Well Quiet

It's strange how quickly you become used to something. We've been watching one match a day throughout the World Cup and have felt really lost since the end of the last round.

Normal service will be resumed tomorrow, at least for a couple of days.

I met up with Martin today at the bowling. Another good result........6 - 2 for us!! Four games in one week and all wins, well done us!! Now I can have a rest until the ninth of July.

My grandson (also a Martin) was so proud that his school won against nine other schools at Sports Day this year. He told me all about it and was so excited that he won his race. He said that he is the 'sporty' one in his family! My bowling doesn't count then!!

Offside?

The general feeling about tonight's game was that the first goal from France was offside. I wasn't quite sure, but how many females are allowed to comment on the offside rule! Ribery does look rather wicked though, doesn't he?

It was really sad for the Spanish fans in our local bar though. Being a vibrant race they normally toot horns and shout and scream, but, they all, quietly, went home.

Sorry, Spain.

Good Bowling

I played Thursday, Sunday and Monday. All league matches and some good results. A 6 - 2 which I've mentioned before, followed by a 4 - 4 and then today Martin and I had an 8 - 0!!

My arm is killing me tonight and I still have a make up match to play for Monday League which I could get out the way on Thursday. My right arm is beginning to look like Popeye's!!

Blast From The Past

An old friend of mine, John, emailed this pic to me, taken at his wedding in the late sixties. He now lives in America and I haven't seen him in years.

Here I am on the left with the best man and the bride's sister.

That's My Boy!

My boy Beckham got us through to the quarter finals today and hit the record books as being the only England player to score in three world cups. What a star!!!

I admit that it was painful to watch. Those long ball passes didn't do to much for our chances. Then again, everytime an England player got even within a sniff of the ball he had his legs taken from under him.

Thankfully, it's over and we just have to prepare ourselves for Saturday's game against Portugal. They had two red cards so happen it could be good for us!

WELL DONE ENGLAND!!

Early Bowling

Most of us have opted for early bowling later today so that we can all be back in our respective villages in time for the football.

We aren't sure where we can go though as we can't get coverage at home and our usual bar is closed on Sunday's. I did ask if they might open but you can imagine the answer!!

Fingers crossed and 'COME ON ENGLAND'!!!

Classic Beauty

That's this week's photo competition subject and here is my entry. No votes yet but it's still early days.

I played really well at the bowling yesterday and scored a massive 188 in the middle game followed by 170 in the last. George and Carol were dumbfounded as Doreen and I beat them 6 - 2!!

It was a bit of a blow for me as I missed my spare on the eighth frame. Had I knocked the flippin' thing down I would now be the proud owner of a 200 shirt!!

We went out this afternoon to watch the Spain match. It wasn't too interesting but Spain ended up top of their group with three wins under their belts.

Scary Sunday is approaching, I'm not sure if I'll have the courage to watch England. I so hope they win!

Poor Michael!

A horrible thing to witness and it really made me cringe. We have heard several conflicting reports today about the length of time he will be out of action but one thing is for sure, we won't have him back for this World Cup.

Joe Cole's goal was superb, best in the tournament I reckon.

No football for us until Friday, when Spain play Saudi Arabia and steps are in hand to cancel the bowling on Sunday. I can't bowl whilst England are playing!!

I had a little chat to Charlotte earlier and she is so excited that her Nan is coming to stay next month. Uncle Nigel is turning up too!!

Stressful Or What?

It really didn't look like Spain had a chance at one point. The early goal from Tunisia had them seriously rattled.

Thankfully, whatever they had with their orange during the half time break seemed to buck them up and the second half was perfect.

Poor Tunisia tried to defend their one goal lead and although they did their best, Spain were the better team at the end of the day.

Well done Spain!!!

What Can I Do?

As you may recall, I had to put Jose in a holding cell the other day because he was the only suspect in a wife battering case. Now the pair of them are pining, hardly eating, clinging on to the bars of their respective cages and staring into each other's eyes. It's looking like I'll have to return him to the family home and hope that Juanita budgie learns to fight back!

Doreen and I had a really good win at the bowling today. We both played well picking up some really good spares along the way. Sadly, Jeff and Brian suffered an 8 - 0 defeat against George and Carol. I'm not gloating as we have to play them on Thursday!

We only managed to catch one World Cup match today. Brazil v Australia. Quite a good match, I thought, but Australia, although well good at defending, lost the plot when it came to attacking. Shame. Spain tomorrow and England on Tuesday, all good stuff!

No Sleep

I'm well wrecked. I went to bed around my normal time, two in the morning, read my book for half an hour or so and settled for sleep. I gave in at five o'clock after trying to count sheep and think go to sleep thoughts, the light went back on and I read my book for a little longer. Nothing helped and I was still awake when the children passed by on their way to school this morning!

Shona left for the airport around half eleven and phoned us earlier to say she was home and safe.

The photo competition closed a little while ago with the bread and butter pudding in the lead alongside a really nice black and white photograph of a little girl. Mine ended up in third place which was a little disappointing as it was in the lead for quite a few days. Out of thirty, not a bad result.

They Haven't A Hope In..............

That's what Brian bleated in my ear all the way through the first half, well, that is the polite version of it! At least they managed to get into the World Cup, did someone mention Scotland?!!

There wasn't much of a following in Antonio's Bar this afternoon. Just myself, Brian, Don, Sue and David. Shona chose sitting outside in the sun, Caron was there but not a football fan and young Charlotte was cheering for Spain and even brought her flag, made at school today. Her dad was gutted! Dave and I made quite a bit of noise when the goals were scored. Well done England!!

