Uma Thurman ~ I've got your number!

The latest recruit to Virgin mobile Advertising is the incredibly talented actress Uma Thurman. I've included a video of her below in an excerpt from "Kill Bill".

Have a play ~ It's really great.

From the news released concerning the Virgin advert ~ the one about ringing her at her home address ~ it seems that an over-zealous but not very bright Virgin personal assistant has inadvertently indicated that her actual number is embedded in the video footage in a subliminal way leading to all sorts of analysis by press and public alike.[Fox News has devoted an entire programme to this and offered a reward for anyone finding the code].

I've taken the footage from the Virgin Advert and found what I think may be the numbers involved. One then has to link these to the numbers already spoken in the original advertisement and her telephone number in USA is found.

The numbers embedded in the advert are:

01042007

Click on the blogsite below and this will give you the whole number....

.... http://wwwsportinglife.blogspot.com


I would suggest that you not reveal this source to anyone else. I wouldn't want Miss Thurman to be pestered or anyhing and I've only just submitted my claim for the financial reward Foxy News are offering.

GB

kill bill

An update on Una Thurman

ENGLAND

TIRED OF YOUR JOB?

SICK OF WORKING 40 HOURS OR MORE EACH WEEK JUST TO FEED YOUR FAMILY?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RELAX ALL DAY AND STILL HAVE THE BENIFITS OF A FULL TIME JOB?

IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS THEN YOU SHOULD CONSIDER MOVING TO-

ENGLAND
THE WELFARE COUNTRY


IF YOU QUALIFY
(AND ONLY WORKING PEOPLE DON'T)
YOU CAN RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING:

FREE HOUSING
FREE UTILITIES
FREE FOOD
FREE MEDICAL SERVICES
FREE TRANSPORTATION
FREE LEGAL SERVICES

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT LIMITED TO 3 OR 6 MONTHS LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES. IN ENGLAND YOU CAN COLLECT FOR LIFE. SOME OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE RECEIVED BENIFITS FOR 2 OR 3 GENERATIONS.
SO IF YOU WOULD TO RECEIVE ALL OF THIS WITHOUT WORKING FOR A LIVING,CONTACT THE
BENEFITS AGENCY
"ENGLAND THE COUNTRY WHERE ONLY SUCKERS WORK"

Sentamu calls for Aplogy.....

Senior cleric calls for formal slavery apology
LONDON (Reuters)

The second most senior cleric in the Church of England called on the government to make a formal apology for the slave trade as celebrations take place to mark the anniversary of its abolition in the British Empire.


Earlier this month Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was "sorry" for Britain's role in the trade and expressed "deep sorrow" for slavery which was abolished by parliament exactly 200 years ago on March 25, 1807.

However Archbishop of York John Sentamu said Blair needed to go further.
"A nation of this quality should have the sense of saying we are very sorry and we have to put the record straight," he told the BBC.
"This community was involved in a very terrible trade, Africans were involved in a very terrible trade, the Church was involved in a very terrible trade ... it's important that we all own up to what was collectively done."

Blair will send a recorded message of regret for Britain's role to celebrations on Sunday in Ghana -- a source of many of the slaves -- marking the bicentenary of the abolition.
Britain's first black female cabinet minister Baroness Amos, herself a descendent of slaves who was born in Guyana, will be among those attending the event.

Sentamu joined about 3,600 others in marches through central London on Saturday as part of a series of events in Britain to mark the anniversary of the abolition of the brutal trade.
"The easiest thing in the world is to look back 200 years and say we wouldn't have made those mistakes," the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said.
A campaign by politician and philanthropist William Wilberforce persuaded first the church and then the public and finally parliament that the lucrative trade was abhorrent and should be banned.

Between 10 million and 28 million Africans were shipped in appalling conditions to the Americas and sold into slavery between 1450 and the early 19th century.
When Britain abolished the trade it was the first major slave-trafficking nation to do so.
Although the practice was outlawed, the lucrative trade continued for many years with ship captains, facing heavy fines, not hesitating to dump their human cargoes overboard if they were caught.

Perhaps the Bishop could spend some time in Uganda sorting out his country's problems including the use of children in the free armies roaming the countryside?

UK ~ Slave trade still goes on!

Britain’s Slave Trade

In 1807, Britain passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, a law banning the legal trade of slaves. Yet, rather than ending the slave trade, this merely forced it underground; 200 years later, a hidden slave trade continues around the world.

A top destination is the United Kingdom.


Organized criminal gangs in the UK “import” people from various countries and regions—Eastern Europe, South America, Africa, China—and compel them to work under the threat of violence or death. The victims, often under age 18, are forced to labor in factories or—more horribly—into sexual exploitation.

