SWMBO arrived back safely in London at the weekend after her second trip to Tanzania to help train dental nurses as part of the Bridge to Aid scheme. She was based in the NorthEast on this occasion which allowed her to see some of the Serengeti as she was transported there. Zebra, monkey's and wildebeest were in evidence, but whether one of them was Alice is still unclear.
We then hot foot it to Alexander's christening where the poor soul was submerged in a bath of freezing water by the minister. He was christened at the same Russian Orthodox church as his sister, by the same minister, and it was still hard to watch as this little body was thrown about in gay abandon. Her cousin Ava was looking on and wondering if she had the same fate in store when she comes to getting baptised.
The reception was in the Hole in the Wall in Chiswick and I regaled the gathering with stories of a fireworks party I attended at the same venue, many years ago, when a helicopter firework came adrift and shot into the bar severely burning on of the lady punters. Not nice. Doom Bar was £3.95 a pint. It's £2.80 in the local in Oxton Village!
SWMBO and I then departed for Scouseland leaving the girls to go to Legoland. On arriving home SWMBO was presented with her brand new redecorated bedroom which a friend of mine, Peter, and I had totally rebuild while she was away. She seemed to like it although there does not appear to be enough space for all her clothes to fit back into it, it seems like a clearout may be in order.
Strangely enough I found a rugby shirt from the Protea's club in Zimbabwe which the Wildebeest had given me years ago. Its funny how ends tie up sometime.
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Friday, 10 October 2014
Boys will be boys
News that the London School of Economics rugby team have been suspended from playing for one year by their student union really does signal the end of amateur rugby as I and my peers know it.
In these times of political correctness and positive discrimination, one would have expected a group of men who are targeting high profile and influential roles in society to be a bit more aware of the potential uproar their advertising flyer could have caused.
I found some of the comments amusing in the way I found student rag mags a good way to pass an underground journey in the '70s and '80s. Some of the comments I suspect were also close to the truth. Sadly one has to be so careful these days about going into print with potentially female ( or other minority group) comments which could be taken as not too complimentary.
The event did remind me, however, of the way one traditional rugby club embraced the ethos of new player induction, and the ladies were fully supportive. The team in question had their pitch and clubhouse on the edge of the village, and after the first away game of the season, new members of the club were dropped off on the ring road in just their birthday suit and trainers. They then had to run through the village to the clubhouse while the coach went several miles round the village to reach the same destination. The players were encouraged to get there first, by most of the female population who turned out on this notable date to cheer them on and check out the new talent! The police turned a blind eye as several of them played for the local team themselves!!
So farewell banter and innuendo based comment, LSE alumni such as John F Kennedy and Ed Miliband can rest easy knowing that the LSE student union, in the capable hands of Nona Buckley-Irvine, will make sure these sort of sexist escapades become a thing of the past.
Its interesting thought that the LSE student union newspaper which reported the progress of the issue is called 'Beaver Online'. Maybe she should be looking to rename that!
In these times of political correctness and positive discrimination, one would have expected a group of men who are targeting high profile and influential roles in society to be a bit more aware of the potential uproar their advertising flyer could have caused.
I found some of the comments amusing in the way I found student rag mags a good way to pass an underground journey in the '70s and '80s. Some of the comments I suspect were also close to the truth. Sadly one has to be so careful these days about going into print with potentially female ( or other minority group) comments which could be taken as not too complimentary.
The event did remind me, however, of the way one traditional rugby club embraced the ethos of new player induction, and the ladies were fully supportive. The team in question had their pitch and clubhouse on the edge of the village, and after the first away game of the season, new members of the club were dropped off on the ring road in just their birthday suit and trainers. They then had to run through the village to the clubhouse while the coach went several miles round the village to reach the same destination. The players were encouraged to get there first, by most of the female population who turned out on this notable date to cheer them on and check out the new talent! The police turned a blind eye as several of them played for the local team themselves!!
