There is something special about communities coming together and today the Olympic Torch came to Ealing, the part of London I live in and call home over here.
Last year in the beginning of August London was hit by the riots. As I cycled home from work on the day it got really bad my colleagues joked with me saying “Well, Ealing will be safe” and many people thought it would. It’s normally a pretty trouble free area but later that night it kicked off. Cars and a building were put on fire. Shops were damaged and broken into. And a man died as a result of assault injuries.
Though Ealing was by far not one of the places that were worse hit it was still a shock and quite unexpected. But, just as in other places of London that got hit the community in Ealing came together to support local shops as well as help clean up and as a result many people, myself included, felt closer to and more proud of living in Ealing than ever before. And the same happened across all of London.
Today people were gathered on a more positive note. Day 24 of the Olympic Torch Relay finished in Ealing and the evening celebrations took place in a park really close to us. It’s been a glorious day with sunshine and 30 degrees. The atmosphere has been great and I’ve never seen so many people out on our streets or in the parks.
It’s definitely made me feel proud of living over here and being part of what no doubt will be a fantastic event. And from following the reactions online as the torch has been passing through the different parts of the UK it definitely seems like it’s created excitement amongst the people of Britain in anticipation of what is officially starting in less than 2 days from now. London 2012.
Tomorrow – Day 207 | Being on the right path
