Wow is all I have to say

I'll say it as well 'wow'

Forget sport - lets have this for two weeks !.

Ok you got me danny boyle ! Yep forget the sport two weeks of shows like this !

Nicely done Mr Boyle :)

Its been fab :) :) l'm not at all sporty but love the Olympics really looking forward to the fencing - womens sabre especially - a good friends son is a volunteer at the Excel Centre and has recieved lots of free training that will open lots of opportunities for him - we live in the North West and the facilities left after the Commonwealth games in Manchester 2002 are used by local people - we lived 2 miles away at the time and my son who was 9 at the time still talks about the atmosphere surrounding the games now. his school were involved and lots of money was poured into the area - hope the same has happened in Stratford :) :)

I didn't see it all, fell asleep (TWICE)! Even the Queen looked like it was past her bedtime.

Living near the cycle race route I've never seen so much spandex as recently, everyone thinks they're Bradley Wiggins. The downside is there has been an increase in accidents/collisions involving cyclists.

Brilliant job Mr Boyle great that he did not forget his roots.

Fantastic!
Didn't particular plan to watch it right through but in the end stayed to the last squeak of the McCartney :)

Me too. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was really original - far better than the 'off-the-peg' bash I'd envisaged. 10/10 to Danny Boyle!

Lollol - 'last squeak of McCartney' !!. Why they insist on wheeling him out at the end of every important event I don't know. I felt the amazing sight of the lighting of the cauldron would have made the perfect and most natural end to the evening.

If I was going to get picky the only thing I would grumble about was the commentary.  I was generally very good but a couple of times they told us what was coming next! 
I wonder if Google are going to give us a daily heading throughout :)

> Why they insist on wheeling him out at the end of every important event I don't know.

Oh no, bless him.  It would have been like going without the Queen if they had left him out :)

I can't stand the man. He is a arrogant and nasty man. The brother of the owner of myhairdresser use to be his manager and said he was incredibly difficult to work for.

I can't stand the man.

Me neither, all he does is talk about how fantastic he is.

I just watched a condensed version of the ceremony on iplayer, bypassing all the countries coming out.
The Bond/Queen segment was very good, was that really the Queen ?, not in the helicopter, but in the palace with DC ? ( swoon )

Yes it was her ! Very good wasn't it !

HA !..well good on her !, mind, who wouldn't grab the chance to meet DC !.

> not in the helicopter, but in the palace with DC ? ( swoon )

Yes, I think so.  To be honest, that was the one bit I was not very comfortable with.  Apart from it being a little naff compared to the rest of the evening, it smacked a little too much of the "It's a Knock Out" malarky and I am not sure it would have impressed many of the other countries watching particularly those who value respect for Heads of State.
I don't doubt she does have a sense of humour but I not sure it is appropriate to show that aspect when her role on the evening is not as the entertainment.

No I think it just shows that she is human and has a sense of humour !

Bet the sons and daughters felt it was a tad cringable but the grand and great grand children thought it was brilliant !

> but I not sure it is appropriate to show that aspect when her role on the evening is not as the entertainment

I have to disagree :) We were all whooping with disbelief last night - " No - it can't be - it's a look-a-like - no, she wouldn't do it" - but we were all delighted that she did it and I think it showed the true British sense of humour. We were just a bit disappointed that she didn't actually parachute into the arena :D Well done Queeny :)

Mmmmm, I think we will have to disagree :)
I think if it was just a national event like the Jubilee it would have been OK but we are hosting the whole world here so not at all sure it was appropriate.

On the plus side, I was rather touched by the mention that all nations have now allowed women to participate in the events.   :)

Well done Queeny

Oh absolutely! I was in hysterics at the thought of the queen parachuting in absolutely brilliant and what a star to have allowed that scene at the Palace, pure genius. Love her all the more for taking part.

Loved David Beckham on the speed boat, he was looking mighty fine, my two favourite bits.

Oh, and the cauldron wasn't that just magnificent!!!

I am extremely proud to be British, really thought I would be bored to tears but the whole ceremony was fabulous watched it right to the end, what a great opening ceremony and doesn't it make our country look beautiful. We take so much for granted we actually all live in a wonderful place and things like this just bring it all home. :-)

We did watch some of it... probably the only time I felt any sense of real pride was during the nhs section... long envied by the rest of the world...having worked for the nhs for a number of years, I felt sad too, knowing that the current government appears intent on dismantling it (sorry for being political!).

> Loved David Beckham on the speed boat, he was looking mighty fine, my two favourite bits.
>

He missed everything!  Do you think they allowed in him the stadium for McCartney? :)

> probably the only time I felt any sense of real pride was during the nhs section...

