This morning Alex suggested that the Alloi team take a trip
down the road to watch the Olympic Torch pass through the area - ‘Once in a
lifetime opportunity’ I think is what he said. So off we went to experience
this fantastic opportunity, the pavement was lined with spectators waving the
British flag - the majority from the higher end of the age spectrum. We were
all feeling very patriotic and proud of our country to be hosting such an
event, well I think we were… it was hard to tell whether Mark Peet was more
excited about the fact he was getting some fabulous pictures of Jamie or the
proceedings we had came to watch.
Quite a crowd had gathered and after about 5 minutes
flashing police lights started heading up the road followed by a Coca Cola lorry
carrying about six people, the men more heavily fake tanned than the women,
manically dancing to some cheesy pop hit, the Butlins entertainment vibe really
did highlight true British atmosphere, the advertising did not. The line of
lorries passed and we were left quite bewildered as to when the actual Olympic
Torch would be passing and what exactly Lloyds TSB has to do with the Olympics.
Whilst we were waiting it seemed it was time for a group
picture of the Alloi team on their trip out, as neither watching the Olympic
Torch or having group photos were in the job description I decided not to
participate in this part of the event, Alex continued to take snaps afterwards
so I had to keep my guard up!
Finally it was time! The once in a lifetime opportunity was
upon us, a small girl in front of us was lifted onto her Grandfathers shoulders
to get a better view. Seeing the genius in this idea, Jamie hoisted up Mark P
onto his shoulders (he probably didn’t just lift him up there but I wasn’t
looking), I guess it’s sort of, maybe a tiny bit acceptable for the youngest
member of the Alloi team to act like an excited 10 year old… but I was trying
to watch the spectacle in a sensible manner.
The torch bearer whizzed by, we were all trying to get
pictures on our cameras and phones, I only managed to see the mans leg as I was
too busy staring at my phone trying to get a picture and I only managed to
capture his leg. I’m pretty sure at this point Alex was falling from a wall and
missing his photograph opportunity, Jamie and Mark were… well I’m not sure
Jamie was paying attention with Mark balancing on his shoulders but at least
Mark P got a good view and Mark Trevor was the only one to get a decent
picture!
That was it, we’d taken advantage of the once in a lifetime
opportunity and it was... a letdown. We missed an hour of work to witness some
advertising, flashing lights, quite a few coaches and a man we didn’t know
carrying a big torch. Well at least we had a giggle and got a free bottle of
Cola.
