Beer, Football, and Mr Peanut

Post-uni Travel Plans

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:36:27 GMT

As the last days of student life drift lazily away, and the wide world opens out, thoughts tentatively turn to life after university. The prospect of planning the rest of my life is a little daunting; despite five years at university, I don’t feel ready or knowledgeable enough to answer that old chestnut of a question, “what are you going to do next?”. For me, there’s going to be a lot of new experiences; a new job, a new routine, and new people in my life. But before all that, some long-awaited post-uni travelling is definitely in order.

Ever since my fresher year at Exeter, I have always dreamed of going out and seeing some of the world. Inspired by Michael Palin, David Attenborough, Bob Geldof and the like, I have always had a sense that there is far more to the world; different ways of life, alternative experiences, and new and exciting means of living. Now, having come to the end of twenty years of continuous education, it is time for me to take the plunge and find these things for myself, to fill my senses up with these new experiences, and to dip into the cultural pool of planet Earth.

So I’m going to begin by taking a few weeks out to travel to some of those European places that have for so long excited me. Grabbing my backpack and my rail tickets, I intend to stop first in Amsterdam, to wander the canals and visit the art galleries. I will then move on to Berlin, to Europe’s forward looking capital, before taking the long journey south to the archaeology museum that is Rome, via Munich. It’s then a short journey the fashion capital of Milan, and then on to Nice, in the south of France that was brought to life so beautifully by F. Scott Fitzgerald in Tender is the Night. After this, and via Montpellier, Barcelona beckons, as does Madrid, these two cities being the homes of two of Europe’s most exciting football clubs. From there it’s a short journey to Santander, from where a ferry will deliver me to Plymouth, and back home.

And what will I do after that? I guess I’ll just have to let you know when the times comes…

Book Review

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:47:40 GMT

The Phantom of the Opera

by Gaston Leroux

When the Paris Opera is taken over by two new managers, it sparks off a series of horrible events instigated by an opera ghost, a phantom who has for years lived peacefully in the opera house. Tortured by love for Christine Daae, a young singer who he has brilliantly tutored, the phantom becomes increasingly jealous at her romantic affair with Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, and sets about making Christine his own, by whatever means possible. The phantom is indeed no ghost, but a hideously disfigured man called Erik. A musical and theatrical genius, Erik is psychologically scarred by his childhood and, finding more comfort by living under the opera house, he creates a sanctuary for himself and his music. Christine, on her part, thinks of Erik as the ‘angel of music’, promised to her by her father before he died. She loves Raoul, but is drawn to the phantom through her loyalty to him and her father. The resulting plot is a story of love, jealousy, and bitterness, brought together with a colourful cast of characters, not least the Persian and Mame Giry, who know Erik personally, whilst the bumbling behaviour of new managers Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard add a level of comedy to the novel.

Gaston Leroux does an excellent job exploring some difficult and complex issues, whilst maintaining the book as both readable and enjoyable. His description of the phantom’s house, under the opera, is especially good, and his atmospheric style of writing really gives you a taste of wealthy Parisian life in the nineteenth century. The novel tackles the themes of love and hate well, but for me the most important issue is that of a musical genius, a brilliant character who could have been so much, made to feel isolated, and forced to hide away from the world because of the way he looks. This is the saddest aspect of the novel, and the part that leaves the reader with much to think over.

"Citius, Altius, Fortius" - "Faster, Higher, Stronger"

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:06:07 GMT

The Olympic Anthem

Immortal spirit of antiquity,

Father of the true, beautiful and good,

Descend, appear, shed over us thy light

Upon this ground and under the sky

Which has first witnessed thy unperishable fame

Give life and animation to those noble games!

Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors

In the race and in the strife!

Create in our breasts, hearts of steel!

In thy light, plains, mountains and seas

Shine in a roseate hue and form a vast temple

To which all nations throng to adore thee,

Oh immortal spirit of antiquity!

Book Review

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:00:25 GMT

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Set in the midst of the ‘roaring twenties’, Fitzgerald’s celebrated masterpiece traces the rise, fall, and hedonistic lifestyle of Jay Gatsby, as seen through the eyes of his neighbour, Nick Carraway. Located primarily within the fictional villages of East and West Egg, Long Island, New York, we are invited into a world of lavish parties, expensive cars, and well-to-do families, the likes of which have characterised the booming decade which followed World War One. At the centre of the novel is Gatsby, a man of a million acquaintances but, you suspect, no real friends. The old flame, and love of Gatsby’s life, is Daisy, Carraway’s second cousin, and wife of the crude and brash Tom Buchanan. Gatsby’s attempts to win Daisy are the driving force behind his every motive, but it is only when this comes to a head that the depth of the social problems – the lies, sleaze, and corruption – are fully revealed. Gatsby's mysterious dealings, although never properly revealed, are hinted at, and his shady past is always lurking, waiting to pounce. Ultimately, I don’t think anybody really achieves their American dream in the novel; the ideal is in part a falsity, just like the economy of credit and consumerism. And just as these problems eventually caught up with the 1920s economy, so they catch up with all the protagonists of the book. It is this that makes The Great Gatsby such a wonderful piece of craftsmanship.

