Tokyo Olympics New Start #15 - United Kingdom

Hello all!

So, we're into the last three days of the Olympics, with athletics, diving and cycling on my radar. I did watch a bit of the climbing but that didn't really appeal to me, although the kayak racing provided an interesting adrenaline rush!

My accompanying start was home grown:

United Kingdom from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stiched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 79 wide by 73 high

Started - 6th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 50 minutes

It felt good to make a start on one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, although I'm not sure the colour is exactly right!!

Fun Olympic Fact

We're always aware of the winning times in events, but what about the slowest?

The longest time taken to finish an Olympic marathon is 54 years, 8 months and 6 days! Kanakuri Shizo started the marathon in 1912 but stopped part way through and fell asleep, missing the remainder of the race. After going home to Japan, he was eventually tracked down and returned to Stockholm to finish the course in 1967. Nowadays events such as this have a cut-off point, so this time will remain a record.

Tomorrow I'm hopping across the Pond...

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #14 - Shell Cottage

Hello again!

Another day of great sports yesterday - track and field, diving, skateboarding, and even a bit of rock climbing which, although I didn't find very interesting, was miles better than watching golf!

My new start was the fourth of the planned Harry Potter themed snow globes. This is Shell Cottage where Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour lived after their marriage. It's also the location of Dobby's grave :(

Shell Cottage Snow Globe by MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Grey Swirl over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 91 high

Started - 5th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

For a bit of variety I thought I'd better start on a part other than the outside, so here's a little bit of the cottage itself. Without any backstitching it looks a bit like a spooky castle!

Fun Olympic Fact

In the inaugural 1896 Athens Olympics there were 241 competitors. By Rome 1960 that number topped 5,000, and by Atlanta 1996 10,000. In Tokyo 11,090 athletes were registered, slightly down on Rio 2016, but that was only to be expected. With so many athletes participating across an increasing number of sports, no wonder the Olympics has become so expensive to host!

Now to start counting down the final three days of Olympics and the final three new starts. And I'm looking forward to them all!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #13 - Russia

Hi all!

More Olympic sporting action on in the background yesterday, some of which I just let play (eg boxing) and some of which I actually stopped to watch, including athletics and the skateboarding for some reason.

My new start continued my journey around the world, this time stopping off in Russia:

Russia from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 73 wide by 71 high

Started - 4th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

I'm so grateful I managed more than 5 minutes on this one!

Fun Olympic Fact

Dimitrios Loundras holds the record as being the official youngest male competitor and official youngest male medallist in the summer Olympics. He was 10 years and 218 days old when he was part of Greece's bronze-winning gymnastics team in the 1896 Athens Olympics.

For women, the same two records are held by Luigina Giavotti who was 11 years and 301 days old when she helped the Italian gymnastic team win silver in the 1928 Los Angeles Olympics.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #12 - Privet Drive

Hi all!

So we're into the last few days of the Olympics now, no doubt a blessing for those who are fed up with the coverage and me harping on about it every day!

My new start today was absolutely tiny, 17 half stitches to be precise, and hardly worth showing, but I had a very good excuse - I was cradling one of my feather-babies until the end, something which was very important for me to do. After that I didn't feel like stitching.  :(

This is Privet Drive, another of the Harry Potter themed snow globes. For those who don't know, Privet Drive was where Harry lived with his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin, until he went off to Hogwarts. He occasionally returned during school holidays but was never welcomed, nor wanted to return, so it was better for all if he spent his holidays elsewhere.

Privet Drive Snow Globe my MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Swirl Grey over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 82 high

Started - 3rd August 2021

Stitching time to date - 5 minutes!!

Such a small start it's hardly worth showing, and I think it's my worst new start ever! But as people have said before, a start is a start!

