Thread by @GuyHornsby

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm breaking out the London 2012 highlights. 😢

I might tweet this for a bit.

Christ. I forgot about the countdown and the Elbow music. Butterflies already.

God, it was a different time. I miss 2012.

Oh man. It's strange seeing that stadium. I used to live there.

And here's Brad, bashing the big bell.

My.god, it all felt so optimistic, didn't it?

It's Jerusalem. I'm welling up already. What have we done to that country from 2012?

I want this version of the UK back please.

Here's Ken. Born to play Brunel.

Oh Christ, Nimrod. Over Shakespeare. It's ott, but it's magnificent. I'll always be proud of this. Everyone got on, life was great.

The industrial revolution section is so brutally brilliant. Bring me your poor....

I've said it many times but Underworld's soundtrack was simply outstanding.

I heard it on radio 2 last weekend and this is what kicked it all off. Why didn't I do this sooner?

It's so powerful. I'm sitting here shedding slow tears of pride and happiness. I've not even got to the World Wars.

Though I think it's fair to say I'm also crying for that hopeful, optimistic, friendly, happy, wondrous country from back then. We've turned it all on its head.

God, the Windrush bit feels crushing now.

Where you realise the rings are coming together is still just a wow moment. Boyle is an utter genius.

I mean HONESTLY.

Aaaaaand it's Brenda in a parachute. Remember the moment when you all went "it won't be..." Then WHAAAAAAT.

Though the whole flight to the stadium was a bit silly, I will always remember how AWESOME it was having the rings by my office.all summer.

It's hard not to look back at this ceremony with huge slab of wistfulness, love, adoration and ennui. There's so many wonderful touches, heart-tugging moments. No filler, a killer. 100% pride in all we were back then. Brenda looked a bit overwhelmed, even for her.

And the NHS part is still one of the greatest bits of the entire games. How relevant that feels today. Typical the fucking Tories tried to dampen this bit down.

Poppins, Peter Pan, Potter, they just nailed all of it. Feel ten years old watching this section.

I'd forgotten about the baby at the end. God, it's magical.

I've just remembered the Mr Bean bit. Oh dear. It's cringeworthy. Was then. Is now.

Ah those tv clips. Films, music, a proper nostalgia dopamine hit.

The Jam, Beatles, Kinks, Oh look, and Kes. ❤

Ah, and Bowie. This is a heartwrencher. 💔

Blue Monday, we're into the rave! And Soul II Soul, Mondays, Eurythmics. Man, I just want to go out now #irony

And the Prodge. Another guy gone. Funny a good few not there anymore. Imagine being the guy and girl in this section. Mental.

And here we go BONKERS. #Dizzee

(Subtext: we spend a lot of time getting wrecked in Britain.)

I'm really knackered but I can't turn it off.

And Tim Berners-Lee. God, this is lovely. But feels sadly ironic in these days of trolls, fake news and Trump.

Still chuckle at the American tv team that didn't know who he was, so said to Google it.

I need to go to sleep now. But I'm gonna keep up with this tomorrow. Ah I go to bed at the torch relay, which I also saw in the flesh. ❤

This has been fun.

Last shot before bed: Becks in a speedboat up the Thames with the torch. Lovely.

Goodnight 2012, I'll see you tomorrow 👊 #London2012

Well, we're back. Cranked up with Becks and the flame.

I'm tired and emotional today. Can I avoid crying before the teams enter?

I honestly don't remember this Abide With Me section. Perhaps I went to the loo at this time when it was happening. It's still pretty powerful.

The teams are out!

And I've just remembered the flame. Ah the flame.

I may zip through some of this, is that bad?

Still, who can forget American Samoa?

Even in 5x this is going to take AGES. Until I get to G. Next tissues setup right there.

Some absolute BANGERS going on though. Currently Stayin' Alive to the Germans, with special shout outs to general disco and pumping house so far trying to get everyone walking as fast as possible.

Usain looks so young. But then weren't we all in 2012?

