Well, for those of you interested, the day before I was supposed to start working for Corridor Land they called and told me they thought they had found a replacement for the twat who had taken over from me (those of us who know, know he's a twat). I was scheduled to be a stop-gap for a few weeks/months until a more permanent replacement was found.
And to tell you the truth, I'm bleedin' relieved. It would have been a few extra shekels, which is always nice, but it would have stretched me silly. At present, I'm rolling into bed at 2am every night after working on my new website (soon to be websites) and have just taken on a new freelancing gig with one of my old customers. So feck knows where I would have managed to squeeze C Land in...
One thing I have managed to squeeze in to my schedule is the gym - 3 times a week I'm pumping iron baby! Or trying to pump iron...OK, I just look at the barbells and convince myself that next week I'll start with them...But, I have to say, I feel much better these days, a lot fitter and healthier, despite the shitload of work on my shoulders at the mo. Eating a lot of fruit too, 'tis the season of oranges and avacados and grapefruit innit.
And look at Ingerlund go. Future world champions, no doubt about it. Missed the game, but sounds like they were all over the Old Enemy. Go Capello!
Oh my goodness. An Arsenal player scoring 3 times for England. What the feck is going on?! Theo, we're not worthy, we're not worthy, we're not worthy...I might just be able to get excited about watching Ingerlund again if he keeps up like this...
...which way today's Euro 2008 final will go. Germany are always there or thereabouts, while Spain have the players to cause them serious problems. What is nice to see is 2 Arsenal players in the final; a crazy, talented, if a little past it Lehmann (who I lurved in his prime, but is now leaving Arsenal in a few days) versus an extraordinarily talented whippersnapper Fabregas, who, mark my words, will be a super superstar in another 2 or 3 years. And these two players may well have a big say in what actually happens tonight...a goof from Lehmann, or a magical through ball from Cesc...which will it be?
As 99% of Israel will be rooting for Spain (might just well be some historical reasons for the choice...), I will be going with the majority tonight, possibly in a rowdy pub somewhere. And a special mention for the ancestor, who at the start of the tournament put the family jewels on Germany taking it. For the sake of the ancestress, who faces losing her diamond collection, I hope you pull it off...
Tonight sees the start of the Euro quarter-finals, the games actually worth watching. My money was on France (I know I know) so now I don't really care who wins it. However, after seeing the Ruskies slice through the Blonds last night, I was very impressed. They are my new favourites, though might find it a bit harder against Holland in their quarter-final. That game should be a cracker.
Nice piece from Frank Skinner about being an England fan during the Euros - only for those of us who really understand the pain...
mrs anglosaxy: OK, give me 2 minutes and I'll tell you which team is Holland and which team is Italy.
anglosaxy: No problem [smiles to himself]
2 minutes later...
mrs anglosaxy: OK, the blue team is Italy and the orange team is Holland.
anglosaxy: [Fakes surprise] Wow, darling, how did you manage to work that out?
mrs anglosaxy: The Italians are better looking.
So, when an international tournament slaps you in your chops, what can you do but partake in some of the festivities? OK, I don't expect to watch too many of these early group games, but the long weekend over here in Israel, because of Shavuot, and a sleepover by a football crazy nephew of mrs anglosaxy (Ha! Great having somebody in this house who understands football, if only for a couple of days), has helped in me catching a little more than expected - so far I've watched the opening game (the Swiss were unlucky I thought), Portugal looked fairly slick (probably down to Ronaldo's gel...), and the Germans pretty efficient.
Tonight it's the group phase's only real game worth watching, on paper at least, Holland v Italy. Should be a cracker, but then, a wee shot of Highland Park might be needed to prop up the eyelids.
Boy, am I finding it hard to get worked up about the upcoming Euro 2008 tournie. I guess it might have something to do with England's failure to make it, but I'm looking at the upcoming fixtures and finding games like Austria vs Croatia and Greece vs Sweden very uninspiring (looks like mrs anglosaxy ain't going to have to fight for the remote control too often...). Not to take anything away from those teams that have qualified, but this year it just seems a whole lot less exciting...
Not that England would have set this tournament alight - I have to admit that the recent England vs USA game actually sent me to sleep it was that thrilling, so, maybe, just maybe, a tournament without England at this stage of their Italian revitalization, isn't such a bad thing. I guess we'll soon see.
And who's going to win it? My money is on one of the teams in Group C (Italy, Holland, Romania and France), the Group of Death. Just not sure which one...
It's amazing what a few Stellas will do...at one point last night, in between coughing and wheezing, I was actually cheering for Chelski. Oh dear. But what a good advertisement for English footie, especially the second half. Right? I just knew that when it went to penalties it was United's. Always seems to be the way, the team that plays better ends up losing it on penalties. Or is that me just trying to big up England's past penalty tragedies?
