The Weigh-In at London Zoo

Tape measures and scales were out for the animals of London Zoo today.

PICKLE!  Photo ZSL

Penguins form a dis-orderly queue for the scales  Photo: Getty

Photo: Getty Images

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) who run the zoo in 36 acres in Regent's Park, started their annual weigh-in for all it's 16,000+ creatures today.

Photo: AFP

Every single species needs to be measured and weighed and given a general check-up, to provide a basis on which to monitor their health, diets and general well-being. This information is then shared with other zoos and conservationists.  ZSL works with conservation programmes in Britain and over 50 countries around the world to protect wild animals and their natural habitats and.promote sustainability.

Elton the spectacled owl  Photo:ZSL

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo and was opened in 1828.  Having survived several funding problems and the changing public view of zoos, it was faced with closure in 1991.  However, public support saved London Zoo and the huge task of transforming the cramped conditions was undertaken.  This has resulted in a modern, animal friendly space, which gives visitors an amazing chance to see wild animals in an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat.

Tammy - tree climbing Tamnadua anteater  Photo: ZSL

London Paralympic Games

Photo: Dominic Lipinski /PA Wire

The Paralympic flag, officially called the Agitos (Latin for ‘I move’), was raised over Downing Street yesterday and the Prime Minister wished the ParalympicsGB team good luck in the Games which are due to start on 29 August 2012. 

The Paralympic Games began in Britain following an attempt by a neurologist Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann, to make well the war veterans in his care at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire. People with spinal cord injuries were given little hope of living more than a year and were expected to be hidden away from society before Sir Ludwig’s revolutionary ideas. He came up with the pioneering idea of using sport as a key part of rehabilitation and in 1948 a competition for 16 paralysed men and women was organised to coincide with the opening ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games. The first competitive sport was archery.

It was welcomed with a wonderful party atmosphere and four years later the Netherlands joined the event, which created the first international sports competition for the disabled. Four years later the first international sporting event for the disabled was held in Italy and since then have continued every four years.

The 2012 Paralympic Games are already breaking records with the number of tickets already sold and more countries and athletes than ever before. 

The Games open on Wednesday 29th August, when we can look forward to another memorable show. This time the Artistic Directors Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings, have planned a show named ‘Enlightenment’. This promises to highlight how people have transformed society through struggles for freedom, democracy and equality and starts with a fly-past from Aerobility, a British charity that trains disabled people to become pilots. It has been rumoured that Professor Stephen Hawkins may be taking part in the ceremony, although it’s not known whether this will be in person or on film.

We are all looking forward to welcoming these brave and courageous people, who have overcome a disability to achieve their goal and hope this will further the understanding of disabled people around the world. It was less than thirty years ago that society did not want to see disabilities on TV.

London is looking fabulous

London is looking absolutely fabulous at the moment.

 These geraniums planted outside Buckingham Palace have been especially chosen to match the jackets of the soldiers guarding the Palace.

The tourist sights have never looked better.

and it is great to see so many tourists enjoying our city, including a group of the Russian Olympic Team and this Gold Medal winning Brazilian athlete, who was lucky enough to be allowed into the grounds of the Houses of Parliament to have her photo taken with Big Ben in the background.

The Southbank has pulled out all the stops to stage a variety of activities to welcome the world.  This massive map of the world has been carefully constructed with tiny Lego pieces.

If you take the bright yellow spiral staircase on the side of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, you will find yourself in a beautiful peaceful space with a fantastic view.  

There is a small bar and pathways which lead to a wonderful cottage garden and vegetable patch, then follow the path over a walkway and you are in a cave, made out of plastic milk bottles! The garden has been designed by the Eden Project and you can find all sorts of unusual vegetables, vines and olive trees flourishing here.  It is planned to be closed at the end of September 2012, so it's worth planning a visit very soon.

 You don't need to be in the Olympic Park to feel the excitement and atmosphere, London is full of happy smiling people at the moment and there is something to amuse around every corner.

A winning display from a Royal Horticultural Society competition.

A massive floral crown in St. James' Park.

A chance to practice your table tennis to Olympic standards in Embankment Gardens!

Olympic Cycling Time Trials

Photo: John Giles PA

Last week the roads of South West London closed to welcome the Olympic cycling time trials and the King of the Road delighted the public at Hampton Court Palace.

Lizzie Armitstead back on the Surrey roads 

Starting and ending at Hampton Court Palace, this is a race against the clock over a distance of 44km for the men and 29km for the women. The competitors set off at 90 second intervals, with a police motorbike leading and support car following, to race their way through Esher, Hersham, Cobham and Kingston upon Thames, with the men taking in additional loops through Molesey and Twickenham.

Crowds packed the route, sometimes three or four deep with their Union flags and raucous cheers. The ladies were off first in the morning, unfortunately it was rather dull and damp but the sun eventually warmed us up by the time the men set off.  Parties were on the go all day along the route, filling the suburban village greens, the BBQs were sizzling and families picnicked on every available green space. Every nationality was given equal cheers and encouragement, but the Team GB must have been deafened by the enthusiasm.

The crowd turns electric as our man approaches!

                           
The crowds on Hampton Court Bridge were ecstatic as word went around that Chris Froome was home in a possible medal time.  This then turned to an amazing roar as we heard the news that Bradley Wiggins had secured GOLD!

Many of the cyclists took a lap of honour over the bridge and back to enjoy the happiness of the crowd, the police took great applause and yet more high fiving.  Then we all gathered to try and catch a glimpse of the medal ceremony, Gold for Bradley and Bronze for Chris Froome.  As gold was placed around his neck in the front drive of this beautiful palace, cheers echoed across Surrey and along the River Thames.  As the National Anthem played the packed streets of Hampton Court joined in, making this a very moving and an unforgettable moment.

People tried to get a glimpse of the ceremony through the trees

                           
People turned in a wide variety of colourful outfits to give all the cyclists the warmest of welcomes.  

And the BBC found a lovely place to base their broadcast, on the veranda of and exceptionally quaint antique shop.

 As the day's activities drew to a close and the TV crews wrapped up their coverage of this day of carnival and happiness, the locals of this charming London village made sure their High Street was going to stay closed to allow the party to continue into the night.  

Bridge Road, a unique road full of independent cafes, bars, creative shops and antique stalls, was full of happy smiling people enjoying the sunshine and sharing the historical moment of happiness.

The Olympics is not just about sport, it is about human kindness and understanding.  Sport is the catalyst to bring the world together, to understand each others and broaden our minds.