Well America has a new president. And it is so momentous that I even managed to wake up at 4am on Wednesday morning and listen in to Barack Obama's first speech as president elect. Quite something.
That was during a trip to England.
Back in Paris this morning I was listening to the BBC World Service and it really didn't stop going on about Obama being black. It was as if if it was unmentionable before the vote and now it's all out in the open. Nothing but stuff about segregation, racism and so on. To the point when I thought the only way to deal with being up at 3.15am on a Thursday morning is to watch the Rockford Files.
That was much lighter.
I'd been turfed out of bed by the boy who decided that he needed to be cosy between his parents but I ended up with a foot in my mouth. I felt it better to retire to the sofa to radio myself up.
But then that plan went down the tubes.
I was thinking of dipping into my new Laurel and Hardy collection of DVDs. A chance purchase at the former Virgin megastore on Oxford Street. I didn't though. It was the right move as it's not settling stuff. Ridiculous to the point of brilliant. The box set has 68 hours of features.
It's going to be a joyous winter.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Friday, 31 October 2008
The Weekend Without Football
Nothing all week. What kind of blogger am I? But this is no time for existential questions. Should be much more analytical really. I am reading The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker. It is hardly PD James but then that's not a surprise. The Blank Slate is something to do with the nature/nurture debate. It is well written but I have to admit I am having difficulty holding the learning within.
Maybe I should be making notes in the book but as it is not my book that wouldn't be very good.
I have been out celebrating the fact that there is no match on Saturday. Went out with an old mate of mine who I met nigh on 26 years ago here in Paris while I was a student at the British Institute.
I just reminded her that it was at her party in London that I met the missus. Wow. Connections.
Despite not playing tomorrow I went to the relaxation class. It seemed a bit redundant really as I am relatively calm as there is no family here to make my blood boil as Mr Angry would have said it once ago on Steve Wright's show.
But the class was good I was stretched and pulled to such an extent that I almost fell asleep in the restaurant while waiting for Caroline to come along. She'd been out watching a film while I was communing with my inner peacefulness. She'd wanted to go and see Mamma Mia but it was sold out.
She ended up seeing Vicky Cristina Barcelona which I saw on Thursday. I'm a big fan of Woody Allen but even I'm starting to think that I've heard the script before. It seemed funnier with Diane Keaton and Allen himself on screen.
Nevertheless Allen 2008 is still quite amusing but the man himself on screen and his gawky delivery was joyous.
Equally joyous will be a Saturday morning without an early rise. In anticipation of that I played tennis on Thursday and promptly retwisted the right ankle that was crocked when I landed badly last Saturday.
For the past few seasons I've been worried about pulled hamstrings and calf muscles. They seem to be much stronger - I guess thanks to the yoga - but you can't legislate for landing badly.
Oh the life of a weekend stroller.
Maybe I should be making notes in the book but as it is not my book that wouldn't be very good.
I have been out celebrating the fact that there is no match on Saturday. Went out with an old mate of mine who I met nigh on 26 years ago here in Paris while I was a student at the British Institute.
I just reminded her that it was at her party in London that I met the missus. Wow. Connections.
Despite not playing tomorrow I went to the relaxation class. It seemed a bit redundant really as I am relatively calm as there is no family here to make my blood boil as Mr Angry would have said it once ago on Steve Wright's show.
But the class was good I was stretched and pulled to such an extent that I almost fell asleep in the restaurant while waiting for Caroline to come along. She'd been out watching a film while I was communing with my inner peacefulness. She'd wanted to go and see Mamma Mia but it was sold out.
She ended up seeing Vicky Cristina Barcelona which I saw on Thursday. I'm a big fan of Woody Allen but even I'm starting to think that I've heard the script before. It seemed funnier with Diane Keaton and Allen himself on screen.
Nevertheless Allen 2008 is still quite amusing but the man himself on screen and his gawky delivery was joyous.
Equally joyous will be a Saturday morning without an early rise. In anticipation of that I played tennis on Thursday and promptly retwisted the right ankle that was crocked when I landed badly last Saturday.
For the past few seasons I've been worried about pulled hamstrings and calf muscles. They seem to be much stronger - I guess thanks to the yoga - but you can't legislate for landing badly.
Oh the life of a weekend stroller.
Monday, 27 October 2008
Matchday V Post Mortem
Monday already and it only seems like yesterday that I was running around muscularly on a football pitch. Well it wasn't yesterday and it wasn't muscular.
But it was effective. It was a 3-1 victory and it was the first time that I can remember winning when we had four or so substitutes. The point was that the subs were well handled. That's because our ace centre forward was on the sidelines directing the show.
