Slightly disappointing that Tim Whassisname (Vincent? Naah, too tall...) got out for 102. To me, with my limited knowledge, it seems that English batsmen seem to lose concentration after achieving a milestone (e.g., a century) in a way that other batsmen don't. It's always disappointing when a good innings comes to an end.
It is disappointing that we didn't get 350, but this would have been a "nice to have" rather than a "must".
Especially in light of the fact that the Kiwis are 11-2. Ha-ha!
TTFN.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Seismic Surprises in Team Selection...
So, I advised TW this morning on the way to work, in tones of disbelief, that Ashton (England rugby coach) was in danger of being fired. In the same incredulous tones, I advised her that they were considering dropping Wilkinson. It seems that Wilko has now been dropped (in favour of Cipriani) - which I find amazing. How long now before Ashton goes? I can only hope he does not go - it is still possible for England to come a respectable 2nd in this Six Nations, after all. It is my opinion, limited and ill-informed though it might be, that the mercurial (in the literal sense) performance of the England rugby team is due to conflicts in the coachinmg team, and I think if these are resolved, the England rugby team could - and SHOULD - perform better on the field.
In my opinion (please note previous caveats above), England rugby does not have the leaders necessary to shape a cohesive side. I recall seeing a mini-rugby tournament, where a nine-year old, playing outside centre, screamed "where's my f***ing line?!?". I think there is not enough of this urgency and reminder of the basics in the international English rugby side.
I believe it will take some time to shape these leaders, or "generals", and as a result I think English rugby could be in for a deep and prolonged funk.
Compare and contrast with the English cricket side. The two 'senior' bowlers, Harmison & Hoggard, did not perform during the first test vs. New Zealand. Hoggard is worth another punt, in my opinion. However, as much respect as I have for Harmison's past achievements, I believe that he is rudderless and lacking direction at the moment. It's almost as though he's there to complete the numbers, but he has no self-belief. The interview he gave to Sky (Nasser Hussain?) was honest and truthful, but showed Harmison to be unaware of his priorities - one minute the most important thing in his life was cricket, & the next it was his family. The guy does not know where to concentrate his efforts. Mike Selvey in the Guardian today recommended ending his test career, as harsh as that sounds, and I agree that Broad should be lined up as his replacement.
If Wilko and Harmo are both retired this week, it will be the end of an era. Two men who have achieved more than was ever expected of them, both of whom have smashed previous impressive records. However, it could be that History is claiming two heroes in one week. I hope their replacements are up to the task.
TTFN.
In my opinion (please note previous caveats above), England rugby does not have the leaders necessary to shape a cohesive side. I recall seeing a mini-rugby tournament, where a nine-year old, playing outside centre, screamed "where's my f***ing line?!?". I think there is not enough of this urgency and reminder of the basics in the international English rugby side.
I believe it will take some time to shape these leaders, or "generals", and as a result I think English rugby could be in for a deep and prolonged funk.
Compare and contrast with the English cricket side. The two 'senior' bowlers, Harmison & Hoggard, did not perform during the first test vs. New Zealand. Hoggard is worth another punt, in my opinion. However, as much respect as I have for Harmison's past achievements, I believe that he is rudderless and lacking direction at the moment. It's almost as though he's there to complete the numbers, but he has no self-belief. The interview he gave to Sky (Nasser Hussain?) was honest and truthful, but showed Harmison to be unaware of his priorities - one minute the most important thing in his life was cricket, & the next it was his family. The guy does not know where to concentrate his efforts. Mike Selvey in the Guardian today recommended ending his test career, as harsh as that sounds, and I agree that Broad should be lined up as his replacement.
If Wilko and Harmo are both retired this week, it will be the end of an era. Two men who have achieved more than was ever expected of them, both of whom have smashed previous impressive records. However, it could be that History is claiming two heroes in one week. I hope their replacements are up to the task.
TTFN.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Can you smell DOOM II?
52-4. That's at least 50% better than before, but still doesn't preclude the "humiliating defeat" option...
