Where is the Olympic Spirit this morning?

[5Foot5]

08:12. I couldn't find a bell so when the countdown ended I ran out on to the drive banging my largest pan with a metal spoon. After a few seconds I realised I couldn't see anyone else ringing so I paused to listen. Surely there would be someone else somewhere?

I banged my pan for a bit longer then stopped again to listen. Nothing. No church bells or anything. All was quiet and peaceful in this corner of Macclesfield. So I banged my pan a bit more and then went in.

Quite disappointed really.

there was an aussie girl "playing her bell ring tones really loudly on her phone" when I got onto my train in London this morning, and we all gave her evils.

Then she said, "wow I can't beleive Londoners aren't getting into this, i'm really excited".

I thought her words were a little harsh considering she was sat next to an Olympic volunteer resplendent in pink.

Then I got into work and saw this thread.

no bells here I don't think but I wouldn;t have heard them if there were as we overslept and didn't wake till 8:30!!

So that's what the mysterious bell ringing was all about this morning. I was thinking it was a little early for a wedding.
This was definitely the worst advertised event ever

goodness there are a lot of miserable people on MN. So many negative threads about the Olympics.

I'm very excited. Had my first volunteer shift yesterday, attended the opening ceremony rehearsal earlier in the week and will be glued to the TV tonight.

Lollopybear - i sat on my sofa saying 'ding dong' to myself - thought I was the only crazy one but apparently not!

I signed up to join in with the bells months ago, sadly I over slept this morning and our local church doesn't have any bells :-( so I'm not sure if there was anything.
It does seem a bit miserable here, no bunting flags or go team GB, having said that I have bought the local shop out of tat and will be having a little party glued to the tv tonight.

"DH and I didn't have any bells, so we both said 'ding ding ding' loudly, but in our house. Not outside."

-- Perfect, lovely. That is exactly what I like about being English.

Our church bells were ringing. DD1 rattled a tambourine and DD2 rang our doorbell in time to Big Ben on the radio. OP your neighbours will probably now give you a wide berth, but at least you got into the spirit LOL!

lollopybear the church bells sped up at the end because they were lowering the bells I expect - you raise them to ring them then lower them when you finish. my local bells were rung, it was lovely.

nothing here either, I would have joined in if there was - I just didn't want to appear to be the local oddity - I've not lived here long!

It was a great idea but was very badly publicised and they picked a really rubbish time to do it. Most people would be either at work or travelling to work so that I imagine very few church bell ringers would be available. I can't understand why they didn't choose to do it at 8.12pm as a pre Opening Ceremony celebration. The time would actually be 20:12 too which makes sense. 8.12am makes no sense whatsover.

I rang a bell OP! I could hear one other person with what sounded like a pan and spoon- don't think it was you though, as I am in Essex :)

Radio 3 played a piece for hand bells in time for it. I was on my way to work through a very sleepy Scottish village when it came on and I turned up the volume and opened the car windows. Wonder if somebody heard it.
I loved the idea. I grew up next to a village church and love the sound of bells.

I and many work colleagues have just run down to the river to see Gloriana go past. We collectively won the 800m unprepared run in work shoes contest!
I didn't hear any bells (on commuter train at the time).

No church bells here either. I was really surprised and a little bit sad.

Gloriana has just gone past my office. One of the few days I'd rather be there than working from home.

I didn't know anything about it. What a shame.

I also knew nothing about it. I keep up with current affairs and the like, but haven't seen a jot about it . Mind you, I'm in North Wales. The Olympics feels like just something on the telly.

"I rang a bell OP! I could hear one other person with what sounded like a pan and spoon- don't think it was you though, as I am in Essex"

I did make quite a bit of noise but probably not that much!

lollopybear I'm with you on the saying ding dong, thats exactly what I did as we don't have any bells in the house (forgot about the bell on my bike!) and DH stirred his tea in a clunky sort of way, surprised he had a cup left after 3 minutes but we entered into the spirit of it