Dear, dear, patient reader, thank you for waiting for my next post. I must say that I find my energy flagging after such a long time away from home. The length of the days and all that travel is causing my mind to wander - just the other day I looked out of the window across the lawn and saw ... but, I must not think of it. Perhaps a trip to Bath for the salts might help.
Sorry, once again I find myself channelling Jane Austen - I think I'm over it, for the moment. Back to regular transmission.
St George's Park - somewhere in the wilderness
Today (Thursday) was a day spent with some other travelling Australians, at the end of the world, also known as St George's Park, the National Football Centre. There is no way I will do justice to St George's in what I write, so I suggest you try google to expand on my view, but it is an amazing football training centre with about a dozen pitches, state-of-the-art everything: gym, hydrotherapy ... hotel accommodation (Hilton style) next door. By way of an aside, the English team train here on a pitch that replicates Wembley, although in Rugby World Cup year they have permitted the Argentinian team to train here.
Sorry, once again I find myself channelling Jane Austen - I think I'm over it, for the moment. Back to regular transmission.
St George's Park - somewhere in the wilderness
Today (Thursday) was a day spent with some other travelling Australians, at the end of the world, also known as St George's Park, the National Football Centre. There is no way I will do justice to St George's in what I write, so I suggest you try google to expand on my view, but it is an amazing football training centre with about a dozen pitches, state-of-the-art everything: gym, hydrotherapy ... hotel accommodation (Hilton style) next door. By way of an aside, the English team train here on a pitch that replicates Wembley, although in Rugby World Cup year they have permitted the Argentinian team to train here.
The day began well enough and we were out on the street by 8:45 heading to the car hire place at Russell Square. This was old territory and we walked past the hotel where we stayed in 2003, sadly made infamous by the London bombings in 2005. Found the car hire place, discussed the non-negotiables - us having a GPS, and headed for the highway. Well, we made our way through the choking London traffic and followed the melifluous voice emanating from the GPS.
Having no idea of where you are, or where you are going, but following a disembodied voice that intermittently provides you with instructions felt a little 1984 to me, especially when it turned the car off the motorway onto a narrow country laneway. However, to my surprise, we soon arrived where we expected to arrive!
Why are we here dear reader, somewhere to the north of Birmingham? To visit Emilio Martinez. You are unfamiliar with his name? Give it time my patient reader and if you are a follower of the world game, soon enough you will see him on a pitch following his dream of being a professional footballer. Emilio is currently a part of the Nike Most Wanted squad and is in training at St George's - he is also a former student from my (current) school (and in a moment that ages me more than I care to admit, his mother is an ex-student as well. Fortunately, she looks as young as she did when I taught her). Emilio's mother and grandmother had also made the trip across to England and were visiting him.
We were not only greeted warmly by the Martinez family, but also by every member of the training support team, from the sports nutrionist and movement analyst to the head of the entire programme. They could not do enough to make us feel welcome, offering us food, drinks, ensuring we were OK.
It was fantastic to spend the day them to see where Emilio is training and to hear how things are progressing for him. He is the most delightful young man with a very mature outlook and a very sensible perspective on the world. I look forward to following his career and I hope that it is everything that he hopes it will be.
Back in London
That was pretty much it for the day. We did the drive in reverse, more or less, following the voice from the dashboard with few major dramas. Jayne even commented on how well behaved I was when we weren't sure we had taken the correct road. We returned the car to the 24 hour car park, a vast relief from the debacle we experienced in 2003. I'm sorry my dear reader but we do not have time or space to relate that story, however, a bottle of champagne on the balcony one afternoon ... just ask.
We thought we might find a pub for dinner. Incorrect. It becomes increasingly more difficult to get inside a pub as the night wears on. The doors are guarded by smokers. Although Britain hasn't quite reached Australian standards of ostracism of smokers, they have been relegated to the footpath. Sensational for all of us that don't smoke; you can't see the door of the pub through the blue haze. They have these little barriers outside every pub - like they use at Heathrow to channel the cattle to a particular area - where the smokers all cough together and choke the sidewalk and stop people entering the pub.
Anyway, fear of strange crowds in doorways sent us to Zizzi, a chain Italian restaurant. I'm not a fan of chains - all I can see is McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC, but this is a real restaurant with really good food. Although they were significantly understaffed from what we could see, we received great service when the German waiter discovered we were Australian as his wife is Aussie and he had spent a couple of years working in Sydney. A wonderfully relaxed way to bring the day to an end.
