The final countdown to the Olympics

Ten days to go and things are looking good. There is a feeling of optimism throughout the central city area. Hundreds of thousands of sport tourists all dressed in day-glo sports apparel have descended en masse to take in the "must see " sights.
In fact the whole deal is what one would have anticipated during this final countdown period.
There are numerous observations one could make about this pre-Olympic experience of ours. Most of what 's going on is really positive stuff. The arts have cranked up their act, free outdoor performances are popping up all over the place and TFL (Transport for London) has plastered big pink signs all over to assist those new to London. The pubs and restaurants are full to overflowing and all museums and art galleries are benefiting from a huge upswing in numbers. Fantastic stuff.
All that good stuff aside, there has to be a reality check when you look at this Olympic experience so I thought I might lay out the key points of interest as I have experienced them over the last couple of weeks.
TRANSPORT
Central London will host something like an additional one million tourists over it's traditional peak summer season highs during this upcoming three week period. On any normal day the central city area copes with something in the order of nine million people trips per day. During the Olympics that number will increase to over twelve million trips per day! That is one heck of an increase.
During the last couple of weeks whenever you approach a Tube platform Mayor Boris's voice has been booming out over the PA advising one and all to embrace the spirit of the Olympics and enjoy the experience . Boris then goes on to state the blindingly obvious, towit, the tube system during this period is going to be in total overload mode and on that basis he suggests that we defer to a web site he gives over the PA and suggest in no uncertain terms that if we intend to plan a trip within the city during the Olympics and wish to arrive at our destination in a timely manner and with our brain still intact, then maybe we should consider using an alternative mode of transport. 
Good one Boris. Get the message out there in advance of the impending disaster to ensure you were seen to be pro- active on this matter.
For their part these sport tourist visitors will have to be on a very steep learning curve.
Based on our view of their actions whilst attempting to commute by bus, tube or whatever over the last week, I'm reminded of what happened many years ago in Pakistan when some smart politician decided that on a specific date all vehicles were going to switch over from their traditional right hand drive to left hand drive. All signage was changed, ads went out on TV, the whole bit.
However there was one slight problem.
When D Day arrived no one had given any thought to advising the camels and their drivers that there was a new game in town. As a result the camels stuck to their decades routes. The outcome was total disaster and everyone promptly slotted back to the way it had always been.
So I was thinking about this story when it dawned on me that most of these sport tourists wouldn't be up to speed with how the London transport system actually worked and since there was no way to educate them, they would be left to their own devises, a move that wouldn't assist with transport flows.
And this is exactly what has gone down.
BUSES
If you haven't got a pass, a prepaid ticket or an Oyster Card you simply can't gain access to the bus service. Big learning curve for hundreds of thousands of sport tourists who are attempting to board the buses with cash in hand in expectation that they can purchase a ticket onboard.The result? Lots of confused tourists, impatient Londoners who can't stand 'their bus' being delayed by these day-glo  warriors, and increasingly harassed drivers (who already have chips on both shoulders as their union failed to nail an Olympic cash blackmail deal at the same level as that of the tube drivers).
THE TUBE
Most of these lines get really busy during all peak periods. Passengers continue to flow in and out of the stations because they understand that they have to work in with a set of unwritten rules like , keep moving at a pace, don't hang around in the middle of an access way, walk on the right side of tunnels or as directed, stand on the right of escalators, spread out on the platform to allow an even number for each carriage, don't crowd the trains exit doors as that will delay exiting passengers which in turn will slow you down, and plan in advance.
Of course all this logical stuff is alien news to a family from Boise, Idaho. These guys just amble around, blocking the way, standing on the left side of the escalators, the whole bit.
It's not their fault as they simply don't know any better and no one is about to tell them otherwise (the British stiff upper lip thing comes into play here).
The result is total chaos, as we witnessed on the circle line on Saturday afternoon.
THAMES FERRIES
I understand and agree with the desire for all these sport tourists to check out the sights of London by way of a ferry ride however there is one small technical logistical issue here.
If a ferry holds two hundred PAX that's it, there simply isn't room for more.
On Saturday afternoon we came across a line of eager day-glo warrior tourists that was maybe fifteen hundred in number all attempting to board at the Tower Bridge dock. It didn't help any that it was also bucketing down most of the afternoon.
DRESSING FOR THE CLIMATE
Let's face it to this point, apart from March, London hasn't experienced a 2012 summer. The experts all agree that things look like they are finally going to turn around as soon as this weekend, which is great news.
Meantime when Julia and I venture forth we dress accordingly with an umbrella tucked away close at hand.
When we entered a tube on Sunday we were greeted by the sight of maybe a hundred fresh faced tourists all dressed up with jandals, shorts, micro skirts , tee shirts and cut away tops.
When we all exited at Tower Bridge up went Julia and John's umbrellas. 
And what about these underdressed turkeys, well they started an immediate group freeze session . My God, how they moaned about the weather.
I would venture that these guys will think twice about suitable attire before exiting their hotel rooms when they next venture forth.
POLITICS
What a bunch of losers. At a time when both the London council and central government should all be swimming in the same direction, left wing Labour commies (disguised as well meaning Socialists) are doing their level best to pick holes in the Olympics, the organisational team, and anyone who is associated with the games. Not a good look on any front.
The current political labour circus act is centred on a parliamentary select committee which was today convened to discuss the drama surrounding the 11th hour admission by the security company contracted to run all Olympic security (G4S) that they couldn't deliver on their promise to front with 10,000 security staff. They advise is that they can only deliver 7,000. Upon receipt of this advise the conservative government immediately called in 3,000 army and police to supplement the G4S numbers. For their part G4S simply stated the obvious, that they were greatly disappointed that so many potential security staff pulled out at short notice (apparently the rule of thumb is a 10% no show) . G4S then apologised and indicated that they would cover the full cost of all army and police who would be utilised to make up the shortfall.
Now bear in mind at this point that on a worldwide basis G4S employs some 650,000 staff and is currently the world's fourth biggest private employer.
The chap who heads this company, one Nick Buckle is not the sort of guy you take on without first strapping yourself into an armoured suit made of titanium.
Tell that to these labour twits on the sub committee.
What has been played out on live TV today has been a classic.
This guy Buckle has lost more brain cells that the total contained within the twelve person parliamentary committee.
The line of questioning and responses were predictable.
Like the bright young thing from some God forsaken hole in Wales who when it was her turn to ask a question, screws up her face and spits out "so do you feel responsible for this situation" answer-yes. Aaah, so you admit responsibility. Answer-I have just said yes. "Yes, yes, but are you willing to take full responsibility for this situation here and now, answer that question , yes or no?" ( a triumphant look appears on this labour twits face).
Buckle then looks directly at the house committee chairman and in a low , even and very threatening voice says " I don't think this line of discussion is very productive, do you agree?"
To which the chairman responds, "I would like to thank the member from the South Wales Pit Number 5 electorate for your very insightful line of questioning . Perhaps we could now invite the member for Bradford weavers central to ask a further question".
It all go too much for me.
I trotted off to The Gallery down the road for a drink.

Cheerrs