The Olympics

Isn't the Olympics fantastic? I have been amazed at the whole spectacle and even the most cynical of the cynics seems caught up in the mood.

One thing which has slightly spoiled it for me is the BBC's insistence on employing the dreadful Eddie Butler. He spoils BBC rugby coverage for me and now He is inflicted on our screens in the summer. My posts may seem to be somewhat anti-Butler, but that is because they are! Even his presence hasn't spoiled the Olympics for me so it must be something quite special.

Now back to the TV for another dose of sport!

Summer is here!!!

Early July always sees the start of the long summer holidays for me as a teacher. Today the question has to be just where is the summer.

Sitting indoors watching the womens singles final at Wimbledon with my father and hearing him say that he can't remember a summer like this - quite something really considering this is his 88th summer!!!

Today should have been a really enjoyable day because I was meant to be going with a friend to a classic car event in his 1954 Peugeot. Sadly a combination of bad weather and dodgy brakes in the car meant we didn't go! There will always be another time.

England v Wales

England playing Wales has always been one of the real sporting highlights of my year. I remember being lucky enough to watch Wales thrashing England from the ols South Stand at Twickenham surrounded by what seemed like the whole population of the valleys. As one of very few English people surrounded by the massed ranks of the Welsh we were looked on with a real sense of pity for daring to support such a feeble side. The singing and the rugby from the Welsh were both amazing and it was impossible not to be affected. To this day I have always had a sneaking admiration for the Welsh, although naturally I am always particularly pleased when England win. I don't mind any Welshman supporting his or her country with the sole exception of the dreadful Eddie Butler, who the BBC insist on wasting my licence fee on. As he is paid to do a job he gives up the right to support either team. Who can forget the marvellous impartiality of the great Bill McLaren, even when commentating on the Calcutta Cup. I just know that the BBC will inflict Butler on us again and hope that any like-minded true rugby supporter will join me in sending a complaint to the BBC. We pay their wages so eventually they must listen to us!

6 Nations Starts

Great to hear Eddie Butler commentating on the France v Italy match. This doesn't mean that I have suddenly become a fan of the dreadful Welshman, but at least we won't have to suffer his tirade of Anglophobic rants in the Calcutta Cup!

I am a great fan of good rugby and am in no way anit-Welsh. As someone who grew up in the days of real Welsh power in the 1970s I have always admired their passion for the game. I still do. I just hate poor commentators and really cannot understand why the BBC are wasting my licence fee paying Butler. If the Beeb can't find someone to replace him just pick any random rugby supporter and there is a fair chance that we would get a better service!

Iamgine how I felt when watching the fantastic Ireland v Wales game only to have it spoiled by the BBC's ridiculous decision to use Butler twice in the one weekend. Is this some plot to frive viewers away from the Six Nations.

Referendum for Scottish Independence

I am not someone you would expect to have anything to say about independence for Scotland. My basic gut feeling is that if the majority of Scots want it, then it is a matter for them.

However, and there is always a however in anything worth discussing, I can' help feeling that we are really talking about a fundamental change to the constitution of the whole UK and this should mean that any referendum should cover the whole country, not just North of the border. Current discussion about who controls the vote is pretty pointless until we actually decide what the issue is. We are talking about a fundamental break up of the United Kingdom, and that must surely call for a referendum for all British subjects.