Poo in the eye

This just caught my eye on the news page so I thought I should share it.

Making paper from roo poo is a great idea.
Wonder if we could make it by using all the crap that tumbles from the mouths of our "leaders"?
An inexhaustible supply there I think.

Tigers

I have to interrupt the Phlegmish ramblings to celebrate an all round top day on Sunday.

I drove down to Twickenham with a few like minded mates for the final of the EDF Energy Cup between Leicester Tigers and The Ospreys, who are an amalgamation of the old pre-regional Welsh clubs, Neath and Swansea.
The weather was fantastic. First job was to grab the best burger outside of the Goodwood Revival fare, which is on the car park at the college opposite the stadium. These are made from finest organic beef and are best savoured medium/rare. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Next stop, the loo for a well earned "comfort break", then on to the Guinness trailer with it's gorgeous girls behind the bar.
Wonderful atmosphere as we all wandered around sipping beer in glorious sunshine, 25°C and chatting with the Ospreys and Tigers fans. Something unheard of with football followers. (can't bring myself to call them fans).
Got into the ground and found our seats to watch the second half of the game which preceded the main final.
This was a cracking match between Exeter Chiefs and Penzance & Newlyn, also known as the Cornish Pirates.
The Pirates finished on top at 19 - 16 and as we were sitting next to loads of Pirates fans, we added our support to theirs.
There then followed a "sing-off" between The Treorchy Male Choir and The Odd Fellows & Huntingdon Male Voice Choirs to mirror the Wales v England make-up of the final. The Aveley & Newham Brass Band played for both Choirs and all 45,000 of the crowd joined in. It was bloody brilliant.

I raised my glass to Sassy just before kick-off as promised and wished her good luck with The Move.
Hope your day was as rewarding as mine Sassy.

As you can see, they haven't finished putting the roof on the south stand yet, which explains why I had such a bastard job getting tickets. There were about 35,ooo seats which were off limits.

The main final started with a bit of a worry as we went 6-0 down to two early penalties but then we cut loose and ran in three tries to go in at half time leading by 28-6.

The Ospreys obviously had a good talking to at the break because they came out and hit back with three tries followed by a penalty and another try.
They played some fantastic fast, free flowing rugby and made a superb contest of the second half. Tigers finally managed to get a grip with a penalty and then a late try to seal the win at 41-35.

All credit to the Ospreys for a wonderful display and it is a pity someone had to lose. I am glad it was us who won in the end as we have not had much joy in semi's and finals over the last 5 years. We got to lots but always lost, having won 4 Championships in a row and consecutive European Cup Finals during 1998 - 2001 it's time we had some success.






The Tigers above, waiting for the stage to be built on the pitch before collecting the cup.
About bloody time too.

We have a European Cup semi-final this Saturday and the play-offs to qualify for the Championship Final to be played on May 5th. I have rather optimistically got my tickets for that final so I just hope we make it. (We lost in the final to Sale last year, and yes I was there with a good friend who used to play for Sale, not that he mentions it much).

Antwerpen part 1

Lets start with the legend of Brabo and Antigoon, no not a 15th century Eurovision song entry but, some say, the origin for the naming of the city.

This greenish chappie below is our hero, Silvius Brabo, a roman soldier. Sorry but I didn't manage to get a picture of his adversary.

A long time ago in a city far far away lived a giant named Druoon Antigoon. He stalked the banks of the river Scheldt which flows through Antwerp and was a major trade route for the city.
Antigoon demanded a toll be paid by the sailors on the Scheldt and if any refused he would cut off their hands as a punishment. (a bit harsh in my opinion but consistent with the times and the code of practice for giants).
Silvius Brabo challenged the giant and finally defeated him. He then cut off Antigoons hand and cast it into the river as an act of defiance.
Hant (hand) werpen (to throw) the act of hand throwing sprung from this legend and after dropping the "H" Antwerpen was named. Or maybe you know different.

Nice statue though. It's also a fountain and was created by Jef Lambeaux in 1887. Thanks Jef.

This is the Cathedral of Our Lady on the other side of the Grand place. Started in 1352 and not completed until 1521. A build time un-equalled until recently with that of Wembley Stadium.

In the small street to the left of the awning is an Irish bar run by a couple of Dublin's finest and the Guinness flowed like, Guinness, hence the none too sharp night shots.

Another side of the square is bordered by these magnificent guild houses.

Although the originals were destroyed by fire in 1576, they were re-built by the town architect, Hans Vredeman. Renovated again in the 19th century, the grandest is number 7 which belonged to the Guild of Archers and is crowned by a gold statue of St George.

Not sure what St G has to do with bows and arrows but there you go.

Behind the Brabo fountain is the Town Hall. Completed in 1564 it was meant to be a Gothic masterpiece but most of the building materials were used to defend against attack from the army of Maarten Van Rossern. (Rumour has it he picked on Antwerp because they spelled Martin in a silly way). I think the Antwerp defenders must have thrown bricks and rubble to repel the invaders and it took them 20 years to collect it all again.

By the time the city was in a more stable financial position the fashions had changed and the gothic style was replaced by renaissance. I'm sure Dive will reflect on the "superposition of Dorian and Ionic columns" but for the rest of us it just looks a little fussy and confused I think.

The two statues either side of the gilded coat of arms are The Lady Justitia and The Lady Prudentia, names worthy of a place in any good Carry-on film. Above them is a Madonna which was placed there by the Jesuits during the counter-reformation to replace a Brabo statue considered "too heathen" for the time.

I think this would be a good one for Dives "Look-up" series.

3 at last

This is just a quickie and a taste of Antwerp. It really is a fantastic place, if a little strange. This is a statue dedicated to the harbour workers who gave so much to build the City economy over the years. Either that or the dodgy folk who worked the docks showing sailors a good time. I think his pose is a little suspect.

The inscription "Arbeid Vrijheid" means Labour = Freedom or, depending on your point of view, "Get it Here Big Boy"