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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be totally dreading the Olympics because I live in London

295 replies

labelwriter · 11/07/2012 08:59

I just am! Yesterday, I went to London Bridge to get to work and there was a practice for the Olympics and the whole station was in chaos and it was really shambolic. Last week I went to St James Park and most of it and the Mall was closed. It's going to add ages on to my journey. We have been told to cycle to work if we can but the bus lanes are to be closed so the VIP cars can use them and as i am sure anyone who cycles in central London will agree, this is going to cause lots of problems. Am sure the games themselves will be brilliant but it's the trying to get about in London bit I am dreading.

OP posts:
kilmuir · 14/07/2012 21:24

You have had years to save up and go on holiday while its on..................

cheesesarnie · 14/07/2012 21:39

im dreading our holiday now Sad

nailak · 14/07/2012 22:06

Well not everyone can save up, like I said if I booked a holiday 4 years ago would have been for 2 adults and 1dc not 3 dc,

AmberLeaf · 14/07/2012 22:07

Get real Kilmuir.

NellyBluth · 14/07/2012 22:18

Kilmuir, really? Really? So every single person that will be affected by the Olympics should go on holiday for a fortnight? Lets hope that all doctors, nurses, police officers and firemen all live next door to where they work... Hmm

SoggySummer · 14/07/2012 22:21

I am nowhere near London or Weymouth although I have family in Portland who say any normal holiday makers who go to Weymouth this summer are in for a shock. Some carparks that usually charge a few pounds for a whole day are now charging £25.

The whole thing has turned into a farce. There was something in the news a while back that yonks ago they block booked all the hotels and now with only weeks to go they are empty. Not as many people are coming to Britain as they thought.

The ticket sales was a bloody farce.

The security (lack of) actually frightens me and I am not one to normally be put off by anything like that. 2 weeks before and they have to draft in the armed forces cancelling loads of service families summer leave before deployments. These families with 2 weeks to go have booked and paid for their summer holidays but wont get their money back.

I just dont think the Olympics will be the roaring success they said it would be. Too many greedy people with too many fingers in the pie. I will be amazed if we gain anything as a nation out of this.

difficultpickle · 14/07/2012 22:26

I don't want to go on holiday as I want to see the Olympics and go away when I would usually take holiday. We have games routes taking effect from Monday and there are signs all over the place telling us to avoid all the roads where we live from 14th July to 5th September. I have to drive to the station and when I get into London I have to travel through various 'hot spots' to get to my office. I knew I'd struggle to get my usual tube to work but I didn't realise I would struggle to get to the local train station. Confused

difficultpickle · 14/07/2012 22:28

Forgot that although the messages said the roads took effect from 14th there were other signs saying to ignore those signs and that the roads started from 16th. Someone must be making a lot of money from making all these road signs.

RubyGates · 15/07/2012 09:05

ajandjjmum, I think you're wrong. Have you read this?

www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/after-the-party-what-happens-when-the-olympics-leave-town-901629.html

Illuminating no?

Nancy66 · 15/07/2012 09:35

i think that report is pretty positive on the whole.

You can't compare what happened to Beijing and Seoul to the UK.

the legacy of the games held in cities with similar standing to London is good

GlassofRose · 15/07/2012 10:32

Nancy -

Your having a bit of a giggle really. We may live in a more wealthy country, but don't you think it's funny that one of the poorest boroughs in London is getting the brunt of it, just like the poor of Beijing did?

Sunnywithachanceofshowers · 15/07/2012 10:33

I work in London and I've already noticed more tourists. I'm dreading public transport though, as I come in on a line that runs from Gatwick to Kings X to Luton.

Nancy66 · 15/07/2012 10:35

glass rose - no, i don't. the Uk olympics is very much about regneration - the Beijing never, ever was

sunny - london is ALWAYS busy with tourists this time of year regardless of Olympics

GlassofRose · 15/07/2012 10:42

Stratford will only be busy with tourists during the Olympics... no tourist will go there after.

Regeneration is rubbish. They've tarted up a few shops and given Stratford a shopping centre with the likes of LK Bennett - sorry, but most girls from Newham wouldn't even know what the brand was let alone afford to buy from there. You can bet your bottom dollar that Primark has the most sales...

GlassofRose · 15/07/2012 10:48

Sorry to anyone who lives in Stratford, but you can't polish a turd.

I wouldn't get off the train at Stratford station on my own, it's known for being rough as it gets and sticking the Olympic site there doesn't make it anymore appealing. Regeneration in Stratford needs to be work within the community to stop children joining gangs and stop them stabbing each other - the community is not benefitting from The Olympics which is unaccessible to them.

Nancy66 · 15/07/2012 10:52

thousands of children will have access to state of the art sporting arenas after the Olympics - that benefits the community doesn't it?

Lottapianos · 15/07/2012 10:56

'I wouldn't get off the train at Stratford station on my own'

OK, it's rough but it's not that bad! Smile

nailak · 15/07/2012 10:59

Stratford Westfield does have Primark you know....

Access to state of the art sporting facilities?

for free? or at a charge beyond Newham residents?

For everyone? or select few?

Newham has the highest proportion of under 25s in UK I think it is something like 25%

Nancy66 · 15/07/2012 10:59

Yes, you're all right. They should have installed soup kitchens for the poor peasant people of Newham.

GlassofRose · 15/07/2012 11:01

Will they Nancy? Will they really? I think not. It is set to become the home of a football club, the only way they will have access to it is if they buy a bloody season ticket.

Sorry Lotta, it is. I was born in Newham and I've lived and worked there... most people from other parts of Newham see Stratford as being worse. Certainly wouldn't want to walk through Stratford shopping centre alone.

Lottapianos · 15/07/2012 11:06

I worked in Newham (West Ham Lane) for 5 years and still travel through Stratford station every day - I don't find it any more scary than any other part of East London. But fair enough, people feel differently about these things.

GlassofRose · 15/07/2012 11:07

Nailaik that was my point Hmm Primark probably has the biggest sales to locals...

You laugh about soup kitchens, do you know that Newham has one of the highest rates of child poverty in London? A quarter of all children in Newham live in poverty.

When we have problems with good, educated children joining gangs? I've taught some really lovely children who had bright futures ahead of them who have joined gangs at secondary school. What bloody good does Westfield, a lick of paint and a sport centre do them?

Nancy66 · 15/07/2012 11:08

Glassof - so, on the one hand, you are saying that Newham is a pitiful shit hole but, on the other, you seem to object to any form of improvement.

GlassofRose · 15/07/2012 11:08

Arghh last para reads wrong. Especially passionate about this, don't type clearly.

GlassofRose · 15/07/2012 11:09

Stratford is a shit hole, but until you change the ways of life for some of the people who live there a lick of paint is going to do fuck all