Nasty habits (part II)
- 3 Jun 06, 02:26 PM
LONDON - Before I get into the meat of this entry let me just point you towards our trailer which ran on Football Focus today (watch the video) - great publicity for the blog but I need to have a word about my image rights as my cartoon makes me look like an 80-year-old who hasn't slept for a year - or Tord Grip for that matter.
So Fletch thinks I might have some nasty habits, eh?
As someone who's endured some shocking housemates in his time, including a Bavarian who communicated solely through grunts and post-it notes on the bathroom mirror, I think I've learnt to be as mild mannered as possible.
But five weeks is a long time and the mask is bound to slip at some point, so let's address Fletch's concerns one by one:
1 - I have been known to snore on occasions - especially after a couple of steins - but the van's big enough and we'll be sleeping at opposite ends. Incidently the new van appears to have two double beds so at least that's one argument avoided.
2 - Def Leppard? Really? I'm not that familiar with their canon of work except their early 90s hit Let's get rocked But I can withstand most music so as long as Fletch can cope with my and , I'll live with Def Leppard and any other poodle rockers he prefers.
3 - I'm more of a night owl than an early bird, so that'll be a relief to Fletch - but I'm not adverse to the odd early start to get on the road.
4 - I'd like to reassure Fletch that any boy racer tendencies detected on our driver training course were just teething troubles associated with the monster of a vehicle I was driving - by the end of the day I'd stopped trying to throw it round every corner.
What he's really got to worry about are my map-reading skills, personal hygeine and dubious singing voice.
Roll on Wednesday
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Instead of Nasty Habits, I would like to concentrate on the arrival of the US Football Team in Germany. The Pre Cup Friendly between Angola and the USA. Both will be testing their strength and take things from there.
Univision is planning a World Cup Special tonight [3-VI-2006@9:00PM Miami Time].
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That cartoon appears to show an ancient VW camper as opposed to your height of luxury state of the art vehicle. If you wish to increase the accuracy, I'm sure we could come to some arrangement, as I just so happen to have an prehistoric VW camper that I'm taking, and I would in these circumstances be willing to make the personal sacrifice of travelling in luxury in order to aid your fine organisation. Fancy a swap?
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One word regarding campervans and hygiene - try to use the campervan's loo as little as possible, go to a bar, public toilets, behind a tree, whatever, but just avoiding using the loo at all costs, no matter what the rental company told you...they are grim after a couple of days.
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I just want to take my hat off to the Â鶹Éç and mention how excited I am about the upcoming World Cup coverage via the Â鶹Éç Sport web site.
I didn't think the Beeb could make their site better, but it has. While it was always a must-visit daily site before, the big difference now is the visitors feel like they're a part of the experience.
Fletch and Ricco, good luck on your adventure. It's going to be the time of your lives!
Cheers,
The Gaffer
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Photo Contest - Win a trip to World Cup 1/4 finals in Stuttgart !
1. Submit your best photo.
2. Get rated and rate other photos.
3. Win a trip to World Cup 2006 plus lots of other GREAT prizes!
Good luck guys !!!
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Good luck lads! Oh, and can we all get behind the lads and the manager for the World Cup - pretty fed up of listing to the moaning and complaining of the reports and media (especially Talksport!) - he's chosen the squad, let's get behind the boys! :)
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hi Â鶹Éç camper men- well i have a suggestion. im off on wednesday to a worl cup football site - mostly english supporters gonna be there , but it seems it will still be multi racial, from all over. Run by a german with a sense of humour , why not come and visit.
andy
ps im not conected at all with it just a little excited by the idea of the place.. football paradise.
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I'll think of you in Germany and will be keeping a close eye on the blogs.
THink of me, for the Trinidad & Tobago game I will be on a train returning home from a Conference (had to go, it's work!) Who plans conferences when the World Cup is on!!!!!!!!
Also I will be attending a wedding on 24th June,when we reach the last 16 I may miss the match, hopefully we win the group and I will see the match on the 25th. Who arranges a wedding during the World Cup. I am told that it was because there was a free date, I WONDER WHY??????
Whatever, I think we have a great chance in Germany, and I am really looking forward to some great football. Usually I pine all summer wating for the new season to start, and end up watching anything, I found myself watching Aussie rules the other day, that's desperate!
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Hahaha, Nasty habits made me chuckle. If I'd have know it was a road trip I would have asked if there was room 'for a little one'. But then I read the Deaf Leppard bit and decided I'd rather walk.
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Are you guys going in a Campervan because of the obscene price hikes in all the German hotels?
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On World Cup Football Focus they said you were looking to visit Brits in Germany. As you know there is still a large British army presence here, what people don't realise is there are also many children at English army schools here. We run a boarding lodge for 150 teenagers all children of army or associated workforce families. Everybody here (apart from a few jealous Welsh and Scottish) is worked up to a frenzy about the up and coming English Campaign, our TV room grandly decked in St. George flags and bunting. How about a visit from you boys on your tour of Germany we are South East of Hanover unfortunately not near enough any of the preliminary stadiums England are playing in. But you are more than welcome to join our support group on Thurs 15th or Tues 20th June when England are playing. (Not weekend as all the children go home then).
What is noticable here is the lack of German car flags flying, available in the shops but maybe a little downmarket for the mercs and bmws whizzing up and down the autobahn.
