This is the second catch up writing for the past two months. The main subject is sport. It has been a disappointing summer of sport so far with one exciting development, although this did not include British team or individual representing the UK.
It is fine outside to day Friday July 23rd there is no inclination to watch Durham lose their championship cricket game at the Emirates Riverside. In the event they managed to avoid the follow on and the game ended in a draw which ends Durham’s already dim prospect of a third championship win in succession. It has been a depressing season so far in every respect with humiliation after humiliation in the 20 20 competition with the lowest number of wins, 4, although they also had the highest number of no results because of the weather, also 4. In the Championship Notts strengthened their claim with an impressive win while Yorkshire still second could only draw. Durham have Yorkshire and Notts to play at home as well as Essex and Lancs away and I shall be at all four games. There are at least three other games to play plus the Pro 40 in which Durham has also struggled. There is a 40 40 game on Sunday which clashes with the Sunderland Air Show. The 20 20 finals day is at Durham in 2011, next year so they will have to get their act together next season if this is not to prove the humiliation of all humiliations, especially if we fail to qualify and supporters fail to make the long journey north to support their teams.
I enjoyed watching Australia play Pakistan, especially the second game in which Pakistan removed Australia in their first innings for 88 and then made 2580 and had Australia struggling in their second innings. There was then fine performances with the bat and then ball for Australia who reached 349 runs setting their opponents over 170 runs to win. At one point the Aussi’s were 55 for 2 and then 216 for 6. Pakistan made a great start after losing one wicket early on, with second at 137. The third 137, 146 for 4, 150 for 5, 161 for 6, 179 for 7 with scores tied and the run required following. Pakistan’s first win against Australia for a decade and half having failed to achieve a similar small total to win, although this was in Australia.
England won the first 3 one day series against Australia to clinched the series but lost the next two and against expectation failed to win all three one day games against Bangladesh who had not won any of their international games for yonks and yonks. They had not won against England in any competition since playing commenced in 2000 at the full international level.
I did go out in sunshine to Seaburn, Sunderland where the Airshow is being held tomorrow, having missed the show last year. At the Seaburn Marriott hotel I noted that a summer special trial membership offer of £39 for six weeks and no joining fee if membership is then taken at £55 a month standing order or £47 non peak and an extra month if the whole fee is paid in advance. Which includes a free month. I will give consideration over the weekend and decide one way or the other on Monday.
The event of the summer so far has been a game in which England were not represented, the World Football Cup Final in 3 D. I saw the first England game at the Odeon Metro centre as previously reported and then the first half of the second during a 20 20 game at Emirates Riverside Chester Le Street. The third and successful game was watched at home followed by the disastrous and humiliating quarter final tie with Germany back at the Odeon Metro Centre. I immediately lost interest in the competition and as a consequence failed to note that some Odeon Cinemas and some Cineworld theatres were relaying the semi finals and the final in 3D. I went to purchase a ticket at the Bolden Cineworld when going for the Eclipse, only to find they were not one of the selected theatres, nor was the Odeon Metrocentre. However the Odeon Silverlink was listed.
When I first tested my red Suzuki Wagon purchased from one of the several car sales firms just off the Silverlink roundabout, (the second up from the Tyne Tunnel exit at the junction with the A1058 road from Newcastle City Centre passed the People’s Theatre and the former Wills tobacco factory, now flats, Walsend, and then from the Silverlink junction which continues the A19 to join the A1 from Newcastle onto Morpeth, Alnwick, and on to Edinburgh, and to North Tynemouth (also North Shields)), I had taken the car into the Silverlink store complex at the top end of which is the Odeon plus and the Frankie and Bennies, and a Pizza Hut.
I arrived at 10 to 7 on the Sunday evening, unaware that this was the weekend of the Whitby Jazz Festival held at a hotel close by and also the weekend of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. I was to the first to arrive followed by three Asian Young men. There were a few more by 7 but with no relay commencing I made inquiries with a pleasant young man who was surprised and was further surprised when it had not commenced by 7.10.
I overheard a conversation between a senior assistant and the projectionist that he hoped to have the relay ready before the 7.30 kick off thus missing all the preliminary chats. In fact I later learned that these relays were organised by FIFA direct, and there was only pictures and stadium sounds without commentaries and also only one commentator during the match rather than the usual pre match build up, half time and after match analysis and replays. There was a good reason for this as I discovered when the broadcast did commence having lost my rag a bit because if the show was not going to commence then there was decreasing opportunity to find somewhere else to watch. However this upset was quickly forgotten.
