Why do we have Bank Holidays? They are a hangover from a time when the working man (and occasionally woman) was given 3 hours holiday a year by his Capitalist scumdog millowner boss, and the more liberal of our rulers decided that just wasn't on.
So we now get 3 days off in the coldest & darkest time of the year, 2 days off when if you're lucky the sun might come out for an hour or two in between howling gales and driving rain, an utterly pointless day off at the beginning of May - although that one tends to have the best weather of the lot, 1 day off at the end of May - again not bad weather, but looking out the window it just looks dull and probably not very warm. Then a day off at the end of August - it nearly always rains.
I say grant every working person the right to take the 8 days whenever they want in addition to whatever they're given by their employer, unless they already get over 6 weeks, in which case the additional days can be reduced pro-rata. That way I wouldn't be sat here bored typing this, I would've taken the day in middle of July. So what if the everyone decided the same, shut the country for a week in the niddle of June/July!
.................................................................................
I've just been told that B's son's 40th birthday charabanc to Sandown races doesn't get back to the pub reception until 7pm. We'll be at the race course for 6 hours! Gawd help me. It also means I'm almost certain to miss at least the first half of Ingurland v USA. Damn, bugger, bastard, etc etc. B doesn't see what all the fuss is about so I'll have to grin and bear it!
.................................................................................
31 May 2010
16 May 2010
Just when you thought there was a chance...
Lord Triesman and his big mouth may well have cost England the chance to host the World Cup in 2018. FIFA have a long history of ignoring our applications to host the tournament and there is a justified perception of anti English bias emanating from the organisation.
Following his convoluted allegations that the Spanish are conspring with the Russians over bribing referees and getting 2018 awarded to the Russians, whether or not there is any grain of truth in it, you can kiss goodbye to the World Cup being held in the country that gave the game to the world for the first time in over 50 years!
Triesman should be publically flogged at the very least, useless piece of stuffed shirt buffoonery that he is.
Following his convoluted allegations that the Spanish are conspring with the Russians over bribing referees and getting 2018 awarded to the Russians, whether or not there is any grain of truth in it, you can kiss goodbye to the World Cup being held in the country that gave the game to the world for the first time in over 50 years!
Triesman should be publically flogged at the very least, useless piece of stuffed shirt buffoonery that he is.
11 May 2010
The South African Adventure begins, or Sheepskin in absentia....
So, here it is, Capello's provisional 30 man squad from which the eventual 23 man squad for the tournament will be drawn:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney
Although FIFA rules allow for inclusions in the final 23 that are not in the 30, one can assume that barring injury in the interim, this is it! And there are some surprises too.
Leighton Baines has had a fine season in sometimes trying circumstances, and with Wayne Bridge's withdrawal, is natural cover for Cashley.
Biggest surprise for me is Jamie Carragher, a man who said not so long ago that he didn't care about England, and actually retired from international duty. Couldn't be bothered helping us qualify, but now we're there... what a c**t. Doesn't deserve a place either on form or loyalty so what the hell is he doing here? On a purely footballing level he is is too old and slow, and won't get away with hauling down players in South Africa. One hopes he doesn't make the plane, if he does ahead of Dawson, it will be a disgrace. If only it was Paul Scholes coming out of retirement!
Michael Dawson has had a great season with Spurs and thoroughly deserves his place.
Some might say Ledley King is a risk as he cannot train, but form dictates he should have a place, and in any case is he any more injury prone now than Ferdinand? Probably a better player too.
Joe Cole - I thought this World Cup would pass him by, but I'm glad Capello's included him as his experience will prove invaluable.
Tom Huddlestone - another player in on the back of Spurs' exploits this season, and offers something different to the all too predictable fare sometimes served by Lumps & Stevie G.
Adam Johnson - seen very little of this guy, but what I have seen shows a fine football brain in development, and unlike the other out and out wingers in the squad, appears to be able to cross the ball. Lennon is improving in this area though.
Scott Parker - carried The Hammers at times this season, will probably move in the summer. As with Huddlestone offers something different. Every team needs a scrapper in midfield.
Darren Bent was probably always going to get the fifth striker berth after a good season with unfashionable Sunderland, but will probably be left at home.
So - My 7 to be left behind, assuming everyone is match fit:
Hart (his time will come)
Carragher (PLEASE!)
King (Despite what I said above, he will probably strain something while putting his socks on, and you'd be crossing everything at 50/50 balls, or, would he play 2 or 3 games in quick succession and then have to miss the important one, thus unsetlling the defence? Too risky. A shame because he's the best defensive footballer in the squad by a mile, Ferdinand included.)
Warnock
One of the 3 right wingers, depends on performances between now and then, but preferably SWP.
Johnson (his time will come too)
Bent
Bring it on!!!!!
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney
Although FIFA rules allow for inclusions in the final 23 that are not in the 30, one can assume that barring injury in the interim, this is it! And there are some surprises too.
