Rest days

Today is a rest day at the world cup. For me too.

Canada is closed tomorrow.

What a let down

I'm really not sure I can be bothered with this anymore.

I'm really pissed off about the football.

By all accounts people are wanting to sack the coach. The same players have now failed with the last three coaches and all three could not be more different in their experience, record and approach.

The one constant is the players. It's the players who need to change. Or be changed.

Graduation Day

SD graduated a year ago. If she'd been a year younger her graduation day would have been yesterday.

The same day as The Big Match.

Yesterday morning I'd have been complaining about the school arranging it the same day of the game.

Now I'm thinking it would have been a relief to have been spared that miserable performance.

The Big One

Less than an hour to go.

I'm off to the bog. Just to make sure. TMI.

* * *

Fucking disgrace. For England that was a new low. Following on from the new low of a week ago.

We want our money back.

Tomorrow

The Big One tomorrow at 11.00 am.

Nerves not kicking in yet.

They will.

Damn

I was quite happy that I'd reach my UK Pension age before they upped it.

Bloody Conservative government has announced the change - or the first part - will be brought forward.

It might only be another year to wait (could be another change too I guess) but the closer you get to something, any delay seems more pronounced.

How the mighty fall

First France - Runners Up last time - go out at the group stage and then World Champs Italy follow.

As with 2002 there will be some new teams succeeding at the later stages and this time without the connivance of the officials.

And we have to play Germany again.

Phew

Talk about squeaky bum time.

Much better but still a long way short of what's required.

Now it's the really tough route.

It's the World Cup not a Holiday

Wonderful quote and a great response from Fabio Capello.

There's been some talk of possible boredom in the England camp. Apparently these well paid footballers, having been served a free breakfast and a free lunch after all of two hours training have a few hours to kill before being served a free dinner and some of them may be at a loss how to fill the time.

Safaris, golf, swimming, Gyms, TV lounge so they can watch the other games and they have the company of mates. Computers, the net, read a book for a bit, newspapers...

What's the problem?

This is the World Cup not a holiday.

Although that's more than I have available when I'm on holiday. And I've paid for my trip not getting paid for it.

I have never been so against many of the players as I am right now.

The silence is deafening

FIFA remains tight lipped.

I looked at their website and there's a post match blog with hundreds of comments - but not one of them about the red card.

Censorship obviously. Or at least this was the situation earlier today.

* * *

I just double checked. There's a new blog on Brazil and still no mention. Nobody sent them a post on the subject? Yeah right.

There's even an article saying he got himself a red card. Yeah, by having someone run into him who then feigns injury.

FIFA is worse than PRAVDA.

The rest of the world saw it and FIFA pretends it didn't happen. Morons.

A travesty

I don't like Kaka. His constant Jesus stuff is really annoying.

Today an opponent runs into him deliberately and then falls clutching his face. The ref dismisses Kaka - strangely for a second yellow card.

If he saw it as an offence, it is supposed to be a straight red, not a yellow.

So an entirely innocent party will be suspended for at least one game while a fucking cheat will escape any sanction.

Sometimes I hate football.

Missed it

I completely forgot about the rugger this morning. I was awake early enough too.

The shock win in Australia would have eased the pain a little.

worst ever

Shocking. Abysmal. Inept. Woeful.

None of these words are adequate to describe England's performance today.

That they get paid so much and 'play' like that is just...well I don't know what.

Bring them home.

No...better still, send them home and let them find their own bloody way. I'm done making excuses.

I made a list of dates, KO times and who is playing, so any appointments needn't clash with England games. I really can't be bothered to fix it that way. That I feel this way would shock anyone who knows me.

I am so glad I don't live in England. I'd hate to be going into work and hearing the opinions of idiots who don't know the game but speak as if they are experts when all they do is watch the odd game once every four years.

Still habloodyha

Anyone know the Spanish for sour grapes?

Africa continues to show the number of places they get is just not justified.

Ha bloody Ha!

So Spain - mighty Spain - lost to Switzerland.

Just like Barcelona and Arsenal they think they're so bloody superior.

