Mixed Feelings – Oh Yes
Jun 16th, 2016 by 'holic
A day many had anticipated eagerly. The half-day holiday required by England versus Wales turned into a strange one. The football blogger should avoid the complexities of political comment. We lose enough readers in the summer as it is. However it is impossible for anyone in this part of the world to restrict their opinions to just the Euros today.
So as not to antagonise those who read this from far away (and some from closer to home) it was a day when football provided what it does best. A distraction from the real world. Here that real world became a place where democracy itself came under attack with the senseless and violent murder of a member of Parliament. Other parts of this world experience vile acts such as this far more frequently than us, but that it happened here is testament to the shifting political sands in the United Kingdom. Or should I say the currently United Kingdom?
For now suffice it to say that two young girls, aged five and three, are deprived of a mother, and a devoted husband has a gap in his life that can never be filled.
This all happened as a football match was taking place. It seems absurd to return to the Euros, but the full horror of what was happening in Leeds hadn’t unfolded as England faced Wales in Lens. It was a meeting of neighbours united by the actions of others in Marseille, thankfully. I hope tomorrow’s papers don’t tell a different tale, but it was wonderful to see a match take place with both sets of supporters enjoying comical, but peaceful exchanges.
“We are top of the league” chanted the Welsh, almost throughout, and indeed they were, until the 92nd minute. England dominated from the first whistle but lacked a cutting edge in the attacking third in the opening half. Rooney conceded a needless free-kick in a moment of a very light shade of red mist. Bale hit a hopeful effort from 35 yards, and Hart allowed it to beat his palms.
Roy Hodgson chose to do the obvious at half-time, On came Jamie Vardy of Leicester (or Arsenal), and of course he would get the topical equaliser. Daniel Sturridge, also sent on at half-time grabbed the dramatic injury time winner. For a moment the unfolding drama in the north of England was cast to one side.
By the time Northern Ireland kicked off against Ukraine the full horror of what had happened in Yorkshire had been confirmed. It is likely it didn’t detract from the incredible emotions those in the six counties experienced as they produced a spirited performance to pull off an historic 2-0 triumph. Here’s hoping they will do something against the world champions on the last group stage matchday.
The world champions themselves could have made life much easier for ‘Norn Iron’ against Poland this evening. Given the history of fixtures between the two I would have expected a more combative fixture in all honesty. The 0-0 draw suited both, who will go into their final group match as favourites, but Mesut, Lukasz, and company have opened a possibility for an astonishing final day.
And with the final whistle came the news programmes. Real life took over again. We live in a different place tonight. It is important we wait to understand the thinking of the assassin, a terrorist for sure regardless of his colour or creed. As Dylan once sang, the times, they are a changing.
59 Responses to “Mixed Feelings – Oh Yes”
Get in.
Now to read the Guvna’s pearls.
Nicely pitched, Guvna.
Well done England and Norn Irn. Tough luck Wales.
Truly shocking events in Yorkshire. No reasonable person can ever be able to comprehend the thinking of the assassin. Utterly despicable.
3rd 😆
Great post. Bittersweet day
‘holic , you are a class act .
Thank you, neighbour and cba. What a strange day. Football seems so unimportant tonight.
Not the news I wanted to hear from England today or any other day. So sorry
‘hol
football is never unimportant
it’s just less important when
really important things
thump their importance home
anyhoo
blaaaa
put on three brews today
120 pints stout
40 black treacle
40 dark malt
40 none o’ yer business ya morose cunts
?
and
38 pints of cider
lest i forget
life’s a strange one
.
.
“lest” ?
.
.
great word – use liberally ???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rq5GsZHd0Y
So far so good for Jack, still injury free after two matches…
in other news
hope led zeppelin get taken to the cleaners
dirty theavin fuckers
whole career based on it
interestingly
jimmy unoriginal page
is having a row with his neighbour
about planning permission
his neighbour is one robbie williams
indeed an original clash of The Shitans
hello chris how’s max ?
dogs are fuckers
still can’t get used to being bar bound
down the lane
late one
himself not running mental
around me en route
then
sat outside
innocent look
wha ?
me ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-pIEWA572A
yup
he could sing ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IppSS_-PFGM&list=RDIppSS_-PFGM#t=0
Irish Setter
NEVER !
Red Setter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IppSS_-PFGM&list=RDIppSS_-PFGM#t=0
he was sure about that
the dead fucker ?
jeez
gonna cheer meself up
wi a tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXbrS3Msgww
morning ‘holics
sorry for the nonsense
.
UP THE ARSENAL !
Well put, ‘Holic. Democracy is precious but fragile. A different scale to what happened in Orlando but perhaps more shocking in the UK for its comparative rarity. Senseless in both cases, though.
Desperately sad day as democracy is assailed and a fine young MP is cut down after such a tremendous impact in the Commons. We grieve with her poor family, her friends and all who value the freedoms we not ally enjoy here.
As some realise I’m not finding the England team’s progress compelling but I wish them well but football is not very important in the context of what happened yesterday.
Sorry ‘ normally enjoy’
Football seems so unimportant tonight.
To be fair, international football seems so unimportant on any night.