So farewell banter and innuendo based comment, LSE alumni such as John F Kennedy and Ed Miliband can rest easy knowing that the LSE student union, in the capable hands of Nona Buckley-Irvine, will make sure these sort of sexist escapades become a thing of the past.
Its interesting thought that the LSE student union newspaper which reported the progress of the issue is called 'Beaver Online'. Maybe she should be looking to rename that!
Sunday, 21 September 2014
Phish out of water
We remain a Great Britain. The Scots have had their vote and elected to say no to the opportunity to become an independent Country. If I had been a Scot I would have chosen the same road. Time and again specific questions were asked of Alex Salmon(d), the first minister, and time and again no concrete facts or data were forthcoming.
What would have happened to job opportunities and associated pensions, how would the NHS have been funded, what is the financial benefit of North Sea oil, what would be the impact of Trident moving South and, of course, what currency would be deployed and would currency rates work for or against.
The only sensible route was to maintain the status quo and allow Alex and the SNP to negotiate from a position of strength.
All through the campaign I have had no time for Salmond, thinking that he was in this for his own gain and frankly he was saving sod the average Scot in the street. He lost, and look what has happened. he has resigned quicker than a paedophilific radio presenter. There is no I in team, but there is one in king, and by failing to stay in office and fight for his nation he has taken the high road and left the mess he has orchestrated for some other poor souls to sort out. Scotland may well feel they are better off without him.
With uncertainty surrounding the future, and some political posturing over the enhanced powers promise, the Tory party have been quick to seize the moral high ground as far as English law is concerned. This in effect stifles the Labour power base in Westminster. It may even sow doubt into the minds of staunch Labour supporters in the North of England as to whether their party is capable of protecting the interests of the working class Englander. Regularly they see more and more funding at a disproportionate level been passed out to the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and are getting unhappy.
We live in uncertain times as events in the Middle East indicate daily, but closer to home things are equally unsettled. The old adage 'Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answer to' has been broken by Salmond, the yes/no factions have now got to get back in bed together and what Scotland took as a given as far as devolution is concerned, may now be less attractive than once it was.
What would have happened to job opportunities and associated pensions, how would the NHS have been funded, what is the financial benefit of North Sea oil, what would be the impact of Trident moving South and, of course, what currency would be deployed and would currency rates work for or against.
The only sensible route was to maintain the status quo and allow Alex and the SNP to negotiate from a position of strength.
All through the campaign I have had no time for Salmond, thinking that he was in this for his own gain and frankly he was saving sod the average Scot in the street. He lost, and look what has happened. he has resigned quicker than a paedophilific radio presenter. There is no I in team, but there is one in king, and by failing to stay in office and fight for his nation he has taken the high road and left the mess he has orchestrated for some other poor souls to sort out. Scotland may well feel they are better off without him.
With uncertainty surrounding the future, and some political posturing over the enhanced powers promise, the Tory party have been quick to seize the moral high ground as far as English law is concerned. This in effect stifles the Labour power base in Westminster. It may even sow doubt into the minds of staunch Labour supporters in the North of England as to whether their party is capable of protecting the interests of the working class Englander. Regularly they see more and more funding at a disproportionate level been passed out to the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and are getting unhappy.
We live in uncertain times as events in the Middle East indicate daily, but closer to home things are equally unsettled. The old adage 'Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answer to' has been broken by Salmond, the yes/no factions have now got to get back in bed together and what Scotland took as a given as far as devolution is concerned, may now be less attractive than once it was.
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
Alexander the Great
So, welcome to the world Alexander. Our fifth grandchild popped out at about 11:15 yesterday weighing in at 9lbs. He is Tim and Maya's second child, and he is now responsible for keeping my strand of the Weathers name in the public domain.