Leighton Baines has had a fine season in sometimes trying circumstances, and with Wayne Bridge's withdrawal, is natural cover for Cashley.
Biggest surprise for me is Jamie Carragher, a man who said not so long ago that he didn't care about England, and actually retired from international duty. Couldn't be bothered helping us qualify, but now we're there... what a c**t. Doesn't deserve a place either on form or loyalty so what the hell is he doing here? On a purely footballing level he is is too old and slow, and won't get away with hauling down players in South Africa. One hopes he doesn't make the plane, if he does ahead of Dawson, it will be a disgrace. If only it was Paul Scholes coming out of retirement!
Michael Dawson has had a great season with Spurs and thoroughly deserves his place.
Some might say Ledley King is a risk as he cannot train, but form dictates he should have a place, and in any case is he any more injury prone now than Ferdinand? Probably a better player too.
Joe Cole - I thought this World Cup would pass him by, but I'm glad Capello's included him as his experience will prove invaluable.
Tom Huddlestone - another player in on the back of Spurs' exploits this season, and offers something different to the all too predictable fare sometimes served by Lumps & Stevie G.
Adam Johnson - seen very little of this guy, but what I have seen shows a fine football brain in development, and unlike the other out and out wingers in the squad, appears to be able to cross the ball. Lennon is improving in this area though.
Scott Parker - carried The Hammers at times this season, will probably move in the summer. As with Huddlestone offers something different. Every team needs a scrapper in midfield.
Darren Bent was probably always going to get the fifth striker berth after a good season with unfashionable Sunderland, but will probably be left at home.
So - My 7 to be left behind, assuming everyone is match fit:
Hart (his time will come)
Carragher (PLEASE!)
King (Despite what I said above, he will probably strain something while putting his socks on, and you'd be crossing everything at 50/50 balls, or, would he play 2 or 3 games in quick succession and then have to miss the important one, thus unsetlling the defence? Too risky. A shame because he's the best defensive footballer in the squad by a mile, Ferdinand included.)
Warnock
One of the 3 right wingers, depends on performances between now and then, but preferably SWP.
Johnson (his time will come too)
Bent
Bring it on!!!!!
7 May 2010
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
Well, it's over, bar an awful lot of shouting.
It seems that Cleggmania was a perception but unfortunately not a reality. Either the media picked up the wrong signals, and I don't think they did, or many voters considering voting Lib Dem changed their minds at the last minute to vote for one of the two "old" parties. A chance for real change in our lumbering outdated political system has been lost, and personally I feel gutted.
In my seat of Northampton North, the perception, as it was nationally, was that the Lib Dem would win. As it turned out the Tory turned a small Labour majority into a Tory majority of just 1936. There was a mere 549 votes between the sitting Labour MP and the Lib Dem in third place. Very disappointing.
Clegg is now in a strange position. He must feel very disappointed, not to mention knackered, but excited as well as he now has the opportunity to play kingmaker. I have just heard him make a speech on the steps of Lib Dem HQ in London saying "It is now for the Conservative Party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest". To do this they need the Lib Dems on board in some guise. Whether this is in the form a coalition, which in my view is highly unlikely, or as a less formal alliance, at least we should see the worst excesses of Cameron's chinless wonders reigned in. If Cameron has any political nous he should offer the Lib Dems a referendum on voting change while making it clear his party will campaign against it. If I were Clegg I would accept that. What the country needs is a period of stable government in the face of an economic shitstorm heading our way.
Brown however remains Prime Minister until he resigns. Any attempt by Brown to desperately cling on to power with an unworkable alliance of all the minor parties and the Lib Dems would be viewed with dismay by the vast majority of voters, especially those of us old enough to remember the disasterous year of political turmoil that was 1974.
The Rubbish Party still like beer, and are off to the pub to drown their sorrows......
It seems that Cleggmania was a perception but unfortunately not a reality. Either the media picked up the wrong signals, and I don't think they did, or many voters considering voting Lib Dem changed their minds at the last minute to vote for one of the two "old" parties. A chance for real change in our lumbering outdated political system has been lost, and personally I feel gutted.
In my seat of Northampton North, the perception, as it was nationally, was that the Lib Dem would win. As it turned out the Tory turned a small Labour majority into a Tory majority of just 1936. There was a mere 549 votes between the sitting Labour MP and the Lib Dem in third place. Very disappointing.
Clegg is now in a strange position. He must feel very disappointed, not to mention knackered, but excited as well as he now has the opportunity to play kingmaker. I have just heard him make a speech on the steps of Lib Dem HQ in London saying "It is now for the Conservative Party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest". To do this they need the Lib Dems on board in some guise. Whether this is in the form a coalition, which in my view is highly unlikely, or as a less formal alliance, at least we should see the worst excesses of Cameron's chinless wonders reigned in. If Cameron has any political nous he should offer the Lib Dems a referendum on voting change while making it clear his party will campaign against it. If I were Clegg I would accept that. What the country needs is a period of stable government in the face of an economic shitstorm heading our way.