Ah man, Kobe onscreen. 8 years isn't a long time but..... 😢

And here come #TeamGB, walking out to Bowie's Heroes.

Jesus, a lot of things have happened 😞

It's such a bittersweet set of moments here. Of course, the day we found out we had the games was followed by 7/7. A day that shook London to its core. I lost someone that day. The games felt a long way away at that point. It was such a fuck you to the terrorists though.

And it feels like we've come right back down the other side. What strange times we reside in now.

Still, Galvanize is on. Those @ChemBros always sound good in a stadium.

Things I also forgot: the Arctic Monkeys playing. Something very, oddly British about this. We were as British as we've ever been that night in all the best ways. Cynics? Take a night off.

Here's Seb Coe. Used to love him. A great speech. Another one who's not exactly done well, since then. (Hi, Chris Morris).

Rogge there, looking like a sort of suited up young Palpatine, without the charisma. Get to Brenda and the flame already.

It's not far until the flame - yes I've zipped through a lot, these do get pretty slow after the big start - but I can't wait to see it finally get lit. I've not had a drink at any point tonight or last night. Unlike 2012.

And here's Sir Steve 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅

Watching the unknown athletes sharing the last lap with the flame, then realising some of them have gone on, like Desireé Henry. Also Dina Asher-Smith was a helper. And they they get a hug from their nominees. Throat. Lump.

Even the flame was the best thing ever.

That Thomas Heatherwick could be one for the future.

This montage, only reminding us that there's surely no Olympics this year. Nothing is normal any more.

HERE'S MACCA.

We've got the a Beatles, what have you got?

Only Macca (And Britain) could get away with a singalong at the opening ceremony of an Olympic Games 😁

Well, that was emotional. Nothing will ever pack a punch like seeing that first hour of the Opening Ceremony. I cried, laughed, despaired, but mostly I remember how great things were. And want and know we'll get back there someday.

Now we're onto Day 1, and seeing (In person) that disaster of a men's road race, from Putney Bridge, as a drug cheat got it. Feels a bit more like it.

That's it though. I may pick this up again at times, but I'm pretty spent.

Thanks to the 6 of you that have followed it #2012

It's easy to forget how badly that games started for us as well.

Oh balls, I'm back. Day 2 was a blast after Day 1's disaster. Lizzie Armistead's sodden silver - having watched her pass at Box Hill with @Melgaphone - was great, and then Becky Adlington's brilliant bronze. But where we the first gold?

Anyway, Day 3, and men's gymnastics. Remember those guys? Louis Smith, whatever happened to him? 😉

My god, Max Whitlock looks about 14!

God, I forgot about the bronze-then-silver-then-bronze farrago. Still, a BLOODY MEDAL.

Day 4: great if you like horses. If not, it's DAY 5 and glorious Eton Dorney. Glover and Stanning, FINALLY 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅 That place was amazing. And I'm trying to remember if this was the day I went? I think so. It was a blur of tears and expensive beer. @Melgaphone will know.

And hire could we forget Wiggins? A daft TT, dashing across town to see the riders twice....and of course that Throne. And that Froome bloke, he turned out alright i think. 🎖

We're on Day 7 over lunch break. Lightweight sculls silver, Angry Ben Ainslie. And who could forget Gemma Gibbons' tears? ❤

And Peter Wilson. So many heroes you forget about.

Insane seeing a massive grandstand watching a Double Trap competition. That summer we all became experts on random sports for two weeks. Then forgot they even existed 😶

Speaking of which... C2 slalom for Etienne Stott and Tim Bailee. They just keep coming! 🎖🏅🎖

Honestly, I forgot that we got silver too. What a ridiculous afternoon that was at Lee Valley. 🏆

And FINALLY it's the velodrome. Starting with the anguish for Varnish and Pendleton getting relegated. Ugh. That place was magic, second only to the stadium 🚴🚴🚴

But GOLD for Hoy. A medal machine. 63kmh average. On a bike. How is that possible again? 🏅

And while 5 golds go to Hoy, there's some bloke called Michael Phelps with his 20th olympic medal. Insane. Guess that means errr Day 7. And I've lost a day somewhere. Not sure how, but it's possible. I couldn't even remember it was Wednesday earlier.