It's an depressing world he is becoming part of, war ravages the Arab states, with Russia trying once more to flex its muscles in Ukraine. Suspicious packages are being detonated in UK airports, and the likelihood of Great Britain becoming smaller as Scotland votes for independence, is on the horizon. His introduction to the world did see a marked improvement in the England football team performance last night, and the cricketers are winning occasionally, but his opportunity to use jumpers as goalposts and chalk cricket wickets on neighbours wall's are unlikely to materialise.
Still, Alexander, you have a lot to look forward to and we will be helping wherever we can, along the way. Who knows, in 2030 all will be looking rosy once more.
It is interesting, though, how the male strand has been diluted overour last three generations. My father was one of three boys and a girl. Between them the three boys fathered two boys and a girl. My cousin Mike and I then fathered a boy (Tim) and three girls.
Strangely, Mike's sister Jennifer produced two boys, neither of whom has any kids yet. Mike's three have so far produced four girls.
So that means Alexander has a sister and four girl cousins on my side and two girls and a boy cousin on Maxine's side. Tim has three girl cousins.
My five-a-side football team looks to be shaping up to have Nell in goal, Sofia and Ava in defence and Archie and Alexander up front. Our sixth is due in March so I might have to alter the line-up at some stage, but having a sub is always useful.
It's an depressing world he is becoming part of, war ravages the Arab states, with Russia trying once more to flex its muscles in Ukraine. Suspicious packages are being detonated in UK airports, and the likelihood of Great Britain becoming smaller as Scotland votes for independence, is on the horizon. His introduction to the world did see a marked improvement in the England football team performance last night, and the cricketers are winning occasionally, but his opportunity to use jumpers as goalposts and chalk cricket wickets on neighbours wall's are unlikely to materialise.
Still, Alexander, you have a lot to look forward to and we will be helping wherever we can, along the way. Who knows, in 2030 all will be looking rosy once more.
It is interesting, though, how the male strand has been diluted overour last three generations. My father was one of three boys and a girl. Between them the three boys fathered two boys and a girl. My cousin Mike and I then fathered a boy (Tim) and three girls.
Strangely, Mike's sister Jennifer produced two boys, neither of whom has any kids yet. Mike's three have so far produced four girls.
So that means Alexander has a sister and four girl cousins on my side and two girls and a boy cousin on Maxine's side. Tim has three girl cousins.
My five-a-side football team looks to be shaping up to have Nell in goal, Sofia and Ava in defence and Archie and Alexander up front. Our sixth is due in March so I might have to alter the line-up at some stage, but having a sub is always useful.
Monday, 28 July 2014
Liverpool Pals
The City has been experiencing giant fever for the last few days as the street theatre group, Royal de Luxe, returned to Liverpool with their giants. They were here last time for the Titanic memorial weekend, and this time headlined the World War 1 commemorations. Grandma Giant joined Little Girl Giant and her dog Xolo as they toured the city evoking memories of the build up and longevity of the Great War.
We went on Sunday to the finale as the two giant humans were placed on a barge and sailed out of the City from the Albert dock. On their final parade through the centre, the giants were joined by actors dressed as the Liverpool Pals, and WW1 officers in a tribute to the hundreds of locally recruited soldiers who lost their lives in the regular hand to hand conflicts of the war.
The Pals were groups of friends, co-workers and factory owners who were galvanised into action by Lord Derby. He wanted the City to answer the call from Lord Kitchener, that 'Your Country Needs You'. Within weeks of the announcement of war, Lord Derby, put forward the idea of a battalion drawn from the Liverpool business workforce, and even wrote to employers asking that they encourage their employees to enlist. So many turned up that in the end four battalions were formed. These troops were officially the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Service Battalions of the King’s, but known as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Pals.
Other cities followed Liverpool's lead and Pals regiments became widespread. By April 1915 the Pals had been formed in to the 89th Infantry Brigade and on 31 October, 1915, it was announced that the Pals would be leaving for France and in a letter to his brother Lord Derby gave his view on how the war could be won, “This war is only going to come to an end by killing Germans, and I am perfectly certain that at that game, the 89th Brigade will more than hold their own.”