If you want to join us will forward the address.
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Paul have a good trip will look foreward to reading your reports.
Tony F
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It seems that someone at the Â鶹Éç thinks this will interest fans far more than good discussions about the World Cup (and anything else vaguely footie-related); they are wrong.
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A podcast / blog entry on how the World Cup will be received in the US:
Cheers,
Your Computer.
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The Pre Game Friendly between USA and Angola was a rumor. Congradulations to England for your victory over Jamaica.
"Republica Deportiva" [Sports Republic] on Univision TV gave a report on the World Cup 2006 live from Germany.
Outside, I saw some stores selling the USA Football Club T Shirt. Now things are beginning to move.
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We spent the World Cup of 1998 sleeping squashed into a Ford Fiesta in a car park in Lyon. We missed the Spain Bulgaria match as we had a little too much of the local sugar water, only halfway through watching the game on TV in a bar did we realise we were supposed to be there. It finished 6-1 to make us feel better about not getting to it!
Did make it to England v Colombia to see Beckham score his first freekick for England! Loads of friendly Colombian fans too made it a great day.
You'll have a blast in Germany Martin.
Jack
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all
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Wishing you the very best of luck chaps.
You shouldn't have too many problems in Germany, drove from Kaiserslautern to Copenhagen and back via Hamburg for last years friendly. Great roads.
I am staying with a god friend of mine in Medard, near Kaiserslautern for the matches, and we are having a tournament on Friday 23rd June.
Two English teams and two German teams to help promote England fans abroad.
If you feel that you'd like to come, please let me know and you'll be made more than welcome.
It's worth coming to meet my friend, Chris Kuntz.
He's a German member of Englandfans, the official FA supporters group, and has tickets for the England game.
He is a Palace & Rangers fan, and hardly misses an England game.
His parents were English teachers and he fell in love with the country when on numerous holidays here.
He'll be one of the bigger characters at England games this year, that's for sure.
Speaks quite good German too which is nice ;-)
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Good luck with the trip, if you find time, feel free to read my football blog
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Hi guys,
World cup? Camper van? When I were a lad, we were lucky to sleep in t'ridgepole tents... that leaked and that was only after t'occupants had had one too many in't middle of night!
Good luck! I'll be watching events unfold at college with the other football orientated lecturing staff on a specially prepared world cup projection screen in our TV studio.
Hi to Chris Kuntz. Is that really his name? I'm Palace too! for my sins :( Perhaps he could be our new manager?
Remember not to use the bog, mark my words.... and those of the other posts. Think Glastonbury and a week old!
David
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Despite the glut of songs out there, none of them really do it for England, do they...
QEFC, two brothers - not just 'cos we're black guys either! - re wrote William Blake's poem 'Jerusalem' and set it to Hubert Parry's wonderful tune. Our myspace blog is gaining pace and we were asked to perform on Â鶹Éç Radio London on Sunday night.
To hear the song check out myspace.com. Go to either 'music', 'groups', 'blog' or 'myfriends'. Type in QEFC, listen and blog!! Forget the famous people on a gravy train doing their 'songs'. We need to get the terraces singing.
THIS IS ‘FOR ENGLAND!’.
English terraces in Germany can confound the opposition and fuel the players. But only with your help. R the help of real fans...
To the tune of JERUSALEM
We are at home when we’re abroad
Flying the red cross of Saint George
White Rose of Yorkshire, red of Lancs
Scouse! Cockneys! Geordies! Close your ranks
God save the Queen, God save us all
For God and Harry and Football
Once more unto the breech, we stand
For England’s green and pleasant land
Toad in the hole, and beans on toast
Fish and chips and Sunday Roast
Hot spotted dick, and Yorkshire pud
Our English food misunderstood
But I love Blighty like my mum
And Bobby Moore’s our favourite son
Once more unto the breech, we stand
For England’s green and pleasant land
Red white and blue, fight the good fight
Very perfect gentle knights
1066 and all that
North South East West white brown and black
We’re back-to-back and side-by-side
We love our green and sceptered isle
Once more unto the breech, we stand
For England’s green and pleasant land
© Sepiavision UK Ltd
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I have a confession (I have made this confession to my fiance and she sort of understands).
Over the past 7 days I have purchased a sum total of 60 packets of stickers for the official world cup sticker album. Not only this, but I have taken enormous joy from this, the process of peeling and sticking, the horror when the edge doesn't sit right in the book, the sense of pride when it is recovered and lined up perfectly, even the odd feeling when the togo badge shines its way out of the pack. Having also collected the 1986 World Cup sticker book, and completed it, I might be considered a little past this sort of thing.
You know what I say?
FFFUUUTTTEEEBBOOOLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
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Adekunle - that was beautiful and stirring. You should be made our Poet Laureat. Reminds me of the time I emailed the 'Once more unto the breech' warcry to my hockey team on the eve of a big match. Needless to say we slayed the opposition as surely as Saint Georgie spiked that ghecko with his kebab skewer! A fine effort indeed!
Play up England, England play up!
Toadie.
P.S. Is it rude to say ya-boo sucks to you Scotland? They can support Trinidad and Tobago as much as they like - it won't bring their coutrymen any closer to Germany!
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