Reflection Through The Seasons

GREAT EXCITEMENT AS THE OLYMPIC FLAME COMES TO WALES....

And here it is... proudly carried by our friend Tracy on 28 May on its way through Blaenau Ffestiniog.  Tracy who works for the same school as my husband John was nominated by her daughter Tara .  In nominating her Mum, Tara wrote the following...

Tracy's nomination story

I am nominating Tracy Thomas to hold the torch for Gwynedd. At a time in my life where my confidence was lacking my feeling of self worth was low my mum inspired me. She inspired me through her love, kindness, enthusiasm and drive to go to university. I never thought that I would ever make it to year two of university but thanks to my mums support I am here a changed person. She taught me no matter what hand I'm dealt you have to make the best of it. She is an inspiration to me and my three sisters who she has brought up all by herself. My mum is always pushing herself through running for charities like the Race for Life (Aberystwyth, Ceredigion) and in Race the Train (Tywyn, Gwynedd), she also helps coach Dysynni Squash Club two nights a week, and helps with Dragon Sports a sports club for young primary school children, in the local school Pen-Y-Bryn. She also used to be a level one gymnastics coach in Dollgellau Gymnastic Club, to help out but sadly our coach passed away so the club stopped. My mum is always welcoming to her friends and family who she sees on a regular basis and always makes time for them. I genuinely believe my mum would be a good representative for Gwynedd and she would make everyone in the county proud.

We are all very proud of you Tracy.  Well done!

A FEW INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE OLYMPIC TORCH
(Some of the information is from Tracy, some has been taken from the internet)


The UK has hosted the Olympic Games three times - in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
The torch is made of a special aluminium  alloy developed for the aerospace and automotive industry.
The torch is lightweight but strong and weighs 800 grams.
It has 8000 circles punched into its design 
There have been 8000 torches made for the 2012... one for each torchbearer who has the option of buying it afterwards at the cost of £200.
The same ritual is followed for lighting the flame for every Games... this is from the rays of the sun at the ancient Temple of Hera in Olympia.  There is always a back-up flame lit on a previous sunny day in the event of it being cloudy on the ceremony day.
After an 8 day relay route around Greece, the flame is then handed to the new host city at a ceremony in Athens.
This year the flame was handed to HRH The Princess Royal at the handover ceremony.
The flame is carried in a safety lamp, the same design as that of a miners lamp.
It arrived in the UK in 18 May and so on 19 May it started its 8000 mile journey around the UK coming within 10 miles of 95% of the population.  It travels by land, sea and air, carried by celebrities, heroes and members of the community who have made a positive contribution in some way or another.
Each torchbearer carries their Olympic torch for approximately 300 meters, passing the Olympic Flame from torch to torch until it reaches the Olympic Stadium on the eve of 27 July. 

 Just how excited do I look to be holding the very Olympic Torch Tracy ran with.  What an honour!

It is quite beautiful

(picture taken from internet)
Whilst traveling around Wales the flame, contained in its miners lantern, travelled up Mount Snowdon... the first leg of its journey there was by means of the mountain railway, then finally, the flame was transferred to the torch and carried by Sir Chris Bonington, the legendary mountaineer, the short distance to the summit. 

The journey of the Olympic Flame around UK.

(picture from internet)

On a personal note, I would like to apologise for my lack of posts so far this year, however, I do want to thank the faithful readers who have not completely given up on me and have continued to leave comments on the few posts I have done... I really have appreciated this.   Health issues got in the way earlier... and then, the longer I left it, the more difficult I found it to get back into.  I will get around to catching up with you all again soon.

Blessings - Marion