The morning after the opening ceremony, here I was in London; still high from the emotions the event had evoked in me, moved by its passion, touched by its genuine soul, when my husband chuckled, "Have you seen the headlines in the Indian newspapers?"

So by now most agree that Beijing had money but the London Olympics opening ceremony had soul, and that it was gloriously, quirkily, quintessentially British.

The Olympics opening ceremony is a difficult gig. Unmentioned in any of the hype - pre, post, or during the interminable thing itself - is that 90% of it consists of people walking past wearing funny, though not especially hilarious, clothes and taking pictures of each other with their smart phones.

Danny Boyle and all his team played an absolute blinder. And you know the best thing? Olympic Breakfast starts in less than six hours!

Danny Boyle will etch himself on my life and the lives of millions in the UK.

Having never watched an opening ceremony to any Olympics, when a friend told me about open auditions I was excited but certainly didn't understand the enormity that was to follow.

London 2012's opening ceremony will see the Olympic Stadium "transformed into the British countryside", said the Games' artistic director Danny Boyle....