INGRES

© louvre

Just to show that my life does include other things apart from rugby, the Ingres exhibition opened on Friday but as usual on opening days, it was quite crowded so I didn’t actually get to appreciate the paintings to their full advantage. But at first glance, the exhibition is rich and varied and sensual (well, he was French after all) and thanks to my little louvre card, I can go back any time to park myself unhindered in front of the paintings and enjoy the exhibition quietly.

VI NATIONS - WEEK III

Well, this was the most disappointing week-end of the VI Nations so far. There was no win for England. In fact, not much of anything from England and Scotland deserved to win the Calcutta Cup. And, after a promising start from Italy, they seemed to lose heart in the second half and there was no try for Mirco this time although he made inroads into the French defence. It’s a shame that he can’t play at centre AND on the wing AND at full-back. And, not that I’m obsessed by rugby or anything but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I caught a cold over the week-end (brrr, it was damn chilly at Stade de France) and am writing this from my bed. Grrr.

PLANET RUGBY

Predictions are rife for tomorrow’s match, mostly (well to tell the truth, all) inclined towards a French win. But then they said that before the Scotland-France match too so we’ll see.

According to Planet Rugby, ‘player(s) to watch’ include our favourite brothers. I quote: “Stade Français star Mirco Bergamasco - young, committed and clearly fiercely Italian (!). He has made great strides since coming in to centre from the wing and he will be worth watching.” Huh, well I could have told you that!

Also: “long-haired flank Mauro Bergamasco, who also plays his club rugby in France, is indispensable to the Italian back row. Although he is nearing the end of his career, his energy and fondness of contact (!) show no sign of abating.” What does he mean nearing the end of his career?! My goodness, the boy is only 26, there’s plenty of life left in him yet. Pffff, end of his career indeed!

However I am pleased to see that tomorrow’s referee is smiley Tony Spreadbury. Come on Italy!

BIRTHDAY BOY!

It's Mirco's birthday today! Voilà, Buon Compleanno! Hope you can celebrate with a win on Saturday!

THE HOLIDAYS END

Today was the first day back after the school holidays. Ordinarily, this should sound like something horrid but there’s nothing like a long week-end in England with special people to make you feel revitalised so I returned feeling full of beans. Funnily enough, the weather was (slightly) warmer over there so things seemed more spring-like although it did rain one day (but then it was raining here too yesterday). I also made the most of the visit to satisfy my craving for plain chocolate digestive biscuits and scoffed two packets of them. However, after looking at the scales, I promptly vowed to follow a more sensible and nutritious diet. (In passing, how come most French women are so skinny with all those pain au chocolats around? Actually, I’m sure somebody has written a book about just such a thing.) While I was away, France contracted its first case of bird 'flu and Stade Français lost away to Agen. Never mind, we're heading towards the week-end of the France-Italy game! Oh, it's going to be so difficult to decide which team to support! ;)

SHOCK NEWS

Something very odd’s happening in Welsh rugby: despite having a contract until May, despite being in negotiations to extend this contract through to 2007, despite the Welsh Grand Slam win last year and despite winning against Scotland last week, right in the middle of the VI Nations, Wales’s national coach, Mike Ruddock, has resigned. As a graduate of the University of Wales, some little part of me feels an affection for this country and its rugby. I hope they go on to beat Ireland in two weeks’ time. Come on Cymru!

LA VACHE!

Recently, I’ve been re-examining the photos I’ve taken at the Louvre over the past couple of months and I’ve noticed that there seem to be a lot of cows there. Of course, I realise that the fact that I am drawn to taking photos of cows may just be an odd fetish of mine, so I’ve decided to investigate further. And, as I’m sure you are just as fascinated by this as I am, I will report back soon. Mooo!

VI NATIONS - WEEK II!

Well more exciting stuff on the rugby front! Once again the best match of the week-end was provided by Italy who battled strongly against England. In fact, I would not have been surprised (nor even that disappointed) if Italy had won! Mirco had a great match and, although he missed a few tackles, he redeemed himself by scoring a magnificent try! :) France and Ireland had a mixed match, France starting strongly in the first half but Ireland clawing back points in the second. France won. The second best match of the week-end was Wales against Scotland. There was even a RED card for a Scottish kick in a Welsh face which certainly subdued the mood – but only for a bit. Despite letting in two tries in the closing minutes, the Welsh were just too dominant. Now there are two l-o-n-g weeks to wait until the next VI Nations matches. What am I going to do in the meantime while I wait for Italy to arrive in Paris to play France? :/

© getty

BISCUITS AGAIN

Well, I’m sure you’re all very curious to know the outcome of my biscuit search. In fact, Bon Marché let me down (€4.20 for the tiny travel pack of MILK chocolate digestives) so I just had to resort to making my own cakes, not so easy when you don’t have any scales to weigh things out properly but the result was fairly successful! They didn't last long in any case!