As with Tender is the Night, Fitzgerald’s characterisation is nothing short of brilliant, and his ability to bring fictional people to life leaves you feeling as if you have personally met each one. An inevitable comparison will always be made between this book, and Tender, but whilst the latter deals with many of Fitzgerald’s personal problems (and is, I feel, the deeper and more meaningful of the two books because of this), The Great Gatsby offers an unparalleled insight into the booming lifestyles of the super-rich in America, mixing the ideal of the American dream with a heavy dose of corruption and social unrest which underlay the entire decade. Interwoven, and maybe impossible to separate from this, are the issues of love, regret and, most importantly, the foolishness of attempting to recapture the past. The way in which these themes are so effortlessly brought together truly confirms The Great Gatsby as one of the best novels of the twentieth century, and Scott Fitzgerald one of its finest authors.

Visiting Tribhuvan School, Nepal

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:03:12 GMT

Below is a picture of Lila Sara Gahar’s class at Tribhuvan School, Nepal, sporting their crisp blue uniforms, paid for through the charity Himalayan Learning. Having recently visited Tribhuvan School, Himalayan Learning have created a short film, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vziskniuao4 . I can’t see Lila Sara in the film, but one nonetheless notes the poor condition of the school, which lacks benches, paper, and pencils. It is, however, wonderful to see the children enjoying their learning, in spite of the many obstacles that they face. I hope they are on the way to a much brighter future.

Himalayan Learning is a small charity, working to improve the conditions of schools throughout rural Nepal, in order to give some of the world’s poorest children the chance of a better life. Their work is invaluable, and recent projects include the renovation of the rural Shanti Srijana school, and the ‘computer college’ campaign, which ships used computers, otherwise destined for landfill, to the region, where they can be used to teach children. The charity relies on public awareness, and their website is well worth a look: http://www.himalayanlearning.org/.

Counting Down: My Lifetime of European Championships V

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:50:10 GMT

UEFA Euro 2004

Coming off the back of FC Porto’s UEFA Champions League victory, Portugal was on a high, and in confident mood to host the twelfth European Championships, a competition that was expected to showcase the best that European football had to offer, following the continent’s slightly disappointing showing in the 2002 world cup. The home nation had much to offer, as the ‘golden generation’ of Portugal hit their peak, with players such as Luis Figo, Rui Costa, and Vitor Baia expected to shine, along with the other superstars of the European game – Spain’s Raul, England’s Wayne Rooney, France’s Thierry Henry, and Italy’s Francesco Totti amongst others – all of whom were looking to make their mark, and prove that European football was still the best in the world. Set within a plethora of modern, stylish, high-tech stadia, the stage was set for the most glamorous competition so far. What followed, as usual, was magic.

Group A pitted Portugal against arch rivals, Spain, both of who were expected to qualify at the expense of Greece and Russia. The tournament kicked off in Porto, with the Greeks providing an upset, beating the hosts 2-1. Spain won their first match 1-0 against Russia, before drawing 1-1 with Greece, whilst in their second match, Portugal beat Russia 2-0, with goals from Maniche and Rui Costa. The final round of group match saw Portugal defeat perennial underachievers Spain 1-0 to finish top, whilst Greece, despite losing 2-1 to Russia, crept through in second place. In Group B meanwhile, England were seconds away from beating France, having taken the lead through Frank Lampard in the first half, and even squandered a penalty, when David Beckham missed in the 73^rd minute. They held out until the 91^st minute, when Zinedine Zidane scored a brilliant free kick, and in a turbulent period that followed, England lost their heads, David James brought down Thierry Henry in the penalty area, and Zidane was left to score the 93^rd minute winner from the spot. The England squad, which contained the likes of John Terry, Michael Owen, Joe Cole, and Owen Hargreaves, were left broken. They recovered, however, with wins against Switzerland and Croatia, to finish second to France in Group B, the French having drawn against Croatia, and beaten the Swiss.

Group C opened with a 0-0 draw between Denmark and Italy, before Sweden hammered Bulgaria 5-0, with two goals from Henrik Larsson, and one from Freddy Ljungberg. Denmark beat Bulgaria, and Sweden drew with Italy in the second round of matches, and in the final round, Italy beat Bulgaria, whilst Sweden drew 2-2 with Denmark. The results left the top three teams all tied on five points, and because they all drew against each other, no head-to-head results could be used to determine their group placings. The positions were therefore decided on goals scored, and thus it was the Swedes who finished top, followed by Denmark, with Italy missing out. Group D meanwhile saw the Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech Republic line up against the surprise of the tournament, Latvia. The Czechs managed to beat Latvia 2-1 in the opener, whilst Germany and Holland played out a 1-1 draw, Ruud Van Nistlerooy cancelling out Torsten Fring’s opener. In the second round of matches, Latvia secured probably their finest result ever, with a 0-0 draw against world cup finalists Germany, whilst the Netherlands lost 3-2 to the Czech Republic. Germany’s 2-1 loss to the Czechs in the third match, coupled with Holland’s 3-0 dismissal of Latvia, saw the Dutch finish second to the Czechs, whilst Germany limped out on two points, just above Latvia. The failure of Germany, Italy, and Spain saw three of the big guns fall in the group stages, blowing the tournament well and truly open for the taking.