Many are lured to Britain by the promise of employment, often expecting a much better job than is available in their home country. After they arrive, their new employers usually commandeer their passports and other legal documents—barring their ability to return home.
Human trafficking—the modern-day version of slavery—is a lucrative business. According to an estimate by the International Labor Organization, it brings in $32 billion a year worldwide. Last December during the House of Commons daily debates, MP Caroline Spelman said that “the average earnings of a trafficked prostitute for his or her pimp are roughly £100,000 [$190,000].”

Authorities do not know exactly how widespread the problem is, but rough numbers offered by the government are viewed as gross underestimates. The more deeply the matter is investigated, the higher official estimates rise. News outlets have begun to report on individual cases, bringing the problem into public view.

Worldwide estimates of human trafficking vary widely. Anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million persons are sold into slavery each year. A report by the Joseph Rowentree Foundation estimates that at any one time “more than 12 million people may be working as slaves.” The report also points out that there are at least 360,000 slaves living in industrialized nations.
In response to this rising problem, Britain’s Metropolitan Police Service recently launched a new team designed to address human trafficking and its effects, both in the UK and abroad. A commander from the MPS explained, “The victims can be male or female, adults or children who are trafficked for exploitative labor or forced prostitution work.”
The commander also said it is a “global problem” and that the team will work with other nations to “significantly disrupt these criminal networks.”
The British government is beginning to address the problem by planning to increase awareness inside the UK and in the countries from which the slaves are coming. But to what degree the new Metropolitan Police team or the government will “significantly disrupt” the problem of human trafficking in the UK remains to be seen.

Slavery has existed throughout history. Though most countries today have legally banned it, the practice of human beings owning other human beings still exists, largely done in secret.
Many in the world long for real solutions to the lingering troubles that have always plagued humanity. Today, this remains only a hope, a wish. Man’s problems have been constant throughout history. While we now possess more knowledge than ever before, humanity’s troubles and ills remain the same—insoluble.

Can man’s problems—slavery, hatred, murder, war—be solved, removed!?

HOW?

COMPANIES AND COUNTRIES

THIS IS VERY FUNNY.
EVER WONDERED ABOUT COUNTRIES AND COMPANIES. USING COWS TO DEMONSTRATE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF REGIMES THERE ARE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
SOCIALISM.
YOU HAVE 2 COWS YOU GIVE ONE TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR
COMMUNISM.
YOU HAVE 2 COWS THE STATE TAKES BOTH AND GIVES YOU SOME MILK.

FASCISM.
YOU HAVE 2 COWS THE STATE TAKES BOTH AND SELLS YOU SOME MILK.

NAZISM.
YOU HAVE TWO COWS THE STATE TAKES BOTH THEN SHOOTS YOU.

BUREAUCRACY.
YOU HAVE 2 COWS THE STATE TAKES BOTH, SHOOTS ONE, MILKS THE OTHER THEN TROWS THE MILK AWAY.

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU SELL ON AND BUY A BULL. YOUR HERD MULTIPLIES, AND THE ECONOMY GROWS. YOU SELL THEM AND RETIRE ON THE INCOME.

SURREALISM.
YOU HAVE 2 GIRAFFES THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES YOU TO TAKE HARMONICA LESSONS.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS YOU SELL ONE,AND FORCE THE OTHER TO PRODUCE THE MILK OF 4 COWS. LATER YOU HIRE A CONSULTANT TO ANALYSE WHY THE COW HAS DROPPED DEAD.

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM
YOU HAVE 2 COWS YOU SELL 3 OF THEM TO YOUR PUBLICLY LISTED COMPANY,USING LETTERS OF CREDIT OPENED BY YOUR BROTHER IN LAW AT THE BANK,THEN EXECUTE A DEBT/EQUITY SWAP WITH AN ASSOCIATED GENERAL OFFER SO THAT YOU GET ALL FOUR COWS BACK WITH A TAX EXEMPTION FOR ALL FIVE COWS. THE MILK RIGHTS OF THE SIX COWS ARE TRANSFERRED VIA AN INTERMEDIARY TO A CAYMAN ISLAND COMPANY SECRETLY OWNED BY THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER WHO SELLS THE RIGHTS TO ALL SEVEN COWS BACK TO YOUR LISTED COMPANY. THE ANNUAL REPORT SAYS THE COMPANY OWNS EIGHT COWS, WITH AN OPTION ON ONE MORE. SELL ONE COW TO BUY A NEW PRESIDENT OF THE USA LEAVING YOU WITH NINE COWS. NO BALANCE SHEET PROVIDED WITH THE RELEASE. THE PUBLIC BUYS YOUR BULL.

THE ANDERSEN MODEL.
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU SHRED THEM.

A FRENCH CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU GO ON STRIKE, ORGANISE A RIOT, AND BLOCK THE ROADS AND PORTS, BECAUSE YOU WANT 3 COWS.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU REDESIGN THEM SO THEY ARE ONE TENTH THE SIZE OF AN ORDINARY COW AND PRODUCE 20 TIMES THE MILK. YOU THEN CREATE A CLEVER COW CARTOON CALLED COWKIMOM AND MARKET IT WORLD WIDE.

