Just keeps getting better.

Wow
I think I might have been a leprechaun or something in a past life. I have had some serious good luck of late, the last 24 hours defs being another example of how I have miraculously managed to be at the right place at the right time.

My idea of heaven

Last night was my last night shift in logistics yayyyyyyy !!!
After four nights of pm to am work I was absolutely exhausted. I decided to reward myself for my hard nights of food scavenging labour with a bit of shopping ;)

I went into Forever 21 and when I saw they had an entire floor of the store dedicated to jewellery and accessories, I nearly died.










Work was flat out and my back was about to snap after doing 10 hours of lifting, sorting and delivering food- I was eager to go home. However, Mel and I made a pit stop at the largest McDonalds in the world for breakfast and couldn't muster the energy to leave till about 930am which meant Olympic Park was now swarming with crowds of spectators coming to watch the Games.





We had to walk past the Aquatics Centre in order to get home and the thought of the swimming going on so close by was just too tempting!


 Before I knew it- we had managed to talk our way into the Aquatics Centre and were sitting in the stadium watching the mens and womens heat time trials for the swimming semi-finals!







 We stayed for about two hours and saw quite a few Aussies qualify- including the womens 200 metre medley relay team who came first! We also saw Michael Phelp come second, much to the crowds' surprise.

Come on Australia !

The atmosphere inside the arena was electrifying. The roar of the crowd as we cheered for a team (no matter who it was!) was like nothing I'd ever experienced before- it was incredible.

After leaving the Aquatics Centre and walking back through Stradford to catch the tube, I saw up ahead two super tall men, dressed in head to toe green and gold- Aussie athletes!

1/5th of the Australian Water Polo Team

When we got home, we were on a serious high. We couldn't believe our luck- we had a such a fantastic time and it was all for free!
Working at the Olympics is like the sweetest job out !

Burning the midnight oil

Right now I am sitting on a train making my way back home through the peak hour rush after an exhausting 11 hour overnight shift.
 

This was one days worth of food hunting

This week I've been doing the overnight shifts at Olympic Stadium because the games don't start in the main stadium until next week and these are the only shifts available.
It's not bad though- it's actually been hell fun. My room mate Mel works with me and basically for us night shift really means eating loads and collecting as much free food as we can find to take home to our little family.

Biggest achievment fitting all this in our pockets

We just finished working in logistics which means lots of boxes and lots of food. It was English weather at its finest last night- constant drizzle which gave our hair a very sexy frizz and curl haha













We had to make a delivery to the Orbit (that ugly red modern art-esque building) today, which FYI is actually an observation deck. It normally has a mad view of city but unfortunately we couldn't see much because of the rain.

View of the stadium from the Orbit

 

Apart from that there's nothing much else to report. It's weird being awake all night and sleeping throughout the day. I miss out on seeing all my roommates because I'm constantly sleeping !
We finally have a TV now that plays more than one channel ( as much as I loved watching Indian International News 24/7 ) which means we can hopefully watch the games and see the Australia win some medals !

Will last a lifetime

Last night was incredible.
I have never felt so in awe, so excited and mostly so lucky in my entire life.

Yesterday was the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics and by some stroke of pure luck me and my housemate Jordan were able to get into the Olympic Stadium and actually watch the ceremony as it took place.

Jordan and I proving we actually got in !!

 It was outstanding. I felt like I had to keep pinching myself because it didn't feel real that I was so fortunate to be present at such an momentous event in history. 

The tribute to Great Britain's rich agriculutural history

Techically we were both supposed to be working in HR office all day but at dinner one of logistics managers I knew said he could sneak us in.

There on in things just kept getting better as the universe was most definitely on our side.

From talking our way into getting purple stickers (these would allow you into the stadium area), escaping the HR office, disposing of our uniforms without someone noticing we were skipping work to actually being offered seats by an official Olympic usher - we couldn't believe our good fortune, it felt too good to be true!

Tribute to England's Industrial Revolution

The ceremony was absolutely breath taking. I can't even put into words how incredible it was to be there and watch all the dancers, singers, actors, acrobats all going at once- there was just so much to see!

