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From beginning to end the crowd cheered everything that went past.
Police on motorbikes, ambulances, Tour cars.
A huge roar went up when the Yorkshire Tea vehicle came through as part of le caravane, and an even larger one when McCains Chips came through. And then we all dissolved in laughter at the idea of cheering a promotional chip-van. They weren't even throwing out freebies! Although given my experience with the inflatable pillow from Ibis Budget hotels I think that was just as well.
I felt like crying sometimes. The crowd mood was so positive and everyone - even when they were asking eachother daft questions I longed to respond to - felt involved. People here don't even need to be asked if they are proud of being English (although they are Yorkshire first, English second).
When the national anthem played on screen in the Market Square as part of the opening ceremony, people joined in spontaneously. This is not British at all, at least not my experience of it. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had previously been applauded - for being on TV, not for being in front of us. When Otley was mentioned as being part of the route there was another cheer.
People wanted to clap and cheer and whistle and shout, and anything would do and did.
People had their faces painted, silly hats on, damn near every person had some yellow on somewhere. It was like being back at the London Olympics.
Dad is in very poor health at the moment.
I am so very worried about him, and not being able to go back because of work and finances and because I have to accept I've moved away. This morning was a blessed release from all forms of worry and I deliberately put everything out of my mind for a few hours.
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