A GERMAN CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU RE-ENGINEER THEM SO THEY LIVE FOR 100 YEARS, EAT ONCE A MONTH AND MILK THEMSELVES.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE SO YOU DECIDE TO HAVE LUNCH.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU COUNT THEM AND LEARN YOU HAVE 5 COWS, YOU COUNT THEM AGAIN AND LEARN YOU HAVE 42 COWS. YOU COUNT THEM AGAIN AND LEARN YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU STOP COUNTING COWS AND OPEN ANOTHER BOTTLE OF VODKA.

A SWISS CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 5000 COWS. NONE OF THEM BELONG TO YOU. YOU CHARGE THE OWNERS FOR STORING THEM.

A CHINESE CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU HAVE 300 PEOPLE MILKING THEM. YOU CLAIM THAT YOU HAVE FULL EMPLOYMENT AND HIGH BOVINE PRODUCTIVITY. AND ARREST THE NEWS MAN WHO REPORTED THE REAL SITUATION.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. YOU WORSHIP THEM.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION
EVERYONE THINKS YOU HAVE A LOT OF COWS. YOU TELL THEN THAT YOU HAVE NONE, NO-ONE BELIEVES YOU. SO THEY BOMB THE !!""£$£ OUT OFF YOU AND INVADE YOUR COUNTRY. YOU STILL HAVE NO COWS BUT AT LEAST NOW YOU ARE PART OF A DEMOCRACY.

A WELSH CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. THE ONE ONE THE LEFT LOOKS VERY ATTRACTIVE.

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. BUSINESS SEEMS PRETTY GOOD. YOU CLOSE THE OFFICE AND GO FOR A FEW BEERS TO CELEBRATE.

A BRITISH CORPORATION.
YOU HAVE 2 COWS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO BUY A LICENSE TO MILK THEM. BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO DO A RISK ASSESSMENT WHICH ONLY THE GOVERNMENT QUANGO IS ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT. THEY CHARGE YOU 5 TIMES THE COST OF DOING IT. THEY FIND THAT THE 3 LEGGED STOOL IS A RISK UNDER HEALTH AND SAFETY. YOU HAVE TO BUY THE EC APPROVED 5 LEGGED STOOL THAT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT A MILK PERSON OF UP TO 250KG. IS IT TOO HEAVY TO CARRY. THE STOOL EXCEEDS EC WEIGHT LIFTING LIMITS FOR WORKERS BY 4KG WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE WEIGHT OF THE 5TH LEG. TO SHIFT THE STOOL FROM ONE COW TO THE OTHER YOU THEREFORE NEED A SPECIAL EC APPROVED TROLLEY. THE NEW STOOL AND TROLLEY ARE SO EXPENSIVE THAT YOU HAVE TO MORTGAGE ONE OF THE COWS TO PAY FOR THEM AND PAY FOR THE MANDATORY TRAINING COURSE YOU MUST TAKE TO GET YOUR LICENSE TO MILK THE COWS. YOU SELL YOUR MILK TO THE SUPERMARKET CHAIN THAT PAYS YOU BUGGER ALL FOR IT AND THEY SELL IT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR FOUR TIMES WHAT THEY PAID YOU. THEN THEY RELEASE A PRESS STATEMENT ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THEY ARE TO SUPPORT BRITISH COWS. THE REST OF THE WORLD THINKS YOUR COWS ARE MAD BUT YOU AND YOUR COWS KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE AND ANYWAY THE REST OF THE WORLD HAVE NO INTENTION OF IDENTIFYING AND COUNTING THEIR MAD COWS SO PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES DON'T KNOW THEIR COWS ARE REALLY REALLY BARMY DO THEY. YOU SELL YOUR COWS TO A POLISH ITINERANT WORKER AND YOUR FARM TO A RUSSIAN INVESTMENT BANK AND THEN YOU LEAVE TO BUY A VILLA BUY THE SEA IN A COUNTRY WHERE IT IS SUNNY AND THE MILK COSTS A 10TH OF THE MILK AT HOME. THEY DON'T HAVE AN NHS BUT YOU ARE SO HAPPY AND RELAXED YOUR HEALTH IMPROVES AND YOU LIVE TO BE A 100.

Mad Road - Johnny Depp

Really good ~ Have a listen to Depp on this.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk

Is this What you mean James Martin?

