We kind of missed the Jubilympics, watching from afar
A Post Jubilympic Half Term
So we kind of missed the Olympics. And the Jubilee. And I feel bad about that; not very patriotic really. We did make a bit of an effort watching the torch procession and joining in with some beacon lighting, but we didn’t really get involved or support the main events. Well, that’s what happens if you scoot off for the summer.
Not that I’d have swapped our summer of adventures for a ticket at either of them. Not even on the Queens Jubilee barge nor at the Olympic opening ceremony. Much as I love a big event I’d rather be creating one of my own than be a guest at someone else’s party. But I do feel we missed out a bit on London’s big year. And despite being a country boy now, I’m still a Londoner at heart.
Our involvement with the Jubilympics this year has been a bit of a damp squib
So when it came to planning half term it just seemed right we should head back to the smoke and check out the Jubilympic aftermath, before London’s year in the spotlight is over. So next week we’re off to town to see for ourselves what’s been left behind after the parties. There’s been so much talk about the legacy of these great celebrations I’m hoping it’s more than just litter.
In the spirit of Jubilympicsm, adventure and the approach of Christmas (apparently the season has already started?) we’ve planned an eclectic week in which we hope to tick a lot of boxes. And probably exhaust ourselves.
First stop, HM The Queen
First, as a tribute to Her Majesty, we’re planning a Royal themed day, staying at Rubens Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road, apparently the closest hotel to HM’s place (or is that palace?) We’re going to check everything is still OK with the changing of the guard (I’ve not seen that since I was a kid), visit Kensington Palace and have a Little Prince and Princesses Tea at the Milestone Hotel.
Maybe HMQ will be as hospitable as these locals on Morecambe Prom
Then we turn to sport
Then in search of adventure, we’re going to spend a day at the Ski and Snowboard Show which just happens to be on at Earls Court this week and opens on Halloween. Now there’s a promising combination. After researching all these strange Halloween ideas, I’m thinking Zombies on skis meets Pingu and Snow Angel Nannies, but maybe I have an over-active imagination.
Later in the week we’re pursuing an Olympic theme, heading to the East End for a tour of the Olympic Park, see for ourselves where all the action happened, and find out what’s been left behind for locals. Unfortunately most of the park is closed until July 2013 as the infrastructure is transformed into its new roles, but we’re assured we’ll get as close as we can. We’d also hoped to get up to the Lea Valley White Centre for a bit of white water action, but apparently the kids are too young. Never mind. Judging by the weather forecast we may be wet enough anyway.
The last time we were near the Olympic Park was before the Games
A day going UP and looking down
While in the East we’re going check out a new attraction, Up at the 02, a chance to clamber over the roof of the once derided Millennium Dome, from where we might be able to see The Shard and Tower Bridge, two other places we’ve got our eye on climbing as part of our Up Day, which really has to be topped off with a spin on the London Eye, the biggest ferris wheel in Europe. Hannah missed out on riding the Riesenrad when we were in Vienna so I think we should make up for that.
Tower Bridge with Olympic Rings. Will they still be there?
And a nod to Christmas
Finally, with winter definitely on its way and Christmas just around the corner we really need to embrace it. I know it goes against our instincts, but you’ve got to get out of your comfort zone if you want to grow as a person. So I reckon a little ice skating at one of London’s seasonal ice rinks should do the trick. I’ve got my eye on the ice rink at the Natural History Museum. Skating with dinosaurs. Could be the next big thing. Just don’t tell Kirstie that’s what I called her.
The last time we almost went skating was on frozen Derwent Water
Anyway, sounds like enough to keep a family busy. And totally confused about whether we’re celebrating the Olympics, Jubilee, Halloween or Christmas. But hey ho. Or should that be Ho Ho Ho.
As ever, we’ll be sharing the fun as we go on Twitter, Facebook and our Punkt! live micro-video channel and they’ll be a blog or two to follow. So if you want to keep up with the madness make sure you’re following wherever you prefer or sign up for our RSS feed and we’ll send you our latest posts by email.
I know you like it to give trips a theme, a parenthesis that holds events together – but it looks to me as if you went a bit over your head this time in doing it?
London, hey, haven’t been there in a while, never with the kids yet. We had thought of going this fall, but it became Paris instead, easier to reach by super-fast super-comfy Thalys without even changing from right here. We had our own UPtime, climbing Sacre Coeur, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Was quite proud about how the kids kept UP (despite substantial protests that had to be silenced… in Disneyland). And I even found that extra hour to ride a Vélib rental bike across the city.
Yes I think maybe we lost it with this one. So hard to find a unifying theme in a city with so much on offer. As you say, we do like to try and find a theme, helps give meaning to our meanderings. Your UP day sounds fun… that’s a good theme in any city I imagine, and gives a certain perspective on a place. I don’t know if we’ll get a chance to try the Boris bikes in London… they look like a fun way to get around.