RSPB OUSE WASHES

Gret evening out in Cambridgeshire at the Ouse Washes reserve. Spent the evening observing this young Barn Owl hunting.

RSPB Frampton Marshes near The Wash

Spent a very good afternoon and evening at Frampton Marshes on the border of Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Run by the RSPB, the staff were friendly and te facilties mmaculate. The outlook onto the scapings was amazing, with Little Egrets just a few metres in front of me! Too easy for a photo though!

Bee Orchid at Frampton Marshes
Wood or Shorelark at Frampton Marshes
Probably the Wood Sandpiper at Frampton Marshes
Probably the Wood Sandpiper at Frampton Marshes
From the East Hide at Frampton Marshes Panorama
Panorama Outlook to the Wash from Frampton Marshes

Art Installation: Heartbeat

Called Heartbeat, this consists of 100,000 white balloons installed under the ceiling of one of the covered areas of Covent Garden, London, England. The artist is Frenchman Charles Pétillon. Here are a few pictures from last weekend:

Such installations are fragile, like the heart. Observe the collapsed balloon on the third photo.

London2012: Gamesmakers are making a really good impression

The Olympic Stadium at night. Copyright the author 2012
The outside area of McDonald’s ‘largest restaurant in the world’ complex. Copyright the author 2012

Two articles today (links below) show that Gamesmakersare having a real affect on the general public that visit the various venues around London. The most visible are the wayfinders and event services Gamesmakers who stand out in all weathers along with the Gamesmakers on duty front-of-house in venues. As a Gamesmaker back of house, I can only admire their tenacity and patience during some very long shifts (I’m sure there’s a law against that somewhere) and I’m rather jealous to be honest, given I’ve done very little myself during my three weeks of shifts in a Technology role.

I have made up for it by walking the Olympic Park during breaks, etc. and mingling with the other Gamesmakersand visitors to the park where I get asked many questions given I wear the same purple uniform as everyone else on duty. I just trust I get the answers right. Apologies to Common Domain Gamesmakers if I don’t! These photos are some of the results from my Olympic wanderlust on day one of the park opening to ticketholders.

Some of the millions of planted flower beds in the Olympic Park at night. Copyright the author 2012

The most pressing and so far unanswered question on Twitter for Gamesmakers is where are the Cadbury’s chocolates?

Given Gamesmakers wear the corporate colour of this Olympic sponsor( purple was not by accident) this question will be increasingly asked of them. Their response so far has been we have no control over the 3,000,000 chocolates we delivered to LOCOG

A real side step there then and implying that LOCOG are the ones withholding these little demons from some very impatient chocaholic Gamesmakers! Revolution must be on the horizon in some venues if LOCOG don’t release them soon I feel.

BBC report

Part of Coca-Cola ‘Beatbox’. Copyright the author 2012

Evening Standard report

Velodrome from mid-Olympic Park. Copyright the author 2012

London2012: Getting Rather Tired of these Olympic Ticket Crooks

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has called an emergency meeting of its executive board over the ticketing allegations. Photo: LOCOG/PA Wire

This Gamesmaker is getting rather tired of hearing about country’s Olympic officials making fast bucks on the back of touting tickets around the world. This alleged one may be a set up by the Sunday Times, but it must be just a small portion of what might be going on within the Olympic organizations around the globe.

I gave up trying for tickets on the LOCOG site after the first two long and unsuccessful efforts and have simply decided to now ignore the emails from LOCOG trying to entice me to buy Games tickets that have magically appeared for sale. I’m certainly not paying £6000 for a ‘bent’ ticket that’s for sure! I’ll just work there, although with all these alleged revelations even that remains uncertain as of today.

Full Sunday Times Reprt

London2012: Big Mac for the Running Track

Said to have 90 serving points, but HD will give it a miss

Macdonalds are opening the biggest Macdonalds in the world for the 6 weeks of London 2012 Olympic Games. Don’t worry too much though if you are as adverse to Macdonalds as HD, the park is served by many food outlets but they cannot brand their foods. Oh well as long as HD can get a sandwich or two somewhere.

Report