SKY BRIDGE

SORRY WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS BABY JAMES WOULD LIKE TO GO THERE FOR HIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT AND AS HIS RESPOSIBLE ADULT GUARDIAN I.E DADDY I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO GO TO LOOK AFTER HIM. THANK YOU IF ANTONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME THEY WOULD OF COURSE BE MORE THAN WELCOME. WE COULD MAKE IT A FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRIP MAYBE. COULD POSSIBLY GET A DISCOUNT AS A MULTIPLE BOOKING. WORTH A COAT OF THINKING ABOUT I THINK.
: 0 )

THE GRAND CANYON SKY WALK

HOW COOL IS THE GRAND CANYON SKYBRIDGE. WALKING OUT ONTO WHAT MUST FEEL LIKE FRESH AIR AND LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS TO THE BOTTOM 4000FT BELOW. HAS GOT TO BE AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. WHEN ITS CHRISTMAS LIST TIME ME AND BABY JAMES WANT TO GO THERE. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO FLY DOWN IT IN A HELICOPTER. THANKS

Dylan's Snowman ....without snowsuit

James Martin gets a Snowsuit....well two......

Carol's Sweet Potato, Apple and Ginger Soup.

SWEET POTATO, APPLE AND GINGER SOUP
Serves 4

1 large onion, chopped
2-3 tbsp olive oil or butter
2tsp chopped fresh ginger, plus….
1 extra tsp finely chopped to garnish [optional]
450g sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
1 large Bramley apple, peeled, cored and chopped
900ml vegetable stock, plus a little extra as necessary
Small bunch of fresh coriander, plus a few sprigs, chopped, to garnish
Lemon juice, to taste
2 pinches caster sugar
1 large dessert apple, cored and chopped, to garnish [optional]
4 tbsp yoghurt, sour cream or crème fraiche

Fry the onion very gently, covered, in the 2 tablespoons of oil or butter for 5 minutes. Add the ginger and the sweet potato and fry gently, covered for another 6-8 minutes. The vegetables should gently sweat rather than fry.

Add the apple, stir and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock, coriander and salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, half covered, for 15-20 minutes or until the sweet potato and apple are tender

Put in a blender to form a smooth soup, thin out if you like with a little more stock. Add some lemon juice and maybe a pinch of sugar to taste – depending on how sweet or tart the apples are.

Reheat gently – do not boil. If you like an apple garnish, fry the apple and ginger gently in the remaining oil/butter until browned and just tender, add a good pinch of sugar and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Ladle the soup into hot bowls. Drizzle a spoonful of yoghurt, sour cream or crème fraiche over each bowl, then a spoonful of the apple and some chopped coriander. Grind over some black pepper and serve.

Enjoy

Gene Autry Cooks again!

GENE AUTRY'S PEANUT BUTTER CREAM PIE
Printed from COOKS.COM
Graham cracker pie crust, or make a chocolate crust1 c. creamy peanut butter1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese1 c. sugar2 tbsp. melted butter1 c. whipping cream1 tbsp. vanillaHot fudge topping
Cream together the peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar, and butter. Whip the whipping cream, add vanilla, and fold into creamed mixture. Pour into the pie shell. Leave overnight in the refrigerator. The next day melt and thin hot fudge topping. Pour over the pie and let set for 30 minutes.

Thanks Gene!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vern in Limoges

MY ASTON

WHAT A DILEMA ASTON MARTIN OR FERARRI WHAT WHOULD YOU DO IF YOU IN THIS POSITION. BOTH CARS ARE STUNNINGLY FAST,BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT,NO DOUBT FANTASTIC TO DRIVE. BOTH CARS HAVE PADDLE SHIFT F1 GEARBOXES. BOTH CARS ARE TOTALLY NOT PRACTICAL, COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE, STUPIDLY EXPENSIVE TO BUY AND RUN.
ASTON EVERY TIME FOR ME!

ASTON MARTIN HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SOLD TO A CONSORTIUM. THE PARENT COMPANY FORD MADE THEM PROFITABLE AGAIN AND SOLD THEM. IF FORD CAN MAKE ASTON PROFITABLE WHY CANT THEY DO IT WITH THE REST OF THE COMPANY?. ANYWAY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING AND C02 EMISSIONS AND HOW THEY WERE GOING TO COMBAT THEM. THE REPLY WAS.
ASTON MARTIN ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING ENGINES THAT PRODUCE 40% LESS CO2 EMISSIONS AND WE ARE GOING TO BUILT A LOT MORE CONVERTIBLES FOR THE FUTURE SUNSHINE AND HOT DAYS WE ARE EXPECTING.

Restructure going on.............

Forgive me but I'm reviewing the content of the site.............and changing loads of things....for the better?????

Hopefully........

Togo Peanut butter ~ all the way from Togo

Togo Peanut Chicken

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cooking time: About 15 minutes
Prep time: About 10 minutes

Makes: 2 servings



Ingredients

8oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 14 oz. can of stewed tomatoes
2 t. mild olive oil
1/4 c. chopped onions
1 garlic clove, minced
3 T. peanut butter


Directions

Boil 1/2" of water in pan. Add chicken, cover, and steam 10 minutes.
Drain chicken and shred it with 2 forks on a cutting board.
Meanwhile heat oil in frying pan. Saute onions and garlic about 6 minutes, until translucent.
Stir in shredded chicken, tomatoes, and peanut butter. Heat 5 minutes.
Serve over white rice.
Adapted from recipe donated 1/5/2001 by Kirsten Stangeland, Oakland, California.
She received it from a co-worker who was born in Togo.