Day 7: athletics. Jess and KJT. And THIS is when we went to Eton Dorney @Melgaphone! Grainger and Watkins. That was a day 🏅🏅🏅🏅 (Day 8 weren't bad either).

I'm barely halfway through but I feel like I've been watching #London2012 for about a month already. I might have to power right through into #Paralympics. Or perhaps the 2005 Ashes 🤔

Right, that's lunch over. Back to project and planning updates for the rock n roll world of financial regulation 😁 Day 8 later, with any luck. (If anyone's actually bothered 😁 )

Day 8 time. Judo Bronze and them women's football. That's definitely a sport that's come on deservedly since 2012....

And some bloke called Michael Phelps got his 17th gold. SEVENTEEN. How is that even possible? 🏅😯

So, Becky got her second medal. What a hero.

And now, the Team Pursuit. Mind-boggling speed in the Pringle. A world record of daft proportions. Clancy, Thomas, Burke and Kennaugh. The awesome foursome 🚴🚴🚴🚴

And then the Viccy Pendleton show returns. What an incredible athlete. Gold in the Kierin (probably my favourite cycling event).

And there's Jess in the 200m beating a Daphne Schippers. Remember when she was a heptathlete? It seems a LONG time ago.

Jeez that was Day 7.

But this means only one thing: DAY 8 is Super Saturday 🏅🏅🏅

#Mo #Jess #Greg

I was in the stadium that morning. Watching Jess and KJT do Long Jump and Javelin. I'll never forget it. The noise, the sun, the atmosphere, the excitement and expectation. Me and @Melgaphone didn't want to leave at lunch. 😢

Oh, and those men's four retaining their title. What a day it was. And the women's lightweight double sculls and men's. Eton Dorney was magic, wasn't it? They make it look easy but christ, rowing is HORRIBLE. 🏅🏅 Inverdale welled up.

God, Super Saturday was stupid really. Rowing, swimming, cycling, athletics.... and that was just the Team GB rundown. We were spoiled really.

Team GB football seems quaintly odd. Craig Bellamy, Daniel Sturridge, Ryan Bertrand, Aaron Ramsey. I almost forgot what a furore over the whole team thing was. Seems so silly really.

I really don't even remember what happened with the penalties.

Oh, Sturridge cocked it up. Probably why I forgot.

Ran out of lunch hour, such was the feast of Olympic winning, but ok be back later to get all emotional about Greg, Jess and Mo.

It's funny, because while Jess & Mo are obviously huge stars, almost expected to win their golds, Greg was such unfulfilled talent. Made it so sweet.

Super Saturday is a strange watch. For starters, I'm there somewhere. But also Oscar, running in the 400m heats. Very strange seeing that (I was also there then).

But there's Greg, going into 1st in the 2nd round. God, it's magic.

God, I still get shivers watching Jess win it. So deserved, such a lovely person and champion. But this was just the start, wasn't it?
I was running at night at the Star of Bethnal Green that night, and really, it's fine to say no one gave a toss what I was playing!

And hereeeeeesssss Mo!

God, that finish in the 10 still gives me goosebumps. What a run by @Mo_Farah. The first of two. Greg Rutherford watching by the track, Jess still in the stadium. What an utterly ridiculous hour it was. We'll never see another one like That.

Awwwwww

I need a lie down after that. For about a week. My god, Day 8, you were amazing.

There's only 6 days left 😥😥😥😥😥

Had a bit of a break. But we're back and it's Day 9. Ben Ainslie, Fereder and Murray and back to the track. And I'm not remotely tired of it at all #London2012

Murray never gave Federer a chance. The moment when tabloid reading idiots finally thought "oh maybe he's a great player and not some cipher of a teenage joke about the the football". 🤔

Oh my gawd, the pommel. Louis' tied score and losing to Berki on execution. Agonising! 🎖🏅

But yeah I'll just pop back onto Centre Court later for a second final. Silver to go with gold for Andy Murray. As you do.

