Fields of Green

 Today the BBC web-site had interviews with Danny Care (England) and Sam Warburton (Wales) in which they ranked the Six Nations stadia. Their order was:

1.  Cardiff
2. Twickenham
3. Murrayfield
4. Paris
5. Dublin and
   
6. Rome

That is fascinating and from a players point of view they see little of the 'weekend experience' where we have often commented that the game is often the low point of the celebrations. My choice would be this:

1. Dublin
2. Rome
3. Twickenham
4. Paris
5. Murrayfield
6. Cardiff

Almost a reverse order. Interesting.

Zimmer frame sport

So back to Edinburgh and I find that the City is embracing the World Golden Oldies rugby festival. This is an event close to my heart, as my club, Twickenham, were one of the hosts when the event visited England in 1989. The Edinburgh event is the first time since then it has been back to the UK mainland.

Gullivers Travels continue to be the travel agent of choice so it was good to meet the 'management' again. Gavin Hastings was the main celeb front man and it was good to see him kilted up on the initial parade.

The organisers had been quite smart with the opening ceremony as they used the stage and seating for the tattoo, and then marched the teams down the Royal Mile, behind a pipe band. As my project at work is Chicago based I thought this team particularly interesting, but there were also old favourites from Japan, The Fuwaku, from the States, The Washington Poltroons, Mystic River and The Jersey Jets, as well as the usual large contingent from Australasia. Teams were also there from Russia, Poland, Italy and the Pacific Isles, so a really good mix. I was unable to infiltrate the opening party, but judging by the state of guests in the hotel the next morning, it was a blast.

The rugby took place over three days, and the traditional dress code had been modified slightly. Up to 60 years old, black shorts are now worn, unless you do not want to be tackled, in which case red is the mode. Red are worn by all 60-64 year olds, 65-69 is gold and 70-84 is purple. Any older players are then presented with 'committee' shorts to wear. The Japanese have a number of players who have been awarded committee colours. Anybody not involved in tackling can run a maximum of 25 yards before releasing the ball or if fronted by a player with arms out stretched, must immediately pass.

its all good fun, referees occasionally score and with the biggest clubhouse in the world being erected at Murrayfield, the traditional social aspects have been maintained......now where did I put those special shorts of mine!

I'll get you Butler

Edinburgh is a tremendously impressive City. Its road are flecked with granite chips which make the surfaces resolute and durable, its road system in the centre is laid out in a grid , with the Royal Mile linking the castle to Holyroyd House. Alleyways and paths wind between shops and bars, and the natives scurry about like ants on a rose bush.

It is rather sad, therefore, to witness the devastation which is surrounding the construction of the new tram system.

Many cities have embraced the idea of introducing trams as a fast and convenient mode of transport. Croydon was a building site for years as they struggled to join the high society of Wimbledon Village with the rather less appealing New Addington council estate, via the city centre, Purley and Merton. In their case, however, there was no heritage to protect. Manchester managed to integrate their system with little or no change to the architecture and tradition of the City, and it has been a huge success.

Edinburgh, however, is suffering. The aforementioned roads are being dug up because all the main services run down the centre of the road, and this is where the tram lines are to go. Consequently the services are being moved to the kerb side, roads are being blocked off or made one-way, and worst of all ,a number of old traditional buildings, pubs, houses and so on, are being demolished.

They are only building one line at present. It will run from Leith in the North to the airport, via Princes Street and Haymarket where it will follow the railway lines. There are already worries though that the funding will run out and the tram line will terminal at Gogarburn, about a mile short......

Still when its built they will be able to illuminate the trams at Christmas like they do in Blackpool, and I can't wait until the rugger chaps at Murrayfield see how many people they can have hanging off the side.