k1kAJI8DTY8MFSTOJKxx9n9SNrCEs8UYUhDuWIRmnH7mO5crDq_QfTNF_CeXYdxFqASCPdMR2U9WsPaNQMMekq3o0wA8JOFv2eRG-M/s1600/IMG_1510-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiFWZ3DvDU0qaCHbck3w5c80owwV9DQFIkJ2__k1kAJI8DTY8MFSTOJKxx9n9SNrCEs8UYUhDuWIRmnH7mO5crDq_QfTNF_CeXYdxFqASCPdMR2U9WsPaNQMMekq3o0wA8JOFv2eRG-M/s640/IMG_1510-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grocery stores had lots of unique Norwegian brands<br />which felt very refreshing and authentic<br />as other European grocery stores often have the same products<br />probably due to the EU trade<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I adored the Norwegian coins with holes in the middle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />And interestingly</div><div style="text-align: center;">parents must choose their child's name from a list of official Norwegian names</div><div style="text-align: center;">This strict name law dates back to the 1800s</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NtUZAu8SRDLW0ZKAqmyBw7lc2-HZxM4HEvzhMz-ilW3_uupqsodkluLTKU-CCnWg8I2HhihsVFk6kpypLcwhBXMmys61qOB1QWOIhwzHuK-8aVGIrDvlfsu9HF6dla0HzejAr836-_o/s1600/IMG_1543-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NtUZAu8SRDLW0ZKAqmyBw7lc2-HZxM4HEvzhMz-ilW3_uupqsodkluLTKU-CCnWg8I2HhihsVFk6kpypLcwhBXMmys61qOB1QWOIhwzHuK-8aVGIrDvlfsu9HF6dla0HzejAr836-_o/s640/IMG_1543-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />We happily got 'lost' in these cobbled alleys<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg674VwCwf79VHTij5kKNSimZRO6GBLk1R7d2q3bsMNdSBws__ng4nTfOdqQxvfYiX8pMFNupLnm9xA-nLSBXx6H3rU0qUoGaIDIxTT0W9j0pc6BdccOHzTySYYCw3eckGtrxblF38E0cI/s1600/IMG_1475-022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg674VwCwf79VHTij5kKNSimZRO6GBLk1R7d2q3bsMNdSBws__ng4nTfOdqQxvfYiX8pMFNupLnm9xA-nLSBXx6H3rU0qUoGaIDIxTT0W9j0pc6BdccOHzTySYYCw3eckGtrxblF38E0cI/s640/IMG_1475-022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And as if the country didn't have me at their longest word<br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>minoritetsladningsbærerdiffusjonskoeffisientmålingsapparatur</i></span></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">(try saying that five times, or even one)</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">the fjords did...</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaefnoBagbTFY8Uu7JTk2N0KY4yWKEAMY6AdBKsV8rGrqoU9zTi2k6fd7iapXFlnjSJe6julaZINOg-kOgQXwCtxzWM0txN5et19ED_i-tMuOl56THb9OP11cynZgP59abg6oZWy-yx8M/s1600/IMG_0943-014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaefnoBagbTFY8Uu7JTk2N0KY4yWKEAMY6AdBKsV8rGrqoU9zTi2k6fd7iapXFlnjSJe6julaZINOg-kOgQXwCtxzWM0txN5et19ED_i-tMuOl56THb9OP11cynZgP59abg6oZWy-yx8M/s640/IMG_0943-014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">We traveled by boat through the Sognefjord,</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">the world's second deepest fjord and the 3rd longest</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Fjord is a Norwegian word, indicating a long narrow water inlet surrounded by </span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">steep mountains </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">carved by glacial activity</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I don't know the word for <i>cute nestled fjord villages</i></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">but I bet it has some cool vowels in it </span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">like</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.03333282470703px;">å or </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 29.866666793823242px;">Ø</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr-udK3PDD08m3rH6gumqjYoQGO0Jj13USU7SbE_oxWwMBWsS8OHa9YkzFd-pnkTFFUZZHxKV_af3jX_AaEYQmxBxUdMlFWQlGUElTJpD9CitXhVpvsIekBILaCQtHabFn6A62Va0TNI/s1600/IMG_1130-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr-udK3PDD08m3rH6gumqjYoQGO0Jj13USU7SbE_oxWwMBWsS8OHa9YkzFd-pnkTFFUZZHxKV_af3jX_AaEYQmxBxUdMlFWQlGUElTJpD9CitXhVpvsIekBILaCQtHabFn6A62Va0TNI/s640/IMG_1130-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Here's a treehouse</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">with a million dollar view...</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI4jlS3yeu5Vb6YvEqnirkgjbYs82SnK_k0n0elUSHVg3rrCOyLxqJNoHMrYDEZHUZZ1Jczk7ne1QNozAzRxFEPiFmEi9TkD01-qsJW9oECut0Dc10-LtWxBH9m2uPiV3cAlndPyWnmsu/s1600/IMG_1197-005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI4jlS3yeu5Vb6YvEqnirkgjbYs82SnK_k0n0elUSHVg3rrCOyLxqJNoHMrYDEZHUZZ1Jczk7ne1QNozAzRxFEPiFmEi9TkD01-qsJW9oECut0Dc10-LtWxBH9m2uPiV3cAlndPyWnmsu/s640/IMG_1197-005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Vikings lived in these waters</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">which are still home to porpoises, seals, and otters today</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">There is a wonderful saying in Norway</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">'There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing'</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">You can see we had fantastic weather,</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">so I must have had fantastic clothing?</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72ELTcJctOo4InJAuVzv9HMtofO1MImy10XAUeXq6DIniJkz469uWAgYMnCh9IK6WCWeUR_2hoCDJpXJmhBZ6ssLXNy9xR2D6XGAMMH_1FzJIEh_mRxEkBU-i3-qYQAWY3E2MgfKZets/s1600/IMG_1198-0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72ELTcJctOo4InJAuVzv9HMtofO1MImy10XAUeXq6DIniJkz469uWAgYMnCh9IK6WCWeUR_2hoCDJpXJmhBZ6ssLXNy9xR2D6XGAMMH_1FzJIEh_mRxEkBU-i3-qYQAWY3E2MgfKZets/s640/IMG_1198-0041.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Oh my...