Rugby season?

The saga goes on of trying to get a rugby match played at Eugene Cross Park (home of my beloved Ebbw Vale RFC). Last home game – 14 January, a full two months ago. The club treasurer must be crying in his beer at the lack of income through the turnstile and over the bar.

In the last two weekends, the home game with Aberavon was snowed off and then Pontypridd cried off with just two days notice, citing international call-ups to the various international games going on.

There are just 7 weekends left in the rugby season, and we have 10 games left to play. There’s a blank weekend in that lot too – the cup still gets priority and as a result our 1 April game with Llandovery has been postponed. Looks like the season will run into June at this rate.

Travel note of the week

Enjoyable I – Beautiful drive through mid-Wales up to Llangoed Hall on the weekend. It snowed heavily on Saturday night/Sunday morning, and the views around Storey Arms were spectacular.

Enjoyable II – Seeing ducks take to flight as they flee from Marvin. A wonderful sight. The ducks, not Marvin. He’s on a lead at Llangorse Lake but the barking is aggravating the birds all over Powys.

Aggravating – When I go up to London (thankfully not that often) I tend to stay at a Travel Inn near Kings Cross. Its modern, spacious, reasonably priced, but most importantly, its quiet. A bolthole away from the madness out on the streets. This time I got a room directly overlooking said madness. Asked for a move & then ended up next to what seemed to be the extractor fan for the whole hotel. So much for peace and quiet.

Rugby note of the week

The international weekend didn’t really surprise – Italy were robbed of a win over Ireland earlier and Wales were there to be taken. A poor Italian out-half saved Wales’ bacon. Was cheered by France’s demolition of England though.

TV notes

Top shows in the VJ household right now – House on five and The West Wing on More 4. Top well-written dramas with characters that aren’t all super-heroes. Honourable mention to The Apprentice: OK, so Alan Sugar isn’t Donald Trump, but it’s enjoyable nevertheless. But if that bunch of whack-jobs is the future of British industry, heaven help us all.

Movie notes

OK, I know it’s easy to be wise after the event (in this case the Oscars), but the best movies I’ve seen in recent months were Crash, Brokeback Mountain and Walk The Line. Crash was a good thought-provoking film. As a ensemble piece no characters really stood out, but I can’t argue with its Best Movie award. If Reese Witherspoon wins an award for Walk The Line, then Joachin Phoenix should have got two. He's in almost every scene in the movie and acts everyone else off the screen.

Went to see Syriana last night. Top movie, although I’m not entirely sure I understood what everyone was up to. Let me summarise: USA oil people and CIA bad, Arab infighting, Clooney podgy, Damon nerdy, don’t use the pliers in the bathroom.