The 3D showing is better than being present at the live game because first one has the best seat in the house being able to view the action from the Director’s box, or the Manager or the referee, with replays. It has the depth of reality without the usual front of screen extensions with which the 3D feature films are usually packed. The only front of scene activity occurred with the team sheets and the clock and goal tally, if there are any, and with the presentation ceremony at the end. I cannot wait to experience cricket with a one day match broadcast to pubs and clubs during the period. Then there the tennis and motor racing and of course the Olympics in 2012. As for the match itself I enjoyed it and was pleased that Spain one although just as pleased had it been Holland. The TV sets are on the market between £1200 and £3000 just as the wide screen and HD sets, and then when purchases become common the price significantly reduces. In my lifetime we shall see!
The motor racing with the British Grand Prix was a disappointment after the recent success of the two British world champions. Button failed to make the top ten but managed to get himself 4th and Lewis H came second after being 4th on the grid. Although they failed to give the British 1.2 which the home crowd longed for they remain at the top of the driver’s championship but the gap narrows with Lewis on 145 points, Button 133 and Mark Webber 128, resulting in conflict within the Red Bull team as Vettel claimed it was his colleague’s fault that he had to drop back and is on 121 points. Alonso on 98, is not out of the running, nor are Rosberg or Kubica with only 83. As with 25 points for a win on offer although the pure Renault have not shown the speed so far to take on the Red Bulls Renault clearly now ahead of McLaren- Mercedes, and Ferrari improving.
I did not pay much attention to the British Open Golf club after South African Oosthuizen took command and never looked liked yielding his growing lead, finishing on 272. Paul Casey who looked the most likely English challenger was overtaken into third place by a stroke to Paul Westwood who finished on 279.
Do I mention Wimbledon and the Andy Murray performance against Nadal after he had a brilliant start in the competition, despite injury and loss of form. He has now dropped to 4th in the rankings after coming close to being first. Federer’s defeat could mark a change in the natural order’s of things. It is of interest that the next highest ranked Brit is 176 out of 300.
It is fine outside to day Friday July 23rd there is no inclination to watch Durham lose their championship cricket game at the Emirates Riverside. In the event they managed to avoid the follow on and the game ended in a draw which ends Durham’s already dim prospect of a third championship win in succession. It has been a depressing season so far in every respect with humiliation after humiliation in the 20 20 competition with the lowest number of wins, 4, although they also had the highest number of no results because of the weather, also 4. In the Championship Notts strengthened their claim with an impressive win while Yorkshire still second could only draw. Durham have Yorkshire and Notts to play at home as well as Essex and Lancs away and I shall be at all four games. There are at least three other games to play plus the Pro 40 in which Durham has also struggled. There is a 40 40 game on Sunday which clashes with the Sunderland Air Show. The 20 20 finals day is at Durham in 2011, next year so they will have to get their act together next season if this is not to prove the humiliation of all humiliations, especially if we fail to qualify and supporters fail to make the long journey north to support their teams.
I enjoyed watching Australia play Pakistan, especially the second game in which Pakistan removed Australia in their first innings for 88 and then made 2580 and had Australia struggling in their second innings. There was then fine performances with the bat and then ball for Australia who reached 349 runs setting their opponents over 170 runs to win. At one point the Aussi’s were 55 for 2 and then 216 for 6. Pakistan made a great start after losing one wicket early on, with second at 137. The third 137, 146 for 4, 150 for 5, 161 for 6, 179 for 7 with scores tied and the run required following. Pakistan’s first win against Australia for a decade and half having failed to achieve a similar small total to win, although this was in Australia.
England won the first 3 one day series against Australia to clinched the series but lost the next two and against expectation failed to win all three one day games against Bangladesh who had not won any of their international games for yonks and yonks. They had not won against England in any competition since playing commenced in 2000 at the full international level.
I did go out in sunshine to Seaburn, Sunderland where the Airshow is being held tomorrow, having missed the show last year. At the Seaburn Marriott hotel I noted that a summer special trial membership offer of £39 for six weeks and no joining fee if membership is then taken at £55 a month standing order or £47 non peak and an extra month if the whole fee is paid in advance. Which includes a free month. I will give consideration over the weekend and decide one way or the other on Monday.
