Change the light bulbs.....

So the Seychelles leg of the tour has finished. The 15th hole got the the better of me over three rounds so l will watch with interest as the PGA Senior tour play the course in December. It will be an interesting logistical exercise as the hotel only holds 210 guests. They are expecting 450 players and hangers on. The De Havilland Otter only holds 17 people, and for the note of Wallasey golf club members, the course has no practise facilities.

We have now flown to Mauritius. Things have deteriorated. For a Country which has tourism as its major industry, a two hour queue to get through immigration was totally unacceptable. Half the desks were unmanned and it took an age to process people entering the island.

The Heritage Awali where we are staying then did not live up to its 5 star rating. Our sea view room looked out onto some brown worn ground which was once lawn. Behind that was the children's pool, then some beach umbrellas behind which was the sea. Not what was expected. The hotel were not overly co-operative, so I was forced to call Trailfinders at home. Even they could not get any change from the hotel.

I think it is all because their sister hotel next door is closed for a four day private Asian wedding and many guests are staying here. So we had a meal at the beach restaurant resigned to our lot. We drank wine and watched Les Bleu qualify for the World Cup final.

This morning we explored the hotel. We now have a daily massage plan in the Spa, tee times at the golf course and a meal schedule at all the restaurants. This was still a struggle even with a Premier all inclusive package.
Our day just got better though as we have just been upgraded to a  beach front room. It is actually a suite so thank you to the hotel and Trailfinders for sorting that. So now all need to do is see England do the business tonight, and nobody will need to come home early.

Pitch perfect

Vicki Sparks commentary on the Portugal v Morocco match in the football World Cup has once again divided opinion. The problem the broadcasters face is simple. They want to embrace positive discrimination, as it is what they think is best for a quiet life, but women do not have the vocal attenuation to be able to add anything to a football commentary.

The BBC tried it with rugby  but it did not work and they abandoned it after one game, so please lets hope this is another one off experiment which they will realise was a mistake.

I would question the value of female pundits too but Sky Sports are using them more and more, even though they are nowhere near the standard of their female Sky Sports news reporters. Only Michelle Owen seems to meet the standard required.

So its not jobs for the boys, its what suits best, and high pitched female voices just don't fit.