I can't quite remember what the score was when I went on again in the second half but we scored two goals and I was involved in the build up to the goals which was as satisfying as scoring.
And in one instance I stretched a leg out for the ball, got it and unselfishly rolled it into the path of a fellow forward who ought to have scored.
But he didn't. I perhaps could have taken it on myself but I wouldn't have been at a good angle to head in on goal so I did the right thing. Which is just as satisfying.
Anyway no matches until November 15 so we can all nurse our bruises and further hone our warrior frames.
With this in mind I am heading off to the swimming pool to stretch the limbs.
The family is away so I have a heap of time to do the things that I can't normally do like watch South Park online without fear of interruption.
The joy of vulgarity.
But it was effective. It was a 3-1 victory and it was the first time that I can remember winning when we had four or so substitutes. The point was that the subs were well handled. That's because our ace centre forward was on the sidelines directing the show.
I can't quite remember what the score was when I went on again in the second half but we scored two goals and I was involved in the build up to the goals which was as satisfying as scoring.
And in one instance I stretched a leg out for the ball, got it and unselfishly rolled it into the path of a fellow forward who ought to have scored.
But he didn't. I perhaps could have taken it on myself but I wouldn't have been at a good angle to head in on goal so I did the right thing. Which is just as satisfying.
Anyway no matches until November 15 so we can all nurse our bruises and further hone our warrior frames.
With this in mind I am heading off to the swimming pool to stretch the limbs.
The family is away so I have a heap of time to do the things that I can't normally do like watch South Park online without fear of interruption.
The joy of vulgarity.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Matchday V Preview
One of the great things about relegation is that you get to go places that you've been to before. However the trip to Argentueil is an arduous one. It involves getting to St Lazare, a train from there and quite a hike from the station to the ground.
The pitch is near the river and quite honestly after my last game there I wish some of the opponents would go and jump. I was trotting up to the halfway line and one of them came and kicked me in the calf. Just a little tap. I thought he had tripped up and had clattered me by accident.
At the end of the game he said: 'You know what happened in the centre circle, well that's all part of the game." I said something along of the lines of: "Maybe part of your game but not the one I know."
The problem with the team as I remember is that they've got quite good players but very little team ethic. We won 3-2 last time but it was a tough game.
And that was without the little bits of gamesmanship. Maybe that lad won't be playing.
The pitch is near the river and quite honestly after my last game there I wish some of the opponents would go and jump. I was trotting up to the halfway line and one of them came and kicked me in the calf. Just a little tap. I thought he had tripped up and had clattered me by accident.
At the end of the game he said: 'You know what happened in the centre circle, well that's all part of the game." I said something along of the lines of: "Maybe part of your game but not the one I know."
The problem with the team as I remember is that they've got quite good players but very little team ethic. We won 3-2 last time but it was a tough game.
And that was without the little bits of gamesmanship. Maybe that lad won't be playing.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Matchday IV Post Mortem
2-0 up and pegged back to 2-2. Bit of a shame. I was on the sidelines after being substituted in the first half and I was saying to one of the others waiting in the wings, it's looking OK as long as Renon isn't substituted. Well at that very moment he pulls up with a gammy right leg.
I go back on and we finish the half 2-0 up but with the speedy midfielder Nelson complaining of a leg issue and Laurent, a ball holder off already. You knew it was going to be tough.
What was annoying was that the opposition's goals were totally lucky strikes. Poor goalkeeping. No other way to describe it. But we win as a team and lose as a team etc etc.
Went into work after the match and watched Chelsea rack up the goals against Middlesborough. Great time to transfer my allegiance to Inter Milan -just as the team of my youth start playing like a classy outfit. Ho hum.
Well Sunday at the office was a chilled affair. I took the middle child in and we had a lovely day. She played on the computer games as I monitored news wires. She was doing some maths game which was a spin off of Space Invaders. It was really cool.
She was impressed that I got to level 4 and managed to stop the alien invasion with my additions.
While waiting for various results from around Europe I noticed that Colin Powell had decided to back Barack Obama as the next president of the U S of A.
It is difficult to know whether this endorsement is a good thing or not. Maybe the former secretary of state remains a republican and it is a neo-con plot.
November 4 is the day when all shall be revealed.
Am listening to America at the moment. All that AOR from the 70s or whenever. Ventura Highway. Reminds me of school and my best mate at the time Danny Wood.
Don't know his whereabouts. Another old school mate has informed me that there is a gathering near Reading on November 4. He said he'd only go if he was propped up with some moral support from me.
I would have been tempted to attend but have to be in Paris for a Saturday whiff of work. Didn't even mention the football.
