I hate admitting that I am wrong.
Hate it.
But sometimes there is nothing else to do.
Last night’s Olympic Opening Ceremony was AWESOME. Properly – in the old fashioned sense of the word – awesome. My cynical little heart was smashed into smithereens, and I sat there watching it with fat, proud tears rolling down my cheeks.
It did start pretty slowly.
“Uh-oh,” I said to DorkyDad, at the first glimpse of the meadows, milkmaids and maypoles. “I’m not sure this is going to work…”
But it did work. By the time the Olympic Rings had been forged and were glowing red-hot in the sky, I was enthralled. There was so much to love I can’t even begin to describe it all. Bond and Queenie. Jo Rowling reading Peter Pan. David Beckham in a boat. Mr Bean! Shakespeare, Mary Poppins, and a giant inflatable yellow submarine. CND, Tim Berners Lee, and a great big sloppy snog for the NHS. Wow.
(I’m welling up again just writing this, it’s ridiculous.)
I have always felt more Scottish than British. All the flag waving over the last eighteen months that accompanied the Royal Wedding and the Jubilee made me feel a bit squeamish. But last night acted as a reminder that Britishness is something that has many more colours than red, white and blue.
National pride doesn’t have to be something that is defined or owned by the right. Lovely leftie Danny Boyle (“He’s one of us!” I screeched with glee as Voldemort and the Child Catcher loomed over the kids in their hospital beds. “He totally gets it!”) demonstrated that its okay to have fun, to lose yourself in a big spectacular show for a night, without being so distracted by the glitter and the fireworks that you forget to be angry.
It was bonkers, and brilliant, and I completely loved it.
For once, I am very, very happy to admit that I was wrong.
Wonderful! It had the same affect on me too! And that really took me by surprise. The whole thing was so brilliantly on message, current, and leftfield. I too shall be writing a post ….
I hated bits of it and loved other bits. I missed the end though! Shall be watching on iplayer later. I really want to see the fireworks and lamp lighting.
Luckily I didn’t see it, being without a TV, so I don’t have to admit that I was wrong and shall continue to polish my prejudices!!
I loved the humour and the music, but most of all, the subversion
I’m so with you on this. I was all set to be bored rigid, not knowing what was supposed to be going on. Instead the big one and me sat up till 12.30 enthralled. Loved it.
Agreed big time. It was amazing
It was fab,really wasn’t expecting to enjoy it all and agree about the Scottish thing too!
you write my mind! My sentiments exactly. I’ve always thought Mary Poppins was quite subversive and Boyle showed me proof. Loved it all in spite of myself X
I absolutely loved it too! We have been sitting on the secrets of it for almost four months and it’s been killing me. To finally see it all come together was just the most incredible thing; lots of tears all round for this mumma!
I am finding that word bonkers everywhere online in connection with the opening ceremony
But yes it was brilliant and I loved it too
x
I loved the opening ceremony so much! And yes, it made me cry a little bit in places too. It made me feel so proud to be British! In fact I’m really not sporty but I loved the whole of the Olympics. So much so in fact that I feel a little bit lost without it this week!