Saturday 28 July 2012

Olympic opening ceremony....hmmm...

I am not particularly interested in sport, but I am a patriot. I love my country, am a great admirer of the Queen, queue patiently and grumble about the weather. That makes me a true Brit, right?

But. Am I the only person to have been utterly bewildered by last night's opening ceremony? It seemed to me a hotchpotch of maypoles and grassy banks and dancing nurses and ancient pop songs and...Well, you get my drift. I - and husband - were confused and very disappointed.

And if we didn't understand it, what on earth did did the billions watching it worldwide make of it? Can anyone offer explanations?

14 comments:

  1. According to the news reports this morning you had to be there to appreciate the experience. I think there was too much going on to be able to see it all at once. The NHS thing was weird, but apart from that I enjoyed it. I did enjoy the humour - something we Brits do best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Maggie. I think you're right. Too much going on!

      Delete
  2. Haven't watched any of it myself, Frances, but if you read Dawn Treader's blog (don't know if you follow her anyway), you'll find that she was mightily impressed without being there in person (and she's Swedish, so no patriotism involved, really).
    I am now fascinated how different people having watched the exact same program have such different impressions of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad at least one non- English person understood it. It can't have been easy!

      Delete
  3. Like you, I was bewildered, but thought it could be because of the very poor American coverage and also because I was dead tired.
    I did find a few highlights though, I just did a post about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've read your generous post, Kay. You must be a much nicer person than I am!

      Delete
  4. Hi Frances, I loved it, only us Brits could do something like that. What a humour and the music...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I would have loved all the coaches and horses and mounted bands we see on state occasions. They must be expensive to keep, and should get out more!

      Delete
  5. I forgot all about it, so I haven't seen a thing, although I did hear that the queen parachuted in. Can that be true? At her age? Was she wearing a dress, gloves, and a hat? I can't imagine it.
    I'm sure everyone else in Canada remembered to watch it but I really did forget.
    K

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think it was an act, Kay. The real thing would probably have killed her ( though of course she must have cooperated).

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh good ! I'm not the only one who thought it was hopeless . I'd had enough of winsome peasants and their livestock after five minutes , and the NHS/Marty Poppins bit was just silly ( let's hear it for geriatrics and chiropody ) .
    I did enjoy the Bean and Bond sequences ... they were amusing , though definitely small screen and not Once In Four Years huge stadium stuff .
    It's a pity because there is a great deal to admire in the preparations ... the site is very attractive and local people have felt involved in many ways . So I won't grumble any more but will just sit back and enjoy all the events .
    Armchair Athlete , Holland

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was in bits when the lad (think it was a lad) from the choir sang the first verse to "Jerusalem" solo.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It was a boy, I think. And I agree, Colette. Some of the kids were great.

    But...

    ReplyDelete