andy ripley RIP

Really sad to learn that Andy Ripley, former England rugby union international, died last week from prostate cancer at the age of just 62. Although I never met him, my claim to fame is that I slept in his waterbed (he wasn’t in it, I hasten add)! It was probably 1974(?) and Moira+I were staying in London with our friend Joan (from our Oxford college days). She was living in the same house as Ripley at the time and he allowed us to use his bed. Not sure how she’ll feel about this, but I suppose Moira can probably claim she is the only woman who slept in his bed and with whom he didn’t have sex! Actually, there were probably lots of women who just wanted to sleep in his waterbed at the time….
The England no.8 was an absolute hero of mine – even in the poor England team of the early-/mid-1970s. He was 6ft 5in tall, with flowing locks streaming out of a headband, knees pumping almost up his chest and the ball under his arm. Someone once wrote “Ripley in full flight will remain forever an image to brighten the day” and that’s exactly the image I have of him. I’ve seen him described as the last of the great Corinthian sportsmen who just played sport (rugby, athletics, rowing, triathlon, swimming and sailing!) for fun – with an intellect to boot (“a man with a brain like Einstein and a pen like Shakespeare”).
In the foreword to his 2007 book on cancer, he wrote: “Dare we hope? We dare. Can we hope? We can. Should we hope? We must, because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts, given so freely by God to all of us. So when we do die, it will be with hope and it will be easy and our hearts will not be broken.”
They don’t make them like him any more.

exeter by-pass?

It was wet. It was very, very wet. Went to the Bristol v Exeter Chiefs play-off final last night (rugby union for those NOT in the know!). Great friends Jez and Lucy accompanied me. Unfortunately, they’re ardent Chiefs supporters and I’m Bristolian (of course!). Bristol were 6-9 down from the first leg; it was going to be close, but Bristol would surely win with home advantage? The second leg finished 10-29 – pretty disastrous for Bristol. Exeter were clear winners and played with far more passion and self-belief. Chiefs also won the battle of the supporters too (far too many good chants – which completely stunted the home team’s somewhat unimaginative “Bristol-Bristol-Bristol”!). Ironically, the only time the home supporters really made a deafening roar was when the team left the field together at the end of the pre-match warm-up – an amazing, thunderous noise – which I thought was just a hint of things to come. It wasn’t to be and the Chiefs won easily. I got caught up in the after-match celebrations with the delirious Chiefs’ supporters (Jez insisted on hugging a few of the players!) and even managed to bump into Kim+Alan from school (Kim was a very happy bunny – ANOTHER Chiefs’ supporter!). The good humour between the rival supporters was just brilliant, despite all the disappointments.
Moira had watered the garden just before we left for the game. In the end, the torrential rain means she doesn’t need to do so again for a couple of months.
Obviously, I blame her for Bristol’s downfall.

sex+drugs+rock+roll+rugby+folkhouse

We crammed an awful lot into yesterday!
At the start of the afternoon, Gareth, Moira+I went to the Watershed to see “Sex+Drugs+Rock+Roll” – a portrayal of Ian Dury’s rise to fame in the 1970s with the Blockheads and featuring the incredibly impressive Andy Serkis in the title role. As you might have expected, the film was a powerful mixture of aggression, anger, ego, tenderness and wit. I couldn’t honestly say that I really enjoyed it. I like this description of Ian Dury by Philip French in The Observer: “He is a man ready to sacrifice anything in order to be the master of his fate, the captain of his soul” and this is certainly what the film emphasises.
I rushed out of the cinema to join Felix in the near-by Mackenzies Bar to watch the England v Wales rugby (Gareth+Moira decided to return home!). Sound performance and a deserved 30-17 victory – despite them almost letting Wales back into the game with only 10 minutes left.
Fee+I were then joined by Hannah+Moira and we went to a concert at the Folk House on Park Street (part of my birthday present from H+F) – featuring Daisy Chapman, John E Vistic and Stanton Delaplane (all excellent). I’d never been to the Folk House and was really impressed. A lovely evening and a great way to end a hectic day!
PS: I ended up buying one of Daisy Chapman’s CDs and, as soon as I got home, duly removed the cellophane wrapping – only to discover that there was NOTHING inside!! I’ve sent her a message on MySpace, so I hope they’ll rectify the error quickly!

mags+jez

Had a really lovely day visiting our great friends Mags+Jeremy in Devon yesterday. Arrived for breakfast before walking along Lannacombe beach. We’d never been to Lannacombe before and it was just as well that Jez was driving, as we seemed to drive down endless narrow Devonian lanes to get there. But it was well worth it - and we were the only people on the beach too! We were really lucky as our walk coincided with a brief break in the weather (grey and drizzly) and we actually saw glimpses of the sun.
Back to Mags+Jez’s house for fish pie late lunch (perfect!) before watching the England-Australia rugby on tv (not so perfect!).
Long, but really enjoyable day with lovely friends.
Photo: Jez+Mags+Moira on Lannacombe beach

ten tors training on the mendips

Another training day on the Mendips yesterday; another really enjoyable time for pupils and staff alike. Perfect weather, great company and beautiful scenery!
Photo: one of the teams running downhill to the final checkpoint.
PS. Even managed to get back in time to see the second half of the Italy v England game (wish I hadn’t!).

happy birthday jon

It was Jon’s 40th birthday yesterday.
He had a really good day.
We joined him for a few drinks last night to help him celebrate.
Jon is Welsh.
Jon likes rugby!
It was a tough evening.
I blame myself for England’s defeat…. they were coasting to victory with 20 minutes left; I was in a pub with Dave+Andy; it was my round; I battled my way to the bar (it took me nearly 15 minutes to get served). I’d literally taken my eye off the ball; I’d lost my concentration and focus (crucial in sport at this level); by the time I returned, England had lost their way and the Welsh team scented victory.
England shouldn’t have lost, but they did… as a text from great mate Jez put it at the end of the game: “what just happened?”
What indeed!

it wasn’t to be….