The Pals would go on to fight in some of the most costly battles of World War I, taking part in the ‘big push’ at the Somme in 1916.
Almost 200 Liverpool Pals were killed going ‘over the top’ on 1 July, 1916, over 300 more were wounded, captured or recorded as missing.
Of the four original Pals Battalions who sailed to France in November 1915, twenty per cent would be dead by 1919, if the figures of wounded and those transferred to other units are included the casualty figure is closer to seventy five per cent.
The effect of these losses on Liverpool was highlighted on Sunday by a guard of honour of widowed mothers and sweethearts dressed in black, who lined the procession route.
That Liverpool, and the rest of the Country can find ways of keeping these sacrifices in the minds of our people is a credit to them. Over 1 million people took to the streets in the last four days, many of them young children and teenagers, many with parents and grandparents. The storytelling will continue and with it the pass down of memories and understanding. It was heart warming to be part of it.
We went on Sunday to the finale as the two giant humans were placed on a barge and sailed out of the City from the Albert dock. On their final parade through the centre, the giants were joined by actors dressed as the Liverpool Pals, and WW1 officers in a tribute to the hundreds of locally recruited soldiers who lost their lives in the regular hand to hand conflicts of the war.
The Pals were groups of friends, co-workers and factory owners who were galvanised into action by Lord Derby. He wanted the City to answer the call from Lord Kitchener, that 'Your Country Needs You'. Within weeks of the announcement of war, Lord Derby, put forward the idea of a battalion drawn from the Liverpool business workforce, and even wrote to employers asking that they encourage their employees to enlist. So many turned up that in the end four battalions were formed. These troops were officially the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Service Battalions of the King’s, but known as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Pals.
Other cities followed Liverpool's lead and Pals regiments became widespread. By April 1915 the Pals had been formed in to the 89th Infantry Brigade and on 31 October, 1915, it was announced that the Pals would be leaving for France and in a letter to his brother Lord Derby gave his view on how the war could be won, “This war is only going to come to an end by killing Germans, and I am perfectly certain that at that game, the 89th Brigade will more than hold their own.”
The Pals would go on to fight in some of the most costly battles of World War I, taking part in the ‘big push’ at the Somme in 1916.
Almost 200 Liverpool Pals were killed going ‘over the top’ on 1 July, 1916, over 300 more were wounded, captured or recorded as missing.
Of the four original Pals Battalions who sailed to France in November 1915, twenty per cent would be dead by 1919, if the figures of wounded and those transferred to other units are included the casualty figure is closer to seventy five per cent.
The effect of these losses on Liverpool was highlighted on Sunday by a guard of honour of widowed mothers and sweethearts dressed in black, who lined the procession route.
That Liverpool, and the rest of the Country can find ways of keeping these sacrifices in the minds of our people is a credit to them. Over 1 million people took to the streets in the last four days, many of them young children and teenagers, many with parents and grandparents. The storytelling will continue and with it the pass down of memories and understanding. It was heart warming to be part of it.
Friday, 25 July 2014
A thrash round a field
Rory McIlroy had just come back from a boys weekend in Ibiza, before he went on to win the Open Championship at Hoylake last week. Clearly that sort of break can do your golf the world of good.
I was one of the volunteer marshal's and did seven or eight shift from the Tuesday onwards. It was fascinating to see the players close up and wonder at how they hit the ball so far with apparently little effort. I am told something's called timing and practise are to blame!
I did not exactly meet the world but I did see David Clarke, an ex-Twickenham RFC lad with whom I used to play golf. He was caddying for Cameron Tringale, who had two steady rounds but was unable to make the cut mark.
David must be one of the most unlucky caddies around, he was with Justin Rose when he turned pro, and went through the hard times with him. They parted on good terms some time later but before Justin started winning big. He was with Michelle Wie when she had totally lost her game, and then moved on to VJ Singh for a while, and VJ has never been the fame force since his deer antler scandal.
