It's nice in Nice

 Where better to enjoy the rugby world cup than in the host Country, France. So after the first wekend of matches had been completed the founder members of S-Club took off for a few days in Nice on the Cote D'Azur.

There were live games in Nice bit we had chosen to visit prior to those and just soak up the atmosphere, and avoid the huge influx of Welsh supporters who would be in town on the Saturday. Nice is a very pleasant seaside town, with a pebble beach and numerous bars and restaurants. A renowned travel correspondent was once quoted s saying that the majority of tourists only eat in the same restaurant once, never to return, so don't be surprised if the food is second best and the waiting staff are offhand and bored. 

This was certainly our experience with the menu's being salad dominated and the plate d'jour of traditional steak et frites being average or worse. So after a couple of days we managed to seek out a few local's restaurants which were much better. The town was certainly less expensive than I had expected and all in all we had the time we had hoped for.

We even had a chat with Gerald Davies, a wales international and British Lion from the early 70's. He remembered our old school rugby coach, Keith Maddocks, also known as the Neath flyer, and was happy to pass the time of day with us. I did get called 'Jack Rowell' one occasion so some things never change.

With my thoughts very much on avoiding games at Twickenham in the future, the few days proved that an enjoyable time can be had without the need to flog to the stadium to watch a game. Add in the fact that the red and yellow card situation could mean a game being ruined as a contest early and I think a good lunch and the camaraderie which accompany it is the way to go.

Off to Bordeaux next where we will take in the Fiji v Georgia game.

Summertime blue's

Well where did it all go? It's been two months with no postings, but I can't recall being overly busy to be that distracted, although possibly there was little going on in the World. 

So a quick check of my diary shows that SWMBO was away on holiday for a week, I worked at the Open Golf Championships for a week, I went to a 70th birthday in Huddersfield, played about 15 rounds of golf, had a routine brain scan (all clear) as I was having stress headaches and celebrated our wedding anniversary at Hawksmoor, a steak restaurant in Liverpool centre. That was just in July!!

August was more golf, several bbq's and another 70th birthday, SWMBO away at here sister's for a few days with the ankle biters and me at the Forest of Arden golf resort with 240 fellow golf club captains. It could have been messy but was actually quite reserved.

We have now entered September and all my 'grumpy old man' attributes are getting a really good airing. Why? Because the sports World has gone mad. Firstly the Spanish football president kisses one of the lady World Cup winning players. There has been uproar and it has taken up far more column inches than the war in Ukraine. Please lets put these things in perspective. Clearly clutching his groin was an action he should have avoided but everything else has just been over exposed!!

Now the English Lionesses footballers want pay parity with the men. This is a continuing theme throughout at the moment. The tennis players got their way with equal prize funding even though they only play three sets compared with the men playing five. If the products are the same then I am happy the prize fund should be so too. In football, the money is in the Premiership, and the wages and prize fund reflect that, the players in the lower divisions are paid proportionately. Lady's football is nowhere near Premiership level so should be paid accordingly. Somebody needs to take a stand and point this out.

Now the rugby World Cup has started in France, we are again seeing the positive discrimination which has forced it's way into sports commentary. Ladies do not have the lower range of vocal cords to present a fast moving sport like rugby. As the game gets exciting their range gets higher pitched and difficult to listen to. Add in the fact that all panels now need to include one lady pundit and it just shows how commentating has gone from one extreme to the other

Luckily the rugby has started off with good quality games and a fair bit of controversy, and there is always the mute button if things do get a bit out of hand vocally. Allez le blanc!