TTFN.
TTFN.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
I'm Holding Ma Breath...
Can England do it? With a required run rate of 3.7, and an actual RR of 9 off the first over, can we see it through to a Win? I'll probably be up until Midnight...
TTFN.
TTFN.
Shocking
England Rugby. Other words - dismal, shapeless, unplanned, unco-ordinated, chaotic, disappointing.
TTFN.
TTFN.
Ryan Sidebottom is GOD.
A hat-trick. A bloody hat-trick. And I chose Hoggard as my trump player. What a fool I was. Just goes to show, stay with what you know. The grass is not always greener... So, what odds on England to win the first test, eh?
TTFN.
TTFN.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Matters Consulting Ltd
So we got a letter the other day, advising we had won a prize from a local business, advising we had to phone a Cheltenham number to confirm/obtain our prize. Absolutely no problem with that, it was a kosher 01242 number (from memory), so phoned them out of interest. Was told that I had won a prize of gym membership, worth £750 - contingent on a weekly payment of £3.81. And, I'd won a second prize of the same, for a friend/partner - which makes for a prize value of £1,500. Went to see the gym, which wasn't at all impressive, and was told that minimum membership was two years. TWO YEARS?!? at £3.81 a week? Times two? That's £800. So, while this is not a con, it isn't worth taking up. Apparently, I've seen written, that even if you move away, you can't cancel - you have to find a gym local to your new locale which is part of the same scheme. As any number of things can change during a two-year period, I'd recommend leaving this offer well alone. You've been warned.
TTFN.
TTFN.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Diet Blues
So, still going strong on the diet after five weeks. I've gone down from 14st 3lbs (90.3kg) to 13st 5lbs (84.8kg). Mostly due to reducing alcohol intake and giving up mints at work. Apart from last Saturday, where I drank so much alcohol I was sick. That was a bit of an embarrassment, especially as it was in my parents' bathroom. Still, that's one way to get rid of the calories - and I'm sure I was lighter than on Saturday morning. I must have shifted a few hard-to-get bits of food from my intestine. I was going to post a "never drinking again" entry, but as time has lapsed, it doesn't seem so important. Isn't it always the way?
TTFN.
TTFN.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Whoops
I let go yesterday, on Shrove Tuesday. I had pancakes, fried snacks, and five glasses of wine. Way to smash that calorie barrier! I also ordered a Nokia 6500 Slide, on "3", which I'm quite pleased about. So this week to date my units are 15. With Fri & Saturday to go. And we're going to a wedding Saturday eve. Whoops indeed.
TTFN.
TTFN.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Mobile Email
So, three glasses of wine and a whisky last night makes six units by my calculations. TTFN.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
What a Disappointment...
We went into Brighton yesterday for lunch with the MiL and GiL (Mother-in-law & Grandmother-in-law). It was a nice day, if a bit cold. We went on the pier and had a go on the 2p machines for a while, and Monkey went on a Noddy ride.
We had a very nice lunch at Carluccio's, and afterwards I decided to put a bet on England to win the Six Nations.
That could be a wasted ten pounds. The first half of the game yesterday was good, but for the second half England were running around like headless chickens. Someone needed to step up and control the game for England. Balshaw needs to go. I don't like to criticise, usually, but Balshaw, despite the occasional flash of brilliance, is more of a liability than an asset. He makes the wrong decisions. And that passage where England just shooed the ball back! No leadership...
The only thing I can hope is that the awful second half makes them rethink and play the rest of the games like champions. They made the World Cup Final, for goodness' sake.
TTFN.
We had a very nice lunch at Carluccio's, and afterwards I decided to put a bet on England to win the Six Nations.
That could be a wasted ten pounds. The first half of the game yesterday was good, but for the second half England were running around like headless chickens. Someone needed to step up and control the game for England. Balshaw needs to go. I don't like to criticise, usually, but Balshaw, despite the occasional flash of brilliance, is more of a liability than an asset. He makes the wrong decisions. And that passage where England just shooed the ball back! No leadership...
