Postcard from London: Big Ben doesn’t disappoint

This is Big Ben. He had a better season last year than the other one from Pittsburgh and definitely hasn’t been involved in as much off-field hanky panky. This sturdy fellow actually had not rung off schedule for 60 years until sounding the Opening Ceremonies of the London Games on Friday night.

The clock tower that sits at the House of Parliament was completed in 1859. Its official name is The Great Bell. The guy in Pittsburgh has been called the The Great Boob by women everywhere.

My daughter is fascinated with the London version. She begged me to spend the 45 minutes of trains and walking to reach it. I did and telephoned her from it. She was very excited despite the early hour back home. She asked my assessment.

“It’s a really big clock,” I said. I then got back on the train.

The things we do for our kids.

Photo by Ed Graney.

(Ed Graney is covering the Olympics in London for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney. More Olympics coverage can be found at lvrj.com/olympics.)