They are. They all are. But be a tad more humble about it and people might like you a bit more.

Brazil who?

Well, that performance must have shut a few people up. I wonder if we'll see something similarly disappointing with the other flavour of the month, Spain, tomorrow.

The Naked Footbaler

Wow. Doctor Who nude and then playing football all in the same episode.

And a superstar too. Is he qualified for England?

Nodded off

I fell asleep at some point during all three of today's games.

Sometimes the first group games are hard work. Good job I'm not on the west coast where KO can be 4.30 am.

What a let down

Great start and an absolute howler from Green gifts an equaliser.

No room for mistakes now. At least the next game should be the "easiest" one so we can go into the simultaneous group matches on top.

Vuvubloodyzelas

Irritating buggers.

The first goal of the tournament scored by the home team and there's still that bloody humming sound. No explosion of celebration from the crowd at all.

One of the vuvuzela apologists on the Guardian blogs gave a link to a Paul Breitner goal with a similar sound going on, but all the crowd atmosphere was still there and there was an explosive sound when the goal was scored.

That's the difference; bloody vuvuzela excludes everything else.

#""!! *#&%#

FIFA has issued a list of English language swear words to the officials for the USA v England game on Saturday. 20 of them.

What on earth is on there that there are that many? This is about how people react instantly to pressure or in anger, not a competition to name the words.

There has been no indication so far that the same will be done for other languages so there's a suspicion that English speakers will be penalised for something that others aren't.

Especially as now it's been highlighted, officials will actually feel under pressure to be seen to take action. and please their masters.

Time flies

It's Wednesday again. Garbage day again.

Every time I have to do it I'm thinking another week already.

And now the World Cup is upon us the next month will whiz by. Except for the odd 10 minutes when we're hanging on and waiting for the final whistle.

Wet June

Lots of rain this month. Apparently two-thirds of what normally falls in June fell in a couple of days over the weekend.

No sign of June Bugs yet. We'll probably have to rename them July Bugs.

Chocolate covered cranberries

Never heard of them before. Yum. Delicious.

It seems the ref for the England v USA game this Saturday is a crook or incompetent if allegations are believed. There appears plenty of evidence.

Vincent

Excellent Doctor Who this week. A bit odd having Vincent van Gogh speaking with a Scottish accent but he was a very good likeness.

Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings... etc) wrote the episode.

It's an outrage

Talking characters in Tom and Jerry. SS is watching TV and I couldn't believe ny eyes. Ears.

Anniversary

Thirty seven years ago today I started work.

Weekly wage £10.49 less National Insurance of 57p (fixed rate back then) leaving me with £9.92.

I bought a £3 jacket that matched my tie to wear the second week Either from C&A or Austin's.

Only in America - part 3

Following on from the two incidents in China, it's the turn of England with a guy shooting dead a dozen and injuring others. Doesn't fit the usual stereotype either so reports say.

Footnote: For those that missed it before, the only in America reference is because people used to sigh "only in America" at this sort of news story but they happen everywhere.

The Border

I'm used to American TV shows being cancelled and not knowing until it's simply disappeared. It's really not an incentive watch anything new if it's likely to get cancelled.

I did expect differently from Canada but CBC has cancelled The Border. Three months ago and I only just heard.

It ran for three seasons, so obviously people liked it. It ended with a cliffhanger - as they all seem to over here.

Now it's cancelled.

But it's well liked enough for them to be selling it on DVD and I find that odd.

Who wants to buy a DVD of something that ends with a "to be continued" but doesn't continue?

Brilliant hospital again

Today my wife and I had blood tests at the Hospital. It takes about 10 minutes to get there and 15 to get back; I'm slower at pushing the wheelchair home when it's a little uphill.

Registration at the blood clinic took a few minutes longer as the list of repeat tests had to be updated for Mrs Monctonian. We did our tests and then went to another 'walk-in' clinic where an ECG/EKG was needed for her. Registration was quick there and there was a short wait.

We were back home less than an hour after leaving.

Brilliant.