For at least the 98 years* since my uncle John played Rugby Union for the British Army against the All Blacks no man or boy in my family has kicked a round ball after primary school. Today we were driving past a village game of taptoe when I was commanded to "Stop - pull over!" K watched the game entranced and offered a running commentary... After half an hour of this I asked her to explain the offside rule, which fortunately she was unable to do. On our way home I drove through Ipswich and pointed out the Portman Road ground - it was 2.40 and a crowd was streaming towards it... "It's so near! Why haven't we gone there? We could have been watching - how many games have we missed in the past two months?" We got home with K still talking unintelligible technicalities. Turns out she has a cousin who played for their home town in Mindanao and she used to spend many an hour shouting herself hoarse in the local stadium. I phoned a friend who has held season tickets since before 1978** - he'll take her. No point in my going; it would be money wasted on me. But the deal is that she goes with my sons and I to Twickenham for the HSBC Sevens... * Yes. 1917. He was injured and invalided out the following February. ** Bobby Robson's F.A. Cup win over Arsenal
I can't explain the offside rule I have absolutely zero knowledge of the game stereotypical techy I'm afraid
It's a game of skill, fast reactions and tactics plus a degree in acting, getting a salary that's so outrageous it makes the Queen blush.
Shortly after arriving to UK my wife became an avid fan and supporter of our local Rugby team Northampton Saints. Almost every home game at Franklins Gardens and as many away games as I could manage to drive to. Happy days for us all.
The offside rule for ladies... You're in a shoe shop, second in the queue for the till. Behind the shop assistant on the till is a pair of shoes which you have seen and which you must have. The female shopper in front of you has seen them also and is eyeing them with desire. Both of you have forgotten your purses. It would be totally rude to push in front of the first woman if you had no money to pay for the shoes. The shop assistant remains at the till waiting. Your friend is trying on another pair of shoes at the back of the shop and sees your dilemma. She prepares to throw her purse to you. If she does so, you can catch the purse, then walk round the other shopper and buy the shoes. At a pinch she could throw the purse ahead of the other shopper and, *whilst it is in flight* you could nip around the other shopper, catch the purse and buy the shoes. Always remembering that until the purse had *actually been thrown* it would be plain wrong to be forward of the other shopper.
Half Season Ticket to the Cobbold Stand: £ 340 Further Leave to Remain - £ 956 (until April - see Micawber's helpful post... Debenhams and Marks and Spencer store credit cards - much too dangerous!
Agreed. Although many years ago now my wife soon discovered how easy it was to secure these store cards and just how expensive they can be if hubby refuses to settle up each month.