A real shame that Laura Robson never really rose to those heights again.

And Christine Ohoruogh, what a silver. A terrible four years from Beijing, but she was the epitome of a big competition runner. Local girl made good.

And oh yeah, the men's 100m. Remember when people thought Bolt might not win?

Gatlin talk nah.

He retried a little while ago now, but Bolt will always be the greatest. His speed, his style, his bottle, his coolness. There's no one like him, and seeing him run in the flesh is something I'll always remember ⚡⚡⚡

Day 9 done. Phew. Bed time, roll on Day 10. 🏅

We're BACK. Day 10 and that jump-off in Greenwich. Another one to file under "oh Christ, I forgot about that".

Anyway, (sorry @Melgaphone) enough of that, it's Nicola Adams ❤🌈🎖💪

And Anthony Agogo. And some bloke called @anthonyfjoshua. Whatever happened to him? 🤔😉

It really was relentless that day. Jason Kenny gold, Laura Trott in the Omnium, and then Beth at the o2. Wow. Not sure how I coped with this at the time....

It's lunchtime on Monday so it's time for Day 11, and a date with the Brownlees. 🎖

And I know dressage is probably very very difficult to be good at but I can't really take it seriously. Sorry.

I'm not saying I'm getting #London2012 fatigue, but I'm not quite as excited about windsurfing as I was 8 years ago.

But thank god, here's Laura Trott and then Viccy Pendleton here to perk me right up. Phew 🚴🎖

And Sir Chris Hoy there, going out on a high for the Kierin. What a monster he is. 6 golds and a silver. Ridiculous 🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖

Watching his parents is so lovely. In bits.

And then Redgrave jokes he'll come out of retirement. Ah, they got away with it. Who wouldn't?

And we're breezing into Day 12 now. I'm starting to tire, if I'm honest. But I've been at it a week now.

I'm getting tired of the Olympics marathon. Or maybe I'm just tired. Because it's dressage.

DuJardin was brilliant, but dressage really is a bit silly.

Still, Keri-Anne Payne. 10km outdoors. Bonkers. And FOURTH.

And here's Jade Jones. How could I forget JADE? 🎖

God, they packed it in. Katie Taylor and of course Nicola Adams, the nicest woman in the Olympics.

And then David Rudisha and some guy called Usain.

Imagine running through the line while you slow down and still run 19.32?

Or coming last in the 800m and still getting your PB while the winner gets a world record?

😯

And christ, Day 14, comes up quickly. It's almost over. I'm not sure I've got the stomach for the closing ceremony.

Boxing though, AJ, Ogogo, Luke Campbell, Evans. I feel tired just watching it.

Day 15 just felt a bit after the Lord Mayor's show. Football, kayak (!) And bed before it's over. I'm within touching distance now....

I think I'm on Day 16 now. I'm not sure. It's just Tom Daley and Mo left now, isn't it?

Is it possible to get Stockholm Syndrome watching sports highlights?

And then there's Mo. Still get goosebumps watching his 10,000. The last mile was 4 minutes dead. It's beyond belief. What a fitting end to the games it was.

Well, that and that Bolt bloke. He did ok.

Hang on, there's ANOTHER day? Did they add one to fuck with my head? Still, marathon, mountain biking and (😥) Kobe. Some of these things make me feel old. I was only 37.

God, AJ looks like a baby. He was 22, and a monster even then.

Into the home straight now surely, if we're down to modern pentathlon. It's a lovely barrel to be scraping. Another I have no memory of.

Surely it's not long to go now. I'm not saying I deserve a medal but.... The whole DVD is 15 hours long. FIFTEEN! 😶

And HERE'S THE MONTAGE.

And @Elbow. And it's a bit dusty in here. #London2012

And I'm done. I can't face the Closing Ceremony right now. It'll be a step too far. Even for George.

It's been a rollercoaster. The highs and lows. The medals I forgot even happened. Mo. Greg. Jess. Chris. What a ride. I miss that summer. Always will. ❤

😥

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