</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbB-IxERssNTO_12UH3uODaAFXc5S11UR2lN7oExSG9a3DRnEHITLRWAyoM_C6bZV6C8R2NF-MyQonn1VwmHF-umk0p6EVqr7EtkDNTI8QmiVCgVR-GJN7mGkatgCX8Hx3MqHhh_-t6U/s1600/IMG_1208-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbB-IxERssNTO_12UH3uODaAFXc5S11UR2lN7oExSG9a3DRnEHITLRWAyoM_C6bZV6C8R2NF-MyQonn1VwmHF-umk0p6EVqr7EtkDNTI8QmiVCgVR-GJN7mGkatgCX8Hx3MqHhh_-t6U/s640/IMG_1208-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">This is the land of the midnight sun,</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">northern lights, polar bears, and folkloric trolls</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">If you seek adventure</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">go on a rat safari in an Oslo sewer(!),</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">swim with killer whales near Lofoten,</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">or dive into Saltstraumen, the world's strongest whirlpool</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Or just stick to kayaking</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUqpgMChsBQrjKqHtKjVZ0YZQ0_sFNfGtKyqp3cKFcrRVOODkKjKj7KxRwGmlrte0JYku9KVjGSmqNa7AD4IVOLWtZOydbfbwrFzOboM7TyIG2Xc2NPmDZopfk195TXchKN4FB4jIgVPF/s1600/IMG_0992-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUqpgMChsBQrjKqHtKjVZ0YZQ0_sFNfGtKyqp3cKFcrRVOODkKjKj7KxRwGmlrte0JYku9KVjGSmqNa7AD4IVOLWtZOydbfbwrFzOboM7TyIG2Xc2NPmDZopfk195TXchKN4FB4jIgVPF/s640/IMG_0992-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Camera out of window,</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">we are on the Flamsbana train to return to Bergen</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">and about to enter a tunnel</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">There are a lot of tunnels in Norway</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Some are even undersea, connecting to islands</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wZZo2Mc4qf8GErjn-67jXgskoBlZxrRe48D4MkVMQU4cFvI40cKvYN4jEMNjF7-znO8wyV4_0TQ4VYf1O9ZaGijDL1mgKDHNdcIKOFVeEYeCuklvGcYGde0WNTdoFKbDjhnb8_1T1s8/s1600/IMG_1334-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wZZo2Mc4qf8GErjn-67jXgskoBlZxrRe48D4MkVMQU4cFvI40cKvYN4jEMNjF7-znO8wyV4_0TQ4VYf1O9ZaGijDL1mgKDHNdcIKOFVeEYeCuklvGcYGde0WNTdoFKbDjhnb8_1T1s8/s640/IMG_1334-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Norway is the second wealthiest country per capita in Europe</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">(Luxembourg, first)</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">And there are more Norwegian descendants living in the US</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">than there are Norwegians in Norway</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Many emigrated between 1860 - 1910</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1geoeSp7LAtd1NVBRSQ1s7NwjkJBiPKeutPXHy-ZDspv3R8WIjS9QMWMJtRlg1Bwx2k45hRs8VAihO0vUoPGcqDFhoC7GEWuzd1pCDm3Z9dcFm0YRT6ZcuAxSMOrgkJLg1_UJEEhYP7dE/s1600/IMG_1333-014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1geoeSp7LAtd1NVBRSQ1s7NwjkJBiPKeutPXHy-ZDspv3R8WIjS9QMWMJtRlg1Bwx2k45hRs8VAihO0vUoPGcqDFhoC7GEWuzd1pCDm3Z9dcFm0YRT6ZcuAxSMOrgkJLg1_UJEEhYP7dE/s640/IMG_1333-014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />Ahhh...<br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">what a wonderful way</span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">to end a lovely summer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Dedicating this post to an American boy who dreams of traveling to Norway one day</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Colin, this one's for you </i> ;)</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sources: Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway">1</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita">2</a>, <a href="http://www.babynames.org.uk/norwegian-baby-names.htm">BabyNames</a>, <a href="http://www.norway.org/News_and_events/top-stories/Random-facts-about-Norway/">Norway</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking to Post Of The Month Club <a href="http://www.lifeonplanetbaby.com/2012/08/post-of-month-club-august-2012-edition.html">here</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Stairway To Norway

With a few weeks before school started I decided to take the kids somewhere while my husband stayed behind to work Where could I travel safe...

10:29 PM

A New Flag In Our Midst?

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Being a flag nerd,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can identify most national flags</div><div style="text-align: center;">around the world</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But this one took me by surprise which I saw waving</div><div style="text-align: center;">twice during the <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-day-at-olympic-park.html">Summer Olympics</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYiSGETSGL5PrSINzSgm6Lv0QHC2mjuLP7oelvXErHUgZLw6xyBdBXv5lBjZm2DRTf26HMSIlP1nEFZUahWBbeCsQiYlg6pam9LAAtlhfXnOlEu8NaC2mLjOuKNokR6lJHqyeAlU4j6s/s1600/nzflagdotcom.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYiSGETSGL5PrSINzSgm6Lv0QHC2mjuLP7oelvXErHUgZLw6xyBdBXv5lBjZm2DRTf26HMSIlP1nEFZUahWBbeCsQiYlg6pam9LAAtlhfXnOlEu8NaC2mLjOuKNokR6lJHqyeAlU4j6s/s400/nzflagdotcom.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Silver Fern (not a feather)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Besides the flag of Cornwall (England)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the Jolly Roger,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't recall seeing another black & white flag</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I googled it</div><div style="text-align: center;">and found out New Zealanders are considering changing their flag</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeIyMvnLCO8oV4mVcEGUjK0iOnCZcLxFxOYFYI4gSNOaZHTsgQgmzciT1JkHjbY8gnNj2xY3fRur0KSU5xYnfMkzDituGQYyopgCuTL1ORtH6-sZLmhX_UtLWb25g5MXC2mpoxENDpvA/s1600/800px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeIyMvnLCO8oV4mVcEGUjK0iOnCZcLxFxOYFYI4gSNOaZHTsgQgmzciT1JkHjbY8gnNj2xY3fRur0KSU5xYnfMkzDituGQYyopgCuTL1ORtH6-sZLmhX_UtLWb25g5MXC2mpoxENDpvA/s400/800px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current New Zealand Flag</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The flag evolved from their naval flag flown as a British colony</div><div style="text-align: center;">and does not reflect their identity, independence or</div><div style="text-align: center;">non-European population today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And it looks a lot like Australia's flag</div><div style="text-align: center;">which Jerry Seinfeld identified as</div><div style="text-align: center;">'the Union Jack at night time'</div><div style="text-align: center;">(funny flag humor)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkLE5bqTSdEbGkxsD5tl-bvIVUQSUEXmLw7ThBEkloKbCO7GHfqBiosN9HaLzZOPup_063xlBshUtrgI25yGFbtUTK6ZqfJ6wQ1ciAZCMKNbbYRTubn3iv8cG7gGIJEbXrgJ4EMjEcrM/s1600/800px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkLE5bqTSdEbGkxsD5tl-bvIVUQSUEXmLw7ThBEkloKbCO7GHfqBiosN9HaLzZOPup_063xlBshUtrgI25yGFbtUTK6ZqfJ6wQ1ciAZCMKNbbYRTubn3iv8cG7gGIJEbXrgJ4EMjEcrM/s400/800px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Flag</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In terms of branding,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a black flag with a white fern is certainly </div><div style="text-align: