Scaling the Heights

Not content with the thrill of indoor flying (see earlier post), we also like to have a pop at a bit of rock climbing every now and then. You can have a go at Milton Keynes where they have some cool walls, but it's generally harder as they use fancy automatic belaying devices. All well and good, but if you need a rest to shake your tired hands you can't stop.

The preferred place for us is Craggy Island in Guildford. http://www.craggy-island.com/ They have hundreds of routes spread out over many walls that get switched every three months or so and they cater for all levels of ability and experience. And take it from me, the manual belay makes it a whole lot easier!!

Death Star Movie

Here's the full movie for the Death Star conversation.....

Happy Christmas 2007

What better way to celebrate than having a bit of a dance?

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1297928572

Happy Christmas to everyone.

The best clip ever?

Ok, this is probably more suited to the Star Wars fans out there (although is there anyone there who isn't one?), but even if you're not, take it from me, this is a very funny clip!!

http://www.kewego.co.uk/video/iLyROoaftYxB.html%22%3eDarth

Aluminum Falcon......

Missed Opportunities

So it turned out that Zoe from Blue Peter was one of the hosts at the Scouting LIVE07 celebration at the O2 Dome last weekend. And I declined the invitation to go.

Gutted.

Better Than Larsen?

If you're feeling a bit cynical and want to stay in the mood, but be cheered up at the same time, try a couple of cartoon strips from The Perry Bible Fellowship, these artists have truly got it going on. Either see their work weekly in the Guardian G2 supplement (Fridays?) or on line at http://www.pbfcomics.com/.

Try a sample of my personal favourites below.

"Baby"

"Wishing Well"

Shocked and Outraged

I won't go into the gory details, but the eldest had her Blue Peter badge and ID card stolen a couple of weeks ago, naturally she was pretty fed up. No probs we thought, the crew at the BBC will have the details and be able to issue a new one. Think again though, apparently this not possible and the only way to get another one is to earn one in the usual ways. Not that this is a problem, but I thought it was a bit tough on a wee lass who was already devastated at her loss.

Anyway, what next? Well, an email to Nicky Campbell at BBC's Watchdog for a kick start - maybe they have some insider contacts, but more importantly, I won't be voting for that Gethin bloke on Strictly Come Dancing anymore!!!

Actually, I think I was probably more gutted that they didn't send any signed photos like what I asked for, especially of Zoe, the latest in BP totty. In case you need it for "research" purposes, here's a link to her blog:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bluepeter/zoes_blog/index.shtml

Requiem in Blue

Our younger one wowed us all when she took part in a performance of Requiem in Blue by Harvey Brough. Described on the interweb as "an amazing amalgam of classical, jazz, blues and folk styles that combine to give voice to an outpouring of deep emotion", it both stirred the soul and provoked a few thoughts. It's probably not one for the out and out purist, it's written for all ages and abilities, but if you're keen and fancy something a bit different then go to Harvey's site http://www.harveybrough.com/, click on the Requiem in Blue link, scroll down and take a listen to a couple of the samples. Unfortunately we couldn't really see our girl so don't study the attached clip too hard, but trust me, she's in there somewhere....!!

Good Game Good Game

Fears of missing out on the final due to a poorly timed slot on the 6 yard rifle range at the National Scout Air Rifle Competition were unfounded. The organisers not only saw to it that we could reschedule our events, but they also provided the technology to let us watch on a 30 foot screen Fantastic!

Was it a try? Opinions are varied as always, we must always assume the Australian 3rd Referee doesn't hold any grudges. However, at the end of the day it wasn't given so we have to move on. Unfortunately we couldn't stop handing out penalties, but at least we prevented SA from scoring any tries, in fact the only game that SA played where they didn't score tries and it was also their narrowest margin of victory. All very positive in it's own way.

England move into 4th place in the rankings, ahead of France and Australia.

Roll on the 2008 Six Nations, fingers crossed that the tickets come through in the supporters club ballot!

Something to ponder

1) New Zealand are the best team in the World.

2) France beat New Zealand.

3) England beat France.

So does whatever happen on Saturday 20th really matter....?

Simply because.....

.......we need to see it again.....and again.....and again.....and again.....and again......

A Chicken and a Frog are in a Library.....

The chicken picks up a book, turns to the frog and says, "Book book book booook book book book book".

And the frog says, "Reddit, reddit".

Possibly my favourite joke of all time?

Ghost Joke

Q: What did the Doctor say to the Ghost?

A: Say aaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHH

Admittedly it works better live........

Cheap Shot

I'm sure we've all seen the incredibly funny (sic) variety of England shirts zipping around on email in the last few weeks.

Here's one I found that I liked.

Apparently none of our Antipodean buddies made it in because they were all sick.......as parrots......

Where Next?

Gobsmacked.
Stunned.
Amazed.
Happy.
Smiling.
Laughing.

