In my life, football stands somewhere on the scale between watching paint dry and a trip to the dentist (which, regretfully, I'm due this week - though it's only a routine check up). Yet even I can't help but be intrigued by the arrival in town of Fabio Capello as the man to help the English football team recover from what is being referred to as the "Steve McLaren Fiasco" - aka the pathetic loss of the qualifier for the Euro 2008 championships against Croatia.
"Sono sopra la luna" (I am over the moon") he said, upon arrival in the UK - a quote which The Sun immediately turned into a headline. The more serious newspapers ran profiles on the man, lauding his zero tolerance approach to the task he has been given (upon which, being an ignoramus when it comes to the subject, I cannot elaborate) and his penchant for the fine arts, which apparently has even rubbed off on some of his players (you never know, he could turn our Wayne and Colleen on to the wonders of Kandinsky - one of his favourite artists.
So far, so good. The man comes with a great reputation. The promises that are being made have converted even the strongest detractors, who were not at all pleased with the arrival of a foreigner - worse, an Italian - to lead their team.
But - promises are just that, and football is a game, and sometimes things do go wrong. And what will happen then? It'll be interesting to see what headlines will be printed next time England loses a match ... And will they contain any words that rhyme with "arts"? I can't wait to start witnessing the backlash.
But onto more important things. There's only a few days left till Christmas, and my celebrations kick off tonight with Kiki and Herb at The Shepherd's Bush Theatre with a show appropriately called Stick the Yule Log Up the Shepherd's Bush (Geddit?). Tomorrow (Thursday) is my last day at work, and then it's 10 glorious days of doing sweet, sweet, nothing. Oh the bliss of it! Well, it's not strictly doing nothing, I'm going to be doing lots of food, and trying my hand at cakes and sweets (I should warn my mother from here that she might get a panicked call with tips about making icing or something like that, although if I remember well, good a cook as she is, icing was never one of her strong points) so I'll be keeping myself occupied, but with the luxury of being able to take afternoon naps in front of the telly. It couldn't be more perfect.
So before signing off, let me wish all those who keep bothering to read the drivel that I write every week, and all those who I usually spend Christmas with, a wonderful day, full of love, laughter and happiness. I shall miss not being there this year, but there's nothing I can do about it. I shall be thinking of you all from the warmth of my home.
Enjoy!
"Sono sopra la luna" (I am over the moon") he said, upon arrival in the UK - a quote which The Sun immediately turned into a headline. The more serious newspapers ran profiles on the man, lauding his zero tolerance approach to the task he has been given (upon which, being an ignoramus when it comes to the subject, I cannot elaborate) and his penchant for the fine arts, which apparently has even rubbed off on some of his players (you never know, he could turn our Wayne and Colleen on to the wonders of Kandinsky - one of his favourite artists.
So far, so good. The man comes with a great reputation. The promises that are being made have converted even the strongest detractors, who were not at all pleased with the arrival of a foreigner - worse, an Italian - to lead their team.
But - promises are just that, and football is a game, and sometimes things do go wrong. And what will happen then? It'll be interesting to see what headlines will be printed next time England loses a match ... And will they contain any words that rhyme with "arts"? I can't wait to start witnessing the backlash.
But onto more important things. There's only a few days left till Christmas, and my celebrations kick off tonight with Kiki and Herb at The Shepherd's Bush Theatre with a show appropriately called Stick the Yule Log Up the Shepherd's Bush (Geddit?). Tomorrow (Thursday) is my last day at work, and then it's 10 glorious days of doing sweet, sweet, nothing. Oh the bliss of it! Well, it's not strictly doing nothing, I'm going to be doing lots of food, and trying my hand at cakes and sweets (I should warn my mother from here that she might get a panicked call with tips about making icing or something like that, although if I remember well, good a cook as she is, icing was never one of her strong points) so I'll be keeping myself occupied, but with the luxury of being able to take afternoon naps in front of the telly. It couldn't be more perfect.
So before signing off, let me wish all those who keep bothering to read the drivel that I write every week, and all those who I usually spend Christmas with, a wonderful day, full of love, laughter and happiness. I shall miss not being there this year, but there's nothing I can do about it. I shall be thinking of you all from the warmth of my home.
Enjoy!