The Olympic Meme

I think there's a fairly big event starting this Friday.  I can't be sure, but I'm almost certain I've seen the odd couple of adverts around.  A sporting event I think.  Could be wrong.

I'm not the sporting sort that will be glued to the television for the next two weeks taking in every heat of every event.  Not least because that would appear somewhat ironic.  I will enjoy watching some of it to enjoy the spectacle, to cheer on my country and because I won't have much choice in the matter if lovely husband has any say in the matter.  But I will spend most of the time doing what I usually do, living life, tackling the ironing pile, carving out two minutes to wash my hair and, of course, writing.

I have been tagged by Trouble Doubled to take part in the Olympic Meme.  My answers may or may not be similar to yours.  Either way; enjoy.  

1) If every day tasks were Olympic events what would you get a gold medal in?

Getting two wriggling girls up, dressed, fed, watered, teeth brushed, hair up, uniform on (and clean) to school, on time, with reading book read and dinner money cheque, permission slip for trip, spelling book, homework, show and tell submission, sunhat/raincoat, water bottle and PE kit all in appropriate bags, day after day after day after day.  That definitely deserves a medal.


2)   As a child (or now even) did you excel at a particular sport and if so which one?

Unlike Trouble Doubled I did not excel at sport at school.  I started dance classes at the age of 5 years old and was, and still am, a bit of a wimp when it comes to team sports that involve throwing and catching balls.

In fact I distinctly remember, in a tennis lesson on holiday in my twenties, being taught to actually watch the ball and realising with something of an epiphany, that I'd been closing my eyes at the crucial catch/hit moment for years.  Having children at school throw balls at my face that I couldn't catch didn't endear me to sport of any kind.  Of course, when I'd learnt to catch the ball and got over myself it was far far too late, and no one was going to throw the ball in my direction anyway, making it all fairly dull. 

I chose instead to became a very good daisy chain maker out on the Rounders field.

However, Trampolining was a 'sport' at my secondary school on the basis that you could choose it for PE options in the fifth year, and so I claim that it is indeed Trampolining that I excelled at.  I say excel; what I actually mean is 'didn't suck'.

 3)   Michael Phelps (swimmer) or Michael Johnson (runner) – which sport appeals to you more?



Probably running.  I've never been a strong swimmer and I have an unnatural urge to breathe in whilst under the water, making it difficult to swim properly without trying to drink the pool in the process.  Additionally it was swimming that aggravated a condition I had last year called Bornholms disease (Devils Grip) so I don't associate very well with it as a sport. 



I could run; but not for long.  I suspect 100m would have to be my sport simply because I couldn't keep going much longer than that. 

To get any kind of speed up I'd have to request they placed a double chocolate gateaux at the finish line!

4)   How fast can you get out of bed and ready to go out the door if miss the alarm and sleep in?

Depends if I need to get the girls ready too.  If we've all slept in, then I can do it in about 40 minutes including my shower, their teeth and a minimum fruit-based transportable eat-in-the-car breakfast, maybe less if I've prepped the night before.  In reality I need about 90 minutes from 6.45am until 8.15am, especially for impromptu turns of events.

5)   What fantasy sport would you like to see made into an Olympic event?

How about Smurf Vegetable Harvesting.  I am getting pretty good at that.  Along with catching a fish with a red box, hitting a post with a hammer precisely on cue, and mixing potions.  The IPad has a lot to answer for.

6)   Claim to fame time – Have you ever met an Olympian and who was it?

Errrr..... No.  Closest I've got was buying my car from the same dealership that Jessica Ennis bought hers (apparently)

7)   What event in past Olympics can you remember most vividly?

Is it really bad that I can't particularly remember any?  I remember the names; Seb Coe, Ben Johnson, Flo Jo, Eddie the Eagle....but couldn't tell you what year's they competed, nor exactly where they came.  I blame this on a severe lack of news watching as a child.  I used to go straight from school to dance class, probably 4 times a week, until 9pm, and any other time was taken up doing homework or watching Top of the Pops.  I wasn't particularly interested in it.  (shock horror!)

8) Tuning in at home? Not for me or tickets clamped ready in sweaty palms?

To be honest I'm still not a major fan of athletics or sport in general.  I enjoy it, but I don't stop my life to fit it in.  I'm a little uncomfortable with the cost of the Olympics bearing in mind the financial problems the country, finds itself in, but I'm hoping all the advantages will outweigh the costs.

I'm looking forward to the 100m men's final, purely because that it sporting prowess at it's most basic.  It's the one everyone can attempt from the moment you learn to run.  Who can run the fastest.  Pure and simple.

Other than that I will probably see whatever the rest of my family choose to watch on TV, and if they didn't, I probably wouldn't bother.  And before you all start mentioning patriotism, I'll ask this - did you watch the World Ballroom Championships, or the World Poker Championships?  Or the Ice Hockey? Or the Cricket?  Or the Rugby World Cup?  I support my country, absolutely.  I just have a lot of things to fill my time, and spending 2 weeks in front of the television won't form part of it.

9)   Who do you think most deserves a gold medal (any walk of life not just Olympians)

My husband.  He works so hard and is taken for granted by all his peers and employees and then he comes home and smiles and helps with the washing and the cooking, and reads bedtime stories for the children. 

I love him.  He's my gold medallist.


Feel free to take part in the Olympic discussion by adding your thoughts via the Comments option below, or answering the questions on your blog should you have one.  Since we are so close to the big event I won't tag anyone directly for fear of putting them under too much of a time pressure!