The quarter-finals began in Lisbon, with Portugal taking on England in a thrilling encounter, which saw Michael Owen give England an immediate lead, before Helder Postiga equalised. Going into extra time, Rui Costa scored for Portugal on the 110^th minute but, due to the dropping of the golden goal rule in favour of the silver goal, England had enough time to recover through Frank Lampard in the 115^th minute. Penalties followed, with Beckham and Rui Costa missing for their respective teams, as sudden death ensued. Postiga scored for Portugal, then Ashley Cole hit the net for England. Ricardo put the Portuguese back in front, and up stepped Darius Vassell to become the latest in the long line of England players to fail in the shoot-out. Portugal six, England five.

The second quarter-final seemed a forgone conclusion, with the juggernaut France taking on minnows Greece. Perhaps nobody read the script, however, as the Greeks ran out 1-0 winners, Angelos Charisteas giving them their most famous win ever. In the third match, Sweden played out a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands, the Dutch sneaking through on penalties ,whilst in the fourth quarter-final, the Czech Republic provided the most competent performance of the round, demolishing Denmark 3-0, with two goals from Milan Baros.

The semi-finals saw the hosts take on Holland, in the match that most people assumed would eventually produce the tournament winner. Christiano Ronaldo put the Portuguese ahead, and the lead was doubled after half time, with a goal from Maniche. Holland hit back, through an own goal by Jorge Andrade but, try as they might, Overmars, Van Nistlerooy, Reiziger, and all, could not find a way through. The hosts were on their way to the final and, for the second Championships in a row, the Dutch had fallen at the penultimate hurdle. In the second semi-final, the Czech Republic, so confident in their quarter-final match, were expected to easily beat a Greek side that had surly gone as far as it could. The conquerors of the French clearly thought differently, however, holding the Czechs to extra time, before Traianos Dellas headed in the silver goal winner in the 105^th minute. Nobody expected it, and few could believe it, but Greece had deservedly earned their place in the final.

The tournament had truly come full-circle, as the two teams who kicked off the championship in Porto, met for the final in Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, in front of a sell out crowd of 62,865. The match was tightly fought, and unexciting as far as finals go. The Portuguese, aware of their loss to Greece in the first match, were desperate to have their revenge and give the home crowd a memorable night. But Greece had defied the form-book throughout the tournament, and their hard-battling, tough-tackling, workmanlike performance paid off as, just like in the first group match, they drew first blood, an Angelos Charisteas header putting them 1-0 up in the 57^th minute. The goal stunned the home crowd, so expectant of victory in their own capital, but Greece had torn up the script from the very beginning, and defended so resolutely, that Portugal could not find a way through. The final whistle brought a mixture of disappointment, shock, and then admiration, for a team who had shaken off odds of 150-1 to become European champions. And whilst the underachievement of Italy, Germany, France, England, and Spain was all too clear, nobody could deny the victory to a side who embodied teamwork, grit, and determination. The Greeks had provided an example to the rest of the continent; believe in yourself, and you can achieve anything.

Hosts: Portugal

Winners: Greece (1-0 v Portugal)

Pictures courtesy off UEFA.com: http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/history/index.html

Counting Down: My Lifetime of European Championships IV

Sat, 31 May 2008 15:23:12 GMT

UEFA Euro 2000

Hosted for the first time by two countries, Euro 2000 was the eagerly awaited follow up to an outstanding world cup in France, two years before. Held in Belgium and the Netherlands, the tournament boasted some of Europe's most interesting venues - Feyenoord's De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam, PSV's Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, and the amazing Amsterdam Arena, home of AFC Ajax, provided a showcase of Dutch stadia, whilst the quirky Stade Communal, in Charleroi, Belgium, made the headlines for its interestingly shaped and slightly wobbly stands. All eyes were firmly on the joint hosts Holland, whose brilliant effort in the previous world cup, coupled with home advantage, had seen them rise to tournament favourites. Stiff competition came in the usual form - France, Italy, and Spain all looked strong, as well as those teams rising out of the new order of international football - Romania, Turkey, and the Czech Republic, all of whom were eager to prove a point, and maybe even steal the title for themselves. The biggest surprise at the beginning of the tournament was the absence of the World Cup 98 third place team, Croatia, who could only manage third in qualification.

