Let The Games Begin!

Another day long meeting with our client but not quite as intense as yesterday. Nothing unreasonable to deliver, nothing too difficult, just a lot to do. It's a little daunting but not quite overwhelming. Still, I was very glad not to be leaving so late for a change and have time for an easy run on the moor this evening before getting back to cook dinner in time to watch the London Olympics opening ceremony.

So ... what did we all make of it? I have to admit that I started off somewhat skeptical but gradually warmed to the whole dazzling show and ended up greatly admiring the vision to do something very different. It was both light and dark, and generally didn't take itself too seriously. The show had flaws but it also had moments of genius. One such was the use of Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean. Another was the appearance of the Arctic Monkeys at the end, with the emergence of those ethereal winged creatures on bikes. Breathtaking.

It all had a rather quaint homespun feel, which was actually rather refreshing after the clinical professionalism of recent opening ceremonies. I loved the little hill with the tree on the top. What a brilliant choice for the centre-piece as an icon of the British landscape. And the procession of competitors from all the countries was wonderfully joyous and a much more relaxed and spontaneous affair than normal, far more like what you normally see at a closing ceremony. I thought it was great.

Another lovely touch was the handing on of the torch from the old guard to the new in the shape of a group of young athletes. It had a refreshingly inclusive feel to it. And that was added to by the torch being comprised of all those copper petals, one for each country. All in all, I haven't felt so proud to be British in a very long while.

The only downer was the Queen. My youngest lad was really getting annoyed by her total inability to smile or make any attempt to engage with proceedings. I have to agree with him that she was rather pathetic, just so dour and, well, frumpy! Her formality seemed totally at odds with the wonderful informality of everything else. She seriously needs a charisma transplant!

Not much anyone could have done about that performance, but congratulations to everyone involved. In every other respect it was fantastic. I was ready to call it a damp squib but I was completely won over by its charm. It was all thoroughly engaging. Well done Britain!