8:08pm, 8/8/8: Goose-bumps!

China promised a spectacular Opening Ceremony and I think they did a damn fine job of delivering it! I watched it on TV, which you might find strange being that I'm in Beijing but it wasn't easy to get around (taxis were like gold-dust), public areas were closed off and there wasn't a cat in hell's chance of getting anywhere remotely near the Bird's Nest stadium owing to the security restrictions. I was with a whole heap of colleagues from the Embassy, watching in our bar. The atmosphere was electric! We heard snippets of the Beeb's commentary and I shared my applause around the countries that I've worked in, but saved the biggest cheer for Team GB's girlz and boyz!