Hmmm Delicious.

Naruto: 300

Wow....what a great animation.....

ME!. ITS ALL ABOUT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES IM CUTE

SNOW IN YORKSHIRE

ITS SNOWING AGAIN. HAD A GOOD COVERING EARLIER AND ITS FORECAST TILL WEDNESDAY. NEED TO SELL THE SAAB AND GET ANOTHER 4X4. THIS GLOBAL COOLING THING IS GETTING TO BE A REAL PROBLEM. ANOTHER ICE AGE ON THE WAY I THINK. ICE AGE 1 AND 2 WERE VERY FUNNY THOUGH WONDER IF THEY COULD PULL OFF ANOTHER. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE SQUIRREL WITH THE ACORN. BRILLIANT. WONDER IF A ICE AGE BOND WOULD WORK?

Snow expected this week

the blog of the prince

my own blog is now up and running just click on a spikyprince hyperlink to get there.
i think

SPIKYPRINCE IS HERE

GET READY

ITS OFFICIAL I CAN PUT MY RANTS ON THIS BLOG NOW THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE PASSWORDS AND EVERYTHING.

Vern looking very smug

Vern is whistling today........

Looking unusually happy and just a little smug....Vern.....is........whistling.

Wales hopes re-kindled!!!!!!!!!!!

On a day when the odds were against them, Wales defeated a poor England side with some delightful running rugby and a strong performance by the forwards.

Whilst they have done some of this before in previous matches, this time they took some of their chances and got the scores required to win the game convincingly.

Now can they build on this??

From The Sunday Times March 18, 2007 Stuart Banes says ~

England taught lesson in Cardiff defeat


A tough learning curve for Brian Ashton’s young World Cup pretenders.
These are the days that make international teams. When the 2003 World Cup was barely on the horizon, England were learning lessons, some of them bitter, in the Six Nations schooling ground. And what a ferocious schooling ground Cardiff was yesterday for Brian Ashton’s young charges.

At Twickenham against France last weekend the vast majority of this team displayed the potential to fuse into an outstanding side in Cardiff yesterday. Ashton waited to see if they had the technique, the will to win against a hostile crowd and a desperate opponent.

England knew exactly what they needed to do from the kick-off. They were not to move the ball laterally from the deep if it was slow, because Wales were not to be allowed easy territory. The best-laid plans of mice and men. Instead of playing deep in the Welsh half, England were remorselessly driven onto the back foot from the kick-off to the extent that after 15 minutes Wales, inspired by the passion of their crowd and the poise of their half-backs, were rattling the scoreboard at a point a minute.

If this young England side did not understand the essence of international hostility before, they did after that harrowing 15 minutes. After just one minute the men in white were aware just how difficult life was going to be in Wales, which was more than can be said for Joe Worsley, who was unaware which planet he inhabited. His early collision with Jason Robinson left him punch-drunk as Shane Williams sizzled up the right flank and from the attacking position James Hook was to make his first incisive contribution.

A palpably nervous Toby Flood had his kick charged down by the Welsh youngster and Cardiff erupted as the try was scored after 60 seconds, the stuff of dreams for Hook but for England the worst possible nightmare.

It got worse. England’s defence was porous as Wales poured on the pressure until an almost inevitable second try on that quarter-hour mark.

The stadium was cacophonous, it sounded like the whole population of the principality was behind their team and on the backs of an England team that had a haunted, callow look.

There was no greater contrast between the sides than the contrast between the fly-halves: Flood, admittedly not being served by the quickest pass from Harry Ellis, who was having a troubled game, compared to Hook, who was on the receiving end of a sublime service from Dwayne Peel and looked every inch the star of the centre stage.

Hook tormented England with his passing game and his exquisite tactical kicking, keeping the English babes pinned in their 22. As lessons go, this seemed one of the most painful variety.

The shadow of a hammering was gathering in the artificial stadium lights until the old man and captain, Mike Catt, offered up the first hint of a team starting to understand how to play Test-match rugby when the odds are against you. That first lesson is one that has been forgotten since England won the World Cup. It is to have the courage to play positively, to play your way out of the doldrums.

Like last weekend, it had been a mixed bag from Catt but like last weekend the bravery to keep playing served England well as his flashing break combined with a fortunate bounce to allow Ellis the try and England a foothold when it appeared they were tumbling downwards. A typical Ellis break down the middle with a typical finish by Jason Robinson enabled England to leave the scene of an eminently forgettable 40 minutes from their perspective only 18-15 down.