It was the joint hosts Belgium who kicked off toe tournament, in their Group B match against Sweden, which ended in a 2-1 win for the home side. In the second group match, Italy beat Turkey 2-1, with a penalty from Filippo Inzaghi. The Italians went on to beat Belgium 2-0, then Sweden 2-1, whilst Belgium lost 2-0 to Turkey in their final group match. The results signified the early exit of the joint hosts, who finished a disappointing third, behind Turkey and Italy. Group A, meanwhile, saw England and Germany brought together, in a tough draw which also included Portugal and Romania. Germany's opener saw a 1-1 draw with Romania whilst England, 2-0 up on Portugal, with goals courtesy of Paul Scholes and Steve McManaman, contrived to lose the match 3-2. The England squad included a young Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, and Tony Adams and, although disappointed by the nature of their opening defeat, the team went out to beat Germany 1-0 in their second group match. The goal was classically Alan Shearer, diving in to thump a powerful header past goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. Portugal's 1-0 win over Romania effectively meant that England and Romania would playoff for group qualification in the third match. The game ebbed and flowed, Chivu giving Romania a 22nd minute lead, which was cancelled out by Shearer's penalty. Michael Owen then put England in front, but all was square again just after half time, when Dorinel Munteanu equalised for the Romanians. A draw would have been enough for England, and they so nearly got it. But in the 89th minute, Philip Neville slid in poorly on Viorel Moldovan. The resulting penalty was scored, sending Romania through, and England crashing out, having once again been denied by a penalty.

In Group C, Spain were expected to breeze through the group stages, but slipped up in their opening game, losing 1-0 to Norway, the goal coming from Tottenham Hotspur striker Steffan Iversen. Yugoslavia then drew a thrilling match 3-3 with Slovenia, coming from 3-0 down to score three goals in six minutes. Spain next beat Slovenia 2-1, with a goal from Raul, before winning 4-3 against Yugoslavia, a 90th minute penalty providing the winner. As expected, Spain finished atop Group C, with Yugoslavia second. Group D, the proclaimed 'group of death', saw France defeat 1992 champions Denmark 3-0, with goals from Laurent Blanc, Thierry Henry, and Sylvain Wiltord. The French beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their second game, to set up a showdown with Holland, who had previously beaten the Czech Republic and Denmark, 1-0 and 3-0 respectively. The final Group D match, perhaps the showpiece of the group stage, saw the hosts beat the world champions 3-2 to clinch the top spot, whilst France had to settle for second place.

The quarter-finals began with Portugal beating Turkey 2-0 at the Amsterdam Arena, both goals being scored by Nuno Gomes either side of half time. Italy won 2-0 against Romania in the second match, the first goal scored by the legendary Francesco Totti. The next day, the Netherlands destroyed Yugoslavia 6-1, with a hatrick from the brilliant Patrick Kluivert, and two goals from speedy Marc Overmars, who had recently completed his club move from Arsenal to Barcelona. This match was followed by a thrilling encounter in Bruges where, refereed by the outstanding Pierluigi Collina, France edged out Spain 2-1. The first goal was scored by the very special Zinedine Zidane, before Spain equalised from the spot. Youri Djorkaeff regained the French advantage, and the drama went all the way to the end, when Spain, awarded a last minute penalty, saw Raul miss the spot kick. Once again, Spain had failed to live up to expectation, whilst the French went marching on.

The first semi-final saw France take on Portugal in Brussels. Portugal took the lead in the 19th minute, and held it until the 51st, when Henry equalised for the French. The match remained very equal, with little to choose between the sides as it headed into extra time. It would have gone to penalties too, had it not been settled in the 117th minute, when Zidane coolly slotted home a penalty, following a hand ball by Portuguese defender Abel Xavier.

In the second semi-final, hosts Holland looked to be on course for victory against Italy when Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off for two bookable offences. But for all the expectation, for all the talent, and for all the noise of the Amsterdam crowd, the Dutch couldn't find a way through. Even when they had an opportunity, Frank de Boer's 38th minute penalty was saved by Italy goalkeeper Francesco Toldo. More misery was to follow, when the Dutch were awarded a second penalty, only for Patrick Kluivert to strike his effort against the post. The Italians, renowned for their defensive ability, shut the Dutch out all match, and in the resulting penalty shootout, Holland looked like a broken team. Luigi di Baggio scored for Italy, before Frank de Boer missed his second penalty of the game for the Netherlands. The Italians went 2-0 up after Jaap Stam missed for Holland, and they were 3-1 up when Totti and Kluivert both scored for their respective sides. it was then up to Paolo Maldini to win it for Italy and, although he missed, Paul Bosvelt saw his effort saved, ensuring that it would be Italy in the final. For the fourth tournament in a row, the hosts had failed at the semi-final stage.

The final took place at De Kuip Stadium, Rotterdam, in front of a crowd of 50,000. it was Italy's first major final since the World Cup in 1994, and France's second in two years. Nonetheless, it was the Italians who settled quicker, and when Marco Delvecchio gave them the lead in the 55th minute, the title looked to be heading to Rome. The Italians defended resolutely and, as time edged away from the French, it looked as if it would be a 1-0 victory. However, four minutes into stoppage time, Les Bleus were saved, when Sylvain Wiltord squeezed the ball past Francesco Toldo, to spark massive celebration in the French crowd, and put the match into extra time. Italy were shell-shocked - seconds away from winning the title, they now needed an even more determined effort to see them through. Momentum, however, was with the world champions, and thirteen minutes into extra time, David Trezeguet volleyed the golden goal past Toldo, to give France their first European Championship since Platini shone for them in 1984. France were the worthy winners of a tournament that produced some of the highest quality football ever played on the world stage. And whilst the Italians and the Dutch will look back and believe they should have won it, nobody could deny that the world champions, with Zinedine Zidane in the form of his career, were deserved winners.