Fun Olympic Fact

The Tokyo Olympics is the first time that the number of events for females and mixed teams has surpassed the number for men. In the first Olympics in 1896, no events for women were held. It took until Montreal in 1976 for female and mixed events to reach 25%+, then Atlanta 1996 to reach 40%+, and now Tokyo 2020 to reach 50%+. Guess the world has finally realised women deserve equal footing on the sporting stage.

I don't know about you, but I enjoyed watching the mixed relays in swimming, running and the triathlon. Yes, men are usually going to be faster/stronger/etc. but there have been mixed events in things like badminton and tennis for a while, so why not more sports?

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #11 - Netherlands

Hello again!

I'm continuing to watch as much of the Olympics as possible, no matter what the sport. It's quite nice to have the athletics on, and even without a crowd the atmosphere seems to be doing its job of creating record after record. And is it me, or do the athletes seem to be congratulating each other more than usual? Guess they're all just pleased to be there.

I only managed a small amount on this new piece, which was a shame as I was really looking forward to making a good start on the windmill:

Netherlands from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 78 wide by 69 high

Started - 2nd August 2021

Stitching time to date - 20 minutes

Out of all my new starts so far, apart from the dragon, I think this is the one I'm most looking forward to returning to.

Fun Olympic Fact

The most successful family to compete at the Summer Olympics were father and son Oscar and Alfred Swahn. Between 1908 and 1924 they won 15 medals - 6 gold, 4 silver 5 bronze - mostly in shooting.

Two other families have each won 14 medals - Aladar Gerevich, his wife, Erna, his son, Pal, and his father-in-law, Albert, won 7 golds, 2 silvers and 5 bronzes in fencing between 1912 and 1980, and Takashi Ono and his wife, Kiyoko, won 5 golds, 4 silvers and 5 bronzes in gymnastics between 1952 and 1964 (although to be fair, Takashi won all but one bronze himself!)

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #10 - Mouse Reading Scroll

Hello again!

Day 10 already and all seems to be going well with the Olympics... unless, of course, the press have been banned from reporting anything negative! I know it was reported most Japanese did not want the Olympics to go ahead, but hopefully some of them have now changed their minds and have been enjoying the sporting events in their home nation.

For day 10 I started another Merry Mouse, not on a train this time, but from the comfort of my settee!

Mouse Reading Scroll from Merry Mice by CutePatternsByMaria (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Glacier over-dyed aida

Stitch count 55 wide by 31 high

Started - 1st August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 35 minutes

I only managed to stitch some of his head, but that's OK.

Fun Olympic Fact

There is no doubt that the USA has the largest medal haul in the history of the modern Olympics. However, that's a bit unfair when some countries have not competed as many times, and when border changes have meant some countries no longer exist and others have been born.

Therefore, a fairer way is to average out the medal haul by dividing the total by the number of times the country has participated. In which case, the USSR are/were the most successful medal-winning country in the history of the summer Olympics.

[Oh, I LOVE statistics, and could become lost studying the fascinating medal tables I have found!]

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #9 - Mouse Lighting Candle

Hi all!

Not much watching of the Olympics yesterday as I wasn't at home and couldn't really have the TV on where I was. I'm sad to have missed a day, but admit I've been extremely lucky to have caught as much as I have so far.

My new start was a mouse you might recognize. He's one of a set of 30 mice designs, two of which I started last year during the Spring Into Summer New Start Binge. This is the first of two I will be starting during the Tokyo Olympics:

Mouse Lighting Candle from Merry Mice by CutePatternsByMaria (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Glacier over-dyed aida

Stitch count 39 wide by 70 high

Started - 31st July 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

I started with the easy bit and didn't make a bad start considering it was stitched on early morning trains!

Another mouse to come tomorrow.  :)

Fun Olympic Fact

At the moment, Athens 2004 holds the record for being the hottest Summer Olympics with temperatures reaching an average of 27.6C and a high of 34.2C. During the Tokyo Olympics, daily temperatures are forecast to be between 30C and 35C so will easily take the record; no wonder the athletes all look so exhausted!

Take care,

Rachel x