Archive for year 2003

The chance of me getting out of bed before 5AM are slim to none, especially at the weekend, and at half time in the Scotland/Fiji game I wondered if it had been worth the effort… but as predicted all week, Scotland rallied to turn a first half loss into a win with only a couple of minutes on the clock. Despite having the bulk of possession, Scotland were completely ineffective in the opposition 22, something we’ve been guilty of for the whole tournement. Thankfully the pack saved us again within the last 10 minutes to pick-up and drive into the 22, win a penalty and then ensure Tom Smith crept over the line to make sure we’d at least draw.

Simon Taylor was the best man on the pitch (again) with surging runs and could be seen acting as an effective outside center despite playing as number 8. Chris Patterson carried the team with his spot kicks, but his kicking out of hand faded in the second half after the crunching Fijian tackles started to take their toal. I think he played much better at fly-half and got much more involved in the game as a result. Gregor Townsend swapped his usual quantity for quality by moving further down the backline, gone were the silly drop balls and knock-ons and back were the nippy runs inside and swift ball to hand. Danielli looked at home on the wing and made it over the gain line whenever the ball managed to survive the precarious string of passes along the backs. McLaren and Henderson were the most criminal for squandering dominant possession close to the line. As usual the lineout and scrum were strong despite an opposition weight advantage and a few forgivable moments of comedy madness on both side of halftime. Ian McGeechan told us all this was the fittest Scotland side ever and none of us believed him, despite the ice training in Poland and the heat training in the botanic gardens but it told in the final quater allowing us to nab a close win.

Fiji were very capable with some crunching tackles some of which crept a bit high, their lack of discipline is effectivly disarmed by their ability for 1 to 15 (ok maybe not 22 stone Joeli Veitayaki) to run the ball from their own line past a whole team to score a 7′s like try. The takeout of Danielli just on the edge of half-time was cynical and although Metcalf was a capable defensive replacement his lack of true pace on the wing placed more pressure on Kenny. Kenny is a man that I love to see on the ball, I think he’s capable of picking it up deep and running past 2 or 3, sucking in the defence and passing off inside for a simple try but try as he might, his hand-eye coordination for catching a pass or up-and-under is woeful for an international player. As a player who sits deep as a winger or full-back he was efficiently targetted by Micky Little and forced into giving up possession, field position and penalties time and again. Overall I think Scotland deserved the win but Fiji were far more entertaining to watch.

Too excited to head back to bed so just gonna have to sit and watch another two games, and already South Africa and 7-0 up against Samoa.

Jp

epiphany – A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realisation: an unaccompanied moment that changes the way I know myself.

What I want to know is why epiphanies always melancholy and yet I always feel better for having them.

Nite, nite,

Jp

Yet Another Post!!

Sorry meant to say that I’ve just uploaded a set of pics from the summer taken by Chris Thompson, check out the pics sections to have a peruse.

Wow they’ve finally gone!!! Yes Mr and Mrs P. finally left on they’re jet plane, don’t know when they’ll be back again! Mum and Dad flew off to Sri-Lanka today after nearly a year in the planning, and to top it off they got a free upgrade to business for the first leg of the flight, despite being over their luggage allowance. I think it had something to do with the £1800 the flights cost EACH, ONE WAY! Dunno who at my Dad’s work booked them but they’re idiots!

The ‘rents came down to London yesterday and made they’re way to the flat by tube with, 3x30kg bags, a hold-all, a briefcase, a violin and a laptop in tow! Quite impressed they made it across London by tube at rush hour with all that, and they didn’t even get stuck on a broken-down or derailed train. This morning we headed to Clapham to see Ali and Auntie Jean who took us to Gatwick for check-in and then we sat and had coffee for 3 hours in the departure lounge. Was good to catch-up and make sure they made it away without any (more) hassle. Should arrive in Columbo (via Dubai) by lunchtime Friday UK time so I’ll give them a call from work to check they made it safe and sound. Despite being almost the other side of the world they’re still only a call or an email away!

Been off work yesterday and today with the flu/cold, technically I had today off as a holiday so bit crap to spend it all bunged up with the cold, been ages since I’ve been ill so bit annoying that its back.

Meant to do so much today when I got back but so far all I’ve done is watch rubbish on the TV, still have my yearly personal review to write before I can go to work tomorrow!

Still hoping to make it to Glasgow this weekend to see Ellen and catch-up with whoever is still around in the west-end, if anyone reading this fancies meeting-up give me a call!

Jp

Every have one of those days when you know you really shouldn’t have got out of bed! Well I had one of those today, nothing went right and I think I had achieved less today than I had yesterday, I know they say two steps forward and one step back but today almost felt like I’d run a marathon backwards. Still there’s always tomorrow.

On the subject of saga’s my mole is a continuing episode, after the surgury it burst open when the consultant removed the stiches, after being patched up with paper stiches and waterproof dressings, thit promptly burst again and got infected! Well at least I’ll have a good ‘Nam scar to show the grandkids!

Met up with Eileen from Shoe Express days to night, can’t believe that was 6 or 7 years ago now, but was really good to catch up over a drink or two. She’s doing well in the actuary world and moving to North West London soon, sounds like she’s really enjoying herself.

Playing five-a-sides tomorrow, bound to be completely unfit and useless but I’m really looking forward to it!

Jp