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We have been in Beijing for 36 hours now and it has been non-stop excitement!

We had a good flight from Heathrow and amazingly all 50kg of my kit and bits and pieces made it too.

A few hours later my emotions started to run pretty high when we went down to the rowing course to rig our boat and test out the water.

The massive logistical operation that it has been for the boatmen and everyone in the British Rowing offices to get our stuff out here has gone extremely smoothly.

The boat, which left us almost three months ago now, emerged from the container still in mint condition.

It feels very different now that we are finally here. Getting out on the water is the best bit because we can just focus on ourselves and our own boat and leave all the razzmatazz and distractions behind. Everything is clear and simple; all that matters is trying to make the boat go as fast as possible.

The course itself is fantastic. It has all been built especially for these Games, and there are almost as many volunteers as rowers to help in any way they can.

The jetlag was kicking in a little bit by the time we got home, though, so it was straight to dinner and a good night's sleep.

Today (after training!) we went to the Olympic Village to have a look around and get a feel for what we are about to enter into. It is amazing, everything you would ever dream it to be like.

The biggest dining hall in the world lives up to the highest expectations. I marked my arrival with a couple of Peking duck pancakes, but I'm leaving the ice cream until after racing has finished.

This is probably the best place for people-watching. Everyone just looks totally primed and ready to go, at the physical peaks of the lives (apart from the coaches!)

The Team GB accommodation is fantastic as well. The BOA has done an amazing job setting everything up to be as comfortable and homely as possible - there is even a big red telephone box which is just the icing on the cake.

It feels that everyone is right behind us to help us in any way they can to help us perform at our best. This really is an athlete's dream.
We are finally here. It is the Olympics!

To breathe it, to smell it, to see it, to live it, it is everything I ever hoped and more. One moment, walking around the village, I thought to myself: Yes, it really is worth four years for this.