EMBARRASSING

Not me – although my children might disagree! No, the World Cup Draw. The obnoxious obsequiousness (2 long words in a row!!! YES!) by Gianni Infantino towards the Orange Man Baby who wore a medal like a 4 year old at play school who got a sticker for not poohing themselves. 2 hours of nonsense, and often no translators when the speaker was speaking using Portuguese. The we had stars from other sports doing the draw itself (eventually) – who thought that a good idea? All in all it makes the FIFA World Cup much less attractive. i also love the FA Cup for allowing teams like Chelmsford City their day in the limelight – but a World Cup with Curacao and Cabo Verdi is ridiculous, as is playing games in dangerous heat, and also 7 games in 21 days at top level?

Also most fans in England, Spain and Germany would probably rather watch the Champions League final and leave support of the national team to drunken, racist, nationalistic bigots!

Whilst enjoying schadenfreude at others expense – Farage made a fool of himself and his gurning face. He kept saying “Bernard Manning” as some obscure excuse for his racist and nasty comments. He has denied saying them but we do not believe him (and his supporters will love him for it!). I too was brought up in the same era and earlier (and worse). As a teenager I may have made racist comments with the bravado and confidence and ignorance of a teen, but I was also aware of it being offensive – and Ireally cannot remember any instance, and I would certainly not have insulted anyone in their hearing – but then I was brought up properly! Gurning Farage has obviously not advanced mentally since puberty – bad mouthing less fortunate people is the territory of the bully and pervert – please can he just go away.

ODD BRITAIN!

I like lists! Here is a list of quirky British events.

1.World conker championships.
2. Cheese rolloing competition.
3.Maldon mud racing competition.
4. Up Helly Festival.
5.World bog snorkelling championships.
6.Kettlewell scarecrow festival.
7. Guy Fawkes etc.
8.Ottery St.Mary tar barrels.
9.Wittlesea straw bear festival.
10. Olney pancake race.
11.Highland games -tossing the caber
12.Morris dancing.

I am sure you can add more like the world gurning championships!

Another addition, curtesy of my bro’. The Dunmow Flitch Trials are an ancient custom in Great Dunmow, Essex, where married couples prove they have lived in perfect harmony for a year and a day to win a side of bacon. The trials involve a mock court with a judge and a jury of six maidens and six bachelors, where the couple must convince them they haven’t regretted their marriage. If they win, they receive a flitch of bacon and are paraded through the town.

KING LOUIS

I had never heard of a French prince becoming an uncrowned King of England until I came across this –

The future Louis VIII of France briefly won two-thirds of England over to his side from May 1216 to September 1217 at the conclusion of the First Barons’ War against King John. The then-Prince Louis landed on the Isle of Thanet, off the north Kent coast, on 21 May 1216, and marched more or less unopposed to London, where the streets were lined with cheering crowds. At a grand ceremony in St. Paul’s Cathedral, on 2 June 1216, in the presence of numerous English clergy and nobles, the Mayor of London and Alexander II of Scotland, Prince Louis was proclaimed King Louis of England (though not crowned). In less than a month, “King Louis” controlled more than half of the country and enjoyed the support of two-thirds of the barons. However, he suffered military defeat at the hands of the English fleet. By signing the Treaty of Lambeth in September 1217, Louis gained 10,000 marks and agreed he had never been the legitimate king of England.[44] “King Louis” remains one of the least known kings to have ruled over a substantial part of England.[45].

The fact he was not crowned seems immaterial Edward V and VIII and Jane Grey were also not crowned. Paying him off with 10000 marks (approx £666.666 pounds) must have hit the exchequer at the time? Could the loss of the gold by King John in the Fens be the early work of a ‘spin doctor?”.

SRI LANKA

My granddaughter is in Sri Lanka at the moment. I hope she is safe – but Sri Lanka is about the same size as Ireland so whilst the heavy rain will have caused transport problems it should not affect the coastal resort – and she appears to have left a vulnerable area just in time. Having not heard from her mother I assume “No news – is good news”? My brother said that he hoped she was on her way home – I hope not! Her experience will set her up for life! I went to Israel just before the 6-day war, went to Peru during a cholera epidemic and terrorist uprising, was in London during IRA bombings – I am sure these things influenced me. She is home in 10 days – I hope she will tell me all.