A few pics to show what you missed

It's no surprise that I took hundreds of photographs and some video footage during our stay in Beijing.  After all it was my only chance to see most of the things and be part of an Olympic Games.  I have loaded a few of the better ones here to give a taste of what you missed, or perhaps you didn't as I saw many familiar faces in the stadium during the matches?

Thanks to you all for logging in to my ramblings, and you never know, I may get an opportunity to do all of this again in another tournament?

This earth thing is a bit bumpy

Back in the land of work and worries, but it's great to be here.  Many thanks once again to all that have emailed me or left comments on this blog, it's been great to hear from you.  In less than 24 hours the IOC restraints on publishing my pictures ends, and so I will try to put together a few images from the entire Olympic experience for you all to see.  It will of course be a tiny number of pics in comparison to the vast quantity that I've taken, but hopefully it will be worthwhile?

The Closing Ceremony was excellent, with the Jimmy Page section being very memorable.  The sound in the stadium was fabulous (which I understand didn't come over particularly well on the TV) and sent a tingle down the neck when his first riff started.  Once again the Chinese blew us away with stunning acts, costumes and antics - really throwing the gauntlet down for every sporting ceremony of the future.  Surely the Opening Ceremony was the greatest show that has ever been put on in modern times?

So watch this space for the pictures, which will probably spell the end of this blog's activity.  It has been fun!

How was it for you?

I understand that the BBC managed to get their act together and actually show the hockey live for a change. What would you hope for in an Olympic medal hockey match? What a dream game to be part of. My first decision, or lack of, was setting the bar rather high as far as the 'lifted ball' is concerned, but I was comfortable with that. If you blinked you missed a goal for the first ten minutes! Hopefully I didn't blink too much?

I'm glad to say that Hong Lae redeemed himself from the other day and took some pictures of me during the match. So, I now have a bit more evidence that I can do a dreadful Max Boyce impression and say that " I was there" in an Olympic Games. Off to bed now, after only a few beers as physically, mentally, and emotionally wiped out now. Perhaps the buzz will come tomorrow? And hopefully not during the closing ceremony?

Another day in paradise?

Finals Day has arrived bright and sunny, and I managed to sleep like a log as usual. I would just like to say thanks to all of you that have taken the trouble to send me messages of support, particularly over my appointment to the Bronze medal match. You really do make a difference!

I'm going to head over to the ground this morning to watch the GB guys playing, and to hopefully meet up with Dave Bunyan for a while. A photo opportunity for the school magazine, and to show how two Cliftonville and Canterbury ex-players have progressed. Otherwise, I'm trying to treat today just like any other, and the match just as another match. We will see if I succeed. Enjoy the match, and I look forward to seeing you all soon. But not till after a closing ceremony and maybe a glass or two of wine?

Drum roll

A leisurely morning spent editing and downloading pictures to facebook of the matches from yesterday, then I even managed some breakfast for a change. We have just had a brief meeting of the male umpires and UM's, and of course the appointments for the Finals were given out. Hong Lae even managed to create a drum roll on the conference room table, as though we weren't nervous enough. China v South Africa (11v12) is Rob Ten Cate and Satinder Kumar. GB v Korea (5v6) is Murray Grime and Roel van Eart. Netherlands v Australia (Bronze Match) is Christain Blasch and ME!!!!!! Germany v Spain (Final) is Henrick Ehlers and Dave Gentles.

I must admit to being a bit shocked and emotional, as I always hoped for the best match possible but didn't expect to really get it. So, one more match to keep it all together and come away from the Olympics with far more than I could have dreamed of. You never know, I may even get some pictures taken of me in action for a change? For all of you at home, I hope that the BBC get the match broadcast for a change so that you can shout at the TV. Watch this space for the build up to the final day.

Il fait raining *&^%$£ hard

Woke up this morning to very dark skys and more than a little dampness. Hopefully the pics give an idea of just how hard it has rained? Very glad to not be needed for action this morning, and felt more than a little sorry for those that did have to stand out in it. Match one was Xavi Adell's last International, which is obviously an emotional event for everyone. I may be able to show some pics of that once the IOC block has expired in a few days.

So, now a couple of hours sleep before going back to the ground for my video duties. It can rain as hard as it likes!

All the fun of the fair

You may have heard about the method that the Chinese have put in place as an alternative method of coming back down from the Great Wall? Hopefully the video will work, and give you a flavour of what it is like?

Scorchio

Typical, the weather has changed back to being 'super hot' just when I get the toughest of my matches. Glad to say that it went well again, with Germany being pretty comfortable against New Zealand for most of the match. That means that Germany have gone through to the semi-finals, and are startng to look pretty good, while New Zealand will be playing against Pakistan for 7/8th places. Having done NZ three out of my four matches I'm sure that they aren't hoping to see my name on their next appointment?