In the four or so years since Alice+Dave got married, Villa have yet to win against ManU (Dave is a ManU fanatic and, worse than that, has converted his wife to the cause!). Clearly, yesterday was no exception (1-4) - despite Villa taking the lead – and I anticipate that the powers-that-be at Villa will be asking for the marriage to be dissolved any time now…

PS: my Fantasy football team continues to go from bad to worse. Another appalling week and my league position in England has plummeted to 324,365th (from "just" 218,205th at the end of September)!
PPS: oh yes, and in the really important game, the England rugby team fell just short of retaining the World Cup. I only managed to watch the last 20 minutes at the wedding reception hotel (one small TV in a packed small area and I “watched” it from outside the room four rows back from the doorway!). It seemed to be a case of South Africa dominance at the line-outs and perhaps a little too much kicking? The boys “did brilliant” nonetheless! Heroic stuff!

… and the bride wore white

It’s going to be a long and difficult day.
The England Rugby team has reached the World Cup Final against all the odds and we’re all holding our breath that it doesn’t end in an awful anti-climax (perhaps another 0-36 or worse?!). Great friend Ian thinks we ought to be singing for England (the players’ theme tune: “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers)!
Moira+I will be attending Mike+Sarah’s wedding reception this evening – which gives little scope for me being able to wear my lucky blue Cotton Traders shirt(!) – so I’m just hoping that a TV will be available!
Someone who definitely will be seeing the game is my lovely mate Steve Eyre. Yesterday, I sent him a text confirming golfing arrangements for next Tuesday; within seconds came the following reply:

“In Paris 4 le rugby. Allez les blancs!”.

blue is the colour

Apologies. I now seem to be focussing on writing a Rugby Blog these days!

Crucial moment of the match was nothing to do with Joe Worsley’s great tackle or Jonny’s drop goal. It happened in about the 55th minute when I realised that I wasn’t wearing the “lucky blue Cotton Traders” shirt (even against “Les Blues”!). Once this error had been rectified, victory was never in doubt (well ok, perhaps just a little bit).
Photo: Jonny’s drop goal.

holding my breath

Yes, I know that last week I said “the semi-finals are of absolutely no consequence” (having beaten Australia), but I’ve subsequently actually been dreaming of England getting to the finals (we’re not talking football here, by the way!)!

I’ve been having a number of “wouldn’t-it-be-brilliant-if-we-made-the-finals” conversations with various friends (notice how it becomes “we” if the team is doing well and “they” if they aren’t!).

I’m saying no more…..

world champions

Yes, I know. I feared the worst when England took on the might of Australia in the Rugby Union World Cup quarter-finals earlier today. In the event, it was an entirely justified 12-10 English victory and I feel very good about it all!
I watched the game in the John Cabot pub in Bristol’s Corn Street with a group of friends from school and the atmosphere was amazing (even to the extent that people were calling for “hush” when Jonny Wilkinson was taking his penalty kicks – as if it made any difference to him!). Initially, we had considered meeting up in the Australian “Walkabout” pub just opposite but, on reflection, I think we made the right choice!
The semi-finals are of absolutely no consequence – England will probably lose whoever they play…. but it was VERY important that we beat the Aussies!

I might even e-mail my cousin Keith in Australia later!
Photo: Andy Gomarsall celebrating victory.

s(up)porting heroes?

The Six Nations Rugby internationals start today! A new coach, new skipper, new squad…. and new hope? It’s been a really difficult time supporting any England team recently - dismal football World Cup performance; embarrassing cricket in the Ashes series and the one-dayers (apart from yesterday!). Surely the rugby team won’t let us down?
Well, after last year, don’t put your mortgage on it!
Come on England!

Photo: Phil Vickery, England Rugby captain

Footnote (6.30pm): of course, I never had any doubts (they won.... and Villa won too!)

losing out to red devils and tigers!

A gloomy weekend of sport for some of us (ie. me!). After Bristol Rugby’s 15-43 thrashing by Leicester Tigers last night (who scored six tries), Villa went down 0-3 at home to Man United this afternoon. Son-in-law Dave (a ManU fanatic) is coming to stay over Christmas and I had hoped, just for once, that my side might have won this time to give me bragging rights – but clearly not!
Things are unlikely to improve in the short-term – Villa are due to play ManU at Old Trafford in the Cup in a fortnight's time. Only recently, I’d been suggesting to friends that 2007 was going to be “Villa’s Year” as it was exactly 50 years since the Villa last won the FA Cup. Don’t hold your breath!

….but at least the sun’s shining

Came back home on Friday from a school field trip feeling very depressed that the behaviour of a few pupils spoilt things for everyone else. I woke up on Saturday to hear really depressing news about the England cricket team in Australia. Then listened to commentary on the radio on the England rugby team’s awful performance in the afternoon against South Africa and the Villa only drew at home to mediocre opponents….
But I woke up this morning and the sun was shining and things didn’t seem so bad afterall.... (and our newsagent reckons the England cricket team will score a miraculous victory – is he completely mad? – and I mustn’t forget that Bristol Rugby beat Gloucester on Friday night with the last kick of the match!).