center;">more recognizable globally</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at Canada's redesigned flag</div><div style="text-align: center;">- simple yet unique -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbo65PEbIXDegMUNhuW2VvCfgVt21xBebId3Lez3PGIsS055ivL3SvEJBsgia25QIlPHnx-tPZnAAWY69Xp7hsq3_5fK8onREetA57g8JWUsWdAORAAW9blOWQRi-v-Z1QkV8Ne7XmSI/s1600/Happy+Homemaker+20121-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbo65PEbIXDegMUNhuW2VvCfgVt21xBebId3Lez3PGIsS055ivL3SvEJBsgia25QIlPHnx-tPZnAAWY69Xp7hsq3_5fK8onREetA57g8JWUsWdAORAAW9blOWQRi-v-Z1QkV8Ne7XmSI/s640/Happy+Homemaker+20121-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canada's flag pre- and post-1965</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see how some countries view the Union Flag emblem </div><div style="text-align: center;">as historical but less a part of their future</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the other hand,<br />the Union Jack is extremely relevant in the UK</div><div style="text-align: center;">See how it is a clever overlay of three of the four </div><div style="text-align: center;">constituent country flags within the United Kingdom?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkO1usolZPqEAN5Ksb2mPS12KX6X9wGsg2T2wlLdMFDkkUAiKBoDSICG4nO5Tc7CrRo4JCsWooyMPL2Op3DV_pKv7OAnICUXWN0YSikPNMvYxOvo0BOkA1-ddRIotmwyKMyB4TMTt9Qts/s1600/Collages1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkO1usolZPqEAN5Ksb2mPS12KX6X9wGsg2T2wlLdMFDkkUAiKBoDSICG4nO5Tc7CrRo4JCsWooyMPL2Op3DV_pKv7OAnICUXWN0YSikPNMvYxOvo0BOkA1-ddRIotmwyKMyB4TMTt9Qts/s640/Collages1-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It creates the 'Union Flag'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifcqt7ynv08-Vn5lovTiaJzlwgN8jJjWcektHxMAVrLOiiSIBNDGiAgA0KG-IINZTkZaT49tTP9bQJgDNtlUptlo4WXW2fwJMdSxmxLg9Ert-Gg998dV95qqmZKexjNWTorEUH2afj6c/s1600/800px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifcqt7ynv08-Vn5lovTiaJzlwgN8jJjWcektHxMAVrLOiiSIBNDGiAgA0KG-IINZTkZaT49tTP9bQJgDNtlUptlo4WXW2fwJMdSxmxLg9Ert-Gg998dV95qqmZKexjNWTorEUH2afj6c/s400/800px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice it's not symmetrical</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few readers have kindly commented it technically is <u>not</u> the Union <b>Jack</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">because a 'jack' is a flag on a ship</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And they do refer to this flag as the <i>Union Flag</i> here</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But in the US (where many of my readers are from), </div><div style="text-align: center;">it is known exclusively as the Union Jack<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And calling it the Union Flag<br />sounds like it is from the American Civil War<br />or represents labor unions</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So for these reasons, I'll use the terms interchangeably :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Union Flag has not been immune to proposals of a flag redesign</div><div style="text-align: center;">over the last ten years either</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNflNsAgwMicoI06s09tm3cpiObpd5L-Z7YeUOQ7AZ4hqyHTG928yJPM2zngOqMfKCWivIaLbZq6yYC23Wx1t3Su3011RQFkEUBh8SEAlN5s62FCrb6r74am4RlOshQcsbdWlY_XE1xC4/s1600/Happy+Homemaker+20122-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNflNsAgwMicoI06s09tm3cpiObpd5L-Z7YeUOQ7AZ4hqyHTG928yJPM2zngOqMfKCWivIaLbZq6yYC23Wx1t3Su3011RQFkEUBh8SEAlN5s62FCrb6r74am4RlOshQcsbdWlY_XE1xC4/s640/Happy+Homemaker+20122-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proposed Union Flag including Wales; a modernized Union Jack reflecting today's cultural diversity</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, changes haven't gotten off the ground</div><div style="text-align: center;">for this iconic symbol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As for New Zealand, I think it is a great idea to rebrand their global identity</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are there any New Zealanders who could weigh in?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sources: <a href="http://www.nzflag.com/">NZFlag</a>, <a href="http://www.wikipedia.com/">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2007/november/dragon-to-sit-on-union-jack">Creative Review</a>, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/2981038.stm">BBC News</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A New Flag In Our Midst?

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Being a flag nerd, I can identify most national flags around the world But this one took me by surprise which I...

10:55 PM

Olympic Beach Volleyball

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUww8r2BOxaxXsQGp6Vlh1Ukv_vsUQC0HFz5z2jCWkyGKdINtNjv8SjED4U0uTzoUfXK-vHFjZKXiBgOiPgL7Yjn6iWVaBCJTgY7piammnastktEHWNZGaifGsKbP4LqER-WOMAyOrU8/s1600/IMG_0665-00211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUww8r2BOxaxXsQGp6Vlh1Ukv_vsUQC0HFz5z2jCWkyGKdINtNjv8SjED4U0uTzoUfXK-vHFjZKXiBgOiPgL7Yjn6iWVaBCJTgY7piammnastktEHWNZGaifGsKbP4LqER-WOMAyOrU8/s640/IMG_0665-00211.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On The Mall looking toward Buckingham Palace</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our final Olympic event to attend</div><div style="text-align: center;">was Men's Beach Volleyball</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and WOW! was the venue spectacular!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuND1cuSCjV8E4DI0MgTK-EOlvMEcqeH0wKVQXW3b1wztK8dMDxLrrc0DdIeRhFrzEHRWAj3dYZXW7lCT345h4k2JnG_pSHli68yRHSxGg6KeudQcRCHcX-HV2ayiOdpsRjgmb_GkScc/s1600/DSC02426-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuND1cuSCjV8E4DI0MgTK-EOlvMEcqeH0wKVQXW3b1wztK8dMDxLrrc0DdIeRhFrzEHRWAj3dYZXW7lCT345h4k2JnG_pSHli68yRHSxGg6KeudQcRCHcX-HV2ayiOdpsRjgmb_GkScc/s640/DSC02426-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(click photo to really appreciate the view)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a mark of brilliance to set up this temporary stadium<br />at the Horse Guards Parade</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that night, it was the game for gold<br />Germany v Brazil</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Icing on the cake, the weather was PERFECT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNN2K3x_5Gcz2sA_kQeo7eyoAXt-d1LeYGLjn3TADZ4yb6PwXOKsfNuJx4MaiVkt91K84HrvWm3E8nXZdwGdEAt_Xm_3M_dqbWHA0A_W-l6bKK614iU8jfG4C0jJKN_QzaC70gApKDqHQ/s1600/DSC_0391-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNN2K3x_5Gcz2sA_kQeo7eyoAXt-d1LeYGLjn3TADZ4yb6PwXOKsfNuJx4MaiVkt91K84HrvWm3E8nXZdwGdEAt_Xm_3M_dqbWHA0A_W-l6bKK614iU8jfG4C0jJKN_QzaC70gApKDqHQ/s640/DSC_0391-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My