The travails of Test-match rugby continued early in the second half. England levelled the score but old man Catt departed injured and the English back-line were left without their sage organiser. Defensive lessons were being learned on the hoof as Shane Williams and Kevin Morgan were perpetually on the brink of evading that last tackle. But England, still looking perplexed, held on by their finger-nails.

The great England team of the Woodward era had the ability to fight back from poor performances by tightening up their game. This team, so young in body and mind, lacked the option. As the game entered the last quarter, you sensed England’s only way to stem the tide was to pick up the pace. When the side has more maturity, it will be able to go down through the gears. In the Cardiff cauldron Wales held the game, even as the scoreline was level, in their hands unless England could press the accelerator and unleash their fliers, Shane Geraghty and Mathew Tait.

One of the prime lessons that England will take from this match is the necessity to be stronger in the breakdown. England were playing with will but Wales were desperate, and desperation drove them on.

Desperation in tandem with that man Hook. The fly-half rekindled memories of the great Welsh fly-halves of yesteryear. On 68 minutes, he snapped another drop goal over to push the Welsh advantage to six and from the restart his scything 40m break had the nation singing Bread of Heaven, as it did in the days when Phil Bennett tormented England year after year.
Hook was not just teaching England a lesson but was reminding the watching rugby world that another golden talent has been unearthed from the Welsh fly-half factory.

Why Gareth Jenkins did not start him in the last two internationals is quite some mark against the Welsh coach because he galvanised this team in tandem with his Ospreys’ colleague, Ryan Jones, who persistently won the battle of the gain-line against the young England back-row, who struggled to contain Wales around the fringes.

Wide ambition remains central to England’s development but it’s attention to detail at those fringes might just be the biggest lesson to learn from Cardiff. Oh, and the importance of not handing the initiative from the very first whistle. The minuses probably outweighed the positives but this was not the performance to break a fledgling team.

So much for the lessons will learn for the future but let us finish on the present and that young man Hook. If anyone doubted his glittering ability, they will doubt no longer. Flood and Geraghty remain prospects for the future but yesterday was about England being caught and hung out to dry by a fly-half who had them, once again, singing in the Valleys.

Vern in a huff not wanting to be reminded of the score!

I'm flying the French flag over La Grenerie today............Andrew's flying the English flag and Vern's gone to bed in a huff.............Poor old Wales!
In the middle Barnsley Lass

What's On Limousin


16/03-23/03 Limoges, Paris, Limousin.

Festival 'Nouvelles Zébrures'. To celebrate the French language, coinciding with French language week. Morphing a love for language, poetry, and philosophy in dramatisations and readings. In Limoges, lectures from the Togan poet and comedian Kossi Efoui; extracts of Le Revenant and new works from the Volatiles collection, and showcasing works such as Concession and Recuperation. Other artists to bring their talents to the table are: Hala Ghosn Dokok Japelj, Fredéric Picart and Bérnice André. In Paris, Larry Tremblay, Jean-Paul Delore and Steeve Gonçalvès.
For times, exact dates and venues go to www.lesfrancophonies.com
05 55 10 90 10




Haute-Vienne

11/01-03/03 Saint-Yrieix Daniel Déjean painting exhibition.
Free entry from Mon to Fri 9am-noon, 2-6pm: Sat 10am-noon, 2-5pm. Acces through the library. Fabrègue 05 55 08 88 77 / 78

11/03 Limoges
'Puces de la cité' Brocante around the cathedral
05 55 69 55 55

12/03 Limoges
'Alice au pays des merveilles' On the occasion of the festival 'Autres paroles', a play created by the Compagnie Collectif 6 from Toulouse. Adapted to people suffering from visual deficiencies. €10 and €5 on booking Espace Noriac 05 55 50 59 72

13/03 Limoges
'La Danse traditionnelle irlandaise' Conference by Agnes Haak. Free entrance 8.30pm Conservatoire de Limoges
05 55 50 59 72

15-16/03 Limoges
Pedro Pauwels's 'Sens 1' and 'Etal'. Two dancing duets in two different dancing areas to show that dance is not only a visual art. Lasts one hour. €19 - €15 - €8 8.30pm Centre Culturel Jean Moulin
05 55 35 04 10

16/03 Limoges
'Jeff Tropical Blues Band' Blues, 70's rock live concert Free entrance 9.30pm Au Bout du Monde
05 55 05 04 56

16-17/03 Limoges
Clothes fair in aid of association familial du Limousin. Bring your clothes on Tuesday 13 from 12pm to 4.30pm and on Wednesday 14 from 9am to 4pm. Fair on Friday 2pm-8pm and Saturday 9am - 4pm Galerie foyer du Parc des Expositions
05 55 32 70 70

17/03 Limoges
Live de la Saint Patrick' Two live concerts and a surprise Free entrance 9.30pm Au Bout du Monde
05 55 05 04 56