VI NATIONS II

© imagefactory.it

On the eve of tomorrow’s game, I’m so pleased to see more positive comments in the press, like this in particular from prop Trevor Woodman:

“It’s players like the Bergamasco brothers who sum up Italy for me and when they do well, Italy do well. If they’re settled, as they appear to be, at flanker and centre, then that’s a good sign.” :) :) :)

Meanwhile, here in Paris, things are a bit jumpy before tomorrow’s game between France and Ireland which is an important one for both teams. France have more to lose. Ireland think they’re still on for the Grand Slam. On Sunday, Scotland will want to go forward from their win, Wales won’t want to lose again after their defeat. It’s going to be an interesting week-end.

CHOCOLATE BISCUITS

One of the things I miss from England are plain chocolate digestive biscuits and feeling a bit in need, off I went to Galeries Lafayette (imagine Harrods but much less naff). Their food hall has a little aisle especially stocked with English things and yes, they certainly have digestive biscuits: the tiniest packet of them, more like a travel pack. And to spoil it all, they were MILK chocolate digestives. I’ll just have to try Bon Marche (more Fortnum’s) or else hope that my craving wears off. Ho hum, the weeks between VI Nations rugby matches are just too long ….

WARNING!

I just wanted to let you know you that the blog may get a little rugby-focussed between now and the 18th March when the Tournament ends. What’s that? You mean you hadn’t noticed I liked rugby? :)

Anyway, as an interlude I will recount a little Parisian story. I was with Emmanuel (my tutor) and, as is often the case when we are out together, we were speaking English. We do this because obviously we think other people cannot understand us as we admire their nice eyes or criticise their dress sense or hairdo, etc., etc. And, as is often the case, the people we come across think, naturally, that we don’t speak French and so practise their English on us. Well, not that I am one to laugh at others’ linguistic blunders (especially as I am prone to them myself) but yesterday, after trying on some jeans and finding they were too short, Emmanuel wasn’t able to get them because, according to the girl, they were too ‘dangerous’. Now, really where did that come from?

WOW!

© www.6nations. net

Well, what a start to the VI Nations! Scotland have just beaten France 20-16 in a game full of passion (from the Scots) - bravo! And yesterday, England won quite well against Wales (47-13). Andy Robinson had said before the game ‘no sexy rugby’ and that was what we got. Shame. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Irish Sea, there was an incredible game which Ireland nearly (and really ought to have) lost. The Italians were tenacious, strong and motivated for the whole match. Oh, and of course, there was a try from Mirco! I can’t wait for next week when Italy play England!

VI NATIONS!

© imagefactory.it

Well here we are at the dawn of this year’s VI Nations – yippee, at last – and although the press are not too hopeful about Italy’s chances of winning, they have been using many positive adjectives to describe Mirco: ‘talented’, ‘slippery running’ ‘bruising tackling machine’ and ‘ever-enthusiastic’ being just some. Now, while my unwavering support of Mirco is usually greeted with blank stares or much hilarity, I know what he’s really capable of achieving and the press are beginning to agree so I’m hoping that this season he finds his trusty, try-scoring legs again! You show them, boy!

England play Wales at Fortress Twickenham today. Both teams have a few key injuries – luckily not Gareth Thomas or Joe Worsley, and Ben Cohen is back at Number 11 :) – but somehow I don't think England will be beaten by Wales this year. Come on England!

A CROSSROADS

© beckett

For a while now, I’ve been faffing about (and no doubt being a real pain in the arse) as I’ve been trying to make a very important decision: do I stay on in Paris with the little cherubs I’m teaching? OR do I go back home and become a responsible adult again? The customary list was drawn up, and, évidemment, more positives appeared in the ‘Paris’ column. But still there were those damn voices muttering about what would be the proper and decent thing to do. Well, finally, the little devil voice won and I have applied to stay for another year. The teachers at the school confirmed that it was absolutely the best thing all round for me, the school, the pupils, improving my French, not forgetting to remind me that I could watch more rugby at Jean Bouin! The Rectorat won’t decide my fate until May but fingers crossed ...

POTATOES

I was in my favourite organic shop innocently eyeing up the wine when I noticed something truly awful: potato juice. Why on earth would you want to drink something so blatantly unappetising? I really marvelled at the daring of whichever weirdo thought that his bottles of this ‘delicious’ grey liquid would sell like hot cakes. But there was actually a space as if someone had recently bought a bottle (I hasten to add: not me).

Anyway, always keen to leave no stone unturned, I turned to my trusty herb books and they reliably inform me that raw potato juice is good for potassium deficiencies and inflammatory conditions. It is also apparently excellent for supporting the liver. So now we know. But I’m still not trying it.