husband cleverly spied this plein air artist </div><div style="text-align: center;">capturing the day high above us</div><div style="text-align: center;">( For the Diamond Jubilee, artists in the flotilla were busy painting too )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a creative way to capture history</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BnkdenTwfTQ7lYqnd25NmKB2W2exGG_V112aQwBrwRjPh-BUuYAWpDrDK9HKXNB-yOOrE_9JPBH_3r62SKVOODGYFPFJ9pMFCQeRdgxdrRoFupPWbpnKPHOE8YEr6h5gY2d5WjSWxIc/s1600/DSC_0356-005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BnkdenTwfTQ7lYqnd25NmKB2W2exGG_V112aQwBrwRjPh-BUuYAWpDrDK9HKXNB-yOOrE_9JPBH_3r62SKVOODGYFPFJ9pMFCQeRdgxdrRoFupPWbpnKPHOE8YEr6h5gY2d5WjSWxIc/s640/DSC_0356-005.JPG" width="402" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And as if it couldn't get any better<br />we also watched the conga line</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM0tjMejK7OwrctMQyNsnY_-dvkEMzgnNT-kK4NSaO4OGHbyV7oPHIuRgVwYDxOSuQQKDwvb7pC-mgZ0oOP8WxclGshjLdTEIV-Dx0EAwXLoQExg9LtS5u7ixvfR22zMBUjuJhtzJFYE/s1600/DSC_0447-0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM0tjMejK7OwrctMQyNsnY_-dvkEMzgnNT-kK4NSaO4OGHbyV7oPHIuRgVwYDxOSuQQKDwvb7pC-mgZ0oOP8WxclGshjLdTEIV-Dx0EAwXLoQExg9LtS5u7ixvfR22zMBUjuJhtzJFYE/s640/DSC_0447-0031.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancers provided entertainment between matches and during time-outs</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and Bananarama singing <i>Venus</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecyG40sgR2XTs0PgCnO-rB2BjbVqUWAjO4rj-JLcWyXT5RQsvgVBGnvrxM0QThYByJAYcEUgrHmjzryVv-kSNfNBEGjEmdgnQ817o97O44cc_3kN-f_OBOz8_Erb4qWAXwUlZel51ylk/s1600/DSC_0364-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecyG40sgR2XTs0PgCnO-rB2BjbVqUWAjO4rj-JLcWyXT5RQsvgVBGnvrxM0QThYByJAYcEUgrHmjzryVv-kSNfNBEGjEmdgnQ817o97O44cc_3kN-f_OBOz8_Erb4qWAXwUlZel51ylk/s640/DSC_0364-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bananarama</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Time-outs also included raking sand</div><div style="text-align: center;">and shaking sand off the lines</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr40F4NjrcBs83TxVu2qe7JOMH9oIpO7Xvt5QbR2rfLfDOrd0OIu4gbTJsfOowRQcDSol8Q21cV-pahosujse3g-cu8nFDykECa8qg033lUGbqRrZEZGGgjS2nIsL_LSIRvxDN6grrds/s1600/DSC02433-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr40F4NjrcBs83TxVu2qe7JOMH9oIpO7Xvt5QbR2rfLfDOrd0OIu4gbTJsfOowRQcDSol8Q21cV-pahosujse3g-cu8nFDykECa8qg033lUGbqRrZEZGGgjS2nIsL_LSIRvxDN6grrds/s640/DSC02433-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Announcer: 'It's rakey-rakey time!' </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Going for gold,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Brazilian and German crowd was very loud and excited</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv87jAOgLpqnICJZASLGc79g8lkVxBoJm2sbJ8-o0A4Ols-YM9c52zsx3vU-irxtai85x-Mm_5jnHIaLq3cwrJhHkLC0bP-9BEyAld6sjiJpc11uY4cGekGEhkQ70Wx3Ygouqfke7EL2A/s1600/DSC_0438-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv87jAOgLpqnICJZASLGc79g8lkVxBoJm2sbJ8-o0A4Ols-YM9c52zsx3vU-irxtai85x-Mm_5jnHIaLq3cwrJhHkLC0bP-9BEyAld6sjiJpc11uY4cGekGEhkQ70Wx3Ygouqfke7EL2A/s640/DSC_0438-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And many waved their flags proudly</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Germany, Brazil, and TEXAS?! -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFbHY3yQWHbtiXpJvQOZO3H36NoaTdsXuAl0iA2kxTPMJ2JbXGkjG2f_D9ZEvPgcMS2sGb8GBT08jgIa1IdNMbm4iP1tAguhuMTuqQajwdOmIuAfEXGYDxerJlKa5Tq94VfAIRWi6jh0/s1600/DSC_0400-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFbHY3yQWHbtiXpJvQOZO3H36NoaTdsXuAl0iA2kxTPMJ2JbXGkjG2f_D9ZEvPgcMS2sGb8GBT08jgIa1IdNMbm4iP1tAguhuMTuqQajwdOmIuAfEXGYDxerJlKa5Tq94VfAIRWi6jh0/s640/DSC_0400-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the gold goes to Germany!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDa6aw1LfRbjAQQUjk3J8cyXem1tzNu4Djx7bz5nLsQXYtI5aMki7T92RGT8h2URko9GsXw9kKmx_Ap6GsPTpoqZDWjMoS643L-Eb1AS6_-G6FuFJZWGvT2vHGvoe1acigB7gXZNP6xM/s1600/DSC_0431-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDa6aw1LfRbjAQQUjk3J8cyXem1tzNu4Djx7bz5nLsQXYtI5aMki7T92RGT8h2URko9GsXw9kKmx_Ap6GsPTpoqZDWjMoS643L-Eb1AS6_-G6FuFJZWGvT2vHGvoe1acigB7gXZNP6xM/s640/DSC_0431-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked away with Olympic-sized smiles on our faces</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a glow from the memories of the past few weeks</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipanCkUTsp6Ut8_t5gTL6dFDF4-zE9VVvM_QrSW0UjP-cZn99Rw5j6Rcfl55spPn5XZ4sgWEPhL6N5MtAHCP4C5XGn8hRsrHwSjRFBm4OQtBV5jZH60ZXl_5fDxgyCEXE5mbgOA2b89BI/s1600/DSC02525-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipanCkUTsp6Ut8_t5gTL6dFDF4-zE9VVvM_QrSW0UjP-cZn99Rw5j6Rcfl55spPn5XZ4sgWEPhL6N5MtAHCP4C5XGn8hRsrHwSjRFBm4OQtBV5jZH60ZXl_5fDxgyCEXE5mbgOA2b89BI/s640/DSC02525-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">London has radiated a wonderful Olympic glow too :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>More Summer Olympics Posts:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-day-at-olympic-park.html">A Day At The Olympic Park</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/london-dressed-for-olympics.html">London Dressed For The Olympics</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/behind-scenes-olympic-opening-ceremony.html">Behind The Scenes: An Olympic Opening Ceremony Performer</a> </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/summer-olympics-i-just-cant-get-enough.html" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Summer Olympics: I Just Can't Get Enough</a> </span><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-summer-olympic-games.html" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Summer Games Begin</span></a><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-olympic-torch.html">The Olympic Torch</a></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/signs-summer-olympics-are-coming.html">'Signs' The Olympics Are Coming</a></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/let-games-begin-olympic-tour.html">Let The Games Begin: An Olympic Tour in 2011</a> </span></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Olympic Beach Volleyball

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK On The Mall looking toward Buckingham Palace Our final Olympic event to attend was Men's Beach Volleyball a...

