The Olympic Flame and Summer arrive in a blaze

Wow..what a difference a week end makes. The promised summer weather certainly arrived and since Saturday the sun has been shining from dawn to dusk. Today was a rather special day as the Olympic flame was coming to my neighbourhood. I had decided to take the day off and I am so glad I did as I really loved seeing the torch being carried right in front of me. Matt's girlfriend and I decided to walk down to the ponds a couple of hours earlier as we thought that there would be crowds. This was a good plan as I have never seen so many people in our High Street!. As we walked down the sun was blazing.

There was a big festival also being held in front of the newly opened Honeywood and we were amazed to see a swan ship on the ponds ready for a band to play.

We decided to find a less busy vantage point and chose the mini roundabout which is just up past the Greyhound pub you can see on the left of this photo.

This was our viewing point at 12.45





and at 2pm when the flame arrived this was the view........

Just a bit busier isn't it. Once the police outriders moved on we had a perfect view back down towards the High Street and ponds.




First the sponsors drove through.

and finally the bus in front of the torch runner appeared.


Everyone was clapping, cheering and flag waving and I really felt quite choked. There was a feeling of total joy and community spirit!

And behind this was the one thing we had all waited for...............................

Hooraaaaaaay! The 2012 Olympic flame being held by the torch bearer. Yes we stood this near and everyone was just cheering so loudly. It was an awesome moment. And as quickly as he arrived .......

he ran on. Afterwards all the crowds walked back towards the pond to enjoy the bands playing and the festival spirit.

It was funny being able to walk down the middle of the road. Everyone was in such a great mood and yes the weather really did help ;0)

Yes I really did, with my own eyes and I shall always remember that momentous occasion for ever. I am so glad we went. I enjoyed a cup of tea with C afterwards and then she made her way home. The Olympics are only 4 days away and The Wedding is now just 5....yes 5 days away. There is so much excitement in my life at the moment that I am trying to put on a cool head. Today's card is how I would like to think I am in these last precious days...LOL!

This is a brilliant stamp made by my great blogging buddy Kerry's company Ladybug Crafts Ink. She is such a cool stamp called Martini Nicci. Perhaps I can call it Martini Jane for today ;0)

I have had coloured her with my Promarker Pens and highlighted with my Prismacolor pencils. I have used papers from my stash and the cute Lili of the Valley tag stamps. I finished off with a gorgeous green shimmery organza ribbon and some pearls.

I would like to enter my card into the the following challenges;
Dream Valley #37 Summer
Joanna Sheen Animal antics
MIM linky party #99
Brenda  from Floral Inspirations Photo Inspiration- I have used the colours from her photo as inspiration, greens and red Poppy photo inspiration




Now as I say I hope my card shows me how I am trying to behave in this run up to my darling Daughter's wedding this Saturday. Cool, calm and collected ;0) Everything is ready and I am off on Friday to spend the day with her, her last day as a single woman. The Wedding is at 3pm on Saturday and if blogger scheduling behaves I have a little surprise post planned so do tune in then for some very special sneek peeps. This is my last post before this most momentous day. I would like to thank you all for your wonderful kind messages. I am going to inhale and treasure every single moment of my day as The Mother of The Bride.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x