To be dreading the Olympics (Greenwich)

[gateacre1]

Land to air missiles 5 mins from my house local roads closed
My route to work is the Olympic route network
Restricted resident parking
No access to park for most of the summer hols
Sorry if I sound a bit bah humbug
I'm just dreading it. ........ Anyone else?

I don't blame you, I think it is going to be horrible for most people living in and near London. We're a good few miles out but dh is going to have a very disrupted commute and is banned from having any annual leave for the duration.

I'm dreading it and I'm not even in London :(

I live about 10 mins on the train from the stadium and I'm looking forward to it because none of us commute and I doubt it'll affect us.

It's been quite exciting seeing the army helicopters and jets flying around

But my sympathy to you OP because it sounds like a nightmare for you

Yes, dh has to work all the way through to end of September with no leave. Going to be a long summer I used to live near Greenwich, I know it well :)

I really don't get the thought process of businesses in London through the Olympics. Obviously not those that will capitalise on the increased visitors, but just regular businesses. I work in the City, for a firm that will have nothing to do with the Olympics in anyway, and they want to know if anyone's taking time off during that period. Umm - why? What possible difference does it make to our business? I don't get it, unless I'm missing something?

Seriously?? No holidays while the DC's are off school??! I'd have to hand in my notice I'm afraid, I couldn't afford to work all the way through the holidays and pay for childcare! That is so stupid and unfair to loyal employees!! I suddenly understand why the tube staff are striking, maybe London workers should all do the same!

Yeah, people don't realise it's not 'just 2 weeks' , it's months of planning, time table changes, shift changes, leave restricted or cancelled. But for some reason we should all get into the spirit of it

andired I hadn't actually thought of it from that point of view, I am just pissed of because dh is working every weekend from home revising rot as etc and we get no holiday and when we do manage to get away we'll have to take ds out of school.

rotas

But I still don't get why there's restrictions, if your business would have nothing to do with the Olympics? Why is it any different to any other summer?

I can only speak about my dh but he works on the computer systems that keep BBC radio on air, his holiday restrictions are only partially Olympic based, some is because of studio moves and technical changes.

It would make sense for most London business to promote working from home for as many employees as possible.

I work for an organisation with headquarters based in south London but has centres all over London. We had a briefing yesterday in the office from a consultant employed by Transport for London about the travel and transport during the Games. TfL are providing free briefings for businesses across London. It sounds like an absolute logistical nightmare to be honest. I have no idea how the already stretched transport system is going to cope. The Northern Line is like some ninth circle of hell as it is. The consultant advised that London Bridge station is going to be the worst hotspot (apart from Stratford itself) for travel and to be avoided as much as possible for pretty much the whole period.

We live within sight of the Olympic Stadium and we have still not been told exactly how our area is going to be affected; we have a community meeting on Tuesday at which I hope we'll find out more. The only information we have is that we shouldn't try and use roads or public transport to get anywhere between 6am and midnight for the duration of the games and a couple of days either side! I really think they could have explained all this properly by now.

'we shouldn't try and use roads or public transport to get anywhere between 6am and midnight for the duration of the games and a couple of days either side'

!! What are we supposed to do, spend the entire time in the cellar? I live a couple of miles from the stadium and have just had a letter from the council saying parking restrictions will be extended to every day until 9 p.m. during the Olympics. God it's tedious.

Glad I'm not the only one not looking forward to it

Just waiting to find out about the parking per its etc

As soon as school finishes I may ask my mum if I can move in with her
Yikes dreading the Olympics

It will be like 5 weeks of the marathon every day

I agree - the land to air missiles are worrying (what on earth do they plan to use them for even if terrorists do strike??). I was hoping to get on my bike or walk to work during the Olympics but the 2 main pedestrian/cycle routes to/from Stratford (Greenway and Lea Canal) are going to be closed for "security reasons", even though they were originally billed as the greenest way to get to the stadium. That leaves us with the lethal A13 and Bow roundabout where 2 cyclists have been killed already. So no public transport, no cars AND no cycle/walking routes. I didn't even win the chance to buy any tickets (sulky emoticon).

Apart from being unable to get to work, or go out at all, or see any events, or have friends visit, I am sure it will be wonderful

Bexley. Cant wait.

CBA with moany gits who cant rejoyce in a once in a life time experience.

PS - hell on earth would induce me to step over the border into Greenwich borough without full flack jackets and body armour anyway

I want to be getting excited and I'm fully aware of my moany git status. I am finding it hard to get enthusiastic about something I won no tickets for and will just end up watching on telly like it weren't happening right outside my front door.

Please, someone come and cheer this grumpy old gimmer up about it, I beg of you.

bettybat I work in the City, for a firm that will have nothing to do with the Olympics in anyway, and they want to know if anyone's taking time off during that period. Umm - why? What possible difference does it make to our business? I don't get it, unless I'm missing something?

Aren't they asking in case some of you want to book time off to see events or books hols so that you don't get caught up in the nightmare commute? Surely they're just trying to manage staffing levels.

Shit I'd forgotten about the park closing. Not going to be fun. Do you know if the swing park will be accessible? What about the herb garden?

I'm bloody dreading it. I go back from mat leave & can't book my holiday until I return in June & doubt I'll be allowed that time off. Have no clue how I'm actually going to do nursery pick up etc in time from the city.
Logistically,it will be a complete nightmare.