Brilliant balance H. in not avoiding to mention whats going on around this wonderful thing we call football. If there’s a consistency in Life, then surely the fact that it’s constantly changing. What are 50 or 60 peaceful years historically? A blink of the eye, maybe? We had a similar incident in Germany a couple of months ago, when a right-winged fanatic stabbed a lady politican, Henriette Reker, for supporting refugees. Fortunately she surivived and is back in her position. I just hope that the democratic culture in our societies is so sustainable that tendecies as we see them currently all over Europe, are tackled.
tragedies are so quickly sucked
into the mire of rehearsed media
the “queen mother’s funeral voice ”
the genuine sadness real people feel
reduced to tabloid telly and radio
“Let’s go live to Somewhere Square”
“Where we can hear from So and So ”
“Well , Generic Interviewer in the studio ”
“I didn’t know “—- —— ”
“But I do know people who say they too are horrified”
“By this ”
.
awful things
can bring out the best in people
the best of people
but hardly ever never
is that in the media circus
.
the euro mudslingers
are so distraught
they are stowing their dung buckets
for a day
how traumatized they must be
the poor lambs
.
sickening
god love that poor woman’s family
Indeed cba. Top man you are.
Thanks K.
Now then all, shall we cheer for Sweden, for our own Lars? 🙂
awwww
good old sanctimonious voice jeremy vine
his timings are off
cos
the media helicopters are filming the cavalcade
of politicians rushing to the scene
for
*counts down*
“5 4. 3. 2 1. ”
*points finger*
” Emote!”
.
how many cars are in a cavalcade , jeremy ?
I’ll tell you how many – fuckin none – ya dope
read a book
‘ hol
i have S.O.S. the 7inch single
i’m practically Swedish
so
come on you boys in yellow and blue
do it for my kitchen
a sleek sturdy and value for money item that it is
not unlike me
although my personal work surfaces are no longer pristine
What cba said @27.
Dispiriting but true.
Italy looking a clinically efficient possible Euros winner.
Forza Azzuri
Manchester United are apparently ready to kick out last year’s bevy of transfer failured and try anew including possibly Netmar. Poised to join Tottenham in a century of failure?
Mad Max is doing fine thanks, cba. In fact I had to word my response to his previous owner’s enquiry as to how he was going very carefully. I was tempted to tell the truth – that from the moment he arrived at my place he’s acted as if he’d lived with me all his life or is just wrapt to have escaped some previous purgatory – but I was of course more tactful. Me and dogs always get on well. More so than me and wives that’s for sure.
I’d sooner have Bale than Neymar, 8ball, and not only to totally piss off the neighbours.
Good call @36, Chris. Can’t see it any time soon sadly.
Re: reports that the international space station landed on some steps in Kazakhstan. Leaves me wondering how a space ship could land on a stairway. A stairway from heaven?
🙂
Facts, relevance, restraint, class as ever, Holic.
Great job.
cba @27. – good stuff, cleverly done. ????
Times are changing indeed, Holic.
Trouble, horror and religion growing in direct proportion to each other, as usual.
Wars fought in the name of each and everybody’s perceived god.
Much easier than taking responsibility for yourself, of course.
Killing people’s parents and children for something we don’t even know to exist.
Sad times.
Only my opinion, of course.
Wallabies.. haha!
😀
Looks like we’ve lost Vardy…. good… Let’s get Morata!
howdy chris ?
great to hear the wee man’s roarin happy
dogs are just brilliant companions
as indeed can lesser legged mammals be
perhaps you just mined the wrong .. erm … mine
for yer good lady wives
??
howdy ned
cheers
howdy trev
cheers
always feel privileged to say hello to people here
proper big hitters
brains dribbling off em
all Arsenal !
top fella ‘holic
and fuck belgium
wankers !
Why is there no country called thirstey?
mind you chris
herself swapped around
labels on some bottles o brew
a barely in the bottle cider
with
a couplacouple month apfelwein
nowt wrong wi either
prior knowledge is key
the young cider would take the hair off a wooden leg
the conditioned apfelwein would at least buy it dinner first
but
knowing i won’t waste an opened bottle
i drank it
anyhoo
she’s still about the place
the clocks ticking though !
(probably because she remembers to wind it )
hello bt8
*resolves to drink less*
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNFEKmGpmMA
havin said that
i sit in me wee back kitchen
hallowed company
Joey Ali Kate Pele and Debbie
loada brews on
big deep thunderous bubbles from each ?
not just
cos i couldn’t listen to that poor woman’s sister
performing to the cameras
taking in every inch of screen time
like a veteran of amateur dramatics
or an american telly evangelist
is that the way she chose to grieve ?
everybody is different
if it is
shame on me
big mouth me no change
and Roy
i forgot Roy
Roy’s on the side of the high cupboard
all no bigger than a fag packet
cut out the paper
nme probably
cept the Ali one that’s a goodun
herself got me that I think
and to be honest
i think she stuck up the others
in bad humour
donkeys ago
.
sorry ‘hol
i am gonna shut up
aww ‘hol
before i do
was clearing out my attic of shite this morning
near filled a skip
did esso get his house finished ?
mind you
who can believe a single word said here
i bet ‘holic doesn’t drink
i bet trev isn’t ginger
i bet zico isn’t missed
i bet n7 is sitting in his drawers
picking domino’s mighty meaty
out his belly button
and
i bet cynic isn’t a genius
what’s the odds , eh ?
Hello cba. 🙂
Yes I do, and am right now as I sit down to write some more shite while watching Portugal play Austria.
I believe Esso’s house is far from finished, but it is habitable and they are in it.
And bollix to Belgium!
cheers hol
fine fella ye are !
?
give esso all me best wishes
it’s a long fucker of a road
but a road worth travellin
should i choose to sound like joan baez or somesuch
took me ages
i had ten bob on four nil
so who’s the loser ?
?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>