Update Olympics, working in London.

Finally we had the meeting on the 14th of June concearning information and instructions for our work in London during the Olympics.

We were given a folder with all kinds of information and were instructed by three employees from GreaterAnglia, led by Victor Fromm. (Unfortunately I forgot the names of both ladies, I do apologize, if you should read this and know who they are, by accident,  please let me know)

Victor Fromm from Greater Anglia Acadamy

(Picture taken when he ran 10k during a charity event WorldHorseWelfare, raising money)

We were told on wich stations we will be working  (Southend Airport, Harwich International, Stansted Airport) where they are situated and how they look like, and we were taken through safety procedures and other practical issues.

It was quite intense because our native tongue isn't English and Victor can talk pretty quick.
For me it was not that hard; I'm used to James Martin from Saturday Kitchen Live and he talks five quarters in an hour, as we say overhere, with a slight Yorkshire accent.
So we had to be very alert. We were given a book, En Route, wich is like the Holy Bible during the Olympics. It has the information about everything you want to know during the Olympics. How to travel, where sporters compete, maps and a lot more.

     

                             

They gave us a pin (brooch) so everybody can see we belong to the One Team Transport. We are supposed to wear a  Magenta tabbard, but this was not available yet.

We also were given a cord for our ID Card.

(Which we don't have yet)

After the presentation from the Brits it was time for practical information during our stay. Where do we sleep, do we get accescards for transport, what about our laundry (for our uniforms)

Well, we (all 50 of us) are divided between two hotels; Hotel st. Giles, Bedford Avenue and Premier Inn, Kings Cross.

I do not know wich of the two I am staying, but both are nicely situated in the centre of London.

Because the rooms aren't too big for two persons to stay in, we all inhabit the room alone. We were all very happy to hear this, since we are away from home for nearly three weeks. It is nice to have some alone time once and a while.

Premier Inn

St. Giles

When do we leave? We leave on the 25th of July and have some more instructions at a Railway Learning Centre.

We will be returning homewards (we do not want to think about this yet, but there you are) on the 13th of August. and will be travelling from London untill Brussels with the same train as the Dutch Olympic Team!

What are we going to do overseas?

-Renting out OV  bicycles(short for Openbaar, (Public) vervoer (Transport)Special bicycles you normally rent at stations in the Netherlands. Lovation; Orange Campsite.

-We will be giving all kinds of information in our national supporters home the Holland Heineken House (HHH

-We assist our GreaterAnglia/Abellio colleagues on the stations I referred to earlier.

-We accompany Orange Fans in (espacially festive) doubledecker buses from station to HHH.

-We give assistance to our colleagues in trains.

After an intensive, fun, informative, positive (yes, yes, thank you) day, it was ended with a bit of a bite to eat and drink, followed by a  buffet of desserts (no punishement there)