Hosts: Belgium and the Netherlands

Winners: France (2-1 v Italy a.e.t.)

Pictures courtesy off UEFA.com: http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/history/index.html

Counting Down: My Lifetime of European Championships III

Sat, 24 May 2008 23:06:30 GMT

UEFA Euro 1996

Euro 96 saw a revamped championships, with the tournament expanded to sixteen teams for the first time. As well as Russia making their first appearance (since the break up of the USSR), newcomers included Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Turkey. With holders Denmark looking to defend their title, and with perennial title contenders France, Spain, Italy, and Germany in the mix, not to mention hosts England, Euro 96 was set to be the greatest European Championships ever staged. And set within some of the world's most stunning stadia, this one didn't disappoint...

Group A kicked off with Terry Venables' England playing out a drab 1-1 draw with Switzerland, Alan Shearer's early goal being cancelled out by Kubilay Turkyilmaz's penalty. In the other Group A match that day, the Netherlands and Scotland drew 0-0. Holland's victory over Switzerland, followed by England's 2-0 defeat of Scotland, left the two group favourites to fight it out in the final group match. That result, due to the brilliant partnership of Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham, saw England demolish the Dutch 4-1 to qualify as group winners, whilst the Netherlands crept through on goal difference, after Scotland could only manage a 1-0 win over Switzerland.

In Group B, meanwhile, France and Spain secured their qualifications at the expense of Bulgaria and Romania. The French squad included names such as Fabien Barthez, Frank Leboeuf, Laurent Blanc, Didier Deschamps, and Zinedine Zidane, all players who would mark their places in history at the next world cup. In Group C, the Czech Republic notched up a 2-1 win against Italy to finish second to Germany, who cruised through qualification with the fantastic Jurgen Klinsmann in superb form, netting twice against Russia. Group D saw Portugal and Croatia progress, with holders Denmark crashing out (despite three group goals from Brian Laudrup), and Turkey finishing with no points, having failed to score a goal.

The quarter-finals began with England taking on Spain at Wembley, although the match finished goalless after extra time, and needed penalties. With goalkeeper David Seaman in some of the best form of his career, England progressed 4-2, with penalty conversions from Alan Shearer, David Platt, Stuart Pearce, and Paul Gascoigne. For Pearce particularly this was an emotional day, as he laid to rest the ghost of his penalty miss in the 1990 World Cup. In the other match that day, France progressed against the Netherlands, again requiring penalties after a 0-0 draw. The next day, Germany beat Croatia 2-1 at Old Trafford, the famous Davor Suker scoring Croatia’s consolation, and the Czech Republic beat Portugal at Villa park, with a wonderful chip from Karel Poborsky.

The first semi-final, played at Old Trafford, saw France and the Czech Republic fail to produce a goal in 120 minutes. The match went to a penalty shootout, and was only settled in sudden death when Reynald Pedros missed for France, and Miroslav Kadlec scored for the Czechs. Twenty years on from the historic Czechoslovakian win at Euro 76, the Czech Republic were back in the final, awaiting the winners of the evening kickoff at Wembley.

The scene was set for a fantastic semi-final showdown, as the hosts prepared to take on their old footballing rival, Germany. At a packed Wembley Stadium, Alan Shearer gave England the lead after three minutes, to send the home crowd wild. They were silenced, however, just twelve minutes later, when Stefan Kuntz hit back to bring Germany level. And that’s the way the match went, end-to-end, then into extra time; Gascoigne came within an inch of winning it, and Darren Anderton hit the post for England, while at the other end, Stefan Kuntz had a goal disallowed for pushing. Finally, when nobody could break the deadlock, there came the penalties. The five England penalties were good and all hit their marks, but the five German penalties were equally as efficient. When it came down to sudden death, up stepped Gareth Southgate, the whole of the nation behind him. The result was predictably English; Germany goalkeeper Andreas Kopke saved, leaving Andreas Moller to convert the winner for Germany, and break English hearts.

Euro 96 had gripped the English public, and a 73,000 crowd turned out at Wembley to see the final. Germany were looking to lay to rest the memories of their final defeat four years earlier, however they were left stunned when Patrick Berger scored from the spot for the Czechs in the 59^th minute. German manager Bertie Vogts had to act fast and, in the 69^th minute, he sent on substitute Oliver Bierhoff. Four minutes later it was 1-1, as Bierhoff headed home the equaliser. The Czechs held out for the remaining twenty minutes and, just like both semi-finals, the match went into extra time. This didn’t last very long however, as five minutes into the extended period, Bierhoff fired home the golden goal – the first of its kind in the European Championships – to win the match, and the tournament, for Germany.

Captained by the brilliant Klinsmann, Germany had triumphed in Europe. But the real winner was English football, unmarred by hooliganism, and rehabilitated in the eyes of the world. And whilst the trophy went back to Berlin with the winning German side, no English football fan will ever forget the beautiful summer of 1996 – the summer when football really did come home.