The event of the summer so far has been a game in which England were not represented, the World Football Cup Final in 3 D. I saw the first England game at the Odeon Metro centre as previously reported and then the first half of the second during a 20 20 game at Emirates Riverside Chester Le Street. The third and successful game was watched at home followed by the disastrous and humiliating quarter final tie with Germany back at the Odeon Metro Centre. I immediately lost interest in the competition and as a consequence failed to note that some Odeon Cinemas and some Cineworld theatres were relaying the semi finals and the final in 3D. I went to purchase a ticket at the Bolden Cineworld when going for the Eclipse, only to find they were not one of the selected theatres, nor was the Odeon Metrocentre. However the Odeon Silverlink was listed.
When I first tested my red Suzuki Wagon purchased from one of the several car sales firms just off the Silverlink roundabout, (the second up from the Tyne Tunnel exit at the junction with the A1058 road from Newcastle City Centre passed the People’s Theatre and the former Wills tobacco factory, now flats, Walsend, and then from the Silverlink junction which continues the A19 to join the A1 from Newcastle onto Morpeth, Alnwick, and on to Edinburgh, and to North Tynemouth (also North Shields)), I had taken the car into the Silverlink store complex at the top end of which is the Odeon plus and the Frankie and Bennies, and a Pizza Hut.
I arrived at 10 to 7 on the Sunday evening, unaware that this was the weekend of the Whitby Jazz Festival held at a hotel close by and also the weekend of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. I was to the first to arrive followed by three Asian Young men. There were a few more by 7 but with no relay commencing I made inquiries with a pleasant young man who was surprised and was further surprised when it had not commenced by 7.10.
I overheard a conversation between a senior assistant and the projectionist that he hoped to have the relay ready before the 7.30 kick off thus missing all the preliminary chats. In fact I later learned that these relays were organised by FIFA direct, and there was only pictures and stadium sounds without commentaries and also only one commentator during the match rather than the usual pre match build up, half time and after match analysis and replays. There was a good reason for this as I discovered when the broadcast did commence having lost my rag a bit because if the show was not going to commence then there was decreasing opportunity to find somewhere else to watch. However this upset was quickly forgotten.
The 3D showing is better than being present at the live game because first one has the best seat in the house being able to view the action from the Director’s box, or the Manager or the referee, with replays. It has the depth of reality without the usual front of screen extensions with which the 3D feature films are usually packed. The only front of scene activity occurred with the team sheets and the clock and goal tally, if there are any, and with the presentation ceremony at the end. I cannot wait to experience cricket with a one day match broadcast to pubs and clubs during the period. Then there the tennis and motor racing and of course the Olympics in 2012. As for the match itself I enjoyed it and was pleased that Spain one although just as pleased had it been Holland. The TV sets are on the market between £1200 and £3000 just as the wide screen and HD sets, and then when purchases become common the price significantly reduces. In my lifetime we shall see!
The motor racing with the British Grand Prix was a disappointment after the recent success of the two British world champions. Button failed to make the top ten but managed to get himself 4th and Lewis H came second after being 4th on the grid. Although they failed to give the British 1.2 which the home crowd longed for they remain at the top of the driver’s championship but the gap narrows with Lewis on 145 points, Button 133 and Mark Webber 128, resulting in conflict within the Red Bull team as Vettel claimed it was his colleague’s fault that he had to drop back and is on 121 points. Alonso on 98, is not out of the running, nor are Rosberg or Kubica with only 83. As with 25 points for a win on offer although the pure Renault have not shown the speed so far to take on the Red Bulls Renault clearly now ahead of McLaren- Mercedes, and Ferrari improving.
I did not pay much attention to the British Open Golf club after South African Oosthuizen took command and never looked liked yielding his growing lead, finishing on 272. Paul Casey who looked the most likely English challenger was overtaken into third place by a stroke to Paul Westwood who finished on 279.
Do I mention Wimbledon and the Andy Murray performance against Nadal after he had a brilliant start in the competition, despite injury and loss of form. He has now dropped to 4th in the rankings after coming close to being first. Federer’s defeat could mark a change in the natural order’s of things. It is of interest that the next highest ranked Brit is 176 out of 300.
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