Having spent most of my life subjected to the opinions of my guitar-playing brother and my uncle who learned everything in the world about guitars *except* how to play one, it is an absolute gift to hear a professional guitarist admit that I do not need to care about Steve Vai.
Was hoping the masked torch bearer was going to rip of their mask to reveal it was Christine and the Queens/ Rahim Redcar and they'd burst into song and bust out some moves, but non.....there's always the closing ceremony though! 🤞
Great to have another stoop to listen to, they have been missed.
To address Keith’s question about why would one watch fencing in the Olympics or in general, as someone who has fenced épée for the best part of 18 years, it’s easy to follow and understand (less so for foil and sabre fencing) and fairly exciting. OK I accept I may be biased in this answer. Unsurprisingly, my favourite Olympic moment was watching Hungary's Eszter Muhari win bronze in the women’s individual épée at the weekend based on how happy and blown away she was when she won.
I feel Keith’s pain re running, I’ve forced myself to do that for about 4 years and I still hate it. But I do enter races only because you get a medal for finishing.
Actually, I think you’ve hit on a huge part of what makes the Olympics so appealing - the reactions of the winners and losers really brings home the humanity of the whole affair.
I have missed the stoop chats! So glad to hear construction is finished and maybe we can look forward to a few more?
My mum was a big fan of athletics so I grew up cheering on sprinters in front of the TV. I’d never stopped to think about whether there was any point to the activity and tbh I don’t think it matters. There’s just something really rewarding about watching people who are motivated to excel. And everyone loves a medal table!
I love the Olympics but my kids are not so fussed. However, we found a point of common interest in the BMX Freestyle today. I think the most entertaining events to watch are definitely the ones that make you ask ‘How the hell do they even do that?’ With regard to the BMX, I don’t even know how you would begin to learn those stunts without killing yourself. It was heart-stopping stuff! Also, the commentary was very entertaining and a constant source of amusement.
Looking forward to the pedal talk. Keep up the good work.
Totally this! Many happy memories of watching the Olympics with family growing up and seeing all sorts of people do amazing things and getting caught up in willing them to succeed.
Every four years it comes round and there i am watching sports I normally have zero interest in...synchro swimming, weightlifting, prancing horses....bring on the break dancing! The Booth's are totally invested, there's even a whiteboard with 3 generations on, each assigned 4 countries, a team event and an individual athlete. China and Katie Ledecky are currently bringing in some serious points for me 😆
I do love watching the Olympics, admittedly for the more obscure sports. Not being into football or athletics I find it great that for a couple of weeks every 4 years you can see and get excited by other sports. Although, I'd argue break dancing isn't a sport, it's one step away from synchronised disco dancing. Which I'm sure no one wants to watch.
Nah, I would totally watch that 😂 Also, if darts and snooker are classified as sports (admittedly not Olympic) I reckon anything goes! - actually like a bit of darts so I’m not being sniffy here.
So, I joked about not being in shape and NY kicking my ass on the last visit, and that somehow KM is waaaay more in shape than I am. You RUN? Alright. Challenge accepted. Let me try fast walking first. Next time, we dual.
Also, Vaideology is sitting dusty on my shelf because I couldn’t motivate myself enough to work through those damn exercises. I maybe only took to heart his advice of ignoring notes and listening for them instead. (Also reasons why someone else is playing over my guitar parts 😬).
Back on the stoop! 💜
Having spent most of my life subjected to the opinions of my guitar-playing brother and my uncle who learned everything in the world about guitars *except* how to play one, it is an absolute gift to hear a professional guitarist admit that I do not need to care about Steve Vai.
Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony: Thoughts As I Had Them...
- Ooh, on the River Seine! Watch out for sharks! Haha.
- A masked torch bearer! Ooh, I wonder who it is!
- Lady Gaga already? Huh. What is this song? Ah well, not every song's a banger.
- A spot of drizzle. I'm sure it'll pass!
- That is literally the worst can-can I've ever seen.
- Gosh, that piano is WET. The poor pianist!
- Ooh, a bleeding building and death metal. Thinks are looking up!
- A library!!! A...threesome?! (my kids: 'why did they shut the door on us, mummy?')
- 'Chic'?! Where is the narrative?!
- OMG the rain.
- This DJ is at a high risk of electrocution. I'm not sure I can keep watching.
- Oh but there's that masked torchbearer again. I'll keep watching to find out who it is.
- But who *could* it be? (googles 'famous French people' and learns that Gerard Depardieu has been long-cancelled).
- Why is someone playing piano on a flaming slag heap?
- Omg the fashion show with the drenched DJ is STILL HAPPENING?
- Why is there a near-naked man painted blue?l lying on the catwalk? Why is he JIGGLING 😳
- RIGHT. The masked torch bearer is back. Who are you? Hurry up and reveal yourself so I can go to bed.
- A robotic horse ridden by the masked torchbearer! This feels climactic! Imagine if robotic sharks turned up! Lol.
- The robotic horse appears to be riding the entire length of the Seine.
The Eiffel Tower. AT LAST!