Hosts: England

Winners: Germany (2-1 v Czech Republic a.e.t.)

Pictures courtesy off UEFA.com: http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/history/index.html

Counting Down: My lifetime of European Championships II

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:20:47 GMT

UEFA Euro 1992

Sweden were chosen to host the 1992 European Championships, in the first major football tournament to hit Scandinavia since the 1958 World Cup. Politics surrounded the beginning of the tournament; the USSR, having already qualified, took part under the banner of the CIS - the Commonwealth of Independent States - following the break up of the Soviet Union. The CIS was comprised of Russia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmeistan, Kyrgystan, Armenia, Moldova, and Tajikistan. Five other ex-republics did not participate, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Yugoslavia, who had qualified for the finals, wee disqualified due to the Yugoslav Wars, and their place was awarded, at the last minute, to Denmark. Euro 92 also marks the first football tournament since the end of World War Two that saw a united German side enter, following West Germany's triumph at World Cup Italia 90.

The first match in Group A saw Sweden draw 1-1 with France, whilst England played out a 0-0 tie with newcomers Denmark. The England squad that day included a youthful Alan Shearer, Nigel Clough, David Platt, and Stuart Pearce. The Swedes then beat Denmark 1-0, with Per Tomas Brolin scoring, before coming from behind to beat England 2-1. The result confirmed the hosts as group winners, whilst the Danes, with Peter Schmeichel in goal, and legend Brian Laudrup up front, won against Michel Platini's France to book their place in the semi finals.

In Group B meanwhile, the holders Holland started well with a 1-0 win against Scotland, Ajax and future Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp scoring the game's only goal. The Netherlands went on to win Group B, drawing their second match with the CIS, before beating Germany 3-1, with Frank Rijkaard amongst the scorers. Scotland managed a 3-0 win against the CIS in their final match, but this was too little, too late, as Germany secured second place.

The semi finals pitted hosts against world champions, with Germany coming out on top, beating Sweden 3-2. The real action, however, came from the second match, where the Netherlands and Denmark played out a 2-2 draw, resulting in a penalty shootout. Fantastic shot stopper Peter Schmeichel made the only save - against 1988 hero Marco Van Basten - to give the Danes a 5-4 shootout victory, setting up a final showdown against the Germans.

The final, played at the Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, was watched by a crowd of 37,800, the vast majority of whom expected a solid German victory. They were stunned, as 18 minutes into the match, John Jensen - a player by no means reputed for his goal scoring - hammered the ball into the net to give Denmark the advantage. With the Danes inspired by the brilliant Schmeichel, Germany could not find a way back into the match and, in the 78th minute, Kim Vilfort added a second, with a lovely strike from the edge of the area. The goal secured the European title for Denmark, and the team who were only called up to replace Yugoslavia at the very last minute, walked away with the crown. It was a fairytale script that surely not even Hans Christian Andersen could have written.

Hosts: Sweden

Winners: Denmark (2-0 v Germany)

Pictures courtesy of UEFA.com: http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/history/index.html

Book Review

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:01:50 GMT

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

Let yourself drift away to the Cuban coast in this wonderful short story, which won Hemingway the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. The Old Man and the Sea follows the trials of Santiago, a fisherman on the Gulf Stream who, having gone 84 days without catching a fish, was declared salao – the worst form of unlucky. The man’s fishing companion, a boy called Manolin, having been instructed by his parents to go to sea with better fishermen, makes a fair catch, but is always drawn back to the old man, feeding him the fresh fish he has caught, and discussing baseball and the great Joe DiMaggio. Santiago, certain that his unlucky streak is near its end, makes plans to venture far out into the Gulf on the following morning – his 85^th since last making a catch.

The old man, having set sail early and found himself far out at sea, sure enough encounters a good fish – a marlin – which takes his bait, and thus begins an epic tale spanning two days and nights, where the old man plays the fish and, equally, the fish plays the old man. The respect shown by the old man toward his marine adversary is tremendous, and you cannot help thinking that the marlin repays that respect, as he takes the old man to and fro, up and down, toying with his life as if the old man himself were the catch. In the end it is the fish who yields first – only just – and the long battle is over ,as the old man prepares to secure his catch, and bring the giant back to land. The journey back is not a success however, and by the time Santiago reaches the shore, only the tail of the creature remains. Exhausted from his three day ordeal, the old man heaves his mast up to his shack, and falls into a long deep sleep. Ignorant of Santiago’s journey, a group of fishermen and tourists gather around his boat the next morning, measuring the remains of the giant, and marvelling over its massive size. In the end, the old man has won the respect of his community back, despite coming home with nothing more than he started.

When you read this book, you will be amazed by Hemingway’s wonderfully vivid literary descriptions, which are nothing short of brilliant, and clearly come from an author who both knew and loved the environment he wrote about. His skill and craftsmanship is flawless throughout, and the way he weaves themes of love, war, friendship, loyalty, and aspiration into the story is sublime. Ultimately, it isn’t clear whether the old man achieves anything in the course of the book. I think the answer very much depends on the reader.