Who would I really want to see after all these years?
What I really want to see is a convincing goalkeeping display.
Might have to wait for that one. As for my role? Just keep ploughing those furrows in the swimming pool.
Don't think that metaphor actually works. A bit like our defence at the moment.
I go back on and we finish the half 2-0 up but with the speedy midfielder Nelson complaining of a leg issue and Laurent, a ball holder off already. You knew it was going to be tough.
What was annoying was that the opposition's goals were totally lucky strikes. Poor goalkeeping. No other way to describe it. But we win as a team and lose as a team etc etc.
Went into work after the match and watched Chelsea rack up the goals against Middlesborough. Great time to transfer my allegiance to Inter Milan -just as the team of my youth start playing like a classy outfit. Ho hum.
Well Sunday at the office was a chilled affair. I took the middle child in and we had a lovely day. She played on the computer games as I monitored news wires. She was doing some maths game which was a spin off of Space Invaders. It was really cool.
She was impressed that I got to level 4 and managed to stop the alien invasion with my additions.
While waiting for various results from around Europe I noticed that Colin Powell had decided to back Barack Obama as the next president of the U S of A.
It is difficult to know whether this endorsement is a good thing or not. Maybe the former secretary of state remains a republican and it is a neo-con plot.
November 4 is the day when all shall be revealed.
Am listening to America at the moment. All that AOR from the 70s or whenever. Ventura Highway. Reminds me of school and my best mate at the time Danny Wood.
Don't know his whereabouts. Another old school mate has informed me that there is a gathering near Reading on November 4. He said he'd only go if he was propped up with some moral support from me.
I would have been tempted to attend but have to be in Paris for a Saturday whiff of work. Didn't even mention the football.
Who would I really want to see after all these years?
What I really want to see is a convincing goalkeeping display.
Might have to wait for that one. As for my role? Just keep ploughing those furrows in the swimming pool.
Don't think that metaphor actually works. A bit like our defence at the moment.
Friday, 17 October 2008
Matchday IV
Another home game. And no relaxation class on the Friday night. The omens are not good. Last time I didn't go to the Friday night session we lost.
This Friday's offering. Dinner at home with the family and the less than relaxing chance to put the boy to bed. For some reason he's decided to become Mr Party Central as soon as his sisters go to bed.
I think it is a logical cry for attention especially since the other two are so overwhelming. Shame really that it is all so late in the day.
Or really quite early evening.
My natural inclination would be to join the rapscallion in the dormitary but I'd probably go to sleep before him and that would defeat the whole object of putting him to be.
It might give me more energy though.
Conundrum time.
This Friday's offering. Dinner at home with the family and the less than relaxing chance to put the boy to bed. For some reason he's decided to become Mr Party Central as soon as his sisters go to bed.
I think it is a logical cry for attention especially since the other two are so overwhelming. Shame really that it is all so late in the day.
Or really quite early evening.
My natural inclination would be to join the rapscallion in the dormitary but I'd probably go to sleep before him and that would defeat the whole object of putting him to be.
It might give me more energy though.
Conundrum time.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
The Nudes
Before now I never knew that nudes could merge with the very substance of painting. But that's because I hadn't been to the Picasso and The Masters exhibition.
What a difference a day makes. That could be the title of a song. And that difference is nudes.
A slice at the end of the extravaganza at the Grand Palais said that Pablo looked at how Rembrandt, Goya, Ingres and Manet had depicted naked ladies and Picasso went to town on the concept.
Fascinating how he revolutionised the essence of nudity. As this is a big exhibition it will need two or three visits to absorb the full impact. There were masses of people inside and of course the statutory queue outside. Hardy souls waited in the rain for their moment of entry.
The joys of a press card meant that I didn't have to suffer for my art.
Am truly suffering for the art of the midfield. Did my yoga class tonight. I felt well opened up. I hope my legs will arrive in the post before Saturday.
At least my mind is engaged.
What a difference a day makes. That could be the title of a song. And that difference is nudes.
A slice at the end of the extravaganza at the Grand Palais said that Pablo looked at how Rembrandt, Goya, Ingres and Manet had depicted naked ladies and Picasso went to town on the concept.
Fascinating how he revolutionised the essence of nudity. As this is a big exhibition it will need two or three visits to absorb the full impact. There were masses of people inside and of course the statutory queue outside. Hardy souls waited in the rain for their moment of entry.
The joys of a press card meant that I didn't have to suffer for my art.
Am truly suffering for the art of the midfield. Did my yoga class tonight. I felt well opened up. I hope my legs will arrive in the post before Saturday.
At least my mind is engaged.
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