As it was Shona's last evening she treated us to a Chinese meal after the match. Chicken, bamboo shoots and chinese mushrooms, lovely! I was cheated out of my nightcap though, Bar Rincon was closed.........grrrr.

Duty Free

Well, 'im indoors went off to watch the Spain match whilst Shona and I caught the bus to Las Americas so that she could stock up on perfume and also pick up some ciggies for her sons. We both got free gifts in the smelly shop, I didn't do anything either! Quite nice really, a handbag sized hairbrush and mirror, just my sort of thing!

The bus driver had the radio on so I was able to listen to some of the match, didn't get all of the Spanish but at least I knew when they scored. GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! A good result and I'm so glad they won.

My photo of Charlotte is still in joint first place in this week's photo competition. She's sharing the spot with a bread and butter pudding. I suppose some folk smile at different things!

A little trouble in budgieworld as Jose has started to bite poor Juanita again. She was covered in blood this morning and so I had to put him back into the holding cage. It was quite comical really as I couldn't catch him and received a couple of bites too. Bad budgie.

A Little Different

After slobbing around the apartment for most of the day, Brian, Shona and I decided to have a wander around the village later this afternoon. We sat on a bench by the harbour for an hour or so watching the world go by. You see some sights down there!!

We declared it 'beer time' around half five and stopped at the corner bar for a quick one.

The enterprising bar owner had a tv out on his terrace, well more like out on the street really, so we watched a little of the USA match.

I can't say I've ever watched a telly on the pavement before!

Poor Archie

I just had a text from my daughter, Sam, to let me know that Archie, her cat, died last night.

He was fourteen years old and having known him all these years, I feel quite sad. Bless him xx

Oh Dear!

We got the points but I can't really say that they were deserved. As soon as Owen was taken off the game rapidly went to rats. The second match of the day was much more interesting with Trinidad managing a nil - nil draw with only ten men!

I've named them 'The Jack Russells' and I'm really looking forward to seeing how England fare against them.

Oh, and my boy said it was hot!!

It's Off And Running...........

I managed to catch the second half of the Germany v Costa Rica match tonight. Germany scored an absolutely perfect goal which we all appreciated. It's a shame Costa Rica didn't win though.

A real blonde moment, I've been trying to work out the time difference and sussed that the Tenerife papers gave the times here, making us an hour behind Europe. All well and good until I walked into the bar and saw the teams walking out. I thought it was the start of the match, not half time, and was stupid enough to mention it! Luckily, Sue came in, was equally blonde and took the heat off!!

Topsie had a surprise today as Auntie Shona turned up to see him. He really loves her. In fact, I've just spotted him sneaking into her room and I hope he doesn't wake her as she didn't sleep last night. She was so worried that she would miss her plane she couldn't settle. No, I'm not going to whinge about aircraft, I promise!!

Time for bed, I need to wake up match fit to watch my boy, Beckham, lead out his team.

There They Are!

The first steps to winning the World Cup! How I wish!

I remember the year that they did win, forty years ago. My mate, Sheila, and I stood outside the telly shop in Accrington and watched the last goals go in the net. I'd just had my ears pierced and was scared of going home!

I didn't know too much about footie then but did go to watch Blackburn Rovers regularly, more for walking around the stands and chatting up the lads though. You could do that in those days. Stanley had been out of the league some four years.

Maybe this could be the year. If Stanley can do it so can England!!

Bowling

Well, I keep plodding on, getting fairly decent scores (all just a little short of the high score bracket today), but I must admit that it does reduce the interest level having a poorly partner. Doreen's back was playing up today so her daughter, Julie, stood in for her.

She hasn't been too well either and her mum has banned alcohol and ciggies, even though Julie is in her thirties. After managing to sneak a bottle of beer she followed me outside to pinch a cigarette or two. As if her mum didn't know!

I must admit that she did quite well really and we did have a chuckle. It was more a game of noughts and crosses.........miss, strike, miss, strike! Hopefully, the wooden spoon will be as nice as the proper prizes!

I had a peek at the Monday League Table whilst I was there. Last week's win for Martin and I brought us up a bit.

Almost forgot to mention...........'im indoors had a 225!!!

Who Drank All The Beer?

The best thing about a 'bit of a do' is having a bit of a gossip about 'who did what?', the following day. We were good kids, yet again, so happen our dotage is looming!

We did have a wander earlier and met up with a few folks who attended the reception but apart from Kevin, we all remembered going home!

Someone somewhere supped it all............Kevin can't get all the blame!

More Wedding Pics

I really like this one! I don't think I could have staged it better had I tried. Vic on the right, hear no evil, 'im indoors, speak no evil and Don, on the left, see no evil...........well funny!







Just an outside pic, to give you all a feel of the place!

A Wedding

We haven't been to a wedding since my son, Mark, married our Katie and it's a first for our life in Tenerife.

I met David before I came to live here so I do have a soft spot for him. They look happy enough!

All the best to David and Jayne xxx.

So Sad

The Canaries are suffering a crisis as thousands of immigrants are leaving their own countries and setting sail for the islands. These people were lucky but a small boat, which left Cape Verde on Christmas Day, was found drifting 70 miles off Barbados.

According to this week's newspaper report, 11 bodies were found with another 40 or so missing. It appears that they all paid 1,300 Euros for their chance of a life in a new land.

One young bloke, realising that he wouldn't survive, left a note for his family. I intended to quote it but it's just too sad.

Should you like to read about it look at -

http://www.losgigantesmarina.com/the_western_sun_tenerife/the_tenerife_sun_htm