fields of gold

In the first ballot, I managed to get four tickets for the preliminary round of the men's 3m springboard diving. When I let it be known, I've never heard so many 'shotguns' being called at the same time. So yesterday evening, I sat with Tom, Alice and Phoebe in the gods of the Aquatics centre, feeling dizzy just watching a practice session on the 10m board, and soaking up the very noisy, good-humoured, unashamedly partisan atmosphere.  

The 3m diving competition is tough and brutal, and we saw evidence of major nerves, some mistimed dives, and one really horrible landing. But it's quite incredible what some people can do with their bodies in mid-air and at tremendous speed, and we were astounded by the really brilliant dives. (And I as write this, I keep jumping up and down to find out how Chris Mears is doing in this morning's semis...yes, he's through to the final. Lots of cheering here.)

We had a walk round the Olympic Park which is vast and, in places, soulless and very temporary-looking. The highlights are not the Orbit (top) which we didn't like at all, or the vast McDonald's, or the Aquatics Centre whose true style will only be revealed after the additional wings have been removed, but the landscaping and planting by the River Lea which runs through the park.

The meadows are stunning, filled with a huge mix of gloriously tall, bright, healthy annuals, and the American prairie plantings are wonderful. (More here by Tom Stuart-Smith.). Wandering along the redeveloped river was the best outdoors part of the day, and Tom couldn't understand why the paths here were almost empty while the huge, featureless, open spaces were packed and the queues for the Olympic Megastore endless. Without doubt, there should be a gold medal for these fields of gold.

And now we've all called 'shotgun' for a place on the settee for tonight's diving final.