London 2012: East End Style

People, I've been high on the opening ceremony all weekend. Bonkers-tastic, wasn't it? I'd have switched Macca for Bowie singing Heroes (live) as the grand finale but that's my only gripe. As you can see, London has been overcome by Olympic fever. Here are some lovely ladies I met at the Olympic Torch relay the other day, when my excitement was just about under control. Now I've upgraded to full-blown 2012 hysteria, and it's only day two. Lord knows what I'll be like when it gets to the men's 100m final.

So, today in the spirit of the Games, me and the Blog Widower had our very own road race. We cycled over to the London's East End, just a few miles away from the Olympic Park. As you can see at this point I was trailing Mr That's Not My Age but that was purely for the photo op. And I have got a Mark Cavendish-style finish.

Mr TNMA on his bike.

Even the fabulous Georgian houses in Spitalfields are flying the flag.

I feel an affiliation with this part of the city, my mum was born not far from here  - although the family was evacuated up north during the Blitz, I still like to think of it as part of my heritage. Like most London districts, the East End is a mixture of grit and glamour: 

The race ended at Columbia Road flower market, where, like proper cyclists we quaffed some caffeine. And like proper mid-lifers, bought some lovely lavender for the balcony.

Then I snapped some random photos of stylish people of a certain age:

Oh-so dapper yellow chinos.

A khaki waterproof. Sensible move.

Nice titfer (that's Cockney rhyming slang for hat).

Hope you're having a good Sunday. I'm off to catch up with the Olympic action, so I'll leave you with some pretty flowers.

Peonies: my favourites.