Filed under: Comment
2012 is a big year for Britain.
What with the recent Queen’s jubilee, European championships and – of course – the Olympics, patriotism is going to reach highs that haven’t been seen for years.
A few weeks ago, when I was in the UK, I took my Mum to North Yorkshire to introduce her to Gonk – an owl I’d sponsored for her.
As the falconry was located in a gorgeous little town, we decided to stay in a lovely B&B – which delighted my history loving wife as it had once played host to King Charles I.
Anyway, the next morning we found out that the Olympic Flame was, by chance, passing through the town so we decided to stay and watch.
Even though we ended up waiting an hour for basically 3 seconds of flame held by some random person, it felt quite special.
Maybe it was because I was with the 2 women in my life.
Maybe it was because the weather was – finally – bloody awesome.
Maybe it was because the whole town was out in the streets, cheering and waving flags.
Maybe it was because I heard a women tell her son “this happens only once in a lifetime”.
Maybe it was because the Police were joining in the festivities by singing and generally fooling around.
[See it all in its shaky camera glory here]
Whatever the reason, I can honestly say it left a genuine impression on me and for the first time, I really sensed how much the Olympics meant to the people of Britain.
Of course, the fact I only just realised this is because I live in China, however I was living in Australia when the Olympics was on there and while I know the people were very excited about their games, I can’t help but feel their reasons were different to the sense of hope, pride and positivity that I saw in that small town in the North of Yorkshire.
Which is why I was kind-of gutted when I passed a shop window within seconds of the Olympic Flame runner passing by and saw this …
… not even a minute had passed and they were discounting the value of the flag.
Story of Britain really.
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I love our grumpy cynicism as a nation, but even if we disagree with some elements of the olympics we should at least try and be a part of it, if only to see history (as you say) we will never see again.
Comment by Rob Mortimer July 3, 2012 @ 6:24 amwhere are the pigeons?
and fucking flatcaps?
call that yorkshire? i call it the worst sort of fucking progress.
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:23 amThat’s rich coming from a man that now feeds his child roasted moose (probably)
Comment by northern July 3, 2012 @ 6:48 pmpheasant. straight from the fucking queens private tax payers garden.
Comment by andy@cynic July 4, 2012 @ 4:19 am£1.50 for a fucking flag? rip off britain.
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:25 amSorry Andy, you seem to have mistaken my blog for the Daily Mail … which come to think of it, is the biggest insult you could give me.
Comment by Rob July 3, 2012 @ 10:10 amyou mean you were that close to the fucking flame and you didnt blow the bastard out? what the fuck is wrong with you campbell?
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:26 amis it because you wanted the fuckers to see fire for the first time?
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:27 amIt was being carried by a geriatric, there was no way he could catch it.
Comment by John July 3, 2012 @ 6:00 pmyou sponsored a fucking owl and it was called gonk?
then you took your poor and defenceless mum to go and actually see it?
what sort of sick bastard are you?
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:29 amI’ll have you know my Mum loves owls and sponsoring one is the sign of a good son, not a complete bastard.
Comment by Rob July 3, 2012 @ 10:14 amSnowy or Tawny?
Comment by Rob Mortimer (Not a fake Andy) July 3, 2012 @ 4:32 pmAll those birds of prey to choose from and you pick an owl with the worst name since nottingham forest?
Comment by DH July 3, 2012 @ 8:32 amhe likes queen.
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:35 amand wears birkenstocks.
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:35 amAre you saying that explains it all?
Comment by DH July 3, 2012 @ 8:37 amWorks for me.
Comment by Billy Whizz July 3, 2012 @ 8:38 amwell its not murder she fucking wrote is it?
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:41 amMurder she wrote? No wonder you find computers so hard to use, you’re still stuck in 1983.
Comment by Rob July 3, 2012 @ 10:15 amDid that woman say the olympics happened “once in a lifetime” because the life expectancy in northern england is 26?
Comment by DH July 3, 2012 @ 8:33 amGiven the last time we hosted was 64 years ago, and most countries hate us enough to never vote for us again. (Plus we don’t have the money to bribe the committee)… it probably will be even if we live to 100+
Comment by Rob Mortimer (Not a fake Andy) July 3, 2012 @ 4:34 pmWait. Limeyland has the Olympics? What the fuck?
Comment by Billy Whizz July 3, 2012 @ 8:38 amthats what the fucking french said as well.
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 8:43 amNice.
Comment by Rob July 3, 2012 @ 10:16 amYou’re a sweetie Rob.
Jemma x
Comment by Jemma King July 3, 2012 @ 8:58 amif he is, its one of those that leaves a very fucking nasty taste in your mouth.
Comment by andy@cynic July 3, 2012 @ 9:06 amThanks lovely, hope all is tops with you … which translates to, I hope Billy is still acting in accordance to your ‘cease and desist’ order. Oh my sides, hahahaha!
Ahem.
Comment by Rob July 3, 2012 @ 10:17 am