Another flame, another Games, as the Paralympics come home, the movement having started back in 1948 with the revolutionary work of Dr Ludwig Guttman with soldiers with severe spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville hospital. See if 'The Best of Men' is still on iPlayer for the story.
A silly day back at work for the first time after the long break: had a long training session to give plus a new site to publish and we then had system failures. Didn't even get to my emails. Luckily, the Paralympic flame passed right outside the door at work, so was able to rush out and catch it as it passed.
Left early to do a few more Wenlocks and Mandevilles - the purple stroll around Mayfair. What another world that is. Passed a butcher's advertising grouse at £8. Walthamstow it wasn't. But still a lovely walk as all these discovery strolls are turning out to be. I've never set foot in Berkeley Square (no nightingales today) before today, and Grosvenor Square (home of the US embassy) was also very pleasant.
Home in time for the Paralympic opening ceremony. A very slow burn this one in contrast with the Olympic ceremony, but quietly moving and effective: the familiar mechanical 'voice' of Stephen Hawking, ParalympicGB entering to the familiar sound of Bowie's Heroes and a roaring stadium, the Paralympic flag being carried in by the under-22s wheelchair basketball team to the accompaniment of Holst's theme from Jupiter (I Vow To Thee My Country), a rendition of Ian Dury's Spasticus Autisticus, Royal Marine Joe Townsend, who lost both legs in Afghanistan, descending from the Orbit tower with the flame, and the cauldron eventually being lit by Margaret Maughan, the first Paralympic gold medallist from 1960.
I like Stephen Hawking, that man is incredible!! Watched some of it on TV tonight, and so pleased to hear that its all sold out - fabtastic :-) Sleep well.
Nighty night....