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Olympic Union Flag raising - RAF out of step

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Olympic Union Flag raising - RAF out of step

Old 28th Jul 2012, 21:04
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Got this in an email tonight from some American friends:

"We eagerly watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last night and were not disappointed == very impressive. You should be very proud of your country and the show they’ve put on for the world."

There's a few people on here who are out of step with the majority, but that's life I guess!
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Old 28th Jul 2012, 21:31
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Anyone want to open a book as to when we see Sir Danny at the Palace?
All together now to the tune of The Londonderry Air

Oh Danny Boyle, the palace doors are calling
For the New Year's or Birthday Honours List
When you arrive to get your well earned Knighthood
Please turn up sober and not completely ******

PS Thought he did a great job
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Old 28th Jul 2012, 22:20
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Someone asking re opening ceremony

Were the hospital beds in Olympic stadium just being used to highlight the queue one has in getting into hospital

or

Was it an overflow from the local childrens hospital...

Commentator was a yank.
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Old 28th Jul 2012, 23:37
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In 1913 the English scientist, Henry Moseley (1887-1915), determined the atomic number of each of the elements and modified the 'Periodic Law' accordingly. Moseley realised that when atoms were arranged according to increasing atomic number, the few problems with the periodic table which had been developed by Dimitri Mendeleev disappeared. Because of Henry Moseley's work, the modern periodic table is based on the atomic numbers of the elements.
Courtney, debate?
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Old 28th Jul 2012, 23:41
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If you watched closely the drill movement (like at the rehersal) and noticed the way the hill inclined at an odd and uneven angle on a grass hill! he actually did 3 paces to the right to keep the flag square.

There are worse things a foot from the opening ceremony with a witch hunt on for the lads and girls who blagged it into the show after being on guard for 12 hours. This should not have occured because those higher up the food chain here bottled it, and the rumored empty seats that were numerous from eyewitness reports should have rightly gone those who put in a lot of hard graft on the security side to make the whole day work. Considering the gate shut at 2000hrs more effort should have been made to get a few in legally.

The second rumored witch hunt is for the naughty RAF who were seen drinking a pimms in public at the Heineken stand In uniform ! "This is against QRs you know" is all the Army can say.

Last edited by mymatetcm; 28th Jul 2012 at 23:46.
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Old 28th Jul 2012, 23:44
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Originally Posted by EngAl
There's a few people on here who are out of step with the majority, but that's life I guess!
That must rank a Gold medal, shirley?
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 01:39
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Finally got around to watching it on the recorder (24 hours later). Didn't see anything to whinge about with the flag escorts and I suspect that the general public watching live and on TV wouldn't have picked anything at all.

The opening sequences were good. The NHS sequence was bollocks. There were bits that even as a pom I couldn't understand.

Overall OK - ish.

I spoke to my daughters last night. The eldest one said, "They've had 7 years to plan and they've come up with that???"; the youngest said, "Brilliant".
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 03:49
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Well done to all those service personnel taking part.
Regardless of being in step or not, you all did your country proud.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 04:39
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The NHS sequence was bollocks.
As a non-Brit, my feelings exactly. Britain has much - and I mean much - to be very proud of, (little of which was highlighted in Doyle's [to me, sometimes a bit tedious] offering) but I wouldn't rate the NHS as anywhere near the top of that list. Certainly not high enough to occupy main stage for such a long time in an event such as the Olympics opening. As an auslander, it seemed a very, very political statement aimed squarely at the USA and to support Barak Obama in his current fight with the Republicans over that very issue.

For me, it was a bit like a Chinese meal - pleasant enough in places, but when it was over, it left me feeling a bit dissatisfied.

To get back to the subject of the topic - I couldn't care one whit if Sergeant Whoeverhewas was out of step or not. I'd just like to add my "well done/much appreciated" to every squaddie, sailor and airman who's been called in to save the day - and hope the bastards who dropped the ball on the security contract don't see a penny more than they should get for what they delivered as opposed to what they promised to deliver.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 06:04
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Some uneccessary negative stuff here when overall it was a masterpiece of organisation and presentation by Danny Boyle - with NOT a little help from the hundreds of brilliant volunteers. There were many mistakes but I doubt that anyone thought of them as being anything other than normal.