Brown however remains Prime Minister until he resigns. Any attempt by Brown to desperately cling on to power with an unworkable alliance of all the minor parties and the Lib Dems would be viewed with dismay by the vast majority of voters, especially those of us old enough to remember the disasterous year of political turmoil that was 1974.
The Rubbish Party still like beer, and are off to the pub to drown their sorrows......
4 May 2010
The Bryden Two-Step
Me & PH went to a decidedly average beer fest held in our present hostelry of choice, the Victoria Inn last Saturday night. We walked home from t'pub in a freezing downpour, about 1.75 miles all told. No problemo for yours truly as I walk everywhere, being one of those weird people who don't drive. However since stumbling out of bed on Sunday morning (remarkably headache free-ish) my right knee has been giving me all kinds of grief, to the point where I now find it f**king painful going up and particularly down stairs.
I can't remember it hurting at all on the march home, but that may have been the cumulative numbing effects of beer. Maybe I should take my kneecap off and have a quick poke about with a screwdriver? Suggestions on a postcard please.
......................................................
The current trend for male office workers of all ages to shuffle about tie-less really bugs me for some reason. Being a lifelong desk troll, I have always worn a tie to work, unless the weather is very warm. Now I can get used to not wearing a tie if just in shirt sleeves, but what I don't like is these lazy bleeders wearing jackets on top of a shirt with no tie. To my jaundiced eyes, it simply looks scruffy, like you've left the house in such a hurry you've forgotten to finish getting dressed.
Cameron & Clegg are both guilty of this but Brown at least makes the effort to put a tie on. Bill Turnbull on BBC Breakfast News is another highline culprit. You'd think at his age he'd know better.
Support the tie making industry now - PUT A TIE ON!!
.......................................................
Now this is going to sound sexist, but I can assure you it is a fact. As pointed out above, due to a complete lcak of hnad eye cooridantion I don't drive, so I walk to work every day. This involves crossing a lot of side roads coming off the main thoroughfare to town. I'd say about 50% of the time some kind soul will wave you across, and I acknowledge their courtesy with a wave.
Here comes the sexist bit - 9 times out of 10 the driver letting you cross is a man. Given that we're talking school run time here, when probably at least half the drivers are female, this is disproportionately weighted in favour of the bloke, doncha think? Sometimes you can look a driver in the eye and he (mostly it is) will slow down and wave you across, but women? No chance. They seem to have tunnel vision and either don't see you, or if you mistakenly think they are waving you across will then attempt to turn you into roadkill, and proceed to blame you for daring to step into their path!! OK - I have got sexist now, but the general premise holds I'm afraid.
......................................
An unemployed Latvian astro-physicist told me the chavs killed Michael Jackson.
Vote for The Rubbish Party - liking beer since 1975.
......................................
I can't remember it hurting at all on the march home, but that may have been the cumulative numbing effects of beer. Maybe I should take my kneecap off and have a quick poke about with a screwdriver? Suggestions on a postcard please.
......................................................
The current trend for male office workers of all ages to shuffle about tie-less really bugs me for some reason. Being a lifelong desk troll, I have always worn a tie to work, unless the weather is very warm. Now I can get used to not wearing a tie if just in shirt sleeves, but what I don't like is these lazy bleeders wearing jackets on top of a shirt with no tie. To my jaundiced eyes, it simply looks scruffy, like you've left the house in such a hurry you've forgotten to finish getting dressed.
Cameron & Clegg are both guilty of this but Brown at least makes the effort to put a tie on. Bill Turnbull on BBC Breakfast News is another highline culprit. You'd think at his age he'd know better.
Support the tie making industry now - PUT A TIE ON!!
.......................................................
Now this is going to sound sexist, but I can assure you it is a fact. As pointed out above, due to a complete lcak of hnad eye cooridantion I don't drive, so I walk to work every day. This involves crossing a lot of side roads coming off the main thoroughfare to town. I'd say about 50% of the time some kind soul will wave you across, and I acknowledge their courtesy with a wave.
Here comes the sexist bit - 9 times out of 10 the driver letting you cross is a man. Given that we're talking school run time here, when probably at least half the drivers are female, this is disproportionately weighted in favour of the bloke, doncha think? Sometimes you can look a driver in the eye and he (mostly it is) will slow down and wave you across, but women? No chance. They seem to have tunnel vision and either don't see you, or if you mistakenly think they are waving you across will then attempt to turn you into roadkill, and proceed to blame you for daring to step into their path!! OK - I have got sexist now, but the general premise holds I'm afraid.
......................................
An unemployed Latvian astro-physicist told me the chavs killed Michael Jackson.
Vote for The Rubbish Party - liking beer since 1975.
......................................
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)