10:16 PM

A Day At The Olympic Park

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkOmVSyNIyoxIgkrc-I2zCyQfeo5LRFdpeiNPXSMEDRBWAxpSUhml2TLuet-jFIa5V94qviXBb0BT8Cu6JQ7BhOTyXk9CkOYIGXQtqWjaxW33kA6jlYn2YJlefauqvIXV0x8t-mvqkoA/s1600/IMG_0533-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkOmVSyNIyoxIgkrc-I2zCyQfeo5LRFdpeiNPXSMEDRBWAxpSUhml2TLuet-jFIa5V94qviXBb0BT8Cu6JQ7BhOTyXk9CkOYIGXQtqWjaxW33kA6jlYn2YJlefauqvIXV0x8t-mvqkoA/s640/IMG_0533-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headlines of yesterday's news</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My first and last chance to visit The Olympic Park<br />during the Games...<br />A night to remember!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As if you were by my side,<br />here's 'our' highlights</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Walking Out Of Tube Station</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gates remain open for a speedy exit</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pink signage everywhere</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crowds flow out of trains to this 'end of the line' destination</div><div style="text-align: center;">All incredibly well organized</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8RyNhvln1wMUxHveD9Q7dOplhFk4JZfU-DkgVrY2u-Lo2VO6bBI9ugpzRgkSYWDnYW4QVPjGukNMX7VJ9SuNj4ItfY-DLkvnb_wx3-KZdhhpXkDV7NwYh46a1-LAj4fVJm3tLKXYtuA/s1600/IMG_0544-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8RyNhvln1wMUxHveD9Q7dOplhFk4JZfU-DkgVrY2u-Lo2VO6bBI9ugpzRgkSYWDnYW4QVPjGukNMX7VJ9SuNj4ItfY-DLkvnb_wx3-KZdhhpXkDV7NwYh46a1-LAj4fVJm3tLKXYtuA/s640/IMG_0544-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Walking To Olympic Park</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Excitement builds as we see The Orbit ahead</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbGbGB4l4c4_RhlG_P-R01OhtacAwfachwFnsDckr926Ux_2QXCn9Mns-zjPE4Qj-QznOvrM-QKWLv08MDNZej3MzT1xlqgP_aupwV4ARfJh8jyhqqImL2VTo-lOS3SR0VDKj4OUqgwk/s1600/IMG_0549-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbGbGB4l4c4_RhlG_P-R01OhtacAwfachwFnsDckr926Ux_2QXCn9Mns-zjPE4Qj-QznOvrM-QKWLv08MDNZej3MzT1xlqgP_aupwV4ARfJh8jyhqqImL2VTo-lOS3SR0VDKj4OUqgwk/s640/IMG_0549-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Volunteers With Bullhorns</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along the route, volunteers with bullhorns</div><div style="text-align: center;">welcome us to the Olympics and thank us for being there</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wonderful customer service :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Going Through Security</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Airport-like security is fast and fuss-free</div><div style="text-align: center;">No liquids, food <i>allowed</i>, shoes on, X-Ray for bags, and walk-thru metal detectors</div><div style="text-align: center;">All with a military presence (and very friendly)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5iDxYRv2sDC86N2AbaJU8MRnb4s_Ni5qyTZiV2NructhCHzDqQFXTCqVcIzLv4xnE0ymaNM-1dsUWiQeEkaWUGWOY1PwWaoa5-JfFY85VqVZgXEyZIYT4ARfGyFL2gTXChnPBeT4Pds/s1600/IMG_0552-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5iDxYRv2sDC86N2AbaJU8MRnb4s_Ni5qyTZiV2NructhCHzDqQFXTCqVcIzLv4xnE0ymaNM-1dsUWiQeEkaWUGWOY1PwWaoa5-JfFY85VqVZgXEyZIYT4ARfGyFL2gTXChnPBeT4Pds/s640/IMG_0552-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We've Arrived!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aquatics Centre on left</div><div style="text-align: center;">Olympic Stadium straight ahead</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Orbit peeking at us</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjSev9TsmkZceRx5HKaBimqi7MRcnNKXwgqUCbxjUmrHhyz8yBNYK-pSCVjRpB4-37as3Dk4JywnTfzqkGSBDV-XaHGVJyhTIqb6QEkmJbukIF8JBuDQVq_P9kZtJt-WAjhl89xWkSpM/s1600/IMG_0554-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjSev9TsmkZceRx5HKaBimqi7MRcnNKXwgqUCbxjUmrHhyz8yBNYK-pSCVjRpB4-37as3Dk4JywnTfzqkGSBDV-XaHGVJyhTIqb6QEkmJbukIF8JBuDQVq_P9kZtJt-WAjhl89xWkSpM/s640/IMG_0554-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once we are in the park</div><div style="text-align: center;">the space opens up and is not crowded</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbRO_dBLIfr0nSBc3kdpYb4vbwK3P9QNTxWiQmGjJpVAFM2GPkwal4X8Vsd560zf3jUDMgyoxxbiKJBxGDkl9-7eFcA4lskNrqWWrKxVz7HtykayRc_hucQsiUiZgca9eHH5o94ry7GY/s1600/IMG_0566-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbRO_dBLIfr0nSBc3kdpYb4vbwK3P9QNTxWiQmGjJpVAFM2GPkwal4X8Vsd560zf3jUDMgyoxxbiKJBxGDkl9-7eFcA4lskNrqWWrKxVz7HtykayRc_hucQsiUiZgca9eHH5o94ry7GY/s640/IMG_0566-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Food Vendors</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although controversial,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm dying to see the biggest and busiest McDonald's in the world</div><div style="text-align: center;">In its busiest time, it serves 1000 customers <i>per hour</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">As it is a temporary building</div><div style="text-align: center;">most of the materials will be reused for other local building projects</div><div style="text-align: center;">after the Games</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpIBpRS_04UChsjaKZ_nFGm3OAkx361rISWtw-R92CXjXuhjDvsOoZG-XjuLWsbYJIBSMH2kj_v4GAqBWLQ3Wlj9IVtEfZvhC-k8Q604R3CjZ9749kB6bGnP58-NAtqv7vY7b5EdC2r0/s1600/IMG_0580-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpIBpRS_04UChsjaKZ_nFGm3OAkx361rISWtw-R92CXjXuhjDvsOoZG-XjuLWsbYJIBSMH2kj_v4GAqBWLQ3Wlj9IVtEfZvhC-k8Q604R3CjZ9749kB6bGnP58-NAtqv7vY7b5EdC2r0/s640/IMG_0580-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am not sure if there is seating inside this two story building</div><div style="text-align: center;">but brilliantly there are hundreds of picnic tables on which to eat your food of choice</div><div style="text-align: center;">(picnics are very British)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This photo below shows the following:</div><div style="text-align: center;">a  non-English speaking customer pointing to what he wants to order,</div><div style="text-align: center;">items on the menu,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and 3 order stations just in this photo alone -maybe there are 100 total?