The World Cup Thread

[Flyfisher]

Surely one can deduce a likely enjoyment factor extrapolated from other similar experiences? !

I'd agree with that in general, except for the possibility of unpredicable, yet enjoyable, spin-offs. I'm not a great camping fan either but I'm also not really a 'morning person' and am rarely out of bed before 8am these days. But I find that camping, in general, is so uncomfortable that I wake up early (and often), can't get back to sleep and therefore usually get up around that magical time around dawn. Perhaps it's only magical to me because I so rarely experience it, but it's certainly a very pleasant spin-off.

Otherwise I entirely agree about a nice hot shower and a big comfy bed. :wink:

 

[LadyArowana]

I'm not a great camping fan either but I'm also not really a 'morning person' and am rarely out of bed before 8am these days. But I find that camping, in general, is so uncomfortable that I wake up early (and often), can't get back to sleep and therefore usually get up around that magical time around dawn.

The perfect solution would be to sleep in late, party all night, watch the dawn, have a good breakfast and then go to bed, camping not necessary......See Joce for details :lol:

 

[Flyfisher]

Sounds good to me, although it would have to be a summertime 'all-nighter' as I could probably only last until around 4pm these days so an early dawn would be essential for such a strategy. :lol:

Alternatively, on the rare occasions I watch evening television, I usually seem to wake up on the sofa around dawn.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

It's an emotional rollercoaster that I'm very happy to ride every four years. If you've never watched an international football match then I recommend you pop into your local (or not so local) and try something new!

Upcoming matches:
England vs. Algeria - 18 Jun 8:30pm
Slovenia vs. England - 23 Jun 4:00pm

I couldn't agree more! Never watch football normally (although I have been to see Wrexham a few times in what used to be the Conference with my sons - doesn't really count as "football!" I guess - but then the pastry-topped gristle and gravy items are complete strangers to the term "pie" too!), but I love the drama and excitement of the World Cup.

For those of you persuaded by AMc's arguments - you might like to see the whole match; in which case tune in an hour before he suggests!! 8)

The enjoyment is even greater if your televsion receiving set shows High Definition. We particularly enjoyed the HD adverts for a well known make of car that we saw whilst Gerrard was scoring the first goal on Saturday evening :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[AMc]

Sorry about the timing thing - I trusted Google's own fixtures result without checking!

I'm not saying everyone has to like football but don't condemn something you've never tried that lots of people really love.

We recently went to the Stock Cars and Banger racing in Great Yarmouth - something I expected to enjoy but liked a lot more than I expected - it was also a hit with my partner who was there under sufferance.

I've tried camping, sailing, narrow boats and caravans and I can wholeheartedly agree that life is nicer with a proper bed, real shower, room you can stand up in. When we first went to the Latitude festival a couple of years ago I was very tempted by a Ministry of Sound branded tent that was made out of blackout material with the express intention of allowing daytime sleeping!

 

[Feltwell]

When we first went to the Latitude festival a couple of years ago I was very tempted by a Ministry of Sound branded tent that was made out of blackout material with the express intention of allowing daytime sleeping!

Not convinced on that one. I love camping - when it was just me & Mrs F, it was the 2 of us on a motorbike with all our kit, so travelling light was a must! We went to many places and had many experiences that staying in a hotel would never have given us the chance to do properly. However, one thing I never liked about camping (esp. in a small tent) is that they get hot very quickly in the morning - just a bit of sun and they get too hot for comfort very quickly, meaning we got up earlier than we would sometimes like just in order to get some ventilation in the tent. Hence, the idea of a blackout - and therefore sealed - tent in daytime doesn't sound too good to me.

Nowadays I use a car & trailer, 3 kids means travelling light is not possible!

Holidays really are each to their own. The idea of a cruise sounds like a living hell to me - longest I've been on a boat was 3 days on a ferry, I couldn't wait to get off. Far too restrictive and structured. But I recognise that to others it sounds like a fantastic opportunity to be pampered and gently ushered from port to port. Similarly the idea of a stereotypical Spanish resort holiday sounds like hell, but as several million do it every year it is clearly not an opinion that everyone subscribes to.

As for football - I don't dislike it (despite having been dragged to watch Crewe Alex play as a yoof) but it doesn't excite me either. I'm interested enough to watch the brief online highlights after a World Cup game (how did he miss stopping that USA goal????) but not interested enough to sit through a whole game.

 

[JoceAndChris]

If you've never watched an international football match then I recommend you pop into your local (or not so local) and try something new!

