Sunday 9th September

All we can say is it's emotional.........

We have a well deserved lie in and check out at around 11am. We the pop along to get the tube thinking it will be quiet. Atube approaches and its packed and our usual philosophy of going to the end of the tube station hasn't worked. We decide standing isn't an option so we wait for the enxt one. This one has space so we pop on fina s eat and begin our final journey to Olympic Park, fittingly we feel to see the last gold medal of the games in the 7 a side football.

At Stratford we get off and notice how earily quiet it is today, other than 7 aside football the only other event on is are the medal matches for wheelchair rugby (murder-ball). Obvioulsy it will be packed later for the closing ceremony but as we reach the stadium the number of security sections open is small and it begins to sink in that this is our last visit. We do agree we must come back next year with Lara and Trudy to see what it looks like once it has been transformed, but for today we will savour our final day.

We chat to a couple of armed policemen who agree to pose with our mascots (more from them on their page), buy our final day souvenier programme. We debate going to McDonalds, see the queue and decide lets have a last visit to the mega store as we obvioulsy need more memorabilia and then head off to the riverbank where we can get food and then watch the bronze match followed by the gold/silver match.

We make a few more purchases, two being key (a sunhat / cap each to keep the sun off as this is also the warmest day of the games. With a bargain or two because of last day reductions we head to the riverbank arena for the CP 7 a side football. We look at food and drink options and decide on the pork and stuffing bap's, bottle of water and bottle of pop. After eating we headed in to the arena and took our seats, row 7 behind the goal, to our surprise the pre tournamnet favourites Brazil were losing 2-0, they went on to lost 4-0 and Iran take the bronze medal, there are little pockets of support for each team but most people there are GB but give all the players a rousing reception for a game played in sweltering conditions. It is hard to notice the impairment of the players and its only up close or when there are thrown ins which can be rolled in you notice the different players disabilities.

After this game there is a break of an hour before the final medal match between ukraine and Russia, we had decided prior to the game we would route for Ukraine as GB still had a chance of being second in the table but also knew by the end of the bronze match althrough we had secured another gold and silver in the marathons we would now be in second with a huge medal haul.

After gathering more drinks we sit and wait for the game to commence, prior to this there is the usual crowd interaction with singing along to catch tunes and the different video cams where they get you to dance, play bongos and even kiss the person next to you. We hope the camera doesn't pan to close to us and luckily it doesn't.

Miss O reflects on the fact that her cap makes her ears stick out and after a brief obsetvation I agree but also mention the heat of the day combined with my hot flushes is an equally not so good look.

The teams come onto the pitch for the final game and after a slow start it is quite evident the Russians are way superior. It takes time for this to show in goals but eventually they run out winners, I am sure to the relief of organsisers who I am sure wouldn't want extra time and penalites as the closing preparations are in full swing. After the match we wait for the medal ceremony and after this the Russians throw many of their flowers into the crowd to their supporters.

Rather aptly as people begin to leave the dulcit tone of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" is played. Rather tearily we head out and as we make our way to the exit we say goodbye to the many games makers who line the route. Miss O gets some final pictures, somehwat different as other than our crowd heading out there is no-one up this end of the park. On the way out we bump into a Russian lady who had caught some of the flowers the players had thrown to the crowd and the mascots get another picture opportunity, the Russian lady did look rather bemused and I think we started a trend as a typically British group then gathered to do the same (granted not all with mascots that demanded being in the photo).

People have and are arriving and as reach the exit doors for the final time I manage to collar a soldier for yet another photo opportunity. He obliges and we look back at the stadium and park and head off to get the tube over to Paddington to get the train home.

I reflect on the fact we could have got tickets for the closing ceremony but we had to be sensible as we couldn't have got home until the next morning and so we get onto the train home, 1st Class has been worth paying the extra for. Miss O takes her kindle out to read and I just try and doze. We have recorded the closing ceremony so plan to watch that when we get in.

Back home by 11pm and we pop the recording on and we watch some hihglights ffrom the games and manage to get part way through the ceremony, but by 2.30am we have to admit defeat and head to bed and the reality of work in a few hours.

Our adventure is over ;-(

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Today is the last day :(   but a great final day we have scheduled quite well really as we have a lie in.

Yesterday being so hectic we have 7 aside football (cerebal palsy) from 13.30-18.00, which is the final stages so hoping to see Taem GB get a high position finish and maybe a medal to finish our adventures with.

Train home same as last week, 20.30 (First Class), booking these so far in advance was such a good idea as the extra comfort and lounge at Paddington have been worth the small additional cost. Should be home again for 22.30 and then its work again on Monday.