Triumph, yet disaster

[mistletoe]

Tears everywhere today, ours, Brazilians, Chinese; some are of joy but most are of disappointment. I have never seen anyone win silver medals and be so deeply, deeply unhappy as the British women's rowing foursome this morning. One was so inconsolable she couldn't speak to the prat interviewer John Inverdale (who, by the way referred to all women he interviewed as 'guys', a term I find offensive). The stroke who was winning her 3rd or 4th silver, spoke like a captain. Good for her. Then they all went into a group hug with Sir Steve Redgrave who obviously gave them some sort of words of encouragement. At the medal ceremony they were still crying. I felt so sorry for them.

In better news we did win one gold at the rowing today, in the men's lightweight pairs Zach Purchase and Matt Hunter, and 2 silvers, the other being the men's eights. There were two golds in blustery conditions at the sailing: Ben Ainslie winning his third Olympic gold in the Finn class, and the women in the Yngling. Barbara Romero became the first British woman since 1920 to win a medal in two entirely different disciplines when she won the gold in the women's pursuit cycling. She beat the other British girl Wendy Houvenaghel, who got the silver.

On the downside, Paula Radcliffe finished 23rd in the marathon. With more tears as she came over the line. She is in danger of being the female equivalent of Ron Clarke who was the greatest distance runner of his era, but never won gold in the Olympics.

So, Britain are third in the overall medal table behind China and USA and have already won more gold medals (11) than we managed in the whole of the Athens games. The best we've ever done is 14 golds. I wonder if we can match it? Technically, Michael Phelps is in 12th place in the medals table on his own.

We've certainly peaked now, and anything else we win, beyond the cycling, will be a bonus.

The decorators are coming on Wednesday so I am trying to move all the junk and rubbish important items in the living room into 2 tiny bedrooms already stuffed with other junk and rubbish interesting and unusual items. It is proving difficult, but I've cleared the table, the windowsill, most of the computer stand and the mantelpiece into 3 cardboard boxes. I have too many ornaments and too much memorabilia. That just leaves furniture to cover, larger items to shift when the parents come tomorrow and paintwork to wash down.

Out for Sunday lunch today with friends up from Southampton and it's not raining at the moment. The torrents actually woke me up during the night. Ridiculous.

e.t.a. The British team pursuit cyclists have just broken the World Record qualifying, yes qualifying, for the final tomorrow. Awesome!