PHILINFRANCE

Much to my surprise, I watched the Beckham documentary over Christmas and, even more surprisingly, I quite enjoyed it. Unfortunately, as you say, he and, at the same time, his wife, were hounded by the media, but Goodness, didn’t they milk it.

India left with 79 runs to win. Will it turn out to be a thrilling finale or a damp squib?

They also seem keen to promote his sister, forever quoting her messages of support, which is fine, but always accompanied by that photo of her in the orange top. I hope he gets a protective manager or agent soon.

Thanks for your fair and well presented response. For what it is worth, even though I voted for the sub forum to remain, I am not too fussed one way or the other, although I suppose I lean towards the majority view prevailing. We shall see what happens.

I have voted to retain the sub forum. It was several days (weeks?) before I realised it existed, but now I am aware find it quite useful. A random post on a former player, manager or whoever drops very quickly on the main site and, if one is absent from the forum for a day or so, is missed totally - at least, that is my experience. Similarly, a quick glance at the sub forum sometimes reveals an interesting thread that would have gone unnoticed were it to have been on the main forum.

My wife and I spent ten days touring in Andalusia a couple of years ago and used EuropCar. We flew in to Malaga and spent a few days there, before taking a bus to Granada for a few more days to do the usual tourist things, Al Hambra and the like. We had pre booked a small car (Fiesta or similar) with EuropCar for our journey to Sevilla and leisurely return to Malaga, but it wasn’t available when we arrived to collect it. No problem, they provided a well equipped Golf at no extra cost and, as it was raining (in Granada!?), drove us to the multi storey where it was parked. Drop off in Malaga airport in the early hours of the morning couldn’t have been simpler - just a code to press and drop the keys in the letterbox. A friendly mail later that day to acknowledge receipt of the keys and thank us for using EuropCar.

Just back from the local market.

It's hardly surprising, is it? I wonder why. https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/67866091 https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/they-don-t-care-waugh-slams-cricket-bosses-over-south-africa-test-farce-20240101-p5euj2.html

Brussels Sprouts as they should be eaten.

I saw this earlier on a thread about local expressions: What does the British expression "Nice Bristols" mean? Bristols are an example of rhyming slang. Bristol is famous for its seagull pies - hence the term ‘Bristol Pies - eyes’. It’s traditional if you walk into an English pub to compliment the barmaid. Usually with “Hello Love. Nice Bristols! Any chance of a pint”. I hope this helps.

This story is probably fictitious, but I am sure it could have related to either Mr. Booker or Doctor Mackay. An old man meets a young man who asks: “Do you remember me?” And the old man says no. Then the young man tells him he was his student, And the teacher asks: “What do you do, what do you do in life?” The young man answers: “Well, I became a teacher.” “Ah, how good, like me?” Asks the old man. “Well, yes. In fact, I became a teacher because you inspired me to be like you.” The old man, curious, asks the young man at what time he decided to become a teacher. The young man tells him the following story: “One day, a friend of mine, also a student, came in with a nice new watch, and I decided I wanted it. I stole it, I took it out of his pocket. Shortly after, my friend noticed that his watch was missing and immediately complained to our teacher, who was you. Then you addressed the class saying, ‘This student's watch was stolen during classes today. Whoever stole it, please return it.’ I didn't give it back because I didn't want to. You closed the door and told us all to stand up and form a circle. You were going to search our pockets one by one until the watch was found. However, you told us to close our eyes, because you would only look for his watch if we all had our eyes closed. We did as instructed. You went from pocket to pocket, and when you went through my pocket, you found the watch and took it. You kept searching everyone's pockets, and when you were done you said ‘Open your eyes. We have the watch.’ You didn't tell on me and you never mentioned the episode. You never said who stole the watch either. That day you saved my dignity forever. It was the most shameful day of my life. But this is also the day I decided not to become a thief, a bad person, etc. You never said anything, nor did you even scold me or take me aside to give me a moral lesson. I received your message clearly. Thanks to you, I understood what a real educator needs to do. Do you remember this episode, professor? The old professor answered, ‘Yes, I remember the situation with the stolen watch, which I was looking for in everyone’s pocket. I didn't remember you, because I also closed my eyes while looking.’ This is the essence of teaching: If to correct you must humiliate; you don't know how to teach.” Credit: Marie R. Harness

Brought on for the last ten minutes, which was his one and only appearance for England. I’m speaking from memory, but I think he might have replaced Lampard (or perhaps Rooney?).

What about train stations? And, one of @Fordy62’s pet hates, when a newspaper article refers to ‘The Cops’ investigating a crime.

Happy New Year Gav, and Many Thanks for all your hard work this past twelve months and the many months before that. Your input is much appreciated.

Aren’t they wearing black armbands? Perhaps there had been a recent bereavement, hence the lack of smiles?

I recall a Czech Economics teacher and an extremely attractive Art teacher, occasional replacement for Mr. Burford?

A nice touch.

Does anybody remember Aubrey Harris, French master and quite a character in his own way. A lot of people detested him, but I always found him very friendly and reasonable, provided he was afforded the respect he deserved. He was also very interesting to listen to when talking outside of periods.

I assume we are talking about the same Latin master, Mr. Radford, who was also apparently an excellent tennis player in his younger years. You may recall that, when he entered the classroom to start a lesson, he had a tendency to open and slam shut one of those old desk lids. Any pupil disrupting one of his lessons, Heaven forbid, would be made to sit on the floor in front of him.

I must say, I don’t recall Mr. Osborne, unless he was the Housemaster replaced by Mr. Lucas. Fortunately, I don’t recall any sadistic teachers, although I do recall the excellent ones you mention. I never really had any close dealings with Messrs. Lucas (Blue), Trott (Green) or Warren (Yellow and, if I recall correctly, a keen ornithologist), but I do remember warmly Messrs. Booker (who, purely by chance, I met some twenty years ago, with his wife and daughter ambling around the Trocadéro esplanade in Paris) and, of course, the inimitable Eric Dean - do you remember his shoes? The late Eric Dehn was my form master, French teacher and, though I probably didn’t realise it at the time, in addition to being my favourite ever teacher, one of the nicest men I have ever met - truly, a gentleman and a man of whom I still think of fondly. I never studied German, sticking with Latin until O Level, and can’t really recall him, unless he was perhaps an elderly, bald man with glasses? You were at BGS a few years before me, but you dispel my recollection that Mr. Lucas took over from Mr. Osborne, but I am at a loss to remember the sixth Housemaster during my time at BGS. I mentioned previously the Blue, Green and Yellow Houses, I recall Cockett (Black) and I was in Metcalfe (Red), but who was the (Brown) Housemaster? Was it Mr. Osborne?

I am not sure why , but there is something about your statement referring to people of great knowledge that makes me smile (grimace ).

With the impressive moustache.

I don't think so. I suspect you are thinking of @hinsleburg.