Beckham was, and always will be an irritation you can't scratch, his daft grin on the speedboat, and he wasn't driving it, should be wiped off - somehow! A powderpuff might do it. McCartney should listen to himself and someone I do not like, Rowan Atkinson, was a laugh a second - very funny.

The Reds were good to see, but the bore of the night was the e-n-d-l-e-s-s procession of the teams - well over an hour. I suppose it is a must - but very boring. I was fortunate enough to watch it in 3D which made the bad bits OK.

I think we can be proud to be British but Seb Coe's choice of his lootenants needed a kick. Daley Thompson should try to get over himself.

A great show but we missed out on day one medals, which is a shame.

The tide will turn - hopefully.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 07:49
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I thought that, overall, it was very good. As for the choice of final torch-bearers - inspirational.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 09:55
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As a non-Brit, my feelings exactly. Britain has much - and I mean much - to be very proud of, (little of which was highlighted in Doyle's [to me, sometimes a bit tedious] offering) but I wouldn't rate the NHS as anywhere near the top of that list. Certainly not high enough to occupy main stage for such a long time in an event such as the Olympics opening. As an auslander, it seemed a very, very political statement aimed squarely at the USA and to support Barak Obama in his current fight with the Republicans over that very issue.
This show had been in the planning and preparation for seven years. During that time Obama became POTUS. While preparing the ceremony somebody thought,
Ah... at the time of the opening ceremony Obama will be campaigning for a second term with health reform as a large part of it so let's include the NHS in our ceremony to get him some votes.
Doesn't sound too real to me.

As a non Brit you may not rate the idea of the NHS as important enough to be included but I suspect you're in a minority.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 10:08
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Happy to be put in my colonial place.

However, to this, quite apossibly in a minority non-Brit, the NHS sequence was naff - and political as hell, worthy (if that's the right word) of the worst of NuLabour, a poor imitation of which we are now enduring out in the colonies.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 10:37
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Happy to be put in my colonial place.

However, to this, quite apossibly in a minority non-Brit, the NHS sequence was naff - and political as hell, worthy (if that's the right word) of the worst of NuLabour, a poor imitation of which we are now enduring out in the colonies.
No "putting in place" intended. The sequence was indeed naff but the organisation it was meant to represent and the idea behind it's foundation more than justified it's inclusion.

Let's not forget, for those who object to a bit of politics, that it was a political idea (ideology if you prefer) that brought it to life in the first place. There are not many people around now who remember how it was before 1947 to make comparisons. I certainly don't, even though I probably qualify as a "grumpy old man".
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 11:52
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Meh - it was curates egg.....
some awesome bits - and quite a lot of dross from the modern yoof and their inability to function without FaceArse or Twonkering or whatever they do,
and yes I get the irony of posting to decry it.

Sgt out of step - oh well, I'm sure he'll get over it (he'll be poor over the amount of beer to buy)

Beckham down the thames in a speed boat was good, the Bond/Queen was ace and the choice of music was average - too much modern junk - no mention of heavy metal and mimimal rock....

The torch thing was increadible - I just pray it was British engineering!
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 12:47
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Someone asking re opening ceremony

Were the hospital beds in Olympic stadium just being used to highlight the queue one has in getting into hospital

or

Was it an overflow from the local childrens hospital...

Commentator was a yank.
Well, there are certainly shortcomings in the NHS however, if a person turns up (or is delivered to) an emergency department they do not have to provide proof of financial capability (as in many US locations) before anybody will do anything. A couple of years back my eldest son battled with cancer; I was able to make it over to the UK and was also around when he finally lost the battle. I have seen for myself what was done for him; it was a lot. While there, I was taken ill myself and while I may not have immediately qualified for free medical services (due prolonged absence) I was treated under the basis of the "treat first and ask questions later". One of the negative elements of living in the Philippines is the availability of affordable medical attention with reasonable peace of mind as to level of care, considerations that make me view the NHS as something overall pretty worthwhile. Certainly, the statement as quoted coming from an american is strange when a huge number of their citizens are really up a creek without a paddle when it comes to medical care.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 12:57
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Well, this tread really does show who the half glass empty Muppets are. Only confirms what I already thought about many of the posters

The London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony was brilliant in just about every respect. I was totally proud to be British. We take so much for granted in this country, but it was a true history lesson in how great we were in the past and why we still are the best today in this modern world.

