PHILINFRANCE

As ever, a wonderful preview @Jerseybean, but isn’t the photo of Tinnion reflecting on the horrendous 7-1 defeat away to Swansea almost 20 years ago?

I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall he made some dubious comments of a perceived racist nature. I am speaking from memory, which, as we both know, tends to fade with age, but I believe he commented on the Yorkshire racist incident concerning the Asian player (a Muslim, but whose name I certainly don’t remember) and his reluctance to join his teammates for drinks after a match, suggesting something along the lines of ‘They are all the same, that lot’. And No, I am not confusing him with Michael Vaughan and his alleged racist comments.

I think we have had this discussion before .

Many years ago, my wife and I went to the Côte d’Azur for a month in late May. We took a short break from the heat and drove to Tignes for two days skiing on the glacier.

Third innings, but Yes.

Digressing slightly, but I smile sometimes when I think of Rovers' new owner claiming that he had always wanted to purchase an English football club, and that Rovers were the perfect fit because of their rich history and wonderful fanbase. I mean, there is positive spin and then there is complete nonsense.

One of their batsmen, I forget who, was already warned for running on the pitch yesterday, and then Ashwin did the same thing again this morning. He seemed to be quite aggrieved when he was informed by the umpire that India were going to be penalised 5 runs as he had been cheating.

Bowling in to the rough that he created by running on the pitch - hence England being awarded 5 runs. I just hope that England get a healthy first innings lead, and that it comes bck to bite them on the arse when India have their second innings.

I am pretty sure I read very recently that Steve Parish was all in favour of keeping Roy Hodgson on as manager until the end of the season. Clearly, if RH’s health isn’t up to returning to management, and surely his health is the all important factor here, to all parties, not least to him and his family, then a replacement should be brought in as soon as is practicably possible. Should this turn out to be the case, then I am not sure why Steve Parish would be deserving of any criticism.

I don’t have facebook, but, in a nutshell, what was being said?

I have just taken a short pause from preparing dinner.

Both Matt James and Joe Williams were excellent last night. Many on here have spoken of one or perhaps both leaving at the end of the season, but whilst I suppose Andy King’s departure is almost inevitable, I would like to see both MJ and JW retained, as much for the knowledge and experience they could pass on to the younger midfielders we have just signed as for their own ability and experience on the pitch. I appreciate both would need to compromise on their salaries etc., but I should be disappointed if both leave.

I thought much the same. It was a shame he was fouled just after his little shuffle, when he went through two players, as I thought he was about to produce a moment of magic.

An interesting 'Moniker' and an equally interesting first post. Admittedly, I didn't watch the match live, but on SKY, but I thought he was excellent, both on the right and the left.

I was going to suggest yesterday that @W-S-M Seagull probably meant to write castigated, but now I am begining to wonder....

He came on again for the last 10 minutes against Liverpool.

Indeed, and I saw it as soon as I posted. Unfortunately, I was distracted and it was too late to edit.

So, I was reading this thread and, obviously…. Why, and from where did this habit of starting sentences with ‘So’ and then interspersing them with numerous mentions of ‘Obviously’ originate?

Well, as the old saying goes, every day is a school day. I never knew one could get oysters from the Mediterranean. On the subject of buying fresh oysters, one of my bugbears is that, of course, they are sold by weight, and then opened. I swear there must be about 1/2 litre of sea water in one kilo of oysters, so 50% of the purchase weight is discarded immediately, not to mention the weight of the heavy shells. The same is true of fresh shrimps, although at least the heads and shells can be used for stock.

I’m not sure he had ‘lovely hair’.

Bakinson?

Rovers have a thread on GasChat headed Jordan, referring to their Asian Cup Final against Qatar. One amusing poster said he thought she had died when he saw this.

Many years ago, I saw an old friend of mine, a chef in a local restaurant, take a huge chunk out of his hand whilst opening oysters. Unfortunately, he wasn’t wearing gloves, but he was experienced. I am just so nervous doing it, and, even in the fishmonger, it takes about 10 minutes to open a dozen oysters.

Ah Yes, quite obvious now you menton it . A propos oysters, I am always amazed how expensive they are in restaurants, especially in the UK. I am fortunate to have an excellent wet fishmonger close to me, and can often buy a dozen for about €5, opened in front of me (I don't know if you have ever tried, but opening oysters is a real bugger, even with a proper knife). I prepare a simple Mignonette with a fresh eschalot (ludicrously cheap over here) and Voila, an excellent lunch for two - actually, I eat them all, as my wife cannot stand oysters, although she will help me with the accompanying bottle of chilled Sancerre.

It looks very nice, especially the fish. I don’t recall ever eating Isle of Islay scallops before (I probably drank too much of their whisky) but they look remarkably like mussels to me.