Reflections on London 2012...

Here we are, at the end of London 2012 (at least until the Paralympics) and I've been pondering a few things from the last 16 days. Usain Bolt is more popular as an underdog. Four years ago when a tall talented Jamaican strolled across the line to win the 100m final there was amazement, but was there joy? I'm sure I remember comments about Bolt being a bit too brash, not trying hard enough and generally being a bit unsportsmanlike. But now, after a season in which he's been beaten and when he claimed he was only 95% fit, the Brits think he's great. Now the posturing on the start line (and during the race, and after it) and all his other antics are embraced and we think he's great! Maybe 'minor' sports deserve more of our attention Dressage, water polo, handball, clay pigeon shooting. When was the last time you watched these before last week? Beijing 2008? Maybe we should seek out some of them on tv, get behind the teams in their warm up matches in far flung places and revel in their European championship victories? Football is suddenly unappealing Did you know the premiership football season is just getting ready to burst on to the scene? It is! But are you bothered? London can make a massive event work They did it! Copious planning, billions of pounds, hours of discussion and everything paid off. No terrorism (at least none I'm aware of), no massive travel chaos on the roads during the Games and no horror stories of athletes missing their events because they were stuck on the jubilee line. Medals fade, unlike some things. 1924. 400m. Gold medal. In the events which would eventually inspire the film Chariots of Fire (and the music before each medal ceremony at London 2012), Eric Liddell surged to gold. His medal is now probably faded, his GB kit a shadow of its former self, but the faith he had in God and in his son Jesus Christ still remains as un-dimmed in the 21st century for people as it was for him then. Olympic TV totally beats Judge Judy Scene pre-Olympics: home from work, flick on ITV, watch programme about US judge sorting out pretty minor disputes assisted by an almost comedy clerk. Scene during Olympics: 'Hmm, 20-odd channels to choose from, shall I watch table tennis, a spot of canoeing, or maybe some javelin?!' We could do this every four years Dear The IOC, Having just run an excellent games here with passionate crowds, excellent stadia and blanket media coverage, we would like to apply for the next 100 Olympiads. What do you think? Yours, The British Public Adios.

Welcome to the undergrowth

Have you ever watched a tv programme online? I'm not talking about bbc iplayer. Oh no, iplayer is the king of online tv. The first class lounge of streaming. The Ferrari of the hour-long-documentary-watched-while-preparing-a-meal.

I mean have you ever watched something on ANOTHER online tv portal? ITV player? (shudder) 4od? (no thanks). Well until Friday night I hadn't ventured further than those three either.

But on that dark and stormy night in January, I ventured deep into the undergrowth. I burrowed down, past the prince of online tv (whatever that is), past the second class area, and the ford fiesta, to catch up on Suits, a new legal drama, on the Dave channel...

There I discovered tv watched in 15 second segments. One small snapshot of action followed by a much longer pause followed by another small snapshot of action...

'Hello, my name's Edmund, and I've come to' PAUSE... 'investigate you for' PAUSE...

Now as enjoyable as this drama was (and it was pretty enjoyable because otherwise I would have given up), it is impossible to dwell on 15 seconds of dialogue for very long!

You do however get to analyse the background of each shot, consider each line, muse upon the way every brow is furrowed.

It did also give me the chance to play one of my favourite games: the 'I think he's going to say this next' game! And I punched the air each time I got it right!

Have I learnt a lesson? Stick with the Ferrari, the first class, the king?

Well maybe, but if I'm not around at 9pm on Tuesday to catch Suits 'live' on Dave, I may venture into the undergrowth again...

[Just to say, and in case someone from Dave reads this, the problem may have been my internet connection, the laptop, the time of day... And not your tv service. And for the first 30 mins of the programme it wasn't so bad.]

Adios!