-,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the bustling kitchen behind them</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FLDa9tcvMl_ByEIgcbSuh6Pb9sUhyphenhyphen_gmEZIQ8tcXy9zZWDqfNeqRDoGrag73pbJTsJJgNeN2f7J0dVHPHaLz3A6x_U533RigCJa5CLIJkF13feVsX25jC4zuQUBUu7amDTrc7xKZhaU/s1600/IMG_0576-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FLDa9tcvMl_ByEIgcbSuh6Pb9sUhyphenhyphen_gmEZIQ8tcXy9zZWDqfNeqRDoGrag73pbJTsJJgNeN2f7J0dVHPHaLz3A6x_U533RigCJa5CLIJkF13feVsX25jC4zuQUBUu7amDTrc7xKZhaU/s640/IMG_0576-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Meals include a plastic Olympic mascot toy</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have no wide angle lens to capture this monstrosity</div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture at least 5 images of this photo strung together to imagine its massiveness...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7M4aIO1YWusD8nY-XqDdZD1_RRB_NuAugCqz8UsX0ct0pxnG4IblldItfpb-iEw4OiDjUDU01B_ZOjzsLYV_QBmnmJO3BID6GEiLKcn3iS8pvA_p8c1Vv2OC0CYU8Lp20UQQ3fkfvWf8/s1600/IMG_0571-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7M4aIO1YWusD8nY-XqDdZD1_RRB_NuAugCqz8UsX0ct0pxnG4IblldItfpb-iEw4OiDjUDU01B_ZOjzsLYV_QBmnmJO3BID6GEiLKcn3iS8pvA_p8c1Vv2OC0CYU8Lp20UQQ3fkfvWf8/s640/IMG_0571-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are other food vendors too,</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as fish & chips, curry, sandwiches, and jacket (baked) potatoes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbTyfbqE1cXqOSzyjuu_PdttGv_mWp6c_n93VYKlfnCxYsTXTSsBlLdBCXICLFHrgmBdLVgsfK1pWn4TgsRBwmH6fc_TBK1xy1gyqz6-3GfGykwAQnsnS2vu1kZXdKOK5JV0QkSdi8LU/s1600/IMG_0583-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbTyfbqE1cXqOSzyjuu_PdttGv_mWp6c_n93VYKlfnCxYsTXTSsBlLdBCXICLFHrgmBdLVgsfK1pWn4TgsRBwmH6fc_TBK1xy1gyqz6-3GfGykwAQnsnS2vu1kZXdKOK5JV0QkSdi8LU/s640/IMG_0583-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside The Stadium</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twisted fabric panels on stadium - clever<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRDCKGTUoX4ozOLb3yDSL27OwowB4J-ux5FH0pITvED3Scs0YCJSZbNF8nQaH_7fMx4d3ba0LGf4S-i259LHgilSr7Jx1hfISvpGAj087AibSXI0JXDtnYst7u1qRS93SkIK-X1HZ250/s1600/IMG_0587-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRDCKGTUoX4ozOLb3yDSL27OwowB4J-ux5FH0pITvED3Scs0YCJSZbNF8nQaH_7fMx4d3ba0LGf4S-i259LHgilSr7Jx1hfISvpGAj087AibSXI0JXDtnYst7u1qRS93SkIK-X1HZ250/s640/IMG_0587-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selling programs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>First View Inside</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think its enormity has been given justice on TV</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is GINORMOUS</div><div style="text-align: center;">and could be close to filling its 80,000 person capacity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW6xazn4i2mmdeI3jAlJCzurnfI_tWJF9KunhcE8pdrrMXqnc5XndL3UokONrXVVKQFDGeWA8F64Hwr76y_ZXGTPbDUxTOWwnFVl1h740qeiOPs2WK8TuS3njQunAKz2y5AbXaLZUkD8/s1600/IMG_0592-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW6xazn4i2mmdeI3jAlJCzurnfI_tWJF9KunhcE8pdrrMXqnc5XndL3UokONrXVVKQFDGeWA8F64Hwr76y_ZXGTPbDUxTOWwnFVl1h740qeiOPs2WK8TuS3njQunAKz2y5AbXaLZUkD8/s640/IMG_0592-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Events</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">When we applied for the tickets through the UK ticket lottery in April 2011,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we knew we would see medaling events, but didn't know which ones</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We watch Women's Pole Vaulting finals</div><div style="text-align: center;">and are surprised how many competitors don't make it over the bar</div><div style="text-align: center;">I never see that on TV, and it made me appreciate how hard it must be</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a long event that lasts the entire night</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xKQh8fDaJ04Ur5iuerk5e8bug4U-leLVJSDC4k2V-I9V4y3A4_seQiDWJJQepzf3aSKJrMaOTxXftMtL9T3LPh_ah9NWShQp7A5pbQ0B4337tJZoBnQhzNF93DKeCDN9UvDKz2ftT5U/s1600/DSC_0153-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xKQh8fDaJ04Ur5iuerk5e8bug4U-leLVJSDC4k2V-I9V4y3A4_seQiDWJJQepzf3aSKJrMaOTxXftMtL9T3LPh_ah9NWShQp7A5pbQ0B4337tJZoBnQhzNF93DKeCDN9UvDKz2ftT5U/s640/DSC_0153-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenn Suhr (USA) wins by clearing the bar at a height of 15'7''</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />Curiously, it is a male American voice announcing all the events<br />I wonder why<br />(he's actually pretty funny too)<br /><br />You can bet they play the <i>Chariots Of Fire</i> theme often<br /><br />And the crowd's cheering is deafening for the Team GB athletes :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I really enjoy watching the Women's 3000m Steeplechase</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGWYMdXNDkdYp9NllfIJ6i1IMHhPA0Ti6HhEfrifrb2vjonjPQwlD2ExZ8BP1rTepvkOQ48SgDoHSUDxCZo-5MPraTtSK3W07bsnP2hGZd1KEIOdVhN8B1vJTCVpkCrfD4tWqO7ZQbm0/s1600/DSC_0257-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGWYMdXNDkdYp9NllfIJ6i1IMHhPA0Ti6HhEfrifrb2vjonjPQwlD2ExZ8BP1rTepvkOQ48SgDoHSUDxCZo-5MPraTtSK3W07bsnP2hGZd1KEIOdVhN8B1vJTCVpkCrfD4tWqO7ZQbm0/s640/DSC_0257-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Representing USA, Emma Coburn from Univ of Colorado - go Buffs!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Did you know those women run through water?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Doesn't that create blisters?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNGVhcQf0XGjSsKPAmag24LEFbPzGjIGgs5HevwuDWp0sWI2qX76rxLs5iL6QRYznWTLc2m9cHzANyG6MLpw-q1mnKm-dCFITqquofFi3i2ibTYdgli_O2WASDx3hiNgE_qx4J66PTDQ/s1600/DSC_0283-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNGVhcQf0XGjSsKPAmag24LEFbPzGjIGgs5HevwuDWp0sWI2qX76rxLs5iL6QRYznWTLc2m9cHzANyG6MLpw-q1mnKm-dCFITqquofFi3i2ibTYdgli_O2WASDx3hiNgE_qx4J66PTDQ/s640/DSC_0283-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They hurdle too</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Xq1JHyZZkhgCfOWRBQ8LNo3L17oNw7bnIqybn41S9neB7ytYUxd8uLUGyN582ZAFD7aCZMsdNxQyfAE5oMWA3CxGxDXE6gULeK_0BB8e-bVvYrdlIzvG79GcS7pVm8mj6WUym3eu2vo/s1600/DSC_0276-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Xq1JHyZZkhgCfOWRBQ8LNo3L17oNw7bnIqybn41S9neB7ytYUxd8uLUGyN582ZAFD7aCZMsdNxQyfAE5oMWA3CxGxDXE6gULeK_0BB8e-bVvYrdlIzvG79GcS7pVm8mj6WUym3eu2vo/s640/DSC_0276-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the media seats covered in plastic in background<br />(it was raining at times)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Funniest Moment</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">A cameraman runs behind the steeplechase winners in their victory lap</div><div style="text-align: center;">but quickly realizes he's being outrun and gives up</div><div style="text-align: center;">So another cameraman on a Segway takes over :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8PcryeYkjz1460o_hbhs8XgF72-vnofYfPs7bov-zGY-jRxqkjTIHG5rWGSgi2KvwaZ3okKOkNIyP8171fzdguB3v6cg815pvsk6epigGFHI4oiPP4UH4LUV7hxnYnKt5oefCqLZAPY/s1600/DSC_0296-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8PcryeYkjz1460o_hbhs8XgF72-vnofYfPs7bov-zGY-jRxqkjTIHG5rWGSgi2KvwaZ3okKOkNIyP8171fzdguB3v6cg815pvsk6epigGFHI4oiPP4UH4LUV7hxnYnKt5oefCqLZAPY/s640/DSC_0296-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to be an athlete to run a camera at the Olympics!