The olympics

I am very excited about the Olympics coming and it was great news today to hear that Greenwich park HAS been confirmed as the venue to host the equestrian events. Blah blah blah trees and conservation and a bit of traffic...Yes but an Olympic event in our borough (Royal borough as well) is great news. It will never come around again in my lifetime (unless I emigrate, highly unlikely) and it is a great boost, both economically and for the feel good factor. I really want to be able to take my child to the Olympics and have already signed up for ticket alerts (see tickets.2012 or something like that). I am also really pleased that the shooting is going to be at Woolwich (of the official kind, not the Saturday night, your gang is on my manor kind) and think the backdrop for the venue is going to be great - and it's in walking distance, so I don't care about the traffic!
Yes there will be some congestion when 2012 arrives. There is now (see blackwall tunnel and my hatred of lack of river crossings). But 2013 are doing what they can and all I hear is people moaning. Show some pride people, it is a great honour for London to have been chosen. The stadiums in Stratford going up look great. So, no more moaning about it. Embrace it and be proud.

Parks

At this time of year I like a wander around a park, kicking the leaves, drinking hot chocolate. For years we used to go to Greenwich Park and I do love it there but it can get rather hectic at weekends by the time you add up all the tourists, 4x4's and children.
Another park we like is Danson Park, free parking, lovely pub, lake, ducks and a great play park and given the fact that half of Greenwich seems to be being dug up at the moment it is much quicker to get there.
Our new find, however, is Hall Palace & Gardens in Bexley. It is an old Jacobean House which you can have a wander around and the gardens are stunning. We went last weekend and there were only 2 other couples in the park! So there is no play park and there is a lot of goose poo but it is stunning and it has a two great coffee shops which are very cheap and a gift shop also very cheap. Plus the House & Gardens are free to go to so great for when you have visitors!