No thankyou, I have no desire to spend the evening with sweaty, leery, coarse, uncultured, shouting men. And I wouldn't go in my local at the best of times.

If I followed your logic, I'd book myself a weekend of hot-air ballooning, have a tattoo, take my holidays in the Costa del Sol. If you know you'd hate something it's sensible to avoid the humiliation/pain/cost/aggravation/boredom.

 

[JoceAndChris]

it was also a hit with my partner who was there under sufferance.

She must be a lot nicer than me, I never do anything under sufferance and on the rare occasions I have the people inflicting the suffering have suffered more! :lol:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

No thankyou, I have no desire to spend the evening with sweaty, leery, coarse, uncultured, shouting men. And I wouldn't go in my local at the best of times.

Or you could end up in the pub full of pleasant, washed, enthusiastic gentlemen like AMc and me, enjoying the collective emotions and tense drama of a close and important sporting contest.

I take your point about there being certain things you know you won't enjoy. However, I never dreamed how much I would enjoy opera until I first went - in fact I positively avoided it for the first 25 years of my life. How wrong I was and how glad I am I went fully expecting to hate it.

You're dead right on Benidorm though. Ugh!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hmm- tempting though an evening with your fine self and AMc would be, to have you gazing at a screen full of incomprehensible runnings up and down in shiny and unpleasant clothing, shouting, and kicking, over a mere ball- rather than gazing at me- it's more than female pride can stand.

 

[LadyArowana]

Hmm- tempting though an evening with your fine self and AMc would be, to have you gazing at a screen full of incomprehensible runnings up and down in shiny and unpleasant clothing, shouting, and kicking, over a mere ball- rather than gazing at me- it's more than female pride can stand.

There are compensations though....

admittedly not so much so in the England team!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well - if you like him, LadyA, I'd hate to pour cold water on your viewing pleasure. But I like dusty Professors pouring over books; gentlemen with spectacles who love beautiful things.

 

[LadyArowana]

Well - if you like him, LadyA, I'd hate to pour cold water on your viewing pleasure. But I like dusty Professors pouring over books; gentlemen with spectacles who love beautiful things.

I wasn't suggesting that you talk to him :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Nigel Watts]

What is the world cup?

Something which runneth dry I fear.

I cant see a yawn among the smilies. Does such a thing exist?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Ok - I have just the answer for Joce and Nigel; you can see the Guardian's take on the Eng-ger-land vs USA match here in just 90 seconds - without needing to go near a pub:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2010/jun/14/world-cup-2010-england-usa-brick

You've got to love those little Lego men.

:lol:

 

[Jill]

That was more enjoyable than the real thing - I decided to sort my receipts of my recent house purchases out half way through the live match as I was so bored.

 

[AMc]

Most of the football fans I know are barristers, journalists, solicitors and graphic designers - half of them are women. For its fans football provides an emotional outlet you don't get in day to day life. To truly engage with it you need to experience it with a crowd of people who are emotionally invested in the result - hence my friendly suggestion that those who haven't ever tried it might want to give it a go.

So the thread title is "The World Cup Thread"...I look forward to reading threads about which I have no interest then posting disparaging comments about other people's taste in houses/fashion/interior design... :roll:

[edited to remove comments that were not constructive]

 

[JoceAndChris]

No offence intended AMc, I certainly didn't mean to disparage you. I'm glad you're in nice coterie of middle class supporters; I'm not. I think if you saw my local you might have a smidge more sympathy for my point of view! There is no way my husband would ever allow me to attend such a venue.(and surely I'm entitled to be as disparaging as I like about my local pub, which, sadly,none of you frequent?)

However, if you feel like having a moan about my Print Room when I finally finish it off and post pics feel free :wink:

If this thread is to be used for the heated analysis and commentary of play, I promise to keep a polite distance. (but may have to start up a rival patchwork quilt thread as a small revenge :lol: )

 

[AMc]

No offence taken, I've read a lot of 'I hate the World Cup' in the media recently and it grates a little considering it only happens once every 4 years. I can't stand tennis but have to live through 2 weeks of Henman Hysteria/Murray Mania every year (and yes I have tried watching it, but can't stand it )

You can be as rude as you like about your local - hence my suggestion of trying a 'not so local' earlier - it is possible to find nice pubs with the match on but if you don't want to then that's entirely your prerogative.

And back to the subject - the Italy/Paraguay match last night was turgid in the extreme. If I'd paid any I'd have asked for my money back.

 

[Pford75]

The commentary team were very mean about the Ivory Coast vs Portugal game....but I quite enjoyed it (despite the lack of goals). I'd love IC to qualify from their group