<br />Yuliya Zaripova of Russia (gold) and Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia (bronze)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCh5L-pvAA9oK3wR4lJ9ydFVrsb-p-3p1L-MqR6d8frOJnb8eCNqCVFHHqczmR6SMcPkluDA57C5goEYVY80OF8gcsX4irCowj8hO698SHWGewKPIHelD6_BdsEAqDhylL9sxpCoj-l8/s1600/DSC_0233-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCh5L-pvAA9oK3wR4lJ9ydFVrsb-p-3p1L-MqR6d8frOJnb8eCNqCVFHHqczmR6SMcPkluDA57C5goEYVY80OF8gcsX4irCowj8hO698SHWGewKPIHelD6_BdsEAqDhylL9sxpCoj-l8/s640/DSC_0233-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cameraman in hot pursuit of winners in their victory lap</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>Running Events</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bins are placed at each mark<br />to collect the competitor's tracksuits<br />before each race<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUck8jqdf_ivkHiT6yEsug8jVEbrMCmK_kutW80NhkFzJ2coJcXkZ98RrvUGv-od-rYpBJ_NLVBjQuh2zw1mS5HDlYZePHtk8eW_-LfuniCpVpaysXDRG7rXgrNTMDKa9OyoTGjH34zt0/s1600/DSC_0109-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUck8jqdf_ivkHiT6yEsug8jVEbrMCmK_kutW80NhkFzJ2coJcXkZ98RrvUGv-od-rYpBJ_NLVBjQuh2zw1mS5HDlYZePHtk8eW_-LfuniCpVpaysXDRG7rXgrNTMDKa9OyoTGjH34zt0/s640/DSC_0109-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Here come the athletes<br />Some of them look so nervous, poor things!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4Uuz5DBh5VnSn7E6JWdaWtu8jbYuLLyRek2O9fFU_D5M1VkbvOVWDtrKk2siyDlYck9LPB-QdbFi87aYsRctZLT9wk-PQUB5Eq54IiAfXs4hLFB8NcbCoIVPxxOmb5R5u7o3srJdNNM/s1600/DSC_0144-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4Uuz5DBh5VnSn7E6JWdaWtu8jbYuLLyRek2O9fFU_D5M1VkbvOVWDtrKk2siyDlYck9LPB-QdbFi87aYsRctZLT9wk-PQUB5Eq54IiAfXs4hLFB8NcbCoIVPxxOmb5R5u7o3srJdNNM/s640/DSC_0144-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Below we see Carmelita Jeter on the JumboTron<br />and on the track to the left<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSwwAI66PR4S7TrlYPxnQu5jeiHGkQiXhKoc3pAg-l3GLvsvTZsMvduKPIBeETe0OHKLlf1tUX4vXxWwAjxSr4qQSYoZCCW4DWtjKPFNohjHE8zUF5zrL8kY2ByoiJ1EER5GLuilxkDA/s1600/DSC_0136-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSwwAI66PR4S7TrlYPxnQu5jeiHGkQiXhKoc3pAg-l3GLvsvTZsMvduKPIBeETe0OHKLlf1tUX4vXxWwAjxSr4qQSYoZCCW4DWtjKPFNohjHE8zUF5zrL8kY2ByoiJ1EER5GLuilxkDA/s640/DSC_0136-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all those people!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On your mark...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnPRgOdpm3RG0Q5_E0DSaLBe0stt_aGGWc7mbcxwTYdoM_SBZInnr_Kc2c1NFKeXcJbSyrhvTMo-uHb_ryTj_eyTKSldHubPteZAsP9W2iyJmuZTGed6KaEWe4laq2hHpD3uR9g44DGk/s1600/DSC_0084-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnPRgOdpm3RG0Q5_E0DSaLBe0stt_aGGWc7mbcxwTYdoM_SBZInnr_Kc2c1NFKeXcJbSyrhvTMo-uHb_ryTj_eyTKSldHubPteZAsP9W2iyJmuZTGed6KaEWe4laq2hHpD3uR9g44DGk/s640/DSC_0084-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />'Bang!'...<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_QsbAuo3UlpniULsfRvhuBEuObbeIL3CCQQ1FHv6qImmwuPiIXY9aPbA-QMbEVsUawIJqwvQvwb8IiB2Hzf_z73WW6IDXhkphjP2winpPl5Ekejs8g3nv_IMIgyOhptlMqcWlvs4GX8/s1600/DSC_0160-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_QsbAuo3UlpniULsfRvhuBEuObbeIL3CCQQ1FHv6qImmwuPiIXY9aPbA-QMbEVsUawIJqwvQvwb8IiB2Hzf_z73WW6IDXhkphjP2winpPl5Ekejs8g3nv_IMIgyOhptlMqcWlvs4GX8/s640/DSC_0160-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The red thingy makes the sound<br />I think the gun is just ceremonious</td></tr></tbody></table><br />...and they're off!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEgc1IbIQb2N5mSWIfiQ5zELfRsXqkZhtu6FTb5CO9XWDeH4ttY0ALKFU1Oi8e4LyzFIvKQqK-Z9VpsnsVA4OoQdNrA-CYA2w3XWjRc5fBPhc6QG0-X5MIhpGWAfp67ZnAEPHKxFYu80/s1600/DSC_0088-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEgc1IbIQb2N5mSWIfiQ5zELfRsXqkZhtu6FTb5CO9XWDeH4ttY0ALKFU1Oi8e4LyzFIvKQqK-Z9VpsnsVA4OoQdNrA-CYA2w3XWjRc5fBPhc6QG0-X5MIhpGWAfp67ZnAEPHKxFYu80/s640/DSC_0088-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Between Events</b><br />The audience does the wave<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFCycG-Nrevrj0IExl4d4NKP0XggXlFlqkQMozKi7AO7pPxUxcAnDImpxSm-C-eKY8oPtApzjYB1m1l5bRmNjKLzTHEQJraIS6d9RhG_8_ziKE8IK2hQts4aRiWWak196MJOPoYGcXbc/s1600/DSC_0253-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFCycG-Nrevrj0IExl4d4NKP0XggXlFlqkQMozKi7AO7pPxUxcAnDImpxSm-C-eKY8oPtApzjYB1m1l5bRmNjKLzTHEQJraIS6d9RhG_8_ziKE8IK2hQts4aRiWWak196MJOPoYGcXbc/s640/DSC_0253-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />As BBC television commentators often say,<br />'Despite the cold and rain, the crowd's spirit cannot be dampened',<br />it is true!<br />It is cold and drizzly, but we don't care<br /><br /><b>Setting Up</b><br />Next up, the hurdles are laid out methodically<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-x_cqq2cVAC4zVvyJRWYdOOUZlX8Zh34dL_JZALVHimfTZLO3Vi8vJkCRHWBhjLb7eYhxzo8P8m6mkye9Metq55tMgSkkjxAVujwXKnAb5ydUbpWN6FY9OkRAjWakLCQ9amkvshUy7s/s1600/DSC_0169-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-x_cqq2cVAC4zVvyJRWYdOOUZlX8Zh34dL_JZALVHimfTZLO3Vi8vJkCRHWBhjLb7eYhxzo8P8m6mkye9Metq55tMgSkkjxAVujwXKnAb5ydUbpWN6FY9OkRAjWakLCQ9amkvshUy7s/s640/DSC_0169-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTqRfcWwxFrbnYy82Kiygl3lnM5nplwUJvJoZ3uyxaBdA-85w72Ee2U2gDqhWAhbD_pK2j_ohvwgT9kymrhlgq4hu5v7AyEbvzhjf3JNHBBFLUOkft4IfReECuvs-lY8AvAZtXRFkqZ0/s1600/DSC_0173-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTqRfcWwxFrbnYy82Kiygl3lnM5nplwUJvJoZ3uyxaBdA-85w72Ee2U2gDqhWAhbD_pK2j_ohvwgT9kymrhlgq4hu5v7AyEbvzhjf3JNHBBFLUOkft4IfReECuvs-lY8AvAZtXRFkqZ0/s640/DSC_0173-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And double