Although I have always shared an early morning wave with our neighbours as we've sped out of the driveway on the way to school, we haven't really gotten to know them all that well in the time that we have been here. The houses on our street all face in different directions and as is the way with busy families our schedules do not tally so as to see each other all that often. A quick wave in the morning or a 'hello' as one of us jogs past the other, perhaps most embarrassingly the occasion where we went away for two weeks leaving the front door wide open and panicking the neighbour opposite into calling the police!
Today was different and in the best possible way. As everyone who lives within Copenhagen knows, this week has bought with it the World Cycle Championship and with that has been the opportunity to stop and enjoy a world wide event on the doorstep. Living in Rudersdal as we do, meant that for the last week we have been gearing up for the weekend of races. If you know me you will know that this has meant quite a bit of disruption and a lot of train journeys and I out of naivety, haven't exactly been too enthusiastic about the race coming to our house.
It began for us yesterday with the junior race and the women's race and a taster as to what to expect for the men's race the following day. It didn't take too long for the boys to decide that they would make a little pocket money by selling food at the side of the road so we immediately set out on foot for the local supermarket, returning laden down with sugar, flour and other ingredients. What a novel experience it was, all the roads are shut and so although we were hesitating at first, it was great to make our way to the store along the main road free from the perils of cars and one of us very grateful to have a clear smooth road to test his scooter on.
Today started early with the loud speaker attached to our lamp post announcing that the riders were getting ready to begin in the city centre and the commentators getting into their pre race pep talk. We made our way out into the street ready to set up house on the driveway alongside many of our neighbours in what was warming up to be a glorious day of Danish sunshine. Before we had even finished filling the thermos with coffee and laying out the sheepskin blankets, our neighbour across the road came over to wish us luck and offer a warming shot of bitters, the spirits were quite literally heating up. Our little shopkeeper set up house next to the driveway with cupcakes and cinnamon rolls, anticipating great things and planning what he would buy with all his new wealth.
There followed many hours of wandering up and down the road to watch the cyclists careering down the back streets at speeds far greater than those I have ever reached in my car. It really is quite something to be standing so close to 200 plus men whizzing past you, cycling so close that just one wrong move and like domino's they would easily cascade to the ground. The smell of burning rubber filled the air each time they went by, so fast were they going. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere on the street with supporters from all over the world flocking down to Rudersdal to cheer on their home nations, everyone joking and admiring each other's costumes.
Two rounds to go and the anticipation was immense as the commentary became ever more enthusiastic and it all become very tense. We strategically viewed the cyclists for the last round, chatting before they came past with people in the crowd, all wishing each other luck whilst secretly hoping the glory would be our own. Then it was a race back up the hill, toddler in arms and small child on the hand running to find space in the now enormous crowd in order to watch the climax of the afternoon's event. The tension was palpable as the cyclists neared the finishing line, a noisy silence filling the air. Then came the finish, for someone who had spent the week complaining about having to take the train due to the roads being closed I could hardly wait to see if we would win.
We did! With my 5 year old on hip we jumped and cheered and celebrated the victory of team GB in the middle of the crowd, in the middle of the street, in the middle of our neighbourhood. It was great, and such a special experience to have here in Denmark. A real sense of 'home' coming through the speakers as the British National Anthem played loud and proud from the speaker on our Danish lamp post. The afternoon finished with congratulations and smiles from our neighbours, a sense of camaraderie that we didn't have before has begun to grow and Denmark was beautiful as it always is when the sun shines.
Today was different and in the best possible way. As everyone who lives within Copenhagen knows, this week has bought with it the World Cycle Championship and with that has been the opportunity to stop and enjoy a world wide event on the doorstep. Living in Rudersdal as we do, meant that for the last week we have been gearing up for the weekend of races. If you know me you will know that this has meant quite a bit of disruption and a lot of train journeys and I out of naivety, haven't exactly been too enthusiastic about the race coming to our house.
It began for us yesterday with the junior race and the women's race and a taster as to what to expect for the men's race the following day. It didn't take too long for the boys to decide that they would make a little pocket money by selling food at the side of the road so we immediately set out on foot for the local supermarket, returning laden down with sugar, flour and other ingredients. What a novel experience it was, all the roads are shut and so although we were hesitating at first, it was great to make our way to the store along the main road free from the perils of cars and one of us very grateful to have a clear smooth road to test his scooter on.
Today started early with the loud speaker attached to our lamp post announcing that the riders were getting ready to begin in the city centre and the commentators getting into their pre race pep talk. We made our way out into the street ready to set up house on the driveway alongside many of our neighbours in what was warming up to be a glorious day of Danish sunshine. Before we had even finished filling the thermos with coffee and laying out the sheepskin blankets, our neighbour across the road came over to wish us luck and offer a warming shot of bitters, the spirits were quite literally heating up. Our little shopkeeper set up house next to the driveway with cupcakes and cinnamon rolls, anticipating great things and planning what he would buy with all his new wealth.
There followed many hours of wandering up and down the road to watch the cyclists careering down the back streets at speeds far greater than those I have ever reached in my car. It really is quite something to be standing so close to 200 plus men whizzing past you, cycling so close that just one wrong move and like domino's they would easily cascade to the ground. The smell of burning rubber filled the air each time they went by, so fast were they going. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere on the street with supporters from all over the world flocking down to Rudersdal to cheer on their home nations, everyone joking and admiring each other's costumes.
Two rounds to go and the anticipation was immense as the commentary became ever more enthusiastic and it all become very tense. We strategically viewed the cyclists for the last round, chatting before they came past with people in the crowd, all wishing each other luck whilst secretly hoping the glory would be our own. Then it was a race back up the hill, toddler in arms and small child on the hand running to find space in the now enormous crowd in order to watch the climax of the afternoon's event. The tension was palpable as the cyclists neared the finishing line, a noisy silence filling the air. Then came the finish, for someone who had spent the week complaining about having to take the train due to the roads being closed I could hardly wait to see if we would win.
We did! With my 5 year old on hip we jumped and cheered and celebrated the victory of team GB in the middle of the crowd, in the middle of the street, in the middle of our neighbourhood. It was great, and such a special experience to have here in Denmark. A real sense of 'home' coming through the speakers as the British National Anthem played loud and proud from the speaker on our Danish lamp post. The afternoon finished with congratulations and smiles from our neighbours, a sense of camaraderie that we didn't have before has begun to grow and Denmark was beautiful as it always is when the sun shines.