I did appear on the BBC news at 7pm on the Sunday as a lady reporter did a piece to camera. I had my back to her and looked like I was perched on her shoulder like a parrot. We got £12 food allowance which did not buy too much food at the prices they were charging, so I saved mine up and got a bottle of champagne from the beer tent...every little helps.
So after Rory played so well after his boys weekend away, I wondered what difference my trip to Lisbon had made, and the formula seems to have worked. I went round Southport and Ainsdale yesterday in 82 shots, helping Wallasey to gain an honourable 4-4 draw. Interestingly when I consult my records I see that during our Southport flog expedition in 1988, I birdied the first hole and then went round in 103, so I seem to be improving!
I was one of the volunteer marshal's and did seven or eight shift from the Tuesday onwards. It was fascinating to see the players close up and wonder at how they hit the ball so far with apparently little effort. I am told something's called timing and practise are to blame!
I did not exactly meet the world but I did see David Clarke, an ex-Twickenham RFC lad with whom I used to play golf. He was caddying for Cameron Tringale, who had two steady rounds but was unable to make the cut mark.
David must be one of the most unlucky caddies around, he was with Justin Rose when he turned pro, and went through the hard times with him. They parted on good terms some time later but before Justin started winning big. He was with Michelle Wie when she had totally lost her game, and then moved on to VJ Singh for a while, and VJ has never been the fame force since his deer antler scandal.
I did appear on the BBC news at 7pm on the Sunday as a lady reporter did a piece to camera. I had my back to her and looked like I was perched on her shoulder like a parrot. We got £12 food allowance which did not buy too much food at the prices they were charging, so I saved mine up and got a bottle of champagne from the beer tent...every little helps.
So after Rory played so well after his boys weekend away, I wondered what difference my trip to Lisbon had made, and the formula seems to have worked. I went round Southport and Ainsdale yesterday in 82 shots, helping Wallasey to gain an honourable 4-4 draw. Interestingly when I consult my records I see that during our Southport flog expedition in 1988, I birdied the first hole and then went round in 103, so I seem to be improving!
Summer lovin'
What great weather we are experiencing at the moment. If we could guarantee this every year then who would need Turkey or the South of Spain. Its glorious.
I did take advantage of Portugal though, a couple of weeks ago, when I went to Lisbon for a stag weekend. 25 blokes aged from 45 to 63 all there for a few holes of golf , some sardines and gallons of sangria. I stuck to the very pleasant white wine and consequently lasted better than I was expecting. It was the stag's second go at matrimonials, and with a nickname of Wally, what other theme could there be!!
That's me at the back, with a black and white hat on! For some reason I got the golf colour code and the evening colour code mixed up!! The man at the front with no hat was a local who was in the hotel celebrating his divorce, bit of a dichotomy really! He picked up the bar tab so we had to include him in the picture.
I arranged the whole trip, given I was the only one 'not working' and it was quite an experience to do that. Transfers proved to be the hardest and most expensive part of the trip, given everybody makes their own way to these sort of things. They all land at different times and at different terminals, but everybody got there and a good time was had by all.
I did take advantage of Portugal though, a couple of weeks ago, when I went to Lisbon for a stag weekend. 25 blokes aged from 45 to 63 all there for a few holes of golf , some sardines and gallons of sangria. I stuck to the very pleasant white wine and consequently lasted better than I was expecting. It was the stag's second go at matrimonials, and with a nickname of Wally, what other theme could there be!!
That's me at the back, with a black and white hat on! For some reason I got the golf colour code and the evening colour code mixed up!! The man at the front with no hat was a local who was in the hotel celebrating his divorce, bit of a dichotomy really! He picked up the bar tab so we had to include him in the picture.
I arranged the whole trip, given I was the only one 'not working' and it was quite an experience to do that. Transfers proved to be the hardest and most expensive part of the trip, given everybody makes their own way to these sort of things. They all land at different times and at different terminals, but everybody got there and a good time was had by all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)