YES!!! The "I'm so happy" thread. 2009

[David Nicholson]

David, in my day cricket WAS exciting - Trueman, Boycott et al not to mentian Parky shooting his mouth off.

Ah, the greats I would add Brian Close, and one before my time David, (and possibly yours too   ) George Herbert Hirst. I long since ex-communicated Parky from my list of great Yorkshiremen on the grounds that no true Yorkie would pronounce castle as ca(r)stle, and went to the movies rather than "the pictures"

[Paul T]

Oh no, we've degenerated into the infamous.... "back when I was a boy" conversations.    We've hit rock bottom. 

[David Nicholson]

Paul, degeneration is good for the soul

[David Shaw]

I suppose that you choose not to remember England winning the ashes 'when I was a boy', Paul. Yes, it was one of the FEW times that they did.

[Paul T]

David,

I have trouble remembering last week at times, let alone when I was a boy.   And I'm "only" 40, so that doesn't bode well for the future.   Ah well, I'm sure it will... er, I'm sorry, what was I saying again?

[johnw]

This afternoon there was a fascinating interview with the Scottish writer Jackie Kay on the CBC's Writer's & Company: Scotland’s New Century.   You can listen to the whole interview at
http://www.cbc.ca/wordsatlarge/blog/2008/08/eleanor_wachtel_talks_with_poe.html by clicking the conversation button midway down the page.

Kay reads her poem "Old Tongue" near the end, worth a listen.

johnw  

[Ragged Robin]

We all hope to be happy with good weather this Weekend for the Tour de France to pass through Martigny on Sunday - thank goodness it wasn't today they would have been drowned out 

[Maggi Young]

Poor souls on Le Tour have had a very wet day into Colmar, Robin.... must be truly miserable to ride in these conditions. 
Will you go out to see them at Martigny? 

[Ragged Robin]

Yes Maggi, just been down to the bottom of the mountain to see the Tour de France flash by in to Martigny - lots of people on the roadside to wave them on cheering, a great atmosphere and a few photos in sunny weather but not too hot weather (luckily) Hope you enjoy them  

[Maggi Young]

Hey! That's great!!  And you get a second chance to see them on Tuesday, when the race begins again in Martigny a fter the rest day......... I wish I could whizz out there!!
 
So exciting when the peleton rushes past at speed ..... just love it! 
I feel very guilty about so enjoying the racing when a poor woman was killed yesterday by a police motorcycle, and two others hurt too, as the caravan of sponsors went along.... 

[Maggi Young]

You've done really well with capturing tha great peleton shot # 6, Robin, you've caught Ballan, the world road champion; the Yellow jersey, Nocentini;  the polka dot jersey; 192 is one of the only two japanese riders in the tour; Julin Dean, Lance Armstrong, Marcel Bruseghin, Leonargo Duque, Mark Cavendish,  oh, heaps of riders I recognise!! Thanks!!

[Ragged Robin]

Glad you enjoyed the shots Maggi - all over in a split second but what an adrenaline rush with the helicopter over head and the buzz of the crowd - I can quite see how someone could get hurt or worse people lunging in to the road to photograph and newspaper flying across that we managed to catch (could have wrapped round someone's face or got caught in the bike) The Dutch contestant had an accident and took another 30 mins to come through he may not be able to go on (Dutch supporters who live close by are in photo 7)  Apparently 1,000's of people have descended on Martigny and the road to Verbier is closed with people camping on the road edge over the next 2 days....very dramatic for sleepy old Martigny!!!! 

[Anthony Darby]

I watched the end of the test match this morning. Hedley Verity is no longer the last cricketer to bowl England to glory against the Aussies at Lords.

[Paul T]

It was a good match, only marred by some of the umpiring decisions right at the beginning of the Aussie second innings (first one caught off a clear no-ball, second catch clearly touched the ground ).  Only things that damaged the match.  Was a good fight back after that start for the Aussies in the second innings, which by the end of the fourth day left the match still open for a win by either side, instead of a forgone conclusion.  Great stuff.    I hope the rest of the matches are close too. 

[Anthony Darby]

I hope you aren't whingeing Paul? I'm trying to find a suitable cap to wear on my doggie walks. A harlequin cricket cap would be just the ticket, if I could find one?!!