 It was honestly the most amazing thing I have ever seen and been a part of. Something I will never forget and will certainly be telling the story of how we were so lucky that it felt like fate that we were able to watch the London Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Midnight games of UNO

Today we had a day off work so we went to Camden Market.
It's actually been really hot here, like 30 degrees, so it was perfect weather to wander in and around the market stalls.

The market had lots of cool stuff to look at, it was so tempting to just buy everything I saw!
 In the end I limited myself to a couple of tops, a scarf and lots of food.

Camden Market is a really diverse place, like you get a lot of alternative sort of people living around there. Lots of the stalls sold hand made jewellery and cute knick knacks.
There's heaps of different sections to the market, its so easy to get lost in the windy streets. One area had beautiful chandeliers lining the walkway, I loved it!

and lots of these too haha

Heaps of punks in Camden

The best and worst thing about London is definitely the Tube. It is ridiculously fast and easy to travel on with trains coming like every two minutes. However, it is always sooo packed, like I will never complain about not getting a seat on the Sydenham line anymore. Being on the tube has exposed to me to far too many people's armpits and bad body odour!

Today on the tube there was this mad busker who played the guitar and sang- he was so good. Way better than those ones that ask for money to call their sick grandma in hospital haha

HEY JUDE

My life is officially COMPLETE.
I can die now,  I've seen Paul McCartney perform live. I really don't think my life can peak any higher than it already has.

Yesterday I was working in the HR office again when I heard the music playing. I full bolted from the other side of the Olympic Park and into the Stadium. He was doing a sound check for the Opening Ceremony and was singing 'Hey Jude' whilst working the crowd as if the stadium was full, it was amazing.
I was literally like five meters away from Paul McCartney- I didn't want to look away or even blink because I didn't want to miss a second of being in the presence of such a legend.

 

Unfortunately, I didn't get to take any good photos because cameras aren't allowed in the Stadium :(
Instead, here is a photo of the ugly piece of art which is apparently the symbol of the Olympics.



Today was another dress rehersal of Opening Ceremony. I got to see so many things that are going to be part of it! It's incredible all the detail and organisation that has gone into the spectacular costumes and set designs. The music choices are also really good, you're defs going to enjoy watching it!

KFC, always the best line of defence

Police are eevvvverrrywherrree at the moment, security is intense.
I really do want to take them seriously but they look so cute in their funny little hats!



 

Joining the 21st Century

I HAVE INTERNET !!!
I have never been to happy to see a little piece of white cable being connected in my life. Finaaalllyyyyy

Yesterday was the dress rehersal of the Opening Ceremony for friends and family of participants in the Olympic Games. Olympic Park was packed out! I got to work in the HR office, so I just checked peoples' bags in and out and then escorted them out of the premises when they were finished to make sure no one snuck in to peak at what was going on.
So many people were walking around in their costumes- they all looked amazing ! I got to see heaps of what was going to happen in the ceremony, it was so exciting! My favourite part was all the little kids from the local primary schools particiating, they looked so cute!! I also got to see lots of props being built and being walked through the park- expect Harry Potter and The Beatles related performances ;)
I seriously can not wait to watch till this Friday so I can watch the whole thing!

Domestic Goddess

I would just like to put it out there that I am becoming the perfect little house wife. In this past week, I have learnt how to put use a washer and dryer machine, wash the dishes and wash the floor. Haha Mum, aren't you proud?

photo evidence because even my house mates were impressed by my progress

A couple times this week, we have gone into Picadilly Circus to spend the night. It's like 'the place' to be- with lots of three storey night clubs, cute old English bars and delicious fast food that is open pretty much all night.








There's lots of street art around the streets of London, especially where I am living- it's a very cultural place.  I really liked this one of the Queen, it made me laugh cos it was like in some dingy alley way.


Yesterday, I went to a day session at this hotel bar called Church. It was literally an old church that is now used for like events and clubbing. It was a dress up party so it was really weird to see all these crazy costumes in such a beautiful old church.

I'm a fairy, duh!

@ the Walkabout Bar

Today I start work at the Olympics. I will be doing the very prestigious job of serving lager and jacket potatos haha.
HOPEFULLY later today we will be getting a TV and by tomorrow, I am seriously praying that we get internet installed. Apart from that everything is good, it is finnaaaallly starting to get hotter here. We saw the Olympic torch run down our street the other day, can't wait till the games start!