The heat was real issue for the match, and keeping hydrated even more so - as trying to get to my water bottle during the thick of battle was tricky. So, that's four matches done without any major dramas, and we will have to see if any other apointments are forthcoming.

You can see my house from here!

We have just returned from a little trip out as a group, to the Great Wall. This meant getting up at 6am to get out by 7am, but was very much worth it. A stunning sight, if a bit hard on the legs! While we may have taken the 'line of least resistance' by taking the cable car up, and then the 'slide' back down, it was enough for a group of tired umpires for one morning. I nearly didn't make it as I've managed to succumb to a stomach upset, probably due to the dehydration/rehydration in the heat yesterday. But I'm delighted that I risked 'running' the gauntlet, and went on the trip anyway. I'm feeling OK now anyway, so hopefully it will be a short bout of illness?

We received the appointments for tomorrow, and I will be the highly efficient (if square eyed) video umpire on the first semi. Even if my 'active' role here is to be at an end, I have enjoyed all of my matches and really relished being part of this incredible event.

Warming up nicely

Another game done and it went well, so three down already. I had to refer to the video umpire on one decision, which was inconclusive, so had to rely on my own opinion. Fortunately it looks like it was right as NZ didn't say anything, accepting the long corner instead of a goal. I'm on duty again tomorrow, NZ (again) v Germany, in what is effectively a decider for who goes through to the semis.

It's warming up here in the competition and weather, with the sun breaking through nicely this morning. The forecast is more of the same for tomorrow, so I will be resting up in readiness for a major test in the match tomorrow. You never know the BBC may even get their act together and show it at home? I can't believe that there is less than a week to go already. Homeward bound in seven days.

Ping, but no pong

I spent the day yesterday at the Table Tennis venue, as I managed to get one of the five 'upgrade' passes to see other events. This is a sport that I used to play, badly of course, and as the Chinese think they can play it I thought I would take a look. I can tell you now, they CAN play it! The day started with the ladies team matches to decide who would go through to the bronze medal match. That was pretty impressive, with the Japanese upsetting Hong Kong and Korea sauntering past USA. If that had been all of the play for the day then I would have been a happy man, but then they announced the Mens Semi-Finals were to be played too. So after a bit of lunch I sat down to be stunned by the sport and the atmosphere surrounding it. This is a good sport! Just before the China v Korea semi, Bill Gates arrived. So I let him sit just behind me in the hope that the glare from my shaven bonce wouldn't ruin his enjoyment, and I took out my iPhone at every opportunity.

Today I am back to work, on New Zealand against China with Murray Grime from Australia, which should be fast and noisy. China were excellent against Holland, and NZ have been performing very well too, so should be fun.

Warming up

The sun is shining at last and the city seams very different, and very much hotter. Everything is shiny and the world is a far brighter place. The glare at the pitch side was considerable for the first match this morning, but still they had the floodlights on for the TV. I'm finished for the day, having done my reserve duty and video ump yet again. And as hoped no dramas, for me at least.

The end of a perfect day?

It's 11.20pm and I've just got back into my hotel room after getting up at 5am. Quite weery is a polite description for how I feel. My match this morning went well, and despite the score (10-0 to Australia) was very competitive for much of the match. It was just that the Oz guys kept slotting excellent goals at every opportunity.

So a rest day for us tomorrow, and very welcome it will be too. May go for some window shopping, now that my misplaced specs have magically turned up. I thought that I may have to get a pair sorted out here, but they were sitting on top of my reading book when I came back to the room earlier today. Very odd, but welcome. And I am reserve on the first match of the day on the 15th, then video umpire for the second. I will try not to have any dramas with either of those appointments! Thanks to all of you that have been leaving comments or emailing me, it's great to hear from you all.

Return of the Umpire

Well I'm back! The problem that you may have been encountering in entering my blog is due to me having to delete it. The IOC released a 'guideline' paper yesterday morning, and we were instructed to remove our blogs. However, I think that I can operate within their guidelines, as long as I am careful about the pictures that I release to you in these notes. So here goes!

It is 5.30 am here and I'm just boiling the kettle for my first Chinese tea of the day. Breakfast will be a yoghurt and then on to the 6.30am shuttle bus to the ground. I'm on the South Africa v Australia match with Roel van Eart, which should be 'rapid', and no doubt won't be televised by the BBC? I wil try to let you know how things went, assuming that I don't get splashed all over the International press for a 'major incident'?