Monthly Archives: July 2012
Th real value of our Parks (part two)
The River of Music concert at Battersea Park was one of the occasions that local residents and nature lovers by instinct dread. As I noted in my previous blog, my apprehension about the event , both as local resident and nature lover, grew in the days leading up to it as I witnessed the setting up of metal fencing and occupation by security staff, scaffolders, and heavy vehicles. But I am not a complete NIMBY and it would have been silly of me to stay away from the event on …
The real value of our Parks
My early morning walk in Battersea Park proved quite a challenge today- my quest for some measured, free-roaming exercise and tranquility amidst nature turning early on into an endurance test , once I had entered through the Sun Gate. (see my photographs posted on facebook). Preparation for this weekend of open-air concerts has involved an invasion of heavy vehicles, security staff, scaffolding, and metal fencing and transformed one of the most leisurely open spaces in the capital into a cross between Salisbury plain during a busy military exercise and Guantanamo …
Mourinho’s amnesty
The Spanish Federation has amnestied Jose Mourinho, and Barca fans are up in arms- well, all it seems, with the exception of Joan Laporta. The former Barca president said the federation chief Angel Maria Villar used his prerogative as newly re-elected president of the Federation to act on the side of generosity. One can only presume that Laporta speaks as he does because he suffers from selective memory failure. The Federation it was that eventually turned a conciliatory blind eye to Barca when the club was sanctioned, then forgiven, for …
Why La Roja is more than just a football team
Of La Roja’s victory over Italy in the final of Euro 2012, much has been written already and having not kept silent myself during the tournament (blogs, twitters, articles, interviews) I would like to simply conclude my coverage with a few points of my own. La Roja is much more than a football achievement. It is a political, social and cultural phenomenon which Spaniards should recognise and take pride in. A country that has suffered the humiliation of being reduced to being one of the beggars of the Euro crisis, …
My faith in La Roja,my Italian priest, and Captain Terry
The Italian priest at the end of mass this morning got me to identify myself as the only Spaniard before announcing to the congregation that the Azzurri would tonight “crush” La Roja . I replied that Santiago (St James, Patron Saint of Spain) , and the Virgin of Montserrat (patron of Catalonia) might have had their own communication from God and come up with a different prediction. In truth I have no certainty which side tonight has God on its side although I did say a prayer for La Roja …