Well, that wasn't my only reason for pride but I agree. :)

Am now so excited I'm wondering if I can pull a sick for 2 weeks (joking).

Carrington you absolutely sum it up :-) our Country is beautiful and we should be very very proud of it

Am now tempted to drive in very early one morning just to see the rings on Tower Bridge

I even got excited by the crowds arriving early this morning, bet they're loving it!

Am off to York, ready for Leeds tomorrow, how much can I watch on an I pad?

He missed everything!

:-D :-D He did indeed! Yes, I'm sure he came in afterwards to shake the Queens hand and have a warm drink, he was probably a little cold he was out there whizzing down the Thames for a long time, but it was worth the sacrifice for that important torch transfer and not a hair out of place. :-)

I was impressed at Queenie's continuity; the bit in the palace was apparently filmed in March and there she was wearing the same outfit for the opening itself. Very well thought through. :-)

Impressive! :-)

As much as you want as I am watching the road race on my iPhone :-)

Ooh thanks, how do I find it please, road race will be fab!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/mobile/olympics/2012/live-video

Take your pick :-)

I thought the first half of the Opening Ceremony was very chaotic - a bit like a mixed-up dream.  With all that was going on I kept forgetting that it was an Olympic ceremony....
For me the best bits were the golden rings, the lighting of the cauldron, the fireworks, and David Beckham in the speedboat ! Really wasn't impressed with the NHS bit, the woman singing Abide with Me, the James Bond spoof, the film industry tribute, the weird mobile phone story and Paul MCartney.

Bradley Wiggins. That's a Northern name isn't it. Well, you can't say it without a Yorkshire accent can you?
I believe him to be a "plastic" Southerner and should be reclassified t'North immediately.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I thought the first half of the Opening Ceremony was very chaotic - a bit like a mixed-up dream.  With all that was going on I kept forgetting that it was an Olympic ceremony....<br />For me the best bits were the golden rings, the lighting of the cauldron, the fireworks, and David Beckham in the speedboat ! Really wasn't impressed with the NHS bit, the woman singing Abide with Me, the James Bond spoof, the film industry tribute, the weird mobile phone story and Paul MCartney.

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I am inclined to agree with you Lois.  I don't think that the first part, as spectacular as it was, transferred to the small screen well.   Some of it was quite 'dark' IMO, not what was really wanted for a joyous occasion....and Paul Macartney............say no more!!!..............AND I am disappointed with the road race results!!!  :( :(

Thanks for the link :-) signal dropped for the finish 1km, but we'd lost it well before then :-(

Can you believe I am currently watching the men's gymnastics !
Routing for the Japanese and American teams, based purely on how hot they are :-)
Two of the Japanese in particular are terribly pretty.

WOOO !..and the 6 foot Israeli ! he was outstanding on the floor exercise.

I think I shall start an alternative Olympics based on which athlete I fancy the most lol.

>I thought the first half of the Opening Ceremony was very chaotic - a bit like a mixed-up dream.  With all that was going on I kept forgetting that it was an Olympic ceremony....

That was what I liked - it was so original. It hadn't attempted to be a facsimile of any previous opening ceremony; I was spellbound!

Canada's beach volleyball boys are quite nice on the eye ! Very exciting game !

I thought it was fantastic especially the Queen. Now a Bond girl. 

The children singing, and the singing of Anthem was inspiring..........can you imagine how those children felt, a lasting memory - so many children involved Great Ormond Street to the flame holder carriers. Way to go inspire the youngsters.......It has also inspired me to go watch something "Olympic" live even as a bystander.

And the flame was fantastic I loved the way it was lit, bookies have apparently returned all bets as no on even suggested this option. 

I think it was England at its best. Not too serious, wonder what the closing ceremony will be?

>I think it was England at its best.

Erm ... Britain, not England ... ;-)

> Erm ... Britain, not England ...

Actually - shouldn't the Team be called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - as Great Britain doesn't actually include N. Ireland ???? :) :)

That is the team's full official name as I understand it, but it's a lot quicker to say Team GB. :-)

Thought it was wonderful............but in a an hotel in France with the TV giving us french commentary it was a bit off putting, but by all accounts (well according to eldest son) we were better off with that one!
Proud to be British a very warming feeling.

Karen :)

Well what absolutely fantastic result for the men's gymnastics team. I am quite emotional :-)

Erm...... Don't speak too soon, it's in dispute...

What a disappointment but at the same time still chuffing brilliant !

A fantastic performance, but heartbreaking to have the silver taken away.

That was a shame.
But equally, pleased for the Japanese team, they've really struggled, nice to see their hard work rewarded.