The only thing I can hope is that the awful second half makes them rethink and play the rest of the games like champions. They made the World Cup Final, for goodness' sake.
TTFN.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
New Year's Resolutions & Diets
So, I'm managing to keep up my prolific posting in 2008 (not)...
One thing I have started doing is counting the calories. TW is on a Rosemary Conley diet, and I am also cutting down on my intake. I reckon, according to the BMI scale of things, I could do with losing a stone and a half. So mostly, apart from not eating crisps at work, this has meant less booze.
Where I would normally have a bottle of wine per night, I now have a measure of malt whisky (35ml, of course), and a bottle of wine at the weekend will last me two nights. In the first week I had 16 and 1/2 units, and this week I'm on course for 18. Which is quite a reduction from the 35 - 40 that I was getting through.
This week I only lost 1lb, but we're staying on the diet until July at least, so if I lose 1lb a week every week, I should hit my target weight. And then TW will have hit her target so we'll be trying for a third child after that.
I have a soft spot for Extra Strong Mints, normally eating a packet a day in work. I didn't realise, until yesterday, that there are 200 calories in a packet! So I'm going to have to find a calorie-free alternative.
TTFN.
One thing I have started doing is counting the calories. TW is on a Rosemary Conley diet, and I am also cutting down on my intake. I reckon, according to the BMI scale of things, I could do with losing a stone and a half. So mostly, apart from not eating crisps at work, this has meant less booze.
Where I would normally have a bottle of wine per night, I now have a measure of malt whisky (35ml, of course), and a bottle of wine at the weekend will last me two nights. In the first week I had 16 and 1/2 units, and this week I'm on course for 18. Which is quite a reduction from the 35 - 40 that I was getting through.
This week I only lost 1lb, but we're staying on the diet until July at least, so if I lose 1lb a week every week, I should hit my target weight. And then TW will have hit her target so we'll be trying for a third child after that.
I have a soft spot for Extra Strong Mints, normally eating a packet a day in work. I didn't realise, until yesterday, that there are 200 calories in a packet! So I'm going to have to find a calorie-free alternative.
TTFN.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Baby Training
God, Life is tough.
Not only is this my last week in this department, but at home we've decided to potty-train Monkey, as well as cot-train Tiger.
Monkey's two and a half years old now, and she goes to playgroup, so we've decided it's about time she got out of nappies. And to be honest, she's taking to it like a duck to water. She's had a couple of accidents, but TW has taken them in her stride, and she had no accidents at playgroup yesterday - result! She's really changed over the last couple of weeks, and is now a little girl rather than a toddler or a baby.
Tiger, on the other hand, has been mostly sleeping in bed with us for the last nine months. So we've decided that she needs to go into her room - otherwise, what's the point of a three-bedroomed house? Unfortunately, she had other ideas. Although, we only started on Sunday and last night she slept from 22:00 - 00:30 and then from 01:30 - 06:30, which is pretty good for three days' work.
Because I've been working hard closing off items and handing off knowledge, though, it's been quite a tiring week...
TTFN.
Not only is this my last week in this department, but at home we've decided to potty-train Monkey, as well as cot-train Tiger.
Monkey's two and a half years old now, and she goes to playgroup, so we've decided it's about time she got out of nappies. And to be honest, she's taking to it like a duck to water. She's had a couple of accidents, but TW has taken them in her stride, and she had no accidents at playgroup yesterday - result! She's really changed over the last couple of weeks, and is now a little girl rather than a toddler or a baby.
Tiger, on the other hand, has been mostly sleeping in bed with us for the last nine months. So we've decided that she needs to go into her room - otherwise, what's the point of a three-bedroomed house? Unfortunately, she had other ideas. Although, we only started on Sunday and last night she slept from 22:00 - 00:30 and then from 01:30 - 06:30, which is pretty good for three days' work.
Because I've been working hard closing off items and handing off knowledge, though, it's been quite a tiring week...
TTFN.
Happy Blogday!!!
