Lakeland and other stories

Back now from a pleasant week off over half term. Did a lot of miles but had a good time.

First trip was to a place in Dorset where M and I are going with her school and 60-odd kids next February. It was quite nice though a long way from civilisation. Nicer than Sayers Croft earlier this year which had a real 'nissen huts in the pishing rain' feel to it. This is an old Manor house that has been converted and extended, and looked really pretty. The programme of events looks good also and there is a big lounge room for the adults to repair to and drink booze. Winner! How we are going to get down there in a double decker coach I don't know - the roads don't look wide enough!

From thence on to Wales to see the out-laws and watch the RWC final. Disappointing for England in the end but we were such a limited team (excellent in some areas but dismal in others) that it's probably a good thing in the end that we lost. Despite by ‘bok colleagues predictions they never got anywhere near the try line unlike us (damn Aussie TV refs) but in the end we had ridden our luck and bloody-mindedness as far as it would go. A proper defence of the title though, and a big hearty HA HA to the All Blacks. See you in 4 years! It also struck me how many of the national coaches got the boot during this competition. Obviously the major scalp was Graham Henry but the Aussie, French and Welsh national coaches all got the push, and I think there were others. Incredible. There were some suggestions in the national press this weekend that Brian Ashton should go also but I'm not sure on that. It may have been player power and siege mentality that got us to the final but the coach's role in organising and motivating should not be underestimated. Maybe see how we get through the next 6 Nations, but I dislike dropping national coaches so frequently. Interestingly, my father-in-law was supporting England on the night (there's no great love for the 'boks in Wales) as were a few others, painful though it was for them. Made a nice change and should be accepted with good grace and in the spirit it was intended.

From there up the spine of England to the Lake District for a couple of nights. Beautiful place, here's a piccie:

The hotel prices up there are staggering, though there is quite a lot of choice. We ended up in an OK but old fashioned hotel at the bottom of lake Windermere. It was a bit Fawlty Towers, if Manuel had been replaced by Eastern Europeans. Service was friendly but patchy, though the food was perfectly serviceable, the pool was the size of a postage stamp. The price was right though and it did OK for a couple of nights. The lakes themselves are lovely and we had a pleasant day driving up and down. Busy place, though. I took M to the Lakeland HQ, her mothership for kitchen and gift related tat. It’s quite a cool building though it’s infested with OAP’s. It has a garden on the roof and blends nicely into the landscape. Worth a visit if you can stand the smell of Werthers originals and the appalling parking/driving habits of the older generations.

All in all we were glad to get home finally having racked up 1000 miles in 6 days. Now back at work into one of the busiest weeks I have had in a while.

Weekends are too short...

Had a decent weekend, happily spending most of it with M apart from the rugby. Fab match, watched in a packed pub with great atmosphere in Guildford. England deservedly made it through to the final, and if we can defend the way we did vs France and Australia, with a bit of luck we can win the whole shebang.

I'll actually be in Wales with the in-laws for the final, which will be interesting. I'm promised a few English to watch it with, fortunately, or I could be a lonely voice cheering for the boys in white!

We had a visit from my old pal Richard and his kid, Daniel, 7 and a bit months old and full of giggles and drool. Mostly drool. M has been suffering a cold but brightened up considerably when Daniel arrived, and understandably so. Cute kid, fortunately looks more like his mum than his dad (hi Rich!).

Finally an overdue band rehearsal on Sunday night. As we are now down to just the five of us, it was a singing rehearsal for us fellas who had previously just stood at the back and strummed our guitars. Now we are coming out, blinking, into the semi-spotlight, and singing harmonies! It certainly makes the experience a lot more trying. I'm not sure I can manage to play guitar, remember what I'm playing AND sing and remember the words all at the same time! Good job we've got a few months to iron it out before the next gig - progress was slow on some of those numbers.

Ahahahhahahaha

Looks like my £5 is safe after the spectacular win by France in Cardiff last night. Well done les Bleus. The 'boks overcame Fiji OK and should have a clear run to the final. Guess I'm feeling lucky.

Had our Saturday night gig in Baskingstoke cancelled - shame as that was going to be our last gig of the year. Poor old Jules had her wisdom teeth out during the week and she's still in a lot of pain and discomfort from the painkillers. Hopefully she'll be OK for a rehearsal next week, gotta work on our harmonies as we are now without Sal on the bv's.

Saturday is coming...

Big day in the Rugby World Cup coming up tomorrow. Firstly, England get a chance at salvation playing Australia, and France get a similar opportunity to turn their fortunes around against the AB's. Strangly, possibly the most important match France have played to date in their World Cup Campaign will be played in the Millenium Stadium. If that doesn't show how much back-scratching goes on in the upper echelons of Rugby Union I don't know what does!

Kind of glad to see that Andy Farrell won't be on the field for England on Saturday. His try last week notwithstanding, I fail to rate him as a Union player. He's tough and has that killer look in his eyes but he can't boss the game well enough and fails to spark anything. Ollie Barkley should be the man on, Mike Catt to come on for the last 15mins only if it looks like we might actually win.

England winning would be a massive upset - we've been consistently for a few years now, though there are a few green roots showing now Ashton is in charge. We might have been in a stronger position if Ashton had come in before the rot set in under Robinson but frankly who knows, the younger guys have been slow coming into the squad and we're still fielding guys past their prime. Wilko has looked good on and off over the tournament however, and that boot of his is still a potent weapon. Oh, and Gomersall (sp?) at Scrum Half, please.

As for the AB's, I now have a vested interest in France rediscovering their cutting edge. My recently relocated from NZ brother has bet me £5 that the AB's will win the competition. My money's on the 'boks. The AB's are formidable in strength and depth and Dan Carter is a genius, but I have hopes for French flair and I think the crowd in Wales will be behind Les Bleus... as anyone who has been in the Millenium stadium when Wales are playing can testify, it's a potent force having the Welsh singing you on. That's how I explain the last 6 nations, anyway.

Poor old Wales, though (snigger). No, really, they can be so good but they lack discipline and the lionisation of rugby players in wales stops them being a coherent unit. They are their own worst enemy sometimes.

Come on England!

Memo to self

For crying out loud, never 'don't tell' your significant other something. It'll come back and make you feel like the scum of the earth.

If you read this, M, I'm really sorry. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing but I was wrong. I will remember.

I may never find the words to tell you how much you mean to me. I'll keep searching for them, inside and out, but in the meantime I will let my actions do the talking. I will not stop looking for ways to make you happy and to make you smile. I will not stop trying to be a better husband to you and a more thoughtful person.