Here We Go

Here we go, here we go, here we go! The football season has started but it was still a surprise to see these teams lining up on a local playing field this afternoon. It could have been a friendly but I didn't think they would be playing yet until much nearer September when amateur leagues usually kick off. Obviously England's disastrous showing in the World Cup has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of these football fans.

Spanish Gold

No "gold" picture today although as Spain won the 18 carat gold trophy that is the World Cup last night, I'm sure there were plenty of celebrations by the patrons of the Spanish Bar.

Today's picture though is more about the weather than the World Cup as these two girls were both sporting umbrellas as opposed to sun shades today. We seem to have gone from July to November in one day with a significant drop in the temperature and the hot sunny days of recent weeks being replaced by a cold and wet one. The gardens will be grateful for it but it came as a shock to the system. Mind you the weather is more in keeping with the football season!

A Sad Face

Today is a rest day in the World Cup as the four remaining teams prepare for the semi-finals. A month ago expectations were high that England would be one of them but after their early departure from the competition most of the flags and decorations that were prominent in the town have been taken down. At least one remains though but it has been doctored to show that even in defeat the fans can still keep their sense of humour.

Whipped!

Yet another lovely day and what better way to enjoy it than with a Mr Whippy ice cream. I think the Germans must have been enjoying some as well as their football team certainly whipped Argentina this afternoon and there was no "Hand of God" to help the South Americans this time either.

The Dream Is Over

So the dream is well and truly over and the hope that England could win the World Cup in South Africa came up short against a well organised German side. It hurts though not because of the defeat against a superior side but for the fact that very few of the England players performed like we all know they can and as they do week in, week out. Perhaps it is because it is out of season and subconsciously they think that they should be lying on a beach somewhere. It can only be said that their displays, to put it crudely have gone "down the pan" or as our American friends would say who also suffered a World Cup exit yesterday, "down the tubes". Either way it leads me nicely onto today's picture which shows the toilet block at the junction of Derby Road and South Street. The toilets closed some time ago and the building had been up for sale. Within the next couple of weeks the block is due for demolition so I've recorded it for posterity. Many years ago  a pub stood on the site - I wonder what will be built here next.

Reprieved

At last the England team put in a performance worth watching although it still hung on a knife's edge right to the very end. But now perhaps Mr. Rooney can understand the fans' frustration after the previous match as they knew the team could always play a lot better. The hope now is that the team will continue in the same vein and not return to the haphazard performances of the previous four internationals. From "rubbish" yesterday England will now be classed as world beaters but secretly we all know nothing is won until the fat lady sings.

 

Not that any of the ladies seen today walking around the town could be called "fat" but they were showing their true colours draped in red and white. In fact I think there were more of the gentler sex in England gear than their male counterparts.

We can relax now then until Sunday when the nervous tension will build all over again.

Happy, Happy, Happy

Research has revealed that yesterday was supposed to be the happiest day of the year. With lighter nights, flowers blooming and looking forward to summer holidays, people in the northern hemisphere are at their most joyful on this day in June.

The researchers obviously didn't factor in the England football team who have been dire in their last four games - two friendlies plus two group matches in the World Cup - and were abysmal last night giving their fans no cause to be happy at all.

England Expects

There's no doubting who the occupants of this house will be supporting tonight in what is being billed as a "must win" game but with favourites Spain and Germany already slipping up against so-called lesser opposition, we shouldn't take it for granted that England will win easily. As is the custom, the players have been put under intense pressure and it could still all end in tears but if support was anything to go by, the trophy would already be on the plane to Heathrow Airport.

Walkabout

We went for a walk about Derby this morning and seeing that the Australian Bar was sporting St George's flags, suddenly I didn't feel quite so guilty about supporting the Socceroos in the World Cup. I still don't expect them to get much further in the competition though on their last showing but you never know.

