If you’ve played it, you know what it’s like…

Been reading. Yes, really, I have! Anyone who has played in a local diddy footy team should read this book. It is laugh-out-loud funny. So much you can relate to in it… if I had any sort of authortastic skills, I could write my own version! The spontaneous stories that happen on away trips; the ridiculous antics of the team donkey/muppet/thug; the random skillful fast young left winger who just doesn’t fit in; all these topics could come up from any team. With hindsight there are plenty of stories that we should right down… so for the weekend I must clean my boots, pack my kit, check i’ve got rub and take a notepad and pencil..

Any Chance of a Game by Barney Ronay. Goals, girl trouble and growing up! (And of course – Deep Heat!)
if you ask nice i may let you borrow it…

A VALENTINE TO VIOLENCE (YES IT IS in caps) is how the BBC review 300. Other reviews I have now read also praise this film. My initial reaction to leaving the Cinema was that it was rotten! Having loved the original 300 Spartans (as well as any other epic that usually appears on a Sunday afternoon when there is no sport to show) I went to see the new release out of tribute. This was my first mistake.

Don’t go see this film because you want to see an update or remake (precisely the same with The Italian Job). This new version owes more to the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller than the original film, or maybe even history itself. So, it was my fault! Some of the creatures, voices, slow mo’s were bizarre/ridiculous, causing laughter a plenty!

I don’t think our fellow audience members took too kindly to the loud chuckling that rose from me and my pal, especially during that “sex” scene, or the occasional Sean Connery impressions. The constant remarks that “that is like Gladiator/LotRs/Braveheart * (* delete as appropriate) only added to our misunderstanding of the intended masterpiece…

As the BBC reviewer states:
300 is not a complicated film. It’s going to be widely ridiculed and rightly so, because viewed with the slightest critical distance it becomes extremely funny, but taken on it’s own terms – as Greek myth meets Looney Tunes – it’s kind of a masterpiece.

The general feeling on the Wales Away message board is that it was basically a pre-season friendly played out in the sun. The sun shine on the away end caused the general lethargy of the fans…

Tosh is trying to play a continental style of footy, but with players who maybe are just (tosh?) not up to the quality required. 2nd Half, we seemed to have all the ball, but it took over an hour to get an attempt on target.

Very disappointing, but we do hype ourselves up only for a let down – and repeat again, and again.

So, I’ve returned. Didn’t take long to fly from Dublin to Edinburgh. Took ages to get from Haymarket to Stirling. Sunday service indeed. Musn’t grumble.

The Spanish air crew delivered us safely. The Polish service staff at the hotel welcomed us openly. I was yet to hear a Dubliner! Welcome to the E.U. everybody. Late night Polish newsagents have to be embraced, surely they are the future?

Our hotel, O’dearymes, had a fine location, a grand breakfast, quite comfortable rooms and, eventually, hot water. Pricey, but that sums Dublin up. With the switch to the Euro, everything was rounded up then a bit added on, then converted from punts… leading to paying a lot… still people seem to do it, especially in Temple Bar. We didn’t really spend too much time or money there, preferring to strafe its borders. O’Neills, O’Briens, O’Nos, O’notagains, were all frequented, often. Brother Phil appeared (as now is custom), performing a morning, yep morning, DJ set in the official Wales Away (i.e. World in Motion) bar/venue. A prize draw was to be had, raising money for Gôl – a great charidee.

I managed to win a signed ball! Quality. Signed by the Wales team who played Romania in 1993. Yes, that night. Yes, Paul Bodin. Yes, we did miss out on a trip to USA ’94. Also managed to claim for an Aber boy, one, yes one, signed goalie glove from Jason Brown (strangely omitted from the squad.)

No supporters game this time, am desperate to increase my international caps! Not made an appearance since the surreal Austrian Allstars XI incident…

Match report to follow, when I’m not going to be as cutting…

I need a new motor. Well it is not going to be new, just slightly old to avoid the massive drop in price that is depreciation.

Any advice? Guess it would be a hot hatch I’m after – Golf, Mazda 3, Leon, Alfa 147…

A weekend in Dublin awaits – and I can’t wait. The incidental football match that we’ll watch is secondary to the craic and carry on that dominates a Wales away trip.

Really looking forward to Croke Park – having seen it on Chase the Egg/6 Nations style. Here it is in its GAA Glory. We’ve been stuck in the corner with no roof!

Like many, I have greatly anticipated the new Arcade Fire album. After hearing a couple of tracks, such as Intervention, I was pretty warm to it.

Listening to Neon Bible now… survey says… it’s a grower!

Also listening to In Bocca Al Lupo by Murder by Death. Brother Phil recommends them and is even planning a sortie to Glasgow to take part in some giggage. Hopefully this will make up for my having to miss The Shins gig due to being in Dublin and then having to go away for a weeks residential with work…

My carbon footprint has grown to that of a Yeti I think…

Within the last couple of weeks, I have booked return flights to:

Ireland, Spain, Wales, Canada and Poland.

Oh dear. So, better get planting some trees.

Going to miss furthering my international career as the supporters game is on a Friday and I have to work… will have to miss the Irish and save myself for the alternative opposition of the Germans or the Czechs!

I was going to put a link to some great sites which have photos (i.e. evidence) of supporters trips. Better not given some of the content…

1. To bring peace, quiet, or calm to; soothe.

3. To pacify or attempt to pacify (an enemy) by granting concessions, often at the expense of principle.

I haven’t blogged for ages, this is to try to do the above. The main reason being the fact that I have set up and am maintaining 4 work blogs… yes, blogtastic or even blogoverkill…

Still, it’s a great excuse for work!

Flood Update Shock…

Myself and another teacher have started an after school ICT/Web club.  We hope that the folks here will take up most of the updating of the school news blog, as well as uploading to our flickr account and having a bit of fun too!

One of the other activities I would like them to undertake is to have a play with a website of the week… things like sploder for example; as it is fun for them, but will also give me some insight into whether or not it is viable to use for some sort of class activity… any suggestions?