For those of you who understand what I'm on about, I'm getting excited about tonight's game. I think it will define Arsenal's season, though may be one of those games where my heart is constantly leaping out of my throat...hope not...but before then there are some little anglosaxies to pick up, some baths to be had, some Dora to be watched and some tucking in to be done. Yes indeed, big footie night also coincides with a big wedding that I had to turn down, so mrs anglosaxy has left me in charge while she goes off to down some alcohol...
I peeked at the half-time scores this afternoon, and it didn't make pretty reading - the Arse were 2-0 down and down to 10 men. I have to say, I was inclined to write off their title hopes. But then, football's a funny old game innit, and a stirring fightback resulted in an unlikely last minute winner. Just the way we like 'em.
I know I didn't mention last week's loss to Chelski, but that was mostly down to mrs anglosaxy's sudden allegiance to the blue ones because of a certain Israeli. Her whooping and "Go Avram, Go Avram!" cheering at the end of the game had me feeling physically sick for a few days...
Let's just say that the race is still fairly open, though first things first, I'm looking forward to the upcoming triple header with Liverpool...it's got to be down the pub for the Champions League games, with the missus, but no blue and white scarves in sight, please darlin'. And I thought I had her well trained...
We love the Arsenal! Just so you know, they are the first English team to ever beat AC Milan at the San Siro. Yeehaa! Not sure why I didn't accept Kinky's offer of watching it at his brother's place, complete with 60 inch HD Plasma screen...
Gotta love The Citeh! Did I ever tell you that they're my favourite "second team"? He he.
I admit, I wasn't optimistic at the start of the season, but with 12 games to go (actually 13 for the Gooners), things are looking quite reasonable. At least we're in for an exciting end to the season. And now, of course, I've just cursed the rest of the season into a boring one-horse race...
I'm not too sure there's anything to get excited about with Mr Capello's impending appointment as England boss (though this list of things to consider might whet your appetite, to tell you the truth, it does nothing for me). I'm fast losing interest with the national side and their shitey little boy racer superstars. I would love to believe that it could all change, but something tells me these spoilt little fuckers need more than someone telling them they're fat and overpaid...
Now, if it had been Jose - and however much you dislike the man you gotta admire his manmanagement skills - I think that could have been very interesting...
Just like to give a quick "Thank You!" to all the people who sent me comforting emails, text messages, etc in regard to England's glorious European Championship failure...especially warming was Kinky's LOSERS email, accentuating his warmth in big, red 72 point font lettering. Also rather heartwarming was GBH's L text message. Yep, that's what he sent, the letter L. I won't mention the ribbing I got throughout the day, particularly at last night's family Bar Mitzva, where everyone and his dog took the piss. Especially touching was the moment I had to go to the stage with the missus to present the birthday boy (man?) with his present and on my way up somebody called out "Start supporting a decent country...".
Bastards the lot of you. Now, let me continue to sulk, please.
OK, so it's time to get out the ol' blue and white scarf and rattle and to cheer on Israel later this afternoon against the Ruskies. A defeat for the Holy Landers means England's hopes of making it to next year's Euro Finals will be buggered. Of course, England don't really deserve to make it through, but to watch a major tournament and not have them there will be, well, just not cricket. Local rags are going with lots of oligarch stories, seems to be a lot of dollars being waved about perilously close to the Israeli team - but they're Israeli, they're above all of that, of course, and I can almost guarantee a non-corrupted performance. Or maybe not. Oh yeh.
And while we're on the subject, aren't the Arse simply devine at the moment? Top of the league and strutting some fine stuff. It's a shame we have to watch some of this international crap instead of some real footie...
I'm getting more and more pissed with this - the amount of money I have to pay to watch a game of decent English footie. I don't see it being mentioned by any of the English language media over here (too many Yanks innit), though I'm sure it's mentioned endlessly in the Hebrew press...
Year by year, the TV guys have steadily erroded the number of freebie games. From once watching Arsenal almost every week, to paying for the odd live game last season, it's now got to the point where I have to pay for a whole new channel, ending up costing me two or three times as much. And with the Champions League kicking off this week, it's now got even better, with Arsenal v Sevilla (surely one of the most attractive games of the week?) featuring on yet another new channel...
Not sure what it's like in Blighty, but I'm pissed...
Yep, England v Israel again, tomorrow night, this time in the luverly new Wemberlee. With the cream of England's finest on the sidelines, Israel smells blood. Personally, I've never felt so disinterested about an England team, might just be down to all those chavtastic players and a coach who seems, yet again, to have his head up his arse. Of course, I want England to crush Israel, but if Israel manage a feisty draw, I won't be disappointed, or shocked.
So what say you? I'm going for a 3-0 win for the Kilkenny...
Looks like the Russians are starting to take a serious interest in my boys. Not sure I like it...never mind the French revolution, "dirty" money just seems, well, un-Arsenal (but very Chelski...just how will I ever be able to joke about Chelski again?!). And wasn't the new stadium supposed to generate all the extra income they'd ever need? So why all this talk about takeovers needed to raise more money - would Arsene ever spend it anyway? Not exactly breeding stability at the moment is it? Hmmpphh.