Six stages of mood following an arguably unlikely English win over the Australians which was then repeated 6 hours later when the Kiwis were dumped out of the cup by France.

Word on the street is that both teams were so confident of a win that they hadn't booked their return flights back down under. Pity then that the only connection they could get was through London Heathrow, that must be hard to stomach.

A few of the more polite choice comments before the match included:

"They (England) definitely aren't the team of 2003"

"We don't fear England with him (JW) in the team - we don't really fear any of their players,"

"I don't like to say it, but Robinson is probably their only world-class back, the only one they've had playing in form."

"We're pretty confident in our defence,"

It's been said before and I'll say it again now, the four years in between are nothing but practice for the main event. If you can't cope when the pressure comes on and try to rely on some easy group stage games as a warm up for the knockout stages then think again.

In the meantime, get some practice in for 2011......

Bombard

Heard at the weekend being played by a traditional Breton band was the bombard (or bombarde?). Very interesting sound - has been described like someone strangling a cat - but when played within a group of instruments such as bagpipes, drums and other woodwind items it sounded pretty good. I'm almost tempted to check out Amazon for a suitable recording, but although the instrument has roots in the Middle East and Northern Africa, at the end of the day it's still a bit too Scottish sounding. No offence!

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Instruments/Anglais/mcc_j_txt03a_en.htm

44-22

A rather flattering scoreline in the end following an incredibly tense match, particularly during the 3rd quarter when the boys in blue got back to within 4 points and then camped out on the England line. Had Samoa sneaked ahead at that point then no doubt England would have panicked and crumbled, but fortunately they didn't so there's actually no need to debate the whys and wherefores of that one.

Credit to the non-English support who got behind Samoa with some impressive singing. Lucky really that Samoa also wear blue shirts otherwise they would have been stuck for a suitable song!

The Real Jambo

For anyone out there with a Scouting background, or for anyone wondering just what exactly they meant on Why Don't You when they said...."switch off your TV set and go do something less boring instead", check out the Youtube link or go to the bottom of the page to view the efforts of Andy, Ben and Boo who spent 2 weeks in the summer living it up at the World Scout Jamboree.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8n5myx_BVsY

Just try not to dwell too much on the fact that these guys represent our future........

Much much better.......

Scotland 0 - New Zealand 40, do I need to say anymore?

And at last Scotland will now have to face a test on a neutral ground for a change on Saturday. So come on all you good red blooded Englishmen, lets hear it for Italy......

Do I Feel Better?

So Romania are to Scotland what England are to South Africa. Interesting fact, we're one of only six nations to play in a RWC match and not score any points - ever. What does this mean in the grand scheme of things? Well, to be honest, I don't really know, but on the basis that a problem shared is a problem halved etc then I think I do feel a bit better. After all, it wasn't just us!

Oh Dear

Hmmm, could England be the only team in the 2007 RWC to not score in a game? We'll know in a couple of weeks. Good news though, tickets came good for the England vs Samoa game in Nantes this weekend. Involves a quick jaunt on the Fast Cat to Caen and a drive down, but the atmos on both Friday and Saturday promises to be great. Spare a thought for my young Cousin Toby who was lined up to come, but then had the mockers put on it by his folks because they didn't want him to take a sicky from college. Can't really say I approve, surely the learning experience of a weekend in France would outweigh anything that even our best educational establishment could provide, but I guess rules are rules, right.......??

Sky Diving

Ok, so not actually jumping from a plane but check out the awesome thrills of Airkix http://www.airkix.co.uk/. For the wee sum of 100 notes they will give you 8 minutes of free fall joy (or indoor bodyflight to give it the correct name) in a vertical wind tunnel in the happening town of Milton Keynes (it's right next to the Snow Dome for any MK afficionados). I recommend saving up a tenner a month for a year and then treating yourself. We splashed out this time and bought the girls a couple of minutes of flight time each as well. The instructors look after them, they get half a minute getting used to the sensation then they take them up, up and away into the column spinning around with mad grins on their faces. Me personally, I'm starting to get the hang of it, launching myself, going forwards and backwards, spinning around and most recently side slides. Would I do the real thing? I don't know, it seems crazy to me when the indoor option is available, but I'm told that even though you have the feeling of 120 miles an hour of wind rushing towards your face in the tunnel it's just not the same as experiencing the ground hurtling towards your head at that speed.........

Swing Low

So the rugby world cup finally got underway, excitment all round. Unfortunately mistimed the start of the England USA game, was lucky(?) to see the second half with it's worrying 7-7 scoreline. Personally I'm with Brian Moore on this one, the underdogs will have no doubt come out fighting and looking to make a good show, but how long will they last after a few injuries and after getting tired etc? Sounds like a good bit of BS to me for quoting in the pub......

And discovers......

......that he has nothing to write about. Incredible!
But still, at least he has finally made the start that he has been promising himself for so long. Better than nothing, right?

Here we go.....

Jonny Fantastic starts his blog..........