17/03 Limoges
'Keltas' Live Irish music on the occasion of Saint Patrick's day Free entrance 10pm O'Brian Pub
06 09 76 05 36

17-18/03 Limoges
'Bric à brac et foire aux livres du Secours Populaire' Bric à Brac open on Sunday from 9am to 12pm and from 1.30 tp 6pm, and on Sunday from 1.30 to 6pm. Book fair open on Saturday from 9am to 6pm and on Sunday from 1.30 to 6pm. Free entrance Palais des Expositions
05 55 37 20 20

17-18/03 Limoges
'Les Puces du Limousin' €4, free for under 12 10am - 7pm Palais des Expositions
05 55 37 20 20

21/03 Limoges
'Pinocchio' by the theatre company Flash Marionettes seen as a tale of misery Lasts 1h10 €7 - €5 - €3 3pm Centre culturel Jean Gagnant
05 55 45 94 00


23/03 Limoges
'Nuit du Funk: Martha High' Martha High's 2007 tour, accompanied by the Shaolin Temple Defenders €15 - €10 Centre Culturel John Lennon
05 55 06 24 83

23/03 Limoges
'Devil's Dream' Traditional irish music Free entrance Starts 9.30pm Les Matins Céladon
05 55 33 12 33

24/03 Limoges
'Craig Erickson' Blues rock live concert Free entrance Starts at 9pm Les Matins Céladon
05 55 33 12 33

Until 25/03 Limoges
Tsigane exhibition Photographs by Mathieu Pernot Bibliothèque Francophone Multimedia
05 55 45 96 00

26-31/03 Limoges
Deep Purple's Rapture Tour 2006 photo exhibition. Pictures taken by Michel Janvier at Deep Purple's live concert in Clermont Ferrand in November 2006 Fnac Forum Niveau 2
05 55 49 17 97

29-31/03 Limoges
'Par le Boudu' written and performed by Bonaventure Gacon. A 55 minute play starring a clown who makes you laugh, among other things…
6.30pm On Thursday 29, 8.30; On Friday and Saturday, Théâtre de l'Union - Centre Dramatique National
Book on 05 55 79 90 00

30/03 Limoges
'Bobby Dirninger' Blues live concert
Free entrance starts at 9pm Les Matins Céladon
05 55 33 12 33

31/03 Limoges
'Fete de l'amitié entre les peuples' Several associations take part in this event, an opportunity to meet people and interact. Live music.
5pm - midnight Espace Buxerolles
05 55 37 20 20

Until 31/03 Limoges
'Objets inanimés: avez-vous une âme?' Exhibition organized by *association des Arts et Lettres de France* in partnership with 'Je, tu, il' from Aixe-sur-Vienne. Photographs, poems and paintings by Robert de Miro.
From Monday to Saturday 10am - 6.30pm Salle de Projection - Royal Limoges
05 55 33 27 30

Until 20/06 Saint Yrieix la Perche
'Une Chambre à la campagne' Postcards and phtographs exhibition by Théo Bachellery.
From Tuesday to Saturday Free entrance 10.30am - 1pm, and 2pm - 6.30pm Centre des livres d'artistes

Watercress soup from Margaret

Watercress soup

2 bunches of watercress
1 medium onion
25g butter
1 small potato -100g cut into small cubes
1 litre good quality chicken or veg stock
50g peas
8 fresh mint leaves, very finely chopped
single cream for drizzling

Rinse watercress, pluck leaves from stems, put leaves aside. Chop stems, chop onions.
Heat the butter in medium pan, add onion and watercress stems and fry gently for 4-5 mins until onions are soft and translucent. Add the potato and stock. Bring to the boil, simmer incovered for 20 mins. Add peas and simmer for 3 mins.
Remove from heat, stir in the watercress leaves. Leave for 5 mins. This will allow the watercress to wilt without losing its colour and for the soup to cool slightly before being blended.
Puree in a blender or with wand until smoooth. Pour the soup back into the pan, sitr in the mint and warm it through without letting it boil or you will lose the colour. Taste for seasoning. Serve with a drizzle of cream.

Margaret

French today

Had quite a good time at French today...............even though we had to blag the homework a bit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Carnaval ' in Limoges

Imagine our trepidation.......................we made the decision to leave La Grenerie on a Sunday afternoon....(a rare decision in itself) and travel to Limoges to see the Carnaval.

The only indication that the Carnaval would happen was a tiny poster on the noticeboard of the famous Super U supermarket. This gave us lots to think about......

• would the weather hold out...believe you me, the weather's been bad just lately?
• would' le Carnaval 'live up to the claims on the poster - such as it was - and the promise of 3 uninterrupted hours of procession, music, colour and fun?
• would we make the right decision to travel by train in the vain hope that it would live up to expectation and the roads would be closed - we'd feel pretty stupid if they weren't!!
• would we have sobered up after one of Elaine and Andrew's famous dinner parties the night before ....we have been known to suffer for days!
• we have been caught out before with events in France - I remember us driving for one and a half hours to a well advertised Christmas Fair only to get there and find half a dozen tiny stalls in a school hall.....so you can imagine our concern!