Random observation
Curious way they drive in London and park their cars. The direction of traffic means nothing when it comes to parking. Nothing. If there is a space just take it. So, after a month in the States where they drive on the opposite side of the road, I use the direction of parked cars to determine which way the traffic flows. It works in Australia, it works in France, it works in the US, but it doesn't work in England. They park cars on both sides of the street facing both directions - it is doing my head in. The land of the stiff upper lip, of law and order (well that is a US show, but you know what I mean), the land of rules and regulations (that MUST be followed because they are there), of barristers and courts ... can't even regulate in which direction parked cars should face.
And they U-turn across unbroken lines - well, it would be a U-turn if they could drive, more frequently it is a 3-point turn, without warning. Then throw in the disappearing lane. Two lanes are funnelled into one as a right hand turn lane is created, or a bus lane appears, or people have decided to park their cars. If the Brits lay claim to conquering the world and the sun never setting on the empire, they are also to blame for the chaos on the streets in many countries. Australia comes out of this melee OK given it was populated by criminals.
And so to today,
The Globe
The spiritual home of Shakespeare and all he has inspired across the globe - sorry, I couldn't resist. I had been here before but we were unable to go inside because there was a production being performed at the time. We had the full tour today, with guide. There were a few concerns though from our perspective.
The tour group, of which we formed a part, numbered in excess of 50. There were multiple tours happening simultaneously - thankfully the obnoxious school groups were annexed from the general public. The group leaders did not have microphones, they used their voices only and as such people towards the back of the group could not always hear what was being said. In Australia this would be a work, health & safety issue. We might be young as a nation but we kill it in terms of being nanna and wrapping everyone in cotton wool. The final injustice was the conclusion of the tour in the gift shop where we could not hear our guide above the general din of the shoppers. Other groups had the foresight to end outside. Part of the problem of multiple tours happening was that they didn't choreograph their movements and they gathered at the same point at times - inside the theatre itself we had three groups all going at once. Not good enough.
The Globe was a must see and it was interesting to envisage what performances must have been back in the original theatre of Tudor London. The audioguide of a Shakespeare exhibition, separate to the theatre tour, was also good and was part of the general admission cost which was a pleasant change. Jayne got to act a part of Hamlet, as Hamlet in a sound booth at least. It was more likely the shortened version of the play, she was certainly Ham.
The Tait Modern
It was free entry and just as well. As with all modern art, everyone has an opinion. They did have an exhibition that you had to pay to get into and I overheard one patron say that he "wanted a refund". I guess he wasn't thrilled. We didn't get to that, the rest of the gallery took up our time.
There were two floors of general exhibition that were free entry. We hired audio guides to help us understand the art and sculptures - at £4.25 they were cheaper and more culturally acceptable than taking drugs and viewing things through rose coloured glasses. Then again I'm not sure that would have helped with some of what was on display.
Without starting the argument here, there were some exhibits that professed the 'art for art's sake' philosohpy, which is fine, but that then begs the question, 'what is art'? I have included some photos ... you can be the judge. There were art works I loved, some I appreciated, others I even I thought I understood, then there were some that were just rubbish, hence today's title (10cc, 1975)
So, picture this, it's late, the room is dense with smoke, the wine is gone, the bong water has been turned into tea and the conversation turns to creating the next piece, you know, for the art community, like they really deserve something new and interesting. All eyes turn to the corner of the room ... no, beyond the drunk couple trying to make out ... and there is some metal ducting that the air conditioning guys didn't use ... brilliant ...
As my tomorrow begins I should be in bed. There is much to contemplate from today's exploration of London. We returned to Kua Ainu tonight for dinner - an excellent choice. Sarah was on again and looked after us well, supplying free 'long blacks' post dinner.
Tomorrow brings the All Bleaks and the Seth Efricans in the RWC. I hope they bludgeon themselves to a standstill draw at full-time. More importantly, the Mets went 4-0 against Chicago and are waiting for an opposition to be decided for the World Championship. Enough of the sports report. Good night.
Having no idea of where you are, or where you are going, but following a disembodied voice that intermittently provides you with instructions felt a little 1984 to me, especially when it turned the car off the motorway onto a narrow country laneway. However, to my surprise, we soon arrived where we expected to arrive!Why are we here dear reader, somewhere to the north of Birmingham? To visit Emilio Martinez. You are unfamiliar with his name? Give it time my patient reader and if you are a follower of the world game, soon enough you will see him on a pitch following his dream of being a professional footballer. Emilio is currently a part of the Nike Most Wanted squad and is in training at St George's - he is also a former student from my (current) school (and in a moment that ages me more than I care to admit, his mother is an ex-student as well. Fortunately, she looks as young as she did when I taught her). Emilio's mother and grandmother had also made the trip across to England and were visiting him.
We were not only greeted warmly by the Martinez family, but also by every member of the training support team, from the sports nutrionist and movement analyst to the head of the entire programme. They could not do enough to make us feel welcome, offering us food, drinks, ensuring we were OK.