- Speeches. Looooooong speeches. Jeez. So THEY get umbrellas but that poor pianist didn't?
- Just reveal the masked torchbearer already.
- Here he comes! Or is it a SHE?!
- They've passed the torch to Zinedine Zidane!
- And...the masked torchbearer has just...gone?! And there's no indication we will ever see them again?! FFS!
- Speedboat. Olympic torch somehow still lit in pissing rain. Serena Williams. Why? I don't think even she knows.
- I have no idea who any of these people are.
- The flame is lit and I couldn't care less.
- CELINE DION IS SINGING HER HEART OUT FROM THE EIFFEL TOWER AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN WORTH IT AND I WANT TO GO TO PARISSSSS.
Was hoping the masked torch bearer was going to rip of their mask to reveal it was Christine and the Queens/ Rahim Redcar and they'd burst into song and bust out some moves, but non.....there's always the closing ceremony though! 🤞
Didn’t catch this and now feel I probably don’t need to! Excellent synopsis!
It was like a fever dream. A very soggy one.
Wow….just wow! Like I was in Paris! 😂
And let’s be honest, we’d both have been happier if the sharks turned up 😉
Even just a single inflatable one would have elevated the entire spectacle.
Hayley, that is by far the best summary of the opening ceremony I've ever read or will probably ever read.
Great to have another stoop to listen to, they have been missed.
To address Keith’s question about why would one watch fencing in the Olympics or in general, as someone who has fenced épée for the best part of 18 years, it’s easy to follow and understand (less so for foil and sabre fencing) and fairly exciting. OK I accept I may be biased in this answer. Unsurprisingly, my favourite Olympic moment was watching Hungary's Eszter Muhari win bronze in the women’s individual épée at the weekend based on how happy and blown away she was when she won.
I feel Keith’s pain re running, I’ve forced myself to do that for about 4 years and I still hate it. But I do enter races only because you get a medal for finishing.
Actually, I think you’ve hit on a huge part of what makes the Olympics so appealing - the reactions of the winners and losers really brings home the humanity of the whole affair.
I have missed the stoop chats! So glad to hear construction is finished and maybe we can look forward to a few more?
My mum was a big fan of athletics so I grew up cheering on sprinters in front of the TV. I’d never stopped to think about whether there was any point to the activity and tbh I don’t think it matters. There’s just something really rewarding about watching people who are motivated to excel. And everyone loves a medal table!
I love the Olympics but my kids are not so fussed. However, we found a point of common interest in the BMX Freestyle today. I think the most entertaining events to watch are definitely the ones that make you ask ‘How the hell do they even do that?’ With regard to the BMX, I don’t even know how you would begin to learn those stunts without killing yourself. It was heart-stopping stuff! Also, the commentary was very entertaining and a constant source of amusement.
Looking forward to the pedal talk. Keep up the good work.
Totally this! Many happy memories of watching the Olympics with family growing up and seeing all sorts of people do amazing things and getting caught up in willing them to succeed.
Every four years it comes round and there i am watching sports I normally have zero interest in...synchro swimming, weightlifting, prancing horses....bring on the break dancing! The Booth's are totally invested, there's even a whiteboard with 3 generations on, each assigned 4 countries, a team event and an individual athlete. China and Katie Ledecky are currently bringing in some serious points for me 😆
I love this idea!
I do love watching the Olympics, admittedly for the more obscure sports. Not being into football or athletics I find it great that for a couple of weeks every 4 years you can see and get excited by other sports. Although, I'd argue break dancing isn't a sport, it's one step away from synchronised disco dancing. Which I'm sure no one wants to watch.
Nah, I would totally watch that 😂 Also, if darts and snooker are classified as sports (admittedly not Olympic) I reckon anything goes! - actually like a bit of darts so I’m not being sniffy here.
"Dear IOC, my friend Lou would love to see synchronised disco dancing in 2028. Please make it happen."
This would actually get me to pay attention to the Olympics.
I will keep my fingers crossed!
We can but hope...
Never been a fan of eithernl darts or snooker but I'm always amazed by the spectators at darts.
Any sport that appears to take place in a giant bierkeller gets my vote
Giant bierkeller is a better reference point than 'Sunday night at the ferret and poacher pub' which is the usual analogy I use for darts.
Tbf I only ever watch the World Championships at Christmas when I’m at my parents. It’s tradition.
I enjoyed the swimming cap retrieval event, hoping to be the British representative for this in LA 2028. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rc_y7aIMFyM
Is the forthcoming Terrifier 3 a #MustWatchOccurrence ?
You better believe it is 🔒
So, I joked about not being in shape and NY kicking my ass on the last visit, and that somehow KM is waaaay more in shape than I am. You RUN? Alright. Challenge accepted. Let me try fast walking first. Next time, we dual.
Also, Vaideology is sitting dusty on my shelf because I couldn’t motivate myself enough to work through those damn exercises. I maybe only took to heart his advice of ignoring notes and listening for them instead. (Also reasons why someone else is playing over my guitar parts 😬).
Lots to think about this time around!