Well done to absolutely everybody who was involved, especially members of the Armed Forces and NHS staff. Truly dedicated and professional people in all respects

Just a point; of the hundreds of facebook messages that I saw on Friday night, there was only one person making negative comments and that same person was a miserable, moaning git while serving in Germany many years ago. Sums it up really.

And finally:

Most of the inhabitants of this forum appear to be unable to cope with civilian life, hence their infatuation with this thread and their permanent, curmudgeonly reaction to anything and everything.

Eloquently said that man

Last edited by SRENNAPS; 29th Jul 2012 at 13:06.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 13:18
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A couple of years ago, I was overnighting in Birmingham when my FO sliced his eyeball quite seriously with a papercut - at 5.05 on a Friday afternoon. For reasons I won't go too deeply into here, the company emergency medical system went titzup - (new receptionist at the afterhours medical service the company used had never heard of us and wouldn't be told she had to do something).

Long (and it was long!) story short, I ended up putting him into a taxi and taking him to an NHS hospital emergency unit, where, initially, I got the runaround. However, after pointing the possibly very serious implications for a young airline pilot "taking two aspirin 4th hourly and coming back after 9.00 on Monday" - (I had to be quite insistent), I (and he) couldn't fault the treatment he eventually received.

When he was eventually treated and allowed to return to the hotel, (quite a few hours later), what really surprised me was the fact that the hospital staff weren't even remotely interested when I attempted to sort out paying for his treatment. We were both foreigners, our company (which could WELL afford to pay) was foreign, but there was no charge.

Personally, I didn't - and don't - think the British taxpayer should have had to pay for my FO's treatment, and a system that provides for foreigners so generously is at best, too generous, and at worst, far too open to widespread abuse - as ancedotal evidence would seem to suggest it is, and by far too many.

I too was surprised and little mystified that of all British achievements, Mr Boyle chose to dedicate (what was it? 10 minutes?) to the NHS. It seemed to me to be a very "in your face", Left-leaning political statement rather than an entertainment celebrating highlights of British history.

If, as it's been said, it was planned seven years ago, in the Blair/Brown years, that might confirm my suspicion that it was a very Left-leaning poltical statement.

I thought it was out of place for such an occasion, and I suspect 90% of the foreign audience were bemused (and mystified) by at it - to put it mildly.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 16:12
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For reasons I won't go too deeply into here, the company emergency medical system went titzup -
However, after pointing the possibly very serious implications for a young airline pilot "taking two aspirin 4th hourly and coming back after 9.00 on Monday" - (I had to be quite insistent), I (and he) couldn't fault the treatment he eventually received.
So basically the private medical system failed and the much maligned NHS (eventually) came up trumps.

As I never tire of pointing out on here I have never voted Labour in my life, but as a long term cancer sufferer and husband of a (now retired) midwife I am an enthusiastic supporter of the NHS. I dont see the two positions as being incompatible, and can't understand why being in favour of our NHS makes me a leftie

Last edited by Tankertrashnav; 29th Jul 2012 at 16:15.
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Old 29th Jul 2012, 16:41
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recce fac

Possibly I'm getting older, so although I see the posts exactly as you do, there are many 'little PC princesses' in this forum, who are very poor at banter and become insulted way too easily.

I guess we must also remember the RAF is largely not a military organisation, and so accept they cannot do the very basic stuff that the other services can do without even thinking about. Maybe I'm just jelaous because I was a 'green eyed boy' and served my country well, rather than be able to say I raised money for charity (I wasn't a charity worker, or that I did a lot of sports (I did do that but was a serviceman first). I realise those comments were in defence of the wrong man, but sums up the possibly poor priorities of some of the light blue gang.

(If you are too young or too precious for banter then feel free to be insulted. To the grown ups and warriors, he will have a hard time coming and should expect it)

Last edited by barnstormer1968; 29th Jul 2012 at 16:43.
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