Counting Down: My lifetime of European Championships

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:46:57 GMT

UEFA Euro 1988

Played for the first time in West Germany, many predicted the host nation to walk into the final, coming off the back of their second successive World Cup final two years before. With the holders France failing to qualify, few teams were expected to trouble West Germany. Managed by Franz Beckenbauer, who brought legend Jurgen Klinsmann into the squad, the team looked strong, fit, and ready to take the European crown.

The Group A curtain-raiser saw a youthful Italian squad – including future legends Paolo Maldini and Gianluca Vialli – upset the expectations of the home team, taking the lead against the hosts, and drawing the match 1-1. Both teams eventually qualified for the semi finals, beating Spain and Denmark. Meanwhile, in Group B, an England side comprised of players such as Peter Shilton, Tony Adams, Bryan Robson, and Gary Lineker, failed to impress, losing their first match 1-0 to Jack Charlton’s Republic of Ireland. England next lost 3-1 to the Netherlands, with a hatrick from the great Marco van Basten, before crashing out 3-1 to the USSR.

The Dutch were beginning to find form, with impressive trio Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, and Marco Van Basten, firing the team through qualification and into the semi-finals, where they beat hosts and rivals West Germany for the first time in 32 years, despite falling behind to Lothar Matthaus’s penalty. The comeback began with Ronald Koeman scoring from the spot, and was complete two minutes before time when Van Basten converted. The hosts and favourites were out, whilst in the other semi-final, the USSR notched up a 2-0 win against Italy.

The final took place at Munich’s Olympiastadion, where a crowd of 72,308 saw Ruud Gullit head the Dutch into the lead after half an hour. The victory was sealed in the 54^th minute, with one of the greatest goals the Championships will ever see. A crossfield ball from Arnold Muhren was met by Van Basten on the far right who, from a seemingly impossible angle, volleyed the ball over USSR goalkeeper Rinat Dasaey to put Oranje fans in ecstasy.

Hosts: West Germany

Winners: The Netherlands (2-0 v USSR)

Pictures courtesy of UEFA.com: http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/history/index.html

Favourite Poems I

Sun, 04 May 2008 22:07:43 GMT

So We'll Go No More A-Roving

So we'll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul outwears the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest.

Though the night was made for loving,
And the day returns too soon,
Yet we'll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon.

George Gordon Byron (6th Baron Byron)

A Hero Remembered

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:00:58 GMT

The 100th Anniversary of the birth of Oskar Schindler

"Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world".

The Talmud

http://www.oskarschindler.com/

Saint George's Day

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:23:36 GMT

This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in a silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,
This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings,
Feared by their breed and famous by their birth.

William Shakespeare (Richard II, 2.1, 40-51)

Icons of the Westcountry

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:26:10 GMT

Big Ben was recently named as Britain’s favourite landmark, in a YouGov poll marking the 202^nd anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel, revered for his creation of the Great Western Railway, as well as many bridges, tunnels, and steamships, is still regarded as one of the greatest engineers of all time, and he came second to Winston Churchill in the 2002 BBC poll of all time greatest Britons. He engineering work is particularly celebrated in the southwest, where he connected the region to London, first from Bristol, and later to Exeter and beyond, by way of the railway. The lines he laid boosted the regional economy, bringing new opportunities and unprecedented growth to the Westcountry. Newton Abbot, my hometown, was heavily influenced by the coming of the railway in 1846, which transformed the town into a centre of Victorian era industry. Newton Abbot later became a railway junction, the place to change for trains to Torquay and Mortenhampstead, further adding to its importance. As a result of all this, the population of the town grew from around 1,500 in 1801, to 12,500 in 1901.

For those of us from the Westcountry, Brunel remains a highly respected figure, and his engineering is still in constant use all across the region. It seems somehow fitting, then, to dedicate this blogs newest photo gallery to Isambard Kingdom Brunel – the man who changed the Westcountry.

Visiting the Lewis Chessmen at the British Museum

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:45:57 GMT

The Story of Chess

(Taken from Chess, the musical)

Not much is known

Of early days of chess beyond a fairly vague report

That fifteen hundred years ago two princes fought

Though brothers for a Hindu throne

Their mother cried

For no one really likes their offspring fighting to the death

She begged them stop the slaughter with her every breath

But sure enough one brother died

Sad beyond belief

She told her winning son

You have caused such grief

I can't forgive

This evil thing you've done

He tried to explain

How things had really been

But he tried in vain

No words of his

Could mollify the queen

And so he asked

The wisest men he knew

The way to lessen her distress

They told him he'd be pretty certain to impress

By using model soldiers on

A chequered board to show it was his brother's fault

They thus invented chess.

Chess, displayed no inertia

Soon spread to Persia

Then west

Next, the Arabs refined it

Thus redesigned, it

Progressed

Still further yet

And when Constantinople fell in 1453

One would have noticed every other refugee

Included in his bag a set

Once in the hands

And in the minds of leading figures of the Renaissance

The spirit and the speed of chess made swift advance

Through all of Europe's vital lands

Where we must record

The game was further changed

Right across the board

The Western touch

Upon the pieces ranged

King and queen and rook

And bishop, knight, and pawn

All took on the look

We know today

The modern game was born

And in the end

We see a game that started by mistake in Hindustan

And boosted in the main by what is now Iran

Become the simplest and most complicated

Pleasure yet devised

For just the kind of mind

Who would appreciate this well-researched and fascinating yarn.