checked<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbtTT5V3TWS4-9n8QMHEn8Z5TLh0AsgnCbpuhRIND4D9dS81Tk5cdRo3PMNBlDaP3AvIR9xips8jgFC_Jb5oxOTWBWQDY-tbnOV54KIqhxHY4ARiRjICy8zV_A2fpcaUuRi81f2dbRXc/s1600/DSC_0175-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbtTT5V3TWS4-9n8QMHEn8Z5TLh0AsgnCbpuhRIND4D9dS81Tk5cdRo3PMNBlDaP3AvIR9xips8jgFC_Jb5oxOTWBWQDY-tbnOV54KIqhxHY4ARiRjICy8zV_A2fpcaUuRi81f2dbRXc/s640/DSC_0175-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only detailed-oriented people need apply</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I have no good hurdle race photos to share, so on to my<br /><br /><b>Biggest Surprise</b><br />which is seeing Bolt receive his medal for the race the night before<br />(I have no idea why he didn't receive his medal the night he won)<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNeDYJIT0n5DhxDJAuHsVIBSuxjp-iAfamevDX2AlQGiN06ytSmI0kKD-H4xRFICPUBt6BjdinNYf77PJXMFNwIUtqiHCOY2544WFL_BovpJZh3ZngOdv7A7NkxVmUv74ei-mmxSyEns/s1600/DSC_0209-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNeDYJIT0n5DhxDJAuHsVIBSuxjp-iAfamevDX2AlQGiN06ytSmI0kKD-H4xRFICPUBt6BjdinNYf77PJXMFNwIUtqiHCOY2544WFL_BovpJZh3ZngOdv7A7NkxVmUv74ei-mmxSyEns/s640/DSC_0209-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the Olympic Flame here<br />Pity it can't be seen outside the stadium</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The backside of the podium<br />Blurry - it's a big stadium and we are on the other side<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnP3KSxUWMv2zrYoTvCkF7DckYMo6aCyhtkvHk6OucCuwEuiMFfkSy1mskhVsTiWXPqtUmFle8wE20dswzgrBekfvPerI0k7hJxMEnZlgzMetk8SC_zHYVBZ_u6RpC79ldYA9xzN8uQM/s1600/DSC_0219-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnP3KSxUWMv2zrYoTvCkF7DckYMo6aCyhtkvHk6OucCuwEuiMFfkSy1mskhVsTiWXPqtUmFle8wE20dswzgrBekfvPerI0k7hJxMEnZlgzMetk8SC_zHYVBZ_u6RpC79ldYA9xzN8uQM/s640/DSC_0219-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />There are many more races<br />throughout the night<br /><br /><b>But now it is 10pm</b><br />and time to go home<br /><br />Goodnight, stadium<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNj1PrB9b6i_a9PnGEWWn9b6V6h_ZmNWwFMZAf-jIyYG3Oc7PGc-XWrhiCfwN2UsO3tdoD_ORHCE_TsCP4f8msr7h2rymPSLZk-xSFRhXbdmqGe4HOF9uz3z1rGVxPypJAOsoGCn6_sU/s1600/DSC02380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNj1PrB9b6i_a9PnGEWWn9b6V6h_ZmNWwFMZAf-jIyYG3Oc7PGc-XWrhiCfwN2UsO3tdoD_ORHCE_TsCP4f8msr7h2rymPSLZk-xSFRhXbdmqGe4HOF9uz3z1rGVxPypJAOsoGCn6_sU/s640/DSC02380.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Goodnight, Orbit<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMGBozSJb738xGVNqm4mnL4FZeKi5kUe_YEAA20to9EXHy0u1iye8DYu0mczphCfsich4JpJlVi5FVfj25iry2eyisdjo74-z3lcgRGEtUSJtGCuIQ7cnsffafAvJ08CTkyRSvsTIYJU/s1600/DSC02381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMGBozSJb738xGVNqm4mnL4FZeKi5kUe_YEAA20to9EXHy0u1iye8DYu0mczphCfsich4JpJlVi5FVfj25iry2eyisdjo74-z3lcgRGEtUSJtGCuIQ7cnsffafAvJ08CTkyRSvsTIYJU/s640/DSC02381.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Goodnight, beautiful rings backlit on the Aquatics Centre<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf55T3P5-7cWtS3ZguXeNoG2sxc3mIWF2ZeOi087_1ijNnTnP5PFAg-NfmiUs5Vn1lc32cGQcpJDyUpwQlDg-oIZs_I0CDiEwfLj1W7z55LeUFKEHzyv4vaTrUdyn-sFd8Py1_95Hw144/s1600/DSC02406-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf55T3P5-7cWtS3ZguXeNoG2sxc3mIWF2ZeOi087_1ijNnTnP5PFAg-NfmiUs5Vn1lc32cGQcpJDyUpwQlDg-oIZs_I0CDiEwfLj1W7z55LeUFKEHzyv4vaTrUdyn-sFd8Py1_95Hw144/s640/DSC02406-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Goodnight, lovely spectators from all over the world<br />with colorful flags I so adore<br /><br />And goodnight to the police (in yellow) who helped keep us safe<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SfM7IVATAmEtRN3CdEHK77HY4AVWMGgn0OenE54znYIo56rOIJq7ZLdlp5qRV_MwIKrhYAeewogCUjhLtMEOBBhAG6w2ADNeJV_Gqd_TLaWcNqQuFz3ZMOMSMTY6q1QuRRkuGsEc95Q/s1600/DSC02387-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SfM7IVATAmEtRN3CdEHK77HY4AVWMGgn0OenE54znYIo56rOIJq7ZLdlp5qRV_MwIKrhYAeewogCUjhLtMEOBBhAG6w2ADNeJV_Gqd_TLaWcNqQuFz3ZMOMSMTY6q1QuRRkuGsEc95Q/s640/DSC02387-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SO. MANY. PEOPLE.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I am about to turn into a pumpkin,<br />so home we go via tube and then train<br />(2 hours, door-to-door)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQzNEA5ZpoaLVxM5gk6lwWqusimTR5tEXaarYAnkYNRhKf6zkRwXv1PH-md-HBI7q0f-k6OZHRflUkT7tvjeZ2rBlVTKh7gXGZRvN04Qo21WqTG1j-X8L7jxI8qgq_ueQISQJOgGQKBc/s1600/DSC02416-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQzNEA5ZpoaLVxM5gk6lwWqusimTR5tEXaarYAnkYNRhKf6zkRwXv1PH-md-HBI7q0f-k6OZHRflUkT7tvjeZ2rBlVTKh7gXGZRvN04Qo21WqTG1j-X8L7jxI8qgq_ueQISQJOgGQKBc/s640/DSC02416-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And I fall fast asleep in bed<br />while visions of jumping, running sugar-plums dance in my head...<br /><br />Nighty night ;)<br /><br /><i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/temporary_olympic_park_mcdonalds_company_busiest/1475424.html">McDonalds</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Stadium_(London)">Olympic Stadium</a></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>More Summer Olympics Posts:</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/olympic-beach-volleyball.html">Olympic Beach Volleyball</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/london-dressed-for-olympics.html">London Dressed For The Olympics</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/behind-scenes-olympic-opening-ceremony.html">Behind The Scenes: An Olympic Opening Ceremony Performer</a> </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/summer-olympics-i-just-cant-get-enough.html" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Summer Olympics: I Just Can't Get Enough</a> </span><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-summer-olympic-games.html" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Summer Games Begin</span></a><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-olympic-torch.html">The Olympic Torch</a></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/signs-summer-olympics-are-coming.html">'Signs' The Olympics Are Coming</a></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/let-games-begin-olympic-tour.html">Let The Games Begin: An Olympic Tour in 2011</a> </span></div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Day At The Olympic Park

Posted By Happy Homemaker UK Headlines of yesterday's news My first and last chance to visit The Olympic Park during the Games... A nigh...

2:09 AM