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London 2012 - Penultimate Day

national pride in full swing
And my first day home.

I woke early with the sun at 4.45am with the curse of long distance travel - jetlag. So I put on my last clean dry clothes and my trainers and went for a walk around the neighbourhood.  My neighbourhood isn't like any other in the world this week. Nor is it the same as it was a year ago. I live in East London, the hosts of the 2012 Olympics.

Olympic Stadium from the Canal
And what a difference a year makes and an injection of overwhelming funds! My local park will play host to a huge video screen showing the games (I'm excited to be having my welcome home party there) and has a beautiful portrait exhibition along the arenas temporary walls of Londoners hailing from all around the world. 

Olympic Athletes greet me of a morning
On my walk around the borough I found new adventure parks, a lake side organic cafe (with its token Kiwi staff), a group of runners from around the world all gleefully saying "good morning" as I was in awe of their pace (one later used me as a pacer as I walked 1km and he lapped the 5km circuit 3 times!), plenty of helpful people in high vis-jackets but the postman was the best with directions! In my attempts to the Olympics stadium all recommended that I head straight to the new Westfield Shopping centre to take a gander from the John Lewis platform...a Westfield in my neighbourhood         DANGEROUS! I met a friendly retired chap who runs the cricket club. And couldn't wipe the smile from my dial. I was home and the Olympics are on MY back door.

US track team practise at Mile End Park
As I walked home I walked past my running track and discovered the US Track Team having a bit of a run. I believe the guy I pictured won a bronze in the 100m race.

But in true East End fashion I found this image...there is small print that reads "except the 100m"
EastEnd graffiti says it all







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