I behaved like a 16 year old!

What came over me? I am a grown up woman but I’m embarrassed to say that last week I found myself repeatedly calling out to an 18 year old boy, to try and get him to turn around and smile!

Maybe it was a mass hysteria, joining in with the enthusiasm of the packed streets around me, I hope so.  It would be rather worrying if this is a new habit I am about to develop.  Tom didn’t turn round in time to get a photo, just got the back of his head whilst he did an impression of Mo!

The Victory Parade through London was an  emotionally shattering day as a member of the crowd, so I can only imagine the impact it had for the Olympic and Paralympic athletes.  Some of them did look as though they could hardly believe their eyes, others wanted to make firm eye contact to make sure the moment was real and others just looked deliriously happy.

I bagged a great spot at the front of barriers in the Strand and soon made some very amusing friends alongside me, and we waited 2 hours for the Parade to begin.  Time slipped by fairly quickly with a great deal of people watching, banter with the police and passing TV crews and chat with my ‘transitory friends’. 

The motorcycle and mounted police can never resist a high five with the crowds these days, so nice to see them enjoying a happy occasion.

I have never seen the streets of London so packed and happy.   With a good knowledge of the side streets in Covent Garden, I managed to avoid the crowds and dash over to Trafalgar Square at the end of the parade.  

My National Lottery foam hand was extremely useful as a cushion when I finally reached the steps of St. Martin’s in the Fields church, where I watched the fly past and then observed the sight of so many people mingling and enjoying themselves. 

I didn’t want it to end, but knew that this really was the end of a summer of Olympic and Paralympic fever which will never be forgotten.

It was good to meet up with my nephew to 'unwind' and enjoy a glass of wine on the Festival Hall balcony, whilst we looked out across our beautiful city and chatted about how we had enjoyed this memorable day.

I think we need to be reminded how good it feels to celebrate, at least once a month.