It was fantastic to spend the day them to see where Emilio is training and to hear how things are progressing for him. He is the most delightful young man with a very mature outlook and a very sensible perspective on the world. I look forward to following his career and I hope that it is everything that he hopes it will be.
Back in London
That was pretty much it for the day. We did the drive in reverse, more or less, following the voice from the dashboard with few major dramas. Jayne even commented on how well behaved I was when we weren't sure we had taken the correct road. We returned the car to the 24 hour car park, a vast relief from the debacle we experienced in 2003. I'm sorry my dear reader but we do not have time or space to relate that story, however, a bottle of champagne on the balcony one afternoon ... just ask.
We thought we might find a pub for dinner. Incorrect. It becomes increasingly more difficult to get inside a pub as the night wears on. The doors are guarded by smokers. Although Britain hasn't quite reached Australian standards of ostracism of smokers, they have been relegated to the footpath. Sensational for all of us that don't smoke; you can't see the door of the pub through the blue haze. They have these little barriers outside every pub - like they use at Heathrow to channel the cattle to a particular area - where the smokers all cough together and choke the sidewalk and stop people entering the pub.
Anyway, fear of strange crowds in doorways sent us to Zizzi, a chain Italian restaurant. I'm not a fan of chains - all I can see is McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC, but this is a real restaurant with really good food. Although they were significantly understaffed from what we could see, we received great service when the German waiter discovered we were Australian as his wife is Aussie and he had spent a couple of years working in Sydney. A wonderfully relaxed way to bring the day to an end.
Random observation
Curious way they drive in London and park their cars. The direction of traffic means nothing when it comes to parking. Nothing. If there is a space just take it. So, after a month in the States where they drive on the opposite side of the road, I use the direction of parked cars to determine which way the traffic flows. It works in Australia, it works in France, it works in the US, but it doesn't work in England. They park cars on both sides of the street facing both directions - it is doing my head in. The land of the stiff upper lip, of law and order (well that is a US show, but you know what I mean), the land of rules and regulations (that MUST be followed because they are there), of barristers and courts ... can't even regulate in which direction parked cars should face.
And they U-turn across unbroken lines - well, it would be a U-turn if they could drive, more frequently it is a 3-point turn, without warning. Then throw in the disappearing lane. Two lanes are funnelled into one as a right hand turn lane is created, or a bus lane appears, or people have decided to park their cars. If the Brits lay claim to conquering the world and the sun never setting on the empire, they are also to blame for the chaos on the streets in many countries. Australia comes out of this melee OK given it was populated by criminals.
And so to today,
The Globe
The spiritual home of Shakespeare and all he has inspired across the globe - sorry, I couldn't resist. I had been here before but we were unable to go inside because there was a production being performed at the time. We had the full tour today, with guide. There were a few concerns though from our perspective.
 |
| The stage |
 |
| The props room |
The Globe was a must see and it was interesting to envisage what performances must have been back in the original theatre of Tudor London. The audioguide of a Shakespeare exhibition, separate to the theatre tour, was also good and was part of the general admission cost which was a pleasant change. Jayne got to act a part of Hamlet, as Hamlet in a sound booth at least. It was more likely the shortened version of the play, she was certainly Ham.
The Tait Modern
 |
| Special isn't it? The 12th octagonal. |
There were two floors of general exhibition that were free entry. We hired audio guides to help us understand the art and sculptures - at £4.25 they were cheaper and more culturally acceptable than taking drugs and viewing things through rose coloured glasses. Then again I'm not sure that would have helped with some of what was on display.
Without starting the argument here, there were some exhibits that professed the 'art for art's sake' philosohpy, which is fine, but that then begs the question, 'what is art'? I have included some photos ... you can be the judge. There were art works I loved, some I appreciated, others I even I thought I understood, then there were some that were just rubbish, hence today's title (10cc, 1975)
 |
| The sign on a door with no handles - it wasn't an exhibit, but could have been. |
So, picture this, it's late, the room is dense with smoke, the wine is gone, the bong water has been turned into tea and the conversation turns to creating the next piece, you know, for the art community, like they really deserve something new and interesting. All eyes turn to the corner of the room ... no, beyond the drunk couple trying to make out ... and there is some metal ducting that the air conditioning guys didn't use ... brilliant ...
 |
| Seriously? This art? Daniel you have a fortune in your garage! |
 |
| I called this: I've lost my goldfish. |
Tomorrow brings the All Bleaks and the Seth Efricans in the RWC. I hope they bludgeon themselves to a standstill draw at full-time. More importantly, the Mets went 4-0 against Chicago and are waiting for an opposition to be decided for the World Championship. Enough of the sports report. Good night.
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