Olympic Defences

First it was surface to air missile batteries on apartment blocks and in parks around the Olympic Stadium and Village.  Then, yesterday, for the first time since World War II a British warship was brought into the Thames to defend the city.   It wasn't any old Navy ship either.  It was the largest one in the Royal Navy, the amphibious assault ship, HMS Ocean.

Mind you, the HMS Ocean wasn't designed for river duty.  So, it only just managed to just squeeze through the Thames Barrier.  Had it been a mere 10 or 15 feet wider, it would not now be moored at Greenwich ready to take part in the police and military Olympic defence exercises going on this weekend.

We've been warned that over the long weekend, there will be helicopters and war planes flying over the city and police and military vehicles in the streets.  We went for a walk along the Thames this morning and came across some of the river exercises.  First a landing craft of some sort went by.  Then, as we crossed over Tower Bridge six black speed boats complete with machine guns and men dressed in black with balaclavas covering their faces sped out of the Navy base and up the Thames.

A few days ago, I heard a racket over head.  I went to the window to see what was up.  A jumbo jet being escorted by two military jets, one on either side, was flying over head.  This may have been an exercise to reassure, but looking straight up at their underbellies, I wasn't so assured.  I mean where would it have left me and our neighbours if they had decided to shoot it down just then!