It didn't start too well as it was an early start with little sleep but I got on with it. I had Leo and Ellis in with us as my alarm went off at 6:30am.
We zoomed downstairs, I got all 3 dressed and loaded the car before 7am. Rob then came with me to take them to Simon and Tilly's house. I went through some things with Tilly as my notes weren't that good and I gave her my buggy and car seat.
We left and got home in time to have some cereal and a toilet break before getting in Mum and Dad's car to drive to the railway station.
We arrived with plenty of time to work out the wheelchair, lift, platform number and to grab a cuppa. Mum did as she was told even though she wasn't really looking forward to having to go in the chair. The reason Mum had to use a chair is because she needed a long overdue hip replacement and was in a lot of pain when stood too long or having to walk. We almost didn't go at all because of it but I made her go and made her use her chair. 😊 She thanked me later obviously. 😜
We got to our seats with Mum using the chairs to help her along and it all worked out fine.
The train journey was uneventful. We talked, all excited about the day ahead and it took me a while to chill out, but I did.
On arriving at Paddington Station we expected to just board another train but we were told that our train didn't actually exist and that we were going to have to go on the subway or catch a bus! Mum had a mini panic but I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to work out how to get across London, with a wheelchair. We grabbed maps, talked to someone then after a toilet break, set out to find the bus stop.
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| Like a scene from Little Britain 😂 |
A bus was there straight away and we were off. 30 minutes later and we arrived at Victoria Station where we were told that we couldn't take the train we wanted to Greenwich and that we had to go on another one instead! We got the staff to phone ahead to Blackheath Station to ask for wheelchair assistance as on the maps it says it doesn't have wheel chair access.
We didn't wait long before Mum was being towed up the back of a taxi, which was so funny to watch! Unfortunately I didn't get it on video.
We had a nice ride and we were dropped off not too far from the gates.
Security checking was easy too and Mum was even allowed to keep her bottle of water.
The place was quite busy with people bustling about getting drinks and food. We found where are seats were and Dad and Rob went to see how many steps Mum would have to go up. There were 58.
Mum put on a very brave face and zoomed up the steps as quickly as she could. Well done Mum x
The view from our seats was brilliant and we spent a while soaking up the atmosphere and taking pictures.
We sat down for 5 minutes and the first horse came out! Brilliant timing or what!?
I took lots and lots of pictures and videos (this is just a couple), screamed, clapped and waved my flags.
Tense!
We had 3 riders go through to the second round and the course changing was fantastic!
The riders walked the course too.
While all this was going on, the men had gone off to grab some beers and food for everyone. Rob came back but Dad didn't. The second round had just started when Dad wandered in from the stairs. He had been waiting in the bar queue for the whole time! Poor Dad, but thanks for the beer!
Our riders were very unlucky in the second round and unfortunately we didn't win a medal but it was still an amazing experience.
Some people left after that but we stayed and watched the jump off of only 2 riders which started after another course change. The Irish rider was so exciting. He really went for it and everyone was shouting and cheering so much that the commentator over the speakers was shushing everyone. It was wicked.
While we were waiting for the medal ceremony we joined in with a Mexican Wave. It was such good fun!
We watched the medals and the lap of honour before slowing making our way back down the scaffolding. Mum and I stopped in a disabled toilet though first which was situated high up in the scaffolding. It was strange, a proper toilet up in the air.
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| Too much excitement for some 😂 |
We had a meal booked around the corner so we made our way out with the crowds and very quickly found the restaurant which accommodated us by moving a family to their upstairs seating area.
Rob worked out our route back to Paddington which involved a walk to Greenwich Station, train to Bank, then bus to Paddington.
The walk was nice, going through some decorated streets, along with people on stilts, bands playing, people singing and lots of Olympic staff talking to you.
The station was busy but we got on the train fine and sat Mum in the wheelchair area and I stood next to her chatting for the journey.
We got off at Bank then had to get some lifts to the surface. That was fun! One of the lifts was so tiny we could hardly fit in, then we went in a massive lift which had 2 doors and we were all stood right up close to one facing it, then when the lift stopped it took us a second or two to realise the other doors had opened! It was so funny. We turned around and there was a crowd of people, parted in the middle, looking at us. We couldn't stop laughing. 😂😂
We got up to the surface then ambled about trying to find the right bus stop. It wasn't a long wait for a bus but the journey did take over an hour, going through the centre of London, taking in lots of sights. I sat upstairs for a bit and took some pictures.
We arrived at Paddington with our train boarding. It was a lot busier going home then when we came up in the morning, but we got to our seats okay and suddenly we were all zonked, me especially, but I did manage to read my book while having a train feast of crisps, chocolate and cup of tea.
Then at 1:30am I was rudely awoken by Leo screaming. He wanted to go downstairs, then he wanted breakfast, then he wanted the toilet. I gave up trying to get him in bed as he was screaming so loud, he woke Ellis up too, which doesn't normally happen. I did then take him downstairs and gave him some Cheerios, and midway through he needed the toilet! To say I was annoyed was an understatement.
I finally got Leo to bed when Ellis started crying saying he wanted to sleep in my bed, so I told him to go in there and I promptly got in his bed.
2 nights of bad sleep is not good for me. I just hope tomorrow isn't too hard.
