Well, it's been a while since i've blogged. Haven't had much i've wanted to share but i'm back now and will try to keep on top of it.
A blog wouldn't be a blog without a bit of a rant and it has to start with the news of Russia winning their bid to host the 2018 world cup. I'm not particularly happy about it and would have loved to have it held here in England. Thanks partly to the BBC that will sadly not occur. What has really got my goat is the result of the 2022 bid. Qatar? Seriously? A country half the size of Wales. A country with laws such as;
It is a punishable offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public. Offenders may incur a prison sentence or deportation. You should not carry alcohol with you, including in your car (except to take it on the day of collection from the warehouse to your home). Us brits are in a spot of bother with this one. Football and drinking go hand in hand. I can't see thousands of english football fans flocking to Qatar to show support to our boys and not have a few beers.
Or there is this one;
You should dress modestly when in public, including whilst driving. Women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts. You should behave courteously at all times. Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest. Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar. So guys, this means no going topless during a summer with an average temperature of 41 degrees. And ladies, no bikini tops or heaven forbid, a vest. And also girls, be prepared for harassment from local men. It may not be threatening behaviour but you can certainly expect plenty of unwanted attention. And my fellow brits remember the following. It is extremely offensive to show the bottoms of your feet whilst dining, and no eating or shaking hands with your left hand.
So to sum up, if you want to show your support for England in Qatar, ladies should wear a hijab, men need to buy a thobe. Don't expect a fry up because you won't get hold of any bacon or sausages. Stay sober at all times and don't get too close to a member of the same sex during goal celebrations.Or the opposite sex for that matter.
Qatar World Cup 2022. Looks to be great fun for us brits.
So once again we have been hit by 'heavy' snowfall and once again the country goes into meltdown (pardon the pun). It's a little embarrassing really, how useless we are when we have a few inches of snow. Schools close, public transport becomes a living nightmare, panic buying and snowman thefts. I shit you not. I recently saw an article about a woman in Kent who called 999 to report a theft from outside her house. I quote "I haven't been out to check on him for 5 hours but I went outside for a cigarette and he's gone." When police asked the identity of the 'he' she was referring to she revealed it was a snowman.
Have we really gone that bonkers? I guess it's just a part of the eccentricity of our beautiful country that I know and love.
Advice is like snow – the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
