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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

The Olympic Torch...

74 replies

sweatyscamp · 07/07/2012 17:51

...is going to go past the end of my road in about half an hour and I really have no interest whatsoever in gazing in awe at it. I semi buy into the Olympics being a 'Good Thing' for the country but then looking at the state of the country, still not sure. AIBU to be missing a 'once in a lifetime event????'

OP posts:

Original poster

sweatyscamp · 07/07/2012 18:33

bah.

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haththefecklessbreeder · 07/07/2012 18:37

I have sporty kids.

Older kids took younger ones to see the torch, because older kids knew people carrying the torch.

I stayed at home and ate chocolate.

LeeCoakley · 07/07/2012 18:37

Is it just residents of the UK or even just England who are indifferent and lacklustre where their own country's concerned? Are other countries more patriotic? I can understand people hating politics and the government but there seems to be an inner dislike of everything that happens within our country.

LeeCoakley · 07/07/2012 18:38

Sport is about PBs as well not just winning.

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 07/07/2012 18:44

Watched a documentary a few months ago about the Paralympic team from Palestine. They train on waste ground, they have difficulty getting the right (or any) replacement limbs because of Israeli blockades. They are fighting to compete and the Olympics is the height of their achievement. That's what Olympics means to me. People who work hard and sacrifice other parts of their life to be the best they can be.

GothAnneGeddes · 07/07/2012 18:44

We went to see it, it was lovely (although at all the sponsors buses), the whole of our very mixed community was there and it was one in the eye for racist doom-mongers who claim that multi-culturalism is bad.

Trioofprinces · 07/07/2012 18:45

We thought about seeing it tonight but the parking would be a nightmare, we're going to see it at 8am tomorrow morning instead! DS2 and I want I see it, DH and DS1 can't be bothered.

I think it might be great and worst case is you waste a couple of hours, no?

GothAnneGeddes · 07/07/2012 18:45

Jamie - quite. It is humbling what some people go through to get the chance to compete.

Blatherskite · 07/07/2012 18:50

It's coming here on Monday so we can't be too far away from you. The kids at DS's school have been given permission to be in late that morning so they can go and see it and I'll be taking mine.

I think it is a "once in a lifetime" thing but if it's pissing it down with rain, it might be one that we miss. 5'1" me with a 5 and 2 year old aren't going to see much in a big crowd after all

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 07/07/2012 18:52

The Olympic Torch is a symbolic invitation for people to take part. Judging by the enthusiasm out there across the country, the nay-sayers have got it a bit wrong, I'd say

Emandlu · 07/07/2012 18:54

We went to see it a few weeks ago. I really, really didn't want to. I was ill, I was having a really bad pain day and felt dreadful. The kids badgered me into going and afterwards I had to say to them that I was glad they had as we had a great time and the kids keep talking about it.
There was a great feel about the place, people were talking to one another and generally being pleasant. I came away feeling quite uplifted.

So in short YABU.

Original poster

sweatyscamp · 07/07/2012 18:58

I believe that the paralympics are a damn site more imprtant and should be treated with rather more respect. DH has just come back, having glimpsed 'it' for two seconds, in a crowd of many people, with some awful awful 'souvenirs' from samsung, McMorons, and coke.

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LeeCoakley · 07/07/2012 18:59

I was amazed by the turnout this morning! So pleased that everyone wasn't complaining about the weather and being behind schedule. I didn't like the roadside sellers with flags at inflated prices but that was all. The sponsors' floats were jarring but if they are donating millions then a little bit of advertising is ok by me. So glad I persuaded dp to go with us as he was being grumpy about it to start with.

Coconutty · 07/07/2012 19:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shewhowines · 07/07/2012 19:48

Another reluctant attendee but twas good. Great atmosphere. Made me proud to be British.

Kveta · 07/07/2012 19:49

we saw it this morning - pissing rain, but actually seeing the excitement in the crowds was lovely, and I may have been a little emotional as the torch went past

but still not sure why we went (there was a fire station open day at the same time, which we took DS to - wouldn't have gone just for the torch), even though it was fun. and we got to queue to get back to our car - so with the weather and queuing it was pretty much the perfect British summer's day.

so am not sure if YABU or not

LeeCoakley · 07/07/2012 19:56

We didn't go to the fire station open day but we queued for ages as pedestrians along the main road trying to get back into Tesco where everyone had parked! Then everyone had the same idea about buying lunch from the store! More shuffling along! We are such herd animals us Brits aren't we??

Kveta · 07/07/2012 19:58

ooh, we must have been near you Lee we were in that queue :o If you saw a fat knackered woman with a newborn in a green sling, that was me :o

EcoLady · 07/07/2012 20:00

Saw it today during a sunny spell. Was odd - over so quickly, yet I was pleased that we went and the DCs were very excited.

Trioofprinces · 07/07/2012 20:05

As DH and DS1 don't want to go at about 7am tomorrow morning, should I just take DS2 (8) or should I persuade them all to come? I was kind of hoping that it being so early on a Sunday morning might mean not too many crowds? Naive maybe??

Also what happens it it is tipping it down? Does the flame go back in the van, as someone told me?

LeeCoakley · 07/07/2012 20:07

No I didn't see you! Did you see us? I had a King Charles Spaniel with a union jack around her neck! Probably arguing with dp as well

Kveta · 07/07/2012 20:11

nope, would probably have said hello if we did - DS loves KCS as my parents have several, and will run towards any he sees :o nice to know there are other BS mumsnetters though!

LynetteScavo · 07/07/2012 20:17

I really didn't want to go and see it, but did, and was glad I went. It was actually a lot of fun being in a crowd of excited people, waving a flag.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 07/07/2012 20:24

Trio DD is going to see it again in the morning at about 7.30, she had told her boyfriend she wasn't going to bother but enjoyed seeing it so much today that she's changed her mind. For her to give up a lazy Sunday lay-in is virtually unheard of so I would try to drag them all along.

Original poster

sweatyscamp · 07/07/2012 20:52

I know who is going to be in the Trinity College quad tomorrow - was told in a very very top secret e mail to those involved it's v exciting - if you like that sort of thing..

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