Off Topic The Goodhand Arms

I've suggested to Onionman Jr that he's been spoiled by Saints at St Marys and that we should go to Portsmouth to see what lower league football is like. I'm thinking of the game on 12th December when Portsmouth takes on the might of Hartlepool.

Is this child abuse or a good idea?

Vin

 

That's a step too far. Bring him up to Cobblers.

 

What about Eastleigh Spitfires.?

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Husband and wife on trial for building a bomb to detonate on tenth anniversary of the tube bomb....caught when they couldn't decide on the target and asked on a public twitter forum for any advice. Actually said all advice would be appreciated. Thank God for dumb terrorists.

 

Nice piece about the French National Anthem from Simon Schama on Radio 4. Entertaining drawing as well:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p038c3gs

 

Great piece, and great drawing as well. Schama is spot on, La Marseillaise is easily the best National Anthem around, although Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau runs it close. Interestingly both are about standing for freedom against tyranny.

 

I won't spoil the mood or the night by suggesting which National Anthem might be the worst.

 

No need, we all know!

 

I like ours because it is recognisable and short. There's a few countries who could shorten theirs by at least 4 verses...smaller the country, longer the anthem.

 

The Beatles used the French anthem at the start of All You Need is Love. They didn't use any other countries anthems

 

That is so, so, so sad

 

Jonah Lomu was just coming onto the scene in NZ when I lived there. He was such a hero to all New Zealanders because he was Maori and because he was the boy made good from the working class, who nearly got sucked into gang life [yes it did and does occur in NZ cities]. When we returned to Britain and the All Blacks came over, Jonah was the guy to be feared. I used to feel sorry for anyone facing him. He looked like an American Grid Iron Footballer, not requiring any of the armour. He would brush aside tackles or if the tackler hung on he would drag the poor bloke with him, still running, with the tackler getting knocked about until he had to let go or was kicked off. He was born to play Rugby Union.

 

One of the rare breed that transcend their sport.

 

40!!!!!

Oh jeez that's terrible. Poor man.

 

That is so sad. My abiding memory of Jonah is him pounding down the wing in a World Cup game against England and literally trampling Tony Underwood underfoot, who had had the audacity to try and tackle him. For a wing he was enormous, nearly 20 stone of him, but he could run like the wind.

RIP Jonah

 

French Police raid appartment with suspects and suicide belt wearing woman. Ring leader for Friday's atrocity is believed to be inside. This is happening in St Denis, not far from the Stade de France in northern Paris.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34853657

 

I was so shocked and sad to read about Lomu's death this morning. He always struck me as a gentleman, though I'm sure that the men he played against wouldn't have thought that as he thundered towards them. RIP Mr Lomu

 

And, by all accounts, a true gentleman off the pitch. Desperately sad. He left wonderful memories - thoughts go out to his family and friends

 

Lomu: A true sporting great when that term is used so loosely.