Some thoughts on the Olympics

First, because such an extraordinary situation requires some attention (and because it clearly won't last). The British team are third. THIRD. Only China and the US have more gold medals than us. And there are significantly more people in both China and the US than there are in the UK. So, I'd say we're winning. *grins*

Second, I notice that everyone is calling them Team GB and even on their shirts it just says Great Britain. I can't help wondering how the Northern Irish athletes (and supporters) feel about this. I definitely remember it used to say 'Great Britain and Northern Ireland' which was a bit of a mouthful, I know. Surely if you wanted a shorter form, the United Kingdom would be a more appropriate title. If you are unclear about the distinction, this site has a very helpful diagram showing the relationship between the various political, geographical and historical entities that make up the British Isles.

In fact, when they announce that we've won (another) medal (*g*), they announce it in French as Le Royaume Uni, not Grand Bretagne. It comes to something when they get it right in French but not English! One lovely announcer described us as 'The Great Britain' which I thought was nice - distinguishing us from all the other, inferior, Britains.

Almost famous

Is on because I couldn't be bothered to find the remote and switch it off.

But I'm so glad I didn't. Simon Cowell was a contestant on Sale of the Century. He won a spatula. Hilarious.