Sport

Just posted as a comment to Anna's blog.

I'm in for any big sports event. Or indeed small. I was bored one Saturday and went to see Oxford play Shrewsbury. The only thing pleasant about it was that it gave me the opportunity to feel very superior to lots of people, i.e., the expletive-spraying baying, nylon-clad denizens of the end of Oxford's stadium that doesn't simply comprise of a fence.

Far better in the away end watching Oxford vs Boston.

I also saw the second half of Didcot Town playing Reading in a friendly on Ladygrove.

Mind you, when the Olympics come to London, I intend to see as much as I possibly can. Rafferty will get taken whether he likes it or not!

The Luck of the Welsh Rugby Team

In 2005, Wales came from nowhere to win the VI Nations, famously with their first Grand Slam since the seventies. It was a wonderful performance which warmed the heart of every watching Welshman (and I have always counted myself among that happy throng). However, if we are honest, it has to be admitted that they were lucky. Lucky that the English were clueless and that the French were, well, French. They were good value for the victories in both games but either could have gone the other way. They then came up against a poor and rudderless Scottish side, a declining Irish side and an Italian side on their way up, but who have not made it yet. Probably, the Welsh peaked at the right time, playing their type of rugby very well, but one that nobody was really prepared for, and with a superb spirit to the side.

And then.... it all went wrong. Did they use up their luck in 2005 such that in 2006 they were repaying their debt to the fates? Take the injury
list: even England or New Zealand, with a much larger pool of top talent to pick from, would have struggled losing so many of their first choice players. Wales have lost all the following 19 players during or before the tournament (* marks their Lions contingent):

Backs:
Gareth Thomas (last 3 matches)*
Shane Williams (v Ireland)*
Gareth Cooper (last 4 matches)*
Kevin Morgan (tournament)
Tom Shanklin (tournament)*
Ceri Sweeney (last 4 matches)
Chris Czekaj (not in contention)

Forwards:
Chris Horsmann (tournament)
Iestyn Thomas (tournament)
Luke Charteris (tournament)
Brent Cockbain (tournament)*
Jonathan Thomas (first 2 games)
Ryan Jones (tournament)*
Gareth Delve (first game)

The suspensions:
Ian Evans (lock, banned for first 2 games)
Gavin Henson (centre, banned for first 2 games)
Daffydd Jones (flanker, banned for first 2 games)

The retirements:
Sonny Parker (has already been named in the VI Nations squad)
Robin McBryde (forced by injury)

Additionally, the soap opera and pressure-cooker (to overdo the cliches) that is Welsh rugby have thrown up the following:

1. arguments over Gavin Henson's book which was over-critical of some of his colleagues


2. team selection compromised by Sonny Parker's retirement after being selected in the VI Nations squad


3. a spat between the players and Graham Thomas, ghost author of Henson's book, culminating in the players refusing to attend a press conference


4. the alleged split between the players and Mike Ruddock, lack of confidence shown in the coach by the players, and lack of support for the coach from the WRU


5. the WRU appointing a temporary coach who is unlikely to stay in the country after April


6. the WRU annoying their next candidate for (Gareth Jenkins of Llanelli) such that he is no longer interested in the job


7. Henson getting more known for his girlfriend and tan than his skills.. Is he bigger than the team?


8. Refereeing decisions (i.e., Dawson and Dallaglio's tries) vs England, in a game that we should have lost, but not by that much


9. the state of the Millennium Stadium pitch (OK, better than last year)


10. a series of good players losing form at the same time (Gethin Jenkins, Mefin Davies, Rhys Williams)

Why the injuries? Why the suspensions? Why the run of bad luck?

Is there a problem with the players' fitness?
Is there a problem with the players' discipline?
Is there a problem with the players' attitudes?

It was only one Grand Slam - there's more work to do to get Wales where they should be!

European Services Directive

This Directive has been voted on by the European Parliament over the last few days. The Directive does not particularly annoy me, as I feel it is a reasonably sensible piece of legislation. It does away with the protectionism in most EU countries and allows the markets to determine the level of services and pricing. For example, it would make it possible for a non-Austrian to become a mountain guide in Austria, and a qualified architect to set up in any EU country.

I had particular reservations over the "country of origin" principle, where in principle an eastern European building company could set up in the UK using their home Regulations, labour laws and building standards. This would mean they would would (a) potentially build to a lower standard, (b) have a lower level of H&S on site, and (c) have an immediate and unfair advantage over UK companies.

This principle was voted out by the (democratically elected and accountable) European Parliament, which has turned into a slightly more effective body over the last few years, rather than being the gravy train of the eighties.
The response of the (unelected, unaccountable appointee of our beloved
president) Commissioner who was trying to force through the Directive as it was (on last night's Newsnight)?

"Well, obviously it's not what I wanted". Those who pretend to be democrats only when it suits them... Just because it's what you want, does not mean that you can always get your way. The EU is already a nannying super-state.

The Commissioner in question? Oh, that
twice-sacked-in-disgrace-but-is-rewarded-with-a-cushy-number former minister, step forward Peter Mandelson.

Nearly as democratic as speed cameras and the smoking ban, but that's another post.

What is wrong with the country/world

A pair of skaters can have a heavy fall and a break in their routine, but still get a silver medal.

The Welsh rugby side can be at their most successful but still the politics in the squad force their most successful manager/coach for 25 years to resign.

The government interfere so much in our lives that they ban smoking even where everyone in a club that is paid for by the members agrees that they want to smoke.

President Tony thinks that he, not the Queen or the electorate, can appoint his successor.

The general health fascists think they can ban anything that is not good for us without considering the freedoms of choice that have built up over centuries. If this was a democracy, there would be no speed cameras…

Sky Engineers

I've been trying to get a Sky satellite system installed for my mother and stepfather. I knew there would be problems as their house is in a dip, surrounded by trees and with a big hill to one side. Unfortunately, the "one side" is to the south east, whcih is where the satellite signal comes from. There were chances of getting a signal from somewhere else in the garden. The first engineer came in, spent less than 5 minutes on site, with most of that being on the phone arranging his next job, and then disappeared saying that he could not get a signal.

We complained to Sky who would not accept that their engineers were anything but completely professional. I beg to differ. They sent a second engineer out who spent a good 45 minutes on site, clambered over the roof, and tried various locations until he found a site where there was a signal of adequete strength, half way down the garden. We couldn't get the system installed at the time, but at least we know what we have to do in the future. Two engineers, two completely different attitudes.

Now its just a trial to get my money back through their call centres.

Ho hum.

BBC Commentators not knowing the classics

One of the Chinese pairs in the figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics was competing to a very well known piece of music. The BBC commentator (probably Paul Dickinsen) then announced:

"and that was performed to a piece of music called Kashmir, by J. Bonham".

For Christ's sake. Kahmir is only one of Led Zeppelin's best songs taken off one of the biggest albums of the Seventies... Do the commentators need to be educated, at least as to who "J. Bonham" is?