Green Green Grass

Nothing to do with Tom Jones' hit song of the 1960s but unless I do something about this green green grass at home soon, I'll have to get a goat! The World Cup has a lot to answer for and I suppose I needn't have watched the rubbish that New Zealand against Slovakia played after lunch but it was too wet to get the mower on anyway. I wonder how they would have coped on a surface like this.

Changing My Allegience

After yesterday's result where Germany beat Australia I think I'll forget about the sweep and look for another shirt.

Come On You Socceroos!

Although born and bred in the UK, tonight I'm going to be an Aussie and support the team as they take on Germany in the World Cup. I've drawn them in the sweep so all that remains is to don the shirt and grab a tinny from the fridge.

Alive and Well

Elvis is alive and well and will be appearing at the Larklands Hotel in Ilkeston on Saturday.

Don't know how many will be there to witness the event though as all football fans will surely be at home watching England play the USA. Anyway there's a rumour going round that it's an imposter but there is a prize for the best dressed Teddy Boy that turns up. Now I wonder if I can still get into those drainpipe trousers ....

England On Top

As the build up to the World Cup continues, patriotism and England flags are becoming more and more prominent and the St George's Cross has even made an appearance on at least one German vehicle. Knowing of the past rivalry on the soccer fields between the two nations I can only assume from its position that the driver of this particular vehicle is expecting England to come out on top should they meet in South Africa.

Blowing in the Wind

After yesterday's rain, the sun came out again today which the cats enjoyed in the garden until the wind got up and continually spooked them. It also caused a flag in a neighbour's garden to billow out and talking of flags many more are springing up in anticipation of the World Cup. It was another uninspiring performance this afternoon though as England took on Japan in Austria. They didn't score themselves but won the game 2-1 and with that kind of luck they might even do well in South Africa.

Raining Footballs

Today has been a miserable day here though so we took shelter in the Co-Op as we waited for a bus to take us home. The build up to the World Cup continues and stickers on the window made it look as though footballs were being showered down on passers-by as well as the rain. 

You have to feel sorry for those who work all week and then the weather is not very good at the weekend but it is set to improve and should be better on Bank Holiday Monday. It's not unusual though at this Bank Holiday - I remember a number of long weekends in Scarborough at the end of May and it was usually cold then although we were fortunate with the rain - that usually waited until we were in a caravan on the North Yorkshire Moors in the middle of August!

Eng - er - lund! Eng - er - lund!

World Cup Fever is beginning to make its presence felt with flags being displayed from business and residential properties alike to say nothing of those fluttering from vehicles. And the displays of national pride will only increase in the next month or so but the team will have to play a darn sight better than the experimental squad did last night against Mexico.

 

Although England won the game, Mexico can feel hard done by and for long periods they looked the better side. It's goals that count though but our national side will have to show a marked improvement if they are to make an impact in South Africa. It would appear from this article in the Daily Mail that not everyone in the country is behind the team as a foreign bus driver ordered a mother and her children off his bus as he found the England shirt being worn by her two year old offensive. Personally I find his attitude offensive and if he doesn't like it here, he's free to return to his own country any time soon.

Blue Is The Colour

Well the election issue seems to have been resolved finally with the Blue Party (Conservatives) combining with the Orange Party (liberal Democrats) to form a government pushing the Red Party (Labour) into opposition. At the weekend the Blue team (Chelsea) pipped the Red team (Manchester United) for the Premiership title and last night the Tangerines, another variety of orange (Blackpool) overcame the Tricky Reds (Nottingham Forest) in the semi-final of the Championship play-off while Cardiff and Leicester, both Blue teams will go head to head tonight for the other place in the final. If all goes to form one of the Blue teams will win that match and beat Blackpool to gain promotion.

Yesterday also saw Fabio Capello announce his provisional England squad for the World Cup in South Africa. When England won the World Cup in 1966 they wore red shirts in the final - not a good omen this year! So if they are to have any chance of victory this time round, maybe they should consider changing to a blue strip otherwise, if they are not in the same half of the draw, I can see a team like Italy (Blue) beating Holland (Orange) in the final and England being also-rans again.