So, it was my Blogday on Tuesday. I think I've been doing this, on & off, for three years.
I've decided that this year I am going to reduce my alcohol intake, and started on Monday with one bottle of Corona and a 35ml serving of Famous Grouse. Certainly beats a bottle of rioja!
On Tuesday I had a Corona and 2x35ml serving of Famous Grouse.
Last night, unfortunately, I had five small glasses of red wine, slightly denting my good intentions. However, TW is starting a Rosemary Conley diet tonight, so I will be a (unwilling?) participant in that, which will reduce my alcohol intake further...
I have a litre of Bowmore which I bought in Portugal, which I was looking forward to getting into, so that's a bit of a shame... Might have to wait until March or so before starting it.
TTFN
I've decided that this year I am going to reduce my alcohol intake, and started on Monday with one bottle of Corona and a 35ml serving of Famous Grouse. Certainly beats a bottle of rioja!
On Tuesday I had a Corona and 2x35ml serving of Famous Grouse.
Last night, unfortunately, I had five small glasses of red wine, slightly denting my good intentions. However, TW is starting a Rosemary Conley diet tonight, so I will be a (unwilling?) participant in that, which will reduce my alcohol intake further...
I have a litre of Bowmore which I bought in Portugal, which I was looking forward to getting into, so that's a bit of a shame... Might have to wait until March or so before starting it.
TTFN
Monday, December 31, 2007
Monkey & Tiger
So I was washing up last night, with TW, when we heard Monkey & Tiger laughing like drains. We went through to the other room, and saw that Monkey (2 1/2) was shouting 'boo'! at Tiger, which Tiger (9 months yesterday) found hilariously funny. They kept at this for five or ten minutes. It made us smile...
TTFN.
TTFN.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
All Good Intentions
Well, it's that time of year again when we make resolutions which are to be broken. Mine, unfortunately, is to post more to my blog.
How was Christmas, you ask? Very nice, thank you. Spent it with my parents, which was quiet and relaxed. Went to TW's Mum for Boxing Day, and got lots of prezzies for Monkey & Tiger.
We went to the sales yesterday, which was a good option, as we got lots of stuff in M&S for less than half price. We play a game, where we add up the full price of everything, and then compare it to the sales prices. I think yesterday we got £196 worth of goods for £78, which is nice - and the shops still make money, which is the odd thing.
So, looking forward to 2008? I start a new job on 14th Jan, which is Mum's birthday, incidentally. It should be good.
TTFN. And expect more of the same, more often...
How was Christmas, you ask? Very nice, thank you. Spent it with my parents, which was quiet and relaxed. Went to TW's Mum for Boxing Day, and got lots of prezzies for Monkey & Tiger.
We went to the sales yesterday, which was a good option, as we got lots of stuff in M&S for less than half price. We play a game, where we add up the full price of everything, and then compare it to the sales prices. I think yesterday we got £196 worth of goods for £78, which is nice - and the shops still make money, which is the odd thing.
So, looking forward to 2008? I start a new job on 14th Jan, which is Mum's birthday, incidentally. It should be good.
TTFN. And expect more of the same, more often...
Saturday, October 13, 2007
We're in the Final
Well, I went to the bookies today. The odds on England to win weren't high enough - only 9-4. The odds weren't high enough. I knew we could beat France, but the odds weren't rewarding enough. So I've bet (at 7-1) that England are going to win the whole shooting match.
Yup, folks, you read that right. England to retain the World Cup. I only bet £3, so would win £20. It's the principle. Let's stand up fo England.
TaTa until I pick up my winnings.
Yup, folks, you read that right. England to retain the World Cup. I only bet £3, so would win £20. It's the principle. Let's stand up fo England.
TaTa until I pick up my winnings.
Monday, October 08, 2007
England Beat Australia - Rugby Update
So, apparently the Aussies have been whinging about being beaten by a below-strength England rugby team. If England were 'below strength', what does that imply about the Aussie team?
Try again in 2011, boys.
TTFN.
Try again in 2011, boys.
TTFN.
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