Need we have worried ...................not a bit of it. The whole of Limoges obviously knew about 'le Carnaval' and no sooner had we walked out of the railway station than we were in the thick of it. Hundreds and hundreds of people lined the streets. The parade was just about to start. The sky was blue, the sun shone , the temperature soared and Limoges partied. There is a wonderful naivity about the French when they enjoy themselves. I have rarely seen such good humour, laughter and fun in such a large gathering. Barnsley council would have groaned in horror at the amount of confetti being bought (yes, in big bags) by everybody and, literally, their grandmothers, to throw at the passing procession.

The colours were amazing. The music and dancers were great. The children in all their fancy dress outfits were fabulous. And the only thing I can say in the negative was that the procession probably only lasted one and a half hours. Who cares??? The photographs tell the story far better that words ever could. It's certainly a date for next year's calendar.

And you wonder why I've taken up blogging........

All is explained in one photo. Vern on a good day.

Google Reader (100+)

Google Reader (100+)

Don't forget.......

Don't forget to view the family photos in Picasa our online web photographic album..................

Doreen Dudley

A great pic of Doreen at Helen's wedding.............

Carnaval ~ Limoges

The weather was perfect and Limoges was ready to party

Chris Rea Paintings

Chris Rea
What do you think?

Up To Date

Message for Michael ~ I've tidied up the site and labelled all the previous posts. You can see the labels on the right hand side of the blog.

When you post a comment either use these labels ~ by choosing one ~ or introduce a new one.

This will keep all the posts grouped.

Vern

White House 2008 - ebaumsworld.com

White House 2008 - ebaumsworld.com:


"White House 2008


One sunny day in 2008, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.

He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, 'I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton .' The Marine replied, 'Sir, Mrs. Clinton is not President and doesn't reside here.' The old man said, 'Okay,' and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, 'I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton'.

The Marine again told the man, 'Sir, as I said yesterday, Mrs. Clinton is not President and doesn't reside here.' The man thanked him and again walked away..

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying 'I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton.'

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, 'Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mrs. Clinton. I've told you already several times that Mrs. Clinton is not the President and doesn't reside here. Don 't you understand?'

The old man answered, 'Oh, I understand you fine, I just love hearing your answer!'"

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND ENGLISH! - ebaumsworld.com

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND ENGLISH! - ebaumsworld.com:


"WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND ENGLISH!


I had a bunch of Canadian dollars I needed to exchange, so I went
to the currency exchange window at the local bank

Short line. Just one guy in front of me...an Asian guy who was trying
to exchange yen for dollars and he was a little irritated.

He asked the teller, 'Why it change?? Yestoday, I get two hunat dolla
for yen. Today I get hunat eighty?? Why it change?'

The teller shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Fluctuations' .

The Asian guy says, 'Fluc you white people too!'"

Casino Royale - James Bond

This is a great site if you like James Bond ~ and who doesn't?

Casino Royale - James Bond



BarnsleyLass ~ the latest 007 girl ~ sorry Lass

Read It Swap It | The UK's Free Book Swap Shop! | The Library

Seems a good idea.

Check it out see what its all about.......................Read It Swap It The UK's Free Book Swap Shop! The Library

Starware Jokes Toolbar

If you want a little laugh, if you're feeling down and under, if you want a break from the humdrum life, or if you're very bored with your husband, try a little light relief:

Press my button ~ Starware Jokes Toolbar

Barnsley Lass

Cats That Look Like Hitler!

Cats That Look Like Hitler!

Liz's Photo of the dessert at the Valentine's celebration

Looks good enough to eat ~ Did you have two Alan?
I'm betting you did or at least a good try!

This is me ~ Barnsleylass

What a great blogging site and tool....it's so easy!!!

Well I'm away and motoring. What do you think about the colour and layout? Better than Gorseinonboy I think.....................

BarnsleyLass with nose in the air!

“American Idol,'’ Antonella Barba and the Thursday vote - A+E Interactive: Your Bay Area hangout for gaming, music, movies, culture -

“American Idol,'’ Antonella Barba and the Thursday vote - A+E Interactive: Your Bay Area hangout for gaming, music, movies, culture -

Google News

Google News

Baby James Martin meets a new friend

Hi I'm Barnsley Lass

Yes He's convinced me to take over....My life will not be the same again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4th March 2007

Yes ~ it looks as though I've got another BLOG ~ must be mad! Perhaps I should hand it over to Carol!

New Blogging here....3rd March 2007

Just learning a little about blogging so watch out for more as things develop..................GB

James Martin starts his journey....by car

Watch out Dad~ I'm coming through!

Well, Well, little James Martin gets his first car. Watch out there's a Hallett about!