Olympic Madness

--> I am still right here tucked away in the heart of Jamaica House at The O2. It’s a day of HUGE excitement. Not only did Team GB win six gold medals but it was also an awesome evening for Jamaica with gold and bronze in the women's 100m sprint! When we watched that race on the big screens it was... Incredible. 

It is also just a matter of hours now until three Jamaican superbod runners – Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake go head to head in the 100m sprint. Yikes! And it is by no means a foregone conclusion as both Asafa and Yohan ran faster than Usain in the heats today. There’s just no telling what will happen... 

Linford Christie hinted when he was here yesterday that his money was on Yohan Blake as he is the contender to the throne and therefore has more to gain and less to lose. It’s a fair assessment from Linford. Could it be that Jamaica takes bronze, silver and gold? Most people here really hope so – and I mean really hope so – and so do I because this place will go nuclear at that point and I’ll be here to be a part of it!  

Meanwhile Jamaica House continues to pulsate with a continuous line-up of musicians, dancing, food and all round Jamaican madness. So far today myself and the film crew I’m with had a demonstration of how to make some bona fide Jamaican cocktails and the famous Jerk Chicken. 

We got our very own cocktail barman Kyle Blackwood who showed us how to make a Jamaican Mule. As well as being an actor and dancer – and therefore completely unfazed by the huge camera suddenly pointing at him – Kyle has worked in bars for seven years now and has become one of those people capable of swinging bottles around in a complicated fashion. It was very impressive!

For those of you who like a cocktail the Jamaican Mule is easy to make at home. As Kyle explained, you fill a glass with ice, squeeze in the juice from two limes, add one shot of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum then fill up with ginger beer. Perfect to drink whist listening to reggae and eating Jerk Chicken, which we were also shown how to make. It’s a traditional blend of spices used to marinate the chicken, then barbequed until it comes out juicy, spicy and delicious. Yum. 

I just have to give the children of Jamaica House a mention as well. I asked a few of them today if they wouldn’t mind being filmed for a few minutes. They responded with screams of delight, saying ‘We’re going to be on the telly! We’re going to be on the telly!’ They then proceeded to give an impromptu dance performance. The boy, although tiny, could easily be mistaken for Usher. 

 

I also met another youngster who I played dominoes with and he was so smiley and lovely I swear if for some bizarre reason someone said he needed to be adopted, I would’ve offered no questions and taken him home to Scotland!

 

So… Tomorrow is all set to be a massive day at Jamaica House. Historic. Stay tuned for what will happen next…