Vincent Van Gogh's Birthday (1853)

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:40:36 GMT

"I am hard at it, painting with the enthusiasm of a Marseillais eating bouillabaisse, which won't surprise you when you know that what I'm at is the painting of some big sunflowers. I have three canvases going - first, three huge flowers in a green vase, with a light background; second, three flowers, one gone to seed, having lost its petals, and one a bud against a royal-blue background; third, twelve flowers and buds in a yellow vase. The last one is therefore light on light, and I hope it will be the best. Now that I hope to live with Gauguin, I want to make decorations for the studio. Nothing but big flowers. Next door to your shop, in the restaurant, there is a lovely decoration of flowers; I always remember the big sunflowers in the window there. I am working at it every morning from sunrise on, for the flowers fade so soon."

“There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword” (Ulysses S. Grant)

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:08:49 GMT

How Many?

Five years on and how many have died?

How many wounded, how many survived?

Barrels of oil, just how many tons?

How many fathers and how many sons?

How many houses and how many rooms?

How many gravestones and how many tombs?

How many animals? How many trees?

Playgrounds, hospitals, how many of these?

How many families broken and torn?

How many mothers and wives, left to mourn?

How many children, left empty with pain?

How many uncertain futures remain?

How many people now dreaming of peace?

How many don’t want the deaths to increase?

How many hopes left? And how many fears?

How many more days? How many more years?

NJT

Book Review

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:57:48 GMT

Tender is the Night

by F. Scott. Fitzgerald

American Dick Diver, a promising psychiatric doctor, deemed too important to be lost in the Great War, is sent to Switzerland to pursue his dazzling academic career. Whilst here, he comes across Nicole Warren, a patient in a Swiss sanatorium and, what begins as the relationship between a patient and a doctor, soon becomes romance, and then marriage. Doctor Diver saves Nicole, and the two move to enjoy a glamorous life on the French Riviera. Nicole still suffers periods of insanity, however, and what follows is a devastating, thought provoking tale of a relationship, built up for all the wrong reasons, and dogged by external factors from which the protagonists cannot escape. In the end, only one will really survive the story, the other becoming a shadow of their former self, such is the influence and danger of love and money in the hedonistic 1920’s.

Drawing on his own experiences, Tender is the Night is something of a semi-autobiography, and you can feel Scott Fitzgerald’s pain and anguish throughout this book. In the early 1930s, Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda, was hospitalised for schizophrenia, a condition from which she would never recover. Watching his marriage decline, Fitzgerald was then hit by the death of his father, and both are important themes in Tender is the Night. The result is a book about a man of great potential, who married a mentally ill woman for her beauty, and spun out of control when the marriage, inevitably, failed. Fitzgerald’s feelings about his own situation – his talents, his profession, his family, and his wife – dominate the book, creating a fascinating, albeit sad and sometimes upsetting, read. If you get the chance, do read this book. It’s one I think we could all learn something from.

"... She went up to him and, putting her arm around his shoulder and touching their heads together, said:

'Don't be sad'.

He looked at her coldly.

'Don't touch me' he said.

Confused she moved a few feet away..."

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" (Nelson Mandella)

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:57:22 GMT

Recently, I received a letter from Lila Sara Gahar, an 11 year old girl studying in Class 2 of Tribhuvan School in rural Nepal. Lila, like the majority of children around the world, has until recently received no education and has never been able to go to school. Now she is able to begin an education that will hopefully start lifting her out of poverty. Beer, Football, and Mr Peanut firmly believes in the importance of education, and passionately believes that it is through learning that poverty can be ended. Education is a right, something that each and every one of us should be entitled to, and something that we should all aim for.

In her letter, I learn that Lila Sara Gahar dreams of becoming a nurse, where she will one day be able to help people less fortunate than herself. Her favourite animal is the goat, and her favourite colour, like me, is green. She keeps a cow at home, and her best subject in her new school is Nepali. When at home, she spends much of her time cooking and cutting grass.

Beer, Football, and Mr Peanut is proud to sponsor Lila Sara Gahar for the coming year, and is looking forward to working with charity Himalayan Learning, to help give some of the world’s poorest people the chance for a better life.

Facts about Nepal

Up to 75% of Nepalese woman are illiterate. The average literacy rate overall is 53%.
The biggest reason given by parents for keeping their children out of school is ‘unaffordability’.
The GDP per capita of Nepal is $1,500, ranking as 164^th in the world.
The average life expectancy in Nepal is 59.8 years.

Visit the Himalayan Learning Website: http://www.himalayanlearning.org/

Photo Album: South Dakota, Summer 2004

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:16:17 GMT

South Dakota, Summer 2004

Road Scene

The British are Coming!

More Photos...