Wasps!

What a day!! Yesterday I went to Twickenham to watch the Guinness Premiership Final between Wasps and Leicester. I was meeting up with an old friend, my original rugby buddy, who I only get to see a couple of times a year because of his work travel schedule. I started the first of nine pints of Guinness in the Fox in Twickenham and we meet up with the others that were joining us for the match. Then to the main event! Even walking up to the stadium was incredible. Thousands upon thousands of people, singing and drinking and chatting and really excited about what promised to be a cracking match...

My friend M had organised the tickets and the boy done good – we were on the west stand, about a third up on the 22. Although answer me this, why did the best rugby stadium in the world design the seats for tiny people?! I’ve actually got a bruise on my knee from cramming my long legs into those bloody seats. Anyway, I won’t do a detailed match report – there’s a good one in the Observer today, or go to the Wasps site – but Wasps were superb. Two of my favourite players Rees and Lewsey scored a try a piece and Mark Van Gisbergen slotted over six from six. The players – always top class – played out of their skins for another reason yesterday; big Lol’s last game. Laurence Dallaglio the ultimate rugby warrior was retiring. And when he came off with about 10 minutes to go, he received a standing ovation from Wasps and Leicester fans alike. We wanted to show our appreciation and for a while the action on the pitch stopped to enable us to do just that. He was emotional and so were we.

Wasps won 26 to 16 and when the players gave a lap of honour it felt even more special than usual. The crowd was 82,160 strong and it broke the previous world record of biggest ever crowd at a club rugby match and I really felt proud to be there in my Wasps shirt seeing off my favourite ever player with passion and gratitude for all that he's done for club and country.

We headed over to the Guinness Village but the queues were enough to test the patience of even the Dalai Lama so we headed back to the Fox and sunk even more booze. A trip to Pizza Express to get some much needed carbohydrates and then it was back home. It was my first outing in as long as I can remember without the car and I’m paying for it now with inflamed and very painful knees, but to not have a pint whilst your team win the Premiership is just very, very wrong...

COME ON THE WASPS!

Evil fox

I’ve just watched Pluto eat a fly which was both funny and disgusting…

I went for my suit fitting last night – lots of stress getting across London in rush hour, and we were a few minutes late, but it was great! They were very professional and soothing and I feel I’m in good hands. Talking of hands, always a surprise to find one in your crotch! But that’s bespoke for you; they take a lot of measurements…

My suit will be ready in 3 weeks and that’s when I go for another fitting to make sure everything fits like a dream. Always a challenge when you’re an awkward shape.

I woke late today after catching up on some desperately needed sleep. The chickens were making noisy distress signals and Pluto and I leapt to their rescue. It was the evil neighbourhood fox offering them sweets to get into his car. Or something like that anyway. Pluto was having none of it though and launched after him. He keeps popping out to reassure the chooks and let the fox know that he’s not welcome and Mr P will smack his arse down if he tries to make a move on the girls… Go Mr P!

Now I need to shower. Still unwashed, and at this hour! And then more work (proper work, not blogging) and a trip to the bank.

Tomorrow I’m off to the Guinness Premiership Finals at Twickenham to watch Wasps take on Leicester Tigers. Should be an awesome match!

EDF Finals

Yesterday I went to the EDF Energy Final at Twickenham and had a fantastic day. The atmosphere was great; really good natured as you would expect from rugby. There were three games, but we missed the first, instead getting there for the EDF National Trophy Finals (Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs) and the EDF Finals (Ospreys vs. Leicester). Unfortunately both my teams lost! I decided to support the Chiefs in the first match and Leicester in the second but it was Saints 24 – Chiefs 13 and Ospreys 23 – Tigers 6! Oh dear...

I bought a new t-shirt (another one!) and a signed copy of the Jake White book (former South African coach). Although had I not exercised bit of discipline I got have bought a lot more.

We had great seats and despite the occasional bouts of rain, we stayed dry and the hot sun more than made up for the occasional dampness.

My friend came back for dinner and not long after she left I headed for bed... a long day, crammed in small seats which were rubbish for my knees, and all the emotion of being part of a 65,000 + crowd cheering on your team! I’m still tired today...

Five day weekend, two day work week: the way forward?

We might get the girls this weekend! My partner received a phone call from the hen house people this morning and they can deliver this week! Sorry, lot’s of exclamation marks but I can’t help it, I’m excited!

It’s going to be a busy old weekend – a friend and I are going to the EDF final at Twickenham on Saturday and then it’s the marathon on Sunday. I’d love to tell you I was in it but clearly, that would be a blatant lie. My partner’s best friend and mother to her goddaughter is running and P, another friend, is also taking part. It’s such a gutsy thing to do, even if you are fit (which they both are). Anyway, we said we would look after the husband and goddaughter because B (goddaughter) obviously wants to see her mum running but there are so many runners it’s going to be impossible to pick anyone out… and on top of all that, we may now be putting the hen house together. Still, can’t complain!

This morning has been a little trying. My assistant has made lots of meetings for me and hasn’t included who I am meeting and where, which is actually quite fundamental to the success of the meeting. Anyway, she’s printed out a list now. I was going to point out that next time it might actually be helpful to start with a list, but I don’t want to interrupt because she’s eating. Again.

But I am determined that my week will be useful and productive so this is a small bump in the road… although using the analogy of roads makes me think of aforementioned colleague again. Whereas I want to get from A – B in a timely and efficient manner, she would rather stop at every service station along the way so she can eat even more food...

Wasps out, so who's in?

My favourite (rugby) team in the world (other than when England play) is Wasps. So you can appreciate I'm pretty gutted that they haven't made the EDF final at Twickenham on April 12th. Especially as I have tickets!! However, Leicester played a blinder, man of the match, Goode was superb and both teams played top rugby which made it a cracking game to watch. So who will Leicester play?

Well, at 56 minutes into the Osprey / Sarcens match, it looks all Ospreys... which would make the match on the 12th, England vs. Wales, ha! Shane Williams and Gavin Henson are great players so I won't be sorry to see them live at Twickers. Although, as a London team I should be supporting the Sarries...

I think it's fair to say